May 21, 2018 | Morning Headlines

Government Urged To Ease Import Of Relief Supplies To Avert Floods’ Harm

20 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 309 Words

Humanitarian stakeholders have called on the federal and state governments to suspend any barriers which could curtail speedy importation and distribution of humanitarian aid, in a move to effectively respond to the unfolding floods crisis in the country. The stakeholders among them federal and state government and humanitarian actors in the country meeting in Mogadishu on Sunday,  also urged collective action among all sectors of the society and governments.

In a communique on Sunday, the meeting led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, called for among others facilitation of the delivery of assistance including imports and exports of relief supplies, as well as remittances. The stakeholders also called for ‘the temporary suspension of new bureaucratic requirements, at the sub-federal level on aid providers’ and the provision of security and logistical support for access.

Tens of people have been confirmed dead in several parts of the country as floods continue unabated, with riverine regions along Shabelle and Jubba rivers adversely affected. The situation was however further compounded on Friday, when the tropical cyclone Sagar made way into northern Somalia, causing mass displacements and flooding in Puntland and Somaliland. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said Saturday more than 1.3 million people in Awdal, Sanaag, Togdheer and Woqooyi Galbeed (Hargeisa), were estimated to be at risk of the tropical storm as of Friday.

The stakeholders also agreed to strengthen the role of the 22 member National Flood Committee and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to ensure they engage across the country to marshal further support. The need for transparency and accountability in the management of aid response must form the core of the response, the meeting emphasized. “We declare non-tolerance to diversion of assistance and pledge to take firm action against anyone engaging in such misconduct. Such action will cover all forms of diversion and manipulation of the response, including private profiteering.”

Key Headlines

• Government Urged To Ease Import Of Relief Supplies To Avert Floods’ Harm (Goobjoog News)
• Heavy Rains Paralyze Transport In Mogadishu  (Hiiraan Online)
• South West Authorities Impose Night Time On Large Trucks (Halbeeg News)
• Peace In Sight As KDF Says Somalia Battle Not In Vain (The Standard)
• Al-Shabaab Faces Leadership Battle As Speculation Over Emir’s Health Mounts (Jamestown Foundation)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Heavy Rains Paralyze Transport In Mogadishu

20 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 348 Words

Heavy rains disrupted transport in the Somali capital Mogadishu as vehicles were unable to manoeuvre through flooded roads in the city. The rains that started last night left flood-prone areas submerged, with concerns on the fate of Internal Displaced Persons living in and around the capital. The rains have been pounding the city for better part of Saturday night and Sunday morning. The Turkish constructed major roads in the city have been inundated with heavy floods as a result of poor drainage in the capital. Mogadishu residents flooded social media with pictures and short videos of their flooded neighbourhoods, streets and roads, with many imploring the government of Somalia to fix the drainage systems.

Mohamed Osman Haji, a resident of Mogadishu said the rains left major roads flooded, rendering them impassable and inaccessible:  “The roads flooded as rains have been pounding the capital till Sunday. Floodwaters filled major streets leaving most of the public vehicles unable to operate due to the heavy floods,” he said. While the entire city was under water, some of the flood hotspots included parts of Wadnaha road, Bulahubay, 21st October road, some parts of Maka-Al-Murakama, Sinai, Industrial roads as well as roads in Wadajir and Dharkanley districts. Ali Mustafa Mohamud, a PSV bus driver said the transport was grounded in several areas in Wadajir and districts following heavy rains over this weekend.

“As we speak now, most roads are impassable,especially in Bulahubay and Wadajir suburbs. There are some areas in Bakara and Black sea neighbourhoods, which have also been affected. Since it is still raining, we cannot be certain about how the situation will be,” he said. Many auto-rickshaw operators did not come to the town due to impassable roads. Ahmed Alas Ghedi, one of the riders in the town, said the rains inconvenienced him as he was to take several clients to work as he does every morning: “I am still at home. I cannot come out because of the rains. It is raining heavily and I am already at a loss since I have clients that I usually take to their workplace,” he said.

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South West Authorities Impose Night Time Ban On Large Trucks

20 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 159 Words

Southwest authorities have banned heavy vehicles from Mogadishu and other towns of the country, to enter Baidoa city during the night. Following consecutive security consultation, between Southwest security agencies, the authorities imposed a night time ban on large trucks entering the capital city of Southwest after 6:00 PM.

Hundreds of Southwest forces have been deployed in the city, to beef up security during the month of Ramadan. Security officials through a statement directed the drivers of the vehicles from other towns to spend the night in the outskirts of the city, if their arrival is after 6:00 PM.

In recent days, Southwest state forces have been conducting security operations across the region. The forces were inspecting vehicles from Mogadishu and other towns of the country. Al-Shabaab has severally attacked major towns with Vehicles Borne Improvised explosive devices  (VBEID). The group targeted Baidoa city in the past, leaving trail of destruction and loss of lives.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Peace In Sight As KDF Says Somalia Battle Not In Vain

20 May – Source: The Standard – 807 Words

Kenya and other troop-contributing countries (TCC) believe they have made tremendous efforts in degrading Al Shabaab and enforcing peace in Somalia 10 years after the incursion. According to the Special Representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and head of AMISOM, Franscisco Caetano Jose Madiera, the country is gradually setting up institutions to run her affairs.

“We are moving with difficulties and challenges but with confidence that our mission is on track. We have made strides and we will prevail over Al Shabaab. The Somalia government had been operating from Nairobi but it is now operating from Mogadishu. Sooner or later, our mission will be achieved. Have we achieved our goal, of course not. Are we going there, of course yes,” Madeira says. He says that Villa Somalia is not being shelled daily by Al Shabaab like it was previously and institutions including the AMISOM, military and police headquarters and administrative offices have been established and are working.

Mogadishu and other towns have repopulated and are being rebuilt while some of the universities are operating. He, however, says TCCs are not so rich or so developed and therefore require support from donors to achieve the AMISOM mandate. AMISOM officials this month attended a meeting on Somali’s security with the European Union in Brussels where it was agreed that there is need for more resources. Kenyan ambassador to Somalia Lucas Tumbo says more than 35,000 Kenyans are currently working, conducting businesses and living in Somalia following the pacification of the country by AMISOM troops.

“AMISOM has done well with the support of donors, there has been incremental change. A whole spectrum of things need to be improved. Today more than 80 per cent of the Somali people are returning home. I have the largest diaspora in Africa with 35,000 Kenyans living here. There are 18,000 living in Hargesia, 10,000 in Jubaland and 3,000 living in Mogadishu among others,” Majore Gen (Rtd) Tumbo said.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“However, after nearly four years at the helm, his death would leave the militant group in a precarious situation with no obvious successor. Possible candidates include Mahad Karate, who the Shura by-passed when they picked Umar in 2014, Ali Mohammud Rage, alias Ali Dheere, and Hussein Ali Fiidow.”

Al-Shabaab Faces Leadership Battle As Speculation Over Emir’s Health Mounts

20 May – Source: Jamestown Foundation — 1,163 Words

The secretive head of al-Shabaab is reportedly critically ill, giving rise to speculation that the Somali Islamist group is re-organizing itself ahead of his possible demise.  Ahmed Umar has been emir of the al-Qaeda affiliate in East Africa for nearly four years, but now reportedly bedridden for more than six months, the installation of a new leader could be imminent .

Details of Umar’s ailment are scarce. While it is possible he was badly injured in an attack, a Mogadishu-based source familiar with the militant group’s activities told the Terrorism Monitor that Umar is suffering from a serious kidney problem that affected first one and now both kidneys, and has left him fighting for his life. Umar’s current location is unclear, but some reports say he is in the town of Jilib, in southern Somalia, where al-Shabaab maintains a stronghold. Others indicate the ailing leader may have fled to an undisclosed hideout in Gedo region, near the Kenyan border, following intensified bombardment by international forces.

Since the advent of Umar’s illness, the group has acted to save its leader’s life, paying doctors and providing costly treatments that are depleting the group’s financial resources. A consequence of this has been a failure to release funds to pay its fighters at battlefronts in parts of southern Somalia. Umar’s condition is allegedly causing concern among the group’s top leadership, at a time when al-Shabaab is pinned down by troops with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Sources say the situation is so critical that Umar’s deputies in the Shura, al-Shabaab’s executive council, have been meeting to discuss his possible succession. That has led to heated exchanges, splitting the council into different factions. At the moment, the Shura, which has a mandate to make important decisions regarding targets, finances and the group’s ideological direction, is composed of eight members, among them Umar’s deputies Mahan Karate, who heads the Amniyat, al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, Maalim Osman, the infantry commander, and Ali Dheere, the group’s spokesman. It is believed the three do not see eye to eye on the matter of succession.