April 8, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
IGAD foreign ministers’ meeting on Somalia postponed
08 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan/Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online – 121 words
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has postponed foreign ministers’ meeting on Somalia which was originally scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa.
Reports say that the IGAD meeting has been postponed because of the fact that Kenya felt that they were not ready for it as preparations for President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s installation into office entered the final phase. Reports also indicate that IGAD might move the meeting to Nairobi after Uhuru officially assumes office.
Somalia’s foreign minister Fowzia Yussuf Haji Adan who is in Addis Ababa for the summit said the IGAD ministers will discuss critical issues including strengthening support for Somalia armed forces. Adan said the ministers’ resolution will be submitted to IGAD’s heads of states for further deliberations.
Key Headlines
- IGAD foreign ministers’ meeting on Somalia postponed (Bar-kulan/Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia: EU Donors Welcome the Federal Government Steps On Justice Reform (Midnimo Online)
- Somali Minister of State for Foreign Affairs meets with Minister of Legal Affairs of Yemen (al Shahid/ Shabelle)
- Thousands displaced in southern Somalia town after days of floods (Garowe Online/Radio Risaala)
- Somaliland Parliament Speaker arrives in Norway (Garowe Online)
- Dinner Party made for Somalia’s Parliament Speaker in Oslo (Radio Mustaqbal)
- New Hiiraan governor reaches Beledweyne (Raxanreeb/Shabelle)
- Ugandan Forces Train with U.S. Marines For Somalia Mission (Horn of Africa)
- Somali Police on high alert over possible terror attack (Garowe Online/Jowhar Online)
- Somali refugees wary of insecurity (East African)
- Somalia takes first step towards judicial reforms (Africa Review)
- UN desirous to work with Ethiopia in fighting terrorism (Walta Information Centre)
- Women-run radio station to open in Somalia (Sabahi Online)
- Malnutrition continues to affect many across Somalia (Presstv)
SOMALI MEDIA
IGAD foreign ministers’ meeting on Somalia postponed
08 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan/Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online – 121 words
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has postponed foreign ministers’ meeting on Somalia which was originally scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa.
Reports say that the IGAD meeting has been postponed because of the fact that Kenya felt that they were not ready for it as preparations for President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s installation into office entered the final phase. Reports also indicate that IGAD might move the meeting to Nairobi after Uhuru officially assumes office.
Somalia’s foreign minister Fowzia Yussuf Haji Adan who is in Addis Ababa for the summit said the IGAD ministers will discuss critical issues including strengthening support for Somalia armed forces. Adan said the ministers’ resolution will be submitted to IGAD’s heads of states for further deliberations.
Somalia: EU donors welcome the Federal Government steps on justice reform
08 Apr – Source: Midnimo Online – 242 words
The EU Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, and the Ambassadors of Italy, Andrea Mazzella, the United Kingdom, Matt Baugh, Sweden, Mikael Lindvall, congratulate the Federal Government of Somalia on convening this week the country’s first “National Conference on Justice and Rule of Law” in Somalia.
Action speaks louder than words, and this conference is a visible testimony to the priority that government attaches to the justice sector and to listening to its people. Recent challenges have shown how difficult it is to dispense justice fairly and transparently and how difficult the road to reform is. We have a firm belief that Somalia will overcome current and future challenges.
To last, justice sector and judicial reform will have to be rooted in the laws of the land and governed by the principles of the Constitution and the Human Rights enshrined within it. As important as the legal foundations, reform needs to be understood and owned by the people of Somalia. This conference is a great demonstration of the government’s efforts in this regard and we hope the consultations will continue.
Somali Minister of State for Foreign Affairs meets with Minister of Legal Affairs of Yemen
08 Apr- Source: al Shahid/ Shabelle/SABA- 118 words
Somali Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Noor Ga,al met on Sunday with the Yemeni Minister of Legal Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al-Mikhlafi .
This meeting came within the framework a visit by a Somali delegation headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Somali capital of Sana,a.
The two officials discussed during the meeting with regard to the bilateral cooperation and issues of concern to the two countries and ways of developing and strengthening.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of addressing the situation of ships and boats seized in the port of Aden by the competent court.
Somali Minister praised distinguished relations between the two countries, and the support provided by Yemen to Somalia.
Thousands displaced in southern Somalia town after days of floods
08 Apr- Source: Radio Garowe /Radio Risaala-189 words
Thousands have been rendered homeless in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle province after river floods, triggered by days of heavy torrential downpour, hit parts of Mahaday town, the southern war-torn country.
According to the local authority, heavy rains caused the Shabelle River to burst its banks, making floods to Mahaday town and the nearby villages forcing some 4,000 families to flee their housed. The rains, coming ahead of Go’a season which is expected to fall later this month.
Victims of the floods expressed extreme concern that they would suffer from waterborne diseases if help was not coming soon.
“People in Mahaday are mostly suffering because nobody is providing any alternative to them,” Ma’alim Bule Aden, one of the city’s residents, described the situation to Garowe Online via phone.
Dinner Party made for Somalia’s Parliament Speaker in Oslo
08 Apr- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 237 words
Reports from Oslo say that dinner party was made for Somalia’s Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari and his delegates in Oslo.
Press release issued from the office of Somalia’s Federal Parliament Speaker Mr. Jawari, was said that honourable dinner was made for the delegates led by Mr. Osman on Monday night in Oslo.
The honorable dinner was participated by variety of Somali Community in Oslo, it was extremely organized and decorated, and has been spoken by the dignitaries attended the party.
Mr. Bendevic, former Prime minister of Norway has made this dinner for the speaker of Somali Parliament and his delegates, The deputy speaker of the parliament Jeylani Nor Ikar the chairmen of Permanent committee of Somali Parliament were all present at dinner party.
Bendevic who arranged the party spoke at the dinner party and praised how the parliament of Somalia is just working and their role in the political change occurred in Somalia towards governmental manner, and encouraged to the parliament of Somalia to double their efforts for Somali Community.
The spokesman of Somalia’s Parliament Mohamed Sheik Osman Jawari speaking in the party firstly thanked to Mr. Bendevic, former prime minister of Norway government for his encouragement and support to Somali government and people.
Somalia’s Federal Government seems to be committed in restoring the international relationship with Somalia, which proves the top officials traveling to outside of the country as they get invitation from their partners.
New Hiiraan governor reaches Beledweyne
07 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb/Shabelle – 140 words
A newly appointed governor for Somalia’s central region of Hiiraan has today landed at Beledweyne town where he is supposed to take over the administration office, RBC Radio reports.
Mr. Abdi Farah Laqanyo, the cousin of former Somali ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa was nominated as the new Hiiraan governor two months earlier. The former governor Abdifatah Hassan Farah was sacked from the office after locals alleged him human rights abuses against civilians and mismanagement.
The Interior Minister also fired Beledweyne district commissioner, local security officers and head of department of the regional administration for the same allegations.
On Sunday, large government delegates led by Somali Minister for Resources Abdirisak Omar Mohamed reached the town of Beledweyne, where the new governor is presumed to take over the office as the governor of Hiiraan region.
Somali Police on high alert over possible terror attack
08 Apr- Source: Garowe Online/Jowhar Online-206 Words
Somalia Police in Mogadishu are on high alert on Sunday following the recent warning by Britain’s’ Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks in Mogadishu, Garowe Online reports.
Col. Abdullah Hassan Barise, Somalia police spokesman and head of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) , told journalists in Mogadishu that security forces have been put on alert in the city and want the public at large to be vigilant and help them to counter any attempted attack.
He said Security has been intensified mainly in Mogadishu, where the terrorists are targeting in addition to government installations and public places, including hotels.
However, security in Mogadishu has improved since the terrorist organization al Shabaab fled the city after a joint military offensive in August 2011. But bombings and assassinations are still frequent.
Somaliland Parliament Speaker arrives in Norway
07 Apr- Source: somalilandinformer- 72 words
Somaliland parliament speaker Mr. Abdirhamn Mohamed Abdilahi arrived in the Norwegian capital city of Oslo on Friday. The speaker of Somaliland’s National Assembly is on a working visit to certain countries in Europe.
The speaker said that he will hold meetings with Norwegian government officials as well as the parliament members. He will also meet with Somaliland Diaspora community in and around Oslo. The parliament speaker attended conference on piracy in Sweden.
Somalia MPs return from Kismayo visit, support Jubaland process
06 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 157 words
Over 40 Somali federal parliamentarians left the southern port city of Kismayo and reached Mogadishu on Saturday after attending the Jubaland convention in Kismayo, Garowe Online reports. Prof. Abdirisak Jurille, a Somali MP who led the parliamentarian level delegation that visited Kismayo , said their trip to Kismayo was to support to the ongoing process designated to form a regional administration for Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Gedo regions of southern Somalia, as part of the Somali Federal Republic.
MP Jurille told Mogadishu media that the Somali legislators held talks with Kismayo’s local administration, Jubaland conference organizing committee , and local community elders on the state formation process.
Last week, some 870 delegates from the three regions adopted a Transitional State Charter for Jubaland and the delegates are expected to soon elect state Members of Parliament, a new State President and Vice President , and formally declare Jubaland state as a federated state in the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Senior Somali Politician Buried in Baidoa with high prestigious manner
07 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb/SNTV – 93 words
Hassan Mohamed Nur known as ‘Shatigaduud’ was buried in Baidoa city in Bay region after has been prayed Janaza Prayer in Mogadishu Airport by many people including the country’s top officials together with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
After he was prayed for the Janaza, he was flighted to Baidoa town which is where he hailed from and was made national burry that was already announced by the Somali Federal Government.
A delegation led by the Minister of Business and Industries Mohamud Ahmed Sulayman was flowed together with the dead official to Baidoa.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Ugandan Forces Train with U.S. Marines For Somalia Mission
08 Apr – Source: Horn of Africa – 205 words
Uganda Peoples’ Defense Force soldiers’ commitment to increase security and stability in the Horn of Africa and contribute to the African Union Mission in Somalia entails training from U.S. Marines supporting Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
“It’s a very different type of mission here,” U.S. Marine 1st Lieutenant Gordon Adams, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 assistant team leader for the UPDF training program at Singo Peace Support Training Center, Uganda, said. “There’s no front-line mission for the United States here like what took place in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“We’re here to help Ugandans increase their military capabilities,” the Deerfield, Mass., native explained. “It’s all about making sure they’re fully prepared to defend themselves internally and to also conduct missions abroad in support of their own interests and those of the U.S.”
Recently, the team trained a UPDF logistics company for its upcoming deployment to Somalia.
“As Marines, we’re supposed to be the best, and we’re here to offer our best training to our UPDF counterparts,” said Maj. James Kimber of U.S. Marine Forces Africa. “Every time my Marines deploy, they go through training to make sure they’re ready. We’re here to do exactly the same preparation with UPDF.”
Somali refugees wary of insecurity
06 Apr- Source: East African- 274 words
The number of Somali refugees willing to relocate back home has decreased due to insecurity in parts of the Horn of Africa nation, the UN refugee agency has said.
In its latest report released in Nairobi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the refugees living in northern Kenyan camps are particularly reluctant to return to areas where Ethiopian troops pulled out and which have been taken over by al Shabaab.
“No increase was noted in the number of refugees interested in the service provided by the Return Information Desks. Refugees expressed concerns over security in Somalia specifically naming incidents on the way and Ethiopian troops’ withdrawal from Xudul and its immediate takeover by al Shabaab,” the report said.
The UN refugee agency said the Somalis are also expecting more information on the assistance package that may be available in 2013 before formally approaching UNHCR.
Somalia takes first step towards judicial reforms
06 Apr- Apr- Source: Africa Review- 326 words
Somalia has concluded a five-day conference that prepared way for judicial reform. Initiated by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the meeting brought together over 200 experts from diverse backgrounds and interests.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting Friday, steps to be taken to help citizens attain a credible justice system in Somalia were highlighted.
Some of the recommendations included need for reorganising the judicial system and its infrastructure in a way compatible with the new constitution and the fresh governance in Somalia.
A post transitional government was formed in September 2012 and its leaders are striving to initiate various reforms including security, judicial and financial.
UN desirous to work with Ethiopia in fighting terrorism
05 Apr- Source: Walta Information Centre- 147 words
UN Special Envoy to Mali, Professor Romano Prodi expressed UN’s desire the UN to work in collaboration with Ethiopia in the efforts to fight terrorism in Africa.
After holding talks with Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn on Thursday in Addis Ababa, Prof. Prodi told reporters that the UN is keen to work with Ethiopia, which has a stable government, in the fight against terrorism.
Prof. Prodi lauded Ethiopia’s efforts to maintain peace and security in Somalia in particular as well as in other neighboring countries.
Women-run radio station to open in Somalia
05 Apr- Source: Sabahi Online- 555 words
Aman Radio will be the first ever all-female station to hit the airwaves in Mogadishu, with a mission to raise the profile of Somali women and train them in the media.
The station, which will start broadcasting soon from its offices in Mogadishu’s Hawlwadag district, is being launched by the Nasib Information and Media Training Centre for Women with financial backing from Somali women in the diaspora.
The centre offers young women interested in media a number of journalism courses, which Aman Radio will complement by providing graduates an opportunity to practice their new skills at the station. Sabahi interviewed Aman Radio Assistant Director Farhia Farah Roble to find out more about plans for the new station.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Malnutrition continues to affect many across Somalia
07 Apr- Source: Press TV- 310 words
Despite continuous improvement in the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa, malnutrition continues to be a challenge in Somalia according to new findings by United Nations humanitarian aid agencies.
The report argues that an improvement in food security does not imply immediate reduction of malnutrition rates. It points out factors such as diseases, limited sanitation structures and inadequate food intake as the causes of malnutrition in Somalia.
An estimated 215,000 children under-five years of age are acutely malnourished in Somalia. Of this number, at least 45,000 are severely malnourished. Many international aid agencies say they are still unable to deliver food and medical aid to families in the region, citing safety concerns and al Shabaab threats. Two-thirds of these children are in the southern regions.
Portuguese Commodore Jorge Palma Takes Command Of The EU Naval Force Units As The New Force Commander
06 Apr- Source: Eunavfor -909 words
On 6 April 2013, Commodore Jorge Palma (Portuguese Navy) took over as Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta from Rear Admiral Pedro Garcia De Paredes (Spanish Navy), following a change-of-command-ceremony in Djibouti. The Deputy Operation Commander of EU NAVFOR, Rear Admiral Eric Dupont, presided over the ceremony. Attending the handover were distinguished guests including representatives from the Djiboutian military and government as well as several ambassadors from numerous EU Member States and other nations, including his Excellency Antonio Luis Cotrim, Ambassador of Portugal to the Republic of Djibouti. Also many Commanding Officers and representatives from EU Naval Force units in port were present.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Labelled as a failed state, Somalia is finally on the long road to recovery, but is their new constitution holding them back?”
Somalia: Is the constitution preventing a recovery?
08 Apr- Source: Foreign Report-677 Words
Whilst the country’s new constitution may be deemed a success, many have argued that it is just a $60 million panacea that is creating further problems for the re-emerging Somali democracy. The aim was, amongst other things, to promote human rights, however, the 2012 constitution legalises discriminatory ethnic nepotism, or clanism, in the form of the so-called 4.5 formula. This is the system, which gives the each of the four major Somali clans 61 seats of the new 275-member Federal Parliament, leaving the remaining 31 seats for the combined remaining minority clans.
However, the constitution goes further, incentivising clan-based balkanisation. It has already grandfathered certain clan-based political entities such as Puntland and Galmudug as semi-autonomous federal states, and it grants them discretions to go into deals with any foreign entity they wish for oil explorations, mining of minerals etc.
On the one hand, Article 44, which deals with Natural Resources, states that: “The allocation of the natural resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia shall be negotiated by, and agreed upon, by the Federal Government and the Federal Member States in accordance with this Constitution.”
On the other hand, Article 142 (1), which deals with existing Federal Member States in Somalia provides a major loophole. “Until such time that all the Federal Member States of Somalia are established and the adopted Federal Member State Constitutions are harmonized with the Somali Federal Constitution, the Federal Member States existing prior to the provisional adoption of this Provisional Constitution by a National Constituent Assembly shall retain and exercise powers endowed by their own State Constitution.”
“Women in Somalia, as in all countries around the world, should have the right to be free from the gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual and psychological harm. Society needs to condemn violence against women, find justice for victims; and protect and empower all women.”
Victimizing rape victims in Somalia
07 Apr- Source: Hiiraan Online-1677 Words
The media headline around the world read, “Somalia has sentenced a woman, allegedly raped by government soldiers, to jail, along with a journalist who spoke to her about the attack”. This case ignited global outrage and divided Somalis regarding the definition of rape and the cultural interpretation of sexual assault.
Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia has been subject to widespread violence and instability. A Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was succeeded by a new federal government in September, 2012. Somali security forces, with the assistance of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and others, have liberated the capital city of Mogadishu and other key cities in southern and central Somalia from administration by al-Shabaab, a radical Islamist movement. However, the new federal government’s reach and ability to provide services remain limited.
Rape culture is a concept used to describe a society in which rape and sexual violence are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media normalize, excuse, tolerate, or even condone rape. Unfortunately, rape has become epidemic in Somali according to those who work closely with people throughout the country. And while these kinds of assaults, are not new in the country, particularly for those who live in the refugee camps (internally displaced persons), the repercussions from the trial cited above has imparted significant additional damage to the combat against gender based sexual assaults.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia PHOTOS OF THE DAY: #AMISOM Head of Mission visits #Kismayo http://on.fb.me/10xKFH0 #Somalia #AU#Africa o
@OCHASom 16m Women-Run Radio Station to Open in#Somalia http://j.mp/14YQfGH
@aureliau What is left of my primary school in #Mogadishuand Beydaan tree #goingbacktorebuild #reclaim #bringhope#Somalia pic.twitter.com/FsLWt4MgEA
@MarkC_Anderson #Somalia: Overall cost of Somali maritime #piracy to global economy dropped from $7bn in 2011 to $6bn in 2012, claims @Piracy_OBP report
@tresthomas_HOA Photo from last week of cows awaiting export at Mogadishu port. Likely headed to the Gulf.#Somalia pic.twitter.com/3YxJE6FhP4
Image of the day
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for the African Union, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, visits the Somali city of Kismayo accompanied by the AMISOM Force Commander, Lt General Andrew Gutti, and the Director of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM, Amadu Kamara, on April 6. Photo: AMISOM Facebook.