March 27, 2018 | Morning Headlines.
Speaker Jawari Dismisses Debate On Impeachment Motion
26 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 236 Words
Somali Parliament Speaker, Mohamed Osman Jawari has dismissed a move to table a motion that would see the speaker ousted from office, sparking a new political crisis within the Somali parliament.The first deputy speaker of Parliament, Abdiweli Ibrahim Mudey on Sunday said, the proposition lodged against the speaker would be tabled on 31st March.
Speaker Jawari responded to Mudey’s announcement on Sunday evening, saying that the move by the deputy speaker is unconstitutional, “In accordance with article of 68th Provisional Constitution, the business of the House is ought to be based on the House Standing Order. Therefore, according to article 6 of Charter 6 of House Standing Order, I clarify that the statement dated 25th March, with Ref: HP/1stDS/501/2018 issued by the 1st deputy Speaker, is not a decision by the House Leadership, and the office of the House,” reads statement by Jawari.
Yesterday’s statement by Mr. Mudey, was also squashed by the deputy Parliament Speaker, Mahad Awad. The 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mahad Awad, also distanced himself from Mr. Mudey’s announcement. Mr. Awad who spoke to VOA Somali, termed the statement by 1st Deputy as unilateral decision. “The statement by 1st Deputy Speaker, Abdiweli Ibrahim Mudey does not represent the decision of the House leadership,” refuted Mr. Awad. The fate of the no-confidence motion against SpeakerJawari remains in the dark, as the differences between the House leadership creates yet another political squabble.
Key Headlines
- Speaker Jawari Dismisses Debate On Impeachment Motion (Hiiraan Online)
- PM Khaire And ISWA President Jointly Open Reconciliation Conference In Mogadishu (Halbeeg News)
- Regional Body IGAD Warns Of Instability In Somalia Over Political Crisis (Goobjoog News)
- Turkey Condemns Terror Attacks In Somali Capital (Anadolu Agency)
- UNHCR Repatriates 78088 Somali Refugees From Kenya (Xinhuanet)
- Sense Of Duty’ Sees Somali Refugees Head Home (The Guardian)
NATIONAL MEDIA
PM Khaire And ISWA President Jointly Open Reconciliation Conference In Mogadishu
26 March – Source: Halbeeg News – 169 Words
Reconciliation conference to mediate rival clans in Lower Shabelle region has on Monday started in Mogadishu. Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire and the president of Southwest State, Sharif Hassan Sheikh, jointly opened the reconciliation conference. Representatives from the ministry of interior, lawmakers, clan elders, intellectuals and other local leaders attended the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, PM Khaire urged the sides to works towards the peace restoration. “The government is trying to implement peace and reconciliation process. Today the clan leaders, clerics and politicians should work jointly to restore peace and the development of Marka town as well the whole region,” said PM Khaire.
The meeting which was organized and implemented by Somali Interior Ministry is taking place at SYL Hotel. Marka town which witnessed deadly clan clashes is now recovering after the elders and politicians have jointly undertaken initiatives to reconcile the clans. Last year, over ten people were killed and dozen others wounded after clan militias in the town engaged in street battle for two days.
Regional Body IGAD Warns Of Instability In Somalia Over Political Crisis
26 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 300 Words
The regional bloc IGAD has warned of the ongoing political deadlock in Somalia is a threat to the country’s stability, calling on for resolution through constitutional and peaceful means. In a statement on Monday, the bloc which consists of eight countries, including Somalia said, it was concerned about the political developments in the country, ‘which threatens to derail the significant progress registered in the past years’.
“In particular, the standoff within the country’s legislature that threatens to impede efforts by the current government’s efforts towards reforming security and justice institutions increasing opportunities for economic growth as well as providing basic services to its citizens,” the bloc said. The statement comes amid an ongoing political crisis in the Horn of Africa country which has brought business in the Lower House to a halt, as factions fight for political survival. A group of 100 MPs on Sunday, accused the government of interfering with the functioning and independence of the legislature urging it ‘to keep off’.
First and second deputy speakers, Mr. Ibrahim Mudey and Mr. Mahad Awad, are also reading from the different scripts regarding, when the House should reconvene, to carry on the motion against Speaker Mohamed Jawari. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said, the ‘recurring political instability threatens the fragile gains over the last 12 months, which seriously risks of stabilization.’
“To this end, IGAD calls upon the Executive and Federal Parliament to join hands to facilitate the delivery of the critical milestones under the 2020 Roadmap, aid the implementation of the National Security Architecture, and further develop the Roadmap to the debt relief.” We also urge the Federal Institutions to maintain the unity and cohesion in the spirit of separation of power, and also use constitutional and peaceful means to resolve political disputes, the statement reads in part.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Turkey Condemns Terror Attacks In Somali Capital
26 March – Source: Anadolu Agency – 101 Words
Turkey on Monday “strongly” condemned the “the heinous terrorist attacks” in Somalia. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry conveyed condolences “to the families who lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.”
The statement came following the suicide car bomb attack at a security checkpoint near the parliament in the capital Mogadishu on Sunday afternoon that left at least four people dead and five others wounded. “In the face of recent terrorist attacks, Turkey will continue its strong solidarity with the Government and the brotherly people of Somalia in the fight against terrorism,” the statement added.
UNHCR Repatriates 78,088 Somali Refugees From Kenya
26 March – Source: Xinhuanet – 390 Words
The UN refugee agency said on Monday that it has repatriated some 78,088 Somali refugees from Kenya as at Feb. 28 since the voluntary return exercise begun in December, 2014. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its Monthly Update released in Nairobi that some 75,175 returnees have so far been supported from Dadaab camp under the framework of voluntary repatriation since the beginning of the process three years ago. “Some 2,463 individuals from Dadaab have been assisted to return in 2018 alone, with a majority returning to Kismayu and Mogadishu,” the UN refugee agency said.
Kenya, which hosted protracted negotiations that culminated in the formation of the transitional federal government of Somalia, says the refugee situation continues to pose security threats to Nairobi and the region apart from the humanitarian crisis. The East African nation, which has been planning to close the Dadaab refugee camp, has cited the influence of terror group Al-Shabaab as among the risks of keeping the camps open. According to UNHCR, 905 refugees — 569 by road and 336 by flight to Kismayu and Mogadishu — were assisted to voluntarily return to Somalia between Feb. 16-28. The UN agency said it has resumed facilitation of repatriation by road convoys through Liboi-Dhobley border on Feb. 20 with 107 households comprising of 317 individuals being assisted to travel by road. “Road convoys are the preferred mode of transport for many refugees and it is therefore expected that the number of refugees expressing interest to return will significantly increase,” said the UN agency.
The refugee agency said road convoys had been temporarily suspended for 10 months due to insecurity and heavy rains. According to UNHCR, a total of 171 refugees registered and confirmed their intention to voluntarily repatriate to Somalia. “There are currently still 16,325 refugees active in UNHCR database willing to return to Somalia,” it said. An estimated two million Somalis have been displaced in one of the world’s most protracted humanitarian crises that have now entered its third decade.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The sheer numbers of diaspora returnees is unique to a country that has seen decades of war and lawlessness. In 2015, two million Somalis living outside the country were sending home so much money to support the households who stayed behind that the remittances accounted for 23% of GDP.”
Sense Of Duty’ Sees Somali Refugees Head Home
24 March- Source: The Guardian – 677 Words
Slapping a large piece of equipment wrapped in packing materials, Dr Mohamed Hussein Aden smiles: “The Swiss sent us this but unfortunately not with the instruction manual so we don’t know how to use it. It’s sat here for a good few years now. Shame really.” The ceiling of the theatre is sagging and the operating table stained and split. It’s a far cry from Harrow, north London, where Aden lived and worked before returning in 2012 to Somalia, from where he fled as a refugee in 1994.
Now he is the director of Galkayo hospital, the main facility for the inhabitants of Somalia’s third city and for those living for hundreds of miles around in the drought-hit countryside. “I came back in 2012. We Somalians have always felt a duty, an obligation, to support those back home, and now we are coming back, bringing the skills back, engineering, building, medicine. So many of our politicians are from the diaspora,” said Aden, 62, who harbours political ambitions. Four of his six children have returned with him, he said, seeing Somalia’s fragile peace as an opportunity.
Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, has dual US and Somalian citizenship. In his cabinet and ministries British accents vie with those from US, Canada and other parts of Europe. The aid agencies and civil society are full of young people like Saredo Mohamed, 22, born in Canada to Somali parents, who is relearning her mother tongue and culture. “You see a lot of people in my age group coming back, it is a wonderful opportunity to give back and also to learn about my culture,” she said. Mohamed is working at Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development, founded by her aunt Hawa Aden Mohamed, another returnee from Canada.