March 27, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Former PM Calls For Dialogue To Resolve Escalating Political Row In Somalia
27 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 224 Words
Former Somali Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke has called on Somali leaders to resolve their differences through constitutional and peaceful means. In an exclusive interview with Hiiraan Online, Sharmarke warned the ongoing political crisis would threaten to derail the progress achieved by Somali government. “In fact, this issue needs urgent intervention, because if it escalates this way, it is going to cripple the House business. If the (ongoing) attempts fail then I would have suggested the House to carry out voting in accordance with the House Standing Orders and the Provisional Constitution,” proposed Sharmarke .
The Former PM lauded the Upper Houses’ initiatives to mediate the sides. ” I appreciate the remarkable efforts of the Upper House to mediate and ease the situation,” said Sharmarke. On Sunday, the Senate called on the opposing factions to resolve the differences noting it was ready to oversee and facilitate the voting process.Weeks after the controversial DP World deal led to a diplomatic row between the governments of Somalia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sharmarke has criticised the government’s failure to address the issue. ” I want to make clear that the era of previous governments include my tenure of the premiership, there was no agreement we signed with DP World, both Berbera and Bosaaso deals were inked after March 2017, therefore the responsibility is upon the current government” explained Sharmarke.
Key Headlines
- Former PM Calls For Dialogue To Resolve Escalating Political Row In Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
- The Secretary Of State For Foreign Affairs Is Looking For Thorny Files With The UAE Ambassador (Halbeeg News)
- Galmudug And ASWJ Assemblies Unified In A Ceremony In Dhuusamarreeb (Hiiraan Online)
- Qatar Condemns Mogadishu Car Bomb Explosion (Qatar Penisula)
- Missing Somali Students Surrender To Dhaka Police (Dhaka Tribune)
- Investing In Somalia: The Oil And Gas Sector (Goobjoog News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
The Secretary Of State For Foreign Affairs Is Looking For Thorny Files With The UAE Ambassador
27 March – Source: Halbeeg News – 182 Words
The minister of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Mr. Abdelkader Ahmed-Al-Khayr in his office at the ministry of foreign affairs today, received his excellency mohamed Ahmed Osman Alhammadi, Ambassador of the united Arab Emirates
During the meeting, a number of issues took place, including the illegal agreement between the administration of Somaliland and the Dubai Global Ports company on the Somali port of Berbera and the legal issues that might result in violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
The Secretary of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation said that the federal government of Somalia is distributing quotas and development programmes in all Somali territories without exception, and will not compromise its sovereignty and national ownership, and will not agree to any agreement that will be reached without it. For his part, the UAE Ambassador to Somalia stressed that his country was fully committed to protecting, respecting and supporting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia, stating that there was a need for continued coordination and consultation to broaden and deepen cooperation between the two countries.
Galmudug And ASWJ Assemblies Unified In A Ceremony In Dhuusamarreeb
27 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 108 Words
The assemblies of Galmudug and the paramilitary group Ahlu Sunna Wal-jama’a (ASWJ) were merged in an event held in Dhusamarreeb, the regional capital of Galmudug. The event saw the formation of Somalia’s most bloated regional assembly with 178 as its members. Galmudug’s regional assembly alone had 89 members.
Galmudug President Ahmed Du’ale Geelle Haaf and the State’s chief of ministers Sheikh Mohamed Shakir signed the regional assemblies unification agreement. President Haaf closed the event and termed the agreement as an achievement reached by the Galmudug administration. He noted that the promise made by him and President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo that the regional assembly operates in Adado has materialized.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Qatar Condemns Mogadishu Car Bomb Explosion
27 March – Source: The Peninsula – 78 Words
The State of Qatar has strongly condemned a car bomb explosion near to the Parliament and Interior Ministry buildings in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which caused a number of deaths and injuries. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of motives and reasons. The statement expressed Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Somalia, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Missing Somali Students Surrender To Dhaka Police
27 March – Source: Dhaka Tribune – 591 Words
Six Somali students, presumed to be missing for a year, surrendered at a police station in Dhaka on Monday. The students submitted a bond to the police, apologizing for dropping out of contact. The police warned them not to repeat this incident in the future, and requested the young men to abide by the rules and regulations applicable to foreign students in Bangladesh. These students told the police that they went into hiding after not being able to pay their tuition fees. On March 24, the Bangla Tribune published a story titled “Six Somali students missing for a year in Dhaka.” This story created a buzz among the administration. The six Somali students and their family members were also alerted about the matter. They learned that a general diary (GD) was filed at the Uttara West police station in connection with their disappearance.
Six students contacted the Uttara police on Monday. Of them, five went to the police station in person and submitted the bond. Earlier the same day, the five youth visited International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), where they were studying. The six youths- Sakid Hasan Buye, Abdi Rahman Abdullahi Hasan, Mohammad Abukar Dahir, Ali Salad, Abdir Rahman Abdullahi Hasan and Sakir Omar Sheikh Abdul Kadir, dropped out of contact for over a year. At the end of the year 2016, seven Somali students visited to Bangladesh on academic purposes and got admitted in IUBAT. They went missing after three months.
The university administration became concerned and filed general diary with the Uttara West police station. Three months after their disappearance, one student named Siraji Mohammad Ali contacted IUBAT in June, 2017. He paid his due tuition fees and took back his passport from the university. Siraji is currently getting a BBA degree at Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology in Dhaka.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Somalia’s economy is quite diverse but as it stands, it is limited to few sectors as majority of the investment opportunities remain unexploited. Livestock, agriculture and fisheries (in small scale), remittances and telecommunication as the key drivers of the country’s at the moment.”
Investing In Somalia: The Oil And Gas Sector
25 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 966 Words
Somalia’s strategic location and it’s natural resource enrichment has made the country an economic and geo-strategic gateway for the region as exemplified by the major presence of foreign companies and strategic positioning by some countries. This is despite the fragile state of the country characterized by fierce clan-based rivalries within the political elite and the continuing influence of Islamist insurgents. For the last six years Somalia’s economic and political growth fending off piracy, Al-Shabaab threats, foreign interference and absence of a strong and stable central government. Over this period of time, foreign investors have inked several trade agreements with both the Federal Government and the Federal Member States (FMS). Some of these agreements were made public while others remain under wraps.
To promote and attract foreign investors in Somalia, the Lower House passed the Foreign Investment law in 2015 as then President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared ‘Somalia is open for business. Prime Minister Hassan Khaire reiterated the same in Davos last year during the World Economic Forum meeting adding ‘Somalia needs investment not handouts’. Somalia’s economy is quite diverse but as it stands, it is limited to few sectors as majority of the investment opportunities remain unexploited. Livestock, agriculture and fisheries (in small scale), remittances and telecommunication as the key drivers of the country’s at the moment. Hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and other mineral resources are untapped. Similar to these is wind and solar energy which if exploited to sufficiently power the country at domestic and industrial scale.
It is against this backdrop that some multinational firms and governments are now investing in long term infrastructure development as they position themselves for the country’s ultimate recovery and returns thereof. The collapse of government in 1991 and subsequent disintegration of the state heralded clan struggles for survival and domination as each fiefdom tried to project its power and hold. But the establishment of an internationally government despite a myriad of challenges at the turn of the millennium has made it possible for development of structured framework which now gives foreign investors an assurance, the prevailing circumstances notwithstanding.
The history of Somalia’s oil and gas exploration dates back to 1948 through oil leaks at Dagah Shabel but due to political and security environment in Somalia no major progress was made in this front. In the late 1980s, a number of oil firms signed agreements with the Siyaad Barre military government among them BP (Amoco, Sinclair), Chevron (Texaco), Conoco, Eni, Shell, ExxonMobil and 5 others. Pre 1991 oil and gas contracts were declared force majeure (a common clause in contracts that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation in the event of an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as war). But with the return of stability, there has been a lot of interest both locally and internationally to return to the oil fields. International researchers believe Somalia is the last remaining oil frontiers in Africa.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: Somali troops killed two Al-Shabab fighters in El-Dhun village near Gofgudud-Burey Monday; troops launched the operation after receiving reports the militants were collecting extortion money from locals who use a water well, one soldier died in the firefight, military source.
@Goobjoognews: GALMUDUG STATE and Alhusuna sign pact on expanded parliament.
@RAbdiCG: “This is the worst crisis since the gov’s arrival a year ago. It is all the more serious as it is militarized…” My take on political crisis in Mogadishu. Somalie: fronde massive des députés contre le président de l’Assemblée http://rfi.my/2QxD.T via @RFIAfrique
@AmbGamal: Co-chaired the Economic Growth Pillar meeting today. High priority government led flagship projects/programs were presented and discussed. @MoPIED_Somalia
@Goobjoognews: KENYA BORDER wall halted to allow dispute resolution-Somalia.
@DalsanFM: #Somalia‘s minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Abdelkader Ahmed-Al-Good met #UAE Ambassador Mohamed Ahmed Osman Alhammadi
Berbera Port deal was on the agenda among other issues.
@AbdulBillowAli: Abdulaziz Billow Ali Retweeted Foreign Affairs Somali govt’s official statement on the suspension of the border wall between #Kenya & #Somalia. #BeletHawo
@DalsanFM: Kenyatta & Farmaajo Resolve To Halt BeledaHawa-Mandera Border Wall Construction –http://radiodalsan.com/en/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Galmudug leaders pose for a photo following the unification of Galmudug and ASWJ assemblies in Dhusamarreeb on Monday.
PHOTO:Jowhar.com