August 27, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
National Electoral Commission Registers More Political Parties
27 August – Source: Jowhar.com – 153 Words
The National Independent Electoral Commission on Sunday registered more new political parties that will join previously registered parties in the country. Up to seven parties were accredited with registration certificates during a brief ceremony held at the Commission’s headquarters in Mogadishu.
The commission had previously registered 15 political parties and the new parties’ enrollment makes the number of registered parties 22. The registration comes weeks after Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi sarcastically warned opposition groups that the government was working on the formation of a grand political party led by President Farmaajo, though he didn’t state when the party would be unveiled.
However, some vocal politicians expressed concern over the registration of the many political parties. Outspoken MP Mohamed Abdi Yusuf suggested that the country should not have more than three credible political parties. The development comes as the country seeks to embrace the multi-party system and shift from the clan-based political power-sharing arrangement.
Key Headlines
- National Electoral Commission Registers More Political Parties (Jowhar.com)
- Parts Of Mogadishu Streets Locked Down (Shabelle Media)
- Somaliland Release Two Ministers Of Ethio-Somali Region Detained In Hargeisa (Halbeeg News)
- Somali Police Department Names Its First Female Brigadier General (CTGN Africa)
- Somali Soldier Kills A Civilian Driver In Beledweyne Town (Risk Map)
- Somaliland Farmers Losing Out To Cheap Food Imported From Ethiopia (Radio Ergo)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Parts Of Mogadishu Streets Locked Down
27 August – Source: Shabelle Media – 145 Words
Somalia’s capital Mogadishu is under security lockdown Monday, with roads closed a day after the Police seized a car packed with explosives near the office of the city’s mayor. Hundreds of security forces have been deployed on the main roads in the capital, including Jubba, Afisyoni, El-Gabta junctions and as well as areas around Mogadishu seaport.
The reason behind the closure of the roads remain yet unclear, but, this has had an effect on students and business people who live away from their workplaces. President Farmaajo who was elected 8th February last year has promised to prioritize security as his government achieved several positive goals since he assumed the office.
Al-Shabab was forced out of the capital by AU and Somali troops in 2011 but still controls parts of the country and carries out attacks against the government and military officials in Mogadishu and other towns.
Somaliland Release Two Ministers Of Ethio-Somali Region Detained In Hargeisa
26 August – Source: Halbeeg News – 257 Words
The authorities in Somaliland have released two former ministers of Ethiopia’s Somali region who were detained in Hargeisa. The two ministers released were identified as ministers for education and justice Ibrahim Aden Mahad and Abdimajid Ahmed Jama’a respectively. Somaliland’s interior minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed who spoke to BBC Somali service confirmed the release of the former ministers stating that the minister entered the country illegally. The minister declined to give details on how the formers ministers were released and where they are at moment.
On the other hand, the interior minister of Somaliland, Mr. Kahin stated that they handed over 14 vehicles to officials of Ethio-Somali region; these vehicles were hijacked from region after the violence that started in the region forced the former president of the state Abdi Mohamud Omar to step down. These vehicles were handed over by Somaliland’s deputy interior minister, Muse Mohamed Diriye at the border town of Wajaale.
The Immigration authorities of the breakaway Somaliland have arrested two former ministers of Ethiopia’s regional state, in Hargeisa. The head of Somaliland Immigration department, Tayyip Osman told Halbeeg News that the two were detained at Egal Airport for staying in Somaliland illegally. Mr. Osman said the two had no valid travel documents to stay in Somaliland.
According to local media in the region, the ministers were planning to travel to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. “Immigration police at Egal Airport nabbed the two former ministers while boarding a plane headed to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia,” Somaliland Standard, a local media based in Somaliland reported.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Police Department Names Its First Female Brigadier General
27 August – Source: CTGN Africa – 164 Words
Colonel Zakia Hussen Ahmed has been promoted to the rank of a brigadier general in the Somali Police Force. She becomes the first woman in the country’s police history to attain the rank. Speaking during her installation on Sunday at General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre emphasised the need to recognise the role of women in the country.
“If women are at least fifty percent of the population in Somalia, they must get what they deserve. In fact, every person should get his or her rights, otherwise we will not be able to compete with our neighbours” said PM Khayre. “I want to encourage Somali women to stop aiming low. Instead, I would like you to focus to becoming the next president and premier in this country,” he added. Col Zakia was on August 16 appointed by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to become deputy commander of police in a security reshuffle. Other officers were also honoured at the ceremony.
Somali Soldier Kills A Civilian Driver In Beledweyne Town
27 August – Source: Risk Map – 56 Words
Somali Federal Government soldier has shot and killed a civilian driver in Beledweyne the provisional headquarters of Hiran region. It was claimed that the killing comes following a controversy between the soldier and the driver, according to witnesses.
The local people in Beledweyne town have launched a demonstration against the killing as they blocked all the major roads in the town which created heavy traffic movement in the town.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Mohamud took a loan of $500 to buy seeds and cultivate the land and cannot see how to meet the repayment due in October. He is also worried about the livelihoods of his nine children. Local farmers in Somaliland are bitter about the fact that farmers in Ethiopia get subsidies and transport assistance from the government to export their produce over the border.”
Somaliland Farmers Losing Out To Cheap Food Imported From Ethiopia
27 August- Source: Radio Ergo – 413 Words
Somaliland farmers are complaining that cheap imports of food from Ethiopia are driving prices down in the local markets and ruining their chances of recovery after the recent drought. Mowlid Nur Omar, a farmer in Arro-Tuulka village in Gabiley, told Radio Ergo that he brought 200 kg of tomatoes to Gobanimo market in Hargeisa earlier this month. But after failing to sell any he watched the tomatoes rotting away.
On 14 August, he came back again to Gobanimo with 10 kg of maize and sorghum but could not sell the grain either. Farmers say that one kilo of sorghum has fallen from 8,000 to 2,000 Somaliland shillings ($1 to $0.25) due to the market being flooded with produce, especially from Ethiopia. Mowlid said he had invested $1,000 in his farm when he planted in the ‘gu rainy season and he had hoped for higher returns. He still has some maize and sorghum growing in the field: given the low prices he now plans to sell it off as livestock fodder to pastoralists.
Farmers in parts of neighboring Ethiopia had very good harvests this season and have been exporting surplus produced to Somaliland markets at low prices. Mohamud Guled Ali owns a two hectare farm in Agamsaha village, 35 km west of Hargeisa. He took 100 kgs of tomatoes to the market in Arabsiya but had to sell off his produce for far less than he expected.
He sold 10 kgs of tomatoes at $2, as compared to the price of $20 he used to get for the same amount. He returned to his village without selling his maize. He told Radio Ergo that he took his produce to market on 29 July and 11 August, but both trips were in vain. The sharp fall in prices meant he made a huge loss and could not recover his initial investment.
Mohamud took a loan of $500 to buy seeds and cultivate the land and cannot see how to meet the repayment due in October. He is also worried about the livelihoods of his nine children. Local farmers in Somaliland are bitter about the fact that farmers in Ethiopia get subsidies and transport assistance from the government to export their produce over the border. The coordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture in Marodijeh, Abdirisaq Muhumed Gabobe, told Radio Ergo that local markets are facing very stiff competition. In addition, he estimated that local farm production this year has dropped by half.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: #Somalia: Security sources in Mogadishu say Sudan intelligence chief Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, also known as Salah Gosh, has arrived in the capital to meet with his counterpart. Sudan is reportedly executing a Qatar-funded project to train Somali intel agents.
@UNSOS_: UNSOS engineers joined by @amisomsomalia are currently upgrading a location on the outskirts of #Mogadishuto receive #AMISOM troops and Police who are being moved out of the Mogadishu #Stadium as part of the AMISOM Transition Plan. #Somalia
@Allehone: Worrying development as #Djibouti emerges as an important hub for arms trafficking. This trend undermines regional stability as #Somalia is emerging from insecurity and#Ethiopia face increasing volatility. It counters#Silencingtheguns AU agenda! @AU_PSD
@MofaSomalia: The Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr. Dahir Salad Hassan, met with senior officials of#JICA and discussed with them bilateral cooperation.
https://www.facebook.com/
#Somalia #Japan #Tokyo
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: Mogadishu police forces discover car with filled with explosives parked outside the national university campus near the Mayor’s office; bomb disposal experts at the scene trying to defuse the bomb – official.
@Halbeeg_News: Kenyan President says his country plans to pull its troops out of Somalia https://en.halbeeg.com/2018/
@HarunMaruf: Breaking: Roadside explosion hits a security vehicle near the former milk factory in Mogadishu, at least two agents killed, two wounded, sources.
@Mareegonline: #UPDATE: Somali journalists called on@MOALIMUU and @OmarFarukOsman to hands-off country’s National Union Journalists of Somalia (#NUSOJ) as both men claimed to be its leadership. #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Mogadishu Mayor and Governor for Banadir region, Abdirahman Omar Osman hosted Federal Minister for Interior and federal affairs Abdi Mohamed Sabriye in his office yesterday.
Photo: @engyarisow