May 21, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

AMISOM: Airstrike Kills 50 al Shabaab in Somalia

20 May – Source: VOA – 109 words

The African Union force in Somalia, AMISOM, has launched new airstrikes aimed at militant group al Shabaab. AMISOM says the attack near the southern town of Jilib on Tuesday killed more than 50 al Shabaab insurgents. There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. AMISOM said on its Twitter feed that the airstrike targeted a hideout where senior leaders and foreign fighters of the al Qaeda-linked militant group had gathered. This is the second airstrike by AU forces against al Shabaab this week. On Sunday, Kenyan fighter jets bombed an al-Shabab base north of Jilib. AMISOM forces have ousted the Islamist militants from several towns in southern and central Somalia this year.

Key Headlines

Defense minister explains to federal parliament cooperation deal between Somalia and Italy (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
UN delegates visit Afgoye town (Radio Goobjoog)
Kenya deports 95 Somali refugees (Somali Current)
Somali Medical Association opens training for eye care professionals (Bar-kulan)
Kenya to repatriate half a million Somali refugees (Star/Kenya)
Italian navy rescues 133 migrant children (AFP)

PRESS STATEMENT

UNSOM Press Statement: UN Representative welcomes progress towards a political deal in south west Somalia

20 May – Source: UNSOM – 312 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, met a delegation from south west Somalia led by Madobe Nunow, and urged all parties in Baidoa to reach an inclusive agreement under the leadership of the Federal Government. Tensions in Baidoa remain as the leaders of rival political groups, Madobe Nunow and Mohamad Abdi Noor ‘Madeer’, pursue competing initiatives for either a six region or three region federal state in south west Somalia.

“My meeting today was in support of the negotiations led by the Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. I welcome the readiness of all parties to engage in talks without pre-conditions to find a peaceful solution and I am pleased at the progress being made. I urge all parties to reach an inclusive political settlement that will open the way to the formation of an interim regional administration in south west Somalia, recognised by the Federal Government and supported by international partners.

Under the leadership of the Federal Government all parties need to reach an agreement that respects the Provisional Federal Constitution and existing agreements. Ensuring inclusive governments in all interim administrations is also vital. This applies for the Juba Interim Administration (JIA) and for the future south west Interim Administration which, I hope, will soon take its place alongside the JIA.

“An early settlement and formation of an Interim Administration will enable international partners to engage fully with the region through the New Deal Somalia Compact. It will also clear the way for improved security and a more effective campaign against Al Shabaab. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Federal Government’s peace-building and state-building efforts. I am ready to meet all sides in the search for lasting peace and prosperity for Somalis. Time is of the essence and I hope no one will stand in the way of progress,” Mr Kay said.

SOMALI MEDIA

Defense minister explains to federal parliament cooperation deal between Somalia and Italy

20 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 128 words

The members of the federal parliament of Somalia were given hand outs of a cooperation deal signed between the federal government of Somalia and the government of Italy, the deal clearly states that the government of Italy will train Somali national army. The Minister for defense Mohamed Hassan Sheikh Haamud while explaining the deal to the federal parliament stated that the two governments signed the deal on 12th September 2013. He added that the agreement allows the government of Italy to build and strengthen the capabilities of Somali national army. The members of the federal parliament asked different questions to the defense minister, some of the MPs suggested the federal parliament to approve the agreement as early as possible so as to benefit from the opportunity in hand.

UN delegates visit Afgoye town

20 May – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 109 words

UN delegates led by senior official of UN OCHA visited Afgoye town in Lower Shabelle region where they held meeting the administration of Lower Shabelle, elders and business people in the region. Chrisman Rokasha, who was leading the delegates said that the aim of their visit is to assess the humanitarian needs and implement developmental projects in the region. The elders asked the UN officials to send emergency relief to the people in the area who are in desperate conditions, they presented basic needs that require immediate action as health and clean. They promised that they will support the people affected by the floods and inter-clan fighting in the region.

Kenya deports 95 Somali refugees

20 May – Source: Somali Current – 119 words

At least 95 Somali civilians including children, women and youth who have been stranded in detention center at Jomo Kenyatta airport for more than 2 months were deported to their homeland on today. Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur (Ameriko) who has been going with the deportees said that only 19 people are still left in Jomo Kenyatta airport detention center. Nur said this brings the total number of Somalis deported to 336 since crackdown operations. Ambassador Ameriko added that they are still arranging plans where they want to take Somalis in Kenya’s detention centers back to their homes, as he urged Somalis in Kenya to access legal and valid documents if they intended to stay in Kenya.

Somali Medical Association opens training for eye care professionals

20 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 91 words

Somali Medical Association has today opened a two-day training course to address the essential care and the prevention of eye related diseases for Somali ophthalmologists and eye care professionals. Dr. Osman Aden Ade said that the training course is aimed at improving the skills and the capacity of the professionals that provide eye or vision related medical services in the country. He added that the training course is being offered by doctors from Sudan and promised that Somali Medical Association will continue to offer similar trainings to the Somali medical professionals.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya to repatriate half a million Somali refugees

20 May – Source: Star-Kenya – 385 words

THE delayed repatriation of more than half a million Somali refugees from Kenya is now expected to begin following the formation of the tripartite commission that is mandated to kick-start the process. The 12-member commission drawn from Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR will to be unveiled next Tuesday. The launch was previously scheduled for Mogadishu in April but was delayed due to the prevailing security situation in Somalia. Kenya is represented by Cabinet Secretaries for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohammed, her Interior counterpart Joseph ole Lenku, Kenyan ambassador to Somalia Josephat Maikara and the acting commissioner for the Department of Refugees Affairs Harun Komen. UNHCR representative in Kenya Raouf Mazou and UNHCR representative in Somalia Alessandra Morelli and their two deputies represent the UN refugee agency. The names of those representing the Somali government were not immediately available. The tripartite agreement to voluntarily repatriate the Somali refugees was signed in November last year.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

AMISOM: Airstrike Kills 50 al Shabaab in Somalia

20 May – Source: VOA – 109 words

Italian navy rescues 133 migrant children

20 May – Source: AFP – 177 words

Italy’s navy on Tuesday rescued two boats packed with more than 500 migrants including 133 minors in the latest influx that has brought in more than 36,000 people so far in 2014. A navy helicopter spotted the boats – one towing the other following an accident – south of Sicily on Monday. Poor weather conditions delayed the rescue, carried out on Tuesday with the help of nearby merchant vessels. There were also 64 women in the group, the navy said in a statement. Almost all of the new arrivals are on boats leaving northern Libya, which is becoming increasingly lawless, and many are originally from Eritrea, Somalia and Syria. Seventeen people drowned in a migrant boat shipwreck earlier this month in which more than 200 were rescued. Two shipwrecks near Italian shores in October 2013 killed more than 400 migrants, prompting Italy to launch a large-scale naval search and rescue operation. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano has accused the European Union of failing to help, saying: “The Mediterranean is not an Italian border but a European border”.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“23 years after Somaliland declared independence, it is time for the rest of the world to accept that full sovereignty is the only viable solution.”

Let Somaliland Decide its Fate

20 May – Source: Think Africa Press – 750 Words

The most important and underreported success story of the last two decades in the volatile Horn of Africa may be the emergence of Somaliland. Located in the north of Somalia, Somaliland first declared independence in 1960 (before it merged with Italian Somaliland to become Somalia) and again in 1991 following the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre’s military government. Then, in May 2001, its independence was asserted again through a nationwide referendum that saw 97.1% of the population voting in favour of autonomy. Since then, with a population of around 3.5 million, Somaliland has held free elections, drawn up a constitution, and enjoyed relative peace and stability, all without the help of heavy foreign aid. And on 18 May, the people of Somaliland celebrated the 23rd anniversary of their independence. However, despite these achievements, Somaliland has struggled to gain diplomatic recognition as an independent state. The West, for example, is reluctant to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state before members of the African Union (AU) do so, while the AU reiterates that one of the founding principles of the organisation was to respect the borders inherited from colonialism. However, even under this pledge, the AU’s argument to deny Somaliland sovereignty appears to be invalid. After all, on 26 June 1960, the territory, which had been British Somaliland, gained independence as the State of Somaliland. It was only a few days later, on 1 July 1960, that Italian Somaliland also gained independence and then united with the State of Somaliland to become the Somalia we know today.