September 2, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali president in Kenya for anti terror conference

01 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Somali Current/Dalsan – 166 words

A delegation led by Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reached Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend anti terror conference which is expected to kick off on Tuesday 2nd September. According to Somali ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur the president is among African heads of states officially invited by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta to the conference which is meant to discuss the role of the African leaders against fight of terrorism and threat is poses to the society. The president is accompanied in the journey Somali foreign and international cooperation minister Dr. Abdirahman Baileh and other key officials. President Mohamud is from Turkey where he attended the inaugural ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey. The conference comes as the Somali government forces and African union peacekeeping troops in Somalia are battling Al Shabaab militant group in a recently launched offensive meant to cut off the supply of the group along the coast.

Key Headlines

Somali president in Kenya for anti terror conference (Radio Mogadishu)
Somali Parliament Speaker arrives in Baidoa town (Radio Bar-kulan)
Cabinet passes new Draft Media Bill after two weeks of discussion (Radio Mogadishu)
Turkish delegation visits Kismayo for talks with IJA leaders (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenya to host AU summit on terrorism (Capital News)
Local NGos hand over vehicles to Banadir administration (Radio Goobjoog/SNTV)
Kenyan leader vows to fix security challenges to spur tourism(Xinhua)
Somaliland Police arrest 70 Ethiopian illegal immigrants (Somaliland Informer)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somalia forces and AMISOM liberate several towns in Hiraan and Middle Shabelle region

01 Sept – Source: AMISOM – 310 words

As part of the ongoing joint military efforts dubbed Operation Indian Ocean aimed at defeating al Shabaab terrorists, Somalia National Army (SNA) and Burundian peacekeepers have in the past few days liberated several important towns in Middle Shabelle and Hiiran regions as they continue to jointly advance towards the main target of strategic town of Jalalaqsi.

On 30th August 2014 the joint forces liberated several location including a crossroad along Dangaras which connects several towns in Middle Shabelle region and Kiliga Shiinaha and went ahead to liberate the town of Fidow in Hiraan region. The Somali National Army supported by AMISOM forces have faced little resistance from their advancement as al-Shabaab simply melted away when they heard the aligned forces are approaching.

Somalia Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Abdirizak Elmi said the forces will relentlessly keep up the pressure on al Shabaab and the forces will employ all the means at their disposal to end their reign of terror. AMISOM Sector 5 commander Colonel Ndayambaje Reverien said the main target for the aligned forces is the strategic town of Jalalaqsi in Hiiran region which the militants have used as a base to launch attacks on SNA and AMISOM bases.

“We are happy to help the Somali Government regain more territory and help their people who have been suffering under the brutal leadership of al Shabaab, who have held the population hostage. Local populations welcomed the joint forces during the operation and continue to work with the forces in a bid to liberate them from the terrorists,” the AMISOM commander from Burundi said.

The Somali National Army and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops yesterday evening also liberated the town of Kurtunwaarey in Lower Shabelle. The operation Indian Ocean is aimed at liberating more towns to help the Somalia government expand its control and help ease humanitarian suffering of the population.

Minister of Information Welcomes Cabinet Approval of Draft Media Law

01 Sept – Source: Minister of Information – 344 words

H.E. Mustafa Duhulow, the Minister of Information, today warmly welcomed cabinet approval of the draft Media Law, saying: “The Media Law is in the interest of Somalis, it will let us enhance the development of Somali Media.”

The draft Media Law went through different stages of development and a series of consultations with key stakeholders in the Somali media sector. The draft Media law is in line with the Provisional Constitution and international law. The Minister said: “The draft Media Law lays down the laws governing Somali media, and is in line with the Provisional Constitution, specifically Chapter 18.

There is an urgent need for this law, which will help the reform and the development of the Somali media, and it will also modernize the Somali media, it will create jobs for young people, and it will protect the rights of Somali media workers. Importantly, this law will also protect civilians from any violation of his or her dignity in the media.”

The Minister, speaking on the stages that the process went through, said “There have been a series of consultations with key stakeholders, in particular Somali media workers. The consultation process took place in the regions of Somalia such as Galkayo, Garowe, Beledweyne, Baidoa and Kismayo as well as Mogadishu. We paid special attention to the private media, as they were the majority of the participants in the process that reviewed the media law over the last few months.”

The Media Law guarantees the existence of Government owned media outlets, Private Media Outlets, and the Public Service Broadcasters (PSB). The Minister speaking on the PSB said “Chapter 23 states that the country, for the first time in its history, will establish Somali Public Service Broadcasts and I am pleased that our country is moved forward.”

The Media Law will now be forwarded to the parliament for debate, discussion and approval. The President will issue a decree after the approval of the parliament in order for the Media Law to be effective. The Minister concluded: “This is good news for the media in Somalia.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali president in Kenya for anti terror conference

01 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Somali Current/Dalsan – 166 words

Somali Parliament Speaker arrives in Baidoa town

01 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Baidoa News /Univeral TV/Radio Mogadishu – 151 words

The Speaker of Somalia’s Federal Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari Monday arrived in Baidoa town, the administrative capital of Bay region. The Speaker was received at the airport by members of Somali cabinet who were already in Baidoa, regional and district administration officials and members of the civil society groups in the town. Jawari who spoke to the local press after his arrival stated that he will remain in Baidoa town in the next few days and will have talks with the local community members over the current state of the region. The Speaker further stressed that the federal government is committed to establish an inclusive federal state in south western Somali regions. The security of the town has been heightened ahead of the arrival of the Parliament Speaker as Somali and AMISOM troops were seen patrolling some of the major roads of the town.

Cabinet passes new Draft Media Bill after two weeks of discussion

01 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC/SNTV – 170 words

Somalia’s Cabinet of Ministers today passed the new Draft Media Bill which has been in cabinet discussion during the past two weeks. Minister of Information Mustaf Dhuhulow said the cabinet fully endorsed the new draft bill after discussions and that the bill will now go to parliament for approval. The bill will turn into effective law after the parliament approves and the President of the republic signs. The new media bill which becomes the first in more than 40 years proposes the establishment of Independent Media Council that deals with the complaints made against the media outlets in the country. Meanwhile the National Union of Somali Journalists [NUSOJ] and the local media welcomed the new media bill passed calling on the government to make sure that its institutions to adhere to the this law after parliament approval.

Turkish delegation visits Kismayo for talks with IJA leaders

01 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online – 137 words

A delegation from Turkey visited Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region. The delegation was received at the airport by senior officials from the Interim Jubba Administration and civil society members in Kismayo. Second deputy leader of Interim Jubba Administration Suldan Abdulkadir Lugadhere who accompanied the delegation from Turkey stated that the Turkish delegation has so far met with Interim Jubba Administration leader. He added the delegation and the IJA leader discussed a number of issues including the implementation of Turkish funded projects on education and development in Jubba regions. Head of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency projects in Somalia, Ahmed Gokcek has expressed his pleasure to have arrived in Kismayo. Gokcek stressed Turkish government’s commitment to support the people of Somalia to strengthen the bilateral relationship between governments of Somalia and Turkey.

Local NGos hand over vehicles to Banadir administration

01 Sept – Source: Radio Goobjoog/SNTV – 88 words

Local NGOs that operate in Mogadishu have today handed over five vehicles to Banadir administration. The vehicles are meant to collect the garbage in the city. The ceremony was attended by officials from Banadir administration and some district commissioners of Banadir administration. The vice chairman of Banadir administration political affairs thanked the NGOs that donated the vehicles. He urged the district commissioners to take advantage of the donations and speed up the activities of returning the beauty of the city.

Somaliland Police arrest 70 Ethiopian illegal immigrants

01 Sept – Source: Somaliland Informer – 92 words

Gebilay Immigration department on Monday has arrested 70 illegal immigrants from Ethiopia. Mr. Abdirashid Ahmed Hassan, head of immigration in Gebilay has told that the illegal immigrants are of Ethiopian citizens who were trying to cross from Somaliland into Puntland. e revealed that they were hiding in Geed Balaadh. He sent warnings to truck drivers that they must refrain from transporting illegal and if caught will be given harsh fines He urged the public to remain vigilant and reports illegal immigrants if they encounter.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya to host AU summit on terrorism

01 Sept – Source: Capital News – 345 words

Kenya will host the Africa Union Peace and Security Council Summit on Terrorism, to be attended by a number of Heads of State and Government from the continent on Tuesday. Already, six presidents have confirmed attendance at the one-day summit among them the leaders of Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Somalia. The presidents of Tanzania and Uganda will also be present. The meeting is expected to agree on concrete steps meant to enhance the ongoing efforts to effectively address the threat of terrorism, including the early ratification and domestication of the relevant AU and international instruments. Prime Ministers of Namibia and Algeria will lead their countries’ delegations as will Burundi’s First Vice President. Delegations to be led by ministers include Gambia, Ethiopia, Libya and South Africa.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan leader vows to fix security challenges to spur tourism

01 Sept – Source: Xinhua – 260 words

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday promised to deal with security challenges at the coastal city of Mombasa to promote tourism. Speaking in Mombasa, Kenyatta assured tourists and locals that visiting coast beaches safety was guaranteed. The country’s tourism suffered a decline in the number of tourists arriving since September 2011 when the Somali militant group, the al Shabaab, carried out the kidnappings of tourists in the Lamu archipelago and the kidnapping of the Spanish volunteers.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The hard work and community spirit of the Somali diaspora has helped to support those in the Horn of Africa for whom remittances provide a vital lifeline. I am committed to the continued close partnership between the UK government and the Somali community in the coming months to secure the future of remittance giving to Somalia. Together we can make a difference.”

Somali Remittances: UK Government strives to support safer remittance flows to Somalia

01 Sept – Source: African Arguments – 532 words

In recent months, the UK government has worked closely with the Somali community on the issue of remittances. I understand the levels of anxiety in the community, as a result of changes to banking arrangements for key Somali MSBs and the fragility of many peoples’ situation in Somalia. Since coming into my new Ministerial role earlier this year, I have made sure that the government is doing what it can to ensure remittances continue to flow through accessible, secure channels from the UK to all regions in the world, including Somalia. At a number of community meetings over the last month, government officials have listened to your concerns and given you more information about the work we are doing. The issue is complex and international. Across the world, banks have been nervous about their business with money transmitters. This is because when they move money around the world, the banks need to have systems in place to understand where the money is from, where it is going, and why. This helps them prevent criminals from using their services to launder money, and individuals from providing funding to terrorists.