August 20, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Somali President Urges Parliament And Cabinet To Fast Track National Issues To Build Strong State
19 August – Source: Somali Update – 343 Words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has urged the parliament and the government to strengthen their commitment to serve the nation.The president called on the government to increase the development and monitoring of activities of all national institutions, and emphasized the need for them to practice full accountability.”We have a national obligation to serve our nation openly and honestly. I call the on parliament to fast track key laws required to enable national activities. Among the laws we want the parliament to pass quickly include the anti-corruption law, foreign investment law, telecommunication and procurement law. All these laws are necessary to establish a system of accountability,” said the president.
The president also stated that in accordance with the government’s commitment to implement a transparent governance system, a fully functioning Financial Management Committee is in place, which has members from the government, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank. He said the work of this committee has brought a lot of positive changes in financial management.”I ask the government to actively support the work of the Financial Management Committee, and to support the work of reviewing tenders offered by the government in accordance with the law. If any of the tenders have been awarded against the law, then the committee has full authority to take actions according to the law.”
President Mohamud emphasized the need to have a fully functioning justice system in place, adding that it’s one of the important pillars of the state-building process.”The parliament has to fast track the legal process that allows the formation of national justice institutions, like the Justice Services Committee and the Constitutional Court,’’ said the president. The president has called on the media to play a national role in Somalia’s reconstruction, reconciliation and public awareness and to avoid anything that may threaten the national security and the unity of the people. He finally commended the Somali people for their resilience and the positive role in ensuring that Somalia stands again on its own feet.
Key Headlines
- Somali President Urges Parliament And Cabinet To Fast Track National Issues To Build Strong State(Somali Update)
- Minster Evicts Civilians From EX-Fiyoore Compound (Radio Dalsan)
- Somalia Wants Debts Cancellation (Horseed Media)
- Puntland Opens Training For Hundreds Of Police Forces In Armo (Villa Puntland)
- Somaliland To Hold Elections In 2017 (Garowe Online)
- Over 20 Killed In A Fight Between Somali Forces And Al-Shabaab In Bakol (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Even War Won’t Stop us: Determined Ethiopians Somalis Brave Death And Head To Yemen..Then Finally Saudi Arabia (Mail & Guardian Africa)
- 25 Militants Killed In Central Somalia: Official (Xinhua)
- Somali Money Transfer Companies Must Self-Regulate To Maintain The Integrity Of Their Services(Sahan Journal)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Minster Evicts Civilians From EX-Fiyoore Compound
19 August – Source: Radio Dalsan – 185 Words
The Minister of Information and Tourism of the Somali Federal Government, Mohamed Abdi Hayer has given 10 days the inhabitants of Ex-Fiyoore to leave the former premises of the Somali musicians.The Minister addressed the press and the inhabitants of Ex-Fiyoore right inside the premises. “I am hereby telling the inhabitants of Ex-Fiyoore who are not in any way related with the Somali musicians to vacate the compound within 10 days, the building was not only resident for the musicians, but they used to do other significant things which are important for the nation and they are ready to resume soon, the city is now relatively calm and you have to go and look for houses in all parts of the city” said Minister Hayer. Ex-Fiyore compound used to be exclusively for the Somali singers only, but after the collapse of the last effective central government of Somalia in 1991 many ordinary citizens flowed into habit it. The majority of the Somali singers who are now living in rented houses in some parts of the city have highly welcomed the speech of the minister.
Somalia Wants Debts Cancellation
19 August – Source: Horseed Media – 218 Words
Somali Federal Government has called for its creditors to cancel billions of dollars debts, in an effort to rebuild the country’s economy. Mohamed Aden Fargeti, Somalia’s Minister of Finance said that they are cooperating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the cancellation of the debts.“We [Somalia] have a debt worth $5.4 billion and we are working on ways to be forgiven from that amount.” Moreover, he said, cancelling Somalia’s debt would provide countries with ‘long-term benefit, by offering them increased investment opportunities once the shackles on the country’s political and economic development are removed.’ Somalia, which has several times been top listed in the world’s most failed and corrupted states, is recovering from two decades of civil war.
Since the Central government was overthrown in 1991, the country’s infrastructure and human capital has been destroyed massively. The economy—which primarily relies on subsistence agriculture and fishing—is still held back in its development by the fractured nature of the country and the poorly developed infrastructure. In 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognised the Federal Government of Somalia, paving the way for the resumption of relations. Economic activity is estimated to have expanded by 3.7 percent in 2014, driven by growth in agriculture, construction, and telecommunications, IMF said in a recent report on Somalia’s economy revival.
Puntland Opens Training For Hundreds Of Police Forces In Armo
19 August – Source: Villa Puntland – 131 Words
The government of Puntland has today sent over 300 police officers for training in Armo’s police academy in Armo, Bari region of Puntland Somalia. In a farewell event held in Sinai Military camp in Galkayo, more than 340 Puntland soldiers were dispatched for a training course in Armo Academy. Senior Puntland officials including ministers and security commanders among them, Puntland Police chief Abdirizal “Afgudud” attended the event. Addressing at the event, Puntland’s Commerce Minister Abdiweli “Indhaguran” stated that the government is committed to ameliorate and enhance the quality of Puntland police through trainings and better working conditions. In an efforts to build strong police force across Puntland regions, the government of Puntland has taken clear policy and actions towards integration of police forces in Puntland according to police chief Colonel Afgudud.
Somaliland To Hold Elections In 2017
19 August – Source: Garowe Online – 172 Words
A constitutional court in breakaway Somaliland region has set a date for parliamentary and presidential elections after a long-running dispute between Ruling Kulmiye Party and opposition. On May 28, parties agreed that polls be held on December 15, 2016, an agreement shelved by Somaliland House of Elders a week ago. President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Silanyo) has asked the court to make final ruling on the exact date of polls. General elections have been slated for 28th of March, 2017, a binding verdict from the court read on Wednesday. On May 11, house of elders extended President Silanyo’s term in office by 22 months, leading to mass protests in opposition stronghold and the second largest city, Burao. The forum for tradition voted against the poll signed between Ruling Kulmiye Party and two opposition parties-Justice and Welfare Party and Wadani-on August 8. Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet.
Over 20 Killed In A Fight Between Somali Forces And Al-Shabaab In Bakol
19 August – Source: Radio Bar- Kulan – 131 Words
At least 20 people have been killed and several others wounded following a fierce fighting between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab rebel group in Bakol on Tuesday. Bakol Deputy Regional Commissioner on security affairs Abdinor Mohamed Hassan told VOA Somali Service they killed over 10 Al-Shabaab combatants in the fighting that erupted in Eelbaar settlement near Hudur district. Hassan said five government soldiers lost their lives in the fight which began after government forces attacked the area.“Five of our soldiers embraced martyrdom, we are ready to die. Death is inevitable when there is a fight,” he said. However, other reports say up to ten government soldiers were killed in the fighting. Normalcy is said to have returned to the area which is now in the control of Somali government forces
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Even War Won’t Stop us: Determined Ethiopians, Somalis Brave Death And Head To Yemen..Then Finally Saudi Arabia
19 August – Source: Mail & Guardian Africa – 1,493 Words
Ethiopia’s recent story has been one of robust economic growth, but for some of its citizens, the hoped-for benefits are taking too long to trickle down, so they are heading out for where they feel they can make a more immediate impact on their circumstances and those of their families. Qader and Abdi, two such Ethiopians, are two weeks into their journey. Carrying only one empty plastic water bottle each, flattened, with no liquid to return it to its cylindrical shape, the two men figure they will be walking for another month-and-a-half before they reach the sea. From there, they will take a smuggler boat for the short distance to Yemen, where another 600-kilometre walk lies ahead before they may reach their final destination, Saudi Arabia. It is a sign of their determination that despite the flow of refugees fleeing in the opposite direction, they are focused on making it through their perilous journey.
The pair – members of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo, which activists charge is systematically disenfranchised by the government – are walking along an uncrowded road connecting the capital of Somaliland, Hargeisa, to a northern port city. They walk because they cannot afford the roughly $150-200 that some smugglers would charge to take them from the Ethiopian border east through Somaliland to the port of Bosaso in the neighbouring semi-autonomous region of Puntland. “We will walk until we become weak,” said 30-year-old Qader, who withheld his last name to protect his identity. He and his 19-year-old companion are dressed in dirtied long-sleeve shirts to shield them from the early morning sun, which will become unbearable by midday. They have made it this far off the good will of Somalilanders who offer them small change or meals as they pass. There is a small risk they could be arrested so they veer off the paved road near checkpoints but quickly return so as not to lose their way. Although walking along roads in Somaliland – a self-declared nation that the international community still classifies as a region of Somalia – puts migrants like them at increased risk of robbery or assault, Somalilanders generally do not wish the duo ill will.
25 Militants Killed In Central Somalia: Official
19 August – Source: Xinhua – 175 Words
At least 25 militants were killed by government troops in last two days at some villages in Hiran region, central Somalia, military officials said on Wednesday.Senior military officer Mohamed Omar told media that government troops along with Ethiopian forces conducted in the past two days operations against Al-Shabab in Hiran region.”During this military operation, we killed 25 Al-Shabaab fighters. Most of them died in Luq jelow village in Hiran region,” he said. The military officer said they will continue the operation until they liberate all villages under Al-Shabaab control, denying there were casualties among the coalition. Al-Shabaab said it had inflicted heavy casualties on joint forces, saying it killed many Ethiopian and Somali troops which denied by the officials.Residents said that some villages in Hiran region witnessed in the recent days deadly fighting between Somali government and Ethiopian troops.”There was a fierce battle between the two parties and the situation remains tense. There are fears the outbreak of fighting in nearby villages,” one of the residents in Luq jilow told Xinhua.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Unless the remittance companies rouse themselves out of this lifeless stupor and start to view themselves as business enterprises and not merely philanthropic outfits, they risk being jettisoned by a post-9/11 financial world where a culture of compliance is neither optional nor subordinate to humanitarian and other rationalizations. Being jettisoned is what is happening right now,”
Somali Money Transfer Companies Must Self-Regulate To Maintain The Integrity Of Their Services
18 August – Source: Sahan Journal – 1611 Words
In a world where financing of terrorism and efforts to combat it have taken center stage, sending hundreds of millions of dollars every year to a country where majority of the beneficiaries do not have access to credible, government-issued identification documents was always going to raise serious regulatory questions.When that country is one of the most restive in the world, and where a globally designated terrorist outfit operates out of, the assigned threat index scales several rungs higher.
Somali remittance companies’ risk profile has been inching ever closer to the “unacceptable” threshold since 9/11, when the United States of America, and with it the rest of the world, embarked on an unprecedented regime of financial, security and political clampdown on so-called terror groups and their finances.New legislation and amendments to existing ones led to reinvigoration of the U.S. anti-money laundering regulations with stricter reporting, record keeping, monitoring and oversight of the financial system.
The regulations continue to expand, and financial institutions – including Somali remittance companies – find themselves with the obligation of not just recording and reporting funds sent, but also the requirement to satisfy the U.S. regulators that the funds are collected by designated beneficiaries in a manner consistent with global anti-money laundering systems. And that is precisely where the problem lies.