November 15, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Somali Parliament Approves $17m To Cover US Military Aid Cut
14 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 261 Words
The Lower House has today approved $22.5 million, a Supplementary Budget to cover for the military expenses after the US withdrew aid money to support the Somali National Army (SNA) last December. Finance Minister Abdirahman Beileh asked the House to approve the budget in order to allow the government to pay salaries for SNA soldiers totaling $17 million.
“As you know, 8,000 troops have not been paid their salaries because other governments that were supporting us stopped remitting the aid money,” Beileh explained: “We do not have to worry because the deficit has not been added to the 2019 budget. The amount in question is $17 million and the evidence is clearly indicated in our communication.”
The US withdrew its fuel and food support to the SNA back in December 2017, following reports that senior military officials had failed to account for the funds. A second vote of $5.5 million was also approved by Parliament on Wednesday. According to Beileh, the amount was from a shortage from the World Bank’s Recurrent Cost and Reform Financing Facility (RCF). The Finance Minister said the money had not been remitted to the government thereby creating the shortfall.
RCF is a World Bank facility, which enables the government to provide a credible and sustainable payroll system. RCF also helps to establish the foundation for efficient budget execution and payment systems for the non-security sectors in the federal government. The Cabinet early this month approved a $340 million budget of the 2019 fiscal period. Parliament is yet to debate it on the budgets.
Key Headlines
- Somali Parliament Approves $17m To Cover US Military Aid Cut (Goobjoog News)
- Military Court In Puntland Slaps 4 Men With Death Penalty (Halbeeg News)
- Somali Security Agencies Nab Senior ISIS Fugitive (252Politics)
- UNSC Keeps Arms Embargo On Somalia Lifts Sanctions On Eritrea (RT News)
- First Ever Mobile Clinic In Hargeisa Brings Doctors Closer To Patients (Radio Ergo)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Military Court In Puntland Slaps 4 Men With Death Penalty
14 November – Source: Halbeeg News – 153 Words
A military court in Puntland state has slapped a death penalty on four men over charges of terrorism. Those handed the death penalty by the court were identified as Jeylani Hassan Issak, Hassan Lamow Aden, Abdirazak Hussein Tahlil and Abdi Omar Iftin.
Another man identified as Bashir Osman Seed was sentenced to life in prison by the court during the trial. All the sentenced men were accused of belonging and having links with the terrorist groups of Al-Shabaab and ISIS, as the military court confirmed.
Abdirazk Hussein Tahlil, one of the men sentenced to death, was detained in a joint operation launched by US and Somali forces back in 2012. He was released in 2014. Somalia’s Islamist group has a base in Galgala mountains in Puntland, where it often carries out assaults against security forces. Puntland in North Eastern Somalia also faces a growing threat from ISIS fighters, who have split from Al-Shabaab.
Somali Security Agencies Nab Senior ISIS Fugitive
14 November – Source: 252Politics – 96 Words
Somali security agencies on Wednesday detained a senior Islamic state fugitive in the capital of Mogadishu. National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) confirmed the arrest, via its official twitter account.:“Security agencies have detained a senior Dash figure in Mogadishu on the night of 13 November,” read the tweet.
According to the tweet, the ISIS member “was responsible for collection and distribution of resources. His arrest will be big blow to the group’s operation.” Officers of security agencies, who have been conducting operations that nabbed senior Al-Shabaab figures, did not mention the name of the fugitive.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UNSC Keeps Arms Embargo On Somalia, Lifts Sanctions On Eritrea
14 November – Source: RT News – 117 Words
The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to lift sanctions against Eritrea following its thaw in relations with Ethiopia and other neighboring countries. Ethiopia’s UN ambassador and other council members spoke immediately after Wednesday’s vote and welcomed the positive developments in the Horn of Africa.
The Security Council imposed an arms embargo and other tough sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for supplying weapons to Al-Shabab Islamic militants opposed to the Somali government and for refusing to resolve a border dispute with neighboring Djibouti, a key US ally in the Horn of Africa. The border dispute has not yet been resolved. The resolution also extends the arms embargo on Somalia and a ban on trade in Somali charcoal.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The hotline service ensures the needs of people are reported to the hospital and attended to promptly. We have seen an increasing number of people calling us for medical help,”
First Ever Mobile Clinic In Hargeisa Brings Doctors Closer To Patients
14 November – Source: Radio Ergo – Words
Health professionals in Hargeisa have launched the first-ever mobile hospital in Somaliland, taking health care closer to the people who need it. The mobile hospital aims to reach thousands of people, who have to travel big distances to the nearest medical facility and have to cope with emergency cases at home. Muhyadin Dabeyl, the chairman of the seven-member group, told Radio Ergo the Mobile Health Care Organisation (MOHCO) aims to institute reforms in the health sector by improving access, quality, and safe medical practices. “We treat people at their homes. Our aim is not to make money but to deliver accessible and good quality health services. Our charges are affordable,” Muhyadin said.
MOHCO has installed a telephone hotline service enabling patients to access help at any time of the day. “The hotline service ensures the needs of people are reported to the hospital and attended to promptly. We have seen an increasing number of people calling us for medical help,” said Muhyadin.
The mobile clinic also conducts targeted health awareness campaigns in and around the town. The service has two doctors, one blood technician, two nurses, and two pharmacists. So far MOHCO has attended to 93 patients in and around Hargeisa and has vaccinated 243 people against hepatitis. Ali Jama Mohamud, who lives in Ga’an-libah village in Hargeisa, called the mobile hospital hotline when his nine-year-old daughter fell sick. The doctors responded within a short time. “I would not have been able to manage the bus fare and medical costs if we opted to go to another hospital in the town. I called them and they treated my daughter for$10,” Ali said.
Amran Abdullahi, Ali’s wife, appreciated the fast response. “My daughter was sick for five days and we did not have money to take her to hospital. I got information about this group from other people who had previously been treated by the hospital,” said Amran, who sells vegetable in Hargeisa market. Another satisfied patient, Amin Abdirahman Jama, had a series of three hepatitis vaccinations at the mobile hospital. “I saved time and money because other hospitals cost $80 and this time I only spent $20 to get the three doses needed. I really like their services,” Amin said.