Somali Prime Minister to face confidence vote in Parliament

MOGADISHU(Garsoornews)–Somalia’s prime minister is expected to face a vote of confidence next week, lawmakers said on Friday, and backers of the challenge said they were frustrated with the pace of political reform.

Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid heads a fledgling government Western capitals say is the best the strifetorn country has had for decades, determined to improve security, impose the rule of law and end corruption.

A vote against the prime minister could threaten the delicate recovery of a nation Western powers have long seen as a launchpad for militant Islam across east Africa and beyond, analysts said. One said Saaid was likely to survive.

“(The government) vowed to tackle many things in the first six months but they have achieved nothing,” said legislator Dahir Amiin. “The ministers just sit on their seats, they do not know what is going on.”

Other lawmakers confirmed the motion had been filed and said a debate in the 275-seat chamber was expected on May 22.

The prime minister’s office was not immediately available for comment. Saaid was a relative newcomer to politics when he was appointed in October last year and widely viewed as untainted by the clan rivalries that plague Somalia.

Amiin said about 100 parliamentarians backed the motion against the prime minister. He singled out what he said was the government’s failure to pay the armed forces battling al Qaeda-linked militants as a key disappointment.

Tensions have also escalated between Mogadishu and the outlying regions over how much central power should be devolved to the provinces, in what analysts said boiled down to a struggle to control resources.

A vote of no confidence would be a blow to Somalia as it strives to shake off the tag of “failed state” after more than 20 years of civil war and anarchy.

“It would disrupt whatever progress has been made over the last eight months and hurt international confidence in Somalia,” said Abdi Aynte, director of the Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies think-tank.

That sentiment is echoed by Saaid’s backers in the chamber.

“Our government is now recognized internationally. If the parliament starts dismantling it, the world will see us as chaotic,” said lawmaker Khalif Mohamed.

A security analyst predicted the prime minister would survive the vote.

“The vote will fail,” the analyst said. “This is not a massive rebellion in parliament, it is the first shot by MPs who are uneasy with the government’s policy and approach.”

Garsoornews.com

HARGEISA (garsoornews)—At least one person has been confirmed dead and four others were injured after road accident occurred in the outskirts of Lughaye district of Awdal region Somalia’s northwestern side on Friday, Garsoornews reports .

Lughaye district commissioner Abdillahi Ali Aw-Nur confirmed to Garsoornews by phone from the city.

Aw-Nur also said that the wounded people were rushed to Lugaye district hospital where they are undergoing treatment.

The type of the vehicle which is said to be Land Cruiser left Lughaye district towards Djibouti border before it rolled along the way.

Similar car accident had occurred in that same area last month where many lost their lives.

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KISMAYO (Garsoornews)—A witness in the southern Somalia’s port city of Kismayo says that a soldier opened fire to civilians in the outskirts of via Afmadow market, killing one person, injuring 4 others, some seriously, Garsoornews reports.

The security troops in Kismayo have immediately arrested the soldier who opened the fire, though the reason behind this incident is not yet known, according to a villager who remained anonymous.

Four People with bullets wounds were admitted to the city’s hospital. Kismayo, a former rebel bastion is located some 500 Km south of Mogadishu, Somali capital.

This incident comes at a time when delegation from Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) arrived in Kismayo oversee the situation in the area.

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KISMAYO (Garsoornews)—A high delegation from Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that departed the Somali capital, Mogadishu has on Saturday reached the port city of Kismayo in the Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia, Garsoornews reports.

The IGAD delegation was led by the organization’s general secretary Mahbub Moalim held a meeting which took several hours at the Kismayo airport with the newly elected Jubbaland president Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Modobe) and his deputy president Abdillahi Sheikh Ismail Fartag and also the signatories of Jubbaland administration.

What has been discussed in the meeting between IGAD delegation and Jubbaland administration leaders is not yet known, though reports suggest that IGAD is assessing how the Jubbaland elections that had been held in Kismayo was conducted.

The IGAD delegation is also expected to visit Kismayo University and hold meeting with civil society groups and also some 500 delegates who have elected the Jubbaland president.

Another meeting is between IGAD delegation, Jubbaland administration officials and also delegation from the Somali Federal government is expected to take place at the Kismayo airport.

The visit by IGAD officials in Kismayo comes as tension rise in the city over recent election. Four leaders claim to be the legitimate president-elect.

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]]> http://garsoornews.com/news/somaliaigad-delegation-visits-kismayo-amid-tensions/feed/ 0 http://garsoornews.com/news/kenya-wants-the-amisom-troops-in-somalia-expanded/ http://garsoornews.com/news/kenya-wants-the-amisom-troops-in-somalia-expanded/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 06:11:08 +0000 omar http://garsoornews.com/news/?p=11707

UPDF Soldier in Somalia

UPDF Soldier in Somalia

NAIROBI(Garsoornews)–Deputy President William Ruto said the instability in Somalia is piling pressure on Kenya’s security situation.

According to Kenya’s Standard newspaper, he spoke when he met Congo Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his Gabon counterpart Ali Bongo separately in their respective countries.

The leaders talked about the need to expand the African Union forces in Mogadishu to ensure the Horn of Africa country was stable.

“We need to stabilize Somalia fully because the continued absence of a stable government is piling a lot pressure on Kenya,” Mr Ruto said.

Kenya, he added, was facing challenges in respect to hosting a big number of refugees and terrorist attacks from the Al Shabaab.

Presidents Nguesso and Bongo respectively congratulated the Jubilee Government for winning the elections saying their governments will collaborate with Kenya on the issue of supporting the Africa Union (AU).

They supported a proposal that AU should give enough resources and personnel to stabilise Somalia so that refugees can relocate back to their country for Kenya to mange its security issues without external pressure.

The Deputy President while briefing the two leaders on Kenya’s role in ensuring peace in the region observed.

“The Somalia problem has compounded insecurity in Kenya with frequent attacks by the Al Shaabab and proliferation of small arms.”

The three countries also agreed to set up a climate change secretariat considering Congo and Gabon lie on the Congo Basin where there is the amazon.
……………………………………

Kenya wants the Amison troops in Somalia expanded
Deputy President William Ruto said the instability in Somalia is piling pressure on Kenya’s security situation.
According to Kenya’s Standard newspaper, he spoke when he met Congo Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his Gabon counterpart Ali Bongo separately in their respective countries.

The leaders talked about the need to expand the African Union forces in Mogadishu to ensure the Horn of Africa country was stable.

“We need to stabilize Somalia fully because the continued absence of a stable government is piling a lot pressure on Kenya,” Mr Ruto said.

Kenya, he added, was facing challenges in respect to hosting a big number of refugees and terrorist attacks from the Al Shabaab.

Presidents Nguesso and Bongo respectively congratulated the Jubilee Government for winning the elections saying their governments will collaborate with Kenya on the issue of supporting the Africa Union (AU).

They supported a proposal that AU should give enough resources and personnel to stabilise Somalia so that refugees can relocate back to their country for Kenya to mange its security issues without external pressure.

The Deputy President while briefing the two leaders on Kenya’s role in ensuring peace in the region observed.

“The Somalia problem has compounded insecurity in Kenya with frequent attacks by the Al Shaabab and proliferation of small arms.”

The three countries also agreed to set up a climate change secretariat considering Congo and Gabon lie on the Congo Basin where there is the amazon.

Source:New Vision

MOGADISHU (Garsoornews)—Somalia’s interior and national security minister Abdikarin Hussein Guled said that the Federal government has ordered the committee sent to Kismayo to be back soon, to take a decision, Garsoornews reports.

Speaking at a press conference held on Thursday  in Mogadishu, the interior minister said: “A militia group cannot dominate Kismayo and the determination of the people of Jubbaland”.

“Such political disputes may hinder the peace process and may allow the extremists to infiltrate into the society.” the minister said during a press conference in Mogadishu on Thursday.

Last month, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his Prime Minister Shirdon of Somalia’s Federal Government had earlier opposed the Jubbaland Conference which it described as “unconstitutional”.

On Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has mandated a 16-member-joint committee assigned to resolve the disputes on Jubbaland administration formation and reconciliation process.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Madobe, Raskamboni faction leader was elected as the first president of Jubbaland state following a meeting at Kismayo university campus attended by so called 500 representatives from three regions of south-western Somalia.

Sheikh Ahmed Madobe–who was formerly in the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and later in other militia groups aligned with Al-Shabaab that has been attempting to regain his status in Jubaland after suffering defeat at the hands of his old allies in 2009.

A day after he was elected and sworn in, new president of Jubaland State Ahmed Madobe appointed Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag) as his Vice President.

The region has seen decades of conflict due to controversial clan resettlements inter-clan fighting, warlordism, Islamic militancy, and fighting over control of lucrative areas like Kismayo port.

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]]> http://garsoornews.com/news/somali-interior-minister-a-militia-group-can-not-dominate-kismayo/feed/ 0 http://garsoornews.com/news/somaliapresident-hassan-receives-credentials-from-a-new-south-korean-ambassador/ http://garsoornews.com/news/somaliapresident-hassan-receives-credentials-from-a-new-south-korean-ambassador/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 14:35:42 +0000 omar http://garsoornews.com/news/?p=11601 By Omar Nor

Somali president receives credentials from S.Korean ambassador. May 16, 2013 [Photo:Garsoornews]

MOGADISHU (Garsoornews)–Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Thursday received the credentials of newly appointed ambassadors from South Korean Kim Chan Woo at the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the latest in a string of diplomats credited to the Horn of Africa country,Garsoornews reports.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that this will restore the bilateral relationship between the two countries, adding that he is very hopeful of enlarging the co-operation between the two sides.

A meeting which took hours at the Villa Somalia, Somalia’s presidential palace, between Somali president and the newly appointed ambassador was focused on the restoration of the close relation between the two counties.

President Hassan Sheikh has previously received the credentials of many ambassadors from various countries across the world.

Garsoornews.com

KISMAYO(Garsoornews)–Bare Aden Shire (Bare Hirale) who spoke to the media on Wednesday night claimed to be the elected president of Jubbaland administration in the next four years term.

Speaking to the VOA Somali Service, Bare Hirale said that they were aware of the other conference in which Ahmed Madobe was declared as the president of Jubbaland but he is the official and lawful president of the Jubbaland administration.

Bare added that his just elected administration will launch reconciliation for the Jubbaland people and will closely work with everyone that hails from these regions.

At a time Bare was asked why they did not unite the simultaneous conference in Kismaayo, he stated that they tried to unite the two conferences a couple of times but they couldn’t make the break through.

Bare Hirale’s claims as the newly elected president of Jubbaland administration comes hours after Ahmed Madobe, a prominent Ras-Kamboni leader was declared as the elected president of Jubbaland administration in a landslide election where some 500 delegates from Gedo and Jubba regions gathered.

 Garsoornews.com

JOWHAR (Garsoornews)—An official says at least six suspects were arrested on Thursday during a massive security swoop in the southern city of Jowhar, the provincial capital of Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, Garsoornews reports.

Confirming the incident, Daud Hajji, spokesman for middle Shabelle region said Somali security forces on Thursday morning hours carried out an operation at some villages in Jowhar town, detaining 6 people in connection with a bomb explosion that was targeted on Wednesday an army base in the city.

“The suspects are now being questioned at a police station in Jowhar about yesterday’ bomb attack,” he said, adding that if anyone of the 6 detainees found guilty will put on trial, if not they will be released soon.”

However, Wednesday’s blast in Jowhar was not caused a casualty, according to the local official. There has been no group that claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jowhar, an agricultural city located just some 90 Km northwest of Mogadishu.

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Ahmed Madobe was elected as the president of Jubaland state on May 15, 2013 [Photo:Garsoornews]

KISMAYO(Garsoornews)—The election of Jubaland’s “president”–a common title among regional heads in Somalia has been concluded to day in Kismayo.

Reliable sources within the Jubaland state formation conference in Kismayo has confirmed to Garsoornews by phone that Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam, better known as Ahmed Madobe was elected as the president of Jubaland state.

The election of Ahmed Madobe as the first president of Jubaland state is a significant comeback for the man who governed Kismayo with the ICU in 2006.

Election of Jubaland’s first president has begun earlier today and the reliable sources confirmed to us that Ahmed Madobe, the leader of Raskamboni faction won a landslide victory.

Sheikh Ahmed Madobe–who was formerly in the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and later in other militia groups aligned with al-Shabaab–has been attempting to regain his status in Jubaland after suffering defeat at the hands of his old allies in 2009.

Jubaland historically comprised of Lower and Middle Juba states. But military dictatator and ex-President Siad Barre split up the region in 1975, adding Gedo, Bay, and Bakool states.

The region has seen decades of conflict due to controversial clan resettlements inter-clan fighting, warlordism, Islamic militancy, and fighting over control of lucrative areas like Kismayo port.

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