September 3, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Somali parliament to debate on presidential aspirants’ requirement
02 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 85 words
The Somali federal parliament is set to debate on one of the most contested requirements for presidential candidates in Mogadishu. Spokesman of the election commission, Osman Libah told Bar-kulan that his team is tabling a motion in parliament touching on whether a presidential candidate is required to get recommendation from 20 MPs for the aspirant to run for the presidency.
Key Headlines
- Warships ships shell al Shabaab-controlled port city of Kismayo (Shabelle)
- Amisom operations in Somalia now enter second phase (East African)
- Somalia’s Shabaab display bodies of enemy combattants (AFP)
- Kismayo capture imminent military spokesmen say (Sabahi Online/Daily Nation)
- UNESCO condemns killing of Somali Journalist (Bar-Kulan)
- Three Ethiopian solders killed in central Somalia blast (Shabelle)
- Somaliland president names new information minister (Hadhwanaag Times)
PRESS RELEASE
Afmadow remains secure, reports of helicopters downed “false”: Gutti
01 Sept – Source: AMISOM – 163 words
AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, has rejected Al-Shabaab claims suggesting that Afmadow town is not secure as “untrue and baseless propaganda”.Lieutenant General Gutti said:“Afmadow remains in the full control and security of AMISOM troops.
Al-Shabaab has issued untrue and baseless propaganda suggesting otherwise. It is a desperate attempt by Al-Shabaab, misrepresenting the realities on the ground where AMISOM troops are providing security and stability to allow the local population to carry on with their normal lives, free from the fear, intimidation and violence propagated by Al-Shabaab”.
Lieutenant General Gutti also confirmed that reports of helicopters downed near Afmadow were also untrue: “No helicopters have been attacked. This is also untrue Al-Shabaab propaganda with no basis in fact”.
AMISOM troops have been providing security and stability to the local people of Afmadow since securing the town over two months ago. AMISOM operations in Afmadow have been led by the Kenyan contingent, which officially became part of AMISOM in February 2012.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali parliament to debate on presidential aspirants’ requirement
02 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 85 words
The Somali federal parliament is set to debate on one of the most contested requirements for presidential candidates in Mogadishu. Spokesman of the election commission, Osman Libah told Bar-kulan that his team is tabling a motion in parliament touching on whether a presidential candidate is required to get recommendation from 20 MPs for the aspirant to run for the presidency.
Election Commission publishes requirements from presidential aspirants
01 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 47 words
Somali presidential election commission has published the requisites for one to run for the presidency which will be held on 10th September in Mogadishu.
Hand grenade attacks hits Somali army base in Beledweyne
01 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 64 words
Unidentified assailants threw a hand grenade on Somali army base in Somalia’s central town of Beledweyne, the capital city of Hiiraan region. The attacks took place in the early hours on Saturday at an army base located east of the town, where dozens of TFG forces are locating, and causing unconfirmed casualties on the troops. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
UNESCO condemns killing of Somali Journalist
01 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 82 words
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova on Friday condemned the killing of Mohamud Ali Keyre, a Somali journalist of horyaalmedia.com. In a press release, Irina Bokova says a free and independent press is an essential contribution to dialogue and national reconciliation in Somalia and necessary for democracy and rule of law.
Electoral Commission releases criteria for candidates running for President
01 Sept – Source: Garowe Online – 109 words
The electoral commission announced the criteria for candidates running for president of Somalia, Garowe Online reports. Spokesman for the electoral commission Osman Libah Ibrahim held a press conference in Mogadishu on Saturday explaining the criteria for candidates running for president. The ten point criteria included that the candidate must pay a $10,000 registration fee before running for elections.
Three Ethiopian solders killed in central Somalia blast
01 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle – 77 words
Witnesses say at least three Ethiopian soldiers have been killed in a huge blast detonated inside a military base in central Somalia.Initial reports suggested the attack was used a remote-controlled landmine explosion that tore through an armoured personnel carrier with dozens of Ethiopian troops.No group or individual has claimed the responsibility for the attack so far.
Somaliland president names new information minister
02 Sept – Source: HadhwanaagTimes – 63 words
The president of Somaliland republic Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo has appointed Abib Dirie Noor, as the new information minister. Former Somaliland presidency spokesman Abdullahi Mohamed Dahir designated to be the deputy information minister while former Somaliland National TV director was named to be the spokesman of the presidency. The president also appointed Ahmed Ali Nor to be the governor of Gabiley region of Somaliland.
Funeral ceremony held for late Meles Zenawi
02 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 74 words
Thousands of people were present in a state funeral held in Addis Ababa for Ethiopia’s late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died on August 20th in Brussels following a long undisclosed illness. More than 20 African presidents and foreign dignitaries including Somalia president are attending the burial ceremony of Meles Zenawi who died at the age of 57 in Belgium. The late diminutive ex-guerilla leader took power in 1991 after toppling dictator Mengistu Hailemariam.
Warships ships shell al Shabaab-controlled port city of Kismayo
01 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 104 words
Warships have shelled the Somali port of the al Shabaab-controlled port city ofKismayo, hours after the militants put on show the bodies of four soldiers, two Kenyans and two Somali soldiers killed in combat in their stronghold, residents said. Witnesses said the warships at the coast of Kismayo started shelling the port, around 6:00 pm local time.Militants blamed Kenyan forces for the attack.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia set for polls after House
02 Aug – Source: Standard Media – 320 words
After days of uncertainty and bickering, the way has finally been cleared for Somalia to have a new government.
The Tuesday election of Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari as parliamentary speaker was one of the last hurdles in seeking to instal a new all-inclusive government in Mogadishu.
Amisom operations in Somalia now enter second phase
02 Sept – Source: The East African – 290 words
As the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) mulls attacking Kismayu after capturing Marka, the mission’s officials said the force is now approaching its second phase of peacekeeping.
Basil Gateretse, the Amisom Head of Political Unit, said the force had embarked on activities like building schools and hospitals, to win the support of locals.
Putting Somalia back together again
03 Sept – Source: East African – 1200 words
Somalia’s long transition ended on August 20, with its war-battered capital Mogadishu more peaceful than it has been in 20 years.
However, the African Union peacekeeping mission, Amisom, which can claim credit for the change in Somalia, is not holding a victory parade yet.
Three KDF soldiers found in Somalia
02 Sept – Source: Daily Nation/The Standard/Capital News – 117 words
Three Kenya Defence Forces personnel who were reported missing last Friday after battling Al-Shabaab militia in Somalia’s Miido town have been found. Kenya’s military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir on Sunday posted on his official twitter account that the KDF soldiers had now been found. “3 of KDF troops missing found.
Kismayo capture imminent, military spokesmen say
31 Aug – Source: Sabahi Online/Daily Nation – 98 words
Military officials say the Somali military, supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), will take Kismayo from al-Shabaab soon, Kenya’s Daily Nation reported.Somali military spokesman for the Juba region Aden Ahmed Hirsi said that troops have nearly surrounded Kismayo.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali pirates kill hostage over delayed ransom
01 Sept – Source: ABC News/AP – 111 words
Somali pirates who have been holding a hijacked ship for nearly two years killed a Syrian hostage crew member and wounded another to protest delayed ransom payment, a pirate leader said. This is believed to be the first time Somali pirates have killed a hostage because of a delay in ransom. Hassan Abdi, a pirate commander in Haradhere town, a key pirate center, said Friday that the killing on Wednesday was a message to the owners of the ship MV Orna that was hijacked off Seychelles in 2010. “The killing was a message to the owners of the ship who paid no heed to our ransom demands,” Abdi said by telephone.
Somalia’s Shabaab display bodies of enemy combattants
01 Sept – Source: AFP – 121 words
Al Shabaab militants on Saturday put on show the bodies of four “enemy” soldiers killed in combat in their stronghold of Kismayo, in southern Somalia, witnesses told AFP.
“We saw the bodies of four men in uniform put on show in Kismayo by the Shabaab,” a local man in the port town, Hassan Abdi Mohamud, told AFP .
Police boost security to prevent protests in Nairobi and Mombasa
01 Sept – Source: Xinhua – 123 words
Kenyan police on Friday enhanced security in key installations in Nairobi and Mombasa to avert planned protests following the death of Islamic cleric in Mombasa early this week.The move follows credible intelligence reports which urged Muslim community in Kenya to come out in large numbers after Friday prayers to demonstrate along the Nairobi and Mombasa streets to protest the assassination of Aboud Rogo whom the UN and U.S. accused of financing Al-Shabaab militia from Somalia.
Somali Presidential vote set for September 10
31 Aug – Source: VOA News – 94 words
The election for Somalia’s next president has been set for September 10. The vote by Somali lawmakers will be the next major step in a U.N.-backed plan to create a strong central government for the war-ravaged country. Some 60 people have indicated they will run for president, including the incumbent, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. The parliament committee organizing the vote says it will
accept applications from candidates beginning September 3.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The democratic forms are created all the time. It is a powerful game. It is not a question of where the Somali Federal State ideologies will be with and create, but how strong Federal States ideologies in Somalia can be. I would now, with a paraphrase of my well-known words loud and clearly say to all 275 elected politicians in Somalia that federalism or the opposite of the federalism “unitarism”, are both to deal with the needs for common efforts in specific issues.”
Federalism is in Somalia: partly known but not recognized
01 Sept – Source: Hiiraan Online – 770 Words
Anarchism in Somalia has deceased significantly, but federalism is in its crudest form constantly at the time new demands for change are being made. I consider the federal fundamental values. The word “federalism” has gained a really bad connotation in Somalia perhaps we have taken over an American parlance of Philadelphia about in 1787 which was when an American constitution had been drawn up.
“The radicalism of Al-Shabaab and their enablers is a recent development, brought to these lands by radicals from countries such as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.As the fight against these extremists is now clearly our top national security issue, we must invest more in understanding the nature of the challenge we face and isolating the very small minority who must be tackled head on. This approach will also ensure that the wider Muslim community does not feel under siege due to the acts of a few radicalised malcontents – of whom Sheikh Aboud Rogo was undoubtedly a leader.”
Rogo is dead but his ideas are the real threat to stability in East Africa
01 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 653 Words
Many people express surprise when they learn that the first suicide bombing recorded in Somalia occurred only in September 2006. Because of the instability in Somalia, many Kenyans have come to imagine that the country and violent, radical Islamism are birds of a feather. That’s not true. In fact, the type of Islam that has been practised in Somalia and East Africa for hundreds of years is the peaceful, moderate type.