December 29, 2016 | Morning Headlines
US, UK In Stern Warning To Nationals Seeking Somalia Leadership Positions
28 December – Source: Nep Journal – 175 Words
In what is seen as a move largely targeting their naturalized citizens seeking leadership positions in Somalia, the United States and the United Kingdom missions in the country have sent a stern warning to their citizens overseas over indulging in corruption. The warnings come in the wake of widespread corruption allegation in the ongoing national elections in Somalia which are not were concluded although majority members of Upper and Lower Houses were sworn in on Tuesday at a colorful ceremony in Mogadishu.
Most leaders and those seeking leadership positions hold foreign citizenship largely taken up after the collapse of central government in Somalia in the early nineties rendered the Somalia passport unrecognized throughout the World.
Things are however improving in the Horn of Africa country. For the first time since the country degenerated into anarchy, elections were held outside Mogadishu, albeit indirectly where clan delegates chose members of parliament who will in turn elect the next president. The Presidential elections were however postponed for the fourth time are scheduled to be conducted later on January.
Key Headlines
- US UK In stern Warning To Nationals Seeking Somalia Leadership Positions (Nep Journal)
- Puntland Police Ill-equipped Lack Training Official Says (Goobjoog News)
- Suspect Arrested In Killing Of ICRC Worker In Somalia (Shabelle News)
- Somalia Police Could Soon ‘stand on its own’(Africa Review)
- Kenyan Police Officers Awarded Medals For Distinguished Service (AMISOM)
- New Somali Parliament Takes Office Amid High Hopes Charges of Graft (VOA)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Police Ill-equipped, Lack Training, Official Says
28 December – Source: Goobjoog News – 175 Words
Without good training and equipment for the police in the semi-autonomous regional state, Puntland, the forces will fail to achieve their long-term objectives to maintain law and order, Puntland police commissioner said. Speaking to reporters in Garowe, Abdikadir Farah Shire, Puntland police chief said lack of proper training for police is one of the forces’ biggest setbacks for readiness “The police have got basic training and they struggle to make ends meet but that is not enough,” said Shire.
He called on Puntland government to review many instances of key equipment lacking, such as reconnaissance vehicles, command posts, and communications equipment. Shire said that police are pushing efforts to apprehend culprits behind crimes that have shaken some towns in Puntland. The sentiment of Shire comes amid the increase in criminal activities and assassinations in the commercial port city of Puntland Bossaso.On Sunday,gunmen shot dead a military prosecutor identified as Abdikarim Hassan Firdiye in Bossaso just days after regional presidential aide was killed in a similar fashioned attack. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the killings.
Suspect Arrested In Killing Of ICRC Worker In Somalia
28 December – Source: Shabelle News – 119 Words
An employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been killed in central Somalia on Tuesday by unidentified gunmen, an official confirmed. Somali authorities in Amara village, south of Mudug region in central Somalia said the security forces have managed to arrest the suspected killer following the shooting of the ICRC staff.The ICRC employee whose name has not yet been released was killed during attack on a food distribution center in Amara area, according to an official who spoke to Radio Shabelle by phone. The detained suspect is being held at NISA custody in Cadaado, the headquarter of Galmudug Regional State. ICRC is yet to release its own statement concerning the killing of its employee.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Police Could Soon ‘stand on its own’
28 December – Source: Africa Review- 292 Words
The Somalia Police Force, which like all government institutions was incapacitated by a civil war that lasted decades, is looking to stand on its own feet, but challenges abound.The force has been receiving training and financial support from the African peacekeepers and international partners. So far, 7,000 police officers countrywide have been trained.
Mogadishu city — which was liberated from Al Shabaab in August 2011— is currently being guarded by the 5,400 Somali SPF, with assistance from the African Union Mission for Somalia (Amisom).Amisom hopes that SPF will be fully functional by the time African peacekeepers leave Somalia in 2020. Amisom police public information officer chief inspector John Marete, however said that gaining public trust remains a setback, taking into account that Al Shabaab has penetrated every sector of the society. “In a post-conflict environment such as Somalia, police cannot afford to be alienated from the population. There is a need to form strong partnerships with communities in order to efficiently and effectively deliver policing services,” said the chief inspector in an interview in Mogadishu.
The joint SPF and Amisom police are currently developing a community-based policing strategy that will facilitate the flow of information regarding possible attacks.“But of even greater concern is the fear of enlisting officers who have violated human rights during the course of the conflict from 1991 to date,” chief inspector Marete added.
When SPF was reconstituted, most of the people who served in the former force were incorporated in the service. This presents another challenge because most of them are way beyond the retirement age.The SPF also lacks sufficient numbers especially in the five newly-established state administrations. Besides, there is a need for co-ordinated support in terms of equipment and infrastructure.
Kenyan Police Officers Awarded Medals For Distinguished Service
28 December – Source: AMISOM – 400 Words
Kenyan police officers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today received commendation for outstanding service during their yearlong tour of duty. The contingent comprising six police officers, serving as Individual Police Officers (IPOs), were awarded medals and certificates, on Wednesday at a function held in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. IPOs train and mentor Somali Police officers on matters security in both federal and regional administrations.
AMISOM Police Commissioner, Anand Pillay, who presided over the function, said the group had done Kenya proud by making immense contribution to the stabilization process of Somalia. “You have done an excellent job here. You have made a great contribution to our mandate on this mission. We have gone a step further with your assistance. We still have a lot to do and hopefully the team that is replacing you will continue with the good work that you have done on this mission,” said Commissioner Pillay.
Speaking at the function attended by senior AMISOM personnel who included, among others, AMISOM Police Chief of Staff, Rex Dundun, and AMISOM Police Training Coordinator, Francis Aryee, the Police Commissioner pledged to consult the Kenya government to allow some of the officers back to the mission, given their outstanding performance. “I recognize people who have worked well in the mission and I will try my level best to get you back. We will like the same people who have experience to come back so that they can assist the new people on the mission to move forward,” he added. His sentiments were supported by Mr. Dundun, who noted that the contingent had served with dedication and integrity, and thanked the Kenyan government for allowing its personnel to serve on the mission.
OPINION , CULTURE & ANALYSIS
“Critics say the parliamentary selection process was marred by vote buying, violence, and intimidation. The electoral commission says it is redoing the elections for five posts because of these irregularities. The commission said at one point that it would redo 24 races but then dropped the number back to five. Other seats are still vacant as clan leaders have not yet decided on the candidates,”
New Somali Parliament Takes Office Amid High Hopes, Charges of Graft
27 December – Source: VOA – 592 Words
Somalia has sworn in the members of a new parliament following a process marred by irregularities and charges of corruption. But it is delaying its presidential election for a fourth time, likely until late January.Tuesday’sswearing-in ceremony in Mogadishu saw 281 members of the upper and lower houses of parliament take office. VOA stringers in the city reported that security forces conducted stepped-up patrols in the streets during the inauguration.Independent regional analyst Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad said the swearing-in heralded the beginning of a new era.”The new members of parliament, almost 45 percent of them are former members of parliament, while 55 percent are new young, energetic and educated people,” he said, adding that for the first time, a “significant number” of the new members are women.
Mohamed Osman Jawari, speaker of the outgoing parliament, formally proclaimed the handover of power to just the second new group of Somali lawmakers in 25 years. The new members “have been sworn in and from now on they are in charge of the country’s legislative responsibilities,” he said.
Somalia was unable to conduct direct nationwide elections because of security and logistical problems. Instead, the members of the upper and lower chambers were elected by some 14,000 “special delegates” who in turn were chosen by clan leaders and regional representatives. The president will now be elected by parliament.That vote had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but electoral commission officials told VOA’s Somali service the vote has been postponed to Jan. 24. The commission has yet to announce the date publicly.