September 26, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

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Somali Government Announces Campaign to Combat Corruption

25 Sept – Source: Ministry of Information – 420 words

H.E. Mustafa Duhulow, Minister of Information announced the launch of a Public Awareness Campaign to combat corruption in Somalia. The Minister opened by stating: “Corruption takes many forms – taking bribes, skimming funds, giving jobs to friends and family, perverting the course of justice to name are just four. This is holding Somalia back and it must be stopped. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) will provide the legislation and all the necessary support but it is only the Somali people who can actually stop the corruption.”

The Minister announced that he would direct the programme himself, describing the fight against corruption in all its forms as ‘a personal passion’. The campaign will consist of a series of programmes on Somali Media Outlets such as TVs, Radios, newspapers and websites (online) and social media, and will include information announcements on what to do when a citizen encounters corruption, along with debates, discussions, call-in programs and public events, all aimed at informing and engaging the population in the battle.

Key Headlines

Government forms committee of ministers to investigate the grievances of seaport casual workers (Radio Mogadishu)
Hiiraan Governor UN humanitarian chief arrive in Mahas (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenya to shut down radical madrassas in terror clampdown (Star)
Six killed in gunfight in Somalia over claimed ransom payment (Reuters)
Somaliland civil registration kicks off formally in Hargeisa (Somaliland Informer)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Government Announces Campaign to Combat Corruption

25 Sept – Source: Ministry of Information – 420 words

The Minister also announced that there would be an accompanying civic education programme: “We must ensure that tomorrow’s citizens of Somalia as well today’s are fully aware of corruption in all its hideous forms and know what they can do to help stamp it out: the laws, the ways to report it and the punishments.”

The Minister noted a number of improvements that had already been made to improve the accountability of the government: sound financial management of government funds under the Auditor General and Accountant, overseen by the Financial Governance Committee, and the extension of the activities of the Attorney General across the country, including into newly recovered areas.

The Minister concluded by saying: “The FGS is committed to dealing with the issue of corruption and from now on we will show zero tolerance. Somalis are known throughout the world for their business acumen. Unfortunately, Somalia is also judged to be amongst the most corrupt countries in the world, along with the likes of Afghansitan, North Korea and Iraq. We have picked up a number of ‘bad habits’ in ‘the way we do business’, some of which are symptoms of the modern world, some of which go back for generations.

We need to move away from practices like bribery, nepotism and so on, and modernize our ideas if we are to take full advantage of the natural resources and the skills of our population if we are to flourish and prosper as a nation.”

From His Excellency the Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed: “Somalia adopts the Convention on the Rights of Child”

25 Sept – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 275 words

The Honourable Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for the Federal Government of Somalia adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which provides children protection under the law.

His Excellency the Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said: “It was more than ten years ago, more precisely on 9 May 2002 that Somalia initially signed the convention. In 2009 and more recently on 20 November 2013 last year, this Government committed to adopt and ratify the convention.

Today, I am happy to announce that this Government has kept his promise to its children, to its people and to the world and will officially join the international community in protecting children rights as soon as the law is ratified by Parliament.”

HE the Prime Minister continued: “For the past 10 years Somalia’s young generation and children have been victims of violence and war. Many of them even spent their childhood in refugee camps or were taken away by force from their home to become child-soldiers.

Children have been at the forefront of my agenda. Our children are Somalia’s future we must invest in them. We must seriously commit to protecting them from war, sexual abuse or any kind of violence and we dedicated to ensure their full development though proper educations, sports and job programs.

Somalia’s youth and children are the foundation on which this country will re-emerge as a secure, stable and, economically prosper nation.” The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) provides for the child-specific needs and rights and requires that states, act in the best interests of the child.

SOMALI MEDIA

At least six dead in armed confrontation in southern Galkayo

25 Sept – Source: Radio RBC/Hiiraan Online/Radio Dalsan – 151 words

At least six people have been killed in a gunbattle in southern Galkayo under Gal-mudug state. The fighting came as a result of misunderstanding over ransom money that pirates received after releasing German-American journalist kidnappers. The gunfire erupted following deadlock on how the ransom which amounted to 1.6million dollars would be shared among the kidnappers. Three of the killed are reported to have been civilians while the other three were the kidnappers. Michael Scott, 40 year old German-American journalist was kidnapped in southern Mudug region controlled by Gal-mudug state years back while he was making research on piracy.

Hiiraan Governor, UN humanitarian chief arrive in Mahas

25 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 135 words

A delegation led by Hiiraan Governor Abdifatah Hassan Afrah on Thursday arrived in Mahas town, one of the largest towns in the region. Somali government officials, United Nations humanitarian chief for Somalia Philippe Lazzarini and senior officials from Hiiraan regional administration were among the governor’s delegation. Hiiraan Governor, Abdifatah Hassan Afrah told Bar-kulan that their mission is to assess the humanitarian and living conditions of the locals in Mahas town and its surrounding areas. He added they met with local community representatives including traditional elders, religious scholars and civil society groups over their living conditions and their humanitarian needs.

Somaliland civil registration kicks off formally in Hargeisa

25 Sept – Source: Somaliland Informer – 138 words

Interior Minister Hon. Ali Mohamed Waran Adde has on Thursday announced formally that the registration of country’s nationals has commenced in the capital of Hargeisa. A highly and well organized ceremony held for the official kick off of the civil registration was held in the working men’s club in central Hargeisa. Ministers of Interior, Higher Education, National Planning, Information, Mayor of Hargeisa and the presidential spokesman all received their national identification cards at the venue.

Government forms committee of ministers to investigate the grievances of seaport casual workers

15 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Goobjoog – 130 words

Somalia’s cabinet of ministers met in Mogadishu on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed. At the start of the meeting reports on the security situation of the country and military operations were listened from the Ministers for Defense and National Security of federal government Mohamed Sheikh Haamud and Khalif Ereg. At the end of the meeting Assistant Minister for Information of federal government Abdullahi Olad Roble briefing the media confirmed the cabinet has discussed wide range issues including the ongoing security operations in the country.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya to shut down radical madrassas in terror clampdown

25 Sept – Source: Star – 245 words

Kenyan authorities said Wednesday that they would close down Islamic schools or madrassas teaching radical doctrines, in a bid to combat terrorism. At least one madrassa in Machakos, 60 kilometres southeast of the capital Nairobi, has already been shut down after 30 youth were detained on suspicion of being recruited to join Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels. “We are targeting religious schools that teach Jihadism, and those that have been recruiting youth for radicalisation,” Ndegwa Muhoro, director of the Criminal Investigations Department, told AFP. “We have already ordered a madrassa in Machakos to be closed, and we are monitoring others around the country,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Six killed in gunfight in Somalia over claimed ransom payment

25 Sept – Source: Reuters – 246 words

Six people were killed in central Somalia in a gunfight over a supposed ransom payment tied to the release this week of a German-U.S. journalist held hostage in Somalia for more than two years, police said on Thursday. The journalist, Michael Scott Moore, 45, was kidnapped by armed militia in the city of Galkayo in January 2012 while researching a book on piracy. After his release this week, local Somali officials said they were not unaware of any ransom paid. A local militiaman, Zakaria Farah, told Reuters the ransom had totalled $2 million although he did not say who had made the payment. He played down the shooting, calling it “accidental,” and said any issues surrounding the payment had been resolved.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“This briefing updates and builds upon previous Crisis Group analysis and recommendations especially in Kenyan Somali Islamist Radicalisation (25 January 2012). The briefing also refers to the transition to devolved government and how longstanding issues relating to the provision of security, regional marginalisation and accommodating minority representation are yet to be fully addressed; these will be explored in a forthcoming series of products on devolution in Kenya.”

Kenya: Al Shabaab – Closer to Home

25 Sept – Source: International Crisis Group – 716 words

One year after the Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Nairobi, al Shabaab is more entrenched and a graver threat to Kenya. But the deeper danger is less in the long established terrorist cells that perpetrated the act – horrific as it was – and more in managing and healing the rising communal tensions and historic divides that al Shabaab violence has deliberately agitated, most recently in Lamu County. To prevent extremists from further articulating local grievances with global jihad, the Kenyan government – including county governments most affected – opposition politicians and Kenyan Muslim leaders, must work together to address historical grievances of marginalisation among Muslim communities in Nairobi, the coast and the north east, and institutional discrimination at a national level, as well as ensuring that counter-terrorism operations are better targeted at the perpetrators and do not persecute wider ethnic and faith communities they have purposefully infiltrated.