July 13, 2015 | Morning Headlines
District Official Killed As Assassinations Continue In Mogadishu
12 July – Source: Horseed Media – 170 Words
A district official and his bodyguards were killed on Sunday in a Mogadishu neighbourhood, as insecurity concerns continue to grow in the Somali capital.Unknown gunmen opened fire from a car they were driving at the car of Bile Ahmed Abukar, the Secretary of Kahda district, which is part of Benadir region. Both the official and his two bodyguards were killed instantly and the assailants fled the scene before security forces arrived to carry out investigations. No group has yet claimed the responsibility of the latest assassination. Mogadishu has witnessed numerous assassinations of security and government officials carried out by unknown gunmen, with Al-Shabaab claiming part of the attacks. The Somali Federal Government stepped up security in and around the Somali capital in the run-up to the holy month of Ramadan, but the militants have continued to carry out their bloody campaign. Ramadan carries extra religious significance for Al-Shabaab, which claims that jihad provides more rewards during the period of religious observance considered one of the five pillars of Islam.
Key Headlines
- District Official Killed As Assassinations Continue In Mogadishu (Horseed Media)
- Puntland Parliament Calls National Commissions ‘Null’ (Garowe Online)
- Ahlu Sunna Inaugurate New President (Somali Current)
- Clashes In Kismayo Kills 3 Interim Juba Administration Soldiers (Goobjoog News)
- Cargo Ship Sinks Off Gulf of Aden Crew Members Missing (Horseed Media)
- US Condemns Attack On Somalia Hotels (VoA)
- Somalia Says It Will Not Settle Sea Dispute With Kenya Out Of Court (The Standard Kenya)
- UN Somalia Envoy Condemns Latest Terrorist Attacks In Mogadishu (UN News Center)
- The Lost Boys Of Mogadishu (Al Jazeera)
- Somalia: The Culture Of Patriarchy And Women’s Place in It (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Parliament Calls National Commissions ‘Null’
12 July – Source: Garowe Online – 297 Words
Lawmakers in Somalia’s Puntland Parliament on Sunday called two key commissions approved by federal cabinet and 275-seat-chamber ‘null and void’, as row continues to widen over legitimacy of Galmudug, Garowe Online reports. At the end of intense debate that dragged into Sunday, Puntland members of parliament said they recognize the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC) signed by six signatories with United Nations Political Office for Somalia represented as guarantor.“Puntland Parliament clarifies that Constitutional Review Commission, Independent National Electoral Board, and Boundary and Federation Commission were found to be unconstitutional, and [commissioners] can’t operate in Puntland,” Puntland Members of Parliament said in a statement.They said, the bills approved by federal parliament are not legally binding and will not come into effect in Puntland. Puntland parliament contested the formation of Galmudug administration in central Somalia, declaring it ‘illegal’ federal state which goes against article 49 of the federal constitution: “Only two or more regions may merge to form a federal member state”.
Parliament Speaker, Saed Hassan Shire announced that they will see if their decisions are respected in the next parliamentary session.“If Somalia Federal government sticks to these points, we will reconsider our ties with [Somalia Federal Government],” Shire told reporters in the parliament building. On July 7th, Puntland Presidenct reacted to parliamentary endorsement of national commissions in a similar manner. “The Government of Puntland rejects the so-called illegal and illegitimate boundaries and federation commission, constituted currently without consultation as stipulated in article 111 of the Provisional Federal Constitution [PFC],” Presidential statement disclosed. “No deliberation or outcome from such body is binding to Puntland.” Puntland parliament shunned suspending cooperation with Mogadishu-based federal government as President Ali is trying to allay growing public criticism. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in the capital Garowe, and Galkayo, blaming the federal government’s federalism policy last month.
Ahlu Sunna Inaugurate New President
12 July – Source: Somali Current – 269 Words
Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama á have today inaugurated and sworn in their own president in Galgadud region capital, Dhusamareeb on Sunday. Sheikh Ahmed Shakir Ali was elected by the group early this month after the group held their own version of the Adaado conference in the town. The group which now control Dhusamareeb accused the federal government of interfering the regional state building process. The group also said the conference lacked inclusiveness since all communities in the region were not invited. Dhusamareeb has been earmarked as the capital of the state of Galmudug that was recently established in Adaado. Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a took control over the town after they pushed out the government soldiers. The group also vowed to launch take over other towns in the region.The moderate sufi paramilitary group fought hard against Al-Shabaab and play a key role in the region.
The moderate sufi group has also alleged the government of breaking several peace agreement and always lacking sincerity when dealing with the group. Ahlu Sunna refused to recognise the newly established Galmudug administration saying the new administration is illegitimate and doesn´t represent the people in the region. Newly elected President of Galmudug State, Abdi Karim Hussein Guled has said his administration is ready to open talks with the group to end the political deadlock. Somali Federal Government and the international community called the group to shun violence and urged to solve their political differences through dialogue.
Clashes In Kismayo Kills 3 Interim Juba Administration Soldiers
12 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 112 Words
Reports from Kismayo, the administrative capital of Interim Juba Administration(IJA), indicate that three soldiers died and five others injured after Jubaland security forces engaged in a gun battle with soldiers loyal to Interim Juba Administration Minister of Interior, Mohamed Warsame Darawish. The sources say the fighting embarked after security forces launched operations inside the ministry in search of a soldiers who allegedly took a rifle owned by one of the security forces.Among the dead are two security soldiers and one of the ministry’s guards.The control of the ministry was taken over by the security forces. This comes when the leader of Interim Juba Administration, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madoobe) is out for a visit to Garowe, the capital of Puntland State.
Cargo Ship Sinks Off Gulf of Aden, Crew Members Missing
12 July – Source: Horseed Media – 203 Words
A cargo ship carrying thousands of livestock sank off the coast of Gulf of Aden, local authorities in Somalia have said. The ship was sailing from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates when it encountered high waves and strong winds. According to an official in the autonomous state of Puntland where the ship had embarked its journey from, all of the livestock perished as the ship sank. He added that 29 crew members were rescued by another vessel, but still two of the crew are missing. The cargo was for local businessmen based in Puntland merchants having businesses in the UAE. Livestock is the mainstay of the Somali economy, contributing 40 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Every year, Millions of animals are exported through the ports of Berbera in Somaliland and Bossaso in Puntland. Approximately $250 million is generated from the export of goats, sheep and camels to the Gulf countries annually. In a report released weeks ago by the Food and Agricultural organization (FAO), Somalia recorded one of its highest exports of livestock in a single year since the collapse of the central government in 1991 by transporting 5 million livestock to markets in the Gulf of Arabia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
US Condemns Attack On Somalia Hotels
12 July – Source: Voice of America – 173 Words
The United States says it strongly condemns the recent Al-Shabaab attack on two hotels and an African Union force position in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. At least 16 people were killed in the attacks on the Weheliye and Siyad hotels on Friday. Mortar rounds were also fired Friday at Mogadishu’s former football stadium, which now serves as a key AU base. No casualties were reported in that attack. A U.S. State Department statementSunday said “al-Shabab once again has demonstrated its brutality and its complete rejection of a Somali society free of violence and oppression.” It added “the United States remains committed to working with the Somali people, their government, and international partners to continue forward in progress, prosperity and stability.” The militant group has been trying for years to overthrow the Somali government and establish a strict Islamic state. Somali soldiers and troops from the African Union’s peacekeeping force have had success in pushing Al-Shabaab from Somalia’s major cities, but the group still controls other areas and continues to launch attacks.
Somalia Says It Will Not Settle Sea Dispute With Kenya Out Of Court
12 July – The Standard, Kenya – 510 Words
The likelihood of Kenya and Somalia resolving their maritime dispute out of court has been dashed after Somalia announced that it will be submitting documents to back its case to the United National International Court of Justice tomorrow (Monday). Recently, Kenya Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed told members of the National Assembly that that the two countries had agreed to resolve the dispute in the oil-rich territory matter out of court. Somalia denied the claim. The triangle of disputed ocean territory stretches for more than 100,000 square kilometers.
Somalia’s Information Minister Mohammed Maareeye said Sunday that a 150 page document arguing their case will be deposited today at The Hague Court after the Somali cabinet made a decision that the dispute be arbitrated through the court and not bilaterally. “Both Kenya and Somalia have attempted in the past to resolve the matter bilaterally but those attempts were unsuccessful. That is why we decided to take the matter to the UN court,” he told Radio Mogadishu, the official mouthpiece of the Somali government.
UN Somalia Envoy Condemns Latest Terrorist Attacks In Mogadishu
11 July – Source: UN News Centre – 306 Words
The top United Nations official in Somalia has condemned “in the strongest terms” a series of deadly terrorist attacks against an African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base and two hotels in the country capital of Mogadishu which resulted in numerous casualties.The attacks – committed yesterday by the Islamist extremist group Al-Shabaab – reportedly caused the death and injuries of civilians, members of the security forces, AMISOM troops and Government officials and come as the Muslim world celebrates its holy month of Ramadan. “I condemn yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Mogadishu in the strongest terms and am appalled by the complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians shown by the attackers,” the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay. “An attack during Iftar prayers, a sacred time for families and communities to come together, is an assault on the beliefs of Muslims all over the world.”
In today’s statement, Mr. Kay also commended the swift action taken by the Somali and African Union security forces who managed to ultimately repel the attacks and prevent further casualties. “The United Nations continues to work actively with the Federal Government, AMISOM and international partners to build strong national security and government institutions to secure the country,” he added. In a briefing of the Security Council in May, Mr. Kay told Security Council members that momentum had been regained on efforts to achieve political progress in the country, pointing to work by federal, regional and local leaders, and parliamentarians to build a State through dialogue and reconciliation, and top-level commitment to deliver Somalia’s Vision 2016 plan. At the same time, however, he conceded that there was “still a long way to go,” adding that with so much at stake between now and 2016, “we can expect Al-Shabaab to do everything it can to derail the political process.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“You have to be careful who you approach. Some people can beat you up or throw stones at you for no reason. And the nice ones will ask you to clean their vehicle or shoes. The more vehicles or shoes you clean, the more food you can buy to eat, Abdi Rizaq explained.”
The Lost Boys Of Mogadishu
12 July – Source: Al Jazeera – 1,046 Words
As the sun sets behind the blue waters of the Indian Ocean and the traffic disappears behind Mogadishu’s big gated houses, a group of young boys, all at or under the age of 13, jump out from a rusty, abandoned bus onto a dark, dusty sidewalk. They are in search of shelter to hide from the night’s cold. This group of boys is part of a growing number of children who have been left on the Somali capital’s streets to fend for themselves. Hungry and feeling lost in one of the toughest cities in the world, they spend their days trying to stay out of harm’s way. Thirteen-year-old Deerow Fuad leads a group of three boys who are rummaging through a heap of rubbish under a dark bridge in search of thrown-away boxes.They plan on using these as mattresses to cushion their tiny bodies from the concrete sidewalks on which they will sleep.”At night it is cold. There are explosions. You can hear gunshots,” Fuad told Al Jazeera as he sat on a box by the side of the road. He was wearing a worn-out T-shirt to keep him warm from the cold gusts blowing in from the sea. “We have nowhere to hide. We would like somewhere to hide from the cold. And we would like to go to school in the morning,” Fuad said. None of the boys currently go to school, and although all their parents are alive, they have not seen or spoken to them in months. Fuad has formed a tight bond with two other street children, Abdi Rizaq and Mohamed Abdullahi. Their days are filled with the struggle to find something to eat.
‘No one knows if we are dead or alive’ Abdi Rizaq is sandwiched between Fuad and Abdullahi on the flattened boxes, under the watchful glowing eyes of stray cats. He is wearing a torn, oversized AC Milan football club jersey, and looks far younger than most 13-year-olds. He has not seen his parents, who are still alive and have lived in the city for more than six months. Abdi Rizaq was left to fend for himself, because his parents could not afford to provide for him. “No one knows if we are dead or alive. Every day and night we spend our time thinking how we can better our lives. Only God knows if we will make it to tomorrow. Anything can happen to us,” Abdi Rizaq told Al Jazeera. He said his parents lost everything following the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa, which left almost 260,000 people dead – almost half of them children – in this country with an estimated population of 10 million. Abdi Rizaq was born in the midst of Somalia’s long and bloody civil war to a poor family in Mogadishu. He knows that life has dealt him a tough hand, but he is not bitter. “My family is too poor to look after me. So I ended up on the streets to find something to eat. I’m young and healthy, and have my whole life ahead of me. I hope I won’t be living on these roads for long,” Abdi Rizaq said, looking down at his shoeless, sand-covered feet.
“If gender remains a major component of structured inequality, women will continue to have less value, power and security. It is imperative, therefore, that the deep pool of talented women available is used to its maximum potential in the country’s development. Somalia can no longer afford the absence of women from the socio-political picture. It is equally important that the media does not abuse its influence by keeping women behind walls, out of sight and away from the public sphere.”
Somalia: The Culture Of Patriarchy And Women’s Place in It
11 July – Source: Hiiraan Online -1,461Words
Democratic institutions and practices promote government legitimacy around the world, while at the same time allowing legislatures to adhere to the democratic values of transparency, representation and accountability. While Somalia does not yet have democratic representation within government, it aspires to realize this principle. However, an image of a Somali culture that is not women friendly has been lately projected to the world, reflecting a society created and dominated by men. The purpose of this article is to share my observations on the prevailing narrative of a Somali culture that is biased against women, highlight some of the underlying causes of gender inequality and enhance the debate on the urgent need to achieve gender equality. Currently, the role of women in national affairs is either marginal or absent altogether.
Discussions concerning Somali affairs, whether they take place inside or outside of Somalia, or are private or public committees organized by government officials, academics or local communities, remain almost exclusive to men – as though there are no women in Somalia. On those occasions, when women do attend important gatherings, instead of being at the podium or sharing the platform with the men in the room, they are most often huddled at the back and do not participate in the deliberations. In instances, however, when they do partake in a panel discussion, the quality of their contributions is no less rigorous than that of their male colleagues. Some Somali media choose to obscure or hide this image of women, which begs the question: is the exclusion of women done purposefully or subconsciously by men who grew up in an overtly patriarchal culture? I have written several articles, as have others, concerning the significant historical contributions made by Somali women to their country and their availability to take part in Somalia’s reconstruction; however, I have come to realize that there are forces at play, both overt and insidious, against changes to the status of women in the country.
Subordination of women in Somalia
The status of Somali women in their society is neither new nor a fully sorted one. Most of us who advocate for and support women’s rights in Somalia can attest that gender mainstreaming in Somalia is a taboo subject; despite the fact that Somali women have shaped a vibrant national network of women’s social and humanitarian organizations in response to the devastating impact of twenty-five years of inadequate government and institutions. While women of Somalia have been successful in managing social issues, they have been stone-walled on the political, leadership and decision-making front. Somalis are aware of the infamous 30% quota for women in Somalia’s Parliament, which later produced only 14% members nationwide.