May 23, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

AU troops battle Somali rebels for control of IDP corridor

22 May – Source: Reuters/Christian Science Monitor – 193 words

Fighting erupted outside Somalia’s capital as African Union and government troops launched attacks against al Shabaab insurgents in a push to seize further ground from the rebels, AU officials said on Tuesday. Already in control of most of the capital, the AU force wants to advance through the Afgoye corridor – once a rural area to the north of Mogadishu but now home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people.

Key Headlines

AMISOM gains ground on outskirts of Mogadishu (Somalia Report)
A television journalist slightly wounded in Mogadishu (Raxanreeb)
Man arrested in connection with Dagahley blast (Bar-Kulan)
Six alleged Somali pirates go on trial in France (Kuwait News Agency)
Conference on Somalia held in Saudi Arabia (Bar-Kulan)
Kenyan risks death penalty in Ethiopia over terror plot (Africa Review)
UNESCO heads East Africa water search (VOA News)

PRESS STATEMENT

Statement of the President of Puntland State of Somalia H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) at Meeting of Somali Principals

22 May – Source: Puntland State of Garowe – 76 words

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Somali Dignitaries and Delegates, Representatives of the international community, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Thank you all for attending this important meeting here in Addis Ababa and I thank the Ethiopian Government for hosting us here today and for its valuable support in liberating regions in south-central Somalia from Al Shabaab terrorists. I would like to also thank the African Union, IGAD and the wider international community for supporting national stabilization and recovery efforts in Somalia.

As one of the major stakeholders in Somalia, Puntland Government suggested a meeting of Roadmap signatories in the presence of the international community aiming to engage in constructive discussions and make contributions to the Draft Federal Constitution. Puntland Government received a copy of the new Draft Federal Constitution on 30 April 2012 and appointed a Committee to review the document and to submit our concerns and comments.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

As we all know, Somalia adopted the federal system of government in 2004 and drafted the Transitional Federal Charter, upon which the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) are based on. Puntland adopted its own state constitution by public convention in a transparent manner and we are now ready to contribute towards a viable Federal Constitution for Somalia.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The intention of this meeting is to:

1) keep moving forward the progress achieved thus far in the Roadmap peace process and to keep the process on track;

2) present our concerns and commentary on the Draft Federal Constitution;

3) give an opportunity to other Somali stakeholders to presents their views on the Draft Federal Constitution;

4) engage in constructive discussions about the contentious issues within the Draft Federal Constitution (i.e. clearly defined principles of federalism, decentralization of power at Federal and State-level, resource-sharing, and delivery of public services);

5) conform the Draft Federal Constitution to a) federal system of government, b) the current socio-political realities in Somalia; and c) what constitutional provisions can be agreed upon and what provisions can be deferred until the formation of other Federated States;

6) achieve agreement in principle among the Somali stakeholders that the Draft Federal Constitution should be reviewed and redrafted to satisfy the requirement of a federal system of government; and

7) move forward the Roadmap process in accordance with signed agreements by achieving an understanding on the role and mandate of the Somali traditional elders, on how the technical committee can best exercise its role, and on time limitations.

As Puntland Government, we expect the Somali Federal Constitution to include provisions that:

a) include, as one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution, the principle of Federalism as it is the first and foremost characteristic of the State;

b) give autonomy to the States and the people to ensure that power will be exercised as closely as possible to the people affected by it; and

c) acknowledge that, at this stage, the Draft Federal Constitution should not list Federal powers, but rather should include transitional provisions establishing time limits for the formation of other Federated States of the Federal Republic of Somalia, united under a negotiated and agreed-upon Federal Constitution.

The transitional provisions will also address the relationship between the constituted Federated States, such as Puntland State, and the Federal Government during that period, and provide that this will be the subject of an agreement between the Parties until all Federated States are created and they determine in a final form the respective powers and relations of the Federal Government and the Federated States.

There has been widespread speculation that Puntland Government played a major role in the drafting process for the Draft Federal Constitution. I am hereby informing the Somali public, the Somali stakeholders, and the international community that Puntland Government received a copy of the Draft Federal Constitution for the first time on 30 April 2012, and as such,Puntland Government was not involved at any stage in the drafting process for the new Constitution, while Puntland has a legitimate right to be involved as other Somali stakeholders.

The people and Government of Puntland State of Somalia remain firmly committed to the End of Transition process, adherence to the Roadmap and signed agreements, as well as the completion of an agreed-upon Federal Constitution for Somalia. I call upon you Somali stakeholders to put aside personal interests and focus on the interest of the nation.

Constructive dialogue is part of the democratic process. We encourage Somali stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue with the best interest of the Somali people at heart. To improve cooperation between different levels of government and to ensure representation and participation of Federated States at the national level, we propose that Cabinet nominations are made in consultation with existing and emerging States.

I wish for this meeting to achieve a successful outcome that is beneficial for the people of Somalia who have suffered for too long. Terrorists, pirates and other criminal groups pose a grave threat to the security and stability of Somalia and the wider region.

In Puntland, we are experiencing a spillover of Al Shabaab terrorists since last year due to intensified military operations in south-central Somalia by AMISOM and regional forces. We must avoid destabilization of peaceful areas in Somalia by bolstering security progress in Somalia as a whole. Puntland requires tangible security sector support as part of the international community’s stabilization efforts in Somalia. This support would reinforce stability in Puntland and prevent terrorists from establishing footholds in Golis Mountains with access and links to Al Qaeda in Yemen.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today, we have an opportunity to learn from our past mistakes and to give the Somali people a sense of renewed hope. We are gathered here today to make progress and overcome obstacles, in terms of Roadmap benchmarks, in a spirit of honesty and respect in the coming days to achieve an outcome that will give the Somali people hope and pride.

SOMALI MEDIA

AMISOM: The offensive was important for humanitarian delivery and economic revival

22 May – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 288 words

Speaking in a joint press conference held in Mogadishu’s main military bases for AMISOM the Deputy Representative of the African Union to Somalia Wafula Wamunyinyi explained the aim of the recent major offensive against al Shababa militants in some parts of the capital’s outskirts.

Wafula says “we have launched a military offensive against al Shabaab in order to pave the way for the humanitarian assistance to the people in Afgoye corridors and give a chance to Somalia’s growing economic revival, as the long road which links Mogadishu to Afgoye town is important to the country’s economic recourses he said”

AMISOM gains ground on outskirts of Mogadishu

22 May – Source: Somalia Report – 96 words

Somali government military forces backed by hundreds of African Union peacekeepers mainly from Burundi and Uganda launched a major military offensive on the outskirts of Mogadishu, focusing on the area between the Deyniile frontline and the Elasha Biyaha, Siinka and Afgoye corridor, populated by IDPs. At least eight people were killed in fighting according to local residents who spoke to Somalia Report.

A television journalist slightly wounded in Mogadishu

22 May – Source Raxanreeb – 158 words

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is concerned about the continued journalists’ casualties amid television journalist was slightly wounded at the front line fighting in Mogadishu yesterday. Mr. Ali Muse Abeyle. who works for Royal television, was hit by a shrapnel at his right buttocks near Dayniile airport on 22 May 2012 around 12:00 local time during a press conference.

Man arrested in connection with Dagahley blast

22 May – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 177 words

Kenyan police forces in Dadaab refugee camps have conducted security operations and arrested a man suspected of involvement in last week’s blast in Dagahley camp. The police commander in Kenya’s North Eastern province Leo Nyongesa said that Kenyan security personnel have carried out the search to hunt down the suspects of last week’s attack.

Conference on Somalia held in Saudi Arabia

22 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 117 words

A conference attended by officials and delegates from Nations in the Arab Cooperation Council was held in Saudi Arabia to discuss the current situation in Somalia. The various topics discussed during the summit ranged from security, war against pirates to terrorism and more. After the meeting, the members of the Nations in the Arab Cooperation Council said in a communique that the members are largely concerned about the security situation and the dangers posed by pirates in Somalia.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan risks death penalty in Ethiopia over terror plot

22 May – Source: Africa Review – 181 words

A Kenyan national is among 11 individuals held in an Ethiopian jail for alleged involvement in an Al-Qaeda backed bombing plot. Ethiopia has a strict anti-terrorism law that prescribes anywhere between 20 years imprisonment to the death penalty for anyone convicted under it.

Six alleged Somali pirates go on trial in France

22 May – Source: Kuwait News Agency/dpa – 330 words

Six Somalis appeared in court here in Tuesday, accused of piracy after they were captured by French military in the Puntland region of Somalia in 2008 during a follow-up raid.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

AU troops battle Somali rebels for control of IDP corridor

22 May – Source: Reuters/Christian Science Monitor – 193 words

UNESCO heads East Africa water search

22 May – Source: VOA News – 156 words

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) and officials from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia Tuesday launched a regional initiative to identify and improve groundwater resources in the region. UNESCO’s “Strengthening Capacity to Combat Drought and Famine in the Horn of Africa” project aims to ease the water and food shortages faced by some nine million people who are still struggling to recover from last year’s drought and famine, the worst in 60 years.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“One undeniable fact is that because of the active role it has assumed in Somalia, Turkey has, at least according to anecdotal evidence, won broad acceptance among the usually hyper-suspicious Somalis. A prominent Somali living and working in Mogadishu, for example, very enthusiastically told the author of this article that ‘Somalis love Turks and what they’re doing’. It is also noteworthy that its diplomatic efforts in Somalia presented Turkey with an important opportunity to illustrate its soft power in Africa. It is certainly an indication of Turkey’s foreign policy ambition to become a major economic and political player in Africa.”

The Soft Power Role of Turkey in Somalia

22 May – Source: ISS Africa – 1102 Words

Turkey has suddenly and vigorously undertaken a series of initiatives to help Somalia out of its dire political and economic crisis. Turkey’s first visible initiative was organising a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 17 August 2011. The meeting was attended by 40 member states of the OIC and was intended to support Somalia, which was in the grip of a famine. It ended with a pledge to donate $350 million of humanitarian aid to Somalia.