September 20, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
President Hassan in Washington DC ahead of the UNGA Summit
20 Sept – Source: Office of the President of Somalia – 159 words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sh. Mohamud, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Fowzia H. Yusuf Adam, Minister of Finance H.E Mohamud Hassan Suleyman, State House Minister H.E Farah Sh. Abdulakadir, and senior advisers to the President arrived in Washington DC today to meet with several high level U.S. government officials.
On this trip, President Hassan’s main aim is to engage with the US government and encourage them to increase its defense and security support to the government of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The support will play a significant role in restoring peace, in Somalia.
President Hassan met with Senator John McCain of Arizona (R), and several US Congressmen, and discussed on how to best support Somalia and it’s quest in state institution building. The US government continues to show unwavering support to the Federal Government of Somalia.
Key Headlines
- President Hassan in Washington DC ahead of the UNGA Summit (Office of the Prime Minister)
- Somali elder calls on Somali government to release former Hizbul Islam leader (Somalia Today Online)
- Al Shabaab leader speaks out (Somali Current/Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali police: 16 people die after quarry collapse (AP)
- Somaliland MPs brawl in parliament over tax-bill debate (Garowe Online/Somali Channel TV)
- Lifeguards making immediate impact on Mogadishu beach (Sabahi Online)
- US Pledges $69 Million in Support of Somalia’s New Deal Compact (State News)
- Elders criticize Somali government security agencies (Radio Shabelle)
PRESS STATEMENT
President Hassan in Washington DC ahead of the UNGA Summit
20 Sept – Source: Office of the President of Somalia – 159 words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sh. Mohamud, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Fowzia H. Yusuf Adam, Minister of Finance H.E Mohamud Hassan Suleyman, State House Minister H.E Farah Sh. Abdulakadir, and senior advisers to the President arrived in Washington DC today to meet with several high level U.S. government officials.
On this trip, President Hassan’s main aim is to engage with the US government and encourage them to increase its defense and security support to the government of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The support will play a significant role in restoring peace, in Somalia.
President Hassan met with Senator John McCain of Arizona (R), and several US Congressmen, and discussed on how to best support Somalia and it’s quest in state institution building. The US government continues to show unwavering support to the Federal Government of Somalia.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali elder calls on Somali government to release former Hizbul Islam leader
20 Sept – Source: Somalia Today Online – 125 words
Ahmed Diriye, a Somali elder has asked the Somali government to release senior al Shabaab leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Ahmed Diriye told the local media thay they are asking the Somali government to release Sheikh Aweys, to avert plans to transfer him to the central prison.
The elder added that Hassan Dahir suffers from severe disease and the government should release him adding that “Sheikh Hassan is a patient, and we are asking the government for his release, and send him to one of the Arab countries like Qatar for treatment,” he said.
No statements issued by the Somali government on Ahmed Diriye request to release the detainee al Shabaab leader.
Al Shabaab leader speaks out
20 Sept – Source: Somali Current/Radio Mogadishu – 356 words
Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, known as Abu Mansur, a prominent figure of al Shabaab criticized the overall leader of the group, Ahmed Abdi Godane, alias Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr in a circulated speech among Somali websites on Thursday.
Abu Mansur was a former deputy leader and spokesman of al Shabaab and is among a group of influential members that challenged Godane’s leadership of the militant group. He spoke for the first time since he fled from Barawe, a coastal town about 135 miles from the capital city, Mogadishu in southern Somalia.
He confirmed that two co-founders of al Shabaab, one with a $5 million US bounty on his head were killed on the orders of Godane in Barawe on 19th June 2013.
“Sheikh Ibrahim Haji Jama better knows as Ibrahim Afghani and Moallim Burhan were killed by agents sent by Ahmed Godane and that was a big crime against our brothers,” said Robow in an undated recorded, speech circulated Thursday in some Somali websites.
15 die in Mogadishu after quarry site collapsed
20 Sept – Source: Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online – 138 words
At least 15 workers have died and eight others were seriously injured after a quarry site collapsed on the east of Somalia capital, Mogadishu, RBC Radio reports. The site which hundreds of labor men go everyday to excavate stones and sand used for the construction of houses has collapsed on Thursday, killing 10 people.
Kaaraan district commissioner Ali Alasow said that the rescue teams collected 10 bodies but five others died after they were admitted at the hospital. “The site collapsed because of its 50 metres depth. Nobody can enter,” the district commissioner.
A man who has survived the tragedy said it was always a very risky work as they have no precaution measures to safeguard themselves in case of emergency.
Fire guts Bulo-Barde petrol station
19 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 89 words
A fierce fire has on Thursday razed a petrol station in a town near the Somali central town of Beledweyne, Hiiran region. Locals of Bulo-Barde told Bar-kulan that the fire has later spread to the other parts of the town, gutting nearby houses.
Reports further add that efforts to put off the fire are underway though the cause of the fire remains vague. Residents urge Somali Federal government to install fire station in the town. The sum property has been destroyed in the fire is not yet known.
Somaliland MPs brawl in parliament over tax-bill debate
19 Sept – Source: Garowe Online/Somali Channel TV – 109 words
Lawmakers in Somaliland Parliament Wednesday exchanged blows and physical confrontations erupted among the Members of Parliament over tax bill debate, Garowe Online reports.
Photographic images and footage showed a male member of parliament angrily poking his finger in the face of other lawmaker as a mass brawl sparked in the parliamentary session. In addition, Television broadcasts apparently revealed that the fights and grabbing of chairs commenced shortly after a speech on revenue collection by Ibrahim Mahdi Buba.
Buba spoke out against President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo of Somaliland separatist administration and accused State Minister for Presidency Hirsi Haji Ali Hassan of deliberately increasing tax at custom duties for particular purposes.
Elders criticize Somali government security agencies
19 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle – 113 words
Elders who selected parliamentarians have accused top government officials of mishandling and embezzling funds meant for government troops including the military and the Somali federal police.
Suldan Abdi Jama’a who is among the elders who selected the federal parliament said that the security situation of Mogadishu deteriorated because government troops were not paid for months and did less to restore security in the capital.
“They have laid big stone barriers to restore security and did less to pay police officials,” said Sultan Abdi. The Sultan said something has to be done on the corruption cases involving top government officials especially national security agencies.
Universal TV Interview with Nicholas Kay
19 Sept – Source: Universal TV – 4:12 min
Universal TV Interview with UN Special Representative to Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Lifeguards making immediate impact on Mogadishu beach
20 Sept – Source: Sabahi Online – 477 words
The Benadir administration has trained and deployed a team of lifeguards to save people from drowning at Mogadishu’s Lido Beach. Since the team of 15 trained lifeguards started September 1st with a fleet of five rescue boats, they have rescued ten people, including two children, said Abdiaziz District Commissioner Abdullahi Hussein Hassan.
“I have been working to establish these boat patrols for a while to rescue the Somali people, as there has recently been an increase in Somali youth harmed in the ocean,” he told Sabahi. ‘ An emergency health centre is now operating at Lido Beach to provide medical care to people injured swimming or wading in the ocean, he said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali police: 16 people die after quarry collapse
20 Sept – Source: AP – 119 words
A Somali police official says 16 people have died and others are missing after a quarry where they were mining construction stone collapsed. Capt. Mohamed Hussein said late Thursday there was no reports of survivors. He declined to say how many people are missing.
Residents in Karan district, north of Mogadishu, dug through rocks and sand looking for survivors but their efforts were hampered by darkness. Somalia is recovering from decades of war that left the country’s infrastructure in tatters with no resources for disaster response.
Mogadishu, the Somali capital, is experiencing a construction boom due to the relative peace since African Union troops pushed out al Qaeda-linked militants two years ago.
Somali-owned shops re-open after attacks in SA
20 Sept – Source: Sowetan Live – 284 words
Several Somali-owned shops re-opened for business on Thursday as a wave of looting and xenophobic violence in South Africa’s coastal city of Port Elizabeth was brought under control.
More than 150 small grocery shops were looted in four days of violence which was sparked by the killing of a 19-year-old South African boy by a Somali shop owner after an argument over cellphone airtime on Sunday.
“No incidents of looting have been reported since last night (Wednesday),” police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said.
U.S. Pledges $69 Million in Support of Somalia’s New Deal Compact
19 Sept – Source: State.gov – 178 words
At the September 16, 2013 New Deal conference for Somalia, in Brussels, a delegation of U.S. government officials underlined U.S. support for the priorities of Somalia’s New Deal Compact and pledged $69 million to promote and strengthen already existing programs in community stabilization, economic growth, education, and enhancing democracy, governance, and rule of law.
Through this New Deal platform, America’s longstanding commitment to Somalia and the Somali people will continue to deepen. We are committed to working with the Somali people and the Federal Government of Somalia to improve the lives of everyday Somalis, and enhancing our diplomatic and development relationships.
The United States recognizes the significant progress made in Somalia over the past year. This progress would not have taken place were it not for the dedication and commitment of the many members of the Somali community who make a daily decision to focus on a future built on hope and peace, rather than on conflict and despair. We, and the international community, stand with them.
Interview with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia
18 Sept – Source: Rai News 24 – 8:58 min
Interview with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali president recognized by the international community after 22 years of civil war.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Work with remittance firms and community leaders to find permanent solution to save the lifeline of Somalis, a win for all of us. Immigrants and their families’ access to the global financial institutions is a right, not a privilege”.
Somalia Remittances: Save The Lifeline of Somali People
20 Sept – Source: Change.org – 148 words
Somalia’s money transfer companies are the only formal and legitimate financial services in major cities and even villages across the Horn and Eastern Africa, delivering much needed cash to families, including refugees and IDPs to feed children, send them to school, give medical care and housing.
The systems facilitates the transfer of nearly $2 billion from Somali diaspora, 40 pct of the country’s GDP, investing communities and small businesses and creating jobs important for the recovery of the New Somalia. Regulators and Major Banks in the U.S and Europe should facilitate the services, to secure better Somalia which contributes safer world for all of us.
Isolating Somalia will be another big mistake of our leaders that will lead to humanitarian disaster, turn students and unemployed youth with no other alternatives to terrorists, pirates and immigrants dying in the high seas.
“The Somali Compact, a living document that reflects the ongoing process of transition and defines priority interventions to ensure the country stays on the path to long-term peace and statebuilding. The Compact lays a strong foundation for building reliable, transparent, accountable and functioning state institutions, respectful of the fundamental rights, freedoms and equality of its citizens.”
The Somali Compact
19 Sept – Source: Wardheer News – 428 Words
This Compact is the result of an inclusive process to determine the priorities of Somalia for the next three years (2014-2016). The process, based on the Busan New Deal principles, was initiated in December 2012, by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the international community. In March 2013, the FGS and representatives of the Somali Federal Parliament, Somali civil society, the United Nations and the lead donor representative (European Union) established the High Level Task Force (HLTF) to guide and support this endeavour, on the basis of mutual accountability.
The priorities and principles presented in this Compact were developed on the basis of consultations with citizens, at the national level and with international partners. Citizens, civil society and parliament were consulted in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Galkayo and Garowe, culminating in a multistakeholder consultative meeting (September 2013) in Mogadishu, where validation of the Compact took place.
The international community was part and parcel of providing support and input, through technical meetings, the HLTF and three Core group meetings (June, July and September 2013).
Somalia: Assessing the First Year of the Federal Government
19 Sept – Source: Davidshinn Blog – 138 Words
The Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington hosted on 19 September 2013 a three hour event titled “Somalia: Assessing the First Year of the Federal Government.” There were two panels. The first on Somalia’s economy and financial sector included Linda Etim, deputy assistant administrator at USAID; Hersi Suleiman, Somali-American Money Service Association; Michael O. Engman, senior economist, Africa Region, World Bank; and Fatima Jibrell, founder of Adeso.
The second panel on governance and political security included Donald Teitelbaum, deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs; Keith Jennings, senior associate and regional director for southern and eastern Africa, National Democratic Institute; Paul Williams, associate professor, George Washington University; and Omar Daair, first secretary, embassy of the UK in the US. There panels covered a wide range of political, social and economic issues. The entire event is available on podcast.
Top tweets
@Oxfam Tell @Barclays to reconsider their decision on#Somalia money transfer accounts for remittanceshttp://ow.ly/p1oQ5 v @change.
@amisomsomalia They shared experiences & planned on how best to implement the mission’s mandate & enhance cooperation with civilians http://bit.ly/158zCEz.
@Dahirkulane Fewer #polio cases reported in epi-centre#Mogadishu,,169 cases confirmed http://bit.ly/1eKjkLA @EndPolioNow @OCHASom #Somalia.
@willswanson The outskirts of an IDP camp in #Mogadishu at night time http://instagram.com/p/
@mfaethiopia .@DrTedros: #Ethiopia is ready to help#Somaliland in capacity building, to give scholarships in Ethiopian universities.
Image of the day
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, meets Senator John McCain of Arizona after arriving in Washington DC, USA. President Hassan is expected to give a speech at the Woodward Wilson Center. Photo: @mukhtaryare.