May 14, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Americans train Ugandans for Somalia mission

14 May – Source: AP / ABC News / CBS News – 508 words

American military advisers in Uganda are drawing on lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan to help train African Union soldiers to fight Somalia’s most powerful insurgent group, al-Shabaab.
Earlier this year, a small contingent of U.S. Marines joined American military contractors at a training base nestled in Uganda’s rolling countryside about 2 1/2 hours drive from the capital, helping fill gaps where the al-Qaida-linked fighters have found weaknesses.

Key Headlines

Somali Government calls on international community to fulfill pledges for the Road map (Source: TFG)
Several acres of farm lands destroyed after River Shabelle burst its banks (Source: Bar-Kulan)
$ 2 million Saudi grant for UNICEF Somalia (Source: Arab News)
EU against any extension of mandate of TFI’s in Somalia (Source: Kuwait News Agency)
UN urges world to sustain aid flow to Somalia (Source: China Daily News)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Government calls on international community to fulfill pledges for the Road map

14 May – Source: TFG – 358 words

In three months, the Transitional Federal Government is expected to end the transition in August 2012. Without much support from the International Community, the government has implemented key tasks of the Roadmap Agreement, including the development of a draft constitution for an adoption, improving the security situation of the country and making substantial progress on good governance.

Despite the challenges encountered, the government has shown leadership and commitment to deliver results in this critical time while traditional elders are convened to help chart out the future of Somalia. Efforts of the government have also shown results as Somali people expressed confidence in the performance of their government. That created expectations in which the government can’t meet without the support of the International Community.

In September last year, the International Community made pledges to fund the Roadmap process, but that pledge remains to be fulfilled. The support from the International Community has been instrumental for sustaining TFG institutions over the years and clearly Somali people are grateful to that. But delaying funds at this critical time will only unravel the gains made so far.

The Somali government is prepared to implement the tasks of the Roadmap, despite the budget constraint, because the alternative of not executing is a failure. On the political front, the government has created a momentum that convinced the public peaceful end of the transitional period. The traditional elders expressed commitment to lead and support the peace process beyond the transition.

Delegations across the country are given opportunities to deal with clan grievances and reach negotiated settlements on all outstanding issues as part of sideline activities that elders were engaged over the last few days. The government is encouraged of this positive development and supports traditional approaches to peace building by managing conflicts and addressing them at their sources.

Clearly, the country is stepping on the right direction, but efforts of the government should be coupled with an equal amount of support to ensure funds are allocated and remaining tasks of the Roadmap are implemented. The International Community understands what’s at stake, especially in this critical period of time that the country is facing, which can’t be addressed with outstanding pledges.

SOMALI MEDIA

Tanzania releases 100 Somali prisoners, says ambassador

14 May – Source: Shabelle/BBC Somali Service – 136 words

Tanzania has released a group of almost hundred of Somali refugees and asylum seekers, including three females that were held for a long time at several prisons in Dar es Salam city, Somali ambassador said yesterday. Somali ambassador in Tanzania Abdihakim said he helped the group regain their freedom after he negotiated a deal with the country’s Ministry of Interior.

Al Shabaab publicize photos and ID of Burundian soldier killed in Mogadishu

14 May- Source: Raxanreeb/ Somalimemo/ Shabelle/ Hiiraan Online- 219 words

Al Shabaab yesterday released the photos and ID cards of a Burundian soldier whom they said was killed on Tuesday during a night time attack in Daynile district.

Trade returns to the Gedo Region

14 May- Source: Somalia Report- 193 words

Development has begun to return to the region bordering Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia after more than a year of poverty due to fighting between TFG forces and al Shabaab militants. While the conflict is not over, some traders are making cautious efforts to revive business in the region.

Several acres of farm lands destroyed after River Shabelle burst its banks

14 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 97 words

Reports from the riverine region of Middle Shabelle say several acres of farm lands were destroyed after River Shabelle burst its banks following heavy downpour in the region. Several villages were also reportedly submerged in water as the river continued to swell due to the heavy rains experienced in the region for the last few days. The affected villages include Raqayle, Magay, Gashanle and several other villages around Jowhar district.

REGIONAL MEDIA

$ 2 million Saudi grant for UNICEF Somalia

14 May – Source: Arab News – 350 words

The National Saudi Campaign for Somali People Relief on Saturday signed an agreement to provide $ 2 million to UNICEF Somalia for its therapeutic food program for children with malnutrition.

The program is expected to include the treatment of 25,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition as well as immunization, health care and treatment, provisions for clean drinking water, education and other services.

Kenya Police arrest a Swedish over al Shabaab links

14 May – Source: Standard – 296 words

A Swedish national has been arrested in Nairobi in the crackdown on increasing number of foreigners flocking to Kenya to join Somalia’s islamist group al Shabaab. Anti-terror police arrested Magd Najjar in Eastleigh after they learnt he was here illegally and was eager to join or had joined the militant group.

EU against any extension of mandate of TFI’s in Somalia

14 May- Source: Kuwait News Agency- 242 words

With only three months to go to the end of the political transition in Somalia, the European Union on Monday called on the Somali leadership to seize this opportunity and to implement their commitments to ensure that the 20 August deadline is met.

German terror suspect crosses into Somalia

14 May -Source: The Star (Kenya)- 304 words

A German terror suspect whose picture was circulated by police on Saturday over links with the al Shabaab could have crossed into Somalia. Ahmed Khaled Mueller is believed to have entered Kenya disguised to plan terror attacks in the country. He uses many aliases including Andreas Martin Muller and Abu Nusaibah among others. “We have no idea of where he is at this time. He might as well crossed into Somalia, but security officers are on high alert to try and get him,” said a police source

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Americans train Ugandans for Somalia mission

14 May – Source: AP / ABC News / CBS News – 508 words

Pirates and lawyers together at last

14 May – Source: Strategy Page – 281 words

Over a hundred Somali clan, religious and business leaders met in Mogadishu to approve a new constitution and finalize details of elections to be held by the end of the year. Al Shabaab is using persuasion, and terror, to try and influence men likely to be part of the new parliament. Meanwhile, the clan leaders are having a difficult time agreeing on the details of a new constitution.

UN urges world to sustain aid flow to Somalia

14 May – Source: China Daily News – 226 words

The UN humanitarian agency has called on the world to build on the effective delivery of aid that helped roll back last year’s famine in Somalia, where some 2.5 million people remain in need of humanitarian support.

UN Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg said the key focus should be on helping people regain their livelihoods, which is crucial to building resilience to future droughts and other shocks.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“So as we honour those journalists killed in the line of duty in Somalia and strive for greater freedom of expression and protection of journalists in Somalia, it’s only right that we salute the outstanding work of Jamal Osman – One World Journalist of the Year.”

Celebrating excellence in Somali journalism

14 May – Source: FCO Blog – 216 Words

A week ago I posted a blog about world press day and the plight of journalism in Somalia – one of the dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist.

I want to pick up this theme – but also highlight one of the many and vital successes. This is of course, Jamal Osman, recently named journalist of the year at the One World media awards in London this week.