March 7, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

U.N. partially lifts arms embargo on Somalia for a year

06 Mar – Source: Reuters/VOA/BBC – 112 words

The U.N. Security Council agreed on Wednesday to partially lift a decades-old arms embargo on Somalia for one year, allowing the government in Mogadishu to buy light weapons to strengthen its security forces to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamists. The 15-member council unanimously adopted a British-drafted resolution that also renewed an African Union peacekeeping force for a year and reconfigured the U.N. mission in the Horn of Africa country. Somalia’s government had asked for the arms embargo to be removed entirely and the United States supported that, but other U.N. member states were wary about completely lifting the embargo on a country that is already awash with weapons, diplomats said.

Key Headlines

Somali president: Our justice system is weak (Al Jazeera)
AMISOM building its civil-military coordination and enhancing protection of civilians (AMISOM-HQ)
Security Council authorizes African Union peacekeepers in Somalia for another year(UN News Centre)
UN eases oldest arms embargo to help Somalia(AFP/NYT)
Somali government strikes deal with Sufi group (Shabelle)
Somaliland: President Silanyo Postponed a Planned visit to Turkey (Somaliland Press)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM building its civil-military coordination and enhancing protection of civilians

06 Mar – Source: AMISOM-HQ – 317 words

AMISOM civilian and military components held a workshop yesterday on civil‐military coordination and protection awareness for key military personnel operating in Shabelles and Banadir regions. The workshop was designed to build capacities and promote awareness on how military and humanitarian actors can best co‐exist and engage in dialogue in the complex environment of Somalia. Besides civil‐military coordination, key international protection instruments and concrete protection concerns were discussed in the workshop.

In opening remarks, Brigadier General Michael Ondoga, the Commander of AMISOM responsible for Middle and Lower Shabelle and Banadir regions of Somalia and Uganda Contingent Commander, remarked, “AMISOM as a military forces has, and can continue to push Al Shabaab out of Somalia but there are other issues to be addressed. You also need to change the mind‐set and assist the people affected by two decades of conflict. These functions cannot be done by AMISOM alone, for this we need to create a safe and secure environment for humanitarian actors to operate. ”

Technical experts from UN OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) facilitated a session on the humanitarian environment ‐ actors and guiding principles ‐ and key protection concepts that contribute to a better protective environment for Somali populations.

Kristen Petillon, humanitarian civil‐military coordination officer (UN‐CMcoord) for UN OCHA commented, “Today’s workshop provides a unique opportunity to engage in dialogue on how humanitarian actors work and also to ensure that the civilian character of aid delivery is maintained.

This type of workshop helps military and humanitarian actors to better know each other and opens doors for mutual understanding so that we carry out activities without detriment to our respective mandates.” This initiative is part of an on going programme to guarantee AMISOM troops in Somalia are properly equipped to achieve their mission in newly recovered areas. The exercise will be replicated in Kismayo, Baidoa and Beledweyne.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali government strikes deal with Sufi group

06 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 96 words

The Somali National government has struck a deal with Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama. The treaty came as a high level delegation led by the Somali Prime Minister is touring Galgadud region which Ahlu Sunna controls. A meeting, which led to the signing of this new deal, was held in Abudwaq town and the government was represented in that meeting by its interior and defence ministers while Ahlu Sunna was represented by two of its top leaders.

Somaliland warns against lifting Somali arms embargo

06 Mar – Source:Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala – 110 words

Somaliland has cautioned against lifting the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, saying such a move will have dire consequences in the entire East African region. Speaking at a press conference in Hargeisa on Wednesday, Defence minister Ahmed Hajji Ali said the move to lift the two decades old arms embargo is ill advised as it will have negative consequences on the regional security. The minister said his regional administration is concerned with the move since it will allow shipment of deadly weapons into Somalia.

President Silanyo postpones planned visit to Turkey

06 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 95 words

H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) has postponed a planned visit to Turkey due to unspecified national issues, according to the deputy minister of Information Hon Abdillahi Mohamed Dahir (Cukuse). The Deputy Minister of Information speaking to the media said: ” President Silanyo has decided to postpone a visit to Turkey due to unspecified issues of national importance”. President Silanyo has instead sent the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdillahi Mohamed Omar, Education Minister Hon Zam Zam Abdi Aden and Energy minister Hon Hussein Duale to represent him.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Two injured in Kenya grenade attacks

06 Mar – Source: Al Shahid – 147 words

At least two persons were injured on Tuesday evening in two separate grenade attacks in capital city of Nairobi’s residential estate and in northern Kenyan town of Wajir. The first blast occurred in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate, along Muratina road near a church where other explosions occurred last year.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the injured woman was rushed to Guru Nanak hospital for treatment. In another incident in northern Kenya, one person was seriously injured in Wajir town when a hand grenade was hurled outside a tallying center.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali president: Our justice system is weak

06 Mar – Source: Al Jazeera – 166 words

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, has been making his case to the international community as to why it should step up and help Somalia in its recovery from decades of civil war. During a speech on Tuesday to academics, politicians and members of the Somali community at an event organised by the Al Jazeera Center for Studies in Doha, Qatar, Mohamud outlined the difficulties Somalia is facing and why he believes his country is ready for the world to lend its support. Following his speech, the soft-spoken president talked with Al Jazeera’s James Welsh about why he believes the time has come for the UN Security Council to lift its arms embargo against Somalia so that it can effectively deal with its internal security issue – namely, the armed al-Shabaab group.

U.N. partially lifts arms embargo on Somalia for a year

06 Mar – Source: Reuters/VOA/BBC – 112 words

UN eases oldest arms embargo to help Somalia

6 Mar – Source: AFP/NYT – 500 words

The UN Security Council on Wednesday suspended the arms embargo against Somalia for one year, easing the oldest international weapons blockade to help the government battle Islamist militants.
The 15-member council unanimously passed a resolution allowing light arms to be sold to the Somali armed forces as they seek to rebuild and spread government authority into territory taken from the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab.
The embargo was imposed in 1992, a year after the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre as rival warlords battled for control of the East African nation.
A transitional government, backed by an African force, is just starting to establish itself after major victories against Shabaab.

Security Council authorizes African Union peacekeepers in Somalia for another year

6 Mar – Source: UN News Centre – 486 words

The Security Council today extended for another year the mandate of the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, as it continues to consider a revised United Nations presence there, and partially lifted the 20-year-old arms embargo imposed on the country.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to continue the UN logistical support package for the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which will continue its tasks until 28 February 2014.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In the lead up to International Women’s Day on Friday, we are featuring the stories of women who work for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as guest posts across the FCO bloggers’ network. Jane Stevens and Tracey McLelland are a successful job sharing duo who are part of the communications team working on the upcoming London Conference on Somalia”

From the Olympic village to Somalia – FCO women’s stories

06 Mar- Source: FCO Blogs-466 Words

How do you follow up a stint leading the Foreign Office’s overseas communications efforts around London 2012 Olympic Games, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to highlight the best of Britain, working with our Embassies around the world? By joining the FCO’s brand new Projects Task Force to work on Somalia.
We have worked as a job share partnership for the past two-and-a-half years, each working three days a week. The modern Foreign Office is really waking up to the possibilities of flexible working, and our previous job on the London 2012 campaign was a case in point.