November 23, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Somalia’s new cabinet holds a conference for the first time in Mogadishu
22 Nov- Source: Radio Risaala/Universal TV/Radio Mogadishu- 169 words
The newly appointed ministers met for the first time in a ministerial conference in Mogadishu yesterday to discuss a number of issues, including security. The meeting was chaired by Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon (Saaid); the main issues discussed were security and the national economy. At the end of the meeting, the minister of Information Abdullahi Ilmooge Hirsi gave a press conference in which he updated the media on the details of the issues discussed in the conference. He said that safeguarding Mogadishu’s security was a priority.
Key Headlines
- National Security Forces conduct operation in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu)
- Somalia’s new cabinet holds a conference for the first time in Mogadishu (Radio Risaala/Universal TV)
- UK’s diplomatic mission in Mogadishu to be operational early next year (Bar-Kulan)
- Kenya Ethiopia vow to enhance regional security (Walta info/Xinhua)
- Kenya military denies committing atrocities in Garissa (Al Shahid)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia’s new cabinet holds a conference for the first time in Mogadishu
22 Nov- Source: Radio Risaala/Universal TV/Radio Mogadishu- 169 words
The newly appointed ministers met for the first time in a ministerial conference in Mogadishu yesterday to discuss a number of issues, including security. The meeting was chaired by Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon (Saaid); the main issues discussed were security followed by the national economy. At the end of the meeting, the communication minister of the Somali government, Abdullahi Ilmooge Hirsi gave a press conference in which he updated the media on the details of the issues discussed in the conference. He said that safeguarding Mogadishu’s security was a priority.
National Security Forces conduct operation in Mogadishu
22 Nov – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online – 88 words
National Security forces of the Somali Federal Government on Thursday carried out an operation at Suka-holaha village in Hiliwa district in Mogadishu killing the al Shabaab commander there and seizing sixteen other individuals. Speaking to the reporters, Chief Commander of the Somali National Security forces, Khalif Ahmed Erag said that they got information indicating that some of the remnants of al Shabaab were in Ali-tur’aye.
UK’s diplomatic mission in Mogadishu to be operational early next year
22 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan – 121 words
Diplomatic relations between Somalia and the UK government are set to be strengthened further after Somalia on Wednesday granted the title deed of a piece of land in Mogadishu for UK to establish its embassy. Britain appointed its first ambassador to Somalia in 21 years last February, as the foreign secretary William Hague visited the Horn of Africa country. On Wednesday the envoy visited Mogadishu and officially received the piece of land earmarked for the UK embassy.
Somaliland: President meets with Representatives of Civil Societies
22 Nov – Source: Somaliland Press/Raxanreeb – 75 words
President H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) met with representatives of civil societies in Somaliland to discuss issues pertaining the upcoming electoral process which is due to commence in six days’ time. President Silanyo lauded the visiting representatives from the various civil societies in Somaliland for their efforts and preparations so as to ensure the upcoming electoral process is conducted in an environment which favor’s transparency, integrity, accountability and a transitional manner.
Suspected bandits arrested in Dusamareb
22 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan – 80 words
Two suspected bandits accused of robbery with violence were on Thursday arrested by Ahlu Sunna militias in t hecentral Somali town of Dusamareb, Galgadud region. The two allegedly ambushed a passenger vehicle en route to Dusamareb from Mogadishu on Wednesday and sprayed bullets on the passengers, injuring one people and robbing properties. Area Ahlu Sunna security boss Farhan Moalim Ali told Bar-kulan the suspects were among a group of gunmen who robbed passengers at Marer-gur area, some 30km from Dusamareb.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya, Ethiopia vow to enhance regional security
22 Nov- Source: Walta info/ Xinhua/CapitalFM News- 781 words
Kenya and Ethiopia on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to work closely in tackling terrorism, piracy, human trafficking and other organized crimes that continue to pose a challenge to security and peace in the region. In a communique issued after holding bilateral talks with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn in Nairobi, President Mwai Kibaki said the two governments are also working together to eradicate any form of threats to stability of the region and the horn of Africa.
Kenya military denies committing atrocities in Garissa
22 Nov – Source: Al Shahid – 123 words
Kenya’s Defense Forces (KDF) has denied committed atrocities in the north eastern town of Garissa where three of its soldiers were killed on Monday by unknown assailants. KDF’s information operations officer Colonel Cyrus Oguna on Wednesday termed the media reports that the military had raped, tortured, looted, killed women and children and burnt business and residential property as malicious and lies crafted to taint the credibility of KDF.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya: End Security Force Reprisals in North
22 Nov – Source: Human Rights Watch – 180 words
The Kenyan government should end its arbitrary attacks by members of the military and others against residents of the northern region as a routine response to any attack on its security forces. In the most recent apparent reprisal attack, the Kenyan military responded violently on November 19, 2012, to an attack in which three soldiers were shot dead in the northern town of Garissa, almost 400 kilometers from the capital, Nairobi. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that, immediately after the killings of the three officers, the Kenyan army surrounded the town, preventing anyone from leaving or entering, and started attacking residents and traders.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Kenyans need peace, love and unity not incitement whatever religion they belong to. Kenyan Muslims and Christians have always lived in peace for centuries and no terrorists should be allowed to wedge a chisel between them and ignite religious war. For insecurity and terrorism to end in our country, a decisive action is necessary, now not tomorrow.”
Dealing with the al Shabaab Menace
22 Nov – Source: Standard – 841 words
There is no middle path here –anyone who thinks al Shabaab terrorists are going to send Kenyans Christmas presents through Santa Clause need to think again. We hit them hard in Somalia, they hurl grenades at us, and then a temporary one week of ‘cease-fire’, followed by “showers” – of bullets in churches and isolated incidents of attacks on our security forces along the way. Life under a rain of death is no life at all, and we cannot allow ourselves to become resigned to it. A strong opening, like invading Somalia, isn’t enough, you also have to know how to finish – and finish decisively. If it isn’t clear whether the ball crossed the goal-line or not, the goal isn’t decisive. The ball needs to hit the net, visible to all.