September 8, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
U.S. Says Airstrike In Somalia Kills One Al-Shabaab Fighter
08 September – Source: Reuters – 193 Words
The U.S. military said on Friday it had carried out an airstrike in Somalia against an al Qaeda-allied Islamist group and killed one militant, the second such strike this week in which a total of four fighters have died. The group, Al-Shabaab, is fighting to topple Somalia’s Western-backed transitional federal government and impose its own rule on the Horn of Africa country.
In a statement, the U.S. military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it carried out the air strike on Thursday at 2:45 PM local time (1145 GMT). “The operation occurred near Baraawe, Somalia, about 270 kilometres southwest of the capital, Mogadishu,” the statement said. It did not say whether the killed fighter was a senior al Shabaab member or a low ranking militant.
On Tuesday U.S. forces also carried out an airstrike in Bay region, about 75 kilometres west of Mogadishu, killing three members of Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab has lost control of most of Somalia’s cities and towns since it was pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011. But it retains a strong presence in parts of the south and centre and carries out gun and bomb attacks.
Key Headlines
- U.S. Says Airstrike In Somalia Kills One Al-Shabaab Fighter (Reuters)
- Jubbaland Parades Surrendered Al-Shabaab Leader In Bardere (Shabelle News)
- No Funds For Hirshabelle’s Presidential Election Exercise Says State Election Committee
- Somalia To Enjoy First Floodlit Game For 30 Years (FIFA)
- Humanitarian Agencies Urged To Work Together To Strengthen Disaster Response In Somalia (UNSOM)
- Somali Authorities Make Urban Resilience A Priority (World Bank)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Jubbaland Parades Surrendered Al-Shabaab Leader In Bardere
08 September – Source: Shabelle News – 118 Words
The state minister for Jubbaland’s security ministry, Mohamed Abdi Kaliil, along senior state officials have on Thursday displayed in Bardere town Al-Shabaab commander surrendered to regional troops. Kalil said the commander whose name has been identified as Abdi Hassan Heybe was in charge of Al-Shabaab explosions and once became its commissioner of Sablale district in Lower Shabelle region.
Also, the state Minister said Mr. Heybe has defected from his militant group, and gave himself up to Jubbaland forces in Gedo region, south west of Somalia after making contacts with the army officers. The surrendered Al-Shabaab leader is expected to be handed over to Somalia Federal government. Al-Shabaab was unavailable for comments on the alleged defection of Mr. Heybe.
No Funds For Hirshabelle’s Presidential Election Exercise Says State Election Committee
08 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 251 Words
The state presidential election committee of Hirshabele state is in dire need for funds to carry out election activities in the state that is expected to take place on the 12th September, 2017 in Jowhar town. Speaking to Goobjoog News, the state’s deputy electoral committee chair, MP Abukar Hassan Ali described their economic status as well as their activities to execute the election. “We have submitted our election budget need to the federal interior ministry as well as the UN for funds or technical support but up to now we have not received anything.”
The electoral committee has been fully engaged to ensure the smooth running of the election process. “We have been very busy for these past days especially in the preparation on how the election will take place, the election hall venue, the certificates and all other affiliated issues with the election. Everything is in their final stages” said MP Ali. Several state presidential aspirants have been contacting the state election committee though it is now official that only 3 candidates have so far registered for the position.
“We have not encountered even with a single challenge in our operations and the election will take place on its due date. No delay will be entertained.”Officials from the federal interior ministry are expected to be among the election observers during the state presidential election. Already other officials from the federal independent electoral commission are on the ground to provide proper technical guidance and to act as local observers too.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia To Enjoy First Floodlit Game For 30 Years
08 September – Source: FIFA – 126 Words
Somalia are set to see its first floodlit football in three decades, taking place at the country’s oldest stadium which enjoyed redevelopment through FIFA’s Win in Africa with Africa programme.Young footballers from the Banaadir region will be the ones taking to the field under the stars in the Banadir Stadium, Mogadishu, as part of a tournament seeing almost 400 players aged 16-18 competing in the capital.
First opened in 1956, the ground suffered the impact of civil war since its last renovation in the 1980s before FIFA-funded work undertaken in 2009 breathed new life back into the storied stadium.The landmark match, taking place on 8 September, will see players representing Waaberi District take on Hodan District in what is the local competition’s third edition.
Humanitarian Agencies Urged To Work Together To Strengthen Disaster Response In Somalia
07 September – Source: UNSOM – 525 Words
The Federal Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Maryam Qasim urged international humanitarian agencies in Somalia to collaborate more closely with local aid organizations to deliver assistance to the intended recipients during a meeting held in Mogadishu yesterday.
The conference brought together local and international organizations engaged in delivering humanitarian aid to drought victims. Minister Qasim said the federal government was working to institutionalize national disaster management to promote effective disaster preparedness.
The minister called for greater involvement of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector in the funding and assistance to vulnerable groups in order to foster a culture of resilience and safety in communities.
“We need to promote the growing role of local responders and the private sector. We need to see more local investment going through the local responders. Today, more than ever, we need to work with local responders and ensure they are prepared to manage huge funding and that systems are in place to ensure that aid reaches its intended recipients,” Dr. Qasim added.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Evidence indicates that infrastructure development projects can have social, human and economic impacts and outcomes for targeted communities. Infrastructure development furthermore can have different impacts and outcomes on men and women, influencing access to services and economic opportunities, resource allocations, and participation in community decision-making.”
Somali Authorities Make Urban Resilience A Priority
08 September – Source: World Bank – 866 Words
Somalia’s economic potential is well-known: it has the longest coastline in mainland Africa, a thriving private sector, a young labor force and untapped natural wealth. Moreover, members of the Somali diaspora are returning to Somalia with much-needed capital for growth and development. But what will this potential amount to if urban areas are unable to deal with stresses and shocks related to drought, floods and insecurity? Urban resilience is the ability of communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow, regardless of the chronic stresses and acute shocks they may experience.
How well does this description reflect Somali cities? That question became pressing in the first half of 2017, where Somalia faced its worst drought in decades. Over half the population an estimated 6.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance and recovery support. Over 680’000 people were displaced in the same time period, most of whom were displaced from rural to urban areas.
The vulnerability of the urban poor escalated due to pressure from urbanization, the competition for scarce resources, and weak governance structures. Confronted by these challenges, Somali authorities responded with the support of the World Bank through the Somali Urban Investment Planning Project (SUIPP). Local governments have taken the lead in identifying select urban investments that can help improve urban resilience in their respective cities.
The project assesses the feasibility and prepares preliminary designs for these prioritized selected urban investments and also helps prepare municipalities to oversee their construction by building procurement, financial management capacities. Administered by the World Bank through the Multi-Partner Fund (MPF), SUIPP increases the ability of local Somali authorities to prepare and implement urban development projects.
TOP TWEETS
.@JamalMOsman: Ilhan Omar is the first #Somali-American#Muslim person to become a legislator:
.@IlwadElman: #JorneyToExtremism is now available 4Download on UNDP website. Great discussion today! The real work in acting on the findings starts now!
.@engyarisow: The Government of Somalia is ramping up their efforts to increase urban resilience with the aim of reducing…
@SahraCabdi: First museum opens in Somaliland to preserve history of its secession
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: African Rights Monitor condemns the handover of ONLF official to Ethiopia, says he risks torture, execution: statement
.@mohamedhashi252: Political awareness of Somali people have increased when you look at the ongoing rebellion and political outcry about #QalbiDhagax issue.
.@Aynte: Kudos to my brother @AbdihakimAinte & his colleagues for launching #Somalia-‘s first innovation hub.#SomaliaRising
@DrBeileh: Proud of @MofSomalia efforts in fiscal reforms. The road ahead is long but we will get there. #RevenueGeneration#Transprency #Reforms
@SomaliPM: Pleased to have received in my office today World Bank Country Director, Ms. Bella Bird ⅓ #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Kheyre meets World Bank country director, Bella Bird in his office.
Photo: Radio Muqdisho