December 11, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Several Al-Shabaab Militants Killed In Somalia Military Operation
10 December – Source: Xinhuanet – 92 Words
Several Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Sunday in a military operation in Somalia’s southwestern region, officials said. South West State spokesman Noradin Abokar told journalists that the militants were killed in a joint operation by federal and state forces in Burhakaba district in Bay region.
“The militants were hiding in the area and waylaying public transport vehicles and demanding levies,” the official said “Several others were captured,” Abokar said, but did not indicate the number. Somali forces have been conducting heightened operations in the region, forcing the militants out of several hideout.
Key Headlines
- Several Al-Shabaab Militants Killed In Somalia Military Operation (Xinhuanet)
- Somali Government Committed To Improve Business President Farmaajo (Hiiraan Online)
- President Gaas Obstructing Multiparty Politics- UDAD Party Chair (Goobjoog News)
- Somali PM Vows To Fight Any Form Of Corruption (Shabelle Media)
- Sisi Orders Medical Aid To Be Sent To Somalia (Egypt Independent)
- Pentagon Foresees At Least Two More Years Of Combat In Somalia (New York Times)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Government Committed To Improve Business, President Farmaajo
09 December – Source: Hiiraan Online – 192 Words
The Somali government is working hard to improve the business environment in the country and make it a more preferred investment destination, Villa Somalia said on Friday. Somali president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and six other heads of State have gathered in Sharm El-Sheik to discuss on bolstering of investment and economic ties
The president said the Horn of Africa nation is ripe for investment after recovering from decades of decades of anarchy and civil war. “Our government is committed to improving the investment environment to create a win-win situation, all stakeholders would benefit from investment key to Nabad (peace) & Nolal (life),” said the president in a twitter post.
During the African Business Forum 2017, Somali President is expected to hold talks with the leaders from the continent on investment and strengthening Somalia’s relations the countries in the continent. The theme of the forum is “driving investment for inclusive growth” and will be concluded on Saturday. The forum comes barely four days after Somali leaders called for greater investment in Somalia’s economic development to create job opportunities and improve the living conditions of Somali people following the conclusion Somali Partnership Forum in Mogadishu.
President Gaas Obstructing Multiparty Politics- UDAD Party Chair
09 December – Source: Goobjoog News – 192 Words
The chairman of Puntland’s UDAD party Said Mohamed has accused the state president Abdiweli Gaas of attempts to frustrate opposition parties and the realization of multi-party democracy. Mohamed told Goobjoog News despite 20 years of existence as a state, little progress had been registered in Puntland towards multi-party politics. “This system (multiparty) is not progressing. It is being obstructed by the Puntland president. After 20 years of Puntland state formation, nothing has changed,” said Mohamed.
The politician noted some politicians were opposed to multi-party politics as they feared they might lose in the elections if it is implemented. He underscored the importance of the public to defend and shape their lives for the better through public demonstrations to express their dissatisfaction on the state of affairs and to demand to elect their own leaders. “The best way for implementation is by public awareness; for them to stand up through public demonstrations for their interests because they are the ones who are on the receiving end on the effects of mismanagement, corruption, health problems and poor education services.” Gaas was elected January 14, 2014 for a five year term which expires next year.
Somali PM Vows To Fight Any Form Of Corruption
10 December – Source: Shabelle Media – 142 Words
Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire said his government is committed to fighting corruption as the country was commemorating Anti-corruption Day. The PM said during a ceremony to mark World Anti Corruption Day on Saturday, Khaire said his government endorsed the Anti-corruption commission’s regulations. “My Government is determined not to tolerate any form of corruption and is geared towards eradicating such malpractice,” said Somali PM in a social media post.
Prime minister Khaire assured that his government would be carrying out actions and mechanisms set out in their anti-corruption code to fight the rampant rise of the vice. Khaire’s sentiment coincides with UN’s report for World Anti-corruption Day saying billions are paid in bribes annually across the globe. For over two decades, Somalia has been the top list of most corrupt countries in the world, according to Corruption Watchdog and Transparency agencies.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Sisi Orders Medical Aid To Be Sent To Somalia
10 December – Source: Egypt Independent – 287 Words
Based on the orders of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to relieve the difficult situation of the people of Somalia, General Sedky Sobhy, General Commander of Armed Forces and Minister of Defense, ordered the preparation of medical supplies and medicine to be transferred to Somalia. A plane loaded with the supplies took off to Mogadishu airport, carrying a team of medics to treat patients and transfer those in need to additional care to Egyptian military hospitals.
This comes as part of the Egyptian initiative towards its African counterparts for cooperation. Somalia has faced instability since its creation in 1960. Before that, Somalia was a British protectorate. Following the overthrow of its regime in 1991, Somalia entered into a period of political and social uncertainty. Because of its clan-based system, successive governments failed to establish a control over the country. However, in 2012, an internationally-backed government managed to slowly move Somalia towards stability.
The country still faces threats from Al-Qaeda-backed Al-Shabab insurgents. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said conditions are now in place in Somalia for it to achieve necessary development, according to BBC Timeline. Since the Somali crisis broke out, Egypt has been involved in mediating between the fighting parties and hosted the Somali National Reconciliation Conference in 1997, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“However, it is also not clear whether altering that standard would result in any changes on the ground in Somalia. Mr. Trump has already approved declaring much of Somalia an “area of active hostilities,” a designation for places where war zone targeting rules apply, under an Obama-era system for such operations that Mr. Trump has since replaced.”
Pentagon Foresees At Least Two More Years Of Combat In Somalia
10 December – Source: New York Times – 1217 Words
Amid its escalating campaign of drone strikes in Somalia, the Pentagon has presented the White House with an operational plan that envisions at least two more years of combat against Islamist militants there, according to American officials familiar with internal deliberations. The proposed plan for Somalia would be the first under new rules quietly signed by President Trump in October for counterterrorism operations outside conventional war zones. The American military has carried out about 30 airstrikes in Somalia this year, twice as many as in 2016. Nearly all have come since June, including a Nov. 21 bombing that killed over 100 suspected militants at al-Shabab training camp.
In a sign that the Defense Department does not envision a quick end to the deepening war in Somalia against the Shabab and the Islamic State, the proposed plan is said to include an exemption to a rule in Mr. Trump’s guidelines requiring annual vetting by staff from other agencies — including diplomats and intelligence officials — of operational plans for certain countries.
Instead, the Pentagon wants to wait 24 months before reviewing how the Somalia plan is working, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Moreover, they said, the Defense Department wants to conduct that review internally, without involvement from other agencies — a request that would further a Trump-era pattern of giving the Pentagon greater latitude and autonomy.
Luke Hartig, a senior director for counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council during the Obama administration, said he supported delegating some greater authority to the Pentagon over such matters, but found it “problematic” that the military wanted to be unleashed for so long without broader oversight. “A ton can happen in 24 months, particularly in the world of counterterrorism and when we’re talking about a volatile situation on the ground, like we have in Somalia with government formation issues and famine issues,” he said. “That’s an eternity.”
The Defense Department has submitted the plan to the National Security Council for approval by other agencies. Representatives for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and for the council declined to comment on the details, other than to stress that the military took seriously its need to mitigate or prevent killings of civilian bystanders. “We are not going to broadcast our targeting policies to the terrorists that threaten us, but we will say in general that our counterterrorism policies continue to reflect our values as a nation,” said Marc Raimondi, a National Security Council spokesman. “The United States will continue to take extraordinary care to mitigate civilian casualties, while addressing military necessity in defeating our enemy.”