April 30, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somalia To Harmonize Taxation Across The Country
29 April – Source: Halbeeg News – 217 Words
Somali government is to harmonize the collection of revenue and other taxes across the country for the first time since 1990s, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday. Since the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1990s, all the government financial institutions descended leading to dysfunctional revenue departments. Somali Finance Minister, Abdirahman Duale Beileh has expressed hope over the process of harmonizing tax collection across the nation.
He pointed out that his ministry convened officials from regional state finance ministries to hold discussions on avenues to harmonize the revenue and financial systems across Somalia. Beileh said the leaders also talked about the challenges and factors that influence the unification of the tax. “We are happy to note there are ongoing discussions within the finance ministry on the harmonization of the tax revenues. Currently there are no obstacles and the leaders acknowledged the need for harmonized tax,” said Beileh. The minister noted that the exercise would improve the country’s economy.
The minister confirmed that billions of Somalia’s debt will be remitted as from next year. “We have fulfilled the first and second conditions by IMF. In May 2019, we expect Somalia’s remission to take place,” he said. Beileh said Somalia will hold discussions with IMF officials 7th of next month on the ongoing process of printing new currency notes.
Key Headlines
- Somalia To Harmonize Taxation Across The Country (Halbeeg News)
- Banadir Regional Administration Donates $ 100000 For Flood-displaced People In Beledweyne (Dhacdo.com)
- The United Arab Emirates Accuses Qatar For Being Behind Political Rift With Somalia (Dhacdo.com)
- DP World Signs Final Agreement For Berbera Free Zone (East African Business Week)
- Displaced Persons In Somalia On Receiving End As Floods Wreak Havoc (Xinhua)
- In Twin Cities’ Somali Community A Push Against Online Shaming (Star Tribune)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Banadir Regional Administration Donates $ 100,000 For Flood-displaced People In Beledweyne.
30 April – Source: Dhacdo.com – 146 Words
Banadir Governor and the Mayor of Mogadishu Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow) has convened an extraordinary meeting in response to the recent flood crises in Baladweyne town, Hiiraan region. The Mayor also appointed a response committee chaired by the Deputy Mayor for social affairs Ms Basma Amir Shaketi. The committee which also includes district commissioners and local councils will coordinate the response efforts.
Speaking to the media the Mayor called for an urgent response to victims of floods in Baladweyne and donated 100,000 US dollars to provide assistance to the affected families. Flood crisis in Beledweyne has touched hearts and minds of Mogadishu people as many have fled their homes without any belongings after water submerged their homes. “We have taken steps to protect people, and call upon the Somali people and the international community to provide emergency assistance to the affected population,” said Mayor Yarisow.
The United Arab Emirates Accuses Qatar For Being Behind Political Rift With Somalia
30 April – Source: Dhacdo.com – 152 Words
The UAE State Foreign Minister Anwar Mohamed Qarqash has accused the Qatari government of fueling the political rift between his government and the Somali government. Anwar said the UAE is committed to the preservation of the unity of Somalia and explained that the current conflict that exists is not one which should harm the brotherhood between the two nations of Somalia and the UAE.
In a statement posted on his Twitter account he posed, “for how long will the diplomatic rift continue between the UAE and Somalia?”: “UAE is committed to protecting the unity of Somalia as a nation and country,” said the State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Speaking about the DP World agreement on Berbera Port, he reiterated that the agreement was signed by the former Federal Government of Somalia and witnessed by the Member States. “I hope the good brotherhood relationship between us and the Somali government will be seen as bigger than anything else,” Anwar said
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
DP World Signs Final Agreement For Berbera Free Zone
27 April – Source: East African Business Week – 848 Words
DP World has signed a final agreement with the Government of Dubai enabling it to develop an economic free zone at the Port of Berbera in Somaliland. “The free zone will encourage growth for the region’s economy,” said DP World Group Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. “It’s a boost for local prosperity and is going to create many jobs. We look forward to bringing our global experience here and help develop the area.”
Free Zones (FZ) are designate areas in which companies are taxed very lightly or not at all to encourage economic activity. The global trade enabler expects to break ground on the 12 square kilometre project later this year. Located right next to the port, it will support the development of Berbera as a trading hub and generate jobs. Modelled on DP World’s Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, the project targets a range of businesses including warehousing, logistics, traders and manufacturers. The first phase of construction is focused on a 4 square kilometre stretch of land. Future phases will be detailed in a concept plan together with projected capital investment required from DP World. Construction of each new phase will start once the previous has achieved 85% occupancy.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone, also known as Jafza, commenced operations in 1985 with office units and warehouses available for lease. It hosts more than 7,000 global companies and includes approximately 100 of the Fortune 500 organisations. The free zone contributes 21 per cent of Dubai’s GDP on a yearly basis and it employs more than 144,000 people. In 2015, Jafza generated $87.6 billion worth of trade.
Displaced Persons In Somalia On Receiving End As Floods Wreak Havoc
29 April – Source: Xinhua – 631 Words
The internally displaced persons in Somalia are once again staring at a humanitarian crisis as torrential rains accompanied by floods wreak havoc in their makeshift dwelling place. Both the government and relief agencies have sounded alarm over a looming crisis as flooding intensified in the strife-torn Horn of Africa state which has in the last one year grappled with acute drought. The Somali government last week sent emergency appeal to humanitarian agencies to scale up response to flooding while insisting that millions of people especially those sheltered in the camps for the displaced were at risk of contracting fatal diseases.
At an Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camp in Mogadishu, Amina Sidow, a mother of five, has been spending sleepless nights as their makeshift camp which has now been battered by the vagaries of weather is fast giving way. “We have not had adequate sleep for several nights now,” Aamina told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday. “We are forced to remain standing throughout the night because our house is flooded,” she added.
Drops of water can still be seen as the tarpaulin which is now soaked in water drips, leaving no room for warmth in the house. “These are the most difficult times for people who live in IDP camps,” Aamina says as she assembles wares in her house which for years now has been home to her children. It (house) no longer shelters us from the rain.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
Yasmin Ali, the Savage mother, said her ex-boyfriend threatened repeatedly to post a naked photo and a video of them having sex that she said was taken without her knowledge. Harsh texts and social media messages started pouring in right away: “You must be ashamed because you’re the first Somali porn star” and “Who is going to marry you now?”
In Twin Cities’ Somali Community, A Push Against Online Shaming
29 April – Source: Star Tribune – 1188 Words
Yasmin Ali didn’t leave her home for weeks after a video of her having sex with a former boyfriend showed up online. Caught in a wave of community backlash, the Savage mother of four obsessively checked her social media accounts and contemplated suicide. Then she turned to the police for help. Ali is among what advocates say is a growing number of Somali-American women pushing back against online harassment or shaming, often led by former partners with compromising images or video.
Minnesota and more than 30 other states have passed so-called “revenge porn” laws against sharing such images in recent years, but Somali and other immigrant victims can face steeper hurdles in asking for help and especially devastating consequences from humiliation on the internet. Now, cops and women’s advocates are urging them to come forward, even as the national #MeToo conversation and a starker spotlight on sexual misconduct have clashed with an imperative to stay silent about matters of sexuality. “Two words you hear frequently as a Somali female are ‘aamus’‘be quiet’ and ‘ceeb,’ or ‘shame,’ ” said Ruqia Abdi, a Hennepin County associate librarian and community leader working on spreading awareness about harassment.
But more women and men are tackling the topic openly. A Somali-language video of a Minneapolis police officer calling online shaming “a major problem” and explaining the state’s 2016 “revenge porn” law garnered almost 10,000 views on YouTube. Support for victims: Minneapolis police Sgt. Abdiwahab Ali responded several years ago to a “horrific” call: A young Somali-American woman had attempted suicide after a man had posted nude images of her online. Under Minnesota law at the time, police had no recourse to go after the man. Frustrated he couldn’t do much for the victim, Ali was haunted by the case for months.
Ali recently ran into the woman, who left the state after that incident but later returned. She and other community members urged him and his colleagues at the Somali-American Police Association to take a public stance on the issue. So in March, Ali went on KALY 101.7 FM, a Minneapolis Somali-language radio station, to talk about the 2016 Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images law, which makes the offense a gross misdemeanor or, in some cases, a felony. He urged victims to contact police and warned perpetrators they could face charges, even if victims willingly shared the images with them. He also encouraged parents to educate youngsters, who can get into deeper legal trouble if those featured in images they share are underage.
TOP TWEETS
@AAbdishakur: The speaker race, government backs candidate to dominate the legislative branch. To our MPs: please select a speaker who can distinguish the legislative role from the executive, who can prevent the concentration of power in the hand of executive 2 provide 4 checks and balances.
@HarunMaruf: Governor of Hiran region Abdullahi Ahmed Maalin confirms that authorities have recorded the death of five people including two children killed by floods after Shabelle river burst its banks due to heavy rains. Maalin says flooding in Beledweyne is the worst town has ever seen.
@wakiilorg: Elections of the Speaker kicks off. 11 members are vying for the top job of the House. One wins with 50%+1 (138) in the first round in a secret polls. If none of the candidates fail to secure 138 votes in the first round, top 4 candidates will progress to the 2nd round. #Somalia
@allafrica: Peacekeepers to the Rescue as Floods Overwhelm: http://allafrica.com/stories/
@DalsanFM: #Tanzania Serengeti Boys edge #Somalia‘s Ocean Stars 2-0 to win the #CecafaU17 Championship Cup. What a spirited game by the Somalia side and star Farah Ahmed who scored 2 goals in the tournament.
@Hamza_Africa: Somali leaders in Mogadishu busy watching and commenting on an Under-17 football tournament taking place in central Africa while half of Somalia is submerged in flood waters after heavy rains. Misplaced priorities?
@mociise: Somalia President Mohamed @M_Farmaajo is expected to land #Beledweyne In Hiran Region, where thousand of people affected by the floods of Shabelle River#Somalia
@Eye_on_Somalia: DP World signs final agreement for Berbera Free Zone http://dlvr.it/QRF746
@DalsanFM: Lockdown as all major roads in the capital Mogadishu closed as Somalia Mps elect the new Speaker of the Lower House. Security beefed up. #SomaliaSpeakerElection
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Candidate for the position of the speaker of the house of the people take their position ahead of the elections today.
Photo: Shabelle Media