August 18, 2016 | Morning Headlines
AU Special Representative Urges International Community To Help Somalia Hold Successful Electoral Process
17 August – Source: AMISOM – 620 Words
A successful electoral process will not only be a victory for Somalia but also the African Union and the international community, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Francisco Madeira has said.
Ambassador Madeira noted that the political progress in Somalia was testament to what can be achieved through cooperation among members of the international community in tackling terrorism as a global threat and not an isolated problem in Somalia.
The head of AMISOM made the remarks at a media briefing held in Mogadishu, today, which was also attended by the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of African Union Commission for Somalia (DSRCC), Lydia Wanyoto; the AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Osman Noor Soubagleh and the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo.
The SRCC congratulated the Federal Government of Somalia, the regional leaders and the people of Somalia, for agreeing on the 2016 electoral process timetable. He reiterated that AMISOM will work together with the Somali National Security Forces to ensure the process is successful.
“I would like to stress the commitment of the African Union to support the Federal Government of Somalia and work with the Somali National Security Forces in securing the forthcoming election, while providing the necessary technical support to the ongoing process. The African Union sent a pre-election assessment mission and after meeting the relevant bodies including the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT), it has committed to provide training not only to members of FIET but also to all those who will be involved in the process, as well as providing observer teams for the elections,” stated Madeira.
He, however, appealed to the Somali public to support the security forces in executing their mandate, noting that the security of the country was also the responsibility of the citizens: “The country’s security does not lie with the security forces alone. Everyone has a role to play. The Somali citizens must own and lead this process,” .
The SRCC stressed that efforts will be intensified to hunt down and defeat Al-Shabaab militants, adding that special focus will be on clearing main supply routes, to open up rural areas to enable residents move freely.
Key Headlines
- AU Special Representative Urges International Community To Help Somalia Hold Successful Electoral Process (AMISOM)
- AMISOM Is Prepared To Secure Somali Elections (Shabelle News)
- Somalia Parliament Concludes Ahead Of 2016 Polls (Garowe Online)
- Bardere Police Chief Survives Bomb Attack (Shabelle News)
- AU Mission Denies Shelling Residential Areas In Somalia (Xinhua News)
- UPDF Officer Charged Over Death Of 10 Soldiers Gets Bail (New Vision)
- House Refugees At Your Risk Says Saleh (The Star)
- Mohamed Ali Nur – How I Plan to Fix Troubled Somalia (The Citizen)
NATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Is Prepared To Secure Somali Electoral Process
17 August – Source: Shabelle News – 128 Words
The new commander of the African Union’s Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Gen Osman Noor Subagle has said the AU forces were prepared to secure Somalia’s electoral process. In an exclusive interview with Radio Shabelle, Gen Subagle said AMISOM will help Somali forces to secure the forthcoming process scheduled before the end of the year, runs smoothly.
“AMISOM forces have a duty to help Somalia hold a successful electoral process that will culminate in the election of a new President on Oct 30, 2016,” he said. The AMISOM commander also said AU troops were working towards helping Somalia rebuild its national army, who will take charge of the country’s security responsibility. AMISOM is made up of 20,000 AU soldiers from Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Burundi and Ethiopia, who are fighting the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab militants since 2007.
Somalia Parliament Concludes Ahead Of 2016 Polls
17 August – Source: Garowe Online – 290 Words
Lawmakers in Somalia’s 9th Federal Parliament convened on Wednesday for their last session ahead of 2016 elections. The MPs, whose constitutional mandate will expire on August 20, are debating contentious constitutional issues, lawmaker Mohamed Omar told reporters in Mogadishu.
National Leadership Forum (NLF), which brings together President, Parliament Speaker, Prime Minister and regional Presidents extended own term by 50 days. The move ignited controversy over “constitutional consistency” should elections be based on a new timetable that sets 30th of October as the date for Presidential election.
Meanwhile, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is under pressure to resign after his term ends onSeptember 10 later this year. On August 13, a coalition of opposition parties issued a joint statement in Mogadishu, calling on the President to keep at bay constitutional crisis, and leave office once the constitutionally-mandated term terminates.
The statement came, four days after Presidential contenders-Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and Ali Haji Warsame—voiced concern over possible abuse of executive authority. The main parties in the opposition bloc strongly railed against any term extension for the government, and urged the President to come to his senses.
Bardere Police Chief Survives Bomb Attack
17 August – Source: Shabelle News – 86 Words
The police chief of Bardere city in Gedo region narrowly survived an attempt on his life after following a land mine explosion in his residence on Wednesday morning. The police boss told Radio Shabelle on phone that he had escaped unharmed from the IED attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
“It was an apparent attempt on my life. I am safe,” he said. The attack is the latest in series of Al-Shabaab attacks against Gedo regional administration officials over the past few months.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU Mission Denies Shelling Residential Areas In Somalia
17 August – Source: Xinhua News – 139 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Wednesday refuted reports that its peacekeeping troops fired rounds of mortars on residential areas near the southern port city of Marka.
In a statement, AMISOM said its routine weapon testing exercise had the impact site pre-determined and was carried out far away from residential areas: “The local administration was also aware of the planned weapons’ testing,” it said.
The statement comes after residents in Marka claimed that AMISOM troops shelled residential areas on Tuesday. There were reports that AU forces stationed at Ayub camp bombed villages located on the outskirts of Marka, causing casualties and property damages.
AMISOM forces, alongside the Somali army, has been battling the Al-Shabaab Islamist group. They have recently stepped up the fight against the militants believed to have been hiding in remote regions in southern Somalia.
UPDF Officer Charged Over Death Of 10 Soldiers Gets Bail
17 August – Source: New Vision – 396 Words
A senior UPDF officer who allegedly failed to protect his colleagues while on a mission in Somalia, resulting into death of 10 of them has been released on bail by the Army court.
On Tuesday, Mutumbi, the former commander of Battle Group 16 (BGXVI) in Somalia, was released on a non-cash bail of sh 5m by the General Court Martial chairman Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti on grounds that he presented to court substantial sureties.
The sureties who include Brig. Gen David Wakalo, Col. Jude Ndyanabo and Lt. Col Charles Asiimwe were also bonded at sh2m not cash by court. However, the court directed that he (Mutumbi) reports to court twice a month. Mutumbi was also granted bail on grounds that he is of advanced age and has a fixed place of abode at Kabowa in Rubaga division. He was represented by his lawyer Paul Kuteesa.
In his affidavit Mutumbi, who has spent a month and two weeks in custody said that he is also suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cervical degenerative disc diseases. Mutumbi is said to have ignored intelligence information which resulted into the Al-Shabaab attacking Jonale detachment and killing 10 UPDF soldiers.
Prosecution alleges that Mutumbi faces two counts of; failure to execute one’s duty leading to death of fellow officers and failure to brief subordinate commanders to execute an operation against the Al-Shabaab.
House Refugees At Your Risk, Says Saleh
17 August – Source: The Star – 243 Words
Kenya’s Northeastern regional coordinator Mohamud Saleh has warned Garissa residents against housing refugees fleeing repatriation to Somalia. He spoke at the end of a capacity-building workshop on citizen participation in security in Garissa town.
Saleh said the government is aware some refugees are sneaking out of the Dadaab camps to evade screening. It is criminal for anyone to tolerate such acts and culprits will be prosecuted, he said: “These refugees have no ID cards or any documents allowing them to be outside the camps, The government will not hesitate to take stern action against accomplices.”
Saleh said Kenya has been generous in hosting the refugees for more than 25 years and it is time they went back to rebuild their country. He said Somalia is home to more than seven million people in areas liberated by AMISOM.
“Somalia is safe and the refugees should join their brothers and sisters. Kenya has done its part,” he added. On terrorism, Saleh urged landlords to be wary of suspected Al-Shabaab sympathisers who rent houses to conceal weapons used during attacks.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“In May this year, a former Somali former top diplomat Mohamed Ali Nur, announced his presidential candidacy in the General Election, now scheduled for October 30 this year. In this interview, the Dar es Salaam-based politician-cum-businessman, talks about his plans to fix Somalia’s security and economy challenges among other issues.”
Mohamed Ali Nur – How I Plan to Fix Troubled Somalia
17 August – Source: The Citizen – 2,167 Words
Tell us about yourself – a brief background. Who is Mohamed Ali Nur?
I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. I am a family man, well established in business and community affairs with over 20 years’ experience in business in both corporate and international trade and a firm believer in job creation and investment in Somalia.
You are a businessman based in Dar es Salaam. Do you believe you have what it takes to bring peace to Somalia?
I have been actively involved in community building and peacemaking activities since I was a young man. I do believe that a peaceful society is a productive and just society. Over the years I have served the community in different roles and capabilities. I served as the chairman of the Somali Association of Tanzania, a community-based association whose main objective was to give back and provide free community service to its 25,000 member strong Somali community in Tanzania.
You are contesting the Somali presidency at a time when the country is almost a failed state. What’s your motivation?
My biggest motivation is that I am a Somali. My cultural heritage is from Somalia. I find it unacceptable, the way things are. Somalia currently is a recovering state, but with a lot of potential and an amazing goodwill among its people. There is potential of its people, there is potential from the vast resources. A lot of problems currently facing Somalia are easily identifiable and they can be easily solved. One of the main problems we face in Somalia today is poor leadership. We have leaders who are unpatriotic and are not committed to solving the problems of the people.In the recent past, The Federal Republic of Somalia registered poor performance mainly due to mismanagement of resources and rampant corruption within the government as felt by all citizens of Somalia.
This is also as per the report of The United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia & Eritrea pursuant to Security Council resolution 2111 (2013): Somalia.
Given the mandate to lead my country, my government will build on the areas of good governance, justice, economy and social well-being for all Somali citizens. I am confident that I am the right person to bring peace, unity and prosperity to Somalia. We do have a clear roadmap for the future of Somalia. A Somali nation that is at peace with itself and with its neighbours, a Somali nation that is united and prosperous. This roadmap is achievable, workable and offers us a hope for a united, prosperous Somalia.
The problems of Somalia are not new. Why now?
Somalia has been facing internal problems for the last 25 years. However, we should not wait for a miracle to happen. We need to offer new leadership and act today as it is never too late for change. I encourage all my fellow citizens to join hands and get involved in our vision of change. Peace is the only solution. Somali refugee are scattered all over the continent. Why should our people live scattered all over, looking for hope elsewhere while we can create that hope and peaceful solution in our motherland?