July 30, 2015 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

High-Level Partnership Forum Opens In Somalia

29 July – Source: UNSOM – 396 Words

The High-Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) opened today in Mogadishu to review the country’s progress in political, security and economic sectors. The 2-day forum is co-hosted by the President of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, and brings together key international partners and representatives from 30 countries, leaders of the Somali Federal Government and Interim Regional Administrations. Under the theme “Delivering Results in Somalia”, HLPF aims to address the challenges hindering the implementation of speedy Peace and Statebuilding Goals entailed in the New Deal Somali Compact.

In his opening remarks, President Mohamoud outlined the successes achieved to date such as the peaceful formation of the three regional administrations, establishment of the Boundaries and Federal Commission and the National Independent Commission, the ongoing review of the Constitution and the upcoming action plan for the electoral process for 2016. He said that national consultations will be held over the next six months to determine a legitimate process for the transfer of power in 2016 and stressed the importance of unity in achieving this goal. “The future of Somalia is embedded in democracy and will only be secured through inclusivity, diversity and equal access to democracy. These ideals will be best secured by an election that allows every eligible citizen the chance to directly elect their own representative,” President Mohamoud stated.

He added that the one-person, one-vote solution is the best option for future transfer of political power. However, he also stated that such a solution must be delivered without harming the future. SRSG Kay lauded the tremendous progress made in Somalia in the last six months, emphasizing on further deliberations to build on gains already made. “What we have in Somalia is something relatively rare, and incredibly important. We see a country coming together,” SRSG Kay said. “A country once mired in conflict that now has progressively better functioning governance,” he said. SRSG Kay also brought attention to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2232 that stated “there should not be an extension of electoral process timelines for either the executive or legislative branches” as well as “the importance of implementing this commitment including through an inclusive process”. SRSG Kay called for visible delivery to the Somali people as a crucial foundation for peace and statebuilding.

Key Headlines

Unanticipated Evacuation Of Foreigners From Hotels In Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan)
High-Level Partnership Forum Opens In Somalia (UNSOM)
Thousands Cheer Former Puntland President (Garowe Online)
Somali Women Graduates Demand Access To Jobs (Radio Ergo)
Wanlaweyn Administration Arrests Armed Men (Goobjoog News)
Jubbaland Head Of State Unveils Conference In Kismayu (Wacaal Media)
Three Al-Shabaab Militants Killed Five KDF Officers Injured In Lamu (The Star Kenya)
Somalia’s Planned 2016 Elections Will Not Be A Popular Vote (Reuters)
UN Says Somalia Making Progress Despite Election Delay ( Yahoo News/AFP)
Kenyan Experts Call For New Tactics To Degrade Al-Shabaab (Shanghai Daily)
Somalia Reaches Milestone With First IMF Review In Decades (International Monetary Fund)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Unanticipated Evacuation Of Foreigners From Hotels In Mogadishu

29 July – Source : Radio Dalsan – 193 Words

On Tuesday evening there was an alarm of terror attacks in the hotels around Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, and all the foreigners residing in those hotels have been immediately evacuated to the biggest AU headquarters in the city. Despite having been recognized the hotels around the airport to have tight security there was immediate evacuation.“I saw foreigners been packed in armored cars and taken to the AU base compound which is not far the hotel which I work, and the reason of the evacuation was that we received an alarm of terror attack” says a security guard of one of the hotels who does not want his name to be disclosed. The hotels are not far from Jazeera Hotel which came under attack on the 26th of this month and claimed the lives of almost 20 people. Mogadishu has recently been facing waves of hotel attacks which the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for. It is not clear when the evacuated occupants of these hotels will be returned or if they have abandoned the hotels for for good.

Thousands Cheer Former Puntland President

29 July – Source: Garowe Online – 185 Words

Thousands of poster-waving residents flocked to Garowe international airport to stage a rousing welcome for former Puntland President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Farole on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports. Parliament Speaker Saed Hassan Shire, Former Puntland Vice President Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and crowds received Farole on arrival after a 10-day stay in Somaliland capital, Hargeisa. Addressing reporters at Garowe Square, Puntland ex-President said that he has come back to Puntland to see his family and meet political leadership.

“I thank the government for the state funeral held for my late wife. God willing, we will confer and I will share my views,” Dr. Farole told journalists. On Wednesday morning, former Puntland President has jetted off from Hargeisa where Somaliland government hosted luncheon for him on Tuesday. In an interview with BBC Somali service, he lambasted Mogadishu-based federal government for failing to curb territorial disputes, referring to th Mudug conundrum. Dr. Farole left for Australia following tightly contested regional elections in early 2014. He told BBC that he decided to quit Puntland and shifted balance towards national politics, months after he warned of term extension.

Somali Women Graduates Demand Access To Jobs

29 July – Source: Radio Ergo – 877 Words

When Habibo Abdi Ali enrolled in 2009 at Mogadishu University, one of Somalia’s most prestigious higher education institutions, she had high hopes of getting a well-paying job to support her parents and nine younger siblings. During her studies, her tuition fees and transportation added to the burden on her poor family, where only her father was employed doing casual work. But three years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Languages specializing in English literature, Ali is still unable to find a job. “I never imagined this could happen.” she told Radio Ergo in Mogadishu. “I have been walking all day, going around the offices of local NGOs and private companies. But I am always told there is no vacancy.” Abdi has been applying jobs and going for interviews since 2012. In the past six months, she has applied for five vacancies. “I found myself coming up against one wall after another one,” she said. “Most of the jobs are already taken and given to the relatives and acquaintances of those doing the recruitment.” According to Nasra Abdi Osman, coordinator of a newly launched job placement scheme for female graduates called FURSAD, Ali’s experience is typical of the ever-increasing number of female graduates across the country. “First there is favouritism of relatives and friends when it comes to giving out jobs, but more than that the problem has to do with the fact that those who hire are mostly men and they prefer hiring their own gender regardless of his qualification or that of women because of their belief in men’s superiority,” Osman told Radio Ergo in Mogadishu. Osman’s words are certainly reflected by the facts on the ground. For instance, only one out of the eight women who graduated with Abdi from the Faculty of Languages and Literatures are employed, but all 15 men in their class succeeded in getting a job. A study conducted by Iftin Foundation, which runs the FURSAD project, showed that women represent around 20 per cent of employees in the education and NGO sectors. But the numbers of women working in other sectors are mostly in single digits. Only eight per cent of employees in telecommunication companies, the biggest employment sector, are women.

The research, published in May, stated that most of the employers interviewed preferred hiring men because they did not want to pay women for maternity leave. The Hawalas, informal cash transfer system, another of the large employment sector, has very few female employees too. When Deqo Ali Omar, a Business Management graduate from Makerere University in Kampala, applied to a hawala in Mogadishu the director told her they had never employed women in their two decades of operations and were not willing to change that culture. “When they say they don’t hire women, what they are basically saying is that you are not going to get a job there just because you are a woman,” said a bitterly disappointed Omar, who also has a Masters in Peace and Conflict resolution from Kampala University. She now teaches at the Modern University for Science and Technology in Mogadishu. “The problem of unemployment for female graduates is more acute and will remain so for the years to come not just because women are denied jobs because of their gender, but also because of the lack of family and community support,” said Omar. Ali, who is the eldest in her family followed by two younger sisters, said both uneducated and educated women have been the breadwinners for Somali families since the civil war began in the 1990s. The men who survived the war became jobless and “baby-sitters” at home while women went out to sell meat, milk, charcoal and khat (leaf with mild narcotic properties) in the country’s most dangerous streets just to feed their families. “Women have been allowed to work under these difficult conditions in the war time, and now the country is much safer and women are graduates and have professional careers. Women must be supported to go to proper daytime jobs instead of being restricted to running street business till late at night,” said Ali.

Aweys Hadaad, Director General of Somalia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, believes the time has come to address the issue of women’s employment. Twenty years ago, the debate over women’s empowerment focused on educating the girl child; 10 years ago it moved to ensuring girls’ access to higher education. Both succeeded to some extent. Now women should be given equal access to the job market not for the sake of the statistics but for the best interest of the country’s economic growth and productivity. “Just like people, each country has two hands – men and women. If you don’t use both hands, that’s your problem not only economically, but also socially and politically because you rely on only half of your potential,” Hadaad told Radio Ergo. Denying women access to the labour market will be a huge missed opportunity and could have long term effects on Somalia’s economic prosperity. “Both women and men should work in order to increase our production which will lead us to economic growth and development. That could help us to end the dependence on aid and foreign donations,” he said.

Unanticipated Evacuation Of Foreigners From Hotels In Mogadishu

29 July – Source : Radio Dalsan – 193 Words

Wanlaweyn Administration Arrests Armed Men

29 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 261 Words

Somali government soldiers have launched operations to weed out roadblocks set by armed groups in some parts of lower Shabelle region, according Wanlaweyn officials. Drivers of public service vehicles using roads connecting the towns of lower Shabelle region have been complaining about increased illegal barricades that have been mounted by armed men.Wanlaweyn deputy district officer for security affairs, Abuukar Ibrahim Abdi told Goobjoog News that Government soldiers apprehended several gunmen who have been robbing the passengers travelling within the region. “SNA soldiers in collaborating with Wanlaweyn administration have carried out operations to clear out all the roadblocks in these areas, we have managed to arrest thugs who were soiling the name of Somali National Army and they were disturbing the public, we are also trailing the remnants” he said.

He pointed out that they removed several blockades and hence now the roads connecting wanlaweyn locality to other areas are safe and security. This comes days after drivers operating in Afgoye, Wanlaweyn and their environs threatened to stop working due to illegal roadblocks that have been mounted in areas between Mareeray and Afgoye towns in southern Somalia. Armed men with SNA uniform set up roadblocks to embezzle cash from drivers who constantly use the busy main highway connecting the Lower Shabelle region. According to local sources, more than 10 roadblocks have been setup between two towns in the Lower Shabelle region. The federal government carried out several operations to remove the illegal roadblocks set by the men dressed in military uniform but no change was so far felt according the owners and the drivers.

Jubbaland Head Of State Unveils Conference In Kismayu

29 July – Source: Wacaal media – 142 Words

A three day conference has kicked off in Kismayu, headquarters of the Interim Jubbaland Administration. The conference which seeks to put final touches on the regional state’s constitution has been officially opened by head of state Ahmed Mohamed (Madobe) at the former Insurance complex which also houses the state’s parliament. Speaker Abdikadir Luga-dheere was in attendance. Over 300 traditional elders and officials are also in attendance and the group is set to debate on the draft constitution before voting for its enactment. The conference comes days after the constitution committee visits to areas under the administration’s control where a similar discussions were held with residents of the said town. MP Abdi Hoosh was also in attendance. He is a lawyer who was part of the team that drafted the Somali constitution.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Three Al-Shabaab Militants Killed, Five KDF Officers Injured In Lamu

29 July – Source: The Star, Kenya – 198 Words

KDF soldiers killed three al Shabaab militants when they repulsed an attack at Basuba, Lamu county, on Wednesday morning. Five of the soldiers were injured when the militants hurled an IED device at a KDF vehicle 7km from Basuba, KDF spokesperson David Obonyo said in a statement. “Two AK 47 rifles and 17 bullets were recovered,” he said, adding that the incident occurred while the soldiers were on a routine patrol. He said other militants escaped with bullet wounds. Obonyo said the five soldiers, two of whom are critically injured, are admitted at Armed Forces Memorial Mospital in Nairobi. He urged locals to continue cooperating with security forces in the fight to secure the area from al Shabaab. This comes days after an unknown number of al Shabaab fighters were killed by KDF troops and the Somali National Army, who captured the town of Bardheere in Gedo region. The militants had captured Juungal which is 35 kilometres from Bardheere and reportedly released several prisoners before fleeing from Amisom troops who had entered the town. Military officer Osman Jilicow said the militants killed two local elders before they fled.

Somalia’s Planned 2016 Elections Will Not Be A Popular Vote

29 July – Source : Reuters – 232 Words

Somalia has abandoned the idea of holding a popular vote for its planned 2016 elections, the presidency said on Wednesday.In its last elections, in 2012, members of parliament were chosen by elders and then those lawmakers chose Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as president. It was Somalia’s first vote since 1991, when warlords ousted president Mohamed Siad Barre, plunging the country into years of war and chaos. Although diplomats have long said it was unlikely Somalia would meet its goal of holding a “one person, one vote” election due to infrastructure constraints and security fears, Mohamud’s comments confirmed the fact. The government did not explain how it would make the election more democratic, which it has long promised.

“‘One person, one vote’ will be not possible in 2016,” Mohamud said, according to the Somali presidency Twitter account. Earlier this week, Somali lawmakers and cabinet ministers said leaders would be chosen by regional leaders and “various members of society”, without elaborating on what that meant.Mohamud has said he is committed to holding elections on time before his current term runs out in August 2016, and that, however the process is held, he hopes the next one will have “more legitimacy” than the current one. Diplomats have said that delays in writing a new constitution, registering voters and other groundwork have meant the goal of holding a one person one vote poll is unrealistic.

UN Says Somalia Making Progress Despite Election Delay

29 July – Source : Yahoo News/AFP- 498 Words

The UN envoy for Somalia on Wednesday insisted the country was making progress, a day after the government said elections cannot be held as promised in next year.On Tuesday, Somalia’s government admitted that insecurity and lack of political progress means there cannot be “one man, one vote” elections in 2016 as envisaged by the United Nations, foreign diplomats and the government itself. “The road to democracy is there, but 2016 will be a stepping stone short of full democracy,” said Nicholas Kay, the top UN diplomat in Somalia. Kay said the announcement, which was greeted with dismay in Somalia, was “no surprise”.”It’s a reality we’ve been staring at for quite a while,” he said. Kay spoke to AFP on the sidelines of the so-called High-Level Partnership Forum, a meeting of Somali and foreign delegates held in the capital on Wednesday and Thursday, despite a weekend suicide truck bombing at one of the city’s biggest and most popular hotels.

The last forum was hosted in Copenhagen. Kay described this week’s gathering as “the largest international meeting in Mogadishu in modern times” with discussions of what will happen in 2016, when the current government’s four-year mandate expires, at the top of the agenda. Kay said the process of state-building, after decades of civil war and anarchy, and the creation of a federal rather than a centralised administration, “is going well but has taken longer than expected”. Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al- Shabaab, still controls parts of the rural south and attacks at will in Mogadishu, contributing to the difficulties of holding a nationwide poll. Late Wednesday the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorising until May 2016 the deployment of the 22,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which fights Shebab and protects the government. The same resolution extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), headed by Kay, until March 2016.

Kenyan Experts Call For New Tactics To Degrade Al-Shabaab

29 July – Source: Shanghai Daily – 693 Words

The international community must employ new and innovative strategies to degrade Somalia-based terror group Al-Shabaab, Kenyan security experts told Xinhua. The Al-Qaida allied militant group has in the last four years waged a fierce battle with Africa Union and Somali forces over control of a large swathe of the Horn of African nation. The militant group has also exhibited a profound capacity to mutate and carry out attacks inside Somalia and neighboring countries despite a combined military offensive to degrade its infrastructure. During the holy month of Ramadhan, Al-Shabaab intensified attacks against civilians and African Union troops in Somalia. In retaliation, the AU forces backed by U.S. drones attacked Al-Shabaab strongholds in southern parts of Somalia. A two-week military offensive against Al-Shabaab has led to the death of 72 militants, among them, key leaders, according to AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Despite the loss of its military commanders, Al-Shabaab’s resilience came to the fore on Sunday when it dispatched a suicide bomber to attack the heavily guarded Jazeera Palace Hotel in Mogadishu. So far, 15 people, including a Chinese Embassy staff, have been confirmed dead after the attack on the luxurious hotel that is frequented by foreign nationals and senior Somali officials. Security analysts agreed both the Somali government and the international community must brace for a prolonged battle with Al-Shabaab militants. Fred Nyabera, a Kenyan peace and security expert, noted that previous efforts to eliminate Al-Shabaab had minimal success hence the need for a paradigm shift. “Somalia’s fragile status for the last two decades is to blame for widespread terrorism that has spilled over to neighboring countries. Militias and warlords have thrived since the collapse of Somalia’s nation state,” Nyabera told Xinhua Monday. The expert blamed geopolitics and competition for natural resources for fuelling conflicts in the Horn of Africa nation. He said the international community has failed to devise effective strategies to diminish the capacity of Al-Shabaab to wage war against a legitimate Somali government and civilians.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“Mobilizing government revenue is another key priority. This is challenging to accomplish in an environment where there has been no tax collection for a quarter of a century. The government will also have to prioritize expenditure, which is a difficult task in a situation where the needs are so great.”

Somalia Reaches Milestone With First IMF Review In Decades

29 July – Source: International Monetary Fund – 1,098 Words

Somalia should focus on strengthening the key building blocks for stability and growth as it recovers from more than two decades of civil war, the IMF says in its first review of the nation’s economy in a generation. In its first regular “health check” of the economy in over 25 years, the IMF noted that the country had made significant progress since it resumed relations with the international community. But Somalia’s situation remains very fragile, and international support will be vital to rebuild institutions and restore normalcy, the report says. In the following interview, IMF mission chief Rogerio Zandamela discusses the incremental steps Somalia has begun to take toward economic recovery from conflict.

IMF Survey: Could you describe Somalia’s progress since the restoration of its relations with the international community in 2013?

Zandamela: When our team first began working on Somalia in June 2013 after the protracted civil war, we had practically no data about the economy. It took us almost six months to collect some preliminary information to work with, and we then decided to focus on the budget of the federal government. Gradually, we were able to get a better sense of the country’s GDP and other basic macroeconomic data and information.The country has made incredible progress. We were able to compile and analyze core data to conduct our first “health check” of the Somali economy in 26 years. The IMF has been helping the Somalis set up systems for improving central bank governance, central bank accounting and financial reporting, and the supervision of financial institutions. We’ve also been assisting them with budget preparation, formulating fiscal policy, and developing statistical systems. The Fund has not been alone in helping Somalia—the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and bilateral donors such as the European Union, Kenya, Norway, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States are extremely active. Given the magnitude of the task in Somalia, no one institution can be expected to manage it singlehandedly.

IMF Survey: Can you paint a picture of the Somali economy today?

Zandamela: Humanitarian and social conditions in Somalia are among the most daunting in the world. Close to 4 million people—nearly a third of the population—are in need of food assistance. Infant mortality is more than one in ten; and life expectancy is about 51 years. Moreover, according to the UNDP, an estimated 73 percent of Somalis live below the poverty line of $2 a day. That said, economic conditions improved rapidly in 2012-14, with real GDP rising by 3.7 percent during 2014. The recovery was led by growth in livestock and fisheries, and a very active private sector resurgence of the services industry, notably telecommunications, construction, and money transfer services, mainly associated with the return of diaspora Somalis. If security improvements continue, the entrepreneurial private sector will continue to be the most dynamic contributor to economic growth. For 2015, growth is projected at 2.7 percent.