September 19, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia replaces central bank chief criticised in U.N. report

19 Sept- Source: Reuters- 551 words

Abdusalam Omer has been replaced as Somalia’s central bank governor after seven months in the job, he said on Thursday, once again strongly denying graft allegations made by United Nations monitors. The allegations in a U.N. report linking him to irregularities regarding millions of dollars withdrawn from the bank have also been formally rejected by the Somali government. The U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea said in July that Mogadishu’s central bank had become a “slush fund” for political leaders and that Omer had played a central role in irregularities surrounding unaccountable disbursements.

Key Headlines

AMISOM ends three-day Civil- Military Coordination conference (AMISOM)
Somali National Forces and AMISOM troops capture Mahaday district (Radio Bar-lulan/Radio Dalsan)
Cabinet holds weekly meetings in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan)
UNSOM representative to Jubba regions visits Kismayo(Kismayo Online)
At least 20 dead in quarry collapse in Somalia (UPI)
Security forces release Hizbul Islam official (Radio Dalsan)
Senior al Shabaab commander threatens against group’s top leader (Raxanreeb)
A gathering of ideas in Mogadishu (Africa Review)
Somalia replaces central bank chief criticised in U.N. report (Reuters)
UN and African Union sign plan to protect children in armed conflict (UN News Centre)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM ends three-day Civil- Military Coordination conference

19 Sept- Source: AMISOM- 278 words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) yesterday concluded a three-day conference promoting humanitarian civil-military coordination and civilian protection.

For the first time, AMISOM Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) officers from all sectors came together in Mogadishu to share experiences and plan on how best to implement the mission’s mandate and enhance cooperation with civilians. UNSOA supported the conference, with UN OCHA, UNSOM and other UN agencies delivering thematic sessions, leading discussions of case studies that prompted lively discussions on civil-military coordination.

The conference analyzed the current situation in the four sectors of South Central Somalia and explored ways to enrich cooperation with civilian organizations. Focusing on civil-military coordination, the conference also looked at issues affecting vulnerable groups in the complex operating environment of Somalia, especially the issue of gender based violence and child’s rights protection.

AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif said “this initiative comes at a time when increasing interactions with civilians is crucial to consolidate peace dividends recently gained in Somalia. Although security improvements have been observed, civilian populations continue to be vulnerable.”

Justin Brady, Head of OCHA Somalia remarked: “this Conference is a major step forward in understanding the different mandates of AMISOM and work of humanitarian organizations, assuring a clear distinction of our respective roles”.

Abdul Diagabate, AMISOM Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer added, “We hope to hold these conferences regularly in Mogadishu. It is important to ensure that AMISOM CIMIC units are engaging effectively with Somali communities and that they are working in coordination with the humanitarian community, according to AMISOM’s mandate. These conferences, bringing the humanitarians and AMISOM to understand each other”.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali National Forces and AMISOM troops capture Mahaday district

19 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-lulan/Radio Dalsan- 86 words

Somali government forces backed by AU peacekeeping troops have on Thursday captured Mahaday district, in southern Somali region of Middle Shabelle region, according to the district commissioner. Sharif Abukar further added that Mohamud Koronto was leading the troops who have taken over the town. Confirming the take over, locals told Bar-kulan that the joint troops advance to the town without facing any resistance from al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab militant have been in control.

Cabinet holds weekly meetings in Mogadishu

19 Sept- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan-152 words

The spokesman of the prime minister who held a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister of the federal republic of Somalia Abdi Farah Shirdon elaborated the discussed agendas in the meeting. “The issues discussed during the meeting were broad and among them was the situation of security in the capital and security operations conducted by government troops inside Mogadishu for the past 7 days,” said Ridwan Haji Abdiweli. Ridwan added that government troops have arrested several al Shabaab fighters who recently arrived in Mogadishu among them a very close associate of Abu Mansur Al Amriki. Mr. Ridwan also addressed capture of Mahadaay district located in the middle Shabelle region. The spokesman finally touched on the Brussels conference where he explained how the ministers were delighted about the on going efforts to help rebuild Somalia.

UNSOM representative to Jubba regions visits Kismayo

19 Sept- Source: Kismayo Online- 290 words

UNSOM representative to Jubba regions, Benjamin Noha, a Nigerian has on Thursday arrived in Kismayo city, the seat of Interim Jubba Administration. Noha met with officials from Interim Jubba Administration and both sides discussed on various issues including the implementation of newly-signed pact between Jubba Administration and the Federal Government of Somalia, senior adviser to Jubba leader, Abdikani Abdi Jama, tells the media. Noha and Jubba officials also addressed the importance of other UN agencies establishing offices in Kismayo and in the wider region, according to Jama. Jama said that UNSOM office in Kismayo represents an opportunity for other UN agencies to open sub-offices in the city. He added, although the UN agencies will assist the Somali population in the region on various issues such as health, education and water sanitation, their presence will also provide jobs and business opportunities for the youth.

Security forces release Hizbul Islam official

19 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan- 99 words

Somali government security forces have on Thursday freed Hizbul Islam spokesman who was arrested on Wednesday in Mogadishu. Sheikh Mohamed Mo’alim was arrested by the security forces after he held a press conference in Mogadishu on Wednesday. Police spokesman Gen Mohamed Yusuf Madale said the security forces were investigating Mo’alim’s press conference which he termed as inciting insecurity. It was not clear how the release of the detained spokesman of Hizbul Islam came. Hizbul Islam is an Islamist group which was allied with al Shabaab since 2010, but the group last week announced that it has stopped violence.

Senior al Shabaab commander threatens against group’s top leader

19 Sept- Source: Raxanreeb- 181 words

Senior al Shabaab commander, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow abu Mansur has threatened overall leader of the al Qaeda-allied militant group Ahmed Abdi Godane. Abu Mansur who is a very senior Al Shabab member has strongly deplored the top leadership of the group, terming “cruel against the Muslim people”. Abu Mansur said he knew that Godane had been involved in a plot against the two slain commanders of al Shabab namely Ibrahim Haji Mecad better known as Ibrahim Afghan and Mo’alim Burhan. Both men were assassinated in Barawe town on June 19th.

REGIONAL MEDIA

A gathering of ideas in Mogadishu

19 Sept- Source: Africa Review- 1046 words

During the reign of the al Shabaab militia in Mogadishu, any form of art regarded as un-Islamic was banned and many artistes fled the country. It is only in the last one year, that music, and other forms of art have returned to the city. Peace is gradually taking hold of the city with scenes of children playing in the streets, the famous Lido Beach filled with weekend swimmers and the cafes teeming with people. Over 150 people gathered in Mogadishu late August, combined with a global audience through social media, to hear the incredible voices that have fought against all odds in various fields to help get Somali back on the international stage. These short talks by artists and intellectuals, at events known as TEDx, have been held in more than 150 countries, but holding the same event in Mogadishu, requires a very different level of preparation. The Jazeera Palace Hotel, was chosen to make the event accessible to as many people as possible, even though it lies outside the protected area in the city.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia replaces central bank chief criticised in U.N. report

19 Sept- Source: Reuters- 551 words

At least 20 dead in quarry collapse in Somalia

19 Sept- Source: UPI- 91 words

A quarry on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia, collapsed Thursday, killing more than 20 people, officials said. About 150 people were working at the quarry at the time of the collapse, Ali Mohamed Mohamud, head of the quarry miners, told Shabelle Media Network. Many workers are still trapped underneath rocks, Mohamud said. Mohamud has requested immediate assistance from local government and business firms for rescue operations, which were being carried out without special equipment. The cause of the collapse was not reported.

UN and African Union sign plan to protect children in armed conflict

19 Sept- Source: UN News Centre- 381 words

The United Nations and the African Union have agreed to strengthen protection of conflict-affected children in Africa, where despite progress, grave child rights violations including under-age recruitment, continue. “As the African Union is taking a larger role in the continent’s mediation and peacekeeping operations, it had become essential to make our partnership stronger,” said Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Addressing the 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, which began last week in Geneva, Ms. Zerrougui noted that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed Action Plans to end the recruitment and use of children, as well as sexual violence against children. The Transitional Government of Somalia signed a similar Action Plan as well as another one to end killing and maiming of children, the first time a Government made such a commitment.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Extremely. Estimates of their annual value range from US$1 billion to $2 billion. The US is the largest source country, while an estimated $160 million is sent from the UK every year. In some parts of Somalia, 40 percent of the population receives regular remittances, with 80 percent of them spending the money on basic services.”

Are remittances to Somalia doomed?

19 Sept- Source: Irinnews- 1951 words

Millions of people in Somalia rely on money sent from friends and relatives living abroad to meet the expenses of day-to-day living. These remittance flows are thought to be two or even three times greater than the amount spent on humanitarian aid. But recent months have seen a flurry of warnings that remittances flows from the UK will be drastically curtailed because of what some regard as the overzealous application of regulations by one UK bank. On 16 September 2013, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a group of east African states, entered the fray, saying in a communiqué that “an essential lifeline” for “families and communities who are already in poverty” could be cut off as a result. This briefing analyzes the current anxiety and looks ahead to how a sustainable system of remittances can be put in place.