July 25, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

UNSC extends mandate of monitoring group for Somalia and Eritrea

25 Jul – Source: Anatolia News Agency – 299 words

UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations expert panel monitoring compliance with sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea for 16 months. The UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations expert panel monitoring compliance with sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea for 16 months.

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, the Security Council asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to re-establish the eight-member Monitoring Group on Eritrea and Somalia untilNovember 25, 2014.

The group, which monitors compliance with the embargoes on the delivery of weapons and military equipment to Somalia and Eritrea, also investigates any seaport operations in Somalia that could generate revenue for the militant group known as Al-Shabaab that controls some Somali territory.

Key Headlines

Remarks by the AU Special Envoy for Somalia Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif (AMISOM)
Somali State minister for Foreign Affairs meets with Sudanese Foreign Minister (Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/ Hiiraan Online)
Al Shabaab vows more deadly attacks in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan/Somalimidnimo /SOmali Memo/Radio Al furqaan)
Al Shabaab poses hard-line threat in Somalia:UN envoy (Walta Information Center)
First Somali cabinet reshuffle expected next week- sources (Radio Dalsan)
Puntland MPs approve nomination of new parliament bill (Garowe Online)
UNSC extends mandate of monitoring group for Somalia and Eritrea (Anatolia News Agency)
Al Shabaab harassing Somali refugees returning home from Kenya (Sabahi Online)
Somalis welcomes Monitoring Group’s report on al Shabaab and spoilers but criticizes findings on corruption (Mfa.gov.et )
Polio claims 13 lives in Beledweyne (Radio Ergo)

PRESS RELEASE

Remarks by the AU Special Envoy for Somalia Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif

25 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 528 Words

Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Somalia Federal Republic,

Excellency, Nicholas Kay, UN Secretary General Special Representative for Somalia, Mr Nick Westcott, EU Managing Director for Africa, Heads of Delegations, Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to participate in this meeting of the Core Group to prepare the New Deal for Somalia Conference in Brussels on 16 September under the Chairmanship of the EU.

Indeed we gather as Somalia enters a defining moment in its history. What has been accomplished has exceeded what many thought was possible. I would like on behalf of the Commission of the African Union and the Chairperson to take this opportunity to congratulate President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his government for laying the foundations for national reconciliation and the reconstruction of Somalia.

The New Deal for Somalia Conference in Brussels on 16 September 201 will endorse the New Deal Compact that will commit the Somali people and their international partners to a set of key priorities and new support for the reconstruction of Somalia over the next three years. The Conference is set to build on the momentum of progress and change in Somalia.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentleman,

The EU’s Commitment in Somalia has been unwavering. In addition to supporting the Somalia people and the Somali Government, the EU is also one of the most important partners of the AU.

The Brussels conference will however take place at a time when Somalia continues to be faced with many challenges. The most important of these remains the threat posed by Al Shabaab. In order to overcome this challenge and restore security which will determine everything else, we must intensify military operations that have unfortunately slow down for a while now.

The reasons for the operational slow down are numerous, but one must highlight the lack of logistical support for the Somalia National Security Forces, AMISOM and our partners from the Ethiopian National Defense Forces without mentioning the uncertainty over the EU’s long term support. AMISOM is hopeful that the Brussels conference will help us to find solutions to the many military and security challenges.

One year ago, in Brussels, the international community came together to support another African country that had 2/3 of its territory occupied by Jihadists fromaAl Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb or Ansar al Dine, but they could have been called al Shabaab because they share the same extremist ideology. In four days (4), precisely on 28 July 2013, elections will be held in the entire territory of this brotherly country including the town of Kidal, a former stronghold of the Jihadist. As you have guessed it, I am talking about Mali.

In Somalia, in August 2012 after more than 20 years of anarchy, a representative National Assembly was elected and for the first time, a President was democratically elected after 2 rounds following a vote that was free and transparent. The question is whether in 2016, we can hold elections by direct universal suffrage and throughout the territory, including in Baraawe, Jamame, Jilib, Buale, Dinsoor, Tayeeglow and Bulo Burto to name a few.

What happened in Mali is also possible in Somalia, We must realize this dream!

Thank You

2nd Core Group meeting for preparation of Brussels Conference on Somalia Remarks by UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay

24 Jul – Source: UNSOM – 1091 Words

With little less than two months to go before the Brussels Conference, this meeting is an opportune moment to take stock of the progress made in the New Deal process and more generally. It also gives us an opportunity to critically review the key areas still requiring work and further attention, and to coordinate efforts to ensure that the upcoming conference will be a success, laying the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous Somalia.

On the programme it says I should set the scene. I offer therefore a brief snapshot of where in my view matters stand on our international efforts to support political and security progress. In brief, it’s a mixed picture with reasons to be both encouraged and concerned. This is not the moment to go into detail and, if you read the news, you can get the picture:

Al Shabaab have increased their violent campaign and remain a potent threat; AMISOM and the Somali national security forces have achieved some great things but lack critical capabilities to press home their advantage; a political settlement of the crisis focused on Kismayo is still pending despite the best efforts of IGAD; taking forward the review of the constitution and interim arrangements for regional administration is behind schedule; and ordinary people are yet to see sustained and widespread benefit from the political and security progress that has been made.

That last point is important: significant political and security progress has been made. We should not lose sight of the transformation that has been achieved by Somalis and their international partners, particularly AMISOM, in the last two years. The difference in Mogadishu is between night and day.

The conditions really exist now for significant further progress: we benefit from having in place a legitimate Federal Government and State led by their Excellencies the President and PM and a Federal Parliament working earnestly under the guidance of the Hon Speaker. And we have a united international community willing and able to help Somalia.

Your Excellencies, UNSOM is still in its second month. I’d like to thank Somali and international colleagues for the great welcome we have received – and for all your expressions of solidarity following the attack on our UN Common Compound on 19 June. I reiterate again that the UN remains firmly committed to its mission in Somalia and will continue to stand beside the people of Somalia.

I know there is a strong desire for us to deliver on our mandate, in particular to provide political good offices to support peace-building and reconciliation; and to support the FGS in coordinating and convening international assistance, particularly in the security sector and in building a federal state. UNSOM is already active on all of this and more. As we grow in coming weeks, we shall become even more capable so that, in true partnership with AMISOM, we shall help deliver peace and prosperity in Somalia.

The next couple of months will be critical in ensuring we achieve what we all desire. Political progress will be at the heart of things. The watchwords for me are greater engagement, more inclusivity, and better performance. Politicians often say politics is the art of the possible. In the coming weeks and months we shall all need to be great artists.

Your Excellencies, turning to the New deal. A couple of quick observations relevant to today’s meeting on what’s been achieved and what remains to be done. I welcome the cooperation that has been taking place under the FGS leadership between donors, the EU, the World Bank and the UN family.

Good progress has been made in at least three areas:

A fragility assessment is underway. The development of the compact is advancing well.

iii) A communication strategy has been developed to ensure that the New Deal messages are disseminated widely and understood by all Somalis and key stakeholders inside and outside the country.

However, several key questions still remain in the run-up to the Brussels conference.

First, the development and implementation of the New Deal must be truly inclusive. The New Deal needs to be a Somali-owned process under the overall leadership of the Somali Government. This demands new strategies to include women in decision making, to reach out to other regions of the country that are politically harder to engage, and to find creative ways to consult with people living outside of government-controlled areas. Questions around the inclusion of regions, such as Somaliland and Puntland in the ND process and the compact to be presented at Brussels remain. The UN is ready to support the Government in taking this dialogue forward.

Secondly, it seems to me that because discussions around federalism are ongoing in the country, the compact to be presented in Brussels will necessarily be interim and dynamic. It will have to be linked to ongoing and future consultative processes, such as the constitutional review and the build-up to the 2016 elections and we will have to be ready to adjust the compact as necessary depending on the outcomes of these processes. As emphasized previously, the Brussels conference on 16 September is not the endpoint but rather the first important milestone in the New Deal process. We shall all need to start thinking about the post-Brussels process.

Thirdly, an issue on pledging. The Brussels conference is intended to initiate concrete commitments by the international community. It will be important for the Somali Government to reach out to partners well in advance of the Brussels conference to ensure broad-based support to the compact, including from non-OECD DAC donors.

An open dialogue between the Government of Somalia and its international partners will be crucial to manage expectations on both sides before the upcoming conference. The Conference’s success should be measured by whether we agree a plan and way of working that will deliver what Somalis need and not simply by whether X million $ are pledged.

To conclude, while impressive progress has been made, important questions remain regarding the inclusivity of the New Deal process, especially when it comes to the engagement of the regions, the format of the Brussels conference and expected commitments by the international community as well as the focus and format of the

post-Brussels New Deal process. Some of the questions will be addressed in today’s meeting. Other areas will need more discussion and dialogue in the coming months. Let me reaffirm that the UN remains fully committed to provide support the Government in the implementation of the New Deal in Somalia. I look forward to a constructive discussion today.

SOMALI MEDIA

Al Shabaab vows more deadly attacks in Mogadishu

25 Jul – Source: Radio Dalsan/Somalimidnimo /SOmali Memo/Radio Al furqaan – 127 words

Al Shabaab spokesman Abu Musab has claimed the responsibility of what he called martyrdom explosions in Mogadishu during the Ramadan month. Speaking to an al Shabaab-run radio, the militant spokesman said they have executed 108 attacks including assassinations killings and suicide explosions in Mogadishu.

He vowed that his group will double attacks before the end of the holy Ramadan month to revenge what he termed as illegal activities in Somalia by the western interests.

Despite the capital city of Mogadishu has been experiencing more extremists attacks and bomb explosions, however, the number al Shabaab spokesman claimed could not be verified independently. Somali security forces have increased the security operations in Mogadishu while heavy police presence could be seen on main roads since last week.

Polio claims 13 lives in Beledweyne

25 Jul – Source: Radio Ergo – 177 words

Thirteen people have died of poliomyelitis in the past two weeks, the director of Beledweyne hospital confirmed. Dr Ahmed Mohamed Khalif told Radio Ergo the dead included adults and children admitted from Moqokori location, some 168 km outside Beledweyne town.

The director said five of the victims died in the hospital, while eight died in Moqokori before they were brought to the hospital. Dr Ahmed attributed the high number of deaths to the fact that the polio vaccination campaign had not reached Moqokori. Dr Abdikarim Aseyr Ali, a polio expert, said that Moqokori was not controlled by the Somali government and the vaccination teams could not go there because of security concerns.

Polio was detected in Hamar Bile section of Mogadishu in May this year, after having been declared eradicated in Somalia in 2007. Millions of unvaccinated Somali children and adults are at risk of infection. The ministry of health of Somalia’s federal government confirmed that the virus had been detected in Banadir, Bay, Lower Shabelle, Gedo, Hiran and other regions.

First Somali cabinet reshuffle expected next week- sources

25 Jul – Source: Radio Dalsan – 125 words

First cabinet reshuffle in the Somalia’s federal government to take place next week amid heavy consultations between the president and the prime minister. According to sources who spoke to radio Dalsan, the reshuffle is expected to bring some new faces into the ranks of the cabinet while some of the current ministers will lose their positions.

The sources also reveal that the prime minister will bring in some of firmer cabinet members in the former transitional council of ministers amid to ease what seemed to be growing opposition campaign against the president and his political circle.

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has emphasized the need for urgent change in the ministers to minimize potential opposition from different clans.

Somali State minister for Foreign Affairs meets with Sudanese Foreign Minister

25 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/ Hiiraan Online – 152 words

Somali State minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Noor Gacal met with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti in Khartoum. The two officials discussed during the meeting, bilateral relations between the two countries and cooperation of the two countries.

The Somali minister briefed Sudanese minister on developments in Somalia and the achievements made by the Somali government in domestic and foreign policies. He praised the role of the Sudanese government towards supporting Somalia, he also thanked the government of Sudan and it is people for welcoming and hosting Somali students in their country.

For his part, Sudanese Foreign Minister said that Somalia is a Sudan’s brother, and they have a close relations, pointing out that the two sides are working together to implement the agreements previously reached by both President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud Somali and Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Puntland MPs approve nomination of new parliament bill

24 Jul – Source: Garowe Online – 144 words

Lawmakers in Somalia’s Puntland parliament have agreed that the new parliament will be selected by their respective clan elders during a Wednesday vote, Garowe Online reports.

Parliament’s legal affairs subcommittee submitted a bill ending the mandate of the current parliament in October 2013 and paving the way for the traditional clan-based system where Puntland’s titled clan elders nominate new parliamentarians to the 66-seat House of Representatives.

Some 44 MPs present debated the new bill and the MPs voted unanimously to approve the bill paving the way for a new Puntland parliament. The current parliament was established in December 2009 and its five-year mandate expires later 2013.

Puntland Parliament Speaker Abdirashid Mohamed Hirsi said: “No parliamentarian voted against new bill regarding the selection process for new parliament and no MP abstained. Henceforth, Puntland’s traditional elders should nominate the new members of parliament,” Speaker Hersi said.

UCID and WADDANI parties ink new Political Pact

24 Jul – Source Somaliland Press/Somali Channel TV – 143 words

The Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) and Somaliland National Party (WADDANI) the two official opposition parties have signed a historic landmark agreement in a bid to foster a new alliance which will enable them to work closely in the future.

The leaders of the two official parties finally signed a ten point agreement which was drafted by eight delegates drawn from both parties in the full presence of the presence of the media ceremony held at Hotel Ambassador, Hargeisa.

Hon Feisal Ali Waraabe and Hon Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro) told reporters covering the event that for the sake of the country we have decide to put our differences aside hence our pledge today to form a united opposition front to the current government of KULMIYE and to find ways to counter the worsening situation of economic and political affair in the country.

Parliament approves “Continuo” agreement of New Deal, President praises

24 Jul – Source: Radio Dalsan/ Universal TV – 320 words

Somali federal parliament has on Wednesday approved unanimously the New Deal agreement which majority of the legislators voted in favor of it. Meanwhile Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has praised the agreement saying that it will enable urgent and remarkable improvement into Somali people. “Somalia has embraced the New Deal process with g7+ countries to lift the country out of its fragile situation,” said His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud while giving a keynote address on the political road map to 2016 at the second New Deal core group meeting in Mogadishu.

The meeting, which included high-level Somali government officials, civil society representatives and members of the international community, discussed plans for an inclusive national dialogue that will set government priorities during early consultations ahead of the 16 September Brussels conference. That conference will result in a compact between Somalia and international donors governing the way the partners interact.

“The New Deal countrywide consultations should be an inclusive process that addresses the different needs and aspirations of the different regions,” the President said. He emphasized the Somali government’s commitment to the New Deal process and stated it will be flexible enough to take into account different levels of social and economic development across the country.

European Union Managing Director for Africa Nick Westcott welcomed the Somali government’s commitment to inclusiveness. He stressed the EU will send delegations to both Somaliland and Puntland to ensure that this is a consultation process to which all Somalis can contribute.

Beled Hawa IDPs face hunger and disease

25 Jul – Source: Radio Ergo – 164 words

More than 100 families living in an IDP settlement on the outskirts of Beled Hawa say they are suffering from lack of food and have received no assistance for 15 months. The IDPs here are living in grass-made shelters that do not give adequate protection from the elements.

Abdullahi Hassan Sheikh, one of the IDPs in Ala-Aamin camp, told Radio Ergo that there had been a rise in cases of malnutrition and that most people were hungry. He said 10 recent deaths of IDPs in the camps were related to poor nutrition and disease from drinking unsafe river water.

The families in Ala-Aamin camp fled their homes in Bay, Bakool, Lower Shabelle and other parts of Gedo region due to drought and conflict. Most of the camp residents are women and children. Saynab Hussein Osman, another IDP in Ala-Aamin camp, called on the aid agencies to provide them with food, shelter and medication. She said they all faced starvation.

Tree planting starts in Himin and Heeb

24 Jul – Source: Radio Ergo – 201 words

A tree planting project called “sahansaho” was launched this week in Himin and Heeb in Somalia’s central regions. It aims to plant 5,000 trees before the end of this year. Most of the most trees will be planted in Adado, Godinlabe, and their surrounding areas. They will include fruit trees, foraging bushes, shade trees and other varieties.

The Himin and Heeb administration has recently been paying attention to the massive deforestation caused in the area by charcoal burning. This is mostly carried out by unemployed rural youth, organized by businessmen, who sell the charcoal in other regions or export it abroad.

Most people living in the regions of Galgadud and Mudug are pastoralists. The ongoing deforestation puts their lives in a precarious situation and endangers the future of livestock-rearing in the regions. Radio Ergo’s correspondent in Adado said 20 years of uncontrolled cutting of trees for charcoal-making had greatly depleted the once rich grazing lands in Galgadud.

The tree planting project in Himin and Heeb region follows a series of training courses and workshops held to sensitize local residents on environmental conservation and how to safeguard the trees that are beneficial to their lives.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Ethiopia enhances overall relation with US: Ethiopian PM Hailemariam

25 Jul – Source: Walta Information Centre/ENA – 137 words

Hailemariam Dessalegn said Ethiopia will further enhance existing overall relation with the US. While holding talks with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter here on Wednesday, the Premier said that the relation will further be intensified based on mutual interest.

PM Hailemariam said Ethiopia and the U.S will work together on issues related to maintaining reliable peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. Minister Carter on the occasion lauded Ethiopia’s contribution to maintain peace in in Africa.

Al Shabaab harassing Somali refugees returning home from Kenya

24 Jul – Source: Sabahi Online – 749 words

Al Shabaab militants have instituted a campaign of intimidation toward Somali refugees returning home from camps in Kenya by roughing up the men and burning families’ belongings.

Since May, al Shabaab militants have harassed hundreds of returning refugees at roadblocks near the Somali-Kenyan border, said bus driver Aadan Jimale.

Jimale showed several bruises on his body, saying al Shabaab fighters recently stopped his bus on the route between Dhobley and Mogadishu, striking him with their rifle butts as he tried to protect his passengers.

Al Shabaab poses hard-line threat in Somalia:UN envoy

24 Jul – Source: Walta Information Centre – 187 words

Terror group al Shabaab is ‘becoming weaker’ but more hard line, says the UN’s top diplomat in Somalia. According to the Africa Report, Nicholas Kay, who became special representative for Somalia last month, claims the organization has become far more fragmented over the past few years as a result of efforts by the UN, African Union and Somali forces to quell its deadly brand of Islamism.

But Kay, with experience in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, admits that this month’s capture of long time target Hassan Dahir Aweys reveals little about al Shabaab in general, and warns that the region must be alert to the kinds of concentrated attacks that have hit Mogadishu in recent months.

“One of their senior leaders has been taken into custody and is no longer active. It’s an indication that al Shabaab is dividing and becoming weaker. It’s a sign of the pressure they’re under,” said Kay.

Somalis welcomes Monitoring Group’s report on al Shabaab and spoilers but criticizes findings on corruption

24 Jul – Source: Mfa.gov.et – 400 words

The Federal Government of Somalia has acknowledged the Somali section of the report of the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea which was published this week. The Spokesman of the President, Abdirahman Omar Osman, said the Government was “delighted to see an appropriate focus on the sustained and constantly evolving threat posed by al Shabaab and other spoilers.

The Spokesman said the report raised and covered a range of important issues which were worthy of the fullest consideration. He said: “we are grateful for the recognition of our cooperation and assistance. We have gone out of our way to ensure our commitment to openness and transparency.” They remain an obstinate and enduring threat that we must all work together to eradicate.” However, the Government also expressed its concern over what it has called numerous inaccuracies, contradictions and factual gaps.

The Presidential Spokesman said that the Government regretted that the UN Monitoring Group had failed to consult the Government on the findings and conclusions of the report or allow a response in advance of publication. It said that the dependence on gossip, guilt-by-association, and hearsay had resulted in the publication of an unbalanced report which permitted “damaging and unsubstantiated allegations to become an uncontested matter of public record.” here necessary.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UNSC extends mandate of monitoring group for Somalia and Eritrea

25 Jul – Source: Anatolia News Agency – 299 words

UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations expert panel monitoring compliance with sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea for 16 months The UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations expert panel monitoring compliance with sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea for 16 months.

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, the Security Council asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to re-establish the eight-member Monitoring Group on Eritrea and Somalia until November 25, 2014.

UN condemns flow of arms in Somalia and Eritrea

25 Jul – Source: AP/ – 515 Words

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday condemned the flow of weapons and ammunition to and through Somalia and Eritrea in violation of arms embargoes against both countries. A resolution adopted unanimously by the council called the arms flow “a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.”

The council reaffirmed the arms embargoes on Somalia and Eritrea but gave a green light for Somalia to import some military equipment and provide assistance or training for its security forces until March 6, 2014.

It barred the security forces from bringing in heavy equipment including surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank and night vision weapons, and large mortars, guns, howitzers and cannons without prior approval from the council committee monitoring sanctions against Somalia.

The council expressed deep concern at reports of continuing violations of a ban on exporting charcoal from Somalia and underscored its willingness to take action against those who violate it.

Somalia Experiences Worst Polio Outbreak Worldwide

25 Jul – Source: BET News – 168 words

International health agencies are scrambling to stomp out a worsening polio outbreak in Somalia. The crippling virus flared up in the past few months, interrupting the East African nation’s nearly six-month long polio-free run.

A recent report by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative numbered the most recent sum of polio cases in the Horn of Africa at 72, an overwhelming amount compared to the 59 cases counted in the rest of the world, combined.

When the number of children infected with polio across the globe dropped to an all-time low of 223 last year, the multibillion dollar effort implemented to drive out the virus had proved its cost. So, after a 2-year-old girl in Mogadishu was diagnosed with polio in May, health workers rushed to prevent the virus from spreading to other regions.

“We have an outbreak in a population that has been quite vulnerable for quite some time,” Dr. Nasir Yusuftold NPR, pointing out that a majority of children in Somalia have never been immunized against polio.

Ethiopian FM: No Plan To Withdraw Troops From Somalia

25 Jul – Source: Bernama – 163 words

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Dr Tedros Adhanom said Ethiopian troops are pulling out of Baidoa, a city in south-central Somalia as it is now relatively stable.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers and Somali forces are now able to take over, said Dr Tedros. A statement from the Foreign Ministry quoted the Minister as saying the troops’ withdrawal from Baidoa might have taken place almost a year ago but AMISOM was not ready at that time and the withdrawal had to be postponed. Ethiopian troops had cleared the al Shabaab militants out of the city, located some 250 km northwest of the Somali capital, Mogadishu early last year.

Kenyans, U.S Focus on Photography

24 Jul – Source: AFRICOM HOA – 635 Words

Eight soldiers and airmen from Kenya Defense Forces partnered with two Airman from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs Office for a two-day, military-to military photojournalism workshop at the International Peace Support Training Center, Nairobi, Kenya, July 18-19, 2013.

The hands-on workshop, which enhances KDF capacities in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), was the first of its kind between the two countries and shared best practices in photography skills such as using intricate functions of high-tech digital cameras, composition, philosophy of imagery, clearing military photos for release and techniques necessary to compose a newsworthy photo essay from the field.

“Just like rifle skills, if you don’t practice on all functions and know that weapon inside and out, your camera skills and products will not be on target when you need them,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jay Ostrich, CJTF-HOA PAO deputy director who led an exchange on photo philosophy. “It’s essential for all of us to go back to the basics and learn to crawl and walk properly before sprinting into advanced or combat photography.”

For the Kenyan team, learning to compose a tactical photo essay in standards accepted by western media was a career-enhancing opportunity for the soldiers whose skills ranged from a few months to more than 10 years experience in military photography.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“A chilling effect in the provision of certain banking services has been created and we are witnessing its global expansion. If banks sufficiently fear punitive action from the authorities, it matters not whether an actual law is being violated. The fear of prosecution is enough to warrant an abundance of caution.”

Life-Saving Remittances Smothered by Anti-Money-Laundering Laws

24 Jul – Source: American Banker – 907 Words

The law of unintended consequences strikes again. This time NGOs and political leaders are declaring a “humanitarian” crisis. It is both sad and amusing to watch members of the U.K. Parliament proclaim disgust with Barclays’ (BARC) decision to sever relationships with money transfer agents that facilitate remittances to Somalia.

The legislators are the ones who blindly supported the imposition of restrictive anti-money laundering guidelines in the first place, even if they are simply following the U.S. lead. Now these same British MPs, some with large African migrant population constituencies, have pressured Barclays to agree to a 30-day stay for some agent accounts that will be ending in mid-August.

Barclays is scheduled to close the accounts of about 80 money-transfer businesses because the bank fears that proper checks are not in place to spot criminal activity and that the funds could go towards terrorist financing. Among the banks, there is justified concern that the U.S government’s forced $1.9 billion settlement against British bank HSBC for weak money laundering controls could also affect the business of overseas remittances. So, Barclays is merely exercising caution. “This is solely about the company’s controls, not where they send money to,” a Barclays spokesman told American Banker.

Apparently the money transfer agents operating in the U.K. do not have a problem with law enforcement or regulators because the funds transfers that they make are serving humanitarian purposes such as feeding children and purchasing medicines. The agents make the point that “cash going to extremists in Somalia is sent in sacks by plane, not from a London suburb a few hundred dollars at a time,” according to The Economist magazine.

“I cannot put enough emphasis the urgency need of Puntland State to be transitioning from a tribal political system controlled by few individuals and their kinfolk, to a pluralistic political system based on political parties. I would also stress the timing factor, and willingness of the international donors who have shown unwavering support to the democratization process, despite its weakness and unwillingness support from its own politicians.”

Who to blame about the recent political deadlock in Puntland and what options are viable?

24 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1054 Words

While I intend to address the answer of this question later in this article, let me first bring your particular attention to those who despite the popularity of the democratization process, refused from the outset to support the process and who have always wished the process to fail.

In the fairness and the defense of these groups though, the democratization process has in no way moved in the direction hoped for by the most progressive Puntlanders who supported the process with enthusiasm tone despite its flows and apparent mistakes made by President Farole and his team.

In light of the most recent event, there can be couple of possible explanations as to what went wrong, but Jim Rohn’s classic quotation elaborated eloquently when he said the following, “Failure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don’t fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day”.

Although I have tremendous respect for President Farole and I genuinely believe he has done more good than harm during his tenure in Puntland, I believe he failed up to the test, and committed gross mismanagement when he appointed the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission to be headed by Mohamed Hassan Barre. This appointment amounted to a major setback that has hindered the entire democratization process to extent in which the process finally worn out.

Top tweets

@DrMaryanQasim A #gender policy for #Somalia that safeguards women’s rights will be presented by my Ministry to the Cabinet&Parliament in September 2013.

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@PPG_Movement Interior Minister has been summoned to appear before parliament on Sunday to face questions regarding security concerns #Somalia #Mogadishu.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaks at the preparations for Brussels conference on Somalia New Deal as UN’s Somalia envoy, Nickolas Key listens. Photo: @UNSomalia.