May 13, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
AU Extends Peacekeeping Mission In Somalia By A Year
13 May – Source: African Union/Africa News – 169 Words
The African Union (AU) has extended the mandate of its AMISOM mission in Somalia to May 30, 2017.The decision made public on Wednesday means the 22,000 strong peacekeeping force that was set up to combat Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, will remain in the country for at least another 12 months. The AU took the decision during the recent 595th meeting of its peace and security council.
The body however expressed regret at the decision by the European Union (EU) to cut back its allowance to AMISOM by 20 percent during what it says is a critical phase. The continental body has thus called on the EU to reconsider its decision ahead of the upcoming elections in Somalia. Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda have also been called upon to respect their pledges to deploy air assets for AMISOM operations. AMISOM and the Somali National Army’s consolidation and expansion operations across Somalia have been lauded although it has been observed that al-Shabab still remains a threat to peace, security and stability.
Key Headlines
- AU Extends Peacekeeping Mission In Somalia By A Year (African Union/Africa News)
- Puntland Raises Red Flag Over Changes To The Electoral Model (Goobjoog News)
- Djibouti Tycoon Linked To Somaliland-DP World Deal (Garowe Online)
- African Union Troops Kill Nine Al-Shabaab Militants In Somalia (Bloomberg)
- Mother And Baby Medevaced From Nauru (RNZ)
- Somalia And Somaliland Restart Dialogue (IRIN)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Raises Red Flag Over Changes To The Electoral Model
13 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 216 Words
Puntland state has raised alarm over changes to the electoral model as Somali federal parliament is debates proposals submitted by the National Leadership Forum, NLF. In presidential statement, Puntland accused Somalia’s parliament leadership of hindering the Somalia’s Election Proposal (SEP) and paving way for extension of the current government beyond mandated term.
“As the country in transitional period, Puntland agreed that the 4.5 clan model shall be used as a criteria to select any member of the Federal Parliament in the upcoming 2016 elections but the federal parliament is interfering with the process in order to create new political chaos that can lead to extension of period for the current government,” Puntland said. It noted
“On April 4, Federal government and Puntland state agreed to a model for 2016 electoral process and the 2020 roadmap. The implementation would be closely monitored by international community but the federal government is misleading the process.” According sources the 26member selected parliamentary committee which was selected to review Somalia’s Election Proposal (SEP) have reduced the electoral college of 50 members for each MP to be elected to the Lower House to 31. On 10th this month, Somalia’s Federal parliament have begun debating the modality adopted for 2016 elections amid talks of possible delay in polls.
Djibouti Tycoon Linked To Somaliland-DP World Deal
13 May – Source: Garowe Online – 228 Words
Djibouti’s richest man Abdirahman Boreh appeared during a signing event held for agreement signed by Somaliland and Dubai-based firm, DP World, raising questions over his role in the deal, Garowe Online reports. The presence of Boreh, a critical tycoon who is in self-imposed exile could trigger a diplomatic spat between Djibouti and Somaliland, officials said on condition of anonymity. Boreh has reportedly cooperated with Somaliland representative in Dubai Bashe Awil Omar, and convinced the shipping and port operator to invest in Berbera port.
Somaliland has already complained of cool reception accorded to President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo at inaugural ceremony for Djiboutian President Ismael Omar Guelleh. Somaliland high level delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Sad Ali Shire clinched the agreement with DP World which manages 65 marine terminals throughout six continents. The firm will run Somaliland’s Berbera port for 30 years despite growing opposition to the move, called “improper” by opposition.
In April, 2015, Somaliland delegation that included then State Minister for Presidency Hirsi Haji Ali Hasan, Minister of Commerce Musse Qasim, and Berbera port General Manager Ali Hor-Hor travelled to Dubai to initiative talks with DP World. Djibouti sentenced Boreh to 15 years in prison in absentia. Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as a de facto sovereign State in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
African Union Troops Kill Nine Al-Shabaab Militants In Somalia
13 May – Source: Bloomberg – 161 Words
African Union peacekeepers and Somali government forces killed nine members of the Al-Shabaab militant group during two separate incidents Thursday.
In the first incident, the troops attacked an illegal checkpoint near Sabiid in the town of Afgoye, 25 kilometers (15 miles) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu, killing five insurgents, the African Union mission known as Amisom said in a statement on Twitter. In the second operation, four Al-Shabaab members were killed during a raid on an illegal police station and taxation center near Beled Amiin, it said.
“Amisom working with the federal government of Somalia will continue to degrade Al-Shabaab and allow the people of Somalia to enjoy peace and security,” the mission said. Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2006 in a bid to impose a strict version of Islamic law. The group still carries out frequent gun and grenade attacks even after losing control of large chunks of territory to government troops backed by African Union forces.
Mother And Baby Medevaced From Nauru
13 May – Source: RNZ – 187 Words
A Somali refugee and her baby are both in a critical condition in a Brisbane hospital after an emergency caesarian section was performed on Nauru. The 22-year-old woman and her child were evacuated from the island separately following medical complications on Thursday. A spokesperson for Australia’s Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, said the evacuations show Nauru’s health system is unable to care for the roughly 1,300 refugees and asylum seekers Australia has marooned there.
“It’s not equipped it hasn’t got the staff to deal with this kind of emergency situation,” said Mr Rintoul. “There had been some indications of problems with the pregnancy before and that’s also something which I think raises issues about the level of medical care. If there were those indications that it was likely to be a problematic birth we really don’t think she should have been on Nauru at eight months pregnant. “The issue of premature birth or difficult birth it’s been a disaster waiting to happen and it seems like this time it’s happened.” Ian Rintoul said the husband and father will be transported to Brisbane to join his family.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Aid exchange is a channel of communication between Somaliland and Somalia, because when brothers help each in the difficult time, they may forget their differences and continue to discuss other issues,” Mohamed Omar Dalha, a former deputy speaker and member of Somalia’s federal parliament, told IRIN.
Somalia And Somaliland Restart Dialogue
13 May – Source: IRIN – 588 Words
Somalia has made a $1 million donation to the drought-hit breakaway northwestern region of Somaliland, ahead of controversial talks between the two sides later this month to clarify their future relations. Mogadishu, far from one of the world’s flushest governments, has been quick to point out the donation was not designed to influence the talks in Turkey due on 31 May. It is “not meant to gain any political sympathies, but it is brotherly responsibility to help each other in these difficult times,” said Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mohamed Omar Arteh.
Northern Somalia is facing an El Nino-related disaster. Nearly 1.7 million people out of a population of 4.6 million in Somaliland and Puntland need some form of humanitarian assistance, according to OCHA, the UN’s office for humanitarian coordination. In some areas the drought has destroyed 60 to 80 percent of cattle, in a region where families depend on livestock for income, food and status.OCHA has appealed for $105 million to help tackle the crisis.
Relations between Somalia and the self-declared independent republic of Somaliland have historically been extremely sensitive. The international community does not recognize Somaliland, and Somalia’s goal has always been reunification – although it does accept the northwestern territory as an autonomous region. Somaliland has had something of a raw deal. Its rebellion in the late 1980s was answered with merciless bombing by former Somali president Siad Barre.
When he fell in 1991 and Somalia went into meltdown, Somaliland remained relatively stable. It has a functioning government; has had held a series of elections; has recently handed out commercial oil exploration licenses; and its strategic port of Berbera is one of Ethiopia’s outlets to the sea. Its progress is recognised by the international community, and there is the precedence of independence in Eritrea and South Sudan. But there is no appetite for Somaliland’s independence from within the African Union, and it has the lead on the issue.
TOP TWEETS
@amisomsomalia : Four AS operatives were killed as they continue to lose ground in #Somalia and are now resorting to cowardly acts of terrorising civilians.
@WashTimes : U.S. airstrike kills 5 Al-Shabaab militants in#Somalia http://bit.ly/27hdM43 #AlShabaab
@Eye_on_Somalia : #guardian We often know when drought or floods will strike. So let’s act before they do | Neil Marsl…http://bit.ly/1ZLBdwy #somalia
@radiogarowe : #Somalia: #Djibouti tycoon linked to deal as DP World secures Berbera port in joint venture http://bit.ly/1X6r4vc
@amisomsomalia : #AMISOM working with the FGS, will continue to degrade Al Shabaab and allow the people of#Somalia enjoy peace and security.
@AlinoorMB : “We aren’t just pirates, refugees, and terrorists”: The tales of everyday #Somalis http://f24.my/1VTx5wj #Somalia
@Enugu62 : #Somalia and #Somaliland restart dialogue – Mogadishu’s $1m aid donation may sweeten the talks:http://www.irinnews.org/news/
@itayron5 : Extension is not enough. For achieving the #AUmission goals, need to rethink policy. #Somalia #AMiSOM#alshabaab
@amisomsomalia : #AMISOM troops & #SNA yesterday morning attacked an Al Shabaab checkpoint near Sabiid in Afgooye, killing 5 terrorists & injuring 1 #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
FC Benadir celebrates winning the title of Somalia Division One.
Photo: @Aynte