April 19, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Clamour For Enacting New Rape Bill As High Numbers Of Rapes Are Reported In Somaliland
19 April – Source: Radio Ergo – 283 Words
There have been 54 reported cases of rape in Somaliland since January, according to figures released by the Somaliland police department this month. The cases include sexual assaults of young boys and girls as young as six and eight years. These figures compare with a total of 80 reported rapes during the whole year in 2017. The police report, released on 12 April, said 30 men had been convicted in connection with some of the recent offences and had received jail sentences of between seven and 15 years. Five suspects are being pursued by the police. A further 19 offenders had been charged and were awaiting trial.
According to the report, 25 of the rape incidents occurred in Hargeisa and 16 in Burao. The other cases were reported from other towns in Somaliland. One man was sentenced to nine years imprisonment on 12 January by the North Western court in Hargeisa for raping a six-year-old girl. Hibaq Abdirahman, a women’s rights activist in Hargeisa, said the high prevalence of rape cases in Somaliland was extremely concerning. She called for the speedy enforcement of the new bill recently passed by Somaliland’s parliament criminalizing rape, as a strong deterrent against future sexual offences.
The bill is yet to receive presidential assent. However, it has been hailed as a landmark bill after several years of pressure from rights groups. If passed into law, it will convict offenders for jail terms of up to 30 years for rape and life imprisonment if the victim is infected with HIV. It will also ban the use of customary law to settle rape cases. Women are often forced to marry their rapists as a traditional way of resolving such cases.
Key Headlines
- Clamour For Enacting New Rape Bill As High Numbers Of Rapes Are Reported In Somaliland (Radio Ergo)
- UAE Says It Had Mutual Understanding With Somalia Over Berbera Controversial Deal (Halbeeg News)
- Heavy Fighting In Southern Somalia Leaves Several Dead (Shabelle News)
- Police Hunt For Al-Shabaab Agents Smuggling Radicalised Youth To Somalia (Capital News Kenya)
- What’s Triggering Tension Between Somalia And The UAE? (Aljazeera)
- Somali Traditional Attire Returns As Youths Promote Them Overseas (Xinhuanet)
NATIONAL MEDIA
UAE Says It Had Mutual Understanding With Somalia Over Berbera Controversial Deal
18 April – Source: Halbeeg News – 244 Words
The government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) engaged in the 30-year Berbera concession with the consent of previous Somali government, UAE state minister for Foreign affairs said. The current looming diplomatic rift could be traced back to the controversial Berbera port deal inked by DP World, a Dubai based Company and the Self-declared Republic of Somaliland and Ethiopia.
UAE’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash said the Somali government leaders had full information about Dubai’s aim to sign the pact with the unrecognized Somalia’s northern region. “There had been mutual understanding indicating unity of Somalia but despite that, there was possibility of working with Somaliland, a former British colony over development, humanitarian etc.”, said Gargash.
The minister has pointed out that the relations between the two countries has been deteriorating since Somalia’s last election. “We had an understanding with the former governments but now we believe that last year’s election has formed an alliance which is (probably) among the coalitions in the region and that had an impact on Somalia,” Gargash noted.
Somalia has banned the DP World Company from working in Somalia after it accused the company of infringement, but the move was dismissed by both DP World and Somaliland. The deal with DP World and the planned development of Berbera would help landlocked Ethiopia secure an additional logistical gateway for its expanding import and export trade. Somaliland declared itself independence but has not yet received any international recognition.
Heavy Fighting In Southern Somalia Leaves Several Dead
18 April – Source: Shabelle News – 178 Words
Officials said on Wednesday that several Al-Shabaab militants were killed and others injured after heavy fighting between the Somali National Army (SNA), backed by African Union forces, and the militants in Qoqani location in Lower Jubba region southern Somalia.
Hassan Mohamed, an army officer in the area told reporters that the militants’ claims to have captured the area and killed soldiers’ are baseless, saying they are in full control of the area at moment. “Al-Shabab fighters attacked our bases in Qoqani location in this region, we resisted and fought with the terrorists, killing several of their fighters and injured others during the battle that lasted more than an hour, There are no casualties on either SNA or AMISOM,” Mohamed said.
Al-Shabaab militants claimed victory in the latest fighting in Qoqani location near Afmadow town in Lower Jubba region, saying they captured the SNA bases in the area and killed some soldiers. The militants carried out attacks against SNA and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) under AU mission in Somalia despite frequent airstrikes in the region by U. S. military.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Police Hunt For Al-Shabaab Agents Smuggling Radicalised Youth To Somalia
19 April – Source: Capital News, Kenya – 249 Words
The National Police Service (NPS) is pursuing local Al-Shabaab contacts who aided three Kenyans to sneak to Somalia with the aim of joining the terror group. NPS Director for Corporate Communications, Charles Owino, said in a statement on Wednesday the contacts assisted Mohamed Abdalla Asman from Nairobi’s Majengo area, and Hamisi Hemed and Ali Ahmed Ali both from Malindi to join the Somalia-based terrorist group for training early this month.
The three suspects are said to be planning an attack on their return to the country according to Owino. Of the three, Asman alias Papa or Raymond has previously been charged and convicted after a botched plan to travel to Somalia for Al Shabaab training; serving a jail term of five years from October 4, 2013, to July 12, 2017. Police at the time identified Sheikh Ibrahim Umar alias Amru, a religious leader at the Answar Sunna Mosque, as the key facilitator of Asman’s aborted trip to Somalia.
Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individual to the police service. The police also warned Kenyan families and businessmen facilitating and abetting radicalization and terrorist activities of firm action. “We wish to warn parents, guardians or religious leaders withholding information on radicalization that they are liable for prosecution for abetting crime,” Owino said in the statement released to newsrooms on Wednesday. “Equally the parents and guardians risk losing their children to terrorism and eventually destroying their families and the entire community,” he warned.
What’s Triggering Tension Between Somalia And The UAE?
19 April – Source: Aljazeera – Video: 24:50 Minutes
Somalia has been in conflict for much of the past 25 years. But the Horn of Africa nation has been showing recent signs of recovery, and that has generated interest from many countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Gulf nation has been conducting a military training programme in the country and running a hospital in the capital, Mogadishu. But, the UAE’s government has now abruptly ended its involvement on both those fronts after a series of recent diplomatic disagreements. So, why are the UAE and other regional countries interested in Somalia?
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Nur’s business is among the many other enterprises in Somalia, which survived the civil war of some two decades, and is a testimony that resilience pays off in the long run. For that matter, passing the baton to a younger generation can be the ultimate insurance to Nur’s family dream of securing place for the Somali traditional outfit in the modern era.”
Somali Traditional Attire Returns As Youths Promote Them Overseas
19 April – Source: Xinhuanet – 633 Words
By stitching together yarns of different colors held by up to 12 loops to form fine linen which can then be used to make different kinds of clothes, Mohamed Nur is not only earning a living through a centuries-old technology but is also keeping alive the culture of his people. For over two decades, Nur, who is in his late 50s, has been making clothes for both the young and old in Mogadishu. But things are not as rosy as they were back in the day. “Imported clothes have swarmed the market in the recent years and Somalis are embracing them,” Nur told Xinhua during a recent interview in Mogadishu.
He revealed that he had perfected the art of keeping Somalis adorned in their traditional attire for years but was worried that the craft might be giving in to modernity’s onslaught. Men, women and children’s clothes are on display at Nur’s shop, offering customers a wide range of choices despite the difficult times. A new trend, which is gradually and steadily picking up in Mogadishu as Somalis abroad seek to maintain their identity in foreign lands, indicates his business can still be salvaged.
Many of them now buy the clothes to wear them abroad, keeping alive Nur’s business. “Somalis who are based in foreign countries are actually the mainstay of our business,” Nur said. “Many of them are trying to revive the traditions of our forefathers and like to dress like them,” he added. With a population of about 2 million, Somalis spread across the globe and Nur’s business seemed to stare at a bright future.
Online shops and design outlets mainly in the UK run by Somali designers are giving the Somali traditional wear a global outlook, reinforcing Nur’s bid for the promotion of traditional wear despite the change of times and globalization. However, there are challenges. The big ones for Nur is that there are hardly any young people who are willing to take up the trade.
Stitching yarn in up to 12 loops to make a cloth could prove a daunting task for today’s young people who can achieve a similar result with modern technology. “I learnt this craft from my father and with several years of practice I am now well versed and can do this with a lot of confidence,” said Nur. “That was a time of glory when Somalis, both young and old, were proud to be clad in traditional attire,” added the entrepreneur.
TOP TWEETS
@UNFPA_SOMALIA: Somalia today launched the#SomaliaPeaceBuildingFund that aims at actively engaging youth to shape lasting peace through youth political empowerment while enabling Somali young women and men to meaningfully engage… https://www.facebook.com/
@EUCAPSOM: A Somaliland Coast Guard Information Day organised by the Somaliland Coast Guard on request of the House of Representatives was facilitated by @EUCAPSOM in Hargeisa on April 18th.
@lasoco: WHO roots for strong health system in Somalia to hasten reconstruction – Xinhua http://j.mp/2EZWoGK
@UNdeClercq: In some parts of the you must be courageous to be a young person. Here’s to #SomaliYouth, their tenacity and the bright future they are building for #Somalia. Pleased to help launch our @UNPeacebuilding programme on youth political empowerment today
@wazalendoKE: Diplomatic Crisis In The Gulf Undermining Somalia’s Stability And War Against Al-Shabaab https://intelligencebriefs.
@AbdallaEmirates: The suspension of the UAE projects in Somalia explains the disguise of many foreign countries as humanitarian actors in pursuit of their political interests.
Shutting down a hospital for political reasons is the lowest form of humanity.
@AbdirahmanCumar: An open & balanced debate on the#Somalia & #UAE diplomatic rift, excellent contribution by@Moshireh: on @AJEnglish What’s triggering tension between Somalia and the UAE? https://www.aljazeera.com/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somalia Finance Minister, Dr. Abdirahman Beileh and other government officials meets with World Bank Vice President for Africa Maktar Diop to discuss the country finance progress.
Photo: @DrBeileh