June 16, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
New EU Support For Somalia, Kenya And Mauritius Announced During Top Development Event
16 June – Source: European Commission – 417 Words
Support for resilience and to promote state and peacebuilding in Somalia expected to be one of the key announcements during the European Development Days today Today is the second and. final day of the European Development Days (EDDs) – Europe’s leading forum on development and international cooperation.
During the event, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, is expected to announce new support to Somalia worth €73 million during a meeting with Mohamed Omer Arteh, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia. This funding will go towards building resilience (€25 million) and enhancing youth employment for rural communities and urban households in Somalia.
It will focus on the most vulnerable population of Somalia, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). A further €48 million will be provided for state building and peace building actions to strengthen core state functions, rule of law, security (including support to police salaries) and the public finance management system.
Key Headlines
- New EU Support For Somalia Kenya And Mauritius Announced During Top Development Event (European Commission)
- Afgoye Administration Bans Holding Illegal Weapons (Shabelle News)
- Puntland Bans Firearms From Nomads In Parts Of The State (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Police Tighten Bardere Security (Shabelle News)
- Puntland President Addresses Parliament As 37th Session Starts (Garowe Online)
- International Day Of The African Child (AFP)
- Uhuru Asks UN To Increase Support For Amisom Somalia Security (The Star)
- Somalia Moves To Shore Up Government Ahead Of National Elections (Voice of America)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Afgoye Administration Bans Holding Illegal Weapons
16 June – Source: Shabelle News – 123 Words
The local administration of Afgoye, an agriculture-rich district in Somalia’s southern Lower Shabelle province has issued a ban on holding and carrying illegal weapons. Afgoye’s Deputy District Commissioner Mahdi Ahmed Hassan said they have prohibited people carrying illegal arms for security measures. Hassan said the security forces have been given an order to apprehend any person found using illegal arms including arms dealers in Afgoye town, 30Km south-west of Mogadishu.
“Anyone found to be guilty of holding illegal gun will face severe punishment imprisonment or fines,” said Hassan during an interview with Radio Shabelle. The Somali security officers in the town say they have put new security measures into practice to help boost the efforts to bring peace and stability in the city.
Puntland Bans Firearms From Nomads In Parts Of The State
16 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 114 Words
Puntland state of Somalia banned nomads from carrying firearms while herding their livestock in rural areas of the state. The state’s police justified the tough decision against firearms to put down repeated pasture disputes that turned to deadly conflicts among nomads in the state. Colonel Ahmed Yusuf Muse- the Police Chief in Qardo district of Bari region, told local media that nomads are banned from carrying firearms.
“It’s because we are in middle of the Holy month [Ramadan] we want to prevent fights between nomads. If they have guns they can easily fight each other, so we want to prevent more fights” said the commander. Nomads regularly vie pasture and territories in these regions.
Somali Police Tighten Bardere Security
16 June – Source: Shabelle News – 119 Words
Bardere district police commissioner Mohamed Ahmed Hassan said they have stepped up measures to tighten security and prevent Al-Shabaab attacks during the holy month of Ramadan. He said the government has deployed additional forces to the city’s exit and entry routes and set up checkpoints to boost up the overall security and protect residents from Al shabaab attacks.
The police commissioner of Bardere district has urged the local residents to cooperate with security officers and report suspicious people in the town. Baradere lies in Gedo region, south west of Somalia. Al-Shabaab has increased its attack, including bombings, assassinations and gun attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country since the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
Puntland President Addresses Parliament As 37th Session Starts
15 June – Source: Garowe Online – 321 Words
The President of Somalia’s Puntland government Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has convened 37th session of parliament amid growing public frustration over currency devaluation.. The President delivered a lengthy speech focusing on security, economy, 2016 electoral transition and economic infrastructure development. Members of cabinet, defence officials, parastatals heads, international community representatives, Islamic scholars, traditional leaders and diaspora were invited to the parliamentary session.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Abdihamid Sheikh Abdisalan said in his opening remarks that the lawmakers will appraise the government delivery in line with its promises and passing of laws proposed for approval over the course of the legislative session. Puntland President addressed the 66-seat-chamber on latest security measures adopted in light of terror threats posed to state security. Ali noted that the armed forces put a tight security in place in coastal areas along the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea following the neutralization of boatloads of militants in March.
He has not discussed hyperinflation and Somali shilling gradually becoming valueless in his presidential address, but in turn insisted that his government will continue capitalizing on impressive infrastructure growth for economy. Puntland leader showcased the progress registered in aviation sector, pointing to the completion of first phase of Bossaso airport upgrade project and ongoing renovation of Garowe’s whose runway is 50 percent complete. Stressing the significance of more accountable government, he also called on the parliament to set the same example as his administration.
On Somalia’s electoral transition expected to begin by August this year, Puntland President said, he has been left disappointed by political practices of federal leadership. Ali indicated that Puntland committed moral and financial support to the national endeavor. However, he said expectations were not fulfilled. Continuing, he also threw a light on agreements signed between Puntland, IGAD and several EU nations.The parliamentary session starts a day after the President sacked Puntland Intelligence Agency (PIA) commander-in-Chief and his deputy as part of security reforms.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
International Day Of The African Child
16 June – Source: AFP – 205 Words
Today, all over the world, people are marking the International Day of the African Child. The Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the OAU Organization of African Unity. It honors those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day. It also raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
In Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976, about ten thousand black school children marched in a column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young students were shot, the most famous of which being Hector Peterson. More than a hundred people were killed in the protests of the following two weeks, and more than a thousand were injured.
On June 16th every year, governments, NGOs, international organizations and other stakeholders gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization of the rights of children Africa. For 2014, the theme chosen returns to the roots of the movement: A child-friendly, quality, free, and compulsory education for all children in Africa.
Uhuru Asks UN To Increase Support For Amisom, Somalia Security
16 June – Source: The Star – 352 Words
President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged the United Nations to support Amisom, alike other peacekeeping missions. Uhuru made the request during talks with UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, on the sidelines of the European Development Days (EDD) on Wednesday. The closure of Dadaab refugee camp featured. Ban conveyed the UN’s concern for a humane process, which the President assured.
The government cited security threats as reasons for closing the world’s largest camp hosting 329,811 refugees who ran away from the neighbouring country in the wake of the 1991 civil war. Noting Kenya has hosted the refugees for a quarter a century, Uhuru said the exercise is timely as stability is returning to the war-torn country.
But Uhuru said more, including supporting the Somalia government needs to done for lasting solutions. He cited humanitarian assistance and backing for the country’s security forces for the sake of regional peace. The President said the UN should take up the role of coordinating efforts by different countries to support Somalia’s security forces.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“No, Al-Shabaab is not the problem. The elephant in the room I would say is not Al-Shabaab, it’s the failure of the government to exercise effective authority across Somalia’s territory, and Al-Shabaab is not the greatest impediment, the greatest impediment is the lack of capacity, it’s the failure to practice fully inclusive politics,” Bryden said.
Somalia Moves To Shore Up Government Ahead Of National Elections
16 June – Source: Voice of America – 833 Words
The Somali parliament approved amendments to the constitution Wednesday that will allow the House to continue to function should the country’s leaders fail to meet the deadline set for the election of government institutions.
The parliament’s move fuels anxiety that legislative elections scheduled for August and presidential polling set for September may not take place. The Somali leaders are already behind schedule for agreeing on details of the election procedures, the status of Mogadishu (whether it will be a capital or a federal state), and constitutional amendments that allow government institutions to function beyond the end of their current mandate.
Matt Bryden, director of Sahan Research and a leading regional analyst, said the leaders can still hold the elections on time to maintain the existence of the internationally recognized government institutions in the country.
“It is still possible to hold an electoral process in Somalia whether or not that happens is going to be a question of political will on the part of the various actors concerned,” he said. “I think we have seen the federal government, the president, the prime minister and leaders of the federal member states committed to taking the electoral process forward. Parts of the parliament has objected to the process as its taking shape, they objected the lead role of the National Leadership Forum “NLF”, and I think we could anticipate attempt by some MPs to interfere with process,” he said.
Bryden warned against delaying the elections or an extension as feared by many ordinary citizens. Some of the leaders though are privately accepting that there will be delays due to “technicalities”. “Missing the deadline and moving into the dynamic of a delay of an extension of any kind is extremely risky. It could trigger a political crisis, it could trigger a constitutional crisis,” he said.
“Beyond those dates there are opportunities for contestation to emerge for spoilers or even legitimate opposition to claim that the institutions are no longer legitimate. I think that is a risk that Somalia does not need to take,” he said.
Earlier this year the leaders of the federal government and the heads of regional administrations, known as NLF, agreed that direct elections to be held in the country were not feasible this year, as promised four years ago. Instead, the leaders agreed to hold indirect elections. They have agreed that more than 14,000 delegates will elect the 275-member lower house of parliament and that regional administrations will directly nominate the 54-member upper house. The two houses will elect a president.
TOP TWEETS
@europeaid: Full room at our #Resilience Forum but you can still come ask your question! #Somalia in the spotlight at#EDD16
@Mados7Mohamed : @LailaInNairobi @Daudoo what a shame! Can u call misunderstanding expired food that WFP airlifting to Gedo #Somalia
@MarkC_Anderson : #Somalia allows parliament to function beyond current mandate, fuelling anxiety that Aug/Sept elections won’t happen
@omabha : UN World Food Program investigating allegations on expired aid food in Somalia – Daily Sabahhttp://dlvr.it/LZQqQR #Somalia
@SomaliaNewsroom : #Somalia‘s parliament ostensibly has paved the way to extend the government’s mandate
@aysanei : Does #Somalia want to make #Kenya a landlocked state? That is how at least the Star frames the case in this report. http://www.the-star.co.ke/
@xogtawararka : BREAKING:A Somali military base in H/wadaag district attacked & 2 GOVT officials were killed in#Mogadishu’s Hodan & Yaaqshiid #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Today Somalia celebrates the International Day of the African Child.
Photo: @MogadishuImages