June 5, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Kenya Charges 5 In Garissa University Attack
04 June – Source: Voice of America – 445 Words
Five men were charged on Thursday in connection with an attack by Somali Islamist gunmen on Garissa University College in Northeast Kenya that killed 148 students, the worst militant attack in the East African nation in almost two decades. The assault on Garissa University on April 2, in which gunmen from Somalia’s Al-Shabaab group stormed in and sought to kill Christian students, has piled pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta to do more to secure the border and other regions. Effects of the assault are still being felt in Garissa County, where almost two-thirds of schools have had to shut down because teachers, many from other regions, are not willing to go to work there anymore, regional officials said. Four men from Kenya and one from Tanzania were charged in court for conspiring to commit “a terrorist act at Garissa University College” and other related offences, court documents showed. They are the first people to face formal charges over the attack. Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo told the Nairobi court that a hearing would be held on July 11 to rule on whether to grant bail to the men accused of involvement in the attack, the worst since al Qaeda bombed the U.S. embassy in Kenya in 1998.
Key Headlines
- Kenya Charges 5 In Garissa University Attack (Voice of America)
- Ahlusuna And Government Forces Battle Al-Shabaab In Buurdhuubo (Wacaal Media)
- AMISOM Head Of Mission And EU Partners Visit Beletweyne (Radio Dalsan)
- Death Toll Rises As Fighting Continues Near Somalia-Ethiopia Border (Horseed Media)
- President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Opens UAE Hospital In Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan)
- Delegates Congress For Central State Formation Cut Short (Goobjoog News)
- Delegates Walk Out On Adaado Conference (Wacaal Media)
- Kenyans Seized By Al-Shabaab Languishing In Kismaayo Jail – UPDATE (Standard Digital)
- MasterCard Eyes Remittances In New Pact With Somalia Bank (The East African)
- Somali Social Worker Opens Substance Abuse Treatment Center Aimed At African Refugees (Star Tribune)
- Somali Sweets And Desserts (Sahan Journal)
- A New Book About Finnish Somalis Launched In Finland (Somali Current)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Ahlusuna And Government Forces Battle Al-Shabaab In Buurdhuubo
04 June – Source: Wacaal Media – 86 Words
A fierce gun battle pitting Ahlusuna fighters assisted by government forces on one side and Al-Shabaab militants on the other has been reported this morning from Buurdhuubo town, Gedo region. The clashes came after Al-Shabaab militants attacked Ahlusuna bases in the town. Ahlusuna claimed victory in the ensuing gun battle saying they killed up to 5 militants. Ahlusuna forces have returned to their bases at the time of going to press with no comment so far from Al-Shabaab.
AMISOM Head Of Mission And EU Partners Visit Beletweyne
04 June – Source: Radio Dalsan – 427 Words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of AMISOM Ambassador Maman Sidikou yesterday led a delegation to Beletweyne, in South-Central Somalia to engage with the troops as well as the population and devise means of supporting them better. The SRCC visited together with the European Union Special Envoy for Somalia Michele Cervone d’Urso, with the delegation also comprising of the Djiboutian Ambassador to Somalia Dayib Doubad Robleh and AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support Maj. Gen Nakibus Lakara among other dignitaries. The visit sought to establish the challenges faced by the AMISOM troops in the sector and what support AMISOM and EU can provide to address them; tackling aspects such as logistics, equipment, vehicles and troops movement, among others.
The delegates held discussions with the AMISOM sector commanders, the Hiiraan Regional Administration, members of the business fraternity, community elders, Hiiraan women groups as well as local NGOs operating in Beletweyne. Speaking after the meeting, the SRCC Amb. Maman Sidikou said “We have come to discuss with our friends the Djibouti and Ethiopian contingents. Beletweyne is a model in a sense, because here Djibouti and Ethiopia are putting their strength and intelligence together to not only fight and defeat the enemy but also support with capacity development of SNA. I believe we had a very useful discussion. I have listened to the military discussion amongst themselves and in particular we also have EUTM with us. EUTM is an ally that would clearly help us with good practices, with better capacities in terms of the training we are doing together at Al Jazeera camp in Mogadishu but it has to be extended to the regions”.
The EU Special envoy Michele Cervone d’Urso said the visit was very crucial in identifying ways through which AMISOM troops and the Somali people in Beletweyne can be further supported. “Today is a special day; it is the first time over ten years the European Union is back in Beletweyne. It is a joint mission between the European Union and AMISOM. It allows us to take stock of the needs of the population and see where we can help. It is also an opportunity to see what stage we are with the AMISOM offensive in Sector 4. AMISOM is doing a great job and it is important to show solidarity to the Djiboutian contingent and the Ethiopian Contingent but above all, we want to make a difference in the lives of the population,” he said.
Death Toll Rises As Fighting Continues Near Somalia-Ethiopia Border
04 June – Source: Horseed Media – 184 Words
Despite calls for ceasefire, fighting has continued for a second week in villages close to the border that separates Somalia and Ethiopia, residents have said. According to local sources, there were two clashes in three villages from Wednesday to Thursday morning, killing at least 19 people and unknown numbers injured. A journalist in Galgadud region has told Horseed Media that the conflict has forced many families to flee from their homes and seek for refuge in remote areas. Regional Somali government officers have described the death toll of the conflict since it started last week as more than 70. The reasons that led to the conflict are unclear yet but multiple sources have told Horseed Media that it’s linked to tribal disputes over pastoral land. Others have said the conflict erupted last week after forces from the Somali region state of Ethiopia invaded two villages close to the border. Somali and Ethiopian governments have not officially spoken of this conflict. In recent years, several conflicts have occurred in the Somalia-Ethiopia border mostly related to tribal and pastoral land disputes.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Opens UAE Hospital In Mogadishu
04 June – Source: Radio Dalsan – 103 Words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia has presided over the opening United Arab Emirates hospital in Mogadishu. The President who was accompanied by the Prime Minister, Deputy National Assembly Speaker and other senior officials has expressed his gratitude for the new Sheikh Zaid Bin Salman Al Nahyan hospital in Shangani district. President Sheikh Mohamud thanked United Arab Emirates ambassador in the country for the new health facility and other humanitarian projects his country is spearheading in Somalia. UAE is among Islamic states that provide humanitarian assistance in Somalia in the past few years.
Delegates Congress For Central State Formation Cut Short
04 June – Source: Goobjoog Media – 124 Words
As soon as the congress for the delegates of Central State Formation has started, authorities from Interior Minister have cut short the congress after some disagreements about the agenda. It emerged that delegates protested some missing points from the agenda, including an item in the constitution which requires delegates to vote for the capital city. Other missing items in the draft constitution are the flag and the name that the state should take. It was meant to be the first congress for the delegates whose main task is to adapt the draft constitution. One major stumbling block is the capital city which was previously declared in a presidential decree as to be Dhusamareb town.
Delegates Walk Out On Adaado Conference
04 June – Source: Wacaal Media – 101 Words
Several delegates in the state formation process going on in Adaado walked out in protest after disagreeing with the steering committee chair Mrs. Halima Yarey. The disgruntled elders reportedly took issue with some clauses in the constitution. They accused the chairwoman of refusing to answer their questions. The hall then turned chaotic thus halting the conference. The second phase of the conference is set to discuss the constitution for the new regional state which is expected to conclude before the Holy month of Ramadhan as announced by Premier Sharmarke recently when he opened the second phase of the conference.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyans Seized By Al-Shabaab Languishing In Kismaayo Jail – UPDATE
04 June – Source: Standard Digital – 320 Words
Five Kenyans kidnapped by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Lamu last year are languishing in a Somalia jail as the Government claims it is not aware of the arrests. The five were allegedly kidnapped by hooded gunmen on October 11 last year in Boni Forest as they headed to Kiunga, and driven into Somalia where they were held captive for two weeks before being set free. They were, however, later arrested allegedly under the instructions of Kenya Defence Forces in Somalia. The five are Anwar Abdi, Ali Omar, Abdirahman Mohamed, Deeq Mohamed and Shukri Noor. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery and Police Inspector General Joseph Boinett last week said they were not aware of the arrests. The five, who spoke to The Standard on phone from their incarceration in Kismaayo, said they were in poor health with nothing to eat and urged the Government to secure their release. They alleged that they had been surviving on a meal a day and were going for more than two weeks or even a month without a bath.
Anwar Abdi is said to be in a different cell but often communicates with the four and this has left his wife Fatuma Hassan worried. Fatuma said she had not communicated with him since his abduction, but only learnt from the owner of the pick-up Abdi was driving that he had been arrested and held in Kismaayo. Speaking from Kismaayo, Abdirahman said: “We are suffering so much. We don’t know what is going on. Police officers here tell us they are waiting communication from Nairobi before they release us.” Abdulrahman, who spoke on behalf of the others on a borrowed phone from one of the police officers said when they were released by the militants, they asked for a police station and they were directed to an AMISOM camp near Kismaayo town which was under KDF.
MasterCard Eyes Remittances In New Pact With Somalia Bank
04 June – Source: The East African – 415 Words
MasterCard has become the first international payments network to enter Somalia through partnering with Premier Bank Ltd, signalling a huge business potential in a country that has long been shunned by Western powers due to perpetual wars and conflicts. The US-based technology firm is eyeing growing volumes of remittances estimated to contribute over $1 billion to Somalia’s economy and 35 per cent of the total value of goods and services produced in the war-ravaged state in a year. The funds are an essential source of income for individuals and necessary for the development.
James Wainaina, MasterCard’s vice president and area business head for the East African region said the firm’s entry into Somalia is in line with its broad growth strategy for sub-Saharan Africa. “We recognise that there are challenges in this market (Somalia) but for me it is about opportunities. The market is continuing to open opportunities emanating from remittances from the diaspora, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and donor funded activities,” Mr Wainaina told The EastAfrican through a phone interview last week.
“There are no restrictions in terms of working with Somalia and from our perspective we engage with a market because there is a need. Basically there is a huge drive in digitising the Somali economy in line with global trends.” Mr Wainaina however acknowledged that there are challenges of having an effective payment infrastructure. The launch of MasterCard payment system in Somalia is expected to open the country’s economy to electronic transactions both in government and private sector. MasterCard currently has a presence in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zanzibar and South Sudan, and the firm is sniffing for more business opportunities from the rest of Africa through partnerships with local financial institutions.
Somali Social Worker Opens Substance Abuse Treatment Center Aimed At African Refugees
04 June – Source: Star Tribune – 307 Words
Launching a center where Minnesotans of East African descent can get help overcoming addiction has long been Yussuf Shafie’s goal. But when the time came to craft a name for the facility, he nixed the words “treatment” and “addiction.” In the newly opened Alliance Wellness Center in Bloomington, Shafie will wage battle not just on substance abuse, but also on the profound stigma of mental illness in the Somali community. The recent University of Minnesota graduate hopes he has an edge as a community insider. “I know people in my community need these services,” he said. “I want to empower them to seek help.”
The outpatient center might seem like an ambitious venture for the young social worker. But Kate Erickson, Shafie’s supervisor during an internship and temporary position at the Community-University Health Care Center in Minneapolis, says Shafie is a born overachiever. She met him 12 years after he had arrived in America speaking no English. By 2013, he was working on his master’s degree in social work and running a Burnsville restaurant he had recently opened. “Yussuf is a unique person with more tenacity than most,” said Erickson. Now, Shafie is wrapping up a job as a Minneapolis school social worker to open the new center, which will focus on serving East and West African refugees. He says too many are reluctant to seek professional help for mental illness.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, & CULTURE
“In Kenya, Eastleigh is where you can find Somali sweets easily with different prices depending on your pocket. The main sweets are halwa, aano baraawe, sinsin and laws.”
Somali Sweets And Desserts
04 June – Source: Sahan Journal – 1, 258 Words
Sweets and desserts have always been an important delight to people all over the world. They offer joy and bring a sense of positivity around the dinner table. Different cultures around the world have their own versions of how to make and serve desserts and sweets and the Somali community is no exception in this regard. Somali culture is mostly depicted around its delectable food. Somalis have a sweet tooth and are well known for the wide variety of their delicious sweets and desserts and which are often of great quality. Most Somali households and confectionary businesses take pride in preparing tasteful bites which require intricacy and deep knowledge, an art form by itself that has been passed on from generation to generation.
Sweets
1. Halwa / Halwo
Halwa is one of the most popular Somali sweets. It is a traditional dish that has been around for generations. It is the epitome of Somali childhood memories, as most Somalis have been brought up eating it. There is hardly a festive occasion, be it a wedding, a naming ceremony or the two Idds in a year where halwa is not served as a delicacy. There are different types of halwa : flour and nut based. Halwa has a jelly like structure and a soft feel to it. Halwa can either be soft or hard depending on the relative ratio of the ingredients and the length of stay in the cauldron where the ingredients are cooked and vigorously stirred in hot oil. It can stay for long without a preservative. However one is advised to not put their hands in the dish but to use cutlery to serve from the main dish onto the serving plates.
“Many of the interviewed people think their life in Finland is not easy. Many of them have revealed experiences about racism, difficulties in finding jobs, about hardship when trying to learn the rare and difficult Finnish language, or about challenges in making friends with the Finns. The majority population is perceived as quiet and a bit difficult to approach. And Somalis have found it difficult to make necessary business partners with Finns. Finland is not used to multiculturalism, compared to England, Australia or United States etc.”
A New Book About Finnish Somalis Launched In Finland
03 June – Source: Somali Current – 1, 124 Words
A book titled Suomen Somalit – Finnish Somalis – has been launched in Finland on Monday May 25th. The book gives an overview about the Somali community’s experiences of living in Finland. It is the first ever book of its kind in Finland. Somali speakers in Finland are the fourth biggest linguistic minority with population of about 16 000. The authors of the book Yusuf M. Mubarak, Eva Nilsson and Niklas Saxén have interviewed nearly 100 people for the book. About 75 of them were members of the Somali community. They come from different backgrounds, different ages and are both men and women. The interviewees came to Finland in different decades since the 1970s. The other 20 people have been researchers and officials who worked with Somalis in Finland including Finnish Immigration Office researchers.
The issues raised in the book range from a historical overview to experiences of daily life in terms of school, jobs, the practice of religion, relations with the media and hopes for the future. The authors emphasize in the book that ”interviewers strongly raised that, fingers in the same hand are different” which means that generalize is not the right means of promoting living together while at the same time some commonalities can nevertheless be seen among the people in the community. First Somalis in Finland: Clearly different starting points have especially been seen among those who have arrived in the country in 90s as the first war refugees, compared to those who have arrived in Finland in 2000s after living a long time in Somalia’s war thorn society, and those young people who have been born and have grown Finland. Still they all share many similar experiences about the Finnish society sphere.