November 22, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somalia And UAE Agree To Enhance Bilateral Relations-Government
22 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 221 Words
Somali and United Arab Emirates governments have agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties further following talks between the heads of the two countries, yesterday in Abu Dhabi, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Wednesday. State Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdikadir Ahmed Kheyr said, President Farmaajo and his UAE host Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zaid held talks on a range of bilateral issues. “Yesterday he had spoken with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zaid in his castle in the presence of other UAE officials. The two had a productive discussion as you know, UAE government support Somalia on many fronts including security, economy, development, investment and health sectors” said Kheyr.
The minister noted the President thanked the UAE government for its humanitarian response during the October 14 terror attack in Mogadishu, which left over 350 people dead. “President Farmaajo thanked him abundantly on the quick response by the UAE regarding the deadly attack on the 14th October 2017, sending medical supplies and the subsequent airlifting some of the injured.” The President also held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and UAE Armed Forces Deputy Supreme Commander Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The two sides discussed cooperation to combat terrorism, violence and armed groups and coordinate joint work to maintain security and stability in Somalia. They also reviewed regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest.
Key Headlines
- Somalia And UAE Agree To Enhance Bilateral Relations-Government (Goobjoog News)
- Somaliland’s Main Opposition Candidate Concedes Election Defeat (Somali Update)
- Security Minister To Present The Anti-terrorism Bill Before Parliament (Jowhar.com)
- Breakaway State Somaliland Has Elected A Former Rebel Commander As Its New President (Quartz Africa)
- Sufi Militants Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaa Joins War Against Al-Shabaab (Radio Dalsan)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland’s Main Opposition Candidate Concedes Election Defeat
22 November – Source: Somali Update – 325 Words
Somaliland’s main opposition Wadani Party’s flag-bearer, Mr. Abdirahman Abdullahi Irro has rescinded his decision to defy poll results, saying he is ready to take up his new role as an opposition rival. Somaliland electoral commission on Tuesday declares Mr. Muse Abdi Bihi as the president-elect for the coming five years, after last week’s highly contested election. Mr. Bihi, a veteran former military pilot, and the ruling Kulmiye Party’s candidate won against two opposition rivals: Mr. Cirro of Wadani and Feisal Ali Warabe of UCID.
In a passionate plea to his supporters who earlier engaged in clashes with the police over alleged poll irregularities said, Somaliland needs to move on. “I concede that Mr Bihi will be the fifth president of Somaliland, I don’t want my desire to hold this post destroy my country and shed my people’s blood, I know there were irregularities and the commission declared false results but, I only accepted this for the sake of my people, not for Mr. Bihi or his Kulmiye party,” Irro expressed, feeling ill over his defeat. He said all candidates who participated in the election have the responsibility of bringing people together. He also thanked all those who supported his presidential bid. “I thank all my colleagues for their overwhelming support till end of the D-day. I also thank Somaliland people from all corners of the country, who voted for me,” Irro said.
On Monday, Irro told the media that he would disassociate himself from the results of poll agency if Mr. Bihi is declared winner. According to Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC), results for the presidential race in an election that saw 80% turnout ( around 556,617 out of 704,089 registered voters), Mr. Bihi had garnered a total of 305,909 votes (55 per cent) against Mr. Irro’s 226,092 votes (40.7 per cent). Mr. Bihi will be replacing the octogenarian president, Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo who has been in the office since 2010.
Security Minister To Present The Anti-terrorism Bill Before Parliament
22 November – Source: Jowhar.com – 103 Words
Federal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow is today set to present the anti-terrorism and the arms control bills before the parliament. Both bills were previously endorsed by the Council of Ministers. Both bills were prepared and tabled by the Ministry of Internal Security, after passing various stages before it will finally be approved.
The anti-terrorism bill was brought before the ninth parliament but, lawmakers neither debated about it nor passed it. Attached with the two bills is a request by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire calling on the MPs to immediately pass the bills as they are important for the country’s security reform efforts.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Breakaway State Somaliland Has Elected A Former Rebel Commander As Its New President
21 November- Source: Quartz, Africa – 268 Words
The self-declared state of Somaliland has elected a former air force pilot and rebel commander as its third president since breaking away from Somalia in 1991. Somaliland’s election commission declared Musa Bihi Abdi of the ruling Kulmiye party the presidential winner, with a little more than 55% of the vote. Somaliland, which is considered by the international community as a territory in Somalia, is known as a pocket of stability in the Horn of Africa. It’s held four peaceful elections, including presidential races in 2003 and 2010 as well as a parliamentary election in 2005. Despite more than two decades of diplomatic isolation, the territory of 4 million people has enjoyed stable economic growth, fueled by Somali diaspora returning to the region to invest, as well as investors from the Gulf.
This most recent poll, on Nov 14, was meant to bolster the territory’s bid for recognition from the international community. The breakaway state has its own army, currency, and government. Election officials bragged that on election day Somaliland used Africa’s most advanced anti-fraud techniques, iris recognition technology. Local officials say that Somaliland’s unique government, a combination of indigenous governance embodied in a house of elders, and Western democratic institutions, is why it has enjoyed more stability than Somalia. But the election was marred by protests in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa, a well as the cities Burao and Erigavo, as the opposition party, Waddani, accused the election commission of vote rigging. At least two were killed in clashes with security. Telecommunications companies were also asked to block more than a dozen social media sites including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“As I said earlier and I repeat it; we have been in war with Al-Shabaab for a long time and we will continue doing so until Al-Shabaab is no more in this country. Having said that, let me also take this opportunity and tell fellow Somalis to heed the President’s call and confront those killing our mothers and fathers; this brutal group that has invaded our country. Every Somali citizen is duty-bound to heed the head of state’s call.”
Sufi Militants Ahlul Sunnah Wa Jamaa Joins War Against Al-Shabaab
21 November – Source: Radio Dalsan – 568 Words
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo recently announced a war against Al-Shabaab and urged the country’s federal member states to join the war. For their part, the regional administrations leaders have promised support for the war announced by the President. Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama , a Somali moderate Islamist group, has vowed to join the war.
The group’s defence secretary, Sheikh Hussein Isaaq Mursal (Gesa Dhere), in an interview with Radio Dalsan, said his group will continue fighting until Al-Shabaab is no more. “My brother, as you know, the country is generally preparing for an offensive aimed at eradicating this group, Al-Shabaab, which is posing menace to Somalia and to the Horn of Africa region in general, so, God willing, we hope to accomplish this task since the President announced an all-out war against the group.” Said Dhere
In response to the President’s call to Somalis of all walks of life to wage war against Al-Shabaab, Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama, has already been engaged in such a war with this group but it is now ready to scale it up in order to put the group’s threats to an end; this group that is literally massacring our mothers and our children. We have to put its menace to an end and save our people from these men. What they are doing is indeed unacceptable and Ahlu Sunnah cannot sit back and watch as they butcher our people.
TOP TWEETS
@BashiirMaxmud: #Somalia: Mine blast reported in#Mogadishu‘s #Hodan district. govt forces in #Tarabuunka area targeted, casualties are yet to confirm. #Alshabaab claim to be the masterminds of this assault.
@taqwamedia3: GOOD MOVE: Ahlul Sunnah wal-jamaa members join Somalia Federal Government in a United fight against #AlShabaab.
@Goobjoognews: MUSE BIHI wins poll with 55% to extend Kulmiye’s rule in Somaliland –
@DalsanFM: BREAKING #Somaliland Opposition Waddani Party Presidential candidate Abdirahman Irro concedes defeat to Kulmiye’s Muse Bihii “for the sake of peace and unity among Somaliland”
@engyarisow: Thanks to @MariamYassinHY for organising two days public consultation to raise awareness of the Tahriib phenomenon
@DalsanFM: The 69 year old Muse Bihi Abdi, 69 is a former Somali airforce officer and rebel commander. He served as Minister of Interior Security and became Kulmiye’s President two years ago.
@MoPIED_Somalia: The 33rd Ministerial Session of #COMCECofficially opened by the President of Turkey & the Chairman of#COMCEC. #Somalia is well represented
@US2SOMALIA: U.S. Conducts Airstrike in Support of the Federal Government of #Somalia – https://go.usa.gov/xnKZb
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Photo: @Goobjoog News