October 30, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

President encourages United Nations Security Council to back calls for greater support to Somali National Forces and increase in AMISOM troops

29 Oct – Source: Office of the President – 281 words

His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, today called on the United Nations Security Council “to back calls for greater support for the Somali National Security Forces and an increase in AMISOM forces”, ahead of a special session of the UN Security Council on Somalia taking place on 30 October 2013.

The United Nations Security Council will hold a special session on Somalia to discuss a package of logistical and non-lethal support to the Somali National Army. Support would include transport, food, fuel, shelter and medical support, in order to strengthen the Somali National Armys’ ability to hold and expand recovered areas. The Council will also debate the recommendation of an increase in the number of uniformed AMISOM personnel of 6,235 troops and police, including a three battalion surge.

As well as providing force-multipliers and enablers that have previously been approved by the Security Council but have not yet been successfully deployed. Speaking ahead of the Security Council session the President, said: “Somalia has made huge progress across many areas in the last year and in particular on security. Al Shabaab has been driven back but is not yet finished. We must continue to make advances while the momentum is with us.

“The long-term security and stability of Somalia will ultimately lie with the Somali National Security Forces, who along with AMISOM need to be given the tools and resources to finish the job.
“I urge the Security Council to back the recommendations to provide greater support to the Somali National Security Forces. Paying a small price now to increase the capacity of Somali forces will save us all paying a much higher price later.”

Key Headlines

Prime Minister Congratulates Turkey on the 90th Anniversary of its Independence(Office of the Prime Minister)
Interior Minister confirms U.S drone killed senior al Shabaab bomb maker in Somalia(Bar-kulan)
Somali Police commander supervises several locations in Mogadishu(Radio Mogadishu)
UN’s Eliasson Calls for More Efforts Against al Shabaab(VOA)
Somaliland Foreign Minister arrives in London for Talks(Somaliland Informer)
KDF soldiers sacked jailed over Westgate mall looting(Standard Media)

PRESS STATEMENT

President encourages United Nations Security Council to back calls for greater support to Somali National Forces and increase in AMISOM troops

29 Oct – Source: Office of the President – 281 words

Prime Minister Congratulates Turkey on the 90th Anniversary of its Independence

29 Oct – Source:Office of the Prime Minister – 113 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon today congratulated Turkey on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of its independence. The Prime Minister, said: “I want to send my warmest wishes to all those celebrating the 90th anniversary of Turkish independence.

“Turkey has shown the world what it is possible to do operationally in Somalia – in terms of humanitarian assistance, business, infrastructure, development and many areas.

“Our two countries have a special relationship and bond which will now be formally recognized and celebrated every year, with the 19th August declared as Turkey-Somalia Day. We salute and thank our irreplaceable friend for the leading role it is playing supporting the recovery of Somalia.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali lawmaker died in Nairobi

29 Oct – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 127 words

Reports say that a member of Somalia’s federal parliament has passed away in a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Omar Islaw was has recently admitted at the hospital where he has been receiving treatments but later died of the illness. Prof. Ali Mohamed Ghedi, former PM of transitional government called on the federal government to settle the deceased hospital bill in order to facilitate the retrieval of the body of the lawmaker for burial.

Interior Minister confirms U.S drone killed senior al Shabaab bomb maker in Somalia
29 Oct – Source: Raxanreeb/Bar-kulan – 125 words

The Minister of Interior and National Security of the Federal Government of Somalia Abdikarin Hussein Guled has confirmed that U.S drone attack on Monday killed senior al Shabaab bomb maker commander, RBC Radio reports. Sheikh Ibrahim Ali Abdi [known as Anta Anta], a Somali national was killed after a drone attack targeted his vehicle at Dhaay Tubako village near the town of Jilib about 380km south of the country’s capital, Mogadishu, on Monday. “The attack happened at Dhaay Tubaako. It was a very well planned attack after we have been monitoring him long time,” the minister said. “Ibrahim Ali Abdi [known as Anta Anta or Abu Ali] was a dangerous man and was responsible for the killing many innocent people,” Guled added.

Somali Police commander supervises several locations in Mogadishu

29 Oct – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Mustaqbal – 115 words

The Commander of Somali police forces Gen. Abdi Hakin Dahir Sa’id has supervised on Tuesday night several locations in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The commander was checking on the security situation of the city and how the police forces were operating at night time. The police forces led by the commanders have conducted security operations in many parts of the capital. Some of the forces were also displaying maneuver in the villages and could also be seen manning intersections in Mogadishu. The locations the commander visited include Terbunka, Wadnaha and 30th roads, Fagah, Ex Bal’ad Control.

Somaliland Foreign Minister arrives in London for Talks

29 Oct – Source: Somaliland Informer – 100 words

Somaliland’s Foreign Minister and International Cooperation Mr. Mohamed Biihi Yoonis arrived in London on Tuesday. The Foreign Minister was greeted at Heathrow airport by Somaliland representative to UK Mr. Ali Adam Awale, the chairman of Kulmiye in the UK Mr. Hariir Hirsi Adan and members of Somaliland Diaspora community in London. Somaliland Foreign Minister is expected to hold talks with UK minister for African affairs Mr. Mark Simmonds and other senior government officials. The Foreign Minister Mr. Biihi leading a delegation accompanied by the education Minister embarked on working visit to Egypt were they conferred with Education Minister of Egypt.

REGIONAL MEDIA

KDF soldiers sacked, jailed over Westgate mall looting

29 Oct – Source: Standard Media – 132 words

Two Kenya Defence Forces soldiers have been sacked and jailed for looting during the Westgate shopping mall terror attack, the military chief has said. Gen Julius Karangi said that a third soldier was under investigation. He identified those sacked as Victor Otieno and Victor Ashiundu. He added Isaiah Wanjala is under probe over the allegations. Gen Karangi said the soldiers were found with mobile phones, cameras and chargers that were “stolen” from the mall during the siege. Gen Karangi previously said that soldiers had only taken water during the four-day siege. “Discipline is our core driving point and we are not playing with this issue. That is why we have taken action on these soldiers. Two of them have been jailed and dismissed while a third one is under probe,” he said.

Suspected al Shabaab terrorist arrested in Kisoro

29 Oct – Source: Daily Monitor – 67 words

Police say they have arrested a suspected al Shabaab terrorist as he tried to cross into the Democratic Republic of Congo from Uganda without travel documents. The suspect was on Tuesday arrested at Bunagana, at the border with Congo. The police spokesman for Kigezi sub region, Elly Maate, says the suspect was arrested by security operatives who, after searching him, found him with documents concerning the al Shabaab movement.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN’s Eliasson Calls for More Efforts Against al Shabaab

29 Oct – Source: VOA News – 154 words

A top United Nations official visiting Nairobi has urged Kenyans and Somalis not to relent in the battle against Somali militant group al Shabaab. The group continues to threaten and attack security forces and civilians in both countries. As Kenya and Somalia plot out ways to fight terrorism and subdue al Shabaab, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson says the terrorist threat is not only about killing and destruction, but also a threat to basic rights of the people. “We have to see this threat as a threat also to the values and the principles that we stand for, both laid down in your constitution and laid down in something I always carry with me – the U.N. Charter. This is the threat to the basic principles that are in here, and if we start to diminish these rights and the principles that are in here, they could say they could have succeeded,” said Eliasson.

Kenyan soldiers jailed for Westgate looting

29 Oct – Source: BBC – 76 words

Two Kenyan soldiers have been sacked and jailed for looting during last month’s attack on the Westgate shopping centre, the army chief has said. Julius Karangi told reporters that a third soldier was under investigation. However, he denied there had been “widespread looting” and said there had been an attempt by the media to paint the soldiers as “unprofessional”. Somali militant group al Shabaab says it was behind the attack, which killed 67 people over four days.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“This election provides a unique opportunity to stimulate a wider debate on how to proceed from here with a view to charting a credible and unified political and social programme to re-define the role of the state in the current political climate and move to the next level of development.”

Puntland Election: The Countdown

29 Oct- Source: Wardheernews-1455 Words
The countdown for Puntland election is truly and seriously underway. The campaign is in full swing. All the ingredients are in place to guarantee a thrilling election campaign. And it is already becoming clear that there is an element of unpredictability in this election. Few months ago, the current leadership were almost written off as credible contenders; not any more. This election is wide open. Because of the long list of failures, mistakes and at times sheer incompetence of the current administration, even seeking further term in office was considered unthinkable. A re-election of the current dweller of the presidential palace is however not inconceivable at this point in time and dismissing Faroole out of hand would be a grave mistake by opponents. The contenders are also coming in droves. It is the nature of this type of elections to attract not only the ambitious, the opportunistic and the self-publicist but also the jokers and even the downright lunatics throwing their hats into the ring coveting the top job. Of the contestants vying to topple the incumbent is a former federal prime minister, no less.