December 23, 2014 | Morning Headlines.
Parliamentary caucus agrees to approve nominated PM Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke
22 Dec – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 142 Words
The National Salvation Caucus in the federal parliament has reached a consensus to approve the newly appointed Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke on Tuesdaywhen the president refers him to the parliament for a confidence vote. According to members of this caucus, this is done in the interest of the nation and for the country to move forward, also to recover the lost time while the negotiation on power sharing in the upcoming cabinet is still going on. This caucus is made up of the MPs who rebuffed the motion of no confidence vote against former Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. President Hassan Sheik Mohamud appointed Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke as prime minister on 17th December, 2014 and he is expected to refer the new prime minister to the parliament for approval shortly.
Key Headlines
- Parliamentary caucus agrees to approve nominated PM Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali President attends rare military parade in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Somaliland opposition parties praise Somalia Somaliland contract (Somali Current)
- Deputy governor of Mudug region talks about yesterday’s assassination attempt on his life (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali women’s affairs ministry delivers Turkish donation (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Ethiopia says ready to boost Somalia troops after Sierra Leone exit (The Peninsula Qatar)
- Somali bank puts conflict behind it (Reuters Business)
- DW series: Terror in Africa (Deutsche Welle)
PRESS STATEMENT
Statement from the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia
22 Dec – Source: UNOCHA – 491 Words
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, has announced today that the Somalia Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) will allocate US$30 million to jump start the response to the most critical humanitarian needs in 2015. Today, there are over 3 million Somalis in need of urgent humanitarian assistance with one million people estimated to be unable to meet their minimum food requirements – this is a 20 per cent increase compared to the same time last year. Of these, there are some 1.1 million displaced people who continue to live in substandard conditions in overcrowded settlements. The allocation of US$30 million from the CHF will target some of the most critical humanitarian needs in Somalia.
The CHF allocation will respond to needs identified in the 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and provide timely life-saving assistance to Somalis in humanitarian crisis and emergency. We will focus these funds using multi-sectoral and complementary interventions to the most vulnerable people in emergency and crisis, including in some areas with increased access. Among those to be supported with these funds are acutely malnourished women and children in internally displaced people settlements in Dhusamarreeb, Doble, Doolow, Gaalkacyo, Garowe, Kismayo and Mogadishu. Other vulnerable communities in six areas with increased access will be supported with an integrated package of life-saving services in six newly accessible locations. Funds will be also used to address the needs of families with serious to alarming malnutrition rates caused by disease outbreaks, lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation facilities and will target households in Ceel Waaq, Bardheere and Baidoa districts.
To complement lifesaving interventions in the above locations, scaling up services to address protection concerns such as gender-based violence and child protection, as well as services such as shelter and education will also be supported to further improve the protective environment for vulnerable women and children. In the seven urban displaced settlements targeted with this allocation, alarming general acute malnutrition rates of up to 18.9 per cent have been observed. These high malnutrition rates are largely a result of disease outbreaks, poor infant and young child feeding practices and lack of commensurate WASH and health services. The acute food security is also due to a spike in prices of basic commodities which has in turn impeded households’ access to food. Mortality rates in Somalia remain one of the highest in the world; one in every ten children die before seeing their first birthday and one in 18 women die in childbirth.
Despite shocking humanitarian indicators, the Somalia humanitarian appeal in 2014 remained woefully underfunded with only 41 per cent of its $933 million requirements met leading to a scale down of key humanitarian activities across the country. The CHF 2015 allocation of $30 million represents a small percentage of the overall HRP 2015 requirement of $863 million. We call for urgent and sustained support to the 2015 HRP to prevent further deterioration in the humanitarian situation.
SOMALI MEDIA
Parliamentary caucus agrees to approve nominated PM Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke
22 Dec – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 142 Words
The National Salvation Caucus in the federal parliament has reached a consensus to approve the newly appointed Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke on Tuesday when the president refers him to the parliament for a confidence vote. According to members of this caucus, this is done in the interest of the nation and for the country to move forward, also to recover the lost time while the negotiation on power sharing in the upcoming cabinet is still going on. This caucus is made up of the MPs who rebuffed the motion of no confidence vote against former Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. President Hassan Sheik Mohamud appointed Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke as prime minister on 17th December, 2014 and he is expected to refer the new prime minister to the parliament for approval shortly.
Somali President attends rare military graduation parade in Mogadishu
22 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 110 Words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has attended a graduation parade of more than 1000 soldiers in Jazeera military training school in Mogadishu. The graduates included 300 Somali Special Forces, famously known as Gashan, and military, police and army graduates. They were trained in period of five months becoming among the first to be trained inside the country. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has urged the soldiers to take part in defending the country against the enemy. He urged them to respect the law and human rights while undertaking their duties of ensuring peace and order are maintained in the country.
Somaliland opposition parties praise Somalia, Somaliland Contract
22 Dec – Source: Somali Current – 106 Words
Somaliland’s Wadani party chief and speaker of the national assembly, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi (Irro,) has welcomed recent Somalia and Somaliland talks in Djibouti, and asked President Siilanyo to address the nation on the latest discussion developments. Abdirahman Irro said the recently signed accord between Somaliland and Somalia could be a threat to the region’s long expected recognition. “Opposition parties in here doesn’t have any idea about the talks,” Irro told reporters in Hargaisa. Somaliland president Ahmed Silanyo has met with the Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Djibouti, both officials have agreed resuming their talks next month in Turkey.
Deputy governor of Mudug region talks about yesterday’s assassination attempt on his life
22 Dec – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 112 Words
Mudug deputy governor, Farhan Ali Haad, talked about the landmine explosion which was targeted at his convoy in Galkayo on Sunday. The deputy governor said that his health situation has improved and he is carrying on his duties as usual . He added that an investigation to pursue those responsible for the attack is ongoing, and results will be released to the media at a later stage. “There would be a severe consequence of the explosive you targeted against me, I command the security forces to arrest those perpetrators. If you thought that I am dead, I am still alive and I tell you that I would continue with my work and I would not be terrified by anybody,” Farhan said.
Explaining the injuries he sustained from the explosion, the deputy governor said that he sustained minor injuries on the leg and the left hand, and that he is recovering fast. “I sustained minor injuries from the leg, I was preparing to do my daily work when I got minor injuries from [the] landmine explosion. Those who were behind attack have to know that it is God who can kill, and I will never stop my work “ he added.
Somali women’s affairs ministry delivers Turkish donation
22 Dec – Source – Radio Bar-Kulan – 116 Words
The Ministry of Human Rights and Women’s Affairs has delivered aid from the Turkish people through the Turkish Nile organization. The aid which is composed of medicine and clothes was delivered to Banadir general hospital, Dr. Qamar institute. Acting Women and Human Rights Minister Khadijo Mohamed has confirmed the delivery, saying they delivered cleaning equipment and clothes to the sanitation department in Mogadishu city. Benadir maternity wing also received medicine, and other medical equipment in donation, while the students of Dr. Qamar institute received education equipment. Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA,) which is heavily involved in the Somali reconstruction process, has plans to build new roads in Mogadishu city.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Ethiopia says ready to boost Somalia troops after Sierra Leone exit
22 Dec – Source: The Peninsula Qatar – 308 Words
Ethiopia said Monday it was ready to boost its troop levels in Somalia to replace soldiers from Sierra Leone, which has been forced to withdraw its forces from the mission over Ebola fears. A contingent of 850 soldiers from Sierra Leone, who were part of the African Union’s 22,000-strong AMISOM force, began departing Somalia on the weekend after a 20-month posting in the war-torn country. AMISOM said the troops would not be replaced from Sierra Leone until the Ebola outbreak in the west African nation, which has the largest number of recorded cases of the virus, was contained.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said his country could help take their place. “If there is a request from the African Union, Ethiopia is ready to replace any contingent that leaves Somalia,” he told reporters, adding that Ethiopian troops were already operating in “more than 60 percent of Somali territory.” African Union troops are in Somalia in support of the country’s fragile, internationally-backed government and to fight Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab rebels.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali bank puts conflict behind it
22 Dec – Source: Reuters Business – Video – 2:14 Minutes
The International Bank of Somalia has become the first lender in the Horn of Africa nation to handle foreign transactions. As Grace Pascoe reports, bank officials say it’s a sign the country is stabilizing after decades of conflict. Getting your cash out of an ATM. It’s an everyday experience for many of us. Here in Somalia, it’s still a novelty. This one in the capital, Mogadishu, is the country’s first – and only just recently installed. It’s a sign Somalia is open for business. And now, a new bank is handling foreign transactions for the first time in over two decades. The International Bank of Somalia is housed in a brand new building – with a brand new chief executive. The civil war and more recently Islamist militant insurgency destroyed Somalia’s banking system. After years of conflict, displacement and famine for its ten million people, it’s starting again from scratch. With most urban centres now free from Al-Shabaab extremists, the government is in better shape to focus on Somalia’s recovery. This long-awaited international bank is another encouraging sign that Somalia is on the way up.
DW series: terror in Africa
22 Dec – Source: Deutsche Welle – 392 Words
Deutsche Welle reporters on a special assignment have interviewed victims and ex-members of terror groups, former profiteers – and people who are trying to stop the violence. Al-Shabaab – which means ‘the youth’ in Arabic – is an al-Qaida-linked terror group with an estimated strength of between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters. It is fighting the Somali government with the aim of establishing Islamic rule in the country and has been blamed for numerous kidnappings and killings. Al-Shabaab’s targets include politicians and journalists. It launches attacks not only in Somalia, but also in neighboring Uganda and Kenya, both of which have troops stationed with the AMISOM force that is seeking to shore up the Somalian government. In Mogadishu, our reporters spoke to a former fighter who confirmed what many fear: Africa’s militants groups are networking among themselves as they go about their lethal business.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“If Villa Somalia has been unstable because of a near-absence of legitimacy, can Sharmarke, who is the third Prime Minister in Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s beleaguered administration, bring sorely needed political oddity to govern the country in the next 20 months?”
Can Sharmarke rescue Villa Somalia?
22 Dec – Source: Wardheer News – 1475 Words
If Villa Somalia has been unstable because of a near-absence of legitimacy, can Sharmarke, who is the third Prime Minister in Hassan Sheikh Mohamed’s beleaguered administration, bring sorely needed political oddity to govern the country in the next 20 months? His success or the lack thereof should be measured not by how he pulls Somalia out of its protracted quagmire, but by his ability to bring legitimacy to Villa Somalia, stabilize governance, and grab some of the low hanging fruits.
In nominating Sharmarke, Hassan Sheikh Mohmoud underscored the importance of legitimacy and consensus-building in the following Wardheernews byline: “While the constitution gives me the sole right to appoint my Prime Minister, this was a decision in which I valued the input of different Somalis, representing different sections of the Somali community as well as the international community.”
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The most immediate political challenge for the new Prime Minister is the formation of his cabinet within thirty days after his appointment. Putting together a functional cabinet entails balancing and accommodating regional and clan stakeholders, showing independence in selecting the best, and choosing those who are compatible with his views. To that end, he needs to project an image that he is consulting with the President without succumbing to Villa Somalia’s pressure.
“The president still has a chance to change course. First, he should look at himself in the mirror and realize that he has twice failed to select the right person to work with. He should also realize that he was elected to be president to help the Somalia people, and he should put their interests first instead of, as suggested by Amin Amir, putting the interests of his team first.”
The president should at least admit his mistakes
22 Dec – Source: Waagacusub.net – 1, 168 Words
Many Somalis thought that the former Somali Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, would prevail, but those who follow Somali politics knew the writing was on the wall. The president, who persuaded over 150 parliamentarians to support a motion against the prime minister Abdiwali, insisted that, he, the president would not be able to work with the former prime minister no matter what.
Over 14 ministers were also reported to have asked the prime minister to resign in support of the President’s wishes. Even those parliamentarians, who supported the former prime minister by creating chaos and disruptions when the motion against Abdiwali was presented on the floor, knew eventually they would lose to a majority vote from the president’s supporters. The international community agreed with the president that the matter should be solved through parliament, even though they suggested the decision might not be fair since it is suspected of bribery.
Now that chapter of the former prime minister Abdiwali is history, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud comes out as a winner showing the whole world that he is in charge . He also showed the fate of the future prime minister if he or she decides to head the same way as the other two former prime ministers who went against him. To prove to the world and the Somali people that he is in charge and on the right path, the president selected Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke as a replacement of the evicted Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.