December 13, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somaliland Presidential Inauguration Ceremony To Be Held Today
13 December – Source: Goobjoog News – 261 Words
The breakaway region of Somaliland will today hold the presidential inauguration of its president-elect Musa Bihi Abdi of Kulmiye Party in Hargeysa, the state. The event is expected to be graced by regional and international delegates including a former Somaliland president Dahir Riyale Kahim who is expected to travel in from France according to BBC Somali reporter in the region.
Bihi becomes the 5th president of Somaliland since it declared secession from Somalia in 1991. He will take over from the outgoing leader Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo who has been in office since 2010. They both hail from Kulmiye Party. President Bihi is deputized by Abdirahman Seyli’i. The other contending two parties were UCID’s headed by Faisal Ali Warabe and Waddani led by Abdirahman Irro. The local constitution’s limits the number of contending parties to 3 only.
In late November, Somaliland Electoral Commission chairman Abdikadir Iman Warsame announced Bihi winner having garnered 350,909 votes translating to 55.19% of the vote while his opponent Waddani’s Abdirahman Irro came second with 226,099 (40.73%). UCID’s Faisal Ali Warabe trailed at a distant third with 23,141 (4.17%).
The presidential election was successfully held in mid November across the region. The voting exercise was largely peaceful except on few skirmishes when Waddani Presidential candidate Abdirahman Irro cited voting irregularities but later accepted the process when he met with Somaliland National Electoral Commission (SNEC) chairperson Abdikadir Iman Warsame and they agreed on the way forward. It’s the 5th presidential elections since the region declared self independence from Somalia in the early 1990s.
Key Headlines
- Somaliland Presidential Inauguration Ceremony To Be Held Today (Goobjoog News)
- Lower Shabelle Administration Dismisses Al-Shabaab Claims (Dhacdo.com)
- Somalia’s Finance Minister Meets with IMF Delegation in Nairobi (SONNA)
- Pakistan Somalia To Further Strengthen Ties At All Levels (Radio Shabelle)
- Pakistan Somalia To Further Strengthen Ties At All Levels (Xinhuanet)
- Government Of Italy Grants United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Somalia Three Million Euros For The Reduction Of Maternal Mortality In Somalia (Africa News Room)
- The world’s Largest Refugee Camp: What The Future Holds For Dadaab (The Conversation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Lower Shabelle Administration Dismisses Al-Shabaab Claims
13 December – Source: Dhacdo.com – 148 Words
Lower Shabelle administration has dismissed Al-Shabaab claims that Tuesday’s air strike in Mubarak hit a civilian vehicle instead of an Al-Shabaab vehicle. Al-Shabaab on Tuesday displayed the photos of a damaged mini-bus transporting vegetable consignments. The driver and his assistant were not near the bus when the strikes hit their vehicle, it said.
Lower Shabelle’s deputy commissioner for security, Ali Nuure Mohamed, said the strikes happened as planned destroying an Al-Shabaab vehicle laden with explosives. Speaking to VOA Somali, Mohamed said that Al-Shabaab is known to mislead the public when such attacks hit its targets. “It is the work of the evil-doers to hide the truth and sometimes create confusion. It is never possible for them to admit their casualty. They have never done that before,” noted Mohamed. Mohamed added that the Mubarak air raid was part of the recent operations underway in Lower Shabelle targeting Al-Shabaab hideouts.
Somalia’s Finance Minister Meets with IMF Delegation in Nairobi
12 December – Source: Somali National News Agency (SONNA) – 127 Words
Delegates from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Minister of Finance for the Federal government of Somalia Dr Abdirahman Du’ale Beyle have met in Nairobi, and discussed about the possibility of strengthening financial support of IMF to Somalia. During the meeting, Somalia Finance Minister described that the government succeeded the financial management process, through accountability.
“If we continue the accountability and progressive achievement regarding the financial system, Somalia will arrive at appointed where the world will forgive the loans, and recover from long time economic problems in the country, “the minister told during the press conference in Mogadishu. The head of the IMF to Somalia welcomes the achievement of financial system made by Federal Government of Somalia, adding that IMF will continue to stand with Somali government.
Pakistan, Somalia To Further Strengthen Ties At All Levels
13 December – Source: Radio Shabelle – 244 Words
Pakistan and Somalia have agreed to further strengthen their relations both at bilateral and multilateral levels. The understanding was reached when Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met President of Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on the sidelines of the Extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on Al-Quds Al-Sharif being held in Istanbul on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest during the meeting. The prime minister accompanied by the Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and high officials reached Istanbul on Tuesday for OIC Summit which would discuss the US decision of shifting its embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem.
The Extraordinary OIC Summit is expected to be attended by Heads of States and Governments of 26 Islamic States. Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, at the Summit, will convey the sentiments of the people and government of Pakistan of the unequivocal support to the people of Palestine. He will stress upon the OIC for a united stance on the issue of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and call upon the US administration to review its decision.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also held a meeting with Mayor Istanbul Mevlut Uysal. Both the leaders exchanged views over increasing cooperation between Punjab and Istanbul. Both the leaders condemned US declaration regarding Jerusalem. Mr. Shahbaz Sharif said that Turkey has been very close to my heart, adding that Pakistan and Turkey have historical brotherly ties.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Terrible Famine Avoided In Somalia: UN Official
13 December – Source: Xinhuanet – 336 Words
A UN official on Tuesday said that a combination of early action by the government and the United Nations, a speedy response from international donors and a massive scaling-up of assistance have avoided a bad famine in Somalia. George Conway, UN Development Program Country Director for Somalia, speaking by phone from Mogadishu to a press briefing here in Geneva that the drought occurred in 2017 was worse than that of 2011, when famine had killed 250,000 people, but “this time famine had been avoided through”.
At the beginning of 2017, the UN had issued a famine alert for Somalia and the president of the country had declared a national disaster. Since then, the Somali government and its partners had been providing emergency assistance to 3 million people every month, he said.
The government had also been taking concrete steps to find ways to break the cycle of recurrent humanitarian emergencies and to take concerted action to prevent future drought situations turning into famines, the official added. “Progress in the State- and institution-building agenda over the past five years, including more effective governance institutions and investment in stabilizing key regional capitals, had enabled a more robust response than had been possible in 2011,” he noted.
Government Of Italy Grants United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Somalia Three Million Euros For The Reduction Of Maternal Mortality In Somalia
12 December – Source: Africa News Room – 445 Words
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, via the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, is making a contribution of 3 million Euros towards the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s new Country Programme for Somalia over the period 2017-2020. In partnership with UNFPA, this generous contribution will support the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts in reducing maternal deaths, unmet need for birth spacing, and ending violence and harmful practices against women and girls.
The Ambassador of Italy to Somalia HE Mr. Carlo Campanile said: “by financing the UNFPA Somalia Country Program 2018 – 2020, Italy shows not only its firm commitment to address all the main sexual and reproductive health issues. We also want to reaffirm our strong will to do it in close partnership with the Federal Government and the Federal Member States. We have enthusiastically embraced the support of UNFPA CPD 2018 – 2020 because this is being financed by a number of other bilateral donors and because it has been endorsed through the SDRF mechanism. We strongly believe that only creating a critical mass we can really provide the required contribution to improve the wellbeing of the Somali population.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“I share the view that Somali refugees are a forgotten population. This is because of the emerging crisis in the rest of the world – Yemen, Syria, South Sudan – which all generate refugees. The focus of the international community and media is shifting, and resources move with them at the expense of situations that have been present for decades.”
The world’s Largest Refugee Camp: What The Future Holds For Dadaab
13 December – Source: The Conversation – 1026 Words
Over the past month Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp has marked several important events. More than 3,400 children from over 30 primary schools sat for Kenya’s national primary school examination. A new courthouse was also opened to help refugees resolve disputes. It’s hard to imagine that less than a year ago the camp was being threatened with closure by Kenya’s government. At the time the camp had a population of 320,000 refugees, almost all of whom were from Somalia. The plan was to repatriate them to a country many had left years before and that remained unstable.
A great deal has changed since then. I interviewed Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) special envoy on what the future holds for Dadaab. Earlier this year, a court ruling said it would be unconstitutional to close Dadaab. What was the basis of this decision? The ruling came in response to a petition by two human rights organisations – the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and Kituo Cha Sheria. They challenged the constitutionality of the government’s instruction to shut down Dadaab. The court said the order was given without consulting the people who would be directly affected by its implications – the refugees living in Dadaab.
In addition to this, Kenya is a signatory to conventions on the protection of refugees, which is part and parcel of its constitutional order. We are pleased with the ruling. In our discussions with the government we have always said that refugees who wish to return to Somalia should do so voluntarily. For those who wish to stay, the Kenyan government is under obligation to provide space and protection, which we work closely with them to provide.
I think the government’s announcement was a signal to the international community not to forget the presence of Somali refugees that have stayed in Kenya for 27 years. This is a long time to host such a large population. They require shelter, water and food as well as facilities like schools and infrastructure which must be shared with host communities.
I share the view that Somali refugees are a forgotten population. This is because of the emerging crisis in the rest of the world – Yemen, Syria, South Sudan – which all generate refugees. The focus of the international community and media is shifting, and resources move with them at the expense of situations that have been present for decades.
Over the last four to six years, there has been a substantial reduction in support and resources going to the Kenyan government to host the refugees. The World Food Programme, for example, has had to cut food rations to refugees by 30%. Security concerns also led to the call for closure. There were fears that Al-Shabaab sympathisers and militants were using the camp.All of these factors were compounded by the fact that the situation in Somalia is not conducive for mass return. Countries don’t want to host refugees forever. So we can understand that fatigue sets in for host nations. But it’s encouraging to see the government take positive steps towards finding a solution.
In March, Kenya held a regional summit for countries that host Somali refugees. The basic discussions were how to support host communities, provide protection and asylum for Somali refugees, and create conditions inside Somalia that can make it a better, stronger country – one to which refugees would want to return to. The summit produced the Nairobi declaration which sets out durable solutions.
TOP TWEETS
@Goobjoognews: #BREAKING: Lower House approves $247 million 2018 national budget
@DalsanFM: Last day of #MediaToEndFGM training aims equipping journalists in the coverage of news and features that tackle the sensitive subject and how to relay it to the public as part of the campaign to end the practise of FGM
@somalilandNnews: #Breaking: #Somaliland Inauguration Ceremony More Photos Look Here #SomalilandDemocracy
http://www.horndiplomat.com/2017/12/13/breaking-somaliland-inauguration-ceremony/ … via @twitter.com/@Horndiplomat
@Goobjoognews: #Kenya maintains it does not have troops outside #Amisom command
@TheVillaSomalia: We wish our Kenyan friends and neighbors Happy Independence Day. We wish you more success and prosperity. #JamhuriDay
@Goobjoognews:IMF PROJECTS 2018 economic growth at 2.5% as country recovers from drought
@DrBeileh: We are very proud of our performance at the @IMFSMP review. We are also committed to the further reforms neccessary to strengthen our fiscal & economic processes.Reforms are a must for the strong economy that will fulfil our Gov@SomaliPM @TheVillaSomalia
@Somalia: HE Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow) attending the 2nd UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism & Culture in Muscat, says #Somalia can revive its culture and tourism as a way to bring peace, stability and prosperity. Over 800 participants from 70 countries gathered in#Muscat.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The inauguration of President of Musa Bihi Abdi, with the former president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Silaanyo) and Vice President Abdirahman Abdallahi Ismail (Saylici) in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Photo: @SLPresidency