NATIONAL MEDIA
15 July – Source: Halbeeg – 218 Words
On Monday, Hirshabelle leader, Mohamed Abdi Waare, arrived in Dhusamareb to meet with Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who is still in the town for discussions and negotiations to form an inclusive and unified Galmudug.
Waare’s delegation was received by officials from the Galmudug administration and representatives from the various sections of the local society. During his stay in Dhusamareb, he is set to hold meetings with PM Khaire over a range of issues including the state of affairs in Hirshabelle and improving relations between Hirshabelle and Galmudug.
The Hirshabelle leader has been in Beledweyne in the past weeks to resolve tensions arising from the sacking of former Hiraan regional governor, Yusuf Dabaged. PM Khaire was expected to arrive in Beledweyne to participate in the efforts at ending the Beledweyne dispute, but due to the complex Galmudug discussions, he spoke on the phone with the opposing sides in Beledweyne encouraging them to end their rift through dialogue and understanding.
15 July – Source: Halbeeg- 218 Words
The financial departments of the Somali federal government on Monday discussed the economic reforms of the country. According to a statement, Somali Minister for Finance, Abdirahman Duale Beileh has chaired the meeting at the headquarters of the ministry in Mogadishu. In a Tweet, the minister pledged his ministry to deliver services and improve the economy of the nation. Beileh states that the government is making steady progress and there is a complete dedication from government institutions in the reform journey.
“I chaired the weekly intergovernmental meeting on financial & economic reforms under the IMF SMP. We must & will deliver for the future of Somalia & our people,” he said in the post. The Somali government has been working to establish legal and technical capacities for revenue generation since last year.
The domestic revenue of Somali government had increased 85% in the last six months of 2018, paving the way for obtaining sustainable and reliable revenue. The tax agreements have been reached with airlines and telecom companies, and an income tax exemption for parliamentarians has been reversed last year, giving the government more revenue. The government is struggling to pay its external debt of about $5.2 billion, according to the IMF. Somalia has not made a service or amortization payment since civil war broke out more than 25 years ago.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
15 July – Source: Tolo News – 191 Words
Afghanistan has exported different types of medical equipment and hygiene products to Somalia for the first time as officials say the local firms’ capacity has increased. One container of the first shipment of Afghan goods, carrying 25 types of medical equipment in three containers, has arrived in Somalia through Iran and Turkey, head of Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines, Hamidullah Khadim, said. He said that another cargo of 40 tons of Afghan goods will be exported to Somalia and other African nations within the next few days.
The goods are the product of Asia Pharma company in Herat. “For the first time, at least three containers of goods which weigh 30 tons, and 25 types of medical equipment by Asia Pharma. This was the first cargo which we sent it to Somalia,” an Asia Pharma official Mohammad Amin Jami said. “One truck has already arrived in Somalia. Two others have passed Turkey and four trailers are loading in Herat to travel to Somalia,” said Hamidullah Khadim, head of Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines. Khadim said that four medical device companies are operating in Herat and that six other firms will be established in the near future.
15 July – Source: Saudi Press Agency – 77 Words
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) delivered yesterday 120 tons of dates to the World Food Programme in Nairobi to be distributed to needy people in Somalia, in the presence of Saudi Deputy Ambassador to Kenya Hamza Al-Qurashi; Head of the WFP Office in Somalia Laurent Bukera; and a team from KSrelief. This shipment is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the WFP, which will be responsible for its distribution in Somalia.
14 July – Source: Xinhua – 217 Words
Kenya on Saturday called on the world to unite in the fight against global terrorism after Somali militant group al-Shabab killed 26 people, among them three Kenyans, in southern Somalia. Monica Juma, foreign affairs cabinet secretary, also urged the international community to hasten the listing of al-Shabab as a terrorist organization under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1267 to help deal with the al-Qaeda allied terrorist group.
“Claimed by the Al Shabaab, this attack is another reminder to the international community of the imperative to list the Al Shabaab, like all other terrorist groups, under the UNSC resolution 1267, and strengthen collective resolve in countering terrorist actions and ideology,” she said in a tweet. “I convey my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the people that lost their lives to yesterday’s terrorist attack in Kismayo, Somalia,” said Juma.
Jubbaland State president Ahmed Mohamed Madobe said 10 foreigners from Kenya, Canada, America and Tanzania were among those killed when an al-Shabab suicide bomber rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the popular Medina hotel in Kismayo town, before attackers forced their way inside the hotel. Somali journalists’ association has confirmed that two journalists were among the dead. Al-Shabab, which is trying to topple Somalia’s central government, has claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Ahmed was hoping to recover this year after his crops were destroyed by Sagar cyclone in 2018, but again he has lost everything. “After the cyclone, I bought a $250 machine and cultivated my land. I planted crops and invested in fuel and workers. The total estimate of my investment is not less than $5,000,” said Ahmed, who is worried about repaying his debts.”
15 July – Source: Radio Ergo – 404 Words
Swarms of locusts have stripped large tracts of farmland across 10 districts in Somaliland, leaving farmers without any crops left to harvest. The locusts have eaten crops including pumpkins, pepper, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pawpaw, and oranges, in districts in Sahil, Marodi-jeh, Awdal and Sanag regions.
Somaliland’s Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed Mumin Seed, told Radio Ergo they had assigned a committee to assess the losses caused by the locusts. “They poured in from Yemen. They came across the sea. We received alarms from the people and sent a team from the ministry. We have also been informed that the locusts are in Lughaya, Gargaara and even in the coastal areas,” said the Minister. The Minister said they had contacted the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa, based in Ethiopia, and expected representatives to arrive in a week to deal with the eggs laid by the locusts. Without helicopters to spray insecticide, the ministry could do nothing more. According to this month’s Desert Locust Bulletin by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), numerous swarms in the Yemeni highlands have moved to northern Somalia and Ethiopia.
Ismail Saleban Abdi, the head of the farmers’ association in Agabar, said they had burned the ruined crops. He said in Agabar, Da’ar-buduq, and Harrirad, the locusts had destroyed 485 farms. Ahmed Hersi Bade, a farmer in Agabar, said his small farm had been stripped bare last month. “Clearly the locusts have had a huge impact and it’s not on my farm only, they have invaded huge areas of land. They destroyed all the plants on my farm,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed was hoping to recover this year after his crops were destroyed by Sagar cyclone in 2018, but again he has lost everything. “After the cyclone, I bought a $250 machine and cultivated my land. I planted crops and invested in fuel and workers. The total estimate of my investment is not less than $5,000,” said Ahmed, who is worried about repaying his debts.
Abdiqadir Mohamud Ahmed in Agamsaha said he was worried that the devastation was not over yet. “The larvae are worse than the full-grown locusts because they will grow to become many more locusts during the rainy season. The locusts will migrate away from here but the larvae will be left in the fields and will not leave until they grow wings. Before they grow they will continue to feed on the crops,” said Abdiqadir. |
