May 17, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Cabinet holds meeting in Mogadishu

16 May- Source: Raxanreeb/Jowhar Online/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV- 116 words

The council of ministers of Somalia Federal Government have on Thursday approved two suggestion plan from the interior and the justice ministers. The new counter-terrorism bill was submitted by the interior and national security ministry together with the justice ministry which after discussions the cabinet fully endorsed it. The law will soon go to parliament for approval.

Key Headlines

Somali president receives credentials from S.Korean ambassador (Radio Mogadishu)
Public outcry over illegal checkpoints (Radio Ergo)
Six alleged militants arrested in Jowhar (Radio Bar-kulan)
Cabinet holds meeting in Mogadishu (Raxanreeb/Jowhar Online)
Uganda hosts regional forces (New Vision)
Government rejects Kismayo election (RBC/Shabelle)
Leadership Dispute Threatens Stability Peace in Jubaland (VOA)

PRESS STATEMENT

South Korea restores diplomatic relations with Somalia

16 May- Source: Office of Prime Minister-125 Words

The South Korean Ambassador, H.E. Kim Chan-Woo, presented his credentials to H.E. Hassan Sh. Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, in Mogadishu today.

The Deputy Foreign Minister, Jamaal Mohamed Baarow was also in attendance.

The newly appointed Ambassador was received in Villa Somalia, where the President briefed him on his Government’s policy priorities of security, judicial reform, public financial management, and social development. “Security is our absolute priority and we’ve made major achievements towards a safer Somalia, however, more needs to be done”, said President Hassan.

“No country ever came back from such civil strife without the support of the International Community. The Government of Somalia will be at your disposal and we are committed to improving our bilateral relations with South Korea.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali president receives credentials from S.Korean ambassador

16 May- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan/Shabelle/Radio Mustaqbal-102 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday received the credentials of newly appointed ambassador from South Korea, Kim Chan Woo at the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the latest in a string of diplomats accredited to the Horn of Africa country. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that this will restore the bilateral relationship between the two countries, adding that he is very hopeful of enlarging the co-operation between the two sides. A meeting which took hours at the Villa Somalia, Somalia’s presidential palace, between Somali president and the newly appointed ambassador was focused on the restoration of the close relation between the two counties.

Public outcry over illegal checkpoints

16 May- Source: Radio Ergo- 225 words

Transporters using the road between Lower Shabelle region and Mogadishu have started a strike in protest against the illegal checkpoints being manned by soldiers in government uniform. Drivers say they are forced to pay bribes at these checkpoints. If they refuse, the soldiers usually turn to the passengers and have often been abusive and even assaulted and sexually harassed women passengers. The checkpoints have been mounted from Siinka Deer to the Lafole locality, at a point called Shanta (the Five), and after that all the way to Afgoye, according to drivers.

Cabinet holds meeting in Mogadishu

16 May- Source: Raxanreeb/Jowhar Online/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV- 116 words

Six alleged militants arrested in Jowhar

16 May- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 102 words

Security forces in Jowhar town, the middle Shabelle region capital on Wednesday arrested six alleged militants who were believed to be behind an explosion that occurred in the town Wednesday. Confirming the incident, middle Shabelle administration spokesman Daud Hajji said that the six were arrested in an operation carried out by the security forces in the town. Daud added that the six suspects are arrested at Jowhar central station as further investigations are underway. Wednesday’s explosion is reported to be the second explosion in the town for less than a week, as no group has yet claimed the responsibility of the attack.

Government rejects Kismayo election

16 May- Source: Raxanreeb/Shabelle- 201 words

Somalia Federal Government has on Thursday rejected Kismayo local election which elders and locals elected Ras kamboni Brigade commander Ahmed Mohamed Islam aka Ahmed Madoobe as the new president of Jubbaland state of Somalia, RBC Radio reports. The government has also rejected Col. Barre Hiiraale, former warlord in Somalia who claimed as the new elect president of the state shortly after Madoobe’s election. “The government is very upset on the ongoing motives which directs the future of the people of Jubbaland to the wrong way and the declared two presidents in Kismayo.” A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Uganda hosts regional forces

16 May- Source: New Vision- 220 words

Uganda is hosting Eastern Africa standby Force training exercise for rapid intervention, peace and sability at Gadaffi Garrison in Jinja. A total of 1292 troops and civilians from ten different African countries are expected to attend the field training exercise. The Eastern Africa Stand by Force (EASF) is a regional organisation whose mandate is to enhance regional peace and security. It is one of the five regional multi-dimensional components of the African Standby Force consisting of the military, police and civilians. Africa countries such Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eretria, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros Seychelles and Uganda have agreed to have a regional standby force during a security meeting in Seychelles in 2011.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Man who lied in Somali terrorism case gets 2 years

16 May- Source: AP- 337 words

A man who admitted he lied before a grand jury investigating why young Somali men were leaving Minnesota to join a terrorist group in their homeland was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison. Adarus Abdulle Ali pleaded guilty in 2009 to one count of perjury. He admitted he lied when he said he didn’t know two men who had returned to Somalia to join al Shabaab.

Leadership Dispute Threatens Stability, Peace in Jubaland

16 May- Source: VOA- 520 words

The Somali port city of Kismayo is in political crisis as two former warlords are both claiming to be president of the newly created Jubaland region of southern Somalia. Fears are growing that the rivalry could lead to an outbreak of violence. The Somali government still maintains it doesn’t recognize the two leaders. The political division in southern Somalia still continues after more than six months of negotiations to elect local authorities to govern the regions of Gedo, Middle and Lower Juba. On Wednesday, 495 delegates meeting in Kismayo elected Ras Kamboni militia leader Ahmed Madobe as the president of Jubaland, over four other candidates.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The Somali problem though requires a home-based solution and by home-based I mean a solution that births and comes from Somalia itself. The skepticism I have seen ensue from any bid that seeks to patch up Somalia and her problems is enormous that is why the international community and neighbouring countries like Kenya must not be manifestly involved in proffering solutions for the Horn of Africa country but rather provide institutional support and strengthening for Somalia to get herself out of the dust by herself.”

Somalia: Let this state take care of itself

16 May- Source: African Liberty-755 Words

The say you do not choose who your neighbors are, there is no doubt however that Somalia is as a bad as a neighbor can get. As a young boy I remember seeing on a black and white TV the grotesque images of Dan Eldon, Antony Macharia and Hos Maina, three Kenyan photojournalists being flown from Somalia in body bags. I have associated Somalia with dread ever since that time and for the quarter decade that I have been around Somalia indeed has been a dreadful country. Earlier this week the figures coming out of Somalia suggested nearly 260,000 people died between October 2010 and April 2012. The figures are mind boggling, a big red blot on the world’s humanitarian community. If you are looking for a failed state, Somalia is as failed a state as you would get.