May 17, 2016 | Morning Headlines
13,800 Somali Refugees Repatriated From Kenya’s Dadaab Camp: UNHCR
17 May – Source: Xinhua News – 269 Words
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says it has repatriated 13,800 Somali refugees as of April 28 from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya since the voluntary program started in December 2014. According to the UNHCR statement issued on Monday, 7,703 Somali refugees were repatriated between January and April this year.
“Since the repatriation process started in December 2014, 63 road convoys and 75 flights have been organized to Somalia (67 to Mogadishu, four to Kismayu and four to Baidoa). During the reporting period (April 16-30), a total of 312 returnees have been assisted to voluntarily return to Somalia by flight,” the statement said. Out of the 312 people, 159 were returned to the capital Mogadishu, 76 to Kismayu and 77 to Baidoa.
UNHCR said road convoys were temporarily suspended as rains flooded roads, but flights to Baidoa and Kismayu were underway. The statement came after the Kenyan government said last week it would close the Dadaab refugee camp by May next year, citing a “very heavy economic, security and environmental burden”. Set up over 20 years ago, Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp in northeast Kenya, hosts nearly 330,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia.
Kenya claims Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which has staged a string of deadly attacks in Kenya in recent years, has hideouts in Dadaab. It asked UNHCR to close Dadaab last April, days after Al-Shabaab gunmen’s massacre of 148 people at Kenya’s Garissa University. UNHCR has repeatedly urged Kenya not to close the camp, but is implementing the voluntary repatriation program, under an agreement signed between Kenya, Somalia and the UN agency.
Key Headlines
- 13800 Somali Refugees Repatriated From Kenya’s Dadaab Camp: UNHCR (Xinhua News)
- Somali And AMISOM Troops Carry Out Swoop In Aadan Yabaal (Shabelle News)
- Deputy Speaker Says Somalia Can’t Afford Constitutional Crisis (Garowe Online)
- Central Government And Regional Leaders Meet In Adado (Shabelle News)
- Galmudug Parliament Speaker: We Are Working Under Difficult Circumstances (Goobjoog News)
- Somalis Flee For Europe As Rebuilding Too Slow (Gulf Today)
- AMISOM Somali Forces Repulse Al-Shabaab Ambush In Central Somalia (Xinhua News)
- Somali Refugees In Kenya’s Dadaab Camp May Die Trying To Cross Mediterranean (International Business Times)
- Somalia Marks National Youth Day With Calls To Reject Extremism (UNSOM)
- What If One Culture Shares Multiple Languages? That’s A Challenge Oregon Is Taking Up With Its Somali Students (Public Radio International)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali And AMISOM Troops Carry Out Swoop In Aadan Yabaal
17 May – Source: Shabelle News – 137 Words
Somali troops alongside African Union forces have carried out a joint swoop in Aadan Yabaal in Middle Shabelle region, days after Al-Shabaab withdrew from the city. Confirming the development, Aadan Yabaal District Commissioner Mohamud Sheikh Hassan, told Radio Shabelle that the allied troops searched houses suspected to be hiding members of the Al-Shabaab fighters.
Hassan added that the aim of the swoop was to thwart possible Al-Shabaab attacks in the area following their withdrawal from the key town in southern Somalia. Somalia and AMISOM troops retook control of Aadan Yabaal early this week from Al-Shabaab fighters, who retreated from the area before the coalition forces arrived. The security operation comes in the wake of announcements by Federal Government officials that they will clear Al-Shabaab from the remaining areas of Middle Shabelle region, including villages near Aadan Yabaal town.
Deputy Speaker Says Somalia Can’t Afford Constitutional Crisis
16 May – Source: Garowe Online – 266 Words
The second deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mahad Abdale Awad has said, the country can’t afford a constitutional crisis. Speaking on Monday in Puntland capital of Garowe following a meeting with Puntland Parliament Speaker Ahmed Ali Hashi, Awad stressed the need for honoring of relevant pledges including the upcoming Garowe Consultative Constitutional Forum.
“We need to hold a constitutional forum before the mandate of current parliament comes to an end. Today, we are passing through a critical moment and we can’t tolerate politics of a crisis again,” warned the Speaker. Awad is leading a parliamentary delegation visiting Puntland ahead of a Constitutional Conference, which will bring together Somali political leaders and dozens of diplomats.
Hashi on his side noted that their discussions focused on the forum slated for May 26 for which Puntland had already prepared. Delegates of national constituent assembly ratified a draft constitution in October, 2012. On April 4, UN-backed national government and Puntland agreed to a scheme for 2016 electoral process, Upper House, 2020 roadmap, and tight implementation to be closely monitored by the international community.
Somalia Federal Government introduced a national election model that attracted swift support from western donors for long baffled by the slow pace of the country’s transition — from clan-based power sharing formula in January. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seeking re-election under a model, which pundits have described as “a midway point between the election of 2012, when only 135 electors selected 275 Members of Parliament and 2020, when all Somalis will have a say.” Somalia held her first-ever presidential elections since the state collapse, in September 2012.
Central Government And Regional Leaders Meet In Adado
16 May – Source: Shabelle News – 108 Words
The interim capital of Galmudug state is hosting a crucial meeting between leaders from the country’s regional states and the central government of Somalia. The Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs of Somalia has reportedly organized the gathering in Adado as it seeks to boost the cooperation between the central government and regional states. Details of the meeting and the agenda are yet to be disclosed, but authorities pledged to give full details to the press once the ongoing talks are over. Somalia is moving closer to a crucial period of parliamentary and presidential elections by the end of this year, when the mandate of the current government expires.
Galmudug Parliament Speaker: We Are Working Under Difficult Circumstances
16 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 135 Words
Galmudug State Parliament speaker Ali Ga’al Asir has expressed concern over conditions under which his state assembly operates. Speaking to the local media on his way back from Uganda, he lamented about the tough conditions that the Galmudug state’s Assembly currently operates.
“As you may know, Parliament works under tough conditions since its inception and these conditions have negatively impacted on the assembly’s work,” said Ali Ga’al. The speaker, however, praised the state’s assembly for working under what he termed ‘difficult circumstances”. He said they are still ready to work under this difficult situation.
Majority of the state’s assembly members live in the capital city of Mogadishu and sometimes assembly sittings are postponed due to lack of quorum. The state assembly has made important amendments to articles in the constitution including dismissing the state President with a simple majority.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalis Flee For Europe As Rebuilding Too Slow
17 May – Source: Gulf Today – 365 Words
When hundreds of Somalis were reported to have drowned in the Mediterranean last month, Abdi Deeq didn’t rethink his plans to flee the Horn of Africa nation and risk the illicit crossing to Europe. More than two decades of Somali civil war and a bloody Al Qaeda-aligned insurgency have left the 22-year-old student with little hope his country is becoming safer or more prosperous.
Even as the capital, Mogadishu, rebuilds and elections are scheduled this year, near-daily bombings, rampant corruption and few career opportunities mean he’s one of many young Somalis who see moving abroad as their only choice: “Many students who were my classmates risked their lives going to Europe − some died in the sea and others survived,” Deeq said in an interview in the city.”I am ready to join those friends.”
The departure of youth, who should be playing “a pivotal role in Somalia’s socio-economic progress,” will have a “negative impact” on the country’s development, according to Fadumo Abdi Warsameh, chairwoman of the Somali National Youth Organisation. Somalis are adding to Europe’s biggest wave of displaced people since World War II, with 1.26 million of all nationalities arriving last year.
Of the estimated 153,842 people who crossed illicitly to Italy in 2015, more than 12,400 were Somalis, according to the Kenya-based Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat. Somali immigration officials say they don’t have an exact number of people that have fled in the past year, but that the rate of departures has almost quadrupled in the past six months. Some Somalis also fled across the sea to Yemen, even as conflict engulfs that country, RMMS data show. Somalia’s government on April 19 banned its citizens from travelling to Sudan, a popular transit route for undocumented immigrants, after it said hundreds who’d crossed the country died when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean.
AMISOM, Somali Forces Repulse Al-Shabaab Ambush In Central Somalia
16 May – Source: Xinhua News – 111 Words
Somali militant group, Al-Shabaab attacked a military base in Halgan village in Hiiran region,central Somalia on Sunday night but were repulsed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali forces. Halgan commissioner Guhad Abdi told Xinhua on Monday that the forces were able to resist and push the militants away.
“Our soldiers fought back Al-Shabaab attack last night after the militants attempted an attack on Halgan village which is under our control,” said Abdi. Abdi said the attack lasted for a short period and there were no casualties confirmed yet. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. Ethiopian troops under the AMISOM mandate operate in the area alongside Somali forces.
Somali Refugees In Kenya’s Dadaab Camp May Die Trying To Cross Mediterranean
16 May – Source: International Business times – 908 Words
Somalis are the second largest group of Africans perishing trying to cross the Mediterranean and the closure of the Dadaab camp, the world’s largest refugee settlement, will only add to the migration crisis in Europe as many of those displaced will make their way to European shores, aid organisations have warned.
A week ago, the Kenyan government announced its plans close the camp, home to between 330,000 and 350,000 refugees of which over 90% are Somalis, within a year describing it as an economic burden and a “breeding ground” for terrorism. The Ministry of the Interior also disbanded the Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA), which delivers crucial administrative services for refugees and asylum seekers, and plays a vital role in the current voluntary repatriation process of refugees.
Following the closure of the camp, the government said all refugees would have to leave Kenya, but aid workers in the camp told IBTimes UK many Somalis will choose not to return to their country of origin, where civil war has left an estimated 350,000 to 1,000,000 dead since 1991.
“The climate in Dadaab is quite tense at the moment and people are panicking, especially those who don’t intend to go home and who have got very valid reasons not to – many will try to reach Nairobi, or go to other countries if they feel this is something they will have been forced upon,” Angela Wells,Eastern Africa communications officer for the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Kenya, said over the phone.
“People need to keep in mind that the second largest group of Africans dying in the Mediterranean are Somalis, because they are not accepted in countries around them or have not been able to seek refuge regionally,” Wells highlighted. JRs works in the areas of education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihood activities and social services and was one of 11 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) urging Kenya to reconsider its intended closure of the refugee camp.
Somalia Marks National Youth Day With Calls To Reject Extremism
15 May – Source: UNSOM – 424 Words
Somalia marked its National Youth Day on Sunday with renewed calls to youth to reject extremism. In Baidoa, the Interim South West Administration (ISWA) President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan cautioned youths against religious fundamentalism and radical ideologies.
“May 15 is a significant date in Somalia’s history. It shows youth are capable of initiating positive change. I appeal to all Somali youth, especially those in Southwest State, to embrace state development and reject radical ideologies. Your community and your country depend on you,” he stated in his address. Somali National Youth Day is commemorated every year on 15 May in remembrance of the youths who founded the Somali Youth League in 1943 to campaign for the country’s independence.
ISWA Minister of Youth and Sports Abdullahi Abdi Omar Fanah announced plans to offer vocational training courses to at least 300 young people in Baidoa and establish adult learning centers for older Somalis. The Head of the UNSOM Office in Baidoa Vikram Parekh emphasized the importance of youth participation in the country’s political process. He noted that 2016 presents a unique opportunity for Somali youths to actively participate in the election of a new federal parliament and also contribute their views on the new National Development Plan.
“Youth need to be engaged in the political processes and in all aspects of reconstruction of Somalia,” he said. Youth Day celebrations were also held in Kismaayo, where youths held a procession through the town. The march was followed by a number of sporting activities that included women’s basketball, cycling and soccer. The Jubbaland Second Deputy President Abdulkadir Haji Mohamud Luga-Dhere presided over the celebrations. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to support the youth. “We are ready to help the youth by providing them with good education and job opportunities. We are calling upon them to support the peace and stability that currently exist in Jubbaland,’’ he said.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Many kids are not engaged with their parents, because of language barrier. Because their parents speak Somali and they speak English, they can not communicate, even for a few minutes.”
What If One Culture Shares Multiple Languages? That’s A Challenge Oregon Is Taking Up With Its Somali Students
16 May – Source: Public Radio International – 618 Words
Immigrant families often come to the US hoping for a better life for their children. That can mean learning English at a public school. But it can also mean maintaining a language, like Spanish, that families speak at home. Research shows retaining the second language has benefits. But what if one culture shares multiple languages?
That’s a challenge Portland, Oregon’s Rosa Parks Elementary School is taking up with its Somali students. It hasn’t always been easy. In Portland, Somali students only have a 58 percent graduation rate. They also do poorly on state reading exams, and when it comes to the math tests, fewer than 10 percent pass. Those numbers persuaded Portland administrators like Michael Bacon to answer the Somali community’s call for a language program. Many of the students are refugees and struggle in English. Their parents wanted them to have the chance to also learn in their first language — like many of Portland’s Spanish speakers.
Bacon says that there are better academic outcomes when we embrace “the very assets that those children come to school with” — linguistic assets, cultural assets. But offering a Somali-language program was a first for Oregon. To learn more, school officials traveled to Minneapolis, home to one of the largest Somali communities in the US. One person happy to see this effort was Musse Olol, with Oregon’s Somali American Council. He hoped Portland would take the Minneapolis model and run with it.
“All we needed to do was copy-paste, instead of re-inventing the wheel,” Olol says. It’s not that simple, though. In Portland, the Somali community is more mixed than the one in Minneapolis. Two different languages, with distinct cultural histories, are spoken here. One is Maxaa, the language of Somalia’s historic elite. The other is Maay-Maay, spoken by many Somali Bantus. Neither language was taught at any school in Oregon.
“It is important that our kids learn our language, because always it is important where you came from and who you are, and not to lose your identity,” says Portland schools aide Batula Mohamud, who is Somali Bantu. Portland school officials spent months looking for that person who could bridge both cultures and both Somali languages — Maxaa and Maay-Maay. That person turned out to be Salaad O’Barrow. He says the two languages are similar, but different, sort of like Italian and Portuguese.