November 20, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Somalia Will Not Cede An Inch Of Its Territories
19 November – Source: Wacaal Media – 125 Words
Somalia will not cede an inch of its territories whether land or sea, Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisalan Hadliye Omar has declared. Noting that the country enjoyed cordial relations with her Kenyan and Ethiopian neighbours, Hadliye nonetheless stressed that the Federal Government will not compromise the sovereignty of Somalia by allowing any country to encroach on her territories. At the same time, the Minister observed that Somalia was reclaiming her lost glory and spot on the international arena pointing out that the opening of the country’s embassies abroad was a testimony to this effect. Hadliye was speaking in the United States while presiding over the re-opening of the Somali Embassy in USA, which has been closed for the last 24 years following the collapse of the central government in the early nineteen-nineties. Somalia is currently embroiled in two territorial disputes with Kenya, with one of the cases having been filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Key Headlines
- Somalia Will Not Cede An Inch Of Its Territories (Wacaal Media)
- Somali Embassy In Washington Re-opens After 24 Years (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Premier Visits Baidoa For Talks Over Parliament Formation Process And War Against Al-Shabaab (Wacaal Media)
- IED Blast In Afgoye District Injures Three (Shabelle News)
- Tower Hamlets Council Recognises Somaliland As An Independent State (Wharf News)
- Mohamed Bin Zayed Receives Somali President (WAM Emirates News Agency)
- Somalia exports 5000 livestock to UAE (The EastAfrican)
- From Somali Refugee To Canadian MP (Al Jazeera)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Embassy In Washington Re-opens After 24 Years
19 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 282 Words
Approximately 24 years ago, May 8, 1991, the Somali flag in Washington D.C came down as the embassy ceased operations barely four months after the U.S embassy closed shop in Mogadishu as the Horn of Africa nation descended into a bitter civil war. In January 5, 1991, 281 American and foreign diplomats and civilians were evacuated by helicopter from the embassy, Silica Mareykanka (as it was referred to) in Mogadishu’s Medina district. The United States did not however formally severe diplomatic relations with Somalia.
Fast forward November 18, 2015 and the five white star flag went up at the U.S centre of power, Washington D.C, paving way for the resumption of full diplomatic relations between the two countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Abdusalam Omer and Somali ambassador to the U.S Ahmed Issa Awad yesterday joined the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield in the historic opening of the embassy.
Thomas-Greenfield said the re-opening of the embassy was yet another step towards normalizing the US-Somali relations, including official recognition of the Somali government in January 2013. She added the welcoming of the first Somali Ambassador to Washington in July 2014, and U.S. Secretary of State Kerry’s historic visit to Mogadishu in May 2015 signified the Barack Obama administration’s intentions to restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The US Mission to Somalia, based in Nairobi, commenced operations in September this year headed by a Chargé d’Affaires with the State Department indicating the status will remain until the US President appoints a substantive ambassador. The United States formally recognized the new Somali government on January 17, 2013 signalling the start of efforts to rebuild diplomatic relations.
Somali Premier Visits Baidoa For Talks Over Parliament Formation Process And War Against Al-Shabaab
19 November – Source: Wacaal Media – 89 Words
Prime Minister of Somalia Omar Sharmarke yesterday held talks, in Baidoa, with elders and the leadership of the south Somalia state. The Parliament formation process of the state as well as the fight against Al-Shabaab dominated the talks. President Shariff Hassan of the south-west Somalia state briefed the Premier on the progress of the parliamentary formation process as well as the fight against the militants. Shariff Hassan pledged to kick out Al-Shabaab militants from the state. He also promised to have the state’s parliament in place before the end of the year.
IED Blast In Afgoye District Injures Three
19 November – Source: Shabelle News – 117 Words
At least three people were wounded, two of them critically, during an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Afgoye district. According to witnesses, the attack targeted the residence of a Somali military personnel. One witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Radio Shabelle via telephone that the soldiers wounded in the IED explosion were rushed to hospital for medical attention. The attack took place late last night in Ifka and Akhiro neighbourhood and the local security officers say they have launched investigations into the exact cause of the blast and those behind it. By the time of going to press, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Tower Hamlets Council Recognises Somaliland As An Independent State
19 November – Source: Wharf News – 521 Words
Public gallery crammed to see the authority give its support to the fledgeling African nation, but some argued a council meeting was not the place to discuss it. Tower Hamlets, a United Kingdom (UK) local council, has officially pledged its support for Somaliland as an independent state.
More than 150 people of Somali origin packed out the public gallery as a motion was passed to recognise the east African nation at a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 18. But some were not happy at it being discussed, arguing a local council meeting was not the place to debate international affairs. A motion to support the state came from Cllr Amina Ali (Lab, Bow East), who spoke about the importance of the issue to the borough’s Somali community.
She said: “This council believes that Somalilanders have made a significant contribution to Tower Hamlets and are one of the oldest communities in the borough. This council should be strongly urged to support the growing pressure to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, allowing it a seat at the United Nations. The council resolves to support the campaign to recognise Somaliland as an independent state. Support for this motion will show the council has listened to the Somaliland community in Tower Hamlets.”
Somaliland declared independence from the Republic of Somalia in 1991, but has not yet been recognised by either the UN or the African Union. Mayor John Biggs added his support to Cllr Ali’s motion, while deputy mayor Cllr Sirajul Islam said: “The Somali community has made a good contribution to Britain, so recognising it today is immensely important.” The motion also had support of the independents. Referring to the problem of pirates off the coast of Somalia, Cllr Rabina Khan (Ind, Shadwell) said recognising Somaliland as a state would be an important step. She said: “The MEP Godfrey Bloom said one way of addressing the problem of pirates is to recognise the country of Somaliland. Is it not in our interests to support that part of the world that wants peace and prosperity?”
But Conservative councillors were unhappy that the motion was even brought to council. Cllr Chris Chapman (Con, Blackwall and Cubitt Town) said it was the party’s view that it was not within the council’s remit to discuss international affairs. Moments later, Cllr Andrew Wood (Con, Canary Wharf) took to Twitter and sarcastically trashed the motion. He tweeted: “This is why I got elected as a local ward councillor for Canary Wharf – to discuss whether or not to recognize a foreign state. We have a large Spanish community, should we discuss Catalan independence? What about Nigerians and Biafra or Chinese and Taiwan? “Time spent on Somaliland is time not spent on truly local issues that affect all residents.” Tower Hamlets became the third UK local authority to publicly declare its acknowledgement of Somaliland as an independent state, after Sheffield and Cardiff councils.
Mohamed Bin Zayed Receives Somali President
19 November – Source: WAM Emirates News Agency – 222 Words
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received today President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud of the Federal Republic of Somalia at Al Bahr Palace.
Sheikh Mohammed and President Mohamoud discussed ways of consolidating fraternal ties and their enhancement to better serve mutual interests of the two countries and their peoples. The two sides also tackled co-operation between the two countries in terms of the major development projects being implemented by the UAE in Somalia in development, humanitarian and economic fields, and assistance lent to vital educational, health, and services facilities. They also took note of the latest developments in the region and of the issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed affirmed the UAE’s commitment to support the aspirations of the Somali people with regard to security, stability, development and nation building, and hoped that peace and welfare would prevail in Somalia. The Somali President valued the vital role of the UAE in supporting stability in Somalia through its developmental projects which contributed towards meeting the requirements of the Somali people.
Somalia exports 5,000 livestock to UAE
18 November – Source: The EastAfrican – 224 Words
Somalia has exported 5,000 herd of cattle to the United Arab Emirates. A cargo ship with the consignment left the Mogadishu port Wednesday, courtesy of the East Africa Livestock Company. The company is a regular exporter of livestock from Somalia to the Gulf countries. The Somali minister for Livestock, Range and Forestry, Mr Sa’eed Hussein Iid, witnessed the departure of the livestock. Mr Iid urged the Somali business community to strengthen the exportation of livestock: “It is the first time we are witnessing the export of such a huge number of animals. We appreciate that large vessels with adequate facilities and the capacities to carry thousands of animals have been brought to our ports.”
He reiterated that his ministry would ensure that animal health was guaranteed to meet the export standards. Ports and Marine Transport minister, Nur Farah also, witnessed the occasion and stated that the livestock export was on the rise.“We envisage more livestock export from the port of Mogadishu,” said Mr Farah.
According to a FAO report in April, Somalia in 2014 exported a record 5 million livestock to the Gulf of Arabia, thanks to heavy investments in animal disease prevention, backed by the European Union and the UK: “Livestock is the mainstay of the Somali economy, contributing 40 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product,” the report added.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“I worked at a gas station for almost a year between 1997 to 1998 to save money in order to pay off my university tuition fees. I am proud of my Somali heritage, but I am also proud to be a Canadian citizen”.
From Somali Refugee To Canadian MP
19 November – Source: Al Jazeera – 957 Words
Ahmed Hussen, who came to Canada as a teenage refugee, was last month elected as the country’s first Somalia-born member of parliament. Since he arrived in Canada, fleeing as civil war ravaged the Horn of Africa nation in 1993, he has had to juggle odd jobs to realise his dream: a university education. His ambition to complete his studies and a love of social work led him to a career in politics. Hussen says he is eager to work with the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other MPs to support a government plan to host 25,000 Syrian refugees before the end of this year, giving them full settlement and healthcare benefits. Hussen spoke to Al Jazeera about his roots, his ambitions and what his party’s electoral victory will mean for Syrian refugees.
Al Jazeera: Why did you decide to move to Canada and when?
Ahmed Hussen: I landed in Canada on February 27, 1993. The reason I came to Canada was to join my two older brothers who were already here.I felt that joining them was the safest thing to do. It’s extremely hard to move to another country and to start over again, but it’s harder when you don’t have anybody there. It was a bit easier for me to join family members. I left Somalia as it was torn by a civil war, but my immigration to Canada was not my own decision, as I was 16 years old at that time.
AJ: What was the situation in Somalia like before you left?
AH: The situation was unbearable. Every time we expected a ceasefire, we realised that the fighting would continue. After I landed here in Canada, I kept following the news of the conflict and I realised there was no sign of an end or resolution. Somalia is still going through problems. The situation may change as to who is fighting who, but the violence has been continuous until now.
AJ: What were your ambitions when you came to Canada?
AH: I wanted to complete my studies in school. My biggest fear was not to finish my high school and missing admission to a university. My mother was very focused on education and passed that value on to me. As soon as I settled here in Canada, I started to go to the public library to borrow books, to do some mathematical exercises and continue to improve my English. One of my brothers in Toronto, at that time, was single so I moved to his home where he had two roommates; a friend and a cousin of mine. My brother was a truck driver and the other roommates were cab drivers, so it was not conducive for me as a student to live with them. They suggested I move to Hamilton, Ontario, to live with my other cousin who was a student at Mohawk College there. As a high school student living with a college student was better than living with a truck driver and cab drivers. I graduated from high school and I stayed in Hamilton until 1997, before I returned to Toronto to live again with my single brother Mohammed Hussein in Regent Park.