NATIONAL MEDIA
3 July – Source: SONNA – 221 Words
Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Saalah Ahmed Jama’a, hosted the newly appointed UN Envoy to Somalia Mr James Swan. The Minister briefed the UN envoy on the progress made on constitutional review and the current efforts being undertaken to complete the constitutional review process. He assured the government’s commitment to completing the process. Mr. Saalah said the constitution review is almost over and the only task remaining is to address areas that require consultation with a different section of the government and the public. The Minister said the main aim of the government is to achieve a federal and democratic Somalia that’s clear on the structure and role.
The UN envoy, Mr James Swan, on his part thanked the Minister for the warm reception and praised the progress made on the constitutional review process. He assured the Minister that his office and that of the United Nation, in general, will continue its support for the constitutional review process. He said his office will continue the support until all parties reach a consensus on the review process and a final unifying constitution is achieved.
The Constitutional Minister also met in his office the director of UNDP Somalia Mr Jocelyn Mason, they discussed improving the cooperation between the two offices. UNDP is currently undertaking many development projects in Somalia including the constitutional review.
2 July – Source: Radio Ergo – 334 Words
The community and local administration in Somaliland’s Saraar region have brought relief to drought-hit families in villages facing acute water shortage. Ulasan and War-imran villages in Saraar have been facing a longstanding water crisis that has forced some residents to move away to other areas. The nearest water source is 30 km away.
Ahmed Mohamed Hashi, the mayor of Aynabo town, told Radio Ergo that members of the local assembly of Aynabo, along with traders and other well-wishers, had contributed money to truck water to around 400 families living in the hard-hit villages. “Water reservoirs and boreholes have dried up as the rains failed leaving many people in distress without adequate water,” the mayor said. “The members hired trucks in response to this emergency situation.” Three trucks of water a week have been delivered to the areas since January. The trucks fill up the reservoirs for the villagers to survive on until the next delivery.
Mohamed Farah Sugal, a father of six living in Ulasan, is grateful for the help but not satisfied. “Every five days, we get 20 litres of water. The little water immediately gets finished and very soon we have no water left to cook. We are all in the same position,” he said. Mohamed and his family arrived in the village after losing all their livestock to drought in 2018. He receives $60 support monthly from his brother in Burao town, which they use to buy basics including flour, rice and sugar.
“Since I reached this village, we have not received aid from agencies. But life has taught us to struggle for survival, although I must say that water is much needed here,” he said. Farrah Mohamed Abdullahi and her family arrived in Ulasan village last December, after fleeing a remote area due to severe drought. “There is a water scarcity here, we hardly cook any food because of the lack of water. The village has no borehole. We depend on the water tankers coming here weekly,” she said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
3 July – Source: UNMAS – Words
A two-day stakeholders’ workshop took place in Mogadishu, to discuss challenges and gaps in victim assistance and to share suggestions and recommendations for the development of an inclusive nationwide plan of action that can address the rights and needs of mine survivors, affected families and persons with disabilities. The workshop held from 29-30 June 2019 in Mogadishu, attracted participants from the federal government and the federal member states of Somalia, national nongovernmental organizations who included representatives of mine survivors and persons with disabilities. With the generous support of the Japanese government, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) working with the Implementation Support Unit of Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention implementation support Unit, and the Somalia Explosive Management Authority (SEMA) facilitated the workshop to develop a national strategy to assist survivors.
This workshop is a follow up to situational analysis report conducted by United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Somali Explosive Management Authority (SEMA) to identify gaps in assistance to victims of explosive hazards which the mine action sector could help to fill. The Situational analysis report made key recommendations, including the development of implantation plan of a comprehensive and contextual victim assistance plan in Somalia. Abdinasir Saiid Muse, the Somali Deputy Minister of Internal Security, remarked, “We need to focus our energies and work in close coordination with the UN Mine Action and the disability sector, to create a conducive environment that allows people with special needs to enjoy their full rights.”
As a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Somalia has a responsibility to address the rights and needs of mine victims, and victims of other indiscriminate weapons such as cluster munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Ms. Qurat-Ul-Ain Sadozai, the Head of UNMAS in Somalia said that assistance to victims of mines should be part of a broader framework to support persons with disabilities. “We need to look at how this can be addressed more holistically and comprehensively,” Qurat-Ul-Ain noted, adding that victim assistance is at the core of UNMAS’ work.
In May this year, Somalia became the 178th country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to safeguard and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. The ratification of CRPD is step forward in addressing issues of disabled people and the establishment of national or legal policy framework regarding people with disabilities. Mr. Firoz Alizada, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention’s Implementation Support Officer, who co-facilitated the workshop, noted that the formulation of an assistance strategy is crucial for safeguarding and addressing the rights and needs of mine survivors in Somalia. “Victim assistance is a pillar of the convention and all state parties to the convention have a responsibility to provide support to mine victims, victims of anti-personnel mines, Explosive Remnants of War and landmine survivors,” Mr. Firoz remarked.
It is envisaged that the final strategy will be adopted by the federal government ahead of the fourth review conference of the Convention, which is slated for November 2019 in Oslo, Norway. Abdullahi Hassan, a Somali disability rights activist and chairperson of the Somalia Disabled Persons Cluster, welcomed the development. He said the strategy would enable Somalia to respond to challenges faced by mine survivors. Ms. Shukri Dahir Farah, the Galmudug State’s Gender Officer, called for the involvement of other stakeholders during the drafting of the national action plan. “We emphasise the involvement of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Disaster Management, Ministry of Women and the National Disability Council whose contribution and support is vital in the assistance of mine victims and disabled persons,” added Shukri. The two-day workshop concluded with input from various stakeholders. Similar workshops will be held in the Federal Member States to collect input from local actors at the regional level. Building on feedback, the Somali Explosive Management Authority will develop a three years action plans for victim assistance in Somalia.
3 July – Source: Al Jazeera – 434 Words
A Kenyan court sentenced three men to long prison sentences on Wednesday for assisting Al-Shabaab fighters who attacked a university and killed 148 students and staff in 2015. Tanzanian national Rashid Charles Mberesero was given life imprisonment while Kenyans Mohammed Abikar and Hassan Edin Hassan were jailed for 41 years each. Judge Francis Andayi said the three were members of the Somalia-based armed group who planned and executed the Garissa University attack. Four gunmen entered the institution in Garissa, a county bordering Somalia, on the morning of April 2, 2015, and opened fire with automatic weapons.
The bloody siege, which took hours to end, finally came to a halt after all four gunmen were killed. Security officials in the East African nation were criticised for taking too long to respond to the attack. “I am very happy to hear about the sentencing,” said Rachel Gikonya, a sociology student at the university when the attack happened. She was wounded and lost her ability to walk. “It was the worst day of my life and I pray attackers in other cases will be prosecuted and brought to justice.” In January, one suspect was acquitted after the court found no evidence connecting him to the attack. Last month, another suspect was also cleared of involvement.
Wednesday’s sentences were a warning to anyone thinking of providing any kind of help to al-Shabaab, said Tabitha Mwangi, head of the security programme at Nairobi’s Centre for International and Security Affairs. “This verdict sets precedence for future cases because al-Shabaab has been shown that Kenyan law enforcement agencies have the capability and will to carry out effective investigations within a short time,” Mwangi told Al Jazeera. “The wait period might seem long but the scope of investigations is deep as the prosecutors had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Now I am no longer a refugee and I even managed to set up my own business in Baidoa”
3 July – Source: International Labour Organisation – 513 Words
Mohamud Mohamed is one of the many Somalis who had to flee the country because of the internal conflict that devastated Somalia. Mohamud was born and raised in Baidoa, a city in the south-central Bay region of Somalia, 250 km from Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu. When he was young, Mohamed attended the Quranic school. It was also at this time that he learned Arabic.
Then he got married and became a teacher. He had a good life till the war broke out and things took an unexpected turn. He already had two children when he had to leave his country in search of a safer place to live. He went to Kenya where he and his family settled in an overcrowded refugee camp packed with other Somali refugees. “I was unable to find a job and had to rely on humanitarian assistance to support me and my family. All I could do then was to hope for better days,” he recalled.
Things started to change in 2013 when he heard from other refugees that a project had started in Baidoa to help Somali refugees returning to Somalia to find a durable solution to resettle. The idea was to promote sustainable livelihood through grant distribution and cash for work. When Mohamud heard of this, he immediately decided to return to his hometown. The family resettled in Baidoa. They struggled a little in the beginning, but their situation gradually improved.
At the beginning of 2015, Mohamud was selected as one of the beneficiaries of an ILO project providing durable solutions for Somali refugees covering areas such as repatriation, assistance and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Participants were trained by qualified teachers on business management and entrepreneurship. Training sessions were conducted in the Somali language. The programme was meant to teach Somali returnees the basic skills for business to enable returnees and their communities to access their basic needs and restore their livelihoods with dignity.
Mohamud was very keen to learn new skills, and quickly had an idea of the business he wanted to start. After the training, he took part in a business plan competition and was given the opportunity to put his new skills into practice. He was among the competition winners. His family was very proud of his achievements. He was awarded 14 days of financial management training as well as US$500 in cash to start his own business.
But before investing his money, he decided it was best to assess the local market to find a place to establish a small business where no other similar shops existed. After a comprehensive analysis of the local market, Mohamud made up his mind. He opened a small shop in Baidoa that sells basic good like sweets, sugar and cooking oil. He is now the proud father of 6 children (4 girls and 2 boys). “My ambition is to educate my kids, give them better health care services and pay for their daily food through my business, and I hope God will help me along the way,” Mohamud concluded with a smile. |
