September 27, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
President Hassan continues with consultation on new PM
27 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan – 122 words
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is still continuing the consultations about the nomination of the prime minter with Somali officials and community representatives. The numbers of the candidates are more as the president is asserting to get effective prime minister who will lead the government executives on the coming four years.
Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo and Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali “Doodishe” are the most predicted ones who are expected to be nominated for the position. The other candidates include Ali Khalif Galaydh, Abdiwahid Gonjeh,and Khalif Hassan while some others may also arise. The president’s decision to nominate prime minister is limited to only one month as it is indicated on the current constitution.
Key Headlines
- President Hassan continues with consultation on new PM (Radio Dalsan)
- Official: Somali AU forces to tighten security of Beledweyne following blasts (Shabelle)
- Remarks at a UN Secretary General Summit on Somalia (News Room America)
- Egyptian president lobbies for int’l support for Somalia (Bar-kulan)
- Communiqué of Secretary-General’s mini-summit on Somalia (UN)
- Kibaki roots for Somalia at UN summit (Capital FM)
- Abdiweli Mohamed Ali meets with world leaders in New York (Shabelle/Bar-kulan/
Somaliweyn/Radio Mogadishu) - African Leaders See Historic Opportunities for Somalia (VOA)
- UK will provide additional £10 million to help new Somalia government (UK in Somalia)
PRESS STATEMENT
Communiqué of Secretary-General’s mini-summit on Somalia
26 Sept – Source: UN – 1715 words
The following statement by the Secretary-General’s Mini-Summit on Somalia was issued on 26 September:
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened a mini-summit on Somalia in New York on 26 September 2012 on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia attended by video teleconference from Mogadishu and was represented in New York by Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali. Participants included Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, together with the Chairperson-elect, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as well as high-level representatives of Burundi, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Norway, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen, African Union, European Union, League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, African Development Bank, World Bank and Islamic Development Bank.
Participants congratulated President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the Somali authorities and the people of Somalia on the peaceful end of transition, which represented a historic moment for Somalia, and an important step towards improving peace and security. We paid tribute to the work of the Roadmap Signatories, Traditional Elders, National Constituent Assembly, the new Federal Parliament and the Technical Selection Committee for their roles in ending the Transition. We welcomed the commitment of the outgoing President to support and work with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and urged all political actors in Somalia to cooperate with the new authorities. We underlined that this spirit of unity should be a guiding principle for all Somali and international actors working towards peace in Somalia.
Remarks at a UN Secretary General Summit on Somalia
26 Sept – Source: News Room America – 514 word
Thank you very much, Under Secretary General. And let me join in congratulating both the new President and the new Prime Minister. We very much appreciated the President’s statement outlining your government’s six objectives, and we stand ready to assist you in fulfilling them. I also want to thank former President Sheikh Sharif for a smooth and peaceful transition, the first in decades for the Somali people.
Let me make three areas of emphasis that deserve our attention quickly. First, we have to continue improving security. The United States has strongly supported AMISOM and the Somali national forces, and we will work closely with the new government as it takes more of a leading role. We will maintain our support for the security sector and focus on sustainable and comprehensive reform.
As more areas are liberated from al Shabaab, the government will need to establish police forces and courts. And we view the Joint Security Committee as a promising mechanism for coordinating efforts between the Somali Government and international partners.
Second, stabilization efforts must continue across the country. Although there has been encouraging progress so far under the National Stabilization Plan, more than 2 million people in Somalia still need lifesaving humanitarian assistance. Many more face hunger and malnutrition and can’t get basic services, such as clean water and adequate electricity. And the former combatants, who are defecting from al Shabaab will need to be reintegrated into local communities.
In addition, we have to continue to keep focus on the refugee population. Kenya has been extremely generous in sponsoring hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees, and we have to continue to work overtime to relocate those refugees back in their homes. So meeting these challenges will require the government to work with local communities as well as the international efforts to really focus, especially on southern and central Somalia, and that will give us a chance to try to provide enough stability for the government to get about its business.
And finally, with respect to the government, transparency and accountability must be required. We urge the new government to appoint a cabinet of people who will work to promote the interests of the Somali people and respond to their needs and maintain the confidence of international donors so future collaboration can continue. So we look to the government to build transparent and accountable institutions.
SOMALI MEDIA
Egyptian president lobbies for int’l support for Somalia
27 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 100 words
Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi has urged the international community to support the new Somali government in order to allow it stand on its foot.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, president Mursi praised the recent political changes in Somalia calling it a renewed hope for the Somali people.
Mursi said his government has already vowed to closely work with the new government and the people of Somalia. Somali issue is one of the agendas discussed in the UNGA in New York, with most countries promising to support the new government.
Official: Somali, AU forces to tighten security of Beledweyne following blasts
27 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 110 words
An official says Somali government forces with the support of the Djiboutian contigent, part of AMISOM forces are setting up plans to secure the Somali central town of Beledweyne, the provincial capital of Hiiraan, following blasts.
Ahmed Osman Inji, a senior Somali security official told Shabelle Media Network that upsurge in insecurity has been on rise in the past few weeks as AMISOM dispatched more peacekeepers to boost the security of Beledweyne located near the border with Ethiopia. “I’m very much optimistic about the future security strategy to tackle the frequent attacks and explosions against the people. We prepared more troops to carry out security operations,” he added.
Turkish Medics Perform Surgeries on Somali Patients
27 Sept – Source: Radio Risaala – 117 words
Turkish Medics in Mogadishu have confirmed to have successfully carried out medical surgeries on more than 15 Somali patients. The medics who work for a healthy organization performed the operations in Digfeer Hospital in Mogadishu. Furthermore, the Turkish medics also performed medical screening for more than 500 patients.
The medics who include experienced surgeons, physicians and nurses provided the much needed healthcare to patients with various diseases, ailments and injuries. The head of the medical team, Dr. Omer Tuna described the exercise a success though he pointed out that there are still some patients still suffering from various disease. He also called for these patients to be given special care and provide them with the appropriate drugs.
President Hassan continues with consultation on new PM
27 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan – 122 words
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is still continuing the consultations about the nomination of the prime minter with Somali officials and community representatives. The numbers of the candidates are more as the president is asserting to get effective prime minister who will lead the government executives on the coming four years.
Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo and Mohamed Ahmed Sheikh Ali “Doodishe” are the most predicted ones who are expected to be nominated for the position. The other candidates include Ali Khalif Galaydh, Abdiwahid Gonjeh,and Khalif Hassan while some others may also arise. The president’s decision to nominate prime minister is limited to only one month as it is indicated on the current constitution.
‘Planned infiltration’ of Somalia security forces by al Shabaab: sources
27 Sept – Source: Garowe Online – 154 words
Confidential sources say that members of al Shabaab group have prepared a “planned infiltration” of Somali security forces in Mogadishu, in consort with Islamist elements associated with recently elected Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Garowe Online reports.
The sources speak of a multifaceted strategy involving a number of factors, including external interference. Since withdrawing from Mogadishu in Aug. 2011, al Shabaab fighters have lost other key towns in the face of a military offensive by TFG forces aided by AMISOM peacekeepers and troops from neighboring countries.
“Islamist elements associated with President Hassan [Sheikh Mohamud] are pursuing a policy of negotiating with al Shabaab group, as al Shabaab has been severely weakened in recent months and is in a desperate position,” said the sources. The sources described a group known as ‘Damul Jadid’ (“new blood” in Arabic) as a breakaway faction of al Islah Islamist group. al Islah is the Somali branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Abdiweli Mohamed Ali meets with world leaders in New York
26 Sept – Source: Shabelle/Bar-kulan/Somaliweyn/
The outgoing Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has met with world leaders, including UN secretary general Ban ki Moon in New York on the side line of the UN annual meeting.
The sources also said Ali held special meeting with US president Barrack Obama, Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Desalegn, Australian PM and Turkish deputy PM Ahmed Davutoglu to discuss about the changes in Somalia.
The outgoing Somali prime minister has told the officials that Somalia has moved from transitional to a permanent constitutional government after Somali lawmakers for the first time in more than 40 years elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as Somali president.
Baidoa military court hands out sentences to seven people
27 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle – 92 words
A military court in Somalia’s Baidoa town has sentenced 7 alleged criminals to more than 6 years in prison over killing and insecurity acts. Col.Mahad Abdirahman, the commander of Somali army in Bay region told Shabelle Media Network that the court sentenced the men after finding them guilty of murder and executions against civilians in Baidoa, 250 Km north-west of Mogadishu. “The military court opened proceedings over the case and lastly sentenced 7 alleged men to 7 and 6 years in jail,” he said.
Meeting held in Mogadishu to support new Somali president
26 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online/Shabelle/Somaliweyn – 109 words
A highly arranged meeting was held on Wednesday in Mogadishu to support the newly elected Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Ahmed Hassan Adow, the district commissioner of Wadajir district who hosted the meeting, says that th aim of the gathering was farwell party for former TFG president Sheikh Sharif and welcome Hassan Sheikh as the new president of Somalia.
Several MPs who addressed the meeting said this is new era for Somalia and will be a historic move towards the restoration of peace and order in the country which has lacked a central government for more than 20 years.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kibaki roots for Somalia at UN summit
27 Sept – Source: Capital FM – 673 words
President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday asked the international community to invest in the peaceful settlement of international disputes by taking preventive measures and addressing the root causes.
President Kibaki said Kenya joined the African Union Mission in Somalia and jointly with AMISOM and the Transitional Federal Government forces they liberated large areas of Somalia from al Shabaab occupation.
”We are encouraged by recent developments in Somalia and in particular, the election of a new President, Prime Minister and Parliament and adoption of a new Constitution”, said President Kibaki.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
African Leaders See Historic Opportunities for Somalia
26 Sept – Source: VOA – 593 words
African leaders say the election of a new Somali president holds historic opportunities for peace and stability that the international community must not let pass. South African President Jacob Zuma says the international community must back the people of Somalia as they embrace the new freedoms of a new government after decades of conflic
“Sustainable peace is possible in Somalia. The adoption of the provisional constitution has set in place the foundation for building the pillars on which peace will thrive,” said Zuma.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud won election as Somali president earlier this month, ending a long transition process made possible largely because African troops expelled al Shabaab militants from the capital, Mogadishu.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn says the new Somali government needs a lot of help from the international community, but help that does not infringe on Somali ownership of its own recovery.
UK will provide additional £10 million to help new Somalia government
27 Sept – Source: UK in Somalia – 500 words
Intervention by the UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague at the Secretary-General Mini Summit on Somalia. Thank you very much Secretary General, shortening my remarks accordingly. I begin by congratulating the Somali people on the historic moment and the end of transition in Somalia. Their determination and courage to recover from 21 years of conflict is an inspiration to us all.
It’s because we in the UK share so many ties with Somalia and the Somali people that we hosted the London Conference, which agreed earlier this year that the transition had to end and that the international community would do more to address security issues in the region.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The book tells, in a simple conversational style, how 13-year-old K’naan, his mother and three siblings, left their home in Mogadishu after the 1991 outbreak of the Somalian Civil War, and describes their experiences as refugees at the hands of Somali, U.S. and finally Canadian authorities as they made their way first to New York, then Toronto, where they were finally granted status, and where K’naan’s fascination with music at school blossomed into a substantial career.”
The story behind K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag”
27 Sept- Source: Toronto Star – 722 Words
K’naan could have written a memoir for adult readers, an epic refugee story of flight, struggle and discovery that traces every thrilling and agonizing step the young Somalia-born, Canada-nurtured rapper/hip hop artist, songwriter and activist has made on his way from poverty and fear in his war-torn native land to the highest strata of international pop music stardom outlined in his multi-award-winning hit song, “Wavin’ Flag.”
But he very deliberately chose to aim his first book at children, he told the Star on the eve of the publication Tuesday of When I Get Older: The Story Behind “Wavin’ Flag,” a 32-page picture book written by K’naan and illustrated by prominent New York artist Rudy Gutierrez.
Mogadishu: Somalia’s Vulnerable Capital
26 Sept – Source: Refugees International – 60 Words
Somalia is a country in transition. Al Shabaab no longer controls the capital Mogadishu, and a new government has people feeling optimistic about the country’s future. But there are still more than 1.3 million internally displaced people throughout Somalia – with hundreds of thousands in Mogadishu alone. And even though the city is experiencing new found revitalization, this population remains highly vulnerable.
Top tweets
@UNPOSomalia Watch full #UNGA Mini Summit on #Somalia on @UNwebcast: http://webtv.un.org/watch/
@USAfricaCommand #AFRICOM Fact of the Day: >2 million people in #Somalia need lifesaving humanitarian aid – #SecClinton http://www.state.gov/
@RawyaRageh #Morsi brings in #Somalia, too, in his speech.. Speech clearly aimed at portraying #Egypt as Arab AND African leader. #UNGA #UN.
@UN_DPA There has been real change in #Somalia, from new President & Parliament to expanding business – UN political chief http://ow.ly/e1yQL.
@foreignoffice Foreign Secretary @WilliamJHague: UK will provide additional £10 million to help new government of #Somalia http://ow.ly/e1vR5.
Image of the day
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammud behind by video from Mogadishu as UN Secretary General ban Ki-Moon address mini-summit on Somalia. Photo: @UN_Spokesperson.