August 11, 2016 | Morning Headlines
Somali Forces Nab Foreign Jihadist In Central Region
10 August – Source: Xinhua News – 136 Words
Somalia security forces on Wednesday arrested five Al-Shabab militants, including a foreign jihadist commander in central Somalia. Somali National Army Commander Ali Bashi Mohamed said the foreigner fighter, Said Abdullahi Abubakar (Al-Sudani) who is from Sudan, has been leading major attacks at the Somali government and Africa Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) bases in the Horn of Africa nation.
“The foreigner commander, Abubakar (Al-Sudani) from Sudan was arrested along four other militants in Galkayo town,” Mohamed said. He said the jihadist is being interrogated by the security forces. “He will also provide the investigators with photos and more information on his terror activities in Somalia,” said Mohamed
Key Headlines
- Somali Forces Nab Foreign Jihadist In Central Region (Xinhua News)
- Opposition Candidates Reject Extension of Term of Government (Garowe Online)
- All MPs To Join Political Parties Before 2018 Or Lose Their Seats – Somali Leadership (Goobjoog News)
- Gunmen Kill Well-known Elder In Mogadishu (Shabelle News)
- Galmudug Leader Terms Extra Seats To Somaliland Cover-up For Puntland (Goobjoog News)
- From Refugee Camp To Minnesota State Capitol (VOA)
- Former Al-Shabaab Combatants Graduate From Baidoa Rehabilitation Centre (UNSOM)
- Who Is Stephen Schwartz The First US Ambassador To Somalia In 25 years? (IBTimes)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Opposition Candidates Reject Extension of Term of Government
10 August – Source: Garowe Online – 428 Words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s poll challengers have protested at the extension of the President’s tenure in office until October 30, terming the move “unconstitutionally inconsistent” .
The presidential contenders—Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and Ali Haji Warsame—said in a joint press statement that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the government unilaterally amassed themselves with “illegitimate executive power”. They were referring to an official communique issued by Somali political leaders on Tuesday.
“[Communique] contains illegitimate self-extension for the executive power, being a conflict of interest, creating unfair opportunities to the current office holders – the President, Prime Minister and some regional leaders, who are either candidates or supporters of FG leaders in the upcoming presidential election,” read the joint statement.
Citing articles in the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC), they added that President Mohamud’s tenure in office will come to an end on September 10, 2016, meaning Parliament Speaker, Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, should constitutionally assume presidency for 30 days: “Had the National Leadership Forum acted in line with the previous Election Timetable, we would not have had a problem of a constitutional crisis, which will inevitably surface on 10th of September 2016.”
They insisted that the new timetable was inconsistent with the provisional federal charter, and warned of executive authority abuse. Moreover, Farole and Warsame slammed the manipulation of schedule for political opportunism: “It is obviously clear in this communique that this timetable gives an absolute and unequivocal election leverage to the current executive at the detrimental of the other presidential hopefuls. This will allow them, while illegitimately sitting in the offices, to use the national resources, security apparatus and political influence for their own campaign.”
The candidates called on the United Nations to act decisively to avert the looming constitutional crisis in accordance to UN Security Council Resolution: “We appeal to the office of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) and the larger international community to act immediately and put the process on the right path in line with the UNSC Resolution 2275/2016 of March 2016.”
All MPs To Join Political Parties Before 2018 Or Lose Their Seats – Somali Leadership
10 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 361 Words
Federal Parliament members, who will be elected in 2016 polls, must accede to political party membership before October 2018 failure to which their seats will be declared vacant, the country’s leadership directed on Tuesday.
The National Leadership Forum, which is made up the President, PM, Speaker and regional heads of states, also agreed that upon being sworn in all lawmakers be required to sign a declaration to join a political party and represent the interests of the same in the House. Each member thereafter will be required to submit written evidence to their respective House Speaker.
The NLF further noted the constitutional review process will be concluded by the next Parliament. During national discourse on the choice of electoral mode for the 2016 polls, the National Consultative Forum presented the political party system as an option but final consultations settled on the 4.5 clan system for the Lower House and the Federal State system for the Upper House.
This was after the one person one vote principle was shelved on grounds of lack of preparedness and security concerns in the country. To ensure more transparent and participatory process, the NLF agreed to apply the 4.5 system, but embrace political party system in subsequent elections after 2016 .
As a departure from the 2012 polls, which only involved 135 elders, this year’s will bring on board over 14,000 electors for the Lower House. The NLF also noted that all the 51 delegates for each MP must be present at the polling station before the voting starts. In 2012, each of the 135 elders forwarded a name from their respective clan to the electoral commission and with that one was declared a duly elected member of the house.
If a sub clan fails to constitute the 51 delegates, it will be given a grace period spanning through the electoral timeframe, failure to which the seat for such a clan will remain suspended. In essence this will mark the end of outright representation since the next 2020 polls will be based on one person one vote. The elections of the Lower House will take place between September 24 and October 10 this year.
Gunmen Kill Well-known Elder In Mogadishu
10 August – Source: Shabelle News – 129 Words
Unidentified assassins shot and killed a prominent elder in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Wednesday evening, in the latest string of targeted killings in the city over the past few weeks.
Witnesses said pistol-wielding men gunned down the elder, identified as Sa’eed Sheikh Aden, inside Bakara market. The killers escaped the scene of murder before police arrived shortly. Dahir Omar, a relative of the slain elder, confirmed the incident to Radio Shabelle by phone. Mr Omar said the motive behind the murder of the renowned elder remains unknown.
Galmudug Leader Terms Extra Seats To Somaliland Cover-up For Puntland
10 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 263 Words
Galmudug state President Abdikarim Guled has dismissed the decision by the National Leadership Forum to award two more seats of the Upper House to Puntland, which he claims were disguised as reserved for Somaliland.
Speaking in Galkaayo town a day after the conclusion of the NLF talks in Mogadishu, Guled said the seats were indirectly given to Puntland, which controls parts of Sool and Sanag. In a communiqué released yesterday, the NLF said three seats will be reserved for clans in Sool, eastern Sanag and Buuhooldle regions, one of which will be shared by minority clans. It further noted that Somaliland will be added two more seats making a total of 13.
But Guled told the public in Galkaayo that delegates representing Galmudug were not consulted during the talks in Mogadishu prior to his arrival from a medical trip in India: “The delegates from Galmudug were not involved in the discussions regarding the extra seats and as Galmudug we do not agree with this arrangement.”
Guled however joined the talks in Mogadishu two days before they concluded. Guled’s sentiments come barely a day after some leaders from Somaliland complained of unfair treatment in the distribution of the Upper House seats. Abdihashi Abdullahi, an MP from Somaliland, told the media on Tuesday that the allocation of two seats in the name of Somaliland was a ploy to conceal an offer to Puntland.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
From Refugee Camp To Minnesota State Capitol
10 August – Source: Voice of America – 304 Words
A Minnesota woman is positioned to become the first Somali-American state legislator after winning a key primary Tuesday in Minneapolis. Ilhan Omar won the primary for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party, defeating Phyllis Kahn, who has served as state legislator for 40 years. Omar is likely to win the November election in the largely liberal district.
“The fact that we made relentless campaigns and for Allah’s sake, we finally made it,” Omar told VOA’s Somali service after her victory was announced Tuesday night. “We worked very hard to unite our district people and their votes.” Wiping away tears, Omar was greeted by Somali and non-Somali supporters as she walked into her victory party, and chants of “Ilhan” rang out. Speaking to the crowd, Omar said, “Tonight we made history and it marks the beginning of the future of our district, a new era of representation. Tonight is about the power of you.” Afterward, she gave another victory speech in Somali.
Hafsa Muse Nuh, one of Omar’s supporters said, “It is an amazing moment which I was expecting. The fact that she is a Muslim, a Somali, a refugee makes her victory historic.” Omar, 33, was born in Somalia and lived in a Kenyan refugee camp for four years after her family fled the civil war that devastated the Horn of Africa nation
Former Al-Shabaab Combatants Graduate From Baidoa Rehabilitation Centre
09 August – Source: UNSOM – 502 Words
Thirty former Al-Shabaab combatants have graduated from the Baidoa Rehabilitation Centre in South West State of Somalia after completing an intensive rehabilitation programme.
The ex-combatants, who received vocational training and psychological support, expressed confidence, saying they were ready to contribute positively to the development of Somalia. It is the third graduation ceremony to be held at the centre since its establishment in Baidoa.
Ibrahim, a former Al-Shabaab combatant, said he was ready to turn a new chapter in life, thanks to the Baidoa Rehabilitation Centre. “We received full education. I was taught carpentry and tailoring. I can sew my clothes and those of my family. I can do carpentry work with ease, and make a chair, a bed and other household furniture. I am perfectly suited for such work. I can say I am ready to face the world,” said Ibrahim, one of the 30 graduates.
Present at the ceremony were representatives from the Interim South West Administration, among them, Minister of Interior, Abdirahman Ibrahim Satte; Minister of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Hassan Hussein Eelay and the Baidoa District Commissioner Abdullahi Ali Watiin. United Nations representatives, elders, religious leaders and civil society also graced the occasion.
The ceremony was also attended by a German delegation led by the Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel, Ambassador Georg Schmidt and the German Ambassador to Somalia, Jutta Frasch. The Minister of DDR urged Al-Shabaab militants who were still in the bush fighting to lay down their weapons and join peace loving Somalis in rebuilding the country.
“The former combatants have undergone rigorous business classes, electrical engineering classes, among other lessons at the centre. They have been given funds to start businesses. We expect them to successfully integrate and be part of their communities,” Mr Eelay said. The Minister also thanked the German government and United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for the continued support of the centre, saying the Baidoa Rehabilitation Centre had become a critical institution in the fight against terror.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“While elections are scheduled for August, the repatriation or deportation of hundreds of thousands of Somalis from Kenya and persistent insecurity will be issues Schwartz will have to deal with as official ambassador to Somalia”.
Who Is Stephen Schwartz, The First US Ambassador To Somalia In 25 years?
10 August – Source: IBTimes – 872 Words
Somalia’s foreign minister, Abdusalam Omer, welcomed the new United States envoy to Somalia, Stephen Schwartz on Tuesday (9 August) in the capital, Mogadishu.
Marking a landmark in US-Somali relations, Schwartz was sworn into office in June, making him the first American ambassador to the East African nation in 25 years. IBTimes UK looks at the man chosen to help Somalia make further significant strides in rebuilding its country and relations with the international community.
Stephen M. Schwartz was born and raised in Buffalo in the state of New York before graduating from Miami University in Oxford (Ohio) in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Fresh graduate Schwartz spent two years as a volunteer in Cameroon (1981–1983) in the Peace Corps.
After attending the International Graduate School in Stockholm, Sweden between 1983 and 1984, Schwartz worked for the Peace Corps again, this time as a Desk Officer at headquarters between 1985 and 1988. During his time there, he coordinated Peace Corps programmes in Mali, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso, and opened the Peace Corps programme in Chad in 1987 – a year before leaving his post. In 1988, he was awarded a Master’s degree in African Studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
The diplomat started his Foreign Service Officer career in 1992 – the same year former President George H.W. Bush deployed American troops to Somalia, to support a United Nations humanitarian mission reportedly aimed at bringing food to the victims of a raging civil war.
But 10 months later, 18 American soldiers were killed in the Somali capital by rebels who shot down two US helicopters, in the so-called “Black Hawk Down” incident – which ultimately pushed the US out of Somalia, in 1994.The US has since provided Somalia with hundreds of millions of dollars in military support and is attempting to nudge the nation into a more representative government in a bid for more stability.