May 9, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia’s national joint security committee meeting concludes in Mogadishu

08 May – Source: Bar-kulan/ Radio Mogadishu – 104 words

The national joint security committee’s members concluded their meeting on yesterday in Mogadishu where they discussed the general security situation in the country. The meeting, which was chaired by PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was also attended by officials from the international community, the UN political office for Somalia and U.S ambassador to Somalia as well as Ahlu Sunna group. Also attending the security meeting were officials from Puntland and Galmudug.

Key Headlines

U.S ambassador to Somalia James Swan visits Mogadishu (Source: Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali Kuwaiti officials discuss cooperation in education (Source: Kuwait News Agency)
Mogadishu feeding centers keep thousands from starvation (Source: VOA News)
Somali Security forces thwart suicide attacks in Mogadishu (Source: Shabelle)
Japan donates police equipment to SPF ( Source: TFG)
Al Shabaab seek influence in Mogadishu (Source: UPI)

PRESS STATEMENT

Japan donates police equipment to SPF

May 7 – Source: TFG – 301 words

The government of Japan gave out donations meant for the Somali Police Force (SPF) to the transitional federal government of Somalia. The donations included 16 Land cruisers, two ambulance vehicles, two vehicles of personnel carriers, bullet proof jackets and combat helmets.

The commissioner of the Somali Police Force General Sharif Sheikhuna spoke at the handover of the police protective equipments thanking the government of Japan for their generosity.

“Japan has many times taken part in giving out the stipends for the police and other police equipments. We hope Japan will continue assisting our police”, Commissioner Sheikhuna said.

Sheikuna said the donation will greatly help the police force in carrying out their duties urging them to double their efforts of stabilization.

Japan’s ambassador to Kenya Shahisa Takeda who was present at the ceremony said he was visiting Mogadishu for the first time and expressed his happiness for the warm reception he received from the officials of the TFG.

“Japan government donated the equipment to help the Somali people and will continue to support their Somali brothers in providing police equipments in the near future”, Takeda said.

Minister for interior and internal security of Somalia Abdisamad also spoke at the ceremony saying that the battledress and the transport system for the police will help raise their strength and at the same time help them maintain security.

Prime Minister Abdiweli also spoke at the occasion where he thanked the Japan government for their help and donation. Abdiweli also said Japan has been a long ally of Somalia and has been helping equip the Somali police force as well as offer training

Meanwhile, Premier Abdiweli held a meeting with the ambassador of France to Kenya Etienne de Poncins. Abdiweli congratulated the people of France for their election of the new president Francois Hollande. The two leaders discussed the relations between the two countries.

SOMALI MEDIA

U.S ambassador to Somalia James Swan visits Mogadishu

08 May – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 108 words

The U.S ambassador to Somalia James Swan yesterday met Somali PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali in Mogadishu where they discussed a range of issues including the working plan of the Road Map.

Swan praised the Somali government’s efforts towards the end of the current transitional period. He said the U.S will continue supporting all initiatives aimed at ending the two-decades-old conflict in Somalia.

Somali Security forces thwart suicide attacks in Mogadishu

08 May – Source: Shabelle – 81 words

Security officials in Somalia government say they seized today two men with explosives at Ex-control Afgoye checkpoint, a busy junction on the main road that links Mogadishu, the capital to the rebel-held Afgoi district on the south Somalia. “The security forces of the Somali government have managed to capture and thwart two men wearing suicide belts which had been planned by al Shabaab extremists to carry out attacks in Mogadishu,” Ahmed Abdullah Yare, a TFG security official said.

Somalia’s national joint security committee meeting concludes in Mogadishu

08 May – Source: Bar-kulan/ Radio Mogadishu – 104 words

Newly appointed Beledweyne mayor bans firearms in the city

08 May- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 134 words

The newly appointed mayor of Beledweyne town on Tuesday made firearms illegal within the vicinity of city just a day after he was voted in as the mayor of the city.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali, Kuwaiti officials discuss cooperation in education

08 May – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 143 words

Visiting minister of education and culture in Somalia Ahmed Adeel discussed today with Kuwaiti officials at the ministry of education means of boosting bilateral cooperation in the field of education.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Mogadishu feeding centers keep thousands from starvation

09 May – Source: VOA News – 209 words

The population of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has shot up from 1.8 million to two million since African Union and government forces drove out the militant group al Shabaab. Most of the arrivals came last year in search of food after drought and famine struck much of Somalia’s war-ravaged countryside. Many feeding centers that have sprung up to help those displaced by famine and fighting.

Al Shabaab seeks influence in Mogadishu

08 May – Source: UPI – 119 words

Al Shabaab may be trying to gain political influence in the Somali government three months before the interim administration ends, an analyst said.

The U.N. Political Office for Somalia, the African Union mission and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development issued an “unambiguous warning to potential spoilers” that they face sanctions if they get in the way of Somalia’s political development.

country.

Mother seeks help for son held captive in Somalia

08 May – Source: CBN News – 182 words

A mother of a Filipino seafarer is seeking the help of government and nongovernment organizations and even the international community in helping rescue her son who is still being held hostage in Somalia for two years now. Aurora Gonzales of Jaro, Iloilo City went to the Blas F. Ople Policy Center to follow up the case of her son, 31-year-old Gerald Gonzales.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“With so much at stake in the lives of the Somali people and the future of the Somali state, many skeptics point to several short-comings of this draft constitution. According to the new constitution, the system of governance to be adopted should be based on federalism, mandating the creation of states. Accordingly, the existing 18 regions have no legal basis within the context of the new constitution.”

Somalia’s Draft Constitution: a Case of Local Priority VS Regional and Donor Interest

08 May – Source: Harowo – 975 Words

The latest prescription to re-engineer the re-emergence of Somalia as a weak and divided state is drawing a strong resistance from the wider Somali public as they oppose the new “draft Constitution” and characterize it as constituting an unconditional surrender of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. If it is the Somali people’s sacred duty to safeguard, protect and defend the Constitution and to maintain its supremacy as the embodiment of the will of the people, therefore it is only reasonable for the people ofSomaliato participate in and speak for or against the constitution-making process.