May 23, 2014 | Morning Headlines.
UN Council seeks tighter Somali control of weapons
22 May – Source: AFP – 197 words
The UN Security Council on Thursday urged Somalia to do a better job keeping track of its arsenal of weapons, which in the past have fallen into the hands of Islamic militants. “The Security Council remains concerned about the diversion of arms and ammunition, including potentially to al Shabaab,” it said in a unanimous declaration. The 15 member council called on Mogadishu to “consider establishing a joint verification team with international experts.” “The team should focus on physical verification of arms and ammunition provided to the federal government, as well as the systems of control in place for arms and ammunition management,” the council said. Improved measures to safeguard its arms would be in compliance with terms of a partial suspension last March of an arms embargo on Somalia, the council said. The Security Council at that time extended a measure that eased a weapons ban in Somalia, but it tightened other restrictions, to try to prevent the arms from ending up in the hands of Islamist extremists. The measure in March required that the Somali government meet strict conditions on monitoring arms imports, to prevent the weapons falling into the hand of the al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militia.
Key Headlines
- The new head of Somali military court takes office (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
- UN Council seeks tighter Somali control of weapons (AFP)
- Somali Women need to be considered for country’s leadership (Somali Current)
- Al Shabaab pledges new terror campaign as allied forces make advance (Garowe Online)
- Somali extremist threatens US Kenya with ‘jihad’ (Arab News)
- Two al Shabaab fighters injured by government forces in El-bur (Bar-kulan)
- Police officer civilian injured in Mombasa explosion (Standard Media)
PRESS STATEMENT
Cabinet unanimously passes the Public Procurement, Concessions and Disposal Act
22 May – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 283 words
The Minister of Finance, Hussien Abdi Halane, has passed the Public Procurement, Concessions and Disposal Act in front of a unanimous Cabinet vote. This signals a milestone in Somalia’s achievements and is a step towards a brighter future. The objective of the Bill is to lay down principles and practices of public procurement and create a foundation for transparent financial governance. This will further contribute to the Somali Federal Government and promote economic development.
The Public Procurement, Concession and Disposal Act will regulate the Somali public finance, increase accountability and ascertain that public funds are used for the purpose which they are intended. It offers full transparency and procurement will help obtain the best values for public expenditures by reducing the price of commodities and services to strengthen financial governance and institutions. It will bring consistency and order in the procedures, processes and decisions relating to procurement and agreements entered into it.
Minister Halane has made this achievement an utmost priority since his arrival to the post. “It is a milestone triumph for Cabinet to unanimously pass this Bill. It addresses all issues of transparency, accountability and utilizing public funds wisely when the public institutions procure goods and services as well as concessions. This new bill was taken very well by Cabinet and it is a milestone in the Somali Federal Government”, he said.
The new Bill will promote the growth of local business people of the Federal Government of Somalia and eradicate mismanagement of public funds, reduce monopolies and promote competitiveness in the concession of procurement process. This Bill will go through Parliament and once it is passed it will allow the Somali government to strengthen its financial governance and institutions.
Information Minister “To enhance the capacity of our journalists is prerequisite for the development of Somali media”
22 May – Source: Ministry of Information – 401 words
The Minister of Information, H.E. Mustaf Duhulow congratulated 138 journalists that graduated for writing of radio module course in Mogadishu and said “To enhance the capacity of our journalists is prerequisite for the development of Somali media.” The Minister who couldn’t attend today’s graduation ceremony in Mogadishu as he is on abroad mission said “Congratulations to all 138 journalists who are today celebrating for their hard work, commitment and dedication, and I have no doubt that your achievement will make huge difference to the development of Somali media.”
The Minister of Information, H.E. Mustaf Duhulow thanked the founder and the management of Somali Media Academy who conducted the course in their centre in Mogadishu and said;- “I would like to thank the founder and the management of Somali Media Academy for providing such a valuable course to our young journalists in Somalia. This course of writing of radio, which prepares journalists on how to write scripts for news, documentary, features, commercial and programs is very important to our journalists in order to enhance their skills, knowledge and professionalism, which are all essential skills that is so desperately in need to our journalists.”
He also, stated that this timely special course shows Somali Media Academy’s vision of prioritizing the very urgent and timely important subject which will improve the schedule, timing of news and programs. The government values this initiative very much.
The Minister concluded his remarks “As Somalia is moving away from lawlessness state an era to an era of peace, stability and good governance, it is important that we build the capacity of our young journalists who have been working in difficult environment for the last 23 years. It is our top priority in the ministry of information to enhance the capacity of our journalists so that they can provide informative, information that is properly edited to ensure objectivity, impartiality, integrity and ethically sound, which can make valuable contributions to the society.
The Minister congratulate the young graduate journalists who are today celebrating their achievement, he also encourage them to practice what they have learned and share their experience and expertise to their colleagues and friends. Saying that today is a good day for Somalia and in particular Somali media and we hope that Somali Media Academy will continue to professionalize the Somali media through professional training that is tailored to the needs of our journalists.
SOMALI MEDIA
The new head of Somali military court takes office
22 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 92 words
The newly appointed head of Somali military court Abdirahman Mohamed Turyare has officially taken office to replace the former head Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab the current governor of Banadir region and mayor of Mogadishu. The former head of the military court Mr. Muungaab presented the achievements of the court during his reign especially executions and death penalties carried out by the court. Mr. Turyare giving speech at the handovering ceremony thanked the security institutions and promised that he work closely with the institutions so as to maintain the overall security of the region.
Al Shabaab pledges new terror campaign as allied forces make advance
22 May – Source: Garowe Online/Radio Andulus – 91 words
Somalia’s al Qaeda linked al Shabaab group has declared that it would boost rampage with violent campaign in Mogadishu as allied forces made advances against militants, Garowe Online reports. On Thursday, speaking on Pro-al Shabaab station, Radio Andulus the group’s representative to Banadir Ali Mohamed Hussein (Ali Jabal) said they by now launched assaults on military targets and soft structures in the volatile Mogadishu. He noted that a string of apparently coordinated attacks harmed what al Shabaab official described as ‘the enemy’, referring to Somalia Federal Government and African Union troops.
Two al Shabaab fighters injured by government forces in El-bur
22 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 98 words
Fighters loyal to al Shabaab militant group have on Wednesday night attacked Somali government forces and AMISOM military base in the outskirts of El-bur town, Galgadud region. Somali military forces commander in El-bur town, Mohamed Kahiye Arrale has confirmed the incident to Bar-kulan. He claimed that his forces have resisted the attack by injuring two al Shabaab fighters and seizing firearms and clothes from the militant group. He added that his forces sustained no casualties in the attack in which he said was meant to disrupt the government’s efforts to resettle hundreds of displaced families to their villages.
Somali Women need to be considered for country’s leadership
22 May – Source: Somali Current – 98 words
Women’s role in the decision making body of the country have been raised in a conference held at Mogadishu. This meeting which has been attended by Somali Women Organizations in the country has been raised women’s role in the political leadership of the country. This conference has been organized by Talo-wadag organization, which was united by Somali Women Organizations. Women participants in the meeting have discussed on the best means that Somali women can effectively partake country’s decision making bodies as well as the development. They have agreed to establish committees for developing Somali women in the country.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Police officer, civilian injured in Mombasa explosion
22 May – Source: Standard Media – 67 words
Two people have been injured after an explosion went off Thursday night at Biashara street along Old Kongowea road  in Mombasa. Police officer and a civilian injured in the attack have been rushed to hospital for treatment. Police had allegedly arrested a terror suspect and were handcuffing him when another suspect emerged and hurled a grenade at them and in the process, they both escaped.
Somali extremist threatens US, Kenya with ‘jihad’
22 May – Source: Arab News – 131 words
Making a rare threat against the United States, a senior member of Somalia’s Islamic insurgent group that has carried out terrorist attacks abroad said Thursday that holy war will come to America and that Islam’s flag will one day fly over Washington. The al Shabaab fighter, who has a $5 million US bounty on his head, said in a speech broadcast on the rebels’ radio station that al Shabaab fighters would carry out jihad, or holy war, in Kenya and Uganda “and afterward, with God’s will, to America.” “America is waging a war in the Horn of Africa because they are responsive to the Qur’an verses saying that the Islamic flag will fly in every corner of the world,” Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, also known as Fuad Shongole, said, referring to Islam’s holy book.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN Council seeks tighter Somali control of weapons
22 May – Source: AFP – 197 words
The UN Security Council on Thursday urged Somalia to do a better job keeping track of its arsenal of weapons, which in the past have fallen into the hands of Islamic militants. “The Security Council remains concerned about the diversion of arms and ammunition, including potentially to al Shabaab,” it said in a unanimous declaration. The 15 member council called on Mogadishu to “consider establishing a joint verification team with international experts.” “The team should focus on physical verification of arms and ammunition provided to the federal government, as well as the systems of control in place for arms and ammunition management,” the council said. Improved measures to safeguard its arms would be in compliance with terms of a partial suspension last March of an arms embargo on Somalia, the council said. The Security Council at that time extended a measure that eased a weapons ban in Somalia, but it tightened other restrictions, to try to prevent the arms from ending up in the hands of Islamist extremists. The measure in March required that the Somali government meet strict conditions on monitoring arms imports, to prevent the weapons falling into the hand of the al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militia.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“FCO’s Simon Fraser visits staff in Mogadishu, risking their lives to support a stable and democratic future in Somalia.”
Heavily armed and makeshift – inside Britain’s newest embassy in Somalia
22 May – Source: The Guardian – 526 Words
Inside a small compound within the heavily guarded barriers of Mogadishu International Airport, in a country which has seen over two decades of civil war, lies Britain’s newest embassy. We are the first EU state member to have reopened our embassy in Mogadishu, evidence of our commitment to working with the federal government of Somalia to rebuild the country. Stability, democracy and prosperity are vital for the future of the Somali people but also for wider international security, including here in the UK. Radicalisation and extremism abroad can so easily find its way onto Britain’s streets. I visited at the end of April with Mark Lowcock, the permanent secretary of the Department for International Development (DFID). Being in Mogadishu gave me a sense of hope; a lot of progress has been made over the past couple of years. African Union peacekeepers have recovered territory from the al Shabaab militias. I was even able to visit the port of Kismayo which al Shabaab controlled until 2012. The economy is starting to revive and the president has promised a new federal political plan for reform by 2016. In Somalia, co-operation between the regions will be the key to success.