May 15, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Fighting Between Somaliland And Puntland Forces Erupts In Tukaraq Town
15 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 141 Words
Fierce fighting has erupted between forces loyal to Puntland state and the breakaway Somaliland in Sool region on Tuesday, a Puntland minister confirmed. The battle which erupted early Tuesday in Tukaraq town is reported to be ongoing. Both Puntland and Somaliland have traded accusations over the attack.
Abdi Ali Hirsi Qarjab, Puntland’s Minister for Information, who confirmed the fighting, said the forces of Somaliland had attacked bases of Puntland troops in the area: “Somaliland forces attacked our troops near the frontline but were repulsed and drove back,” said Qarjab. Somaliland chief of Army, Noah Ismail Tani, accused the Puntland state of carrying out the attack on the town saying the fighting was ongoing in Tukaraq: “Puntland forces invaded Tukaraq town and the forces are still fighting in the area,” said Tani. No casualties have been reported so far as the fighting continues.
Key Headlines
- Fighting Between Somaliland And Puntland Forces Erupts In Tukaraq Town (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia To Mark National Youth Day (Halbeeg News)
- We Want A United Somali But On One Condition — President Muse Bihi (Radio Dalsan)
- AMISOM Leaders Endorse Somalia’s Readiness To Take Over Security Responsibilities (Africa News)
- Doha To Continue Support For Unity Stability In Somalia: Qatari Emir (Press TV)
- The New Scramble For Somalia: The Role Of Diaspora Somalis With Dual Citizenship (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia To Mark National Youth Day
15 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 285 Words
Somalia will today commemorate National Youth Day. The country celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Somali Youth League ( SYL), the youth political party founded in 1943. SYL was instrumental in the country’s struggle for independence. Preparations to mark the day are underway in the capital city of Somalia and other major cities in the country. Government officials, youth groups, women and singers are expected to come out in large number to commemorate the day.
The Governor of Banadir region and Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Yarisow, sent congratulations to the Somali people, especially the youth, on this important occasion. On this fateful day of 15 May, Somalis reflect on the events of 1943, when 13 young men with big dreams came together in a club in Mogadishu to establish the SYL in order to emancipate the Somali nation from the yoke of colonialism. As a result, they went down in the golden pages of history as liberators, warriors and founding fathers of their motherland.
Somalia set aside 15th of May as the day to celebrate and remember the good old days when Somali youth were the leaders of society. What Somalis frequently hear is songs and poems to keep alive the psychological nationalistic fervour and the unforgettable legacy left behind by the thirteen young heroes of SYL. 75 years down the line, the unemployment rate for youth in Somalia is one of the highest in the world at 67%, according to the United Nations. The high unemployment rate is a considerable loss of youth development potentiality, which not only threatens economic progress but also increases the risk of social unrest, violence and crime. This has left the young people hopeless and easy prey for manipulation by different groups, including human traffickers, Al-Shabaab, clan militias.
We Want A United Somalia But On One Condition — President Muse Bihi
14 May – Source: Radio Dalsan – 115 Words
The President of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi has spoken to the media in Hargeisa city on the upcoming May 18 — the day when Somaliland separated from rest of Somalia. The President stated that in the 27 years of the Somaliland administration, the country has achieved quite a lot. And touching on the political situation of the country, the President stated that the unity of Somalia was initiated by Somaliland. He said a united Somalia was a possibility: “In fact, the whole world was united at one point and we really love our Somaliness. However, it is important that we overcome the ill advice of some of our people and embrace dialogue,” said President Bihi Abdi.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Leaders Endorse Somalia’s Readiness To Take Over Security Responsibilities
15 May – Source: Africa News – 355 Words
Somalia has made an appeal to the African Union (AU) and United Nations, urging the international bodies to believe in the country’s ability to take over security responsibilities. The United Nations directed the African Union peacekeeping force (AMISOM) to embark on a gradual withdrawal from Somalia, a decision that was approved by the AU’s peace and security council.
However, relentless attacks by the terror group Al Shabaab, coupled with corruption and infighting within military ranks has cast some doubts on whether the Somali National Army is ready to take over the role of securing the Horn of Africa nation. The Ugandan commander of AMISOM recently warned against the negative consequences that a premature exit by the peacekeeping force might have on the stability of Somalia. Speaking at a high-level meeting attended by the United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and the United Nations, National Security Advisor Abdi Said Muse Ali asked that his country is not judged by its past, but rather decisions should be made based on current assessments and progress reports.
Ali added that the Federal Government of Somalia has the political will to take over the country’s security. “The transition plan is a huge opportunity for the planning and security of Somalia. Somalia is grateful to our international partners for the strong support provided over the past years. But now, the situation is different,” Ali said. Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, reiterated the mission’s commitment to Somalia’s desire to meet its own security needs. “We need to build a country, and to build a country it means that Somalis need to take responsibility not just in military responsibilities but also the administration of the country.”
Doha To Continue Support For Unity, Stability In Somalia: Qatari Emir
15 May – Source: Press TV – 448 Words
Qatar has pledged to continue support for the stability and sovereignty of Somalia amid heightened tensions between the East African country and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a party to the Saudi-led quartet of Doha’s boycotters. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who held talks Monday with visiting Somali President Mohammad Abdullahi, said the relationship between Doha and Mogadishu were based on “brotherhood and mutual respect.”
“Qatar will continue to support the unity, stability, sovereignty and well-being of the people of Somalia,” Sheikh Tamim said in a tweet following the meeting. Earlier this month, a Qatari official told Reuters that Doha had provided $385 million in infrastructure, education and humanitarian aid to the Somali government. The Mondaymeeting, which is the third in less than a year, comes at a particularly sensitive time when Mogadishu abandoned a military deal with Abu Dhabi and seized millions of dollars from an Emirati plane.
Last month, an Emirati plane was grounded in the African country for several hours after UAE officials refused to allow the search of suspicious luggage. Emirati military trainers were held for hours at Bosaso International Airport in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, as they refused to allow security forces to check their suspiciously “heavy” luggage. In an earlier incident, the Somali federal government had confiscated nearly 10 million dollars from a UAE Royal Jet at the Mogadishu International Airport.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“The situation in Somalia is both different and rare. Somalia has just started the process of moving out of the degrading and deeply humiliating legacy of a failed state. Its Provisional Constitution (PC) is in disarray and highly contested. In fact, the Somali people have not been consulted about the provisions in the PC that allow dual citizenship. Its institutions are fragile and extremely vulnerable to infiltration, destabilization, corruption, and even takeover by internal usurpers and/or external predators with vested strategic and geopolitical interests.”
The New Scramble For Somalia: The Role Of Diaspora Somalis With Dual Citizenship
14 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1961 Words
Becoming an American citizen through naturalization requires taking the Oath of Allegiance, loudly. The first part of the Oath of Allegiance reads, “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.” Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo did exactly that when he took the Oath of Allegiance and became a US citizen some 30 years ago. On 8 February 2017, he was elected President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
President Farmaajo is not alone. His administration is packed with diaspora Somalis holding dual citizenship, who returned from Europe, North America, and Australia. Diaspora Somalis from these continents represent less than 30 percent of the estimated 2 million Somali immigrants abroad; and about 5 percent of the total Somali population.
However, politically they disproportionately dominate state institutions, at federal and state levels. For our purpose here, attention will be devoted to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). Details are sketchy, as government officials do not feel or believe that they ought to disclose their association with foreign powers through citizenship or any other affiliation. Nevertheless, information compiled from different sources indicates that they have established and maintain a firm foothold in all branches of the Federal Government (FG), especially the executive and legislature.
The American Camp: Somali-Americans occupy the most powerful position in the Federal Government of Somalia. The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, who is also the head-of-state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, leads the Camp. It also includes holders of important cabinet posts: Minister of Finance, Minister of Religious Affairs, Minister of Women and Human Rights, and Minister of Fisheries. American citizens of Somali origin also hold other important positions in the Federal Government.
The Norwegian Colony: Norwegian citizens of Somali origin prominently feature in the business of the FGS. They occupy two of the top three most powerful positions in the country: The Prime Minister/Head-of-Government and Speaker of the People’s Assembly. In addition, they hold the positions of the Minister of Defence and Minister of education and Culture. A few are members of the Federal Parliament.
@mpfsomalia: Happy #SomaliYouthDay! 15 May commemorates The #SYL‘s establishment on May 15, 1943. The power of #SomaliYouth led to independence and democratic governance. Hambalyo!
@Eye_on_Somalia: Fighting between Somaliland and Puntland forces erupts in Tukaraq town http://dlvr.it/QStsGc
@wakiilorg: Today marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Somali Youth League, it is also recognised as the Somali Youth Day. #Somalia
@HassanIstiila: #UPDATE: Chinese government provides $1.5 million in cash to the Somalia government and people for the severe humanitarian crisis in #Somalia. Almost half of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. More than two million Somalis are internally displaced. #Somalia
@i_dossier: Al-Shabab publishes video report of its fighters in Puntland’s Golis mountains on the move in the highlands, detonating IEDs and carrying out attacks. #Somalia#GalgalaMountains
@TC_Mogadishu: Great discussion over the latest developments with HE Prime Minister Khaire. Turkey will continue supporting Somali Federal Government in security and financial sectors as well as in many areas.
@mary_harper: Fascinating @HiraalInstitute short paper on#AlShabaab‘s education system in #Somalia – ‘The Fighters’ Factory’ https://hiraalinstitute.org/
@wakiilorg: Following three federal bodies with the support of the constitution ministries of FMS are mandated to undertake constitution reviewing and implementation process. A joint communiqué is due to be issued. #Somalia #DoodQarameed
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo inspects a guard of honor during his two-day state visit to Doha, Qatar.
Photo: @TheVillaSomalia