October 3, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Blast heard in Somalia’s former rebel stronghold of Kismayu

02 Oct- Source: Reuters/Shabelle- 65 words

A loud blast was heard in the former al Shabaab stronghold of Kismayu in Somalia on Tuesday, residents said, and the al Qaeda-linked militants said they had detonated a bomb at a building housing Somali troops. There was no immediate word on casualties. “The bomb was planted inside a district administration office building,” al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab said, warning of more attacks.

Key Headlines

President Hassan meeting with Beledweyne Elders (Radio Mustaqbal)
Multiple blasts target Somali Kenyan forces in Kismaayo (Radio Shabelle)
Somali president meets with flood victims in Beledweyne (Shabelle)
Egyptian Somalia presidents to attend jubilee (New Vision)
Somalia favours firms with pre-1991 deals for oil exploration (Reuters)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Hassan meeting with Beledweyne elders

02 Oct- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 123 words

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud with other delegates landed at Beledweyne airport to have talks with Beledweyne Traditional Elders.
The president said the aim of his visit is to have consultation with elders about the nomination of the new prime minister who will be announced by the president. Hassan also told the purpose of the meeting was also to know more about the situation of the people who were affected by the floods in Middle Shabelle region.

Multiple blasts target Somali, Kenyan forces in Kismaayo

02 Oct- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Risaala/ Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/RBC- 83 words

Explosion attacks have targeted at Somali, Kenyan troops and pro-government militia Raskambooni fighters in Kismaayo. A landmine blast hit Somali forces at the city’s administrative headquarters, causing deaths and injuries, the source added. Eyewitnesses say two other bombs were targeting Kenyan troops at the port of Kismaayo and Raskamooni fighters in the administrative centre, the report further said.

An official injured in Ba’adweyne district Mudug province

02 Oct- Source: Radio Risaala- 97 words

Reports coming from Baadweyne in Mudug province indicate that a foreign official working in the area was injured after he was targeted in an explosion. Sources indicate thie Turkish official known as Mustafa Hashim, who was leading a delegation, survived today’s attack.

Somalia President visits Beledweyne, addresses Kismayo issue

02 Oct- Source: Garowe Online- 545 words

Somalia’s elected Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud briefly visited the central town of Beledweyne on Tuesday and spoke to international media about developments in the southern port of Kismayo. Speaking VOA Somali Service, President Hassan said: “My visit to Beledweyne was for two reasons: one, I wished to share the burdens and provide some help to the victims of Shabelle River floods here in Beledweyne; and two, I wanted to include the people of Hiran [region] in the consultation process for the new Prime Minister.”

Somalia’s president pledges to pay the troops’ rights

02 Oct- Source: Radio Dalsan- 129 words

Somalia’s newly elected presedent Prof.Hassan sheikh Mohamoud, paid a surprise visit to the town of Baidoa city, located 256KM south of Mogadishu, to observe the situation of the town, which is controlled by Somali Military and AMISOM forces as well consulting with the community representatives of the town in matters concerned about the security and other hand pledged to the Military to be given their regular salaries and the rights they worth.

Somali president meets with flood victims in Beledweyne

02 Oct- Source: Shabelle-124 words

A high-level delegation heading by the newly elected Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud landed on Tuesday in the central flood effected city of Beledweyne, some 206 miles (332 km) north of Mogadishu. Reports indicated that the leader and his accompanying officials have paid a short tour to El-jalle area located on the outskirts of the city, where he met with thousands of flood-affected victims.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Egyptian, Somalia presidents to attend jubilee

02 Oct- Source: New Vision 250- words

The newly elected presidents of Egypt (Mohamed Morsi) and Somalia (Hassan Mohamud) are among the 15 heads of state who have confirmed attendance of Uganda’s golden jubilee. The information and guidance minister Karooro Okurut informed journalists on Tuesday in Kampala that six other state leaders have confirmed they would send delegations to represent their countries.

‘Al Shabaab’ on the run: Somalia and AMISOM troops enter Kismayo

02 Oct- Source: Coastweek/Xinhua- 308 words

Hundreds of heavily armed Somali and African Union troops on Monday entered the southern port town of Kismayo, two days after the militants fighters said they withdrew from the city, military officials and witnesses said.”Our forces and allied troops have now begun to go into the town and taking key positions in the interior,” Mohamed Mohyadeen, a Somali military commander in Kismayo told Xinhua by phone.

Ajman Ruler receives Somali envoy

02 Oct- Source: Emirates News Agency- 158 words

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman received at his office today Abdul Kadir Sheikhey Mohamed Al Hatimy, Ambassador of Somalia to the UAE who called on him on the occasion of the beginning of his tenure in the UAE. Sheikh Humaid welcomed the Somali diplomat and wished him good luck and success in his new job. The meeting discussed bilateral relations and ways to bolstering them between the two sisterly countries in several arenas.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Blast heard in Somalia’s former rebel stronghold of Kismayu

02 Oct- Source: Reuters- 65 words

Somalia: Kenyan army says it now controls Kismayo

02 Oct- Source: AP- 319 words

Allied African troops have taken full control of Kismayo in Somalia, the last stronghold of Islamist rebels who have been fighting against the country’s internationally backed government, a Kenyan military official said Tuesday. Kenya Defense Forces and Somali National Army are now patrolling the streets of Kismayo, Kenyan military spokesman Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir said through Twitter. He said that the troops had secured Kismayo’s central police station and the new airport. He said as soon the airport is safe military aircraft will start landing there.

Somalia favours firms with pre-1991 deals for oil exploration

02 Oct- Source: Reuters- 355 words

Somalia, hoping to share in East Africa’s oil and gas boom, has invited back international oil companies that held exploration licences before civil war broke out two decades ago, an adviser to the government said. Abdullahi Haider, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Energy, said the country would honour contracts signed prior to 1991 with oil majors including Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Chevron. “They will be given priority,” Haider said of the companies that had signed exploration deals before the conflict.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Creation of Federal Institutions starting with the TFG Charter and current Provisional Constitution is a hard fought negotiated outcome towards rebuilding that public trust. Anybody who believes that we can have a highly centralized system of government again in Mogadishu or elsewhere in the country is either of out of touch with reality in today’s Somalia or must have his/her sanity re-examined as this dream cannot be realized in the present political conditions of Somalia.”

Public Trust Deficit in Somalia

02 Oct- Source: Wardheernews-742 Words

The Presidency of the Republic does not give the expected trappings of power, the magic of the highest leadership position in the land or the glory of the Office amid distrust and absence of loyalty within the population and regions of the country. That institutional empowerment must be earned nation-wide in the hard way, and in the case of Somalia, require hard work over many years to come for the future generations of Somalia to enjoy it. If successful, the new leaders can only pave the way for restoring that missing public trust. To accept any Somali President, Prime Minister or the Speaker of the House as a leader of all the people is a long shot, given the depth of distrust developed within the communities for the past 30 odd years towards government officials, or rather any institutions of governance unfortunately. In Somalia’s today the Presidency or any position of leadership is unenviable role for a decent person to play for it requires heavy personal sacrifices few are willing to commit to.