December 31, 2015 | Morning Headlines
UN Envoy: Somalia Momentum Toward Peace ‘Unstoppable’
30 December – Source: Voice of America – 533 Words
The outgoing United Nations envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, says the country has an “unstoppable momentum” toward being a stable and secure country. In his final interview before leaving office, Kay told VOA that Somalia has managed to convert a dream of being a federal Somalia into reality. The country now has five interim regional administrations and federal member states, which he says brings government and accountability closer to the people. “I arrived full of hope, and I’m leaving not just with hope but with a very firm conviction that Somalia is now a fragile but recovering country and no longer a failed state,” he said.
Kay says the country has also made “reasonable progress” in fighting Al-Shabaab militants, recovering up to 14 towns and districts during his two and a half years in office. The government and the African Union force AMISOM took control of the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011. Kay said the militant group is territorially in a “much weaker position” and is suffering from infighting between factions that support the so-called Islamic State and those still loyal to al-Qaida. However, he said it would be a concern if IS were to gain a foothold in Somalia.
“Clearly, it would be a concern if they were to consolidate an ISIL/Daesh presence in Somalia and it resulted in extra resources or manpower for the organization. That would be a concern,” he said. Kay said Al-Shabaab still poses a terrorist threat and does “terrible things” in terms of suicide bombings and targeted assassinations. But he insists it’s an organization that no longer poses an “existential or strategic threat” to Somalia.
Key Headlines
- UN Envoy: Somalia Momentum Toward Peace ‘Unstoppable’ (Voice of America)
- Al-Shabaab Threatens To Kill More Government Officials (Radio Dalsan)
- Berbera Poised To Become African Regional Hub (Somaliland Nation News)
- Puntland Sees Hope For Revival In Basketball (Garowe Online)
- Two Al-Shabaab Militants Killed Seven Suspects Nabbed In Somalia (Xinhua)
- UN Envoy To Somalia And UAE Ambassador Discuss Relations (Emirates News Agency)
- Helicopter Crew Of ESPS Victoria Returns Home To Spain After Successful Deployment With Operation Atalanta Off The Coast Of Somalia (EU NAVFOR)
- Sudden Death Of A Beloved 320-Year-Old Acacia Tree Breaks Hearts In North Kenya (Mail & Guardian Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab Threatens To Kill More Government Officials
30 December – Source: Radio Dalsan – 147 Words
The military spokesman of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, Sheikh Abdiazizi Abu Muscab, on Wednesday warned that members of his group will target any person who works “or is in any way affiliated” with the Somali government: “Our experts who are good at shooting and escaping without being noticed or caught, have recently been carrying out sequences of killings of anyone who works with the so called Somali government in Mogadishu, and I will be urging our men on the ground to hold tight to their positions and to continue their targets.” The spokesman claimed they had doubled the sequence of their attacks in the capital of Mogadishu. His threats come at a time when incidents of shootings in Mogadishu are on a rise.
Berbera Poised To Become African Regional Hub
30 December – Source: Somaliland Nation News – 148 Words
It may not be a travel destination, but things are looking up for Berbera, a port city at the top of the Horn of Africa. Paul Schemm reports for the Washington Post that Berbera is pivotal to the future of Somaliland, the northern half of Somalia that declared independence a quarter century ago after the rest of the country descended into chaos. “Although no nation officially recognizes it, Somaliland has its own police, army, flag and currency, and for the past 24 years has held regular elections,” Schemm writes.
Of Somaliland’s cities, Berbera is perhaps best primed to attract more trade and investment, particularly from neighboring Ethiopia. The fast-growing port could become a gateway for goods headed to and from Ethiopia, which is landlocked. But before that vision can be realized, the Post says, Somaliland must find a way to fund infrastructure upgrades that exceed its national budget.
Puntland Sees Hope For Revival In Basketball
30 December – Source: Garowe Online – 121 Words
Puntland has organized a second basketball tournament in a year in a growing sign of revival in the country’s sport sector. Sports and Youth Ministry alongside United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) staged another pilot match for players in the capital, Garowe, months after Nugal trounced Mudug and Karkaar in the state’s first exciting finish by four points. Speaking during the finals of a game between two sides, Puntland Sports Minister Abdirahman Sheikh Ahmed pledged to further reinvigorate the sport. He hoped that the games will be followed by regional encounters in the coming months. Bari, Karkaar and Mudug are slated for similar tournaments. In March 2014, Garowe city trashed Tanzania’s ‘Dar Dream Team’ in historic inter-cities tournament.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Two Al-Shabaab Militants Killed, Seven Suspects Nabbed In Somalia
30 December – Source: Xinhua – 149 Words
Two Al-Shabaab militants were killed and seven accomplishes arrested during a security operation by Somali national army and African Union troops in the Central Somali town of Bula-Burte. Government officials confirmed the death of the two Al-Shabaab militants and arrest of key collaborators in Bula-Burte, a town located in the Hiiraan region of Central Somalia.
Abdi’asis Ibrahim Durow, an administrator in Central Somalia told Xinhua government forces backed by African Union troops carried out a successful operation to degrade Al-Shabaab’s infrastructure. “Our forces destroyed Al-Shabaab’s cells, killed two militants, arrested seven sympathizers and recovered dangerous weapons during the operation,” said Durow.
He added the suspects will be investigated to shed light on Al-Shabaab’s mode of operation. Located 200 km north of Somalia capital, Mogadishu, Bula-Burte town was once a staging ground for Al-Shabaab militants who later lost it two years ago to the combined African Union and Somalia government forces.
UN Envoy To Somalia And UAE Ambassador Discuss Relations
30 December – Source: Emirates News Agency – 93 Words
UAE Ambassador to Somalia, Mohammed Ahmed Al Othman, has met with the UN Envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay. During the meeting, the parties discussed the relations between the UAE and the United Nations Office in Somalia. The United Nations envoy expressed his thanks and appreciation to the UAE for its efforts in supporting the Somali government and people in various fields which support the march of security and stability in Somalia. The UAE Ambassador thanked the United Nations Envoy to Somalia for his efforts to support the peace process and stability in Somalia.
Helicopter Crew Of ESPS Victoria Returns Home To Spain After Successful Deployment With Operation Atalanta Off The Coast Of Somalia
30 December – Source: EU NAVFOR – 105 Words
ESPS Victoria’s helicopter crew has handed over their duties to a new team during the Spanish warship’s port visit to Djibouti. The new team will fly ESPS Victoria’s SH-60B helicopter. The departing crew returned home with a real sense of achievement, having flown over one hundred hours during their deployment with Operation Atalanta. In addition to the new helicopter crew, a maritime security team also embarked ESPS Victoria in Djibouti. With the monsoon season coming to an end, the maritime team will enhance the warship’s ability to deter pirates and protect seafarers and their vessels as they transit the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The Somali community once convened under the same tree to make their self-determination claims. According to elders, some of the notable decisions were made in the early 1960s, including the anonymous declaration for secession of the Somali community. Several other political declarations were set to be made under the tree’s canopy.”
Sudden Death Of A Beloved 320-Year-Old Acacia Tree Breaks Hearts In North Kenya
29 December – Source: Mail & Guardian Africa – 616 Words
Villagers in a remote area in Balambala, Garissa County in Kenya’s north-eastern region, are mourning the sudden death of an ancient tree. The three centuries-old acacia tree with branches spanning an estimated 18 feet has served as a communal centre, a makeshift hospital and a social meeting point, where far-reaching political declarations affecting the wellbeing of the Somali community, have been made for centuries. “The acacia tree had big branches and offered very cool shade,” said Ismail Arte Rage, Nutrition Manager with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in South Sudan.
Rage recalled the acacia tree’s historical significance to the local community over a period spanning some 320 years, during which, significant events were conducted under it. In the semi-desert region with temperatures usually above normal, hundreds of people would meet to simultaneously transact various businesses under the acacia tree.
On its one side, women sold a variety of goods. On the other community elders conferred daily on serious and important communal matters. The feeling of sadness over the sudden drying up of the acacia tree has been most severe for residents of the area’s Saka location, who have declared a 30-day “mourning” period for the ancient tree. During this period, and in respect of the fallen tree, which still holds much significant historical value, the community would strive to preserve the acacia tree branches.
“People have agreed to mourn the “death” of the tree for the next 30 days starting today. The mourning will be done differently from the one usually observed when someone dies. It would involve offering respect to the tree by not using its branches as firewood,” said Adan Yusuf Bute, a former local government official and area councillor.