November 26, 2015 | Morning Headlines
At Least 20 Al-Shabaab Suspects Arrested In Bulo-Burde Security Operation
25 November – Source: Shabelle News – 120 Words
At least twenty people have been arrested in a massive security operation carried out by Somali troops in the central Somali town of Bula-Burde, an official said on Wednesday. Confirming the incident, Bulo-Burde district commissioner Abdulaziz Durow said the troops launched a house-to-house search across the city and mopped up close to 300 people. They however detained 20 of them on suspicion of being members of the Al-Shabaab militant group.
“The operation was aimed at securing the town and prevent attacks by Al-Shabaab. The suspects are being interrogated at the police station. Those who are found innocent will freed soon, while those found guilty will be put on trial,” said Mr Durow. Bulo-burde is a former Al-Shabaab stronghold located in central Somalia’s Hiiraan region, some 200 kilometers 125 miles) north of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Key Headlines
- At Least 20 Al-Shabaab Suspects Arrested In Bulo-Burde Security Operation (Shabelle News)
- Hiiraan Elders Set Out Conditions For Inter-regional State Formation (Hiiraan Online)
- “Somalinders in Mogadishu Have The Rights To Give Their Notions” Feysal Ali Warabe (Radio Dalsan)
- Despite Ceasefire Deal Fears Of Fighting Persist In Galkayo Town (Hiiraan Online)
- UK To Spend Over $36Mln On Counter-Terrorism Experts Abroad Over Four Years (Sputnik News)
- National Conference On Media And Information Ministry Cooperation Opens (UNSOM)
- Galmudug Assembly Members Laud Training After Weeklong Seminars Come To A Close (AMISOM)
- Somaliland Stricken By Drought: ‘We Need What All Humans Need’ (The Guardian)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Hiiraan Elders Set Out Conditions For Inter-regional State Formation
25 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 240 Words
Elders in the central Somali region of Hiiraan have set tough terms for the formation of an inter-regional state with its neighboring Middle Shabelle region, demanding that their region be picked as the proposed state’s capital and conference’s venue.
The elders, who outlined their demands, warned the Somali government which aims to integrate two neighboring regions against “misleading” the process. They warned that the approach by the government could lead to the collapse of the talks. During their meeting, the elders accused the government of laxity in fast-tracking the process, a scenario they said might prompt them to quit the talks.
“Talks have been ongoing for eight months now, but the government is not serious in concluding the talks,” claimed Tawane Sabriye, the chairperson of Hiiraan region’s Diaspora community at the meeting. Hiiraan Online was unable to get a comment from Somali government on the development by the time of filing this report. The government is faced with various challenges as it tries to form an inter-regional administration for Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.
Political analysts have been quick to point out the complexities surrounding the state’s formation, such as lack of consensus, mistrust and rivalry among clans in the regions. Power sharing, the venue for proposed state’s capital and formation conference are among the key challenges that political observers say would further complicate the government’s efforts to bring the two sides to the talking table.
“Somalinders in Mogadishu Have The Rights To Give Their Notions” Feysal Ali Warabe
25 November – Source: Radio Dalsan – 204 Words
The Chairman the rival party UCID in the breakaway state of Somaliland, Feysal Ali Warabe, has highly welcomed the idea of citizens of Somaliland being accorded a chance to state their preferred mode of election in 2016: “Somaliland is a sovereign country and has been operating in its own governmental system for over 25 years. We are self dependent and enjoy peace and stability, and I support the idea of Somaliland citizens living in the capital of Mogadishu beeing a chance to air their views with regard to the forthcoming elections,” said Feysal.
Feysal urged the Somalilanders in Somalia to rebuff the current system of 4.5 in which the power among the communities ais shared along clan lines and instead asked them to support the so-called 60s system of power sharing between the Northerners and the Southerners.
Despite Ceasefire Deal, Fears Of Fighting Persist In Galkayo Town
25 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 235 Words
One day after elders in the central Somali town of Galkayo signed a ceasefire deal following deadly clashes between forces from Puntland and its neighboring Galmudug state on Sunday, residents in the town say fears of fighting linger on as military personnel continue to pour in the region.
Hundreds of residents, who had fled the Sunday clashes, returned to their homes hoping the ceasefire would hold. However the returnees have again packed up their belongings and fled fearing they would be caught up in renewed clashes. Elders have however urged the two sides to cease hostilities and avoid further bloodshed.
“Fighting can start at any time – we are leaving now.” Fahmo Ahmed, a resident in Galkayo told Hiiraan Online: “They don’t want to listen to elders’ calls for peace,” she lamented. earlier, Galmudug state welcomed the ceasefire but accused Puntland of stirring trouble by massing troops in town. Galkayo town is divided into two zones, where the northern portion forms part of Puntland state, while its southern part is governed by the Galmudug administration.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UK To Spend Over $36Mln On Counter-Terrorism Experts Abroad Over Four Years
25 November – Source: Sputnik News – 142 Words
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has allocated 24 million pounds ($36.2 million) to increase the number of counter-terrorism experts abroad. The FCO’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund will be increased by 19 percent by 2019-2020 in order to boost the UK’s ability to respond to global threats, according to the settlement.
The move is also aimed at stabilizing situations in Syria, Ukraine, Somalia and Pakistan. “The FCO will spend up to £24 million over the next 4 years to increase the presence of its counter terrorism and extremism experts overseas,” the FCO settlement at the Spending Review 2015 said. The United Kingdom boosted its security and counter-terrorism efforts in the aftermath of such Islamic State attacks as the downing of the Russian A321 airliner in October and a series of coordinated blasts and shootings in Paris earlier in November.
National Conference On Media And Information Ministry Cooperation Opens
25 November – Source: UNSOM – 521 Words
A national conference bringing together media practitioners and senior officials from ministries of information at the federal, state and regional government levels opened yesterday in the Somali capital: “This is a great opportunity for stakeholders in the media industry. We look forward to tangible results from this conference. The conference provides for a common platform, from where the government, media practitioners and stakeholders, can deliberate on how to improve their work and messages to the Somali public,” stated the Federal Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Mohamed Abdi Hayir in his opening remarks.
Organizers said the conference aims to foster better coordination between the federal government and governments of the established and emerging federal member states in their relations with the news media. It will also provide an inclusive forum for members of the news media, media organizations and other stakeholders for cooperating, sharing information and having a coordinated approach to messaging.
Key partners in the media sector attended the first day of the conference. The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, addressed the gathering and emphasized the importance of accurate and balanced news. SRSG Kay called on journalists to maintain ethical standards in the discharge of their newsgathering duties: “It is a great pleasure to see in the room the representatives of Puntland and the emerging federal member states. I believe it is vital that the government institutions here represented reach agreements on a framework that will promote a coordinated approach in their relations with the news media.”
The Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists highlighted the significance of the event for both government and private media. “This is an important forum for Somali media. We know we are operating in a transitional phase and that a proposed media law is under discussion. However, I urge us to reflect on the needs of journalists, whether they work in the regions or in Mogadishu,” said Mohamed Ibrahim. The chairperson of the umbrella organization of women in the media, Malyuun Sheikh Haydar, expressed satisfaction with the meeting, saying things were moving in the right direction.
Galmudug Assembly Members Laud Training After Weeklong Seminars Come To A Close
25 November – Source: AMISOM – 484 Words
A five-day training for 89-member Galmudug regional assembly, aimed at educating the new members about the role and functions of parliament, came to a close in Mogadishu on Wednesday 25 November 2015. The training was organized by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), as part of its mandate for supporting the Federal Government establish required institutions, to fast track the country’s political development.
At the end of the weeklong course, the new legislators demonstrated a deeper understanding of the role of parliament, representation, law-making and oversight. They were also better acquainted with Somalia’s provisional constitution and the existing legal system; the principle of separation of powers; the concept of checks and balances of powers. They understood the workings of a parliamentary secretariat and administrative structure of parliament, parliamentary practice and procedures.
Officially closing the training, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) Hon. Lydia Wanyoto, said capacity building of regional lawmakers would contribute to the overall success of the legislature in the interim administrations: “Our desire to continue giving support to Galmudug Interim Administration, within our capacity is exemplified by this training. AMISOM is planning further material and technical support for Galmudug parliament, among them equipping the library as a continuation of the capacity building program”, pledged DSRCC Wanyoto.
Present at the closing ceremony was AMISOM’s Senior Political Officer Mr. Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo and the Deputy Speaker of the Galmudug regional assembly Mr. Hared Ali Hared. Mr Kisinziggo said the training offered to Galmudug Assembly members was part of the activities the Political office had undertaken to fulfill in 2015. He promised further engagement with the region’s administration.A member of the Galmudug regional assembly Ms. Boosteya Jama Ali, described the training as a “lifetime exposure”. She said MPs had gained skills on how to handle their responsibilities as representatives of the people.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Abdikarim, nine, might be forgiven for feeling he has already been forgotten. He and his family left their village, Faahiye, for Gargara five years ago. They used to have 200 animals. Now they have 10”.
Somaliland Stricken By Drought: ‘We Need What All Humans Need’
25 November – Source: The Guardian – 1,169 Words
Hassan Haji Towakal has lived in one of the world’s toughest environments for 80 years. He has seen many droughts, but the recent prolonged lack of rainfall is the worst he has experienced in Somaliland, the breakaway country situated in Somalia’s relatively peaceful northern corner. The drought, which has left roughly 240,000 people without enough food and killed between 35% to 40% of Somaliland’s precious livestock, has also made Haji Towakal question the future of pastoralism – the only life he has known.
“I do not have livestock now. The drought is still here … I am struggling but I don’t have any answers. People were always busy herding livestock. They would come to the town to buy and sell, but now they are not in a good shape,” he said. Wearing a black waistcoat and clutching a blue and white walking stick, he sits on a plastic chair in the village of Gargara, a cluster of flimsy shelters fashioned from branches and sticks, and a few low stone buildings.
Gargara is about a three-hour drive on bone-jangling tracks from the capital, Hargeisa, but it might be on another planet. Hargeisa is a sprawling mix of pastel coloured, one-storey shops, new estates of smart bungalows, and busy green stands where men cluster to buy the mild stimulant khat as goats and camels wander by. Gargara has wells – which is why about 1,000 people have come here over the past five years – but little else.
Somaliland is a textbook example of how tackling climate change and attaining sustainable development – as defined by the global goals adopted in New York this September – are two sides of the same coin. Caught as it is in the political tailwind of efforts to end the crisis in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab militants are still fighting African peacekeepers and the government, the country is still struggling for international recognition. But in rural areas, the state is barely real even to its own people.
Only about one-third of the population has access to safe drinking water. Life expectancy in the country, which has a population of approximately 3.5 million people, is just 53 years for men and 56 for women. Across Somalia as a whole, only about 33% of people have access to electricity. The World Bank has estimated that gross domestic product for Somaliland was $1.4bn (£930m) in 2012, giving the country GDP per capita of just $347. That makes Somalilanders the fourth poorest people in the world, just ahead of the populations of Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi.