April 9, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Somali Authorities Seize Millions Of Dollars From UAE Plane In Mogadishu
08 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 124 Words
An aircraft from the United Arab Emirates carrying millions of dollars was briefly detained at Aden Adde Airport after aviation and security authorities sought to know the source and destination of the money. A source privy to the developments at the airport who sought anonymity told Goobjoog News that, the UAE officials said the money was destined to Puntland to pay security forces trained by the UAE.
The $9 million according to our source has since been taken to Central Bank pending investigations. The UAE runs a military training academy in Mogadishu training Somali National Army. The development comes amid a souring relationship between Somalia and the Gulf country following the controversial Berbera Port and naval base agreements which UAE has signed with Somaliland.
Key Headlines
- Somali Authorities Seize Millions Of Dollars From UAE Plane In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Somalia’s Electoral Commission Registers Three Political Parties (Halbeeg News)
- Mudey Summons MPs For 3rd Attempt To Hold Anti Jawari Motion (Radio Dalsan)
- At Least 6 killed In Twin Explosions In Mogadishu (Xinhua)
- US Intensifies Attacks On Al-Shabaab (Capital FM)
- How The Crisis In The Gulf Could Spread To East Africa (BBC News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s Electoral Commission Registers Three Political Parties
08 April – Source: Halbeeg News – 246 Words
The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), issued certificates of temporary registration to three political parties making the number of parties, legally registered ten. In a ceremony held in Villa Somalia, NIEC Chairperson Ms. Halima Ismail Ibrahim (Yarey) presented the certificates to officials representing the three parties.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Halima Yarey said, the Electoral Body has temporarily registered the three parties and, henceforth would be legally able to take part in electoral events. The following are three parties and their respective chairpersons: TIIR Party headed by, Mr. Salah Sheikh Osman, Wadajir Party, Mr. Abdirahman Abdishakur, SAMO Party and which is headed by Mr. Ugas Aweys Sheikh Hussein. The Electoral body last year gave temporary registration to seven political parties for the first time, since the Federal Government of Somalia was formed.
In accordance with the regulations of NIEC, before registration the parties are to pay $500 fee. Formation of political party is part of long-term initiative of shifting the country from the clan based system, which was used to form the current government. Somalia is expected to hold elections in 2020, though the modality of the poll that has not yet been made public despite, the Somali leaders agreement in 2016, which indicate the need for one person one vote. This month, National Independent Electoral Commission was to table its one-year-long research on models that are suitable, but the meeting which was scheduled to take place in Baidoa was postponed to a later date.
Mudey Summons MPs For 3rd Attempt To Hold Anti Jawari Motion
08 April – Source: Radio Dalsan – 152 Words
Somalia’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament Abdiweli Mudey, has communicated to MPs that the motion against Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari will be held on Monday. This will be the third attempt to hold a session on the motion. “The acting Chairperson and First Vice Chairperson in the Parliament is informing all Members of Parliament that tomorrow, 09/04/2018 at 9.00 AM, will hold a general meeting for all members of parliament” Mudey said in a statement shared with MPs. the main agenda of the meeting for tomorrow as the impeachment of the speaker of the parliament motion added the statement.
Last Wednesday, the second attempt to have the motion to take place flopped, deepening the one month political crisis pitting, the Speaker Jawari and the executive. Pro Executive MPs want Speaker Jawari ousted for allegedly being an impediment to Parliamentary proceedings. Mr. Jawari has been Speaker of the House since 2012.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
At Least 6 killed In Twin Explosions In Mogadishu
07 April – Source: Xinhua – 196 Words
At least six people including two soldiers were killed and several others injured in two separate explosions in Somalia capital Mogadishu on Friday. The police and witnesses said the first explosion occurred at a checkpoint along the road near the airport in Mogadishu after the vehicle had been intercepted by the security officers manning the checkpoint. The blast injured three soldiers while a bomber died.
“The second blast occurred an hour later at another checkpoint in Sei piano in Hodan district (West of Mogadishu) a few minutes after Friday prayers,” said a police officer who declined to be named. He said two soldiers were killed after the security forces killed three militants who had passed through the checkpoint with vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). Internal Security spokesman Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim said security forces managed to thwart the deadly attack by the extremists.
Ibrahim said the security officers managed to stop the suicide bomber but noted that the vehicle exploded after the security forces barred it from entering the road to the airport. Extremists have recently increased their attacks against the African Union and Somali forces especially in Mogadishu targeting their bases, hotels and other public places.
US Intensifies Attacks On Al-Shabaab
07 April – Source: Capital FM – 150 Words
United States Forces are still pilling pressure on Al-Shabaab terrorists who have continued to stage attacks in war-torn Somalia and the region. This week, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, US Forces conducted an airstrike against the militants near Jilib, Somalia, killing three terrorists and destroying one vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun.
In a statement by the US Africa Command, the Forces have committed to partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces in combined counterterrorism operations. “We assess no civilians were killed in this airstrike,” read the statement. Kenya issued a 16 million bounty on 8 terrorists based in Somalia on Friday. The 8 are terror suspects are believed to have been planning to infiltrate Kenya. According to police, there have been increased attempts by the terrorist operatives operating in war-torn Somalia to stage attacks in the country, with the assistance of the eight suspects.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“But it is easy to understand why Somalia is concerned. Not only has a breakaway republic signed significant economic and military agreements with a foreign power, but the UAE is also bypassing the federal government by striking deals with Somalia’s regional states.”
How The Crisis In The Gulf Could Spread To East Africa
08 April – Source: BBC News – 904 Words
Somaliland’s port town of Berbera is sleepy and somewhat scruffy. Paintings of fish, crabs and sailboats adorn the faded buildings. Tangled nets lie in the sandy streets. It is hard to imagine that this charming seaside town is at the centre of an almighty row between Somalia and this self-declared republic which broke away in 1991 but has not been recognised internationally. This dispute is part of a far wider problem. A crisis in the Gulf is playing out in dramatic form in
Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. Some argue it could tear the whole region apart. After nearly 30 years of conflict and instability, Somalia is particularly vulnerable. “Somalia has become a chessboard in the power game between Qatar and Turkey on the one side and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies on the other,” says Rashid Abdi, director of the Horn of Africa project at the International Crisis Group. “There is no doubt that these rivalries are spilling over into Africa. Somalia is especially vulnerable because of its proximity to the Gulf and its long historical relationship with the region.” The disagreement between Somalia and Somaliland centres around two deals, both connected with the UAE.
The UAE is building a massive military base in Berbera. It is a highly strategic location. The US and the former Soviet Union built bases there decades ago, plus one of the continent’s longest runways, which is more than 4 km (2.5 miles) long. For the Emirates, Berbera is conveniently close to Yemen where it is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The UAE has another military facility up the coast in Eritrea’s port town of Assab. Meanwhile the Dubai-based company DP World is taking over the port, which exports millions of live animals to the Gulf every year. Landlocked Ethiopia is also involved, with a 19% stake, as it sees Berbera as a useful alternative to the congested, expensive port in Djibouti upon which it is totally dependent.
Although Somaliland is not recognised as an independent country, it operates as if it is. It is more stable than the rest of Somalia, has a functioning economy, and its own government, legal system, currency and flag. Power has been transferred peacefully during a series of elections since it declared independence 26 years ago. But Somalia regards Somaliland as part of its territory. Earlier this month parliament in Somalia voted to nullify the port deal.
“Somaliland and DP World have been very arrogant and disrespectful,” says Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad. “The company cannot legally sign an agreement without our consent. We will not allow any party to violate our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” But DP World and Somaliland remain committed to the project. They probably know that, in practice, the authority of the Somali federal government does not extend far beyond the capital Mogadishu.