November 12, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Deputy District Commissioner shot dead

12 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan/Radio Kulmiye/Mareeg Media – 93 words

Hawl-wadaag deputy commissioner for social affairs Yusuf Mohamed Hilal was earlier today shot dead in Wadajir district by unknown armed men in a luxurious car. The death of the commissioner was confirmed by the Banadir regional spokesman Ali Seeko who spoke to Goobjoog FM after the incident.

The armed men fled from the area before the security forces reached the scene. It’s the third attack to happen in Mogadishu in the last 24 hours. On Tuesday Somali lawmaker survived an assassination attempt while chief immigration officer of Adan Adde airport was killed in KM 4.

Key Headlines

Prime Minister Abdiweli calls for commitment to respect provisional constitution and country’s laws (Office of the Prime Minister)
Opening remarks by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia Nicholas Kay at High-Level Partnership Forum (UNSOM)
Foreign Minister returns home after official trip to Jeddah (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog)
UN: more than 50000 affected by seasonal flooding in Somalia (Diplomat.so/Radio Shabelle)
Deputy District Commissioner shot dead (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan)
Technical committee: the statement issued by top Somali leaders will not affect the state formation conference (Radio Goobjoog)
Somali military court sentences two officers to death (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali religious leaders and scholars stand against extremism at Istanbul conference (Hiraan Online)
Sheekh residents decry dirty water (Radio Ergo)
WFP cuts food rations to Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps (Radio Bar-kulan)
Himan & Heb to register medics (Radio Ergo)
Amisom soldiers ate expired food says witness (Daily Monitor)
Mediation efforts under way in Somalia’s Galgadud region (Sabahi Online)
Somali farm-to-market routes cleared (Source: Africa Review)
Turkey’s aid unlike others says Somali envoy to Ankara (Daily Sabah)
Only negotiation can resolve differences: Somali PM (Anadula Agency)
UK expresses concern over political instability in Somalia (gov.uk)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister Abdiweli calls for commitment to respect provisional constitution and country’s laws

11 Nov- Source: Office of the Prime Minister -221 words

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has called for cooperation and compromise in resolving the ongoing political crisis. Prime Minister Abdiweli stated that the political differences negatively impact on the realization of Vision 2016 including the chance to hold democratic elections and the opportunity for Somali people to choose their government.

“Somalia has been through 24 years of conflict, famine and political crises that destroyed governance structures in the country. Taking lessons from the challenges we have been through, all of us have to stand together to free the country and the people from this past. We have to commit ourselves to the protection of the provisional constitution and other laws of the country,” said Prime Minister Abdiweli. “Any political differences have to be solved through dialogue, compromise and patience for the nascent governance in Somalia,” added Prime Minister Abdiweli.

The Prime Minister described ongoing efforts as posing a threat to the pacification and elimination of terrorism as well as the implementation of the federalism process. “We have to appreciate and recognize the efforts of the international community to rebuild the country and implement Vision 2016,” he added. In conclusion, Prime Minister Abdiweli reiterated the need to focus all efforts on implementation of key activities to ensure democratic elections take place in 2016.

Opening remarks by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay at High-Level Partnership Forum

11 Nov – Source: UNSOM – 893 words

Your Excellency Mr President, the co-chair, Your Excellency Mr Prime Minister, Honourable Ministers, Members of Parliament, distinguished representatives from the Puntland, the Interim Jubba Administration, Benadir, Galmadug and civil society. I want to add my welcome to all our partners, Somali and international.

I am particularly pleased to see high level representatives from Puntland and the Interim Jubba Administration, and I welcome their commitment to participate in the Copenhagen High-Level Partnership Forum. Overall Somalia, I still maintain, is moving in the right direction. Whatever the difficulties we face today, and the President and Prime Minister have alluded to them, Somalia is in a better state today as a result of our collective efforts than it has been in a generation, and we should not lose sight of that.

This progress has been the result of partnership. Partnership between Somalis and the international community. The joint SNA-AMISOM offensive has successfully created space for political and economic progress. International economic investment is significant and growing. And the work of the Financial Governance Committee is crucial in improving public financial management and building donor confidence.

But the most important partnership has been between the Somalis. The Somali-led state formation process has delivered concrete results. I hope that we will soon be able to welcome the Interim South West Administration and an Interim Central Regions Administration. These and other Somali-led successes have been the result of a partnership between His Excellency the President and Prime Minister. For almost a year, their collective leadership has given Somalis and international partners faith and confidence in the Federal Government and in Somalia’s political future.

But we stand at a watershed moment. As we look forward to Copenhagen we need unity, stability and delivery. The cycle of political instability and bureaucratic paralysis that plagued previous administrations should not continue. It risks undermining the progress achieved by our collective efforts and by the SNA and AMISOM. And it endangers the achievement of Vision 2016, which is the centre-piece of the entire “New Deal” Compact process.

We all need to do better. Whether we talk about political stability or economic development, what we shall achieve depends on what we put in. The Compact remains the best framework to do this. International partners need to live up to the partnership principles, and their commitments in the Compact. But we also need to recognise that this is less likely to happen in a politically unstable environment.

On behalf of the UN and many international partners in this room today, I appeal to the political leadership of this country to find a way to manage their differences. These are not normal times. They call for extraordinary measures. The next six months will determine whether Somalia achieves its goals in Vision 2016. The key state-building laws, commissions and processes need to be established. This is make or break. There is no time to lose.

I therefore appeal to the President and Prime Minister to commit to working jointly on these challenges, in a structured and formal political “joint venture”. This is not a time for dogmatic interpretation of texts. This is a time to rise above differences and unite in a common enterprise. Both political realities and constitutional niceties need to be recognised. I appeal to you to agree special measures to govern your relations and working practices, which will allow delivery of key tasks in the coming six months: the tasks that you have both referred to and elaborated on, a long list of Commissions and laws. By that time the National Independent Election Commission will be up and running and planning for elections will be on course; the Boundaries and Federation Commission will be operating and future federal member states being established; the national consultation on the Constitution will be underway and the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission well and truly functioning. In short the foundation stones will be laid for the future Somalia, the Somalia of 2016 and beyond. This is the challenge to be met. Failure now will be a failure in the eyes of the world and, more importantly, a shattering of the hopes and dreams of millions of Somalis.

We have a tough road ahead of us. But the fact that we have come so far by working together should inspire us to go further. We have a collective responsibility to stay the course for the sake of Somalia’s future and for regional and international security and stability. I hope today that we will make concrete progress in preparation for the Copenhagen High Level Partnership Forum. Unity, stability and delivery should be our watchwords. We should demonstrate today the spirit of partnership and commitment to the common interest that will, I hope, see Somalia through this current difficult moment.

We have only a week to decide whether Copenhagen will be a moment of profound and sad reflection, or a celebration of difficulties overcome. As the President and the Prime Minister have said, this will be a Somali-owned choice.

SOMALI MEDIA

Foreign Minister returns home after official trip to Jeddah

12 Nov – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Bar-Kulan – 179 words

Foreign affairs and international co-operation minister of federal of Somalia Abdirahman Duale Beilah has returned to Mogadishu after official trip to Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While in Jeddah he has taken meeting with the president of Islamic development bank Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani in his office, they discussed wide range issues and projects such as livelihood, water and education that are key for the development of the country.

They also discussed the achievements and the challenges of the federal government of Somalia. Speaking after touching down at Adan Adde international airport the minister stated that he also took special meeting with OIC adding that this shows the federal government’s commitment to restore its membership of these institutions.

He reiterated that he monitored the pledges the Islamic Development Bank and IOC made to Somalia after Somali president met the secretary generals of these institutions. “Islamic development bank’s commitment to Somalia and its people is well articulated by its President and all senior managers” The minister said on his twitter account.

UN: more than 50,000 affected by seasonal flooding in Somalia

12 Nov- Source: Diplomat.so/Radio Shabelle – 147 words

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday that seasonal flooding has been reported in several regions of Somalia, affecting up to 50,000 people.
“Humanitarian partners had pre-positioned emergencies supplies ahead of the flooding, allowing for rapid response,” deputy UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, said at a daily news briefing here. Starting in October, heavy rains were reported in south-central Somalia and in upper parts of the Shabelle basin in the Somali- Ethiopian border, having caused flooding along both the Shabelle and Juba Rivers.

“The regional climate outlook for the September-December rainfall season indicates an increased likelihood of above to normal rainfall over much of the Greater Horn of Africa,” OCHA said. OCHA has said El Nino conditions were expected to develop from September, leading to above normal October-December rainfall in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, northern Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

Deputy District Commissioner shot dead

12 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan/Radio Kulmiye/Mareeg Media – 93 words

Technical committee: the statement issued by top Somali leaders will not affect the state formation conference

12 Nov – Source: Goobjoog – 169 Words

The technical committee facilitating the formation of South West Somalia – three regions in Baidoa stated that the joint statement issued by the top leaders of Somalia on Monday 10th of November will not affect their activities. A Statement issued by the committee said that they will continue with their conference adding that they will elect the leader of the administration soon.

The top leaders of Somalia, president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed and the speaker of federal parliament Mohamed Sheikh issued joint statement to suspend the formation of South West Somalia state in Baidoa. The leaders stated that the conference will be suspended for two weeks starting from the date the statement was issued.

The leaders also called the technical committee facilitating the conference to immediately return to Mogadishu for consultation. All the concerned parties were asked to implement the issued statement by the leaders. The delegates passed the interim constitution of the administration and were preparing to elect the leader of the regional state.

Somali military court sentences two officers to death

12 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 55 words

Somali military court has sentenced two soldiers to death sentences for murder and rape cases respectively. Adan Abdi Ibrahim 24 was found guilty of killing security officer while his fellow Ahmed Nur Gure who is 21 was found guilty on rape charges. The chairman of Somali military court Col. Hassan Abdirahman Adan has announced the ruling.

Somali Religious leaders and Scholars stand against extremism at Istanbul conference

11 Nov – Source: Hiraan Online – 249 words

A three day conference on tackling extremism and tribalism began in Istanbul yesterday. The conference organised by Anti-Tribalism Movement, a London based Somali education and advocacy civil society organisation, brought together participants came from all over the world and every sector of Somali society. Among these participants were scholars, religious leaders, women and young people.

On the opening day of the conference many topics such as Jihad in Islam and Al-shabaab’s misguided portrayals, history of al-Shabaab, The legacy of al-shabaab from victim’s perspective, the role of artists in confronting radicalisation and the birth of religious extremism and their ideology were discussed and debated.

Among the speakers who presented on these wide ranging topics were Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad, the head of Somali religious umbrella, Sheikh Abdirazak Mohamud Takar and Muhammad Idd Muhammad , Sheikh Mohamed Idris Ahmed, Sheikh Noor Baruud, Abwaan Said Salah, Abwaan Abdi Shire Jama and Yusuf Garad Omar.

“This conference aims to bring together credible voices of the Somali communities from all over the world to discuss tribalism and extremism and get recommendations. We hope that these recommendations will have impact and tint the image of Al-shabaab” said the Exective Directive of ATM Mr. Adam Matan.

The impact of al-Shabaab’s terror and violence against the population was presented by two of their victims who travelled directly from Mogadishu to participate. Both told painful stories of which moved the audience and in the words of one of them, “should strengthen the Somali government’s fight against these misguided killers.”

Sheekh residents decry dirty water

11 Nov- Source: Radio Ergo – 257 words

Residents of Sheekh district in Togder region have appealed for access to clean water, saying they have been reduced to using muddy water for the past 20 years. Water is brought to the district by tankers from Dubur village, 15 kilometres away.

Mohamed Gahayr, a local elder, told Radio Ergo water available in the area was not safe to drink. “A barrel of water costs $1.5 but it’s not clean. It’s muddy and full of dirt. It is not drinkable until it’s been stored for over 12 hours to separate the mud from the water,” he complained.

“I have lived here for over 20 years, and I have never had clean water. When it rains, it becomes worse and the water crisis gets worse as tankers ferrying water find it difficult to enter the town due to rains,” he said.

Mohamud Kahin, a businessman, told Radio Ergo that the drinking water in the area was harmful to human health. “Sometimes livestock carcasses are thrown into the wells where we fetch water for drinking,” he said.

The local administration had not yet succeeded in constructing a well in the town, although according to Kahin $750,000 had been raised towards the project. However, when contacted by Radio Ergo, Abdi Jama Farah, manager of the area water agency, said they were aware of the problems affecting the roughly 7,000 residents and assured them they would take action very soon. “We are already busy in the implementation of a project to construct and equip a well,” Abdi said.

WFP cuts food rations to Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps

11 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 120 words

World Food Program (WFP) has reduced food aid that it provided to refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya. World Food Program and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a joint press statement that the reduction was caused by financial constraint.
WFP Dadaab refugee camp director Luzi Sawi has said they need US $ 8.5 million to purchase enough food for the refugees in the camp. The head of UNHCR Dadaab camp Ahmed Warsame has also said in a press statement that they are in the process of acquiring funds to restart food aid program in the camp. WFP has late last year announced its reduction of food aid program in the Kenyan refugee camps.

Himan & Heb to register medics

11 Nov- Source: Radio Ergo – 312 words

Himan and Heb administration is to start registering all health workers in an effort to put a stop unqualified people masquerading as doctors and causing harm. There have been several reported cases of patients being wrongly diagnosed or incorrectly prescribed drugs by people operating as doctors in private health centres in Adado, the provincial capital of the administration.

Himan and Heb’s head of social affairs, Omar Mohamed Diriye, told Radio Ergo there were many quacks posing as health workers in health centres, particularly in privately-owned hospitals and pharmacies, who were risking the lives of patients because of lack of medical knowledge.

He said the registration campaign would start soon and was aimed at distinguishing qualified health workers from those unqualified to operate. He added that all private health centres would also be registered during the process.

Abdullahi Ali Wate told Radio Ergo how he suffered as a result of s the result of the fake treatment. “I suffered a serious skin disease complication due to a wrong prescription given by a health worker and took a long time to recover,” he said.

Sheikh Mohamed Guled, a local religious scholar, also complained about the lack of professionalism in key health centres. “I took my sick sister to a hospital in the town [Adado] and the doctor diagnosed her with a condition different to the one she was actually suffering from. He gave her some tablets to take and told her to come back later. The second time, he said there was a dead baby in her womb after examination…I took her to Mogadishu where she underwent an operation that saw the removal of a tumor she had near her womb, and she is doing well now,” he said. He said the number of unqualified staff operating in health centres in the area was alarming and supported the need for urgent intervention.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Amisom soldiers ate expired food, says witness

12 Nov- Source: Daily Monitor- 312 words

UPDF soldiers attached to the Ugandan Contingent of the peacekeeping mission in Somalia were allegedly on fed expired food which affected their health during operation, prosecution witnesses told a military court yesterday.

Saleh Omona and Jennifer Laker, who served under Battle Group X from October 2012 to September 2013, said their superiors fed them on expired Combat Ration Packs and failed to supply them with adequate water, which forced them to resort to stagnant swampy water.

“During advance operations, they (superiors) introduced us to packed foods containing fish, beef which was smashed but the meat was tasteless while the fish and other types were expired. This caused diarrhoea, skin diseases and dysentery which affected the operations,” Mr Omona said while appearing before the General Court Martial at Makindye.

Mediation efforts under way in Somalia’s Galgadud region

11 Nov – Source: Sabahi Online – 620 words

Regional leaders and traditional elders in Galgadud are working to end intermittent clashes between pastoralists that have been recurring in recent months, raising concern that the disputes could turn into full-blown tribal conflicts.

The latest clashes followed disputes among pastoralists from the Marehan and Dir clans over access to water and pastureland. In the past two months, four separate clashes took place between feuding pastoral communities that surround the towns of Herale and Balanbale, Galgadud-based Radio Abudwaq director Abdikarim Ahmed Bulhan told Sabahi.

At least ten people were killed in the past few weeks and many families have been displaced, he said. “The fighting happened in rural areas. As a result, some displaced pastoralists fled into the towns, while others moved to other remote areas that are safer,” he said.

Somali farm-to-market routes cleared

11 Nov- Source: Africa Review- 342 words

The Somali Government has announced the opening of routes for the delivery of farm produce to markets in Mogadishu. The development follows the clearance of the roads of rebel elements by the Somali National Army and the peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).

The forces have cleared the agriculturally productive Lower Shabelle region and the capital Mogadishu of gangs mounting illegal roadblocks. Afgoye District Deputy Security Officer Ali Nur Mohamed told the media that the pro-government forces successfully removed the illegitimate roadblocks.

He was flanked by farm produce traders who welcomed the officer’s remarks. “Gangs will no longer extort money from transporters and traders of fruits and vegetables to Mogadishu,” announced Mr Mohamed at Bundada Afgoye, 30km south of Mogadishu. He added: “Our forces have wiped out bunches of criminals from Muri, Afgoye, Warmahan and up to Wanlaweyn areas.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Turkey’s aid unlike others, says Somali envoy to Ankara

12 Nov – Source: Daily Sabah – 569 Words

The historical ties between Somalia and Turkey date back to the 16th century when the Ottomans tried to rescue the people of Mogadishu from the Portuguese navy. Since then, the historical ties between Somalis and Turks continued to develop for centuries. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey began its foreign policy in Africa during early 1998. However, the most prominent effects and applications of this foreign policy on Africa began in 2011 with Somalia. Turkey’s foreign policy toward Somalia can be classified as a novelty due to Turkey’s aim to directly target to resolve the issues in Somalia that the entire world has ruled out since 1991.

Although Turkey recognized the Federal Republic of Somalia in 1993 through former General Çevik Bir, who served as force commander of the U.N. Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II), due to the failure of the operation Turkey’s policy failed at the time. However, with the visit of then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his delegation to Somalia, the failed policy in Somalia was revitalized after 2011. Commenting on the relationship between the two countries during an interview with Daily Sabah, Somali Ambassador to Ankara Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman, said, “The ties between the people of these two nations are growing along with the ties between the states as Turkish Airlines operate flights to Mogadishu four days a week.”

Only negotiation can resolve differences: Somali PM

11 Nov – Source: Anadula Agency – 270 Words

The Somali prime minister said Tuesday that the political differences plaguing his country could only be resolved through negotiations. “This kind of conflict is derailing the government’s efforts to hold democratic elections in 2016 and will crush the aspirations of the Somali people,” Somali Premier Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement.

Last month, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud fell out with Ahmed over a cabinet reshuffle, in which two ministers – known for being close to the president – were demoted to less prestigious portfolios. Mohamoud deemed the reshuffle “unconstitutional” and urged cabinet ministers not to comply with the move. “The people of Somalia must be respected. They can no longer stand the current conflicts, which will open the door for terrorism,” the president said in a statement, referring to the Al-Shabaab militant group.

UK expresses concern over political instability in Somalia

11 Nov – Source: gov.uk – 173 words

UK deeply concerned about political instability in Somalia. Urges all parties to resolve differences through political process.

Following plans to table a parliamentary motion calling for a vote of no confidence in the Somali Prime Minister and his government, an FCO spokesperson said:

The UK is deeply concerned that political instability risks undermining recent progress in Somalia, and delaying progress on vital political, security and development paths. Time is already short to achieve the goals set out in the Vision 2016 strategy, including elections in 2016. We therefore urge all Somali parties to resolve differences through the political process, including respecting parliamentary procedure, and to act together in the interests of Somalia.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“There is no other way to move forward but to…consider the formation of a caretaker government so that the country can stay course until 2016.”

Somalia: time for a caretaker government

12 Nov – Source: Geeskaafrika.com – 220 Words

After one of the ugliest in fights between President Hassan and his PM, Abdiwel Ahmed, an in fight that dragged the UN envoy to Somalia into the mud fight, not to mentioned how fast donors are pulling out their commitment to the Copenhagen “New Deal Conference,” and that the Somali community is highly divided on this matter in a manner that may erode all gains so far registered, there is no other way to move forward but to consider doing the following:

(1) Move the date of the Copenhagen conference to February’s end to get three months cooling period and to have major donors re-enlist their participation.

(2) Have the Somali regional governments and the seating legislative body, with a tacit assistance by the International community, consider the formation of a caretaker government so that the country can stay course until 2016.

Somalia may be right on maritime border

12 Nov – Source: Star – 202 Words

The House Foreign Relations Committee wants Somalia to be declared a hostile state after it referred a dispute over our maritime boundary in October to the International Court of Justice. As a result, all Somali refugees in Kenya might be deported and Kenya might withdraw from Amisom. This would be an incredible over-reaction to a court case that Kenya might conceivably win. This dispute over the maritime boundary has been rumbling on for years but it has now taken on added urgency because of the huge deposits of hydrocarbons all the way from Mozambique to Somalia.

Technically Somalia is right and Kenya is wrong. A basic principle of maritime law is that a boundary should extend into the ocean at a right angle to the coastline on the shared border. This would take the Somalia maritime border southeast into territory that we traditionally consider Kenyan. The ICJ might still rule in Kenya’s favour and declare that the maritime border should run due east. A mitigating factor for Kenya is that the Tanzanian maritime border runs due east. But this is a very grey area that if anything favours Somalia. It would be absurd to declare Somalia a hostile state on this basis.

Top tweets

@FCONeilWiganUK has issued a statement expressing concern about political instability in #Somalia https://www.gov.uk/government/new

@Hamza_Africa “Wars are created by people too old to fight for those too young to die.”
#Somalia

@BarudGSD You know Somalia will have bright future and quick transformation is on the way when you meet & talk to students in Turkey. Real asset.

@AU_PSD 2South-South Knowledge&Experience Exchange on#DDR: lessons frm Rwandan Experience to Somalia held in Nov 2014,Kigali

@Eye_on_Somalia #hiiraan Somalia may be right on maritime border: The House Foreign Relations Committee wants Somalia… http://bit.ly/1v2bCEq #somalia

@USAforSOMALIA An interesting news from #Somalia: Celebration and fine art as Somalia emerges from civil warhttp://www.enca.com/africa/celebration-a

@Barkulanradio #Somali ambassador to #Turkey Mohamed Mursal calls on Turkish investors to become pioneer in investing#Somalia.

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Image of the day

Somali National Army (SNA) officers graduate on 9 November 2014 following a week-long training of trainers course on international human rights held in Mogadishu. Photo: UNSOM