August 31, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Somalia Peacekeeping Mission Gets Renewed, With Some Trims
30 August – Source: Associated Press – 130 Words
The African Union’s multinational peacekeeping force in Somalia is shrinking slightly by the end of the year as it heads toward planned withdrawal from the country by 2020. The United Nations Security Council renewed the decade-old mission Wednesday until the end of next May. The renewal makes some changes that reflect efforts to start handing over security responsibilities to Somali forces.
It trims the more than 22,000-strong force, known as AMISOM , by 500 troops by the end of this year. It cuts 1,000 more troops by the end of October 2018 or possibly sooner. Somalia is trying to rebuild after more than two decades as a failed state riven by conflict, famine and attacks by the al-Shabab Islamic extremist group. AMISOM has been supporting the fragile central government.
Key Headlines
- Somalia Peacekeeping Mission Gets Renewed With Some Trims (Associated Press)
- Osoble’s Claims Baseless Elections On Course HirShabelle Assembly Speaker (Goobjoog News)
- Germany Launches $31M Worth Health Projects In Puntland (Garowe Online)
- Two Days Off For Somali Civil Servants For Eid Celebrations Says Labour Ministry (Goobjoog News)
- AMISOM Fetes Uganda Police Officers For Distinguished Role In Stabilizing Somalia (AMISOM)
- U.S. Troops Risk Inflaming Clan Conflict After Deadly Somalia Raid (Reuters)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Osoble’s Claims Baseless, Elections On Course-HirShabelle Assembly Speaker
30 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 193 Words
HirShabelle state assembly speaker Osman Bare Mohamed has dismissed claims by former president Abdullahi Osoble that he is still president but noted he is free to contest for the seat in the upcoming elections. In an interview with Goobjoog News, Mohamed said the electoral committee will commence to organize for the elections adding that the state did not have a president at the moment contrary to Osoble’s claims. “As a former president, we have respect for Osoble but he has no authority that we know of. He can present himself as a presidential candidate if he wants but we inform you that it is not possible for him to claim to be working from an area as a president” added Mohamed said.
Mohamed asserted the elections will be conducted the soonest time possible a day after the nine member committee were appointed. “Election will take place in due date and we are ready to honour the time. We have the responsibility to ensure the elections takes place without any delay,” said Mohamed. Osoble had on Tuesdaysaid he was moving his office to Beletweyne accusing the federal government of being behind his ouster.
Germany Launches $31M Worth Health Projects In Puntland
30 August – Source: Garowe Online – 279 Words
Germany has launched two major new health projects at the health ministry in Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland on Thursday. Puntland Vice President, Abdihakim Abdullahi Omar Amey, and the deputy German Ambassador to Somalia Markus Bollmohr have jointly launched the projects at a well-organized ceremony in Garowe. The projects worth a total of $31.3 million is aimed at strengthening the overall health systems in Puntland between 2017-2019, and Promoting maternal and child health and improved nutrition.
The United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will implement the three-year health projects in Puntland, which are jointly funded by KfW and GIZ – German development bank and agency respectively. Two million people in Puntland are due to benefit from improved health services with generous support from the development cooperation of the German government through KfW Development Bank. Bollmohr said Germany is committed to support Somalia in recovering from the decades-long conflict that ravaged the country’s economic infrastructure and the health sector, affecting mothers and children.
During flagship event in the state capital, Garowe, members of Nugal regional elders highlighted at the importance of the project and thanked Germany for these programs to enhance health care system. Puntland’s Minister of Health, Abdinasir Osman Abdirahman Cuke, said German government also is executing various development projects in Puntland, including construction of Garowe-Galkayo road. Cuke added that the Ministry of Health made remarkable efforts to bring this projects into the region as it is part of the funds used to support Somalia. Puntland Vice President Abdihakim Abdullahi Hajji Omar Amey has expressed his gratitude to the German Government and KfW for the support, and hoped for the implementation of the projects as quickly as possible.
Two Days Off For Somali Civil Servants For Eid Celebrations, Says Labour Ministry
30 August – Source: Goobjoog NewS – 188 Words
An official document from the federal ministry of Labour and Social Affairs indicated that civil servants have been given off for two days during the celebration of Eid, the official documents states “federal ministry of Labour and Social Affairs informs the entire departments of the Somali federal government and private organizations of public holidays for Saturday and Sunday corresponding to 2nd and 3rd of September 2017 God willing”.
1st of September 2017 which falls on the coming Friday is expected to be the first day of the Eid festival for the Muslims around the world that will be celebrated for 3 consecutive days. Eid al-Adha which translates into ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’ is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two. In tribute to this, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: the family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy. Eid al-Adha is the second of the two Eid holidays for Muslims, the former being Eid al-Fitr.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Fetes Uganda Police Officers For Distinguished Role In Stabilizing Somalia
29 August – Source: AMISOM – 264 Words
A contingent of Individual Police Officers (IPOs) from Uganda have been feted by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for their outstanding contribution in stabilizing the country. The officers who have completed their tour of duty were decorated at a function held in Mogadishu on Tuesday, presided by the AMISOM Police Chief of Staff, Rex Dundun.
Also present at the function were senior AMISOM Police officers, among them the AMISOM Police Operations Coordinator, Daniel Ali Gwambal, and the Coordinator Reforms and Restructuring, Maxwell Chikunguru. Mr. Dundun noted that the contingent had been instrumental in helping AMISOM Police implement its mandate, and thanked the government of Uganda for allowing the team to serve the Mission. “Let me start by first thanking the government of Uganda for giving us this group of officers. They are well trained and dedicated,” the Chief of Staff who represented the AMISOM Police Commissioner Brig. Gen. Anand Pillay observed.
He hailed the Ugandan contingent for their diligence, noting that it had worked hard aiding AMISOM stabilize Somalia. “We have noticed some very diligent officers among you. We have noticed some very dedicated and professional officers in you and these qualities have not gone unnoticed,” Mr. Dundun noted. IPOs are tasked with mentoring, advising and training the Somali Police Force (SPF), with whom they collocate at various police stations in Mogadishu and the federal states.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The Somali government’s initial account described those killed as Islamist fighters, although within hours it issued another statement acknowledging that civilians had reportedly been killed. A government commission set up to investigate is due to report on Thursday. Somali officials have meanwhile declined to comment further,”
U.S. Troops Risk Inflaming Clan Conflict After Deadly Somalia Raid
30 August – Source: Reuters – 1402 Words
A raid involving U.S. troops in Somalia has caused a rift between the precarious U.S.-backed government and a powerful clan that says innocent farmers were massacred, months after President Donald Trump approved stepped-up operations there. The U.S. Africa command, Africom, has acknowledged that U.S. forces participated in a ground operation in support of Somali troops in the village of Bariire last week, and says it is investigating reports of civilian deaths.
It did not reply to further questions from Reuters about the incident, the second mission in Somalia this year in which it has acknowledged the participation of U.S. ground troops. A Navy Seal was killed in a raid in May. Last week’s raid took place in an area that had been occupied by Al- Shabaab Islamist militants but was recaptured by government forces earlier in August.
Residents from the Habar Gidir clan, a powerful group spread across south central Somalia, said some villagers had weapons, but only to protect themselves from a rival clan. They said the villagers had nothing to do with militants, who had been driven away before the government forces and U.S. troops launched their raid on Friday. “It was after morning prayers when I heard gunshots. I jumped over a wall made of iron sheets and the boy went out through the small gate,” said Muktar Moalim Abdi, 47, whose 13-year-old nephew was killed in the raid, about 50 km (30 miles) from the capital. “They told me the boy was shot as he tried to take cover under the banana trees,” said Abdi, one of 10 relatives of the victims that spoke to Reuters along with three witnesses of the raid itself. Their statements give the most detailed public account yet of last week’s raid.