November 19, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
South Africa congratulates Somalia on the endorsement of its new Cabinet
17 Nov – Source: South African Government News – 133 words
On behalf of the people and the Government of South Africa, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma extends hearty congratulations to the new Somali Ministers, the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Somalia following the recent endorsement by the Somali Parliament of the country’s new Cabinet. President Zuma said: “South Africa commends Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shiridon, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and the Somali Federal Parliament in their decision to assemble a Cabinet.
Key Headlines
- OIC to support rebuilding Somalia (Bar-Kulan/Radio Mogadishu)
- Kenyan military comes under attack in Gedo Southwestern Somalia (Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab pulls out of two positions in Galgadud (Bar-Kulan)
- Former and current ministers meet (Radio Risaala)
- Bula-Barde traders boycott business activities following militants’ tax increase (Bar-Kulan)
- Nairobi explosion kills five wounds more (Capital News/Daily Nation)
- Puntland says arrests al Shabaab members seizes explosives (Reuters)
- Human Rights Due Diligence Policy and the UN support to security forces (UNPOS)
- Kibaki urges deeper bilateral relations with Somalia (Daily Nation)
PRESS STATEMENT
Somali President Congratulates Xi Jinping on his election as General Secretary
18 Nov – Source: Office of the Somali President – 225 words
President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud of Somalia Congratulate Xi Jinping on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). On behalf of the people and Government of Somalia, please accept my warm congratulations on the successful holding of the 18th National Congress and your election as its Secretary General. Somalia and China has a deep rooted friendship.
I am confident that China under the leadership of Xi Jinping will prosper and further extend its growth, while retaining its valued principles. I am honored to lead the people of Somalia at a new dawn, in which they are ardent to reverse an era of conflict to a new age of unity, peace and development.
In respect to China’s indispensable role in the Global economy, and with the spirit of 2012 FOCAC (Forum on China–Africa Cooperation) theme, I hope we can both further implement the planned Strategic partnership for Somalia and China.
The historical relationship of both our nations is a true testament to brotherly relations; I hope together we continue to move to future that consolidates our values for peace, harmony and development.
The people of Somalia always welcome the happiness and success ushered by the CPC for the people of china and will always remain a friend and an ally with China, in facing the challenges of the future ahead of us.
Outgoing and incoming AU Special Representatives pay a courtesy call on Somali leadership
16 Nov – Source: AMISOM – 258 words
The outgoing Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra paid a one day visit to Mogadishu where he took the opportunity to officially introduce the in†coming SRCC Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif to the Prime Minister of the Federal Government, H.E. Abdi Farah Shirdon and Speaker of the Federal Parliament, H.E. Mohamed Osman Jawari.
Ambassador Diarra said the incoming AU Special Representative has rich experience in international relations which he said will be very helpful to the Somali peace process especially at this critical point that the country is making tremendous progress both on political and security fronts with support from the international community.
“Ambassador Annadif has held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff for the President of Chad as well as Permanent Representative of the African Union Commission to the European Union in Brussels.” Said ambassador Diarra.
Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra who has held the position of AU Special Representative for Somalia (SRCC) since January 2010 is scheduled to leave towards the end of this month for Burundi where he is expected to take up another appointment as the Special Representative of the AU Commission for the Great Lakes Region.
He leaves the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) having played a key role in the country’s political process which culminated into the ending of the transitional period and the withdrawal of Al†Shabaab terrorist group from strategic areas thereby creating the longest period of relative peace and security in two decades.
Human Rights Due Diligence Policy and the UN support to security forces
18 Nov – Source: UNPOS – 380 words
A three-day Round Table organized by UNPOS on how to streamline human rights due diligence policy to the support that the United Nations is offering to security entities was concluded in Somalia. The first part of the round table that took place in Nairobi specifically targeted the United Nations Agencies and Programmes, while the second part in Mogadishu brought together Somali National Forces, the Federal Government, Somalia Police Forces, Military Courts, Ministries of Justice and Defense, AMISOM and the UN.
Representatives from UN Peacekeeping missions in DRC, Cote D’Ivoire and South Sudan cited best practices such as the importance of bringing national stakeholders to a sound understanding of this policy as leverage to improve standards in security operations and the advantage of developing standard procedures on the application of the policy.
“It is important as Somalia rebuilds itself that its institutions are anchored on a foundation of human rights and the dignity of all people” said UN Under-Secretary General for Field Support, Ms. Ameerah Haq who presided over the closing session along with the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia, Dr. Augustine Mahiga. “This is where UN support would extensively be provided”, she added.
The Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) was endorsed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2011, and constitutes a landmark measure to ensure that the UN lives up to its own normative standards by guaranteeing that its support to security forces and entities around the world is consistent with the organization’s purposes and principles in the Charter and its obligations under international law to respect, promote and encourage respect for International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Refugee Law.
SOMALI MEDIA
OIC to support rebuilding Somalia
18 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan /Radio Mogadishu – 83 words
Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries meeting in Djibouti have promised to support Somalia’s efforts to rebuild the country and provide humanitarian support, Foreign Minister Fowzia Aden. Aden said the 39th session of the OIC was of significant importance for Somalia.
Kenyan military comes under attack in Gedo, Southwestern Somalia
18 Nov – Source: Shabelle – 104 words
Witnesses say armed groups attacked on Sunday the Kenyan military forces in the southwestern region of Gedo, 620 Km south of Mogadishu. The attack took place when the gunmen assaulted a convoy of the Kenyan army serving in AMISOM in Elwaq town, close to the border between Somalia and Kenya, reports said. It was immediately unclear whether there was any casualty in the ambush.
The New Minister of Information takes office
18 Nov – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/SONNA – 136 words
The New Minister of Information Posts and Telecommunication of the Somali Federal Government, H.E. Abdulahi Elmoge Hirsi on Sunday took office replacing his predecessor, Abdukadir Mohamed Hassan, SONNA confirmed. Former minister Abdukadir Mohamed Hassan first showed the new minister, Mr. Elmoge main stations and offices of the ministry of information such SONNA, Somali National News Agency, Radio Mogadishu and the national TV.
Puntland forces seize alcohol stash in northern Galka’yo
18 Nov – Source: Shabelle – 107 words
Police in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland have seized more than 91 bottles of alcoholic drinks that smugglers were seeking to bring into its region. Police carried out operations in Bur-Salah village located in the central region of Mudug and netted several people over the banned substance during raids on Saturday night, according to local sources. Government officials said they also arrested others in connection with security operations.
Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif flies to Uganda
18 Nov – Source: Somaliweyn/Radio Risaala/Raxanreeb – 62 words
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has set off to Uganda, in his first trip abroad since he handed over the presidency on 17th September this year. The president was bid farewell by a numbers of MPs at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu. The president was accompanied by some of his family members; the purpose of his trip is not yet clear.
Former and current ministers meet
17 Nov- Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Mogadishu/Hiiraan Online/SNTV/ Universal TV- 112 words
Ministers from Abdiweli Mohamed Gas’s administration and the current ministers met yesterday to know each other. This meeting was conducted in the presence of the media after the former Minister of Information and the current one gave a joint media briefing. Former Information Minister Abdiqadir Hussein Jahweyn said the purpose of today’s meeting was to know each other.
Puntland captures North Korean-flagged vessel dumping waste
18 Nov – Source: Garowe Online/Universal TV- 124 words
A vessel dumping 5 thousand metric tons of cement 13 nautical miles east of the Bossaso shore was captured by Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) on Friday. Chief of the PMPF Col. Abdirasak Diriye Farah who spoke to Radio Garowe on Saturday said that they had received intelligence that the vessel was dumping some sort of toxic in Puntland waters.
Al Shabaab pulls out of two positions in Galgadud
18 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan – 99 words
Al Shabaab militants have reportedly pulled out of two key positions in central Somali region of Galgadud under unknown circumstances. Reports say the militants withdrew from El-Garas and El-dere settlements with all their military equipment and headed towards Bula-Barde town in Hiiraan region. The militant group has also reportedly downsized its fighters in El-Bur town, with only its Hizba brigade remaining in the area.
Kenyan police arrests more people over killings in Garissa
17 Nov – Source: Mareeg Online – 121 words
Kenyan police has detained dozens of suspected terrorists allegedly involved in the killing of two police officers in northern Kenyan town of Garissa on Friday. Sources say Kenyan police carried out crackdown in Garissa on Saturday. Numerous witnesses said that the police beat and mistreated villagers following attacks by suspected al Shabaab supporters on Kenyan security officers on Friday.
Bula-Barde traders boycott business activities following militants’ tax increase
18 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan – 103 words
Business activities in Bula-Barde town have been paralysed after local traders shut down shops and markets in protest of al Shabaab’s tax increase. Reports say commercials trucks stayed away from entering the town for the last 24 hours as part of the wider rebel tax boycott. According to the locals, the militants have doubled taxes levied on all products and animals sold in the area markets to boost their income. T
REGIONAL MEDIA
Nairobi explosion kills five, wounds more
18 Nov – Source: Capital News/Daily Nation/KBC – 121 words
Five people were killed and more than 10 wounded in a minibus explosion in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Sunday, police said. Nairobi police chief Moses Nyakwama said the blast occurred on a so-called “matatu” or local minibus, in the district of Eastleigh, where mainly Somalis or Kenyans of Somali origin live, adding that the cause was not yet known. He said five people had been killed and more than 10 others taken to hospital, but no other details were immediately available.
Kibaki urges deeper bilateral relations with Somalia
16 Nov- Source: Daily Nation- 175 words
President Mwai Kibaki on Friday sent a congratulatory message to the President, the Prime Minister, the parliament and the entire people of Somalia following the overwhelming endorsement of a new cabinet. In the message, Kibaki noted that the people of Somalia have achieved another remarkable milestone in the democratic transition in the country. He said that the endorsement of the new Cabinet gives Kenya government an opportunity to begin in earnest bilateral engagements at various levels.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland says arrests al Shabaab members, seizes explosives
18 Nov – Source: Reuters – 135 words
Somalia’s northern region of Puntland, which up to now has been spared violence fuelled by Islamist fighters, said on Sunday its security forces had arrested two suspected members of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militant group. Puntland’s president has said the militants, squeezed out of their urban strongholds further south, were moving north towards his semi-autonomous region, a relatively peaceful area.
South Africa congratulates Somalia on the endorsement of its new Cabinet
17 Nov – Source: South African Government News – 133 words
On behalf of the people and the Government of South Africa, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma extends hearty congratulations to the new Somali Ministers, the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Somalia following the recent endorsement by the Somali Parliament of the country’s new Cabinet. President Zuma said: “South Africa commends Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shiridon, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and the Somali Federal Parliament in their decision to assemble a Cabinet.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“People give their political consent to those leaders and parties that not only espouse these principles but that also actively seek to realise them. Just as it is an axiom of life that ‘truth will out’ in the end, so it is an axiom of political history that ‘vision and principle will always triumph over mere politics’.”
Somaliland: The Victory of Politics over Principle
18 Nov – Source: Indepth Africa/SomalilandPress – 2899 Words
Recently the Somaliland Government held a three-day ‘Cabinet Seminar’ to discuss and assess its achievements and failures during the two and a half years it has been in power. At the end of the meeting, various Ministerial spokesmen advised the public and the press that the government had concluded that they had fulfilled 70% of their program and election promises to the public that had chosen them by a wide margin. While it is good management policy for any organization, be it public or private sector, to continually assess and evaluate its achievements and progress, it is equally a poor manager or organization that grades his or its own performance and seeks to have said grade publicly endorsed. Grading the performance of people and organisations is usually undertaken by third parties and is measured against peers and peer groups, established standards or market norms. In this way one can derive some assurance that the grading process is impartial, objective and is benchmarked against credible and established standards and norms.
“The point that I am trying to make is, many Somalis believe that they were lied to, deceived, tricked, or let down in many ways by their respective leaders. Everyone they trusted later turned on them. They feel that their leaders fooled them all along as in a hoax or confidence game. Some Somalis were given names like “half Somalis”. They feel that their leaders took advantage of their vulnerability, ignored them, and broke their confidence.”
Somalia’s new government: Will change of direction possible?
18 Nov – Source: Hiiraan Online/Indepth Africa – 1999 Words
Six years ago in my article, Somalia’s plight: what can be done, I had stated that change usually comes in small increments, just as we cannot actually see when a child is growing, though we can certainly recognize the growth. I had also implied that if we behave the same way, we get the same results, and if we behave differently we get different results. From there, we can figure out that success takes time, effort, perseverance, and patience. That means, we should be patient, hang in there, and don’t give up, and hopefully we will break through. It also shows that the key component of any miracle is commitment, and that no one can have one without the other.