November 28, 2016 | Morning Headlines
Locals Clash With Al-Shabaab Over Alms Collection, Over 10 People Killed
27 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 161 Words
Over ten combatants including Al-Shabaab and locals were killed and several others wounded after Al-Shabaab launched assaults on Dumaaye village which lies 25km west of Harardhere town of Mudug region. The fighting erupted after resident took arms against Al-Shabaab over alms or zakah (an Islamic levy on wealth).
According to a local resident who declined to share his name, local fighters defied Al-Shabaab order to round up their livestock. “Al-Shabaab tried to demand zakah from local herders but they refused prompting the fight that left four locals dead,” he said. Al-Shabaab fighters took control of the areas as the locals were pushed out of the villages. Al-Shabaab adopted monthly Zakat that obliges every nomadic family with 10 heads of livestock to give away at least one, while those rearing as many as 20 are needed to contribute three in alms, according locals. The group is carrying out hit and run attacks in major towns under government and deadly explosions in the capital Mogadishu.
Key Headlines
- Locals Clash With Al-Shabaab Over Alms Collection Over 10 People Killed (Goobjoog News)
- Somalia’s Electoral Body Nullifies Election Results In Jowhar Election (Garowe Online)
- Five people killed in landmine blast in Middle Shabelle (Goobjoog News)
- Severe Water Shortage Reported In Gedo Region (Shabelle News)
- Galmudug Appeals For Aid Amid Severe Drought (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Diplomat To Launch Political Policy In City (Standard Media Kenya)
- Somali-American Competes In Hijab And Burkini For Minnesota Beauty Pageant (Yahoo)
- Somalis Still The Losers In Farce Of Poll That Will Not Mend State (Daily Nation)
- Blind Somali Math Teacher Adding To His Legacy In Minneapolis (Star Tribune)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s Electoral Body Nullifies Election Results In Jowhar Election
27 November – Source: Garowe Online – 226 Words
Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) has dismissed the voting results of the Lower House elections conducted on 26 November in Jowhar town, over violation to adhere to women quota in the seats contested. The ballot results showed the victory of State Minister for Finance, Abdualhi Moalin Nur and another candidate, Mohamed Abukar Islow “Duali” contesting for seats for sub-clans of Harti-Abgal clan. Consequently, FIEIT issued a statement to Hirshbelle State-level Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (SIEIT) and Hirshabelle President, declaring their decision to nullify the voting results for failing to abide by the National Leadership Forum’s communiqué to reserve 30-percent of seats in the lower house of parliament for women candidates.
According to the electoral rules, a clan that has three seats in the Lower House chamber should reserve one seat exclusively for women candidates from the same clan, whereas clans who have less seats quota will be aggregated to reserve one seat for women candidates. In Thursday, FIEIT and Independent Electoral Disputes Resolution Mechanism (IEDRM) have released a joint statement announcing it will conduct investigations into electoral malpractices in various regions after allegation of intimidation, vote rigging and harassment of candidates have marred the ongoing Lower House elections. Both bodies have called clans to abide by the electoral rules and ensure women participation in the ongoing process and warned that actions will be taken against clans that fail to do so.
Five people killed in landmine blast in Middle Shabelle
27 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 133 Words
At least five people including soldiers and civilians have been killed and several others injured in landmine explosion which occurred at Sabuun village near Mahaday town of Middle Shebelle region. Witnesses said the explosion occurred along the main road leading to Mahaday town. The explosions are said to be landmine that had been planted under the roadside often used by the Somali National Army. A military officer said the latest incident occurred at 0700 local time (0400 GMT) on Saturday, when a truck carrying over seven soldiers on patrol duties drove over an improvised explosive device in Sabuun area. Security officers have sealed off the scene which has been vacated by the residents. No group has yet claimed the responsibility of the attack, but Al-Shabaab has carried out similar attacks in the past.
Severe Water Shortage Reported In Gedo Region
27 November – Source: Shabelle Media – 131 Words
As drought reigns through the Gedo region in southern Somalia, people and animals face severe water shortage following failure of the seasonal rains also known as Deyr, an MP said. Mohamed Da’ud, a member of Jubbaland state parliament said the looming drought put the lives of pastoral families and their livestock in the region at risk. Failure of short rain season dwindled water sources for both human and livestock in Bardere town and its most suburb areas, he said. The MP has prayed to Allah for rains for pastoralists affected by the drought, and called on Somali federal government and international humanitarian agencies to step in.
Most agro-pastoral areas in southern Somalia rely on rainfall for subsistence farming and survive from one harvest to another increasing their vulnerability to unpredictable weather.
Galmudug Appeals For Aid Amid Severe Drought
27 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 193 Words
Galmudug Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Shire Hirsi Mohamud has appealed to Somali federal government to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by severe drought which is ravaging central Somalia. Hirsi said several parts of Galmudug have been affected by drought. The minister said the drought has widely affected the country, worsening in some areas and called on Somalis spread across the world to do everything to aid their brothers and sisters suffering from severe drought. He noted that the only aid Galmudug got was food sent by Turkish government mid this year. Most water points have dried up forcing residents to heavily depend on inadequate remaining wells, which have changed color and developed foul smell due to contamination from the high number of animals and people converging at them for survival. Large population of those stricken by the raging dry spell have to trek, in some cases more than 30 km to find water for drinking and for domestic use. Galmudug State has been experiencing a persistent drought for the past three years, which has caused farmers to destock and has affected over a quarter of the population, who have no food security.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Diplomat To Launch Political Policy In City
27 November – Source: Standard Media – 668 Words
Only four days to the Presidential elections in Somalia, the race will on Tuesday this week be played in Nairobi as one of the presidential candidates launches his policy document at a Nairobi Hotel. Hon. Said Abdullahi Mohammed, Minister for Planning in President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud’s government is running against his boss in the Wednesday contest where 275 delegates will be electing a new president. Organizers of the Nairobi event believe that Kenya is a strategic neighbor to Somalia as it hosts a substantial Somali Community upwards of two million according to the 2009 census. Kenyan Somalis are believed to religiously follow developments in Somalia and that is why candidates are keen on Kenya. Mr Tarabi Jama an advisor to the Presidential Candidate says the plan to launch the policy document in Nairobi seeks to cement good relations with Kenya, as the country is a key stakeholder to Somalia’s development agenda. “Judging by our performance in the parliamentary election, Mr Said is likely to win” Tarabi says “ And so we are launching our policy document in Nairobi to send a message that we want to work with Kenya” Hon. Said Abdullahi Mohammed commonly known as Deni is an experienced civil servant who has worked and held senior positions in various capacities, a seasoned diplomat, and politician who seeks to ensure cohesion amongst the different warring clans in the war torn country. His campaigners describe him as a Member of Parliament and Minister for Planning and International Cooperation who played a crucial role in brokering peace in Somalia and advocating for unity, reconciliation and national integration.
He is committed to see a unified Somalia under a popularly ratified constitution. His engagement and experience with the international community is a pedestal that can be tapped into in order to restore the glory of Somalia and trigger investment and economic development. Said Mohammed has been one of the leading entrepreneurs in Somalia and abroad. His entrepreneurial ingenuity has been cause for him to be a leading light in industrial development and commerce. Among the senior positions he has held include: Chairman and Executive Director – Towfiq Company (one of the biggest and leading companies in Somalia); Chairman – Council of Puntland business community; Chairman – Executive Committee of Puntland Chamber of Commerce; Managing Partner – African Horn Co. Salalah Oman; Managing Partner – Towfiq International Co. Dubai UAE; Vice-Chairman – Salalah Macaroni Company – Salalah, Oman; Founder and Chairman – Tadamum Society, the first educational society to be established in the North Eastern Somalia after the collapse of Somali State in 1991; and Head of shipping Agency in Boosaso sea port among others.
Somali-American Competes In Hijab And Burkini For Minnesota Beauty Pageant
27 November – Source: Yahoo – 327 Words
Halima Aden first came to the United States when she was 7, after her family left the refugee camp in Kenya where Aden was born. Since settling into Minnesota’s growing Somali community according to census data, the largest such community in the U.S. Aden has thrived and is currently attending Saint Cloud University. But the 19-year-old’s current claim to fame is the fact that she’ll be competing in the Miss Minnesota beauty pageant this weekend (Nov. 26–27) in a hijab, burkini, and other fully covering garb a first for the state. Aden has broken barriers before. She was the first Somali-American in her college student government and was also crowned homecoming queen at her high school. “When I see that there hasn’t already been somebody, I take that as a challenge for me to give it a try,” she told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Her decision is perhaps a bit more complex since not everyone in her community supports it, most notably her own mother.
It’s also worth mentioning that she is making her contest bid at a delicate time. “Tension has been rising about the Somali community for years,” reports Minnesota Public Radio. “Hateful messages against Muslims and other ethnic groups have appeared there and in some other places in Minnesota since Donald Trump was elected president earlier this month.” Regardless of the personal and political opposition she may face, Aden is looking forward to the opportunity and hopes that it can actually help calm things down. “We just needed one more thing to unify us,” she told MPR. “This is a small act, but I feel like having the title of Miss Minnesota USA when you are a Somali-American, when you are a Muslim woman, I think that would open up people’s eyes.” If Aden wins the Miss Minnesota pageant this weekend, she will be eligible to compete in the Miss USA contest and potentially for the title of Miss Universe.
OPINION , CULTURE & ANALYSIS
“Somalia did not hold a one-person-one-vote election as the outgoing government was not equipped to carry out such an election, given the countless challenges facing the country, including lack of a voter registration system and the fact that much of the country is “governed” through a mix of regional and clan-based groups,”
Somalis Still The Losers In Farce Of Poll That Will Not Mend State
28 November – Source; Daily Nation – 722 Words
Somalia’s much-anticipated presidential and parliamentary elections are proving to be a farce and are a sign that the people of Somalia will once again be betrayed by their leadership and should not expect much from the new government that will be elected. None other than Somalia’s Auditor-General, Nur Jimale Farah, has told the Voice of America’s Somali service that the ongoing elections have “no credibility because of vote buying, fraud, intimidation, and violence”.
Farah claims that the more than 14,000 so-called “Electoral College” delegates who are voting for members of parliament are voting for the highest bidder; votes are apparently being bought for between $5,000 and $30,000 each. It is likely that, as in past elections, very few of the candidates will be parting with their own money to pay these bribes; funds for bribe-giving are usually solicited from rich Arab countries that are known to sponsor their preferred candidates.
Somalia did not hold a one-person-one-vote election as the outgoing government was not equipped to carry out such an election, given the countless challenges facing the country, including lack of a voter registration system and the fact that much of the country is “governed” through a mix of regional and clan-based groups, customary laws, informal networks, and militias, including Al-Shabaab. Some of the candidates for the 275-member Lower House of Parliament and for the 54-member Upper House of Parliament are also known warlords who believe that getting a parliamentary seat will offer them immunity. Interestingly, the international community, including the United Nations, is acting as if the elections are above board. SOMALIA’S WOES: Apart from a few cautionary notes about vote-rigging, not much has been said about the fact that the votes are being rigged even before voters cast their ballot. The problem with Somalia, which the international community is reluctant to acknowledge, is that any government that is put in place in Mogadishu under the current circumstances will remain a puppet administration with no real authority and no capacity to carry out governance functions or to provide services.
“God has taken away my eyes,” he proclaimed, “but he has not taken away my knowledge. I want to leave it behind for you.”
Blind Somali Math Teacher Adding To His Legacy In Minneapolis
27 November – Source: Star Tribune – 1129 Words
People in the packed Minneapolis mosque gasped when Abdikadir Mohamed Adan stepped before them. Hadn’t he died? The longtime teacher, mathematician and fixture of the local Somali community had been hospitalized with complications of diabetes, and rumors of his death had been widespread. Now he stood before them — tearful, frail and blind, but resolved to make the most of whatever time and health he has left. “God has taken away my eyes,” he proclaimed, “but he has not taken away my knowledge. I want to leave it behind for you.” In the weeks since his dramatic reappearance in October, the man known as “Macalin Xiito” (Skinny Teacher) has thrown himself into tutoring children, adapting to his new life and inspiring the people around him. “When I tell people that a blind man tutors my children math, they don’t believe me,” Hussein Ismail said. “This is a miracle.” Xiito (pronounced HEE-toe) had just graduated from Lafoole College with a degree in physics and math when the civil war in Somalia broke out.
He fled to Kenya and spent several years in the Utanga refugee camp before coming to the United States in 1996. He came with dreams. He wanted to make money, earn a master’s degree and a Ph.D. and help his fellow Somalis. Soon after his arrival, he found a janitorial job at the Ramsey County Courthouse, then went on to work at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for two years. But education was his passion. After a few years of helping students with homework at the nonprofit CommonBond, in 2009 Xiito founded the Somali Education Center, an after-school program in Burnsville, St. Paul and Minneapolis. He taught math, reading and science. He opened another after-school program in Minneapolis, the Xiito Academy. He made YouTube videos to showcase his lessons.