May 30, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

East African firms set sights on Somalia as recovery takes root

29 May – Source: Reuters – 156 words

East African firms said on Wednesday Somalia was an increasingly enticing market as it strives to cement security gains against al Qaeda-linked insurgents and spur an economic recovery. The Horn of Africa country needs rebuilding from scratch. just 10 percent of its roads are paved while 95 percent of the country’s 10 million people have no electricity. In the capital, Mogadishu, mushrooming construction sites, solar-powered street lamps and beach front cafes point to a delicate rebound, albeit one largely confined to the city. “Somalia is a fantastic prospect,” Prasad Karey, head of sales and marketing at Kenya-based Athi River Steel Plant, said. Such a view would have been unthinkable barely two years ago when al Shabaab rebels still held bases across the capital and other major urban areas in southern and central Somalia. They have since been pushed back into rural areas and militarily weakened by a military offensive led by African peacekeepers and government forces.

Key Headlines

Investment conference on Somalia concludes in Nairobi (Radio Mustaqbal/Bar-kulan)
Info Minister accuses former Puntland President of causing disturbance (Garowe Online/Bar-kulan)
Several arrested in Mogadishu during security operations (Bar-kulan)
AMISOM Health Clinics Treat Somalis in Areas Liberated From al Shabaab ( Sabahi Online)
HM receives messages from Somalia Comoros (Times of Oman)
East African firms set sights on Somalia as recovery takes root (Reuters)

SOMALI MEDIA

Investment conference on Somalia concludes in Nairobi

29 May – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Bar-kulan – 130 words

The two day investment conference on Somalia that kicked off in Kenyan capital, Nairobi which offered a rare window into business opportunities available for rebuilding Somalia concluded later Wednesday. More than 150 participants from international organizations and multilateral agencies, representatives from agencies promoting African investment, international business leaders, government officials and journalists attended the conference. Prof Abdirahman Hajji Aden Ibbi who was among the attendees of the conference said that the second day of the conference was discussed issues among minerals, electricity, and also benefiting from the Somali sea sources, he added that these are key features that need to be invested. Ibbi stated that international organizations have already vowed to invest Somalia in the shortest time period.

Puntland Info Minister accuses former Puntland President of causing disturbance

29 May – Source: Garowe Online/Bar-kulan – 130 words

Puntland Minister of Information accused former Puntland President Mohamud Musse Hersi (Adde) of being responsible for disturbance in Puntland districts, Garowe Online reports. Puntland’s Information Minister Mohamud Aydid held a press conference on Wednesday in which he allegedly accused former Puntland President Gen. Adde Musse of organizing acts of insecurity in Bari and Karkaar region. “Adde Musse is responsible for soldiers deserting their posts and recent roadblocks that were set up in Bari and Karkaar region,” said Minister Aydid on Thursday. “He [Adde Musse] is also organizing more acts of insecurity,” alleged the minister. Speaking about Adde’s recent conferences in Qardo in which he rejected the ongoing democratization process in Puntland, Minister Aydid said he was entitled to his opinion but should refrain from organizing acts against the Puntland government.

Several arrested in Mogadishu during security operations

29 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 111 words

Security operations have been carried out in Hamar-Jajab district of the Somali capital, Mogadishu which has resulted in the arrests of many people suspected to be members of al Qaeda associated al Shabaab militant group. The operation which was conducted by two units of the Somali Government forces has resulted the arrest of at least 30 people in Afisiyone neighborhood of Hamar-Jajab district. Some of the detainees were released after they have been interrogated by the Somali police. Government officials say that those who still under custody will be further probed. The Somali government forces have been carrying out number of security operations in the Somali capital, Mogadishu for the last few weeks.

Somaliland:Horn Cable Television Celebrates 10 year anniversary

29 May – Source: Somaliland Press – 114 words

President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) was the Guest of Honor at a well-attended ceremony marking the 10 anniversary since the launch of the Horn Cable Television the leading private television station in Somaliland which was held today at Mansour Hotel. President Silanyo speaking at the event said “I applaud the HCTV for the work it does in shaping our daily life’s and not to mention the courage of the founder in leading the way in creating brings the much needed entrepreneurial and employment opportunities, my government will assist anyone who is willing to invest in commercial and industrial development of this country and had since been elected endorsed closer collaboration with the private sector,”.

REGIONAL MEDIA

AMISOM Health Clinics Treat Somalis in Areas Liberated From al Shabaab

29 May – Source: Sabahi Online – 169 words

In the past six months, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has set up eight health clinics and three hospitals in areas liberated from al Shabaab, according to AMISOM spokesperson Colonel Ali Aden Humad. The clinics are in several districts of Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, and the hospitals are in Beledweyne, Kismayo and Baidoa. They offer a full range of health services, Humad said. “We have modern healthcare equipment, including laboratory equipment to diagnose common diseases, x-ray machines for bone injuries, machines to monitor high blood pressure and diabetes, and free medicine provided by highly qualified doctors,” he told Sabahi. AMISOM staffs the hospitals with two doctors and ten nurses each, to serve as many as 300 patients daily. The smaller health centres serve fewer patients, Humad said. Mobile health clinics also are up and running in rural villages. AMISOM opened the centres after consulting with traditional elders, who informed them that healthcare was among the people’s biggest needs. The operational costs come directly from the AMISOM budget.

HM receives messages from Somalia, Comoros

29 May – Source: Times of Oman – 55 words

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said yesterday received a written message from President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and President Dr Ikililou Dhoinine of the Union of the Comoros. The messages were handed over to His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

East African firms set sights on Somalia as recovery takes root

29 May – Source: Reuters – 156 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Once everyone was on board, a loud male voice pierced through the cacophony of noise. The voice asked all the passengers to be quiet for prayers before take-off.Then, in an impeccable Somali voice, the teenage-looking steward in a half-buttoned baggy pink shirt said “welcome on board” and proceeded to recite a prayer at the top of his voice (the plane had no PA system and the steward had no megaphone). It was the kind of prayer Somalis normally recite at the graves of their long-gone great grandparents.”

Somalia: Pray before, during and after your flight

29 May- Source: Voices of Africa-1377 Words

Taking a domestic flight in Somalia is an experience that can best be described as travelling to the brink of death and coming back. The airplanes on the domestic routes are commonly called express flying coffins and those who survive a flight on them are fittingly referred to as coffin dodgers. Due to the appalling state of the country’s roads and poor road safety more and more Somalis are choosing to fly instead of drive. On a recent hot humid Thursday afternoon more than 150 of us gathered in the lounge of Mogadishu International Airport to take a flight to Kismayo, Somalia’s third biggest city.