December 22, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Mogadishu Mayor Asks For Transfer Of Security Responsibility To His Administration
22 December – Source: Hiiraan Online – 190 Words
Banadir Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu, Thabit Abdi Mohamed, has called on the federal government to transfer security responsibilities for the capital to his administration. In a press statement, Mr. Thabit said there is a need for the harmonization of the Banadir administration and its security in a bid to achieve real accountability in the security sector. “We have devolved the administrative capacities of all parts of Banadir region. We believe that if the security forces are also devolved, we will be able to make progress in managing the security of the capital in the short term,” noted Mr. Thabit.
He added that his administration is now ready and has the capacity to effectively run the security agencies, “We should act on problems facing the people of Mogadishu caused by our enemies. We have come up with a clear plan that has accountability, which we will use to protect our citizens, and we request this to be considered,” he said. The various Banadir regional security agencies are currently managed by the different departments in the central government, a situation that removes the necessary link and cooperation with the local authority.
Key Headlines
- Mogadishu Mayor Asks For Transfer Of Security Responsibility To His Administration (Hiiraan Online)
- Galmudug First Minister Sheikh Shakir Declares Fresh Offensive Against Al-Shabaab (Dhacdo.com)
- Hirshabelle President Travels Back To Jowhar (Jowhar.com)
- AU Says It Needs Urgent Resources For Its Mission In Somalia (VOA)
- UNESCO Calls For Investigation Into Death Of Journalist In Somalia (Sputnik)
- 24 Hours In Hargeisa Somaliland(World Bank)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Galmudug First Minister, Sheikh Shakir Declares Fresh Offensive Against Al-Shabaab
22 December – Source: Dhacdo.com – 117 Words
Galmudug’s First Minister, Sheikh Shakir Ali Hassan has declared a fresh offensive against the militant group Al-Shabaab that is based in the Galmudug regions. He made the remarks at an event in Dhusamarreeb welcoming the recently signed agreement between the Ahlu Sunna Wal-jama’a (ASWJ) group and Galmudug administration. “From today, we will be united to defend our country, people, and religion from the militant group Al-Shabaab,” he declared. He called on the people of Galmudug to unite for the fight against Al-Shabaab, and deny the group the freedom to conveniently operate in the region and continue harassing the locals. The ASWJ is commended for its fight against the militants in the region and liberating it from Dhuusamareeb and its surroundings.
Hirshabelle President Travels Back To Jowhar
22 December – Source: Jowhar.com – 134 Words
Hirshabelle regional state leader, Mohamed Abdi Waare, returned to Jowhar, the capital of his administration after being in Mogadishu for the past several weeks. His delegation was received at Jowhar airport by his deputy, Ali Abdullahi Hussein, vice speaker of Hirshabelle regional assembly, Anab Abdi Issa, ministers, MPs, officials from the Middle Shabelle regional administration and Jowhar district administration.
He immediately headed to the construction site of the ministries buildings where he was briefed about the construction work. The project is funded by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP). He is expected to take his newly appointed cabinet to the regional assembly for approval. President Waare was among leaders who made a lot of effort to secure the release of politician Abdirahman Abdishakur who was arrested in Mogadishu by the federal government security agencies.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU Says It Needs Urgent Resources For Its Mission In Somalia
22 December – Source: Voice of America – 442 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) says it needs urgent and reliable funding in order to defeat al-Shabab militants and transfer security responsibilities to the Somali National Army. AMISOM chief Francisco Madeira issued the appeal while talking to reporters in Nairobi Thursday. “We need urgent support. Our troops are ready, but they need to be resourced. This has not been happening to expectations, despite the repeated commitments by partners in different forums,” said Madeira.
Madeira warned that lack of funding could endanger the hard-won gains in the fight against militants over the last decade. “A stable Somalia is critical for the stability across the East African region and beyond, and if we do not decisively address the threat of al-Shabab, [the group] will continue to pose a danger,” he said. AMISOM has said it will begin drawing down the number of troops in Somalia ahead of a total pull out in 2020. The first batch of 28 Ugandan soldiers left the country earlier this month. A recent United Nations Security Council resolution slightly reduced the maximum number of troops to 21,626.
The AU plan for draw down set pre-conditions, including the training and equipping of at least 30,000 Somali National Army (SNA) personnel with the support of the U.N. and other donor countries. Madeira says it is the time to help the SNA prepare to take the lead in the stabilization process. “It is urgent that Somalia security forces are capacitated to take over the security responsibilities of their country. The integration of Somali National Army needs to happen in urgency,” said Madeira.
UNESCO Calls For Investigation Into Death Of Journalist In Somalia
21 December – Source: Sputnik – 120 Words
UNESCO condemned the recent killing of journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Gabow in Somalia and has called for an investigation into his death, the United Nations agency’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement on Thursday. “I condemn the killing of Mohamed Ibrahim Gabow,” Azoulay said. “I call on the Somali authorities to spare no effort in bringing to trial those responsible for this attack on the human rights of freedom of expression and freedom of information.” Somalia has been engulfed in violence since the eruption of a civil war between clan-based armed factions in the early 1990s. Al-Shabab, an affiliate of the Al-Qaeda terror network, has been staging numerous attacks in the country in an attempt to implement strict Sharia law.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“No trip to Hargeisa is complete without a quick fadhi ku dirir session in the shade. There are hundreds of tea stalls across the city, with plastic chairs or stools made out of cow skin, for you to sit and embrace the city’s atmosphere. Don’t hesitate to say “iskawaran?” (“how are you doing?”) to passing residents to evoke the hospitable responses of Somalis in Hargeisa.”
24 Hours In Hargeisa, Somaliland
22 December – Source: World Bank – 468 Words
Somaliland is often described as a breakaway state, void of international recognition. But most parts of Somaliland—including Hargeisa—boast safe, democratic, and culturally compelling destinations for tourists and professionals alike. Situated on a more temperate plateau, Hargeisa was a cultural epicentre for Somalis until the 1970s, and an overdue revival of its historical and creative essence is being fuelled by the tens of thousands of Somalis returning from the diaspora to their homeland with ideas and capital to invest.
With a population of roughly 800,000, Hargeisa is the capital city and financial hub of Somaliland. Its construction and telecommunications sectors are booming, with new buildings coming up on a weekly basis. In the midst of all this modernization, many souvenirs can be picked up from the central market, including cowbells made of wood, dhiil (traditional milk containers), and the baati, a cotton dress recently popularized by a major international fashion magazine.
A mandatory-without-being-
Nightlife in Hargeisa is filled with music, drawing inspiration from 1970s funk, contemporary pop, and Somali storytelling again. A famous boiling pot of creativity is Hiddo Dhowr (“preserve culture”), a restaurant and music venue built like traditional Somali homes (aqal Soomaali). Famous artists from Hargeisa, Mogadishu, and the West perform classical and contemporary Somali music every Thursday. Make sure you try dancing Dhaanto and Buraanbur, and finish your evening with sweetened Somali tea made with camel milk.
Cash is king in Hargeisa. There are several ATMs available in hotels and banks, but most people use mobile money, as mobile penetration is amongst the highest in Africa. The Ambassador Hotel, located a mile from the airport, provides some of the best goat meat and tropical fruit smoothies in East Africa. You can also go to Café Barbara for good coffee and, in case you’re interested, the latest political and social intrigue making the rounds! For the more lazily inclined visitor, Gulivery delivers food to your doorstep, competing with the likes of UberEats.
TOP TWEETS
@Eye_on_Somalia: #Hiraan Ellison wants probe of abuse claims from Somali deportation flight http://dlvr.it/Q77m2Y #Somalia
@HarunMaruf: AU says insufficient funding threatens peacekeeping in Somalia http://www.xinhuanet.com/
@UKinSomalia: In 2017, the UK’s early leadership and £170m worth of support in response to Somalia’s drought helped prevent famine. Our partners are continuing to provide vital support across Somalia and we will sustain the relief effort into 2018.
@Refugees: Going home after a long exile is a difficult, brave choice for some Somali refugees.
Our @refugeeschief in Kismayo, Somalia: https://trib.al/hxICGqq
@shf_somalia: In 2017, we played a vital role in the collective scale up of response and averting famine in #Somalia. In 2018, sustained response and a strong Somalia Humanitarian Fund will be needed, for which early donor support will be essential. See some of our 2017 highlights:
@Vatescorp: #Somalia: Council of federal member states: Keep off the army from politics and allow political differences
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Participants of the Forum on State of Somalis, organized by HIPS Institute, pose for a photo after the conclusion of the event.
PHOTO: @Aynte