October 27, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

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Somali President refuses PM’s reshuffle

26 Oct – Source: Radio Muqdisho/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Danan/Mareeg Media – 434 Words

The president of the federal republic of Somalia released a press statement rejecting the cabinet reshuffle undertaken earlier today by the Prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. The president encouraged in his statement that the people of Somalia and their leaders in government should always follow the provisional constitution and the law of the land when making decisions.

In his statement president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that it was most unfortunate that at a time of governmental engagement in planning for national elections and the creation of rule of law, the Prime Minister made important decisions without any consultation. These important decisions, the President made clear, have the potential to derail the governmental progress and partnership working within the administration and public institutions.

The president stated that he put up with bad decisions in the past from the PM which affected his government and directly violated the constitution among the first of which was the demotion and promotion of Ministers without any consultation by the Prime Minister. The President also complained of the Prime Minister previously promoting officers in the armed forces and demoting or relieving them of their duty in a way which was unconstitutional.

After the above mentioned past incidents centred on acting without consultation, the PM today wrongfully reshuffled the cabinet without, again, consulting the President continued the press statement. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud boldly stated in his statement that, with an intention of protecting and preserving the national law, he decided that the PM’s reshuffle today was illegal and all Ministers should return to their prior duties before it. In addition, the president instructed all members of the armed forces and civil servants to continue with their daily duties without any interruption.

President Hassan Sheikh highlighted the importance of partnership, listening and discussion as facilitating Somalia’s success today. The President presented in his statement his priorities for the nation as being the creation of a national constitution, regional and federal administrations and the strengthening of democracy through fair and free elections in 2016 as was his original mandate when he was first elected.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concluded by highlighting the current government successes against Al-Shabab in the rebuilding and strengthening of both national and regional public institutions. He further stated that he is hoping for a successful outcome in the important upcoming Copenhagen Somali Summit.

The many who were approached for interview for this article anonymously agreed that tonight was a “difficult night for both politicians, the public and the international community.” Most felt that without a firm, clear and enforceable national constitution, this problem between the President and PM that has hampered Somali politics in recent history will just repeat itself again.

Key Headlines

Somali President refuses PM’s reshuffle (Radio Danan/Mareeg Media/Radio Muqdisho )
Women and girls continue to be at high risk of gender-based violence (RBC.com)
IGAD Foreign Ministers summit to open in Addis Ababa (Radio Danan/Radio Muqdisho)
Sudan appoints new ambassador to Somalia (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Muqdisho)
Justice minister winds up seminar on justice reform despite cabinet reshuffle (Radio Muqdisho/Radio Dalsan/Radio Goobjoog )
Al-Shabaab imposes blockade on Bakool region town of Waajid (Mareeg Media)
Somali military court executes two men convicted of assassinating Journalist (Mareeg Media/ Radio Goobjoog/Radio Muqdisho/Radio Dalsan )
Kenya Defence Forces Somali National Army kill over 80 Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia (The Standard Digital)
Kenya and Somalia in bitter dispute over Indian Ocean border (The East African)
Somali civil society groups join forces to counter al-Shabaab ideology (Sabahi Online )
UN authorises ship inspections near Somalia (New24)
Somalia says reviewing oil deals U.N. says lack transparency (Reuters )

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President refuses PM’s reshuffle

26 Oct – Source: Radio Muqdisho/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Danan/Mareeg Media – 434 Words

Women and girls continue to be at high risk of gender-based violence

26 Oct – Source: RBC.com – 224 Words

Women and girls in Somalia continue to be at high risk of gender-based violence, according to a new data obtained from local group working on Gender-based Violence reporting.

In the first six months of 2014, over 1,000 cases were reported in Mogadishu alone, the Somalia Gender-Based Violence Working Group said. The actual number of violations is believed to be higher as most survivors do not report these crimes due to fear of social stigma and reprisals from perpetrators. Decades of conflict, erosion of social protection mechanisms, and food insecurity have increased the vulnerability and women and girls are exposed to rape, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse and exploitation particularly during conflict and displacement. At the same time, prevention programmes and medical, psychosocial and legal response services are limited and under resourced.

About 22,000 survivors of violations have been provided with psychosocial support by aid workers in 2014. Across Somalia, the majority of cases of sexual violence reported have been rape followed by physical assault, and the majority of survivors have been females from displaced communities.

Efforts are needed to hold perpetrators accountable and prioritize the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. Furthermore, it is crucial that safe and accessible services are available for survivors including medical assistance and psychosocial support.

The Federal Government of Somalia is drafting a Sexual Offenses Bill, which when enacted would act as legal framework to protect women, girls and children from these violations, particularly sexual violence.

Sudan appoints new ambassador to Somalia

26 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Muqdisho – 140 Words

Somalia President Hassan Shekh Mohamed has accepted credentials from the newly appointed Sudan ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Yusuf Osman. The President has met with the emissary and talk over a wide range of issues including boosting bilateral relations between the two countries.

Addressing media, Somalia foreign minister has urged Suudan government to extend its collaborations with the current Somali government saying Somalia and Sudan were having remarkable diplomatic relations since the independence.

Sudan Ambassador has underscored the commitment of his government towards implementing further developmental projects in the war-ravaged Somalia promising to give away Somali students free education scholarships.

Many countries in the world with different diplomatic interests have reopened their embassies in Somalia capital Mogadishu in the last 11 months. Suudaan embassy in Mogadishu was closed in 1991, when allied warlords ousted former president Siyad Barre from the post.

Justice minister winds up seminar on justice reform despite cabinet reshuffle

26 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Muqdisho/Radio Dalsan – 199 Words

The minister justice and constitutional affairs of federal government of Somalia Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir has concluded three days seminar on justice reformation for the workers of the ministry in Mogadishu on Sunday.

Speaking during the closing ceremony the minister said his ministry is committed to reform justice in the country so as to restore the hope of the people that was let down by unfair judgment. The minister stated that reformation of justice is fundamental for bringing back the dignity, independence and self determination of Somalia.

He noted that the provincial constitution and justice will go hand in hand adding that individuals with no skills on judiciary will not be allowed to deliver services in the ministry. The remarks of the minister comes a time when PM Abdiweli’s cabinet reshuffle has affected eight ministries including the ministry of Justice and constitutional affair which sparked a rift between the top leaders.

Farah Abdikadir was appointed as the minister for Livestock and animal husbandry. Issuing press statement president Hassan termed the cabinet reshuffle as illegitimate and called the Ministers to continue discharging duties of their respective positions and not to be influenced by the statement from the office of Prime Minister.

Al-Shabaab imposes blockade on Bakool Region town of Waajid

25 Oct – Source: Mareeg Media – 207 Words

Al-Qaeda linked group of al-Shabaab have blocked food supply routes in Bakool region as officials in Waajid town warned concerns on the desperate humanitarian situation existing in some of Somali southern districts.

“People here are on the verge [death] from hunger, we don’t have anything to feed for the vulnerable residents “according to Waajid district commissioner for the Somali federal government Abdulaahi Aadan Yarisow.

“Nothing comes into the town and nothing leaves it Al -Shabaab has declined entering vehicles that [are] used to bring us food, so the people who live here are in a state of ambiguity.” Yarisow has said. He called local and international agencies to deliver food and other humanitarian assistance to the affected areas saying Somali government should came up proper ways to reach out humanitarian assistance to the desperate places in Bakool.

Waajid community wants to break up Bakool region and to join the neighboring Baay region according to the commissioner who spoke to Radio Danan. He also criticized Bakool regional administration for not responding this crisis.

UN has warned the worsening drought in Somalia as the joint forces from the Somali government and AMISOM troops have driven out Al-shabaab from key strongholds in southern regions as result of Indian Ocean Operation.

Somali military court executes two men convicted of assassinating Journalist

26 Oct – Source: Mareeg Media/ Radio Goobjoog/Radio Muqdisho/Radio Dalsan – 133 Words

Somali military court had on Sunday sentenced to death two men accused assassinating Somali Journalist and security man in Somali capital Mogadishu, Mareeg Media reports.

Col. Keyse, the spokesman of Somali military court told media, that Ali Bashir Osman, 22 years and Abdullahi Sharif Osman 25 years have been executed by the Somali military court after they have been guilty of killing journalist and security officer.

Mr. Keyse said the two men have killed Universal TV reporter, Mohamed Mohamud Tima-adde in October 2013, and a security man called Awil Hassan. It’s not the first time, Somali military court executed death sentence on an accuser of assassinating Somali Journalist. In August 2013, military court in Mogadishu executed a man who was convicted the murder of Radio Maanta Journalist Hassan Yusuf Absuge in September 2012

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya Defence Forces, Somalia National Army kill over 80 Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia

25 Oct – Source: Standard Digital – 554 Words

The Kenya Defence Forces have killed more than 80 members of Somalia’s Al Shabaab militants in an offensive in Jamaame and Magambo areas near Kismayu in Somalia. The militants were killed on Thursday in an operation by the KDF and Somalia National Army, a statement from the Department of Defence said.

The statement added four vehicles fitted with machine guns were also destroyed in the operation. “The two Al Shabaab bases were used to launch attacks against the newly liberated town of Bula Gaduud which remains under SNA and Amisom control along the Kismayu- Jamaame-Jilb Road,” said the statement signed by spokesman Col David Obonyo. The incident is the latest in the area in a series that have put pressure on the militants. The troops have launched attacks on the militants in the past weeks killing close to 200 and recovered vehicles and arms.

Two weeks ago, at least 60 militants were killed in an operation by KDF in Bula Gaduud area, Somalia. KDF said they recovered several bullets and guns and five four wheel drive vehicles from the slain men. Other reports suggested that the KDF and SNA personnel were in Bula Gaduud ahead of a planned assault on Jilib that is one of the towns occupied by the militants. This has sent the militants scattered. Some of them are headed to Kenya, which has prompted heightened security at the borderline. Police boss David Kimaiyo has asked for vigilance at the border following the escape of the militants. On Friday, four suspected Al Shabaab followers were arrested with explosives in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

Kenya and Somalia in bitter dispute over Indian Ocean border

25 Oct – Source: The East African – 994 Words

The simmering intra-regional disputes between states over their territorial and maritime boundaries have far-reaching security and geopolitical implications than has been envisaged.

Take the dispute between Kenya and Somalia over the Indian Ocean boundary, for example. This is a disagreement that has security ramifications not just for Kenya, but also for the US. For one, the US is keen to eliminate piracy and Islamic radicalism in Somalia that appears to have crossed over in to Kenya.

In addition, the claim by Somalia could affect Manda Bay, where Kenya has a naval base, Camp Simba. From here, where the US operates the Combined Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa and has been leading a joint counter-terrorism initiative besides providing training to the Kenya Navy.

The American interest may also be economic in the sense that its companies, Anadarko Petroleum and SOHI Oil and Gas, are involved in both onshore and offshore exploration for oil and gas around Lamu.
Somalia’s claim threatens to take away about 64,000 square kilometres from Kenya’s territorial waters, including part of the Lamu oil exploration basin.

“As a country, we cannot bear to lose an inch of all that territory…the Somali government had better co-operate with us,” said a senior Foreign Affairs Ministry official who declined to be named.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN authorises ship inspections near Somalia

25 Oct – Source: New24 – 417 Words

The United Nations Security Council authorised the inspection of boats suspected of carrying illegal shipments of charcoal or weapons to and from Somalia on Friday, though Russia and Jordan abstained from the vote over concerns about the move.

The resolution, adopted by the 15-member council with 13 votes in favor, approves the use of “all necessary measures” – diplomatic code for military force – to carry out such inspections.

The council imposed an arms embargo on Somalia in 1992 to cut the flow of arms to feuding warlords, who ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and plunged the country into civil war. The Security Council then banned charcoal exports from Somalia in February 2012 in a bid to cut off funds for al Shabaab, an al Qaeda-affiliated group fighting for control of Somalia and enforcing strict sharia law in areas it occupies.

Somalia says reviewing oil deals U.N. says lack transparency

24 Oct – Source: Reuters – 608 Words

Somalia said it was reviewing several oil and gas deals that U.N. investigators say lack transparency and risk hindering development of the country’s energy industry.

Energy firms are cautiously eyeing Somalia’s long coastline, an untapped frontier on the east African seaboard that has become an exploration hot spot after big gas finds in Mozambique and Tanzania. Somalia’s southern neighbour Kenya has found oil.

The Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG), an eight-member panel of investigators that monitors compliance with U.N. sanctions, said Mogadishu had signed a series of contracts and cooperation agreements that “highlighted transparency and accountability issues” in state petroleum institutions.

In a report, the monitors said such deals were “likely to exacerbate legal tensions and ownership disputes and stunt the transparent development of Somalia’s oil and gas sectors”.
Mohamed Keynan, director of communication in the president’s office, said Somalia was reviewing several contracts with the help of the Financial Governance Committee (FGC), comprising three Somali members and three donors, including representatives from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“In an audio message, a senior Al-Shabaab fighter posted the following message: ‘Thank God, Kenyan society is divided and facing ethnic clashes between the Kikuyu and the Luo…the opposition and the government are divided and it seems would not come together soon’.”

Shortsighted Kenyan politicians are playing into the hands of terrorists

26 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 675 Words

Is it possible that Kenya’s intelligence and security organs have been infiltrated by Al-Shabaab? A recently-released report by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) says a police officer attached to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit helped terrorists to smuggle arms from Somalia, which were then used to launch the Mpeketoni attacks in Lamu county.

According to the authority, a Witu-based officer coordinated the activities of the arms smugglers. This alarming revelation comes hot on the heels of another paper by the International Crisis Group that says that Al-Shabaab is using historical injustices and political divisions in Kenya to advance its agenda in the country.

The paper notes that both the government and the opposition used the attacks in Lamu, in particular, to advance their respective political ambitions, thereby weakening the country’s ability to deal with terrorism.

“Mogadishu has stopped being a cosmopolitan city; it was a cosmopolitan city many years ago — one of the most celebrated cosmopolitan cities. I can imagine living in Somalia, but Somalia has to change. I have changed and therefore Somalia must change.”

Novelist Nuruddin Farah: facing a blank page is ‘bravest thing’ a writer does

25 Oct – Source: NPR – Audio – 6: 49

Nuruddin Farah’s novel Hiding in Plain Sight centers around Bella, a Somali living in Rome, who has become a famed fashion photographer. Her beloved half-brother Aar, a UN official, is murdered by extremists in Mogadishu and leaves behind two teenagers who are Bella’s niece and nephew.

Bella’s a globetrotter, with tightly scheduled lovers and global obligations, but she feels drawn into their lives despite the opposition of Valerie — the mother who gave birth to the youngsters but left the family and doesn’t know them.