November 14, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Somali federal parliament gives vote of confidence to cabinet
13 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online- 156 words
Members of the Somali federal parliament have on Tuesday given vote of confidence to the newly appointed cabinet of the prime minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. President of the Somali federal government, Hassan Sheikh Mohamed and his premier attended the parliamentary session, calling on members of the Somali federal parliament to endorse the cabinet. 225 members of the Somali lawmakers were present at the session which was chaired by speaker of the Somali federal parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari said. 219 lawmakers voted yes to the cabinet, 3 were voted against while three others abstained. Prime minister Shirdon who spoke at the floor of house after the vote promised that his government would strengthen the security and rebuild the country.
Key Headlines
- Somali federal parliament gives vote of confidence to cabinet (Radio Mogadishu/SONNA)
- UN Special Representative Statement on the Endorsement of the Council of Ministers (UNPOS)
- Dufle joins parliament replaces Tarsan (Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/)
- Locals ask MSF not to stop operation in Beledweyne hospital ( Radio Mogadishu/SONNA)
- Uganda: Police issue fresh terror alert (New Vision)
- Somalia news website is run by the US military (AP)
- EU High Representative Catherine Ashton statement on appointment of new government in Somalia (modernghana/KUNA)
- Turkish Red Crescent & Istanbul Municipality to reconstruct Mogadishu (Anatolia News Agency)
PRESS STATEMENT
UN Special Representative Statement on the Endorsement of the Council of Ministers
13 Nov- Source: UNPOS- 330 words
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga, has welcomed the overwhelming endorsement by the Somali Federal Parliament of the Council of Ministers announced by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon on 4 November.
“This is another important milestone in the history of Somalia,” SRSG Mahiga said, “the appointment of clean slate of just ten Ministers conclusively demonstrates the will of the Somali leadership to move away from the mindset of the past and bring about positive change. I am particularly pleased with the historic appointments of two women to substantive high profile as Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Development and Social Services.”
“I commend Prime Minister Shirdon and President Hassan Sheikh for their extensive consultations with a wide cross-section of Somali society inside and outside of the country that produced this inclusive Cabinet which bears all positive hallmarks of a potential good government. It was a remarkable exercise in confidence building. The new Council of Ministers represents a broad spectrum of political shades and membership while taking clan balance, equality and representation into account. It also reflects the cultural and social realities of today’s Somalia.” Said the SRSG.
“I congratulate all the new Ministers and wish them every success in the hard tasks that lie ahead. Dr. Mahiga said. “UNPOS will continue to work with our Somali partners to improve the Government’s capacity, enhance political reconciliation, strengthen the security and judiciary sectors and to facilitate reconstruction, especially in the recently recovered areas in accordance with the President’s six pillar policy.”
“I also wish to commend the Members of the Somali Federal Parliament for debating the Cabinet’s nominations and work programme in a transparent, democratic and open manner. Their vote of confidence signifies the dawn of a healthy relationship between the new Executive and Legislative Institutions in Somali politics. It symbolizes enlightened leadership, unity and determination of all Somalis to invest in a brighter future for the nation,” the SRSG said.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali federal parliament gives vote of confidence to cabinet
13 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online- 156 words
Members of the Somali federal parliament have on Tuesday given vote of confidence to the newly appointed cabinet of the prime minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. President of the Somali federal government, Hassan Sheikh Mohamed and his premier attended the parliamentary session, calling on members of the Somali federal parliament to endorse the cabinet. 225 members of the Somali lawmakers were present at the session which was chaired by speaker of the Somali federal parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari said. 219 lawmakers voted yes to the cabinet, 3 were voted against while three others abstained Prime minister Shirdon who spoke at the floor of house after the vote promised that his government would strengthen the security and rebuild the country.
Dufle joins parliament, replaces Tarsan
13 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Kulmiye- 167 words
Osman Hajji Maxamoud (Dufle) will replace Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Ahmed Noor Tarsan as a member of the new Somali parliament, speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari has announced. Speaking after the parliament’s vote of confidence for the newly appointed cabinet ministers on Tuesday, Jawari said the new constitution does not allow a member of parliament to hold a public office apart from ministerial docket. He said in line with the new constitution, the mayor had to give up his position as an MP in the new parliament and continue serving as Mogadishu mayor. Tarsan was selected as an MP by his clan elders during the recent selection of the new parliament last September. But since then he has never attended parliamentary session since he did not take oath as an MP.
Locals ask MSF not to stop operation in Beledweyne hospital
13 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA- 175 words
Locals in Beledweyne city in Hiiraan region central Somalia have asked MSF SWISS not to halt medical assistance and its operation in Beledweyne General Hospital following the agency’s notice to stop its activities in that region, reports said. People in Beledweyne have expressed concern about the statement from MSF SWISS(doctors without borders) stopping medical assistance and leaving the hospital that admits and gives medical assistance to over hundred patients per day, according to medical officials there. Direct general of Beledweyne hospital, Ahmed Mohamed Khalif said that MS-SWISS informed them that it will stop its operations in Beledweyne in the end of this year. He revealed that 72,000 patients received medical service from their hospital since the hospital restarted its health service in 2007, adding that some of those patients are still under treatment. Traditional elders in the region requested the agency to rescind from its decision to leave the hospital.
Gunmen kill Garowe city council employee
13 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 95 words
A local government officer was killed and three others injured in a shootout with gunmen in Garowe, Puntland’s administrative capital. The officer was among a group of demolition squad working for the area city council who wanted raze down illegal structures near the presidential palace. The officers were attacked by armed gunmen who were opposed to the intended demolition. Some of the injured officers are said to be in critical condition. Police later arrested three of the gunmen who attacked the city council employees during the incident.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Uganda: Police issue fresh terror alert
13 Nov- Source: New Vision- 486 words
The Police have issued a fresh terror alert against a possible attack on Uganda by four terrorists from Kazakhstan.”We have received a security notification in form of an orange notice of four terrorists originating from Kazakhstan who are planning to travel to foreign countries in order to commit attacks and participate in hostile acts,” Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said in a statement on Monday.
Somali parliament endorses new government
13 Nov- Source: Capital FM/AFP/Daily Nation- 191 words
Somalia’s new parliament endorsed on Tuesday all 10 ministers appointed by the prime minister, approving one of the smallest ever cabinets for the war-ravaged nation. Two women are among the 10, including Somalia’s first female foreign minister, Fowsiyo Yusuf Haji Adan, who hails from the self-declared independent state of Somaliland. “Lawmakers have endorsed the new cabinet with a majority vote, 219 members out of the 225 who attended the session gave the ‘yes’ vote to the new cabinet,” said parliament speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia news website is run by the US military
13 Nov- Source: AP- 130 words
The website’s headlines trumpet al-Shabab’s imminent demise and describe an American jihadist fretting over insurgent infighting. At first glance it appears to be a sleek Horn of Africa news site. But in fact the site is run by the U.S. military as part of a propaganda operation aimed at countering extremists in Africa. The U.S. military’s Africa Command, known as Africom, runs two sites that look like ordinary news sites, centering on the regions hosting dangerous terror cells, one in Somalia and one in northwest Africa, an area known as the Maghreb.
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton statement on appointment of new government in Somalia
13 Nov- Source: modernghana/KUNA- 188 words
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:
“The High Representative congratulates Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon “Saaid” on the appointment of his new government, following the endorsement of the government and its work programme by the Federal Parliament. The limited number of ministries fits well with the necessary focus in implementing the key priorities spelled out in the work programme to provide security, livelihoods and services to the Somali people. The appointment of two women to prominent Cabinet positions shows appreciation of the vital role played by women in building the future of Somalia.
‘No civil war in Somalia’: Migration Board
13 Nov- Source: The Local-323 Words
Somalis seeking a residence permit in Sweden will face tighter restrictions in the near future, after the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) judged that the country was no longer at war. “The fighting isn’t regular enough to warrant calling it a civil war, but it is still a difficult situation,” Migration Board legal expert Fredrik Beijer told news agency TT. Until now, the majority of Somalis arriving in Sweden from southern and central parts of Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu, have been allowed to stay in Sweden.
Turkish Red Crescent & Istanbul Municipality to reconstruct Mogadishu
13 Nov- Source: Anatolia News Agency-173 words
Turkish Red Crescent and the IBB will work together in the construction of roads and pavements, collection of solid waste, environmental arrangement and the erection of an industrial site. 50 construction machines and trucks from Turkey have been brought to Mogadishu to be used during construction activities. In order for the project to advance, the IBB will send a team of 100 experts to Somalia in the next few days. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), an executive with the IBB, Kamil Kolabas, said that they wanted to turn Mogadishu into a modern and contemporary capital.
SOCIALMEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Whilst Uganda might want to lobby to make its intentions known, it is expected that a great deal of diplomatic pressure will be brought to bear to preclude the country’s threat to withdraw troops, at least for the moment.”
Is Uganda Really Set to Withdraw Troops From Somalia?
13 Nov- Source: AllAfrica/ISS Africa-449 Words
Uganda has threatened to withdraw its forces from a number of peacekeeping missions including the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Currently, the country provides the largest contingent to Somalia and has been key to the successes of the mission in its efforts to extend security beyond Mogadishu.