September 18, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
South West Accuses Farmaajo Of Indecisiveness, Sides With Saudi Arabia In Gulf Feud
18 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 552 Words
South West state has joined Puntland in breaking ranks with the Federal Government to align itself with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, further weakening the government’s neutral stand in the ongoing Gulf Crisis. In a statement on Monday, South West state accused the Federal Government of dragging its feet on the matter for two months after a national forum bringing together leaders of regional administrations and the federal government expressed its reservations against the neutral stand. “We expressed at the leadership Forum held in Mogadishu, on July 2017, that Somalia cannot take a neutral position because of our historical relationship as well as strategic partnership we have with UAE and Saudi Arabia,” stated the press release.
Citing historical, cultural and commercial relationships with UAE and Saudi, Sharif Hassan Adan administration said, the Forum held the view ‘the current position will alienate Somalis in general, and these two regions with its natural Gulf allies,”. South West state says President Mohamed Farmaajo’s administration requested for time to come up with ways to review the position and concerns of the states but has since not charted the way forward. “Because of the elapsed time , and the Federal Government’s uncompromising position on this matter, South West State of Somalia have no choice but to stand with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. To fight extremism in any form, and their firm stance on the relations to this issue,” the regional state concluded in what could further erode the Farmaajo’s resolve on this issue.
South West State’s decision comes exactly a month after the semi-autonomous region, Puntland declared its allegiance to Saudi Arabia and UAE in the three month old Gulf feud noting Somalia’s neutral stand was no longer tenable in light of economic and security challenges. “We acknowledge the fact that the Middle East issue will not be resolved anytime soon and the continuing crisis will have security as well as developmental implications throughout Somalia,” the statement read in part.” The UN warned last week the Gulf Crisis was strangling investment and revenue streams for Somalia, ‘Federal Government’s declaration of neutrality, while receiving widespread support, has not gone down well with certain constituencies.” Villa Somalia announced June it would not be taking any sides in the Gulf issue even as a number of Muslim African countries among them Djibouti, Egypt, and Senegal threw their weight behind Saudi Arabia in what observers read as bold stand by President Farmaajo in stamping Somalia’s right to decide its own fate on the matter.
But the move by Puntland and South West states, two of the country’s most influential in terms of political clout could shake the ground further. The former HirShabelle state president Abdullahi Ali Osoble released a similar statement as Puntland last month two days after he was ousted by the state assembly. It is not however clear if other regional administrations could follow suit however, the breakaway region of Somaliland had from the beginning supported Saudi Arabia. The economic influence of the UAE on state governments could lend credence to their decisions in breaking ranks with Federal Government. Two of UAE’s state owned port management companies, DP World and P&O have both signed multi-million investment agreements Somaliland and Puntland respectively with talks of similar pacts to manage Kismayu Jubbaland and Barawe (HirShabelle) ports in the future.
Key Headlines
- South West Accuses Farmaajo Of Indecisiveness Sides With Saudi Arabia In Gulf Feud (Goobjoog News)
- Prime Minister Hassan Kheyre Hits Back At Critics Of His Government (Hiiraan Online)
- Over A Hundred Arrested In Mogadishu Swoop Carried Out By Mogadishu Stabilization Forces (Jowhar.com)
- President Farmaajo Receives Somali Authors At The Presidential Palace (Hiiraan Online)
- Somali Militants Assassinate Intelligence Official (Voice of America)
- Nine Killed During ‘Mistaken’ Combat Between Security Forces (Bernama News)
- How Generating Employment in the Fisheries Sector is Vital for Women (Somali Update)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Prime Minister Hassan Kheyre Hits Back At Critics Of His Government
18 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 141 Words
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre has hit back at critics of his government, saying they are ignoring achievements being made his administration and are aimed at undermining the government. Speaking at the National Academy of Sciences and Arts in, Prime Minister Kheyre said: “There are people who are against the progress being achieved by the Somali government and its people. But we are however doing a great job that is worth praise,” he stated.
During his early days in office, Prime Minister Kheyre promised to revitalize the Somali language and culture, issuing a decree that called on government staff and civil servants to use the Somali language for their internal communications in a bid to preserve the Somali language. His remarks came amid increasing opposition facing his government from politicians and intellectuals over the recent handover of the ONLF official Qalbi-dhagah.
Over A Hundred Arrested In Mogadishu Swoop Carried Out By Mogadishu Stabilization Forces
18 September – Source: Jowhar.com – 88 Words
More than a hundred people were Sunday night arrested in a crackdown in Mogadishu. The crackdown followed a spate of assassinations and clashes involving government forces. During the operation that was conducted in the neighborhoods in Warta Nabadda District, soldiers made a door-to-door search, arresting more than a hundred people mostly youth. Some of the detainees were released while others are being held in custody for further questioning. Security officials are yet to comment on the crackdown that came on the heels of increased Al-Shabaab attacks in the capital.
President Farmaajo Receives Somali Authors At The Presidential Palace
18 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 117 Words
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Sunday night received a group of Somali authors who attended the recently concluded Mogadishu Book Fair, at Villa Somalia. The President was awarded books and arts displayed at the three-day book event as a gift. The authors and the president discussed issues pertaining to challenges on writing and publications in Somalia as well as matters relating to the Somali language and culture. The authors thanked President Farmaajo for the warm reception and his encouragement to them. President Farmaajo inspired the authors to double their efforts as writing is one of the basic foundations of life. He also thanked the organizers of the book fair and their dedication to better serve their society.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Militants Assassinate Intelligence Official
17 September – Source: Voice of America – 183 Words
The Al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the killing of a senior intelligence officer and his bodyguard in a drive-by shooting in southern Mogadishu. Mohamud Moallim Hassan Qoley was fatally injured in the Midday shooting Sunday in Dharkaynlay district, officials said. Qoley was chief of intelligence at Mogadishu’s Kahda area, one of the capital’s 17 districts. “There were two bodyguards with him, the shooting came from a car that was hiding in an alleyway, one of the bodyguards died on the spot, the officer was rushed to the hospital, but he passed away,” Ismail said.
Meanwhile, four government soldiers were killed after Al-Shabaab militants attacked a military checkpoint in the Hiran region north of Mogadishu. Local officials told VOA the attack occurred at dawn Sunday. Four others were injured, sources say. Militants made away with weapons seized from the soldiers at a checkpoint on a highway linking Somalia to Ethiopia. It’s the fourth major attack on a government camp this month by Al-Shabaab. The militants have raided government-controlled towns of Bulogudud, Beled Hawo and El-Wak, killing dozens of soldiers and seizing weapons.
Nine Killed During ‘Mistaken’ Combat Between Security Forces
18 September – Source: Bernama News – 390 Words
Fighting between the military and police backed by intelligence forces killed nine people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Saturday, police said. “It seems they mistook the Somali national army for (clan) militias. The death toll is nine people including a civilian,” Major Abdullahi Hussein, a police officer, said. He said the fighting occurred because police were wrongly informed that there were armed militias in the area. “Accidents happen,” he said.
Somalia has been riven by civil war since 1991, when clan-based warlords overthrew a dictator then turned against each other. The weak U.N.-backed government is now battling an Islamist insurgency, but many members of its security forces are badly trained and coordination is poor. “Last night security forces (the police and intelligence) besieged us and then opened fire. We defended ourselves and chased the so-called security forces after hours of fighting today. We lost two soldiers and a wife of my colleague,” Major Nur Osman, a military officer, said.
“The land belongs to the military, it houses the families of soldiers. However, the security forces were trying to force us off the land,” he said.Residents said the fighting was terrifying. “We were awoken last night – by gunfire. We took our babies on our shoulders and fled,” resident Mohamed Idle said. Meanwhile, Al shabaab militants were reported to have retaken a key town in central Somalia on Sunday following a deadly attack which killed at least six soldiers, according to the locals.
The fighters mounted in battle wagons launched the attack on military base in Kalabeyr from two different directions and engaged in a fierce gunfight with government forces. Reports from the area indicate that both sides have exchanged heavy weaponry and machine guns during the confrontation that raged on for several hours in the morning. Al shabaab has intensified its raids against Somali government controlled towns in South and central Somalia over the past few days, to topple the UN-backed Federal government. In a separate incident on Saturday, insurgents briefly entered the town of El Wak in Gedo region, southern Somalia, near the border with Kenya. “A few soldiers were in El Wak and they left in the morning for tactical practice. Many al Shabaab fighters advanced,” Captain Ibrahim Ali, a military officer, said. Al Shabaab said they stayed briefly, took weapons and supplies, and left.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“A fellow trainee, Asma Ahmed Ali, added that she joined the project at the urging of her family. “My mother encouraged me to join the training, and I believe the practical skills I am learning will help me to get a new job.” Coastal women in Somalia are far too familiar with the dangers associated with fishing”.
How Generating Employment in the Fisheries Sector is Vital for Women?
18 September – Source: Somali Update – 1147 Words
Rebuilding the fisheries sector in Somalia, following years of conflict, is crucial for strengthening food security and nutrition among the Somali population and generating employment in the sector. In Somalia today, over one million people face severe food insecurity, while an estimated 307,800 children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, according to FAO data. Generating employment in the fisheries sector is also key, especially for women. Employment rates are particularly low for women, with the 2012 Human Development Report index placing that figure at 75% unemployment among Somali women.
For this reason, FAO’s fisheries activities in Somalia are working to include women in specialized training that will help strengthen fisheries activities in the Horn of Africa nation, while simultaneously creating sustainable employment in the sector for both men and women, and allowing women, with their newly developed skills, to play a key role in Somalia’s strengthened fisheries sector. A Norwegian-funded component of the fisheries programme developed with FAO has focused on the need to build better and safer vessels for small-scale Somali fishermen, replacing the unsafe boats currently being used by the majority of coastal fishers.
In addition to sub-standard safety specifications, they are also fuel inefficient. The FAO-Norway project has developed vessels appropriate to the needs and activities of artisanal, small-scale fishers in Somalia. The vessels are built to full FAO safety specifications and include in built insulated ice boxes that can reduce the consumption of ice and increase catch quality. The first two new designs incorporated into this project – 7-meters and 10-meters – have been completed and have passed rigorous sea trials. Boat building is currently taking place in Mogadishu, Berbera and Bossaso. During this year, with additional funds from the EU, construction activities will expand to the remote Indian Ocean communities of Hobyo and Eyl.
According to FAO’s Head of Fleet Renewal in Somalia, Mike Savins, “It’s crucial that we ensure that Somalis are leading the efforts to build quality vessels in Somalia, vessels that will be competitively priced and enable private sector operators to successfully take over the work we have started. We were approached by women’s representatives asking they be included in the training, glass reinforced plastic hull repair was a task traditionally performed by women in the past, but these skills were lost when Somali institutions collapsed in the 1990s. ” The success of the trials has generated significant interest in the new vessels, and private sector companies are already showing interest in purchasing boats directly from the boat yards being trained.
TOP TWEETS
.@Goobjoognews: MILITARY TRUST Fund suffers another blow as second member quits
@HarunMaruf:Somalia’s Southwest regional admin bypasses the federal govt, declares it’s siding with Saudi Arabia and UAE against Qatar.
.@SahraCabdi: This is the place that 5 children died. It’s IDPS in Kismayo. The mother looked for the dailylife, when fire caught the house.
.@engyarisow: Congratulations to Mohamed Abdi Ware 4 becoming the President of #HirShabelle State of #Somalia, I wish him 2 succeed in bringing prosperity
.@SahraCabdi: Very Popular Som singer #MaryanMursal, lands the divided city of #Galkacyo, waving the “White Flag” to empower peace. She chilled Camel Milk
.@Goobjoognews: DROUGHT COMMITTEE appeals for help to deal with aid cartels in Mogadishu
@BashiirMaxmud: #Somalia: lifeless body of a man seen in#Ceeldheere village around #Dhuusamareeb town in#Galgaduud region @Mogadishuupdate
@DeeqAfrika: A dream come true @iRiseHub #Mogadishu‘s innovation hub almost ready for the launch #SomaliaRising#SomaliTech #SomaliWomenInTech
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somali PM, Hassan Ali Kheyre, gives a speech during his visit to the Somali Academy of Arts and Literature.
Photo: @SomaliPM