March 9, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Massive celebrations for the International Women’s Day took place in Mogadishu and the rest of the country today

08 Mar – Source: TFG – 274 words

The celebrations were organized by Ministry for Women and Family, and Somali Union for Women. It was participated by representatives of all the 16 districts of Mogadishu and women’s groups as well as male and female officers, representing AMISOM, the African Union Peacekeeping Force in Somalia.

The Minister for Women and Family Affairs H.E Maryan Aweis Jama congratulated all the Somali women for enjoying this great day, free from the fear of Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorists. The Minister in a statement said today, This year’s celebration is considerably different and better than previous years, for it is the largest celebration of its kind for a long time. In the past few years most of the women taking part in this year’s celebration were under the harsh rule of Al – Shabaab and would have been murdered for taking part in the International women’s day festivities.”

Key Headlines

Massive celebrations for the International Women’s Day took place in Mogadishu and the rest of the country (Source: TFG )
President Sharif: “TFG is ready to hold talk with Somaliland” (Source: Hiiraan Online)
Many women die from avoidable deaths during childbirth says MSF (Source: Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali women call for better roles in country ( Source: Capital News)
Somali refugees face Insecurity inside Dadaab refugee camp(Source: VOA News)
Liberated Areas of Somalia pose serious political challenges (Source: VOA News )
Al Shabaab militants behead a young boy in southern Somalia (Source: Radio Shabelle Radio Mogadishu)
Galmudug state promises to tackle Somali pirates (Source: Shabelle)
Puntland Minister of Finance speaks of fluctuation in the Somali Shilling (Source: Garowe Online)

PRESS RELEASE

Massive celebrations for the International Women’s Day took place in Mogadishu and the rest of the country today

08 Mar – Source: TFG – 274 words

“It was very beautiful to see happy Somali women, draped in the blue colours of the National Flag and the Traditional Somali women’s dress. We must remember that few would have dared to dress like that just a year ago for fear of being killed by the terrorist.” The Minister continued.

“The TFG has encouraged women’s participation in all the spheres of society and considers them as the vanguard for the restoration of peace and reconciliation in our country. In the new constitution 30% of all the parliamentary seats have been allocated for women. We will not stop there but we will continue to campaign for full participation of our women in the government and its administration.” The Minister concluded.

SOMALI MEDIA

President Sharif: “TFG is ready to hold talks with Somaliland”

08 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 213 words

President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed announced that a TFG committee will be set up to hold talks with the Somaliland government and other states in the north eastern Somalia.

President Sharif who spoke at an International Women’s Day conference in Mogadishu said that the TFG is ready to communicate with Somaliland and the new self proclaimed state of Khatumo. “Our northern brothers in Somaliland have accomplished many feats which we welcome and the TFG will set up a committee as soon as possible to hold talks with the Somaliland government,” said President Sharif.

Many women die from avoidable deaths during childbirth, says MSF

08 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 250 words

Too many women continue to die from avoidable deaths during childbirth, with most maternal deaths occurring just before, during, or just after delivery, according to an international medical-humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

In its briefing paper, “Maternal Death: The Avoidable Crisis” on the International Women’s Day, the organisation detailed how the provision of emergency obstetric care to pregnant women in acute and chronic humanitarian crises can have a direct impact and save women’s lives.

Al Shabaab militants behead a young boy in southern Somalia

08 Mar- Source: Radio Shabelle, Radio Mogadishu- 130 words

Body of a young Somali boy, whose head was decapitated, on Thursday afternoon was found in the al Shabaab stronghold Gal-galato, Mogadishu, witnesses said.

Residents in Gal-gala village , just 5 Km away north of the Mogadishu say they saw in the early hours on thursday afternoon a youth with a cut head on the outskirts of the town.

Puntland Minister of Finance speaks of fluctuation in the Somali Shilling

08 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 197 words

Puntland Minister of Finance Farah Ali Shire held a press conference on Thursday to discuss the fluctuation in Shilling and announce a continuation of the tax system, Garowe reports.

The Somali Shilling has seen major movement in recent weeks although it has strengthened against the US dollar it has been unstable. The Somali Shilling which was trading Wednesday at 24,000 Shillings to 1 US dollar has hit 19,000 Shillings on Thursday morning.

President Farole returns to Puntland

08 Mar – Source: Radio Shabelle, Somali Chanel TV – 127 words

President Farole and his delegation touched down at Garowe International Airport Wednesday afternoon and were welcomed by a big crowd as he returned from the London conference.

Galmudug state promises to tackle Somali pirates

08 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 125 words

The authority of Galmudug state said on Thursday that they are struggling to tackle Somali pirates in the regions in central Somalia. The Deputy of Interior and Security Minster of Galmudug state of Somalia Ahmed Mohamed Basto said that his administration has set up Special Forces to curb the pirate activities on Galmudug state seashores.

Somaliland police open fire on protesters

08 Mar – Source: Somalia Report – 74 words

Hundreds gathered today in Las Anod, the capital of Sool region, to protest for the recognition of Khatumo State of Somalia. They were carrying Somali flags, as well as that of the newly-formed Khatumo state. As the protestors were moving through the town they collided with Somaliland police officers, who responded by opening fire on the protestors, killing one and injuring six others. Police were reported to be firing bullets recklessly into the crowd.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali women call for better roles in country

08 Mar – Source: Capital News – 461 words

As Somali women celebrated International Women’s Day with various ceremonies in many parts of the country, calls for greater roles for women in national affairs have been voiced by women leaders.

The occasion were marked with marches and rallies in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu and various ceremonies held in commemoration for the day, where key government officials attended including Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as well as other top government and community leaders.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali refugees face Insecurity inside Dadaab refugee camp

08 Mar – Source: VOA News – 320 words

The Dadaab refugee camp has been home to refugees fleeing conflict and famine in Somalia for more than 20 years. But a recent string of attacks in the area has left many feeling just as insecure as in the home they left. Our reporter visited the camp in Kenya.

Inside Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp, 20-year-old Basharah speaks of violence in Somalia. She fled five months ago to create a better home for her child. Now, she worries Dadaab is not the change she was looking for.

Liberated Areas of Somalia Pose Serious Political Challenges

08 Mar – Source: VOA News – 380 words

Regional military forces battling al Shabaab militants in Somalia are leaving behind political vacuums in liberated regions. TFG and foreign powers say they want local administrations to set up in these areas, but it is hard to determine which of these will be reliable and trustworthy.

The international community is following closely the events unfolding in central and southern Somalia, as al Shabaab loses more ground to forces from the Somali government and the African Union mission, known asAMISOM.

Saving the lives of mothers and babies

08 Mar – Source: VOA – 556 words

A medical aid group says every day about one thousand women worldwide die in childbirth or from complications related to pregnancy. Doctors Without Borders says most of those deaths can be prevented. It’s released a new report on the problem to coincide with International Women’s Day, March 8.

Somaliland ruling party chairman meets Bristol supporters

08 Mar – Source: BBC – 286 words

The chairman of Somaliland’s ruling party has visited Bristol to meet his supporters and the city’s Somaliland community as a whole. Musa Bihi, from ruling party Kulmiye, travelled to the city ahead of upcoming elections in Somaliland. He also met with Stephen Williams, Lib Dem MP for Bristol West, and Geoffrey Gollop, the Lord Mayor of Bristol. Somaliland declared independence after the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre in 1991. The Somaliland local elections are due to take place in the next few months.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Somalia is thought to have huge oil fields under the autonomous region of Puntland, which is practically ungoverned. Hypothetically, Turkey could be in a better position to extract wealth there than the Somali government. Additionally, the current government in Somalia is preparing to transition into an entirely new political entity by the summer, with hopes of finally uniting the country. With a foot already in the door, that would mean that Turkey would be first in line for new business and diplomatic opportunities.”

Why Turkey is Coming to Somalia’s Aid

08 Mar – Source: International Business Times – 775 Words

Somalia was home to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for the second half of 2011, and while the famine has been officially declared over, drought, militancy and instability still ravage the East African country.

Tens of thousands of people died and hundreds of thousands displaced as a result of the crisis in the Horn of Africa last year.

Millions more are still in need of immediate assistance, but due an almost total lack of political infrastructure and authority in Somalia, most nations in the world are either unable or unwilling to provide more than the occasional aid package.

But Turkey has moved in the opposite direction, paying more attention to Somalia than any other nation in the world.

“With so much conflict, many men fled Mogadishu, and the city was left with a shortage of skilled labor. So Elman began to take in those teen age child soldiers, and retrain them. Providing them with an education and job training, he reintegrated them into the community. As the fighting continued in subsequent years, he formally established the Elman Peace Center, and their work helping ex-child soldiers made a difference.”

A woman inspires in Somalia

08 Mar – Source: Oxfam Blog – 866 Words

When it comes to the role of women in society, the East African country of Somalia receives a great deal of negative attention. Given that the country has suffered from years of conflict, and is currently enduring a food crisis, it certainly is a difficult, sometimes dangerous environment where women can be left vulnerable.

When foreigners think of Somali women, it’s easy to label them as victims, but that is really an oversimplification.

Contrary to popular belief, there are women in Somalia who are able to rise above the difficult circumstances that surround them. I’m here to tell you, that there are many strong, capable, inspiring women in Somalia. There are Somali women who are simply amazing, and they are making a positive difference today in this troubled country.