May 28, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
AU Urges External Actors To Refrain From Action That May Undermine Progress In Somalia
28 May – Source: Xinhua News – 291 Words
The chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed concern on Sunday over increasing instances of external interference by non-African actors in Somalia’s internal affairs. This threatens to disrupt the peace-building and state-building efforts currently underway in Somalia, Faki said during his meeting at the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital with Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire of Somalia, according to an AU statement.
The interference also risks reversing the hard-won gains made through joint efforts of the AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali security forces, he said, urging all concerned external actors to refrain from any action that may undermine Somalia’s progress. The two leaders discussed the progress made so far by the Somali federal government in implementing a reform agenda in the political, economic and security spheres, the statement said.
The chairperson of the AU Commission commended the Somali government for its efforts to establish cohesive and inclusive politics, deepen federalism, resolve the conflicts affecting the country and advance peace-building and reconciliation. Faki called on all Somali stakeholders to spare no efforts in ensuring a successful implementation of the agreed political roadmap. Noting the economic reforms undertaken by Somalia, the AUC chairperson urged Mogadishu to continue with the efforts underway to rejoin the international financial institutions and set the country on the pathway to debt relief.
Khaire, for his part, paid tribute to the bravery of AMISOM forces, and expressed gratitude to the troop and police contributing countries for their efforts and sacrifices in the pursuit of peace and security for Somalia, the AU statement said. Their commitment has been essential to Somalia’s progress, and AMISOM’s presence remains critical as the country moves in earnest toward full ownership of security responsibility over Somalia, Khaire said.
Key Headlines
- AU Urges External Actors To Refrain From Action That May Undermine Progress In Somalia (Xinhua News)
- Car Bomb Explosion Kills At Least One Person In Somali Capital (Shabelle News)
- Sacked Chief Justice Dismisses His Sacking (Jowhar.com)
- Kenya Tightens Its Border With Somalia in Fear Of Al-Shabaab Attacks (Halbeeg News)
- AMISOM Recognizes Top Medics For Exemplary Work (AMISOM)
- Tukaraq Is Not The Issue: It Is The Wider SCC Occupation Dummy (Wardheere News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Car Bomb Explosion Kills At Least One Person In Somali Capital
28 May – Source: Shabelle News – 122 Words
A witness says at least one person was killed in a huge car bomb blast in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, on Monday morning. The explosion resulted from an improvised explosive device [IED] fitted into a vehicle said to belong to a member of Somali security force.
The incident took place at a busy junction in the capital’s Bondhere district, according to the eyewitness who spoke to Radio Shabelle. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the witness said a child, who was near the area, lost his precious life in the blast. The security official, who was traveling in the car, survived the blast in what appeared to be an assassination attempt on his life. No group has claimed responsibility for the car bombing.
Sacked Chief Justice Dismisses His Sacking
28 May – Source: Jowhar.com – 187 Words
Sacked Chief Justice Iidle Suleiman rejected his dismissal by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’ on Sunday, saying it wasn’t done in accordance with the proper legal procedures.
In an interview with VOA Somali Service, Mr. Iidle asserted he will continue with his duties to the nation and the public as his sacking was illegal: “The provisional constitution clearly outlines the separation of powers between the judiciary and other arms of government such as the Executive and legislature. Article 23 of the judiciary law stipulates that the Chief Justice will only be relieved of his duties upon reaching 65 years of age,” he noted.
He added, “I’ll abide by the law, but not what is illegal. Thus, I will continue executing my roles and duties that I was sworn to do,” he said. When asked how his sacking was different to that of his predecessor, Aidid Ilka Hanaf, Mr Iidle said the former CJ was sent packing due to age and health reasons. In a statement, President Farmaajo fired Iidle and replaced him with Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, in what has been interpreted as a move to reform the judiciary.
Kenya Tightens Its Border With Somalia in Fear Of Al-Shabaab Attacks
28 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 223 Words
Kenyan authorities say they have enhanced security patrols along the border with Somalia to avert Al-Shabaab attacks in the country. Mandera County Commissioner, Mr. Kuswa Olaka, said the government had deployed enough forces at the border to beef up the security.
The forces will carry out security patrols across the border between Somalia and Kenya, according to the commissioner. “We are doing our best to foil any attack by Al-Shabaab fighters. Our forces will enhance border patrol,” he said.
The commissioner pointed out that Al-Shabaab planned to attack several places alongside the border. “They (Al-Shabaab) were also planning to bomb some places in the region according to intelligence reports, but we have managed to secure them,” Olaka affirmed.
He called on the local residents to work with the security forces. “We urge the public to work closely with the police and other security agencies during the month of Ramadan. Let us stand to protect our towns and villages against attacks by Al-Shabaab,” he urged. The Kenya government has directed its security agencies to step up operations during Ramadan.
Al-Shabaab has been targeting military and police vehicles, either by laying ambushes or planting explosives on the road in Kenya’s northeast region, especially in Mandera and Garissa counties. Kenyan troops are serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Recognizes Top Medics For Exemplary Work
26 May – Source: AMISOM – 296 Words
Four senior medical officials of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) who have been recognized by the AU Mission for their outstanding contribution to the peace efforts in Somalia. At a ceremony held in Kenya’s capital Nairobi yesterday, the medics were awarded medals and certificates of recognition, for the exemplary work.
Col. Dr. Atanasias Odhiambo, Lieut. Col. Dr. Francis Xavier Bakehena, Lieut. Col. Hailu Endashaw Atomsa and Col. Dr. Athanase Bizimana will be returning to their respective countries, after a successful two-year tour of duty. “You are good people of Africa and great citizens of the world,” AMISOM Head, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira told the doctors, as he handed them certificates and medals at the Mission’s offices in Nairobi.
“I felt that we needed to recognize your work to AMISOM and the African Union, so that your (kin) know that you have served this continent with commitment, in a very diligent manner,” added Ambassador Madeira.
Under the leadership of Col. Dr. Odhiambo of the Kenya Defence Forces, the team effectively took care of medical emergencies within and outside their stations of duty in Somalia. Ambassador Madeira praised them for their diligence and commitment to duty.
They were driven by dedication, he said. “You have helped this continent in supporting its children during dire times,” Madeira noted. “The future is bright for you. I wish you well and success in your future endeavours.”
In his remarks, Col. Dr. Odhiambo expressed satisfaction with the achievements his team had made in Somalia. “We are happy. We are leaving this place with our heads high,” he said. Present at the ceremony was AMISOM’s Medical Planner Dr. Komlan Moreira, who lauded the services provided by the outgoing team of doctors. “They achieved a lot with limited resources,” Dr. Moreira remarked.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“And such clashes are bound to continue so long as the occupiers remain in the SSC regions and its people exercise their fundamental inalienable right, as they clearly do, to free themselves from the enclave’s illegal occupation of their territories and remain part of Somalia (and Puntland).”
Tukaraq Is Not The Issue: It Is The Wider SCC Occupation Dummy
27 May – Source: Wardheere News – 842 Words
The latest fighting at Tukaraq in Somalia’s Sool region on 24 May, between the combined regional forces of Puntland (which include those from the occupied Sool, Sanag and Cayn or SSC regions), and those of the occupying militia from the one-clan secessionist enclave calling itself Somaliland, has drawn reactions from diverse quarters with some calling for restraint and return to peace.
The fledgling federal government, averse to take a clear stand against the secession per se, or more importantly the occupation of the SSC regions (lest it burns its fingers by antagonising their supporters in Parliament), could only master an anodyne call for an end to the fighting. Normally, it remains mute, so for what it is worth, this could be considered a change for the better.
For their part, the international partners of Somalia (UN, AU, IGAD), USA, UK, Belgium, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey) have also called on both sides to, among other things, bring an immediate halt to the fighting and observe the peace. There are a number of problems with this call from the perspective of Puntland/SSC. Firstly, in their effort to be even-handed, rather than holding the guilty party to account (Somaliland), they apportion equal blame to the combatants for the Tukaraq clash.
This is when Puntland, which includes the SSC regions as per its establishment in August 1998, is the victim and is doing no more than defending (or liberating) its territory from the aggressors/occupiers hailing from the Northwest region of Somalia (aka Somaliland). This stand is patently partial in favour of the aggressors/occupiers which can only reinforce their perception that they have the tacit acquiescence for their SSC occupation
Secondly, their call for an end to the fighting and a return to the ex-ante status quo, without any linkage to the end of the occupation of the SSC regions, would favour Somaliland and implicitly legitimizes their continued occupation of the SSC regions. Thirdly, their statement wrongly implies that the ownership of Tukaraq is the only problem between the warring parties and that once that is settled peace would automatically return to the region.
TOP TWEETS
@DrBeileh: Today I chaired the weekly SMP meeting@MofSomalia offices. Steady progress is been made. All government & key implementing agencies are working closely together for the fiscal and economic reforms of #Somalia .
@SSCVoices: Tense situation in #LasAnod today with Somaliland militry arresting scores of children and women who have been shouting anti Somaliland slogans in the street of#Lasanod #Tukaraq
@Goobjoognews: AU WARNS against external interference in Somalia, urges refrain.
@sntvnews1: Security officials in Jubbaland State in Somalia paraded an al Shabaab arrested while he was assembling an improvised explosive device (IED). The suspect was arrested in a village located in the outskirts of Kismayo.
@ld_sff: SFF-LD @MofSomalia supported by the World Bank@mpfsomalia is Contributing to the Restoration of Baidoa Districts’ Economy, Improvement of Road Safety & Reduction of VOCs. Read more on the Rehabilitated 3.5km Road, @BaidoaDistrict #Somalia -> below link:http://sff-ld-mof.so/
@HarunMaruf: Ibrahim Idle Suleiman who was sacked as Chief Justice says decision by @M_Farmaajo is not legal because proper procedures has not been followed. Suleiman insists that he’ll continue his normal duties. Some MPs also made similar claims about the sacking.
@engyarisow: Encouraging young people to play football tournament during Ramadan is part of the implementation plan of P/CVE.
@HarunMaruf: After meeting with @SomaliPM in Addis Ababa, AU chief says he is concern over increasing external interference by “non-African actors” in Somalia’s internal affairs; says it threatens to disrupt peace-building and state-building efforts currently underway in Somalia.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire holds talks with the Chairperson of AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in Addis Ababa.
Photo: @SomaliPM