August 10, 2017 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Somalia’s Parliament Approves Telecoms Bill

09 August – Source: China.org.net – 196 Words

Somalia’s parliament on Wednesday approved the National Communications Act to regulate the country’s telecommunication sector. Abdi Ashur Hassan, minister for posts, telecoms and technology said the bill, finally endorsed by 158 votes to 1, was submitted to parliament in early July after consultations with all stakeholders in the last few months. The telecommunications bill calls for the creation of telecoms regulatory authority, development of the country with telecommunications technology, protecting corporate and consumer rights and more participation by private sectors in developing the sector.

Drafting of this bill started as early as 2004 and has been sitting in front of 7th, 8th and 9th federal parliaments. Hassan said the Bill had been allowed to remain idle for years, while technology was changing rapidly. He thanked the federal parliament for approving this bill unanimously and making a history. “We recognize the tremendous and increasing impact that the telecoms sector has on the advancement of our economy and society. This Bill is a major breakthrough for the Somali people and the telecommunications sector in particular. It has been long promised, and we are indeed proud, to present the Bill for debate and passage by this honourable House,” Ashur said.

Key Headlines

Somalia’s Parliament Approves Telecoms Bill (China.org.net)
UNSOM: Lack Of Women In Constitutional Review Committee “A Glaring Disdain For Justice And Human Rights” (Hiiraan Online)
Southwest State To Send Reinforcement To Abuu Mansur (Goobjoog News)
Gunmen Kill Puntland Security Official In Bosaso (Garowe Online)
UN Deputy Special Representative Holds Security Discussions With Somalia’s South West State Officials (UNSOM)
Zayed Giving Youth Volunteers Help Patients In Somali Villages (Emirates News Agency)
Corruption In Somalia Is A Crime Against Our Country’s Development (Hiiraan Online)

NATIONAL MEDIA

UNSOM: Lack Of Women In Constitutional Review Committee “A Glaring Disdain For Justice And Human Rights”

09 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – Words

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia on behalf of the Copenhagen Group (C6+) that includes the Ambassadors of Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, the African Union (AU), The European Union (EU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have raised concerns that there are no women on the Constitutional Review Committee and that “excluding women would undermine the legitimacy and authority of the Committee”.

In a letter addressed to the Somali Parliamentarians on August 8th and signed by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SR-UNSG), Michael Keating, the UN warned that the absence of a female voice in to the committee would not only be a step backwards for Somalia but would also “represent a glaring disdain for justice and human rights”. The comments come a day after Abdi Qaybdiid was elected as the Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Constitutional Review Committee.

Somalia’s recent election required a 30% quota for women candidates; although Somalia fell short with 24%, the current figure is still a 10% increase from 2012 when just 14% of the total seats went to women. Mr. Keating calls for both Houses of parliament to support a motion tabled by the Lower House that is sponsored by women MP’s that calls for the inclusion women on the committee. Somalia’s provisional constitution, which provides the legal foundation for the existence of the Federal Republic and lays out the rights and duties of citizens, was adopted by the National Constitutional Assembly on August 1, 2012.

Southwest State To Send Reinforcement To Abuu Mansur

09 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 94 Words
Southwest state administration is in the preparation of sending reinforcement to Sheikh Mukhtar Robow also known as Abuu Mansur who is under attack from Alshabaab fighters in Abal location, Bakol region. Speaking to reporters, spokesperson for the Southwest state presidential office Nuradin Ga’ma cited their readiness to extend a helping hand to Abuu Mansur’s fighters. Nuradin pointed out that Abu Mansur fighters have the upper hand of the battle and the regional state unanimously agreed to support him militarily. Last month, United States removed Abuu Mansur from the list of wanted people for terrorist related crimes.

Gunmen Kill Puntland Security Official In Bosaso

09 August – Source: Garowe Online – 226 Words

Unidentified Gunmen killed a security officer in the heart of Bosaso, the commercial hub of the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland on Wednesday. Abdi Ali Muse (Abdi Dheere), the deputy commander of central Police station was shot dead near the compound in Bari region by unidentified person who then immediately fled the scene. The reason behind the killing of Muse is unclear and thus far, no group has claimed to be responsible for the attack against the officer, which was the latest in series of assassinations in the town over the past few days.

Police authorities cordoned off the crime area, and have launched an investigation and a manhunt mission to capture the suspects thought to be Al-Shabaab assassins, according to the eyewitnesses. Last Monday, assailants gunned down former Bari Deputy Governor Khalar Ismail Abdulle (Buncun). A suspects was captured, in connection with the murder of late Abdulle on Tuesday, but sources couldn’t verify if they were the culprits behind the assassination. Puntland state security officials are yet to comment on the latest killings in Bossaso town. The security situation in Bossaso city has gradually deteriorated in the past few weeks amid weak government policy to counter terrorism and lack of salary payments to the security forces over months, as Pro-Al Shabaab and ISIL militants in Bari region often carry out such attacks in the city.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN Deputy Special Representative Holds Security Discussions With Somalia’s South West State Officials

8 August – Source: UNSOM – 402 Words

The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia Raisedon Zenenga held discussions today with South West state administration officials on the progress the state has made in the security sector. Mr. Zenenga’s visit also focused on the ongoing construction of the new headquarters of the Somali National Army’s 60 Division and a military training base that has been supported by the United Kingdom. “We have come here to see the progress that is being made in partnership with us and with international donors, international partners who are working with us as the UN, and with South West state to support many projects including the security sector,” Mr. Zenenga said.

The delegation toured the military facility and expressed satisfaction with the progress made thus far. Once completed, the facility will host military officers and train Somali security forces to strengthen them as they prepare to take over the country’s primary security responsibility from the African Union Mission in Somalia. This is in line with the political agreement on a National Security Architecture that was signed by Somalia’s federal and state government leaders in April 2017. The agreement endorsed an inclusive federal institutional framework for a reformed security sector.

The South West state Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohamed Hassan Fiqi represented South West state President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and briefed the delegation on the progress the state has made in strengthening security and tackling the humanitarian crisis induced by the current drought.

Zayed Giving Youth Volunteers Help Patients In Somali Villages

09 August – Source: Emirates News Agency – 428 Words

A group of UAE youth taking part in the Emirates Programme for Community and Specialised Volunteering, have contributed to reducing the suffering of children and elderly patients in Somali villages to mark International Youth Day, celebrated on 12th August of each year. Implementing these efforts fall within the framework of the millennial volunteering campaign theme, ‘Giving is Happiness’, and are in line with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to make 2017 the Year of Giving. The aid initiative is a joint humanitarian programme of the Zayed Giving Initiative, the Dar Al Ber Society, the Sharjah Charity House and Saudi-German Hospitals, in coordination with health and volunteer associations in Somalia.

Dr. Adel Al Shameri, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, Chairman of the Emirates Programme for Community and Specialised Volunteering and Emirates Doctors President, said that several innovative programmes had been launched since the introduction of the initiative in the year 2000. Youngsters have been trained to volunteer in various health, educational, cultural and sports areas, enabling them to serve numerous local and international communities. The initiative has also seen the establishment of the Emirates Programme for Community and Specialised Volunteering, the Arab Giving Forum, the UAE Volunteering Conference, the Youth of Giving meetings, the periodic organisation of the Arab Forum to enable young people to volunteer, launch of the social entrepreneurs’ programmes, and establishment of the Zayed Academy for Humanitarian Action.

It has also supported the millennial giving campaign Giving is Happiness. Moza Al Otaibi, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Giving Initiative, said that the current humanitarian missions of the youth in Somali villages are aimed at implementing joint action between the health, humanitarian and volunteer associations. The objective is to reach out to thousands of children and elderly patients in Somali villages, which reflects the strength of the relations between both countries and promotes joint volunteer action between Emirati and Somali medical personnel.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Corruption is endemic in Somalia societies so we must reform government institutions. Creation of independent judiciary court systems, automation of the revenue collection and education system that promotes common curriculum framework to route-out corruption should immediately be established. This requires a holistic approach and combined efforts of all government agencies, public, private sector and international communities.”

Corruption In Somalia Is A Crime Against Our Country’s Development

09 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – 855 Words

Corruption as defined by scholars is the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain, in public and the private sectors. Countries are rated based on assessments of the prevalence of bribery of public officials, stealing of public money and the lack of public anti-corruption efforts. A recent report shows that conduct within most African countries in these areas leaves much to be desired. The report from a Berlin-based group in 2010 lists and ranks six African nations among the 10 most corrupt countries around the world. These are Sudan, Chad, Burundi, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, with Somalia heading the list as the most corrupt nation of all those surveyed. This means that Somalia is the most corrupted nation. However, there are lots of optimism for the newly elected president Mohamed Farmajo and his government to tackle corruption and restore the full confidence of the international community and public.

So far, no arrests have been made against any government officials in connection of stealing public funds. The effects of these thefts are kickbacks in the Somalia’s revenue collection from the airport and seaports; this represents an implicit cost making corruption into a regressive tax on the services that impoverish the country and its people that one can’t afford. As we all know, today Somalia lacks basic public services such as education, health, and other Social services. Thus, how do we move forward in order to develop our beloved Somalia so that our people can thrive?. Reforming our judiciary system and establishing court branches across the country is tall order. For example, the current Supreme Court is run by one chief justice who decides any legal outcome. Moreover, the government should appoint 7 to 5 high court judges in the Supreme Court as well as the court. The recent rejection for Somalia’s lawmakers to void against the Supreme Court ruling to nullify result of 8 MPs is a clear indication that they have no confidence for the judiciary system. It is high time to institute a new Supreme Court panel of judges to end the one-man show legal system and that promotes transparency, integrity and justice in the legal system.

Revenue collection is an effective way in which Somalia’s government can develop its economy. However, many developing countries like Somalia face challenges in their revenue collection. Somalia loses millions of revenues through corruption and mismanagement related to manual outdated revenue collection. The adoption of automated revenue collections system will transform revenue collection and improve service delivery.

Many African countries including our neighbors in Kenya and Rwanda, who have adopted automated revenue collection, have seen an upsurge in revenue realization. This also requires training and political goodwill as well as appropriate change management to adopt and improve the whole system. The World Bank’s Africa Development 2010 Indicators showed that civil servants’ failure to deliver Government-run health, education or agricultural services, further jeopardizes Africa’s long-term development.(2). This is another additional hidden costs associated with corruption that directly affects the poor in particular.