November 19, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Armed men kill famous engineer in Mogadishu

18 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 74 words

Unknown assailants killed Somali engineer Abdullah Ali Anshuur near Digfer hospital in Mogadishu on tuesday morning. The engineer Mr. Anshur was working with Banadir regional administration, other reports confirmed that the attackers took the car of the late engineer before fleeing from the scene. The engineer has recently returned to Somalia. No one has claimed responsibility for the murder but it’s part of the of the string attacks and assassination that has affected the capital city in recent weeks.

Key Headlines

Somaliland govt shuts down pro-opposition FM station (Garowe Online)
Sharif Hassan urged to form his government within 45 days (Radio Mustaqbal )
3 state ministers and 17 assistant ministers urge PM Ahmed to resign (Radio Goobjoog )
Al-shabab attacks Buur-Hakaba animal market (Radio Goobjoog )
Ethiopian national journalists union condemn illegal acts of former EAJA secretary general (Radio RBC)
Disabled persons in Jowhar face poor life conditions seek government assistance (Radio Mustaqbal)
Cabinet approves blls for national electoral commission boundary and federalization commission and a 2015 budget (Radio Goobjoog /Radio Muqdisho )
Sharif Robow: “The integration of government forces and Jubaland troops is not easy (Radio Goobjoog)
Armed men kill famous engineer in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog)
UPDF officer sentenced to caution (New Vision )
Three nabbed with 600 bags of suspected contraband from Somalia (Standard Media)
Mandera county ventures into fish farming with four ponds: (Star)
Danish aid to help alleviate Somali food crisis (Copenhagen post)
UK-Somali links raise concern as UN alleges corruption and arms deals (the guardian)
Kenyan city of Mombasa hit by killings after mosque raids (BBC.com)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somaliland govt shuts down pro-opposition FM station

18 Nov – Source: Garowe Online – 141 words

Somaliland authorities shut down opposition-owned radio station in the latest crackdown on dissidents in the capital, Hargeisa on Monday evening according to officials, Garowe Online reports. Speaking at a press conference, Somaliland Police Commander-in-Chief Gen. Abdullahi Fadal Iman said the security forces took Baidigoob FM off the air in Hargeisa’s October neighborhood at 9:30 PM. Gen. Iman added that the police also captured four broadcasters who will be arraigned in the court in the operation. Baadigoob FM is believed to have been launched by opposition parties in Somaliland at the beginning of this year. Somaliland constitution bars opposition from opening independent radio stations, a move slammed by international press watchdogs.

3 state ministers and 17 assistant ministers urge PM Ahmed to resign

18 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 71 words

Three state ministers of federal government and 17 assistant ministers held press conference in Mogadishu earlier today and asked the prime minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed to resign. On 17th November 14 ministers in a similar petition letter that asked PM Abdiweli to resign as he lost the confidence of the president. Holding press in his office late yesterday the premier said he hasn’t seen the petition letter signed by the ministers.

Sharif Hassan urged to form his government within 45 days

18 Nov – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 74 words

Electoral officials in the south-west region administration urged the newly elected president of the region Shariff Hassan Sheikh Adan to form his cabinet within 45 days. Shariff Hassan was yesterday declared the winner of highly contested elections in Baidoa amidst tough opposition from Somalia’s Federal Government. The elected president already started talks with the traditional elders, the elites as well as delegates from the three regions consulting them over the formation of the cabinet.

Al-shabab attacks Buur-Hakaba animal market

18 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 88 words

The administration of Buur Hakaba district of Bay region has given details of an attack waged by Al-shabab on the district’s animal market. Hussein Mohamed Ali, the vice chairman of Buur-Hakaba district said that men on board of a vehicle attacked the animal market but the government forces around the market forces them back. The vice chairman added that one person was wounded and many animals brought for sale in the market died during the attack. Al-shabab declined to give comment about the attack and the accusations of Buurhakaba administration.

Sharif Robow: “The integration of government forces and Jubaland troops is not easy”

18 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 162 words

Somali expert who spoke to Goobjoog FM said it is not easy to integrate federal government forces and the forces of interim Juba administration at the moment. Sharif Hussein Robow, a former official of national intelligence security stated that the federal government should have solved the difference between the forces first than taking a decision of putting together forces. He reiterated that the federal government is supposed to train the forces and provide the military equipments they ought to have. He added that the agreement signed between the federal government and the interim administration of Juba in Southern Somalia on 15th November cannot be easily implemented due to many obstacles like the poor conditions of the training centers in the region. Three cabinet ministers led by interior and federalism minister signed agreement with Interim administration of Juba in Southern Somalia, the agreement focused on intensifying the fight against Al-shabab, integration of the forces and giving proper training to the forces.

Disabled persons in Jowhar face poor life conditions, seek government assistance

18 Nov – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 119 words

Reports from Jowhar District the headquarters of Middle Shabelle region indicate that the disable persons in the region complain about poor life conditions. Some of the disabled and handicapped persons who spoke to Mustaqbal Radio stated that they worried about the mismanagement of the aid assistance that reached the area. They say that they have been overlooked in the past years and are asking the federal government and the district administration to address their needs and provide urgent aid assistance to them.

Armed men kill famous engineer in Mogadishu

18 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 74 words

Cabinet approves bills for national electoral commission, boundary and federalization commission and 2015 budget

18 Nov – Source: Radio Muqdisho/Radio Goobjoog – 350 words

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today chaired a cabinet meeting in Mogadishu. The Cabinet unanimously approved the legislation for National Electoral Commission in order to hasten the democratization process of the country and realization of 2016 vision. “Somalia has made huge strides towards its democratization and the realization of its 2016 vision in order to hold a free and fair election that same year. The approval of the legislation for the Independent Higher Electoral Commission signals the progressive goals of the Government led by H.E Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. The government is committed to work on the completion all activities that will ensure the General Elections are held in 2016,” Deputy Prime Minister H.E Ridwan Hersi said. “The Government has submitted a number of legislation to the Parliament and there are 23 other bills planned to be presented in the coming period. The government is always committed to work and co-operate with other initiations, particularly the Federal Parliament.

Furthermore, the cabinet has also approved the legislation for the Boundary and Federalization Commission which will expedite the federalization process of the country. The Commission will determine the boundaries of the Federal Member States and also will be mandated to resolve any conflict between the Federal states on their jurisdiction. “It’s another milestone that the cabinet approved today the legislation for the Boundary and Federalization commission which is important for the realization 2016 vision. The Commission will help resolve any conflict that may emerge during Federalization process and conclude the future boundaries of Federal Member States of the country,” H.E. Ridwan Hersi said.

Moreover, the Cabinet also approved a $216 M budget for its fiscal year 2015 which will be mainly allocated for security sector which is main challenge for FGS. “The budget comprises revenues of the FGS and Foreign Aid donated by friendly country and International Organizations. The Government made a great progress in terms of Public Financial Management in retrospective to the 201 3 and 2014 budgets, to manage the resources accordingly as we establish credible and functioning institutions,” H.E. Ridwan Hersi said.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UPDF officer sentenced to caution

18 Nov- Source:New Vision – 485 words

The General Court Martial has sentenced a senior UPDF officer, Maj. Nasur Namara, to a caution after he was convicted on his plea of guilty to charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. Caution is one of the sentences under the UPDF Act. Namara, formally the commanding officer of motorized infantry vehicles of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Uganda Contingent pleaded guilty to distributing $10,000 to his juniors in the mission area. Namara, 40, who is attached to the regular forces of the UPDF, distributed the dollars to his juniors in the contingent’s motorized infantry component in August 2013.

Three nabbed with 600 bags of suspected contraband from Somalia

18 Nov- Source: Standard Media – 105 words

Police intercepted 600 bags of suspected contraband, which had been smuggled into the country from neighbouring Somalia. Addressing the press at the Police Headquarters, county officer in charge of Rapid Deployment Unit operations Edward Ochola said police on patrol along Nunow area intercepted the truck which was carrying the suspected illicit goods. Mr Ochola said a search found 600 hundred bags of fertiliser, 150 bags of sorghum and other assorted consignments packed in white 100kgs sacks. “We have arrested three people including the driver and we are interrogating them to verify their Identity Cards including travel documents before arraigning them in court today,” he said.

Mandera county ventures into fish farming with four ponds

18 Nov – Source: Star – 196 words

The Mandera government has set up four fish ponds as part of plans to boost food security in the region. The four ponds have 1,500 fingerlings each. Speaking during a visit by officials from the Fisheries department to one of the ponds at Mandera Islamic Centre last Friday, deputy director of administration Sheikh Hassan Ahmed said the pilot project will encourage farmers. “In a few months we are expecting to harvest,” he said. Ahmed said before the ponds were set up, the county government provided capacity building training for 150 farmers. During the visit, Mandera Governor Ali Roba said in this financial year, the county government has tendered for a hatchery that will be called the Mandera Aquaculture and Demonstration Centre. “It is going to be one of its kind in the ASAL areas. It will be a point where fingerlings will be supplied to Somalia, Ethiopia, Wajir and Garrissa once it’s set up,” he said.Roba said the government is also in the process of setting up 10 more ponds across the county. He said fishing gear and cool boxes will also be supplied to river line farmers to fully exploit the resources in River Daua.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UK-Somali links raise concern as UN alleges corruption and arms deals

18 Nov- Source: The Guardian.- 1175 words

Questions raised about Britain’s relationship with Somalia as UN alleges misappropriation of funds and exploitation of loopholes in an arms embargo with humanitarian agencies warning of another hunger crisis in Somalia, questions are being raised about Britain’s relationship with the country’s president in the wake of a report by UN investigators alleging corruption and links with Islamic militants. Caroline Lucas, the Green party’s MP, plans to table questions in parliament this month seeking information on Britain’s reaction to the corruption allegations and to a controversial oil deal. “The UN monitoring group has raised some serious concerns about corruption in Somalia and about activities that may be undermining the arms embargo, which the UK has formally supported. My parliamentary questions are an attempt to get the facts into the public domain,” Lucas said. “The allegations relating to the negotiation of oil company deals with the Somali government and exploitation of loopholes in an arms embargo are deeply worrying,” she added.

Kenyan city of Mombasa hit by killings after mosque raids

18 Nov- Source: BBC.com.- 293 words

At least three people have been stabbed to death by rampaging youths in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, officials say. The attacks came hours after police raided two mosques they accuse of having links with militant Islamists in neighbouring Somalia. One person was killed in the police raids and more than 200 were arrested. Witnesses said masked youths armed with machetes then went on the rampage in the Kisauni area of the city, attacking people waiting at bus stops. Several others were injured in the attacks, which were carried out in apparent revenge for the police action. ‘Raids condemned’ “We are investigating the incident and have arrested some of the suspects,” local police chief Richard Ngatia said. Some of the youths were reported to be carrying black flags similar to one recovered in the raids on the Musa and Sakinah mosques. Police said they had also seized a pistol and a cache of ammunition, including grenades, in the raids. They say the mosques have links with the Somali militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, and have been used to recruit and train militants and store weapons.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

More broadly, seeking the exit of the PM or demanding that the PM stay in office without addressing the fundamental sources of instability are recipes for the same disaster with different names in the headlines.

As Somali MPs battle over anti-PM motion, potential successors’ names surface

17 Nov- Source:Somalia newsroom – 900 words

In the last four days, two separate attempts by Somali Members of Parliament (MPs) to begin a debate to dismiss Prime Minister (PM) Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed under a controversial no-confidence motion has resulted into separate bouts of uncontrollable raucous. Shouting matches, whistle-blowing, and street-style protests inside the parliament building kept Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawaari from introducing the anti-PM motion for a second session this past Saturday. Call it a creative form of “group filibuster.” Protesting MP Anti-Motion MP Anti-Motion MPs with Signs Parliament Sign against Cash for Votes. MP whistling .The political insurgency inside the parliament was in part a campaign of support for the PM but also a rejection of the notion and largely true allegation that bribes are offered to many MPs to influence their stance in the perennial dispute. Protesting MPs held up “Save the Nation” and “Man or Country?” placards in an attempt to indicate the gravity of their demonstrations, and amid the rushes of blood to the head, it was unclear whether this was going to be democracy by the pen or by the fist, as has happened in the past.