On the Margins Media Roundup (December)

[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Somalia, Djibouti, and Comoros Islands, and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the On the Margins Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each month's roundup to info@jadaliyya.com.]

Somalia

Somalia: It mustn’t be business as usual The author argues the new Somali government must control the trade in the port city of Kismayo after AlShabab’s defeat.

Somalia: UN Chief Welcomes Swearing-in of New Somali Cabinet Ministers The author suggests that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon endorses the new Somali cabinet of ministers and parliament.

Meeting the mayor of Mogadishu: Somalia's Tarzan Andrew Harding meets with Mohamed Nur, who tells him about his vision and apprehensions for the country.

Tough Foreign Policy Challenges for Somalia’s “Iron Lady” Abdurrahman Warsameh argues that Somalia’s first female foreign minister has a tough road ahead.

Somaliland: NRC Makes Three Year Commitment to Humanitarian Assistance in Somalia Astrid Sehl says that the NRC has launched a USD 1.3 billion appeal to meet people’s acute needs.

 “.برلمان الصومال يمنح الثقة لحكومة شردون” The author writes that the Somali parliament grants a vote of confidence to the new Prime Minister.

Djibouti

Developing Djibouti: An American Imperative Saleem Ali says the US misses an opportunity to engage in sound diplomacy and partnership with Djibouti.

Remote U.S. base at core of secret operations Craig Whitlock writes that drone strikes by the CIA from Djibouti are central to the US counterterrorism policy.

Drones: Death from afar A useful article on how the US operates in Somalia.

Report: US Expands Anti-Terrorism Operations in Djibouti The author writes that the US put an Air Force base in Djibouti, escalating its counterterrorism operations.

Djibouti a growing hub for clandestine US combat operations The author writes that Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, is location of US drone attacks on high value targets in the Middle East and Africa.

Djibouti pulls out of 2012 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup The author says that Djibouti’s national football team pulls out of the forthcoming 2012 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup to be held in the Uganda.

Comoros Islands

Union of Comoros inducted into Indian Ocean Rim Association The author writes that the Union of Comoros was inducted into the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation.

Ex-army chief acquitted in Comoros murder trial The author writes that a court acquitted the former head of the army, General Salimou Amiri, of complicity in the murder of a high-ranking officer.

Comoros: Helping people recover from floods The author says that Comoros, lashed by its heaviest rains in decades, made an appeal for nineteen million dollars to help the country get back on its feet.