November 6, 2018 | Morning Headlines
South West State Electoral Coordination Committee Resigns Over Interference
05 November – Source: 252Politics – 190 Words
Eleven members of the South West State presidential election coordination committee have resigned. The members, who include the Chair and deputy Chair of the 13-member team tasked to oversee the regional presidential elections scheduled for 17th this month, resigned in a huff on Monday. Their resignation is linked to the clearance of ex Al-Shabaab deputy leader, Mukhtar Robow, to participate in the race.
According to sources, the members resigned in protest over the clearance of former Al-Shabaab second in command to vie for presidency. In their considered opinion, Mukhtar Robow, ought to be locked out of the polls “because it is unconstitutional” for him to participate in the exercise. Mukhtar Robow, also known as Abu Mansour among his supporters, was issued with a certificate of clearance on Monday amid stiff opposition by some election coordination committee members.
Other unconfirmed reports say the incumbent South West President, Sharif Hassan Adan, had bowed out of the race to instead push for the candidature of Robow. The latest development is a big blow to the already tense situation surrounding the regional presidential elections. Some candidates have previously accused federal government leaders of direct interference in the polls.
Key Headlines
- South West State Electoral Coordination Committee Resigns Over Interference (252Politics)
- AU UN Envoys Wrap Up Talks With Federal State Leaders (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Energy Minister Resigns Launches Presidential Bid (Halbeeg News)
- Upsurge In Violence Triggers New Wave Of Displacement (OCHA)
- Minnesota Could Elect 1st Somali-American To Congress In Historic Year For Women Candidates (ABC News)
- Warsheikh: The Agony Of Expectant Mothers In A Town With No Medical Facility (Radio Ergo)
NATIONAL MEDIA
AU, UN Envoys Wrap Up Talks With Federal State Leaders
05 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 224 Words
United Nations envoy to Somalia Nicholas Haysom and his African Union counterpart Francisco Madeira on Monday concluded their whirlwind tours across the country by meeting Galmudug state President Ahmed Haaf.
The two envoys met with Haaf in Galkaayo alongside Galmudug state minister Sheikh Mohamed Shakir where they discussed a wide range of issues, key among them the ongoing dispute between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS).
“We discussed on a number of issues concerning Galmudug as well as the interference of federal government in internal affairs of regional governments. We also exchanged ideas on how the UN can contribute towards a better future for Somalia,” said Haaf. He added that Haysom pledged to open a UN office in Dhusamareb.
The visit to Galmudug by Haysom and Madeira came after a similar tour to Somaliland on Sunday between the two UN and AU envoys and President Muse Bihi of Somaliland. Monday’s visit marks the conclusion of the week-long meetings, which started last week in Kismayu followed by South West and Puntland states.
The two envoys are now expected to meet with the FGS leaders to convey concerns raised by the FMS leaders. The Senate concluded a similar mission last month but expressed frustrations terming the government’s attitude as indifferent.
Somali Energy Minister Resigns, Launches Presidential Bid
05 November – Source: Halbeeg News – 164 Words
The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Lafta-Garen), has resigned from his Cabinet post to run for presidential elections in South West state. Announcing his presidential bid at a press conference in Baidoa town, Mr. Mohamed, that Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire for appointing him to the ministerial position: “Today I asked him to accept my resignation to enable me participate in the forthcoming polls in the South West state.” Mr. Mohamed has served in the Energy and Minerals docket since May this year.
The presidential poll in the South West state is scheduled for 17th November this year. Among those taking part in the elections, is a former Al-Shabaab deputy leader, Mukhtar Robow, who has been cleared to participate despite the Somali government’s initial attempts to bar him. Mukhtar Robow, also known as Abu Mansour, was the target of a $5 million US bounty before he defected from the Islamist group in 2013 and surrendered to the Somali government last year.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Upsurge In Violence Triggers New Wave Of Displacement
05 November – Source: OCHA – 358 Words
An upsurge in insecurity and conflict has triggered a new wave of displacement in the Lower Shabelle region of South West State. According to UNHCR-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN), more than 34,000 people have fled the area since the beginning of August, joining thousands of others who fled earlier in 2018 or before due to conflict, drought and floods, in which the majority are women and children.
As parties to the conflict continue to take control of smaller towns and villages, the anxiety and unpredictable security situation continues to force families to flee their homes in search of safety. The United Nations and humanitarian partners have boosted the delivery of assistance and the provision of services to the affected communities. The Somalia Humanitarian Fund has funded a project aimed to improve access to emergency shelter for 5,400 newly displaced people in Lower Shabelle, in an effort to improve their living conditions and meet their basic necessities. However, the needs remain dire. Humanitarian partners are particularly concerned about an increase in protection issues, including restriction of movement, arbitrary arrests, civilian casualties and the destruction of properties and livelihood assets.
Minnesota Could Elect 1st Somali-American To Congress In Historic Year For Women Candidates
05 November – Source: ABC News – 291 Words
Amid a wave of female candidates running for office, freshman state representative Ilhan Omar hopes to become the first Somali-American in Congress. The former refugee, who is running as a Democrat in Minnesota’s left-leaning 5th Congressional District, is facing Republican candidate Jennifer Zielinksi.
Before scoring her party’s primary victory in August, she made history in Minnesota when she was elected to the state House in 2016, becoming the nation’s first Somali-American legislator. Omar has garnered the support of progressive backers including Justice Democrats, MoveOn, and the Bernie Sanders’ legacy political organization, Our Revolution. These same grassroots social and economic justice organizations backed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has herself campaigned for the Democratic hopeful. Omar has also received support from Rashida Tlaib, who is running for Congress in Michigan, and the two could be the first Muslim women in Congress.
Omar was born in Somalia, and after fleeing the country’s civil war, she spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the United States. Her district, which includes Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs, is the largest Somali community in the country, according to CNN. Omar has also been active in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and helped her grandfather as an interpreter at DFL caucuses when she was young.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“I am seven months pregnant. I have edema at this stage and I am concerned about the expected labour and the lack of delivery services in Warsheikh,”
Warsheikh: The Agony Of Expectant Mothers In A Town With No Medical Facility
05 November – Source: Radio Ergo – 510 Words
Just 60 km north of the capital Mogadishu, the ancient town of Warsheikh in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region has recorded recent improvements in security, trade, and education, but its lack of a functioning hospital is leading to the deaths of numerous women in childbirth. Warsheikh, a coastal town dating back to 1862, is home to thousands of people. It has a partially operating health centre and several small clinics but nowhere equipped to perform Caesarean sections and other life-saving procedures.
Women with pregnancy-related complications are referred to Mogadishu for medical attention. It costs $150-$200 to hire a vehicle to the city and many women died before they get help. According to a local doctor, Aweys Abdikadir Hashi, Warsheikh town has lost seven mothers due to complications in childbirth in less than three months. “Last week alone, two mothers bled to death. Due to long hours of prolonged labour and complications, they were taken to Mogadishu but unfortunately, they died on their way to the city,” Dr Aweystold Radio Ergo.
Dr Aweys runs a pharmacy in the town, offering blood testing and basic services. He is often asked to help in emergency cases but is extremely limited in what he can provide. “When pregnant mothers go into labour, they are brought here [the pharmacy] – but what we can do for them is just a few services including a blood test and weight checks,” he said.
Warsheikh General Hospital, which used to offer full maternity services including emergency C-sections, stopped operations in May after the Qatari Red Crescent ceased its support. Hussein Ahmed Osoble, Warsheikh Medical Health Officer, told Radio Ergo that the hospital had been offering free services to thousands of people from Warsheikh and 53 villages around the town. “The hospital was not only supporting residents in Warsheikh town but also thousands of others from the surrounding villages who were dependent on the services of the hospital,” Ahmed explained.
Local residents told Radio Ergo that two other women died of pregnancy-related causes in September. Deka Mohamed died after giving birth to twins in September in Warsheikh. Madina Ahmed Ibrahim, Deka’s maternal aunt, told Radio Ergo that her niece who was living in Bakarole village, 16 km west of Warsheikh, was taken to an unskilled traditional birth attendant for delivery. When things went wrong the family brought her to town to seek help. “She bled excessively at the hands of a traditional birth attendant. She was very weak when she was brought here. After long hours of labour she gave birth to twins but unfortunately she passed away,” Madina said. Deka left behind three children including the twins.