September 20, 2018 | Morning Headlines

Hirshabelle state has restored its cooperation with the Federal Government after leaders of the federal and the regional state resolved their differences in Mogadishu. In a statement, Hirshabelle said it had reached an agreement with the Federal Government over the concerns previously communicated to the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.. “Following discussions between Hirshabelle leaders (the President, Deputy President and the Speaker of the state’s assembly) and leaders of Federal Federal government, we the happy to note that the concerns of Hirshabelle state have been addressed.”

The Hirshabelle leaders accordingly declared their state would continue to collaborate  with the Federal Government. The statement from the regional leader, President Mohamed Abdi Ware’s office further encouraged leaders of Federal Member States to hold talks with the Federal Government in order to iron out their differences. The move comes barely two days after the National Security Council meeting called by President Farmaajo last week failed to take off following a boycot by the regional leaders. The five regional leaders, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas (Puntland), Ahmed Duale Gelle (Galmudug), Mohamed Abdi Ware (Hirshabelle), Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden (South West State) and Sheikh Ahmed Madobe of Jubbaland – met under the auspices Council of Interstate Co-operation in Kismayu from September 4 to 8, and resolved to suspend their co-operation with the Federal Government.

In a statement, the leaders expressed concern over the deepening political crisis and growing differences among the major stakeholders of Somalia. They condemned the Federal Government for interfering in the internal affairs of the Federal Member States. . Late last week, the leaders demanded for a “third-party” to mediate between them and the central government. They also requested for a secure venue for the talks, outside of  Mogadishu.The move was shot down by the Somali Prime Hassan Ali Kheire, who maintained Somalia had the capacity to can handle its affairs without the intervention of foreigners.

Key Headlines

• Hirshabelle State Resumes Cooperation With Federal Government (Halbeeg)
• TV: Somaliland Lawyers And Opposition Protest Agaist Sexual Law (Universal TV)
• Somali, AU Forces Carry Out Joint Security Sweep In Beledweyne (radioshabelle)
• Somali Media Watchdog Group Condemns Killing Of A Journalist In Galkayo (Halbeeg)
• Mandela’s one-time adviser deployed to Somalia (Sunday Times)
• 12 Al-Shabab Militants Killed In Airstrike In Southern Somalia (xinhuanet.com)
• AU Special Representative Commends Burundi For Its Role In Stabilizing Somalia (AMISOM)

NATIONAL NEWS

TV: Somaliland Lawyers And Opposition Protest Agaist Sexual Law

19 September 16:02:46 – Source : Universal TV – 74 Words

Several lawyers and Opposition politicians of Somaliland have come out to protest against a recently approved bill on sexual offenses and rape. At a press conference held in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital city, the civil groups implored Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi to revoke the law since it violated both the Constitution and Islamic values on rape. The civil society groups expressed anger at the enactment of the law and declared it “null and void.”

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Somali, AU Forces Carry Out Joint Security Sweep In Beledweyne

19 September – Source : radioshabelle – 96 Words

Somali government forces backed by AMISOM troops carried out a massive security operation in the strategic town of Baladweyne, Hiiraan region, in central Somalia. The crackdown came after hours of deadly attacks in the city. A government soldier and a civilian were reportedly killed in the central city of Beledweyne, according to local residents, who spoke to Radio Shabelle on phone.

On the other hand, Al-Shabaab fighters claimed they had killed a senior government security official whom they identified as Mumin Hassan Rageh. Government officials are yet to comment on the operations.

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Somali Media Watchdog Group Condemns Killing Of A Journalist In Galkayo

19 September – Source : Halbeeg – 239 Words

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has condemned the brutal murder of journalist Abdirizak Said Osman , who was stabbed to death in the Galkayo town of Mudug region around 8 pm on 18 September 2018. Abdirizak was a newscaster and reporter of Radio Vioce of Peace. Abdirizak, 29, was attacked by unknown assailants who stabbed him at least six times in the chest and back in Garsoor village.

He died from his wounds on his way to the General Hospital of Galkayo, according to his colleagues at Radio Voice of Peace. “We deplore the barbaric killing of Abdirizak Said Osman The Puntland authorities must chase and catch the killers and those who masterminded Abdirizak’s killing and bring them to justice,” NUSOJ Secretary General Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu said. He also expressed his deepest sympathies to the family, friends, relatives and colleagues of the late.

The motive of the killing remains unknown and no one has so far been arrested for the  brutal act, although the police said they were investigating the matter: “Many crimes against journalists have been committed with impunity but this time we demand the criminals to be prosecuted and brought to justice,” said Mahir Jama Aden, the NUSOJ chairman. The slaying of Abdirizak is the second journalist to be killed in Somalia in this year 2018 . Ten journalists have so far been killed in Somalia since 2016

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mandela’s one-time adviser deployed to Somalia

19 September – Source : Sunday Times – 273 Words

Nicholas “Fink” Haysom will move from Sudan to Somalia as the United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres’s special representative and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. The South African constitutional lawyer and conflict resolution specialist succeeds Michael Keating of the United Kingdom‚ effective from October 1.

Haysom‚ a former chief legal and constitutional adviser to then president Nelson Mandela between 1994-1999‚ previously led a project helping to draw up Iraq’s transitional constitution. He was also involved in the UN committee negotiating a new Burundi constitution‚ and has served the UN in countries including Afghanistan‚ Burma‚ Indonesia‚ East Timor‚ Sri Lanka and Colombia. Since 2016‚ he has served as the special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

Haysom studied at the University of Natal and University of Cape Town. In 2012‚ he received an honorary doctorate from UCT. The former National Union of South African Students (Nusas) president first made headlines in the fight against apartheid. According to the Sunday Times archives‚ he was detained without trial in 1976‚ 1978 and 1980 – the last time for five months. He was served with a banning order that put him under virtual house arrest for two years until 1982. He cut his teeth in what he has called “the low-trust world of mediation” in Thokoza on the East Rand‚ where he negotiated a truce between warring hostel dwellers and the ANC-aligned population‚ said the Sunday Times. He then honed his skill in the negotiations for an interim and later final South African Constitution.

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12 Al-Shabab Militants Killed In Airstrike In Southern Somalia

19 September – Source : xinhuanet.com – 226 Words

At least 12 al-Shabab militants were killed and several others injured after an airstrike hit al-Shabab militants meeting in Sakow town in Middle Jubba region in southern Somalia, officials said Wednesday. Adam Isak Ali, deputy minister of information of Somalia, told state-owned Somali News Agency that international partners carried out successful airstrike overnight in Sakow, al-Shabab’s major stronghold.

“We have report that more than 12 al-Shabab militants were killed and several others injured in an airstrike in Sakow town in middle Jubba region, about 37 militants were having a meeting when we carried out the attack there,” Ali said. He said senior al-Shabab militant commanders were among those targeted in the attack, saying former group’s chief for Kismayo town in lower Jubba, Hassan Yacqub was among those injured in the attack. Independent sources confirmed the attack on al-Shabab militants in Sakow town, saying at least three children were killed in a school.

A resident in Sakow town told Xinhua by phone that the warplane dropped four shells into the center of the town near the Jubba River there. “I cannot tell you the number of casualties in the airstrike here because I did not get out of my home since this morning, but shells were four that created big fear,” said the resident who asked for anonymity.

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OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“”He said the Transition Plan would be driven by the Somali leadership based on its own priorities, adding that the horn of Africa country will also provide forces to occupy territories that AMISOM will vacate.””

AU Special Representative Commends Burundi For Its Role In Stabilizing Somalia

19 September – Source : AMISOM – 502 Words

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira has commended Burundi for its selfless contribution in stabilizing Somalia.

Speaking yesterday in Mogadishu when he received the deputy Chief of Defense Forces of the Burundi National Defence Forces (BNDF), Maj-Gen. Joseph Ndayishimiye, at the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) headquarters, the SRCC commended Burundi for upholding the spirit of Pan Africanism by being part of the peacekeeping mission in Somalia. “Burundians are playing a very important role in pushing forward our mandate (of stabilizing Somalia). When we see senior officials coming to visit (the country) and get information on what is taking place, it raises our morale and the morale of our soldiers,” Ambassador Madeira said, adding such visits were also an opportunity for the leadership of the AU Mission to discuss key issues with senior officials from Troop Contributing Countries. Maj-Gen. Ndayishimiye, who was part of the Burundian contingent that pushed Al-Shabaab out of Mogadishu in 2010, is in Somalia on a five-day official visit.

The Burundian official said he was impressed with the achievements made and reiterated his country’s commitment to helping the AU Mission achieve its mandate of restoring peace and security in the horn of Africa country. “We (Burundian forces) were here in 2009 and 2010 when Mogadishu was divided into two. Today we can look back and see the achievements AMISOM has made, which are, indeed, very commendable,” the Burundi Deputy Chief of Defence Forces added.

During his visit Maj-Gen. Ndayishimiye will visit the Burundian contingent serving under AMISOM in Sector Five, based in Jowhar, and the Academy in Mogadishu. The BNDF deputy CDF who was accompanied by the Burundian contingent commander, Brigadier-General Leonidas Niyungeko, also paid a courtesy call on the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander, Maj-Gen. Tai Gituai.

Receiving Maj-Gen. Ndayishimiye, at the Force headquarters, on behalf of the AMISOM Force Commander, Maj-Gen. Tai Gituai, thanked Burundi for its contribution to the liberation of Mogadishu. “I also want to thank you as the commander of the Burundian forces. Burundi and Uganda were the first force to come here and we are grateful for the contributions even before they were joined by other troop contributing countries,” Maj-Gen. Gituai said.

The deputy Force Commander also briefed the BNDF official on the transition plan agreed by AMISOM, the United Nations, the Federal government of Somalia and development partners. “The Transition Plan is focused on ensuring that the SNA (Somali National Army) is capable of taking over the areas that AMISOM would hand over to them,” Maj-Gen. Gituai said, noting that the condition-based plan would also see AMISOM forces reconfigured and reduced by at least 1,000 by February 2019. He said the Transition Plan would be driven by the Somali leadership based on its own priorities, adding that the horn of Africa country will also provide forces to occupy territories that AMISOM will vacate.

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