April 12, 2017 | Morning Headlines
ICAO President Denies Reports That Somali Airspace Will Be Transferred
11 April-Source:Hiiraan Online – 293 Words
The President of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu has denied reports that the control of Somali airspace will be transferred to neighbouring countries as widely reported in local media.
Dr. Aliu spoke to Hiiraan Online in Dubai where he was speaking at a conference discussing Cyber Security in Aviation. He said that there were no plans to transfer control of Somali airspace and that he was shocked at the reports circulating. For the past eight months, rumours that the Somali airspace will be transferred over to either Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles or India were rife.“I can confirm that the Somali airspace cannot be transferred,” Dr. Aliu told HOL, “I have sent a letter explaining the situation surrounding the Somali airspace to the Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and he has been made aware that control (of the airspace) cannot be transferred.
Dr. Aliu who is Nigerian national is the fifth president of ICAO and will serve as the head until 2019.In other aviation news, another ICAO conference is underway in Nairobi discussing the control of carbon emissions in aviation industry in line with Montreal Agreement. The conference is being attended by representatives from Africa.Mercy Awori who is the chairperson of conference told HOL that Somalia does not have a representative present at these ICAO Regional Seminar on States’ Action Plans and Carbon offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), but hopes that Somalia will participate in future discussions regarding CO2 emissions reduction in the aviation industry.
Key Headlines
- ICAO President Denies Reports That Somali Airspace Will Be Transferred (Hiiraan Online)
- Senators Unanimously Vote To Endorse Rules Of Procedure (Goobjoog News)
- Somali PM Inspects Government Offices In Mogadishu (Shabelle News)
- Indian Cargo ship Freed By Pirates But Nine Hostages Missing (Daily Nation)
- Emergency Directors Visit Baidoa And Kismaayo To Assess Humanitarian Needs Of Drought Victims (UNSOM)
- The UAE Is Expanding Its Influence In The Horn Of Africa By Funding Ports And Military Bases (Quartz Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Senators Unanimously Vote To Endorse Rules Of Procedure
11 April- Source: Goobjoog News – 329 Words
Senate today adopted the rules of procedures which will guide the daily order of business in the Senate marking a significant step in establishing the building blocks of the new institution.Following weeks of debate and review, Senators unanimously voted to adopt the document which serves as the roadmap in providing overall directions on how the Senate conducts its business.First deputy speaker, Senator Abshir Bukhari termed the vote historic and a significant achievement in realizing the full formation of the senate.“Senate today marked a milestone with conclusion & adoption of Senate Rules of Procedures. A Historic Day for the Upper House,” Bukhari said in a tweet.
The document with ten articles and 95 sub articles lays out clear instructions on proceedings in the senate ranging from quorum, composition and working of committees, motions, voting in the Senate to the Senate calendar among others.The Senate will have two sessions divided into a period of four months in a year just like the Lower House, article 6 of the Rules of Procedures states. The first session starts on January 5 and runs through to May 5th when the Senate goes on recess for two months and resumes on July 5th. Senators close business for the year on November 5th, the new rules indicate.
The rules also set the quorum for business at simple majority while subjecting senators to a disciplinary committee of the Senate if they miss committee meetings for three consecutive months.Regarding the election of the country’s president which the Senate takes part in, the Senate secretary general will be required to present the names of the presidential candidates to the senate with the endorsement of at least 20 senators or one regional assembly.The Senate or its committees can summon the Prime Minister, ministers or heads of constitutional bodies at the course of any enquiry. Any of these offices are also required under the Senate Rules of Procedure to respond to any queries within 30 days.
Somali PM Inspects Government Offices In Mogadishu
11 April- Source:Shabelle News – 83 Words
The new Prime minister of Somalia,Hassan Ali Khaire has paid a tour to some offices of his government on mission to assess their work and performances.Mr Khaire visited the ministries of foreign affairs, health and planning which are housed in one compound, where he listened in-depth reports from the ministers on the challenges ahead.The PM has encouraged the the ministers and the staff members to speed up their national duties, and develop the services for the country and the citizens.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Indian Cargo ship Freed By Pirates But Nine Hostages Missing
11 April – Source:Daily Nation- 310 Words
Somalia security forces have rescued an Indian cargo ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 1 but nine members of the 11-crew are missing, a regional maritime official said today.Mr John Steed, the regional manager of not-for-profit group, Oceans Beyond Piracy said the hostages are believed to be being held between the vicinity of Hobyo and Harardhere in central Somalia.“The Indian ship was released by Somalia security forces on Monday night but nine of the 11 crew members are missing having been taken ashore by the pirates.
The vessel is sailing away,” Mr Steed told Xinhua by telephone. The pirating of the Indian dhow came after the fuel tanker, Aris 13, was held for four days by armed pirates. The Indian ship, Al Kausar was one of three foreign vessels to be hijacked after a five-year lull.“We haven’t established where the hostages were taken,” said Mr Steed, noting that Somali pirates are holding 17 hostages from Iran and India.
Al Kausar was chartered by a Somali businessman and was carrying commercial goods. The vessel which was en route from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Bosasso in Somalia was hijacked in the vicinity of Socotra (Island). The release of the Indian vessel comes after sailors from Indian and Chinese Navies on Sunday freed a Tuvalu-registered vessel which had been boarded by pirates. The vessel had 19 crew members.
Emergency Directors Visit Baidoa And Kismaayo To Assess Humanitarian Needs Of Drought Victims
11 April- Source: UNSOM- 462 Words
Emergency Directors today visited Baidoa and Kismaayo to assess the impact of drought on populations in South West and Jubbaland states which are the worst affected throughout Somalia.“There are now over 150,000 people that have newly been displaced in Baidoa because of the drought. We have come from headquarters of UN and international NGOs to see the situation and support the response,” said John Ging Director of the Operational Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Following meetings with all the stakeholders, it was agreed that the humanitarian organizations and the federal states would work more closely together to scale-up the humanitarian response according to Mr. Ging.The delegation visited two camps for internally displaced people in Beerta Muuri in Baidoa and Dalxiska in Kismaayo. The team also visited a Cholera Treatment Center in Bay regional hospital in Baidoa and Kismaayo General Hospital.In Baidoa, the delegation met many recovering patients including Habiba Ahmed who talked about her mother’s plight.“She got sick at Goof Gaduud Shabellow. She was suffering from diarrhea and vomiting. Her health situation is better than yesterday. We got good doctors, better medical check-up, chlorine and oral rehydration salts,” she said.
At Kismaayo General Hospital the delegation heard from Barwaqo Mohamed Ali about how he fell ill while caring for a child.“I got sick with diarrhea while looking after a sick child in the hospital. I was admitted in this ward. My health situation is better now. I was admitted suffering from diarrhea and vomiting but now I am recovering,” He said.Led by the Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter de Clercq, the delegation held discussions with the South West State President, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, in Baidoa. In Kismaayo they met the First Vice President of Jubbaland, Mohamud Sayid Adan.“We talked about how we can work together to fight the drought and to prevent famine from happening so as to ensure people get the type of assistance they deserve,” said Mr. de Clercq.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“For now, the newly-elected central government in Mogadishu seems to be the only loser in the equation. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s government is yet to comment on this, even though he visited the UAE in early April,”
The UAE Is Expanding Its Influence In The Horn Of Africa By Funding Ports And Military Bases
11 April- Source: Quartz Africa- 583 Words
The semi-autonomous region of Puntland in northeastern Somalia signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Dubai-owned P&O Ports firm in early April, to develop and manage a multipurpose port in Bosaso city. The development of the seaport will take place in two phases, and is expected to cost $336 million.The landmark deal was signed several weeks after the self-declared republic of Somaliland allowed the United Arab Emirates to also set up a military base in the port of Berbera. Last year, Somaliland also announced a $442 million deal with the Dubai-based DP World to upgrade the port in Berbera, and create a world-class regional trading hub along the Red Sea coast.
The UAE’s foray into Somalia has proved controversial, with the country’s auditor general accusing Somali officials of taking bribes to enable the deal. But in many ways, the port concessions underpin the geopolitical face-off looming in the Horn of Africa. As Somalia regains a semblance of peace, its over-3300 kilometer coastline could prove the next frontier for global powers looking to deepen their presence across this strategic waterway.In neighboring Djibouti, military forces from the United States, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and soon China, are already based there, conducting counter-terrorism or anti-piracy efforts along the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
For Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who are concerned about the expanding influence of Iran in the region, the port of Assab in Eritrea has also become a base to prosecute the war in Yemen and tighten the noose on Houthi rebels. Observers now say that with these new port deals, Somalia could unwittingly be dragged into a war that far exceeds its own strategic purview and military capacity.“Contrary to the commercial façade of these projects, the main objective is one of geopolitical and geoeconomics,” says Abukar Arman, a political analyst and a former Somalia envoy to the US. Arman says the UAE’s ambition is also underpinned by Turkey’s growing presence in the region, which is seen as a strategic threat to its British and American allies. “It is the ideal gambit to secure the deals.”
Somalia’s government generates nearly 80% of its revenue from the seaport and airport in Mogadishu—both of which are managed by Turkish companies. The Turks have also eclipsed traditional donors to Somalia, and have engaged in projects ranging from tarmacking roads, building hospitals, collecting garbage, and providing scholarships to thousands of Somali students. The Turkish model, which combines humanitarian assistance, trade, and investment, has been the envy of many nations battling for influence inside Somalia, including the Qataris, Ethiopians, Kenyans, the European Union—and the Emiratis.