June 8, 2018 | Morning Headlines
International Partners Laud Somali Leaders For Striking Deal On Security, Economy
07 June – Source: Xinhua – 132 Words
International partners on Thursday lauded Somali leaders for reaching agreements on security, economy and electoral issues during the recently concluded National Security Council meeting held in Baidoa in southwest Somalia. In a joint statement, the foreign envoys from the United Nations, the European Union (EU), United States, Britain and the African Union (AU) among others commended the leaders for reaching key agreements on the transition plan, revenue sharing, and the electoral model for the 2020 one-person, one-vote elections. “As Somalia enters a new phase in its relations with international financial institutions, its partners encourage Somalia’s leaders to continue working in the spirit of unity,” the partners said.
The foreign envoys also called on the leaders to speed up the implementation of these agreements reached during the meeting which also resolved to equip its forces and enhance their skills to take charge of the country’s security after the AU force withdraws from Somalia. The June 3-5 conference attended by the country’s top leaders, regional leaders, security officials and ministers urged Somali security forces to secure and reopen the main supply route linking Baidoa and other towns. The leaders also passed the Transitional Plan which requires AMISOM to prepare Somali national security institutions to take over the country’s security once the AU mission’s mandate comes to an end within four years.
The international partners commended the Somali leaders including Federal Member States, Benadir region, and represented ministries for building consensus on critical issues that provide the basis for further progress, including the conclusion of the constitutional review process. The partners also lauded the conference which wrapped up on Tuesday for defining the Somali federal model and set the stage for a constructive Somalia Partnership Forum, which the government, the EU and Sweden will co-host in Brussels on June 25 and 26.
Key Headlines
- International Partners Laud Somali Leaders For Striking Deal On Security Economy (Xinhua)
- Banadir Governor Receives Firefighter Equipment From Italy (Goobjoog News)
- Roadside Blast Kills A District Official Bodyguard In Mogadishu (Shabelle News)
- Rosemary DiCarlo Meets President Farmaajo On First Field Trip As UN Under-Secretary-General (UNSOM)
- UN Agency Installs Scanners To Enhance Somalia’s Border Management (Xinhua)
- Sustainable Solutions To Drought In Somalia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Formin Finland)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Banadir Governor Receives Firefighter Equipment From Italy
07 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 159 Words
The governor of Banadir region and Mogadishu Mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman Yarisow on Thursday received Italian officials, who came to hand over firefighting equipment for the Banadir Fire and Emergency Services. Governor Yarisow thanked the Italian Government for its assistance to the Banadir region. “I thank the officers from the Italian Civil Defense Division, who visited us to hand over firefighting equipment as part of the Italian government’s bid to contribute to the improvement of the firefighting services of Mogadishu. I hope the Italian government would continue its generous support to the Somali people,” Yarisow noted.
The Italian officials also spoke at the event and said the donation was meant to help the city of Mogadishu with the fire extinguishers that can help tackle fire incidents in the capital. The city has in recent years seen a number of fire incidents, mainly at the Bakara market with no emergency response from the local municipality due to lack of modern firefighting equipment in the region.
Roadside Blast Kills A District Official, Bodyguard In Mogadishu
07 June – Source: Shabelle News- 113 Words
A roadside bomb has killed a local district official in Mogadishu on Thursday, the latest in a series of assassinations targeting Somali government officials and security personnel in the city. A witness told Radio Shabelle that Ali Abdi Geedi better known as Farayare died after a bomb planted on a former perfume factory road struck a vehicle he was travelling in.
A bodyguard was also killed in the incident as another sustained injuries as well, according to the witness who asked to remain anonymous. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which bore the hallmark of Al-Shabaab which often carries out attacks in the capital, and elsewhere in the country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Rosemary DiCarlo Meets President Farmaajo On First Field Trip As UN Under-Secretary-General
07 June – Source: UNSOM – 209 Words
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo concluded a day-long visit to Somalia today, her first field trip since her appointment to the position one month ago. Ms. DiCarlo’s visit to Somalia is part of a regional tour of three countries in the East Africa. The Under-Secretary-General met with Federal President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo and senior federal government officials at the Presidential Villa in the Somali capital, and they reviewed the political, security and economic situation in the country. “I wanted to come to show how important Somalia is to the United Nations. It’s a high priority for the Secretary-General and for me,” she said in an interview after meeting with the President. Ms. DiCarlo expressed satisfaction with the progress the country has achieved on the political and security fronts and noted recent efforts to expedite the constitutional review process.
“I had a very good discussion with the President, and it is very clear Somalia has made a great deal of progress over the last decade,” Ms. DiCarlo stated, adding that she had assured the President of the UN’s continued support to Somalia. The Under-Secretary-General also met with senior UN officials and staff and held discussions with the senior leadership of the African Union Mission in Somalia.
UN Agency Installs Scanners To Enhance Somalia’s Border Management
07 June – Source: Xinhua – 282 Words
The UN migration agency said it has begun installation of 10-digit biometric fingerprint readers at Mogadishu’s international airport and its seaport as part of efforts to boost Somalia’s border management. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said strict border control standards are important to prevent cases of trafficking, terrorism, smuggling, and other attempts at exploitation. “Eight ports of entry (PoE) are targeted for the upgrade with the current funding,” said IOM said in a statement issued on Wednesday night.
The Horn of Africa nation currently has the technology to record migrant biodata through the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS). “It is an IOM-developed technology used to collect, process, and store and analyze traveller information in real time. It is present at 16 PoEs throughout Somalia, with over 100 workstations. IOM plans to continue to roll-out the upgrade of the 10 digit fingerprint readers to all eight PoEs,” said the IOM.
It said the new 10-digit readers will enable comparability of captured biometrics against national and international alert lists. The UN agency said Somalia, which is characterized by fluid internal and movement of regular and irregular migrants, is in the process of building the capacities of state institutions such as the Immigration and Naturalization Directorate. “Often, criminals are striving to circumvent the system by capitalizing on loopholes in border management,” IOM said. The UN agency said it will offer complimentary training to officers from each POE on how to use, store and maintain the new readers towards enhancing border management operations. “IOM supports, strengthens and facilitates legislation and policy in migration management, facilitates training, supports infrastructure development, enhances inter-agency and international cooperation and improves data management throughout Somalia,” it said.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Now dams are used to collect water into a large reservoir which then conducts the water to greenhouses. Vegetables bring additional income to a small farmers’ cooperative and a more varied diet to local people. There is an urgent need for other similar measures to prepare for drought in Somalia.”
Sustainable Solutions To Drought In Somalia
06 June – Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Finland – 669 Words
Somalia suffers from drought on a regular basis. Besides humanitarian aid, Finland is supporting the country to find sustainable solutions to drought. Farmer Abdi Shakur lifts up a plant that had fallen onto the ground and fixes it in an upright position. In the hot and humid greenhouse, the branches of the plants are heavy with ripe red tomatoes. At the turn of the year, these were the only vegetables grown within miles in the northern parts of Somalia. Last year Somalia and other countries in East Africa were hit by the hardest drought for decades. The drought continued in the early part of this year until April, when sudden and heavy rainfall caused flooding. For a few years now the rains have been highly irregular, and in most regions, it has rained too little. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid OCHA for Somalia, 5.4 million Somali people still need humanitarian aid after the previous drought. Flooding did not ease the situation as another 175,000 people had to leave their homes.
Last year the rapid reaction by the international community prevented the worst famine. Aid in the form of food coupons, foodstuffs, medicines, water tanks, etc. was delivered to the hardest hit areas. After the droughts in 2011-2012 and 2016, however, more than two million people have had to flee from their homes. They have sought food and shelter from temporary aid camps kept by aid organisations around the largest cities in Somalia. There is the risk that these temporary camps will turn into permanent ones. Most Somali people live from animal husbandry. Last year enough water was supplied as emergency relief for the people, but for the animals, there was not enough drinking water. Many families lost all of their livestock. After the livestock had died, people fell even deeper into poverty and sudden rains no longer bring any relief. Abdi Shakur’s family used to have almost 200 animals: goats, sheep and camels. What was left were 30 goats and three camels.
“We used to eat three times a day. Now we eat pancakes in the morning and only rice in the evening.” Shakur is standing by a water reservoir at a temperature of almost 40 degrees. The reservoir is part of the project of the Solidarity Foundation that wants to find permanent solutions to recurring droughts. It is impossible to prepare for drought if water brought by sudden rains causes flooding and runs off, instead of being collected and stored. Now dams are used to collect water into a large reservoir which then conducts the water to greenhouses. Vegetables bring additional income to a small farmers’ cooperative and a more varied diet to local people. There is an urgent need for other similar measures to prepare for drought in Somalia.