NATIONAL MEDIA
19 August – Source: Goobjoog – 200 Words
Qatar delegates led by the Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani accompanied by Qatar’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Ports, Jassim Bin Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti arrived Mogadishu.
The Deputy Prime Minister Somalia, Mahdi Mohamed Guled (Khadar) and the member of the cabinets have highly welcomed the delegates at Aden Adde international delegation in Mogadishu. The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Ali Khayre held a meeting with Qatar’s Foreign Minister at his office. The two officials have discussed the bilateral relations between the two governments and the acceleration of Qatar’s projects in Somalia. In another conference held by the Minister of Ports of Qatar and the Minister of Ports of Somalia have jointly announced to start the construction of Hobyo Port and that the Qatar government will implement the project. In early December 2018, the two governments have signed development agreements that the Qatar government will start port construction projects in Somalia as soon as possible. Last month, the New York Times has published an exclusive report highlighting how Gulf powers (mainly UAE & Qatar) use guns, cash and terrorism to vie for power in Somalia.
19 August – Source: Halbeeg – 161 Words
Somali Military Court in Baidoa town on Sunday upheld sentenced three members of armed forces to death for murder. The statement by the military Court said the three soldiers committed the crime deliberately and killed two people in Southwest State. Abdiwahid Ali Sheikh and Hussein Ali Moalin, who are attached to southwest forces were found guilty of deliberately killing Muhyadin Mohamed Abdirahman in Baidoa town. The two were previously slapped with a death sentence after the first-degree court of armed forces found them guilty in 2018. They sought appealed but the court upheld the ruling. The third convict, who is a member of the state security forces, is said to have killed Mohamed Ali Mohamed. The first-degree court had previously sentenced him to a death sentence and army’s tribunal court okayed the ruling. The military court often carries out sentences and executions to Al-Shabaab militants and government soldiers who commit crimes despite condemnation from human rights groups including the European Union.
19 August – Source: Goobjoog – 105 Words
Early Monday morning, Al-Shabaab fighters attacked Somali Federal Government forces military base in Bariire town in Lower Shabelle region. According to officials from the FGS, Al-Shabaab has attacked the military forces base in the area but the forces repulsed the attack. General Odowa Yusuf Yusuf Rage, the Commander of Somali Armed Forces, told government media that they have repulsed the attack and killed 20 Al-Shabaab militants. The attack prompted hours of heavy fighting between the Somali army and heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters. Al-Shabaab has been the last weeks increasing military bases attacks in the southern part of Somalia routinely targets AU forces and government bases.
http://goobjoog.com/english/al-shabaab-attack-military-base-in-bariire-of-l-shabelle-region/
19 August – Source: Radio Dalsan – 161 Words
Differences between Somalia’s northeastern region Puntland administration and local clan elders have emerged over the establishment of the Islamic Sharia Law. Elders from the majir clans in the region had in the last two weeks endorsed to apply the Shariah law in areas under their jurisdiction. But this move was received with suspicion by the regional administration which claims this may have been influenced by two militant groups with bases in Puntland namely ISIS and Al-Shabaab. Radio Dalsan has learnt that the Garowe based administration has been closely monitoring rural and remote areas of the region to ascertain any possible link of the endorsement to the present militant groups. A fortnight ago Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni sarcastically said that militant groups may have opted to use the traditional leadership establishment to push for their agenda noting that for 20yrs the region had remained stable. The endorsement was signed by clan elders from Ali Saleman, Osman Mohamud and Isse Mohamud.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
19 August – Source: Standard Media – 249 Words
Police in Bomet are looking for a man suspected to be a member of the terror gang, Al Shabaab (pictured). The suspect escaped a dragnet in Ndanai, Sotik sub-county, authorities said. Area police commander Francis Nga’ng’a said a woman who was living with the suspect was in custody and was helping police with investigations. Police said they impounded 12 pairs of military boots, four jungle trousers, one pair of jungle socks, one jungle hut, one Kenya Air Force belt, 10 mobile phones and three knives they found in a house the two were living in. “We have reasons to believe that the suspects were planning something bad. The items in their possession mean they were up to something,” Mr Nga’ng’a said.
He identified the fleeing suspect as Wesley Kipngetich Langat and the woman in custody as Jackline Chemutai Langat. Police believe they were living as husband and wife. “This is clearly a very dangerous person and members of the public should tread with caution and report to police any leads that will see him arrested,” he added. The police boss said Ms Chemutai was cooperating with detectives. The incident has sparked fear among residents, with police urged to step up patrols and conduct thorough investigations to weed out such criminals in the society. Youth leaders in Sotik have asked the police to involve the public in their investigations. “As youth, we are ready and willing to help police to weed out such groups in the society,” said Robert Mutai.
18 August – Source: The Eastern African – 515 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has underscored its intent to withdraw from the country by 2021, after launching the Elections Awareness Campaign, meant to keep the public updated with the preparations. The programme is endorsed by most of Somalia’s international partners and includes federal state authorities.
According to Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Somalia, the programme is essentially civic education for citizens who have never directly voted in elections since 1969. “AMISOM and other partners will ensure that all Somalis participate in the elections by educating and preparing them for the electoral process to ensure democracy is fully implemented in Somalia,” said Mr Mulongo. Since 1969 when a military coup deposed a government elected in a one-person-one-vote process, Somalia had opted for the clan-based electoral college system, where elders nominate those who vote for candidates.
The first step, said Abdifatah Kassim, a member of the Somali Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee that is gathering views, is to amend the Elections Act to allow for universal suffrage and discard the clan college system. This, he told the audience at the Amisom launch in Mogadishu this week, will ensure every Somali adult votes in the 2021 elections. Observers, however, say there are a number of issues that could shape the vote itself and whether it happens at all. Mr Kassim spoke of the “mentality” shift where all adults can be enticed to vote.
Political parties
Since 2017, Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission and the Office of the Political Party Registrar have been registering political parties, for the first time in nearly half a century. At least 25 political parties have filed their papers. It is these parties, some led by former presidents Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which could rally the public to voting booths. But current political leaders have been squabbling among themselves. President Mohamed Farmaajo, for instance, has had lukewarm relations with the six federal state presidents. After a five-day meeting in May this year, in Garowe, Puntland, the president and the leaders emerged without a deal on the programme for constitutional review, electoral laws and natural resource sharing. Each of these leaders has clout argued Dr Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad of SouthLink Consultants in Nairobi. This includes negotiating deals with foreign leaders or organisations by representing the states of Jubbaland, South West, Puntland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Somaliland. The latter has demanded total Independence…….
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Over the years AMISOM has been lobbying for more female peacekeepers to underpin the important role women play in peacebuilding, and to serve as champions in protecting women’s rights in Somalia. In fact, this year’s World Humanitarian Day is dedicated to women humanitarians like Kyasiimire and many others who are working hard to make the world a better place.”
19 August – Source: AMISOM – 1071 Words
When Corporal Emilly Kyasiimire was deployed to Somalia in December last year to serve as an African Union peacekeeper her first task was to undertake a mandatory drivers’ test to allow her to drive an ambulance. “Naturally I enjoy driving so I was happy to drive an ambulance,” says the 35-year-old female peacekeeper from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
All soldiers who want to drive in Somalia must pass the mandatory driving test to be allowed to handle military vehicles. “I am happy that I passed the driving test and I am now using my skills to save lives. It is fulfilling,” she added while dusting her four-wheel Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance. Corporal Kyasiimire developed an interest in humanitarian work while working as a records clerk in the Special Forces Command in her home country, Uganda. Since her deployment to Somalia, the female peacekeeper has been picking up injured soldiers and civilians evacuated from various parts of the country, and in need of urgent medical care, transporting them to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Level II Hospital.
In a conflict environment where the number of casualties arising from security-related incidents is high, an ambulance driver plays a critical role as his or her actions can to some extent determine the survival of the injured. Corporal Kyasiimire is well aware that time is of the essence and the injured must be rushed to the hospital within the shortest time possible. “I feel very useful for evacuating patients, especially those in critical condition. When I am able to get them to the hospital for treatment within the shortest possible time and I later see them fully recovered, I feel a sense of pride,” she observed.
The UPDF soldier is oftentimes found seated in the cabin of her ambulance or beside it, ready to respond to emergencies. She is on call 24 hours a day, which to her is both a blessing and a challenge. “One of the challenges I face is that as an ambulance driver, I am always on standby 24-hours a day, which is good because I am saving lives. I also don’t always work within the AMISOM base camp. Sometimes I drive outside the protected areas to pick up injured soldiers and civilians across Mogadishu,” said the 35-year-old.
Corporal Kyasiimire recounts one of her moments of pride involving a pregnant woman who had fallen sick outside the protected area. “I remember one afternoon where I had to rush a pregnant Somali woman who had developed serious complications to the hospital. The patient was very sick and would have died due to complications. I had to rush her to the hospital in the shortest time possible while at the same time assuring her that she will be alright. “I followed up later and learned that she survived and had given birth to a healthy baby. It was fulfilling to save a life,” explains the UPDF soldier.
The quick emergency response was crucial because Somalia is one of the countries with the highest maternal deaths in the world. In fact, the United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that one out of every 12 women dies due to pregnancy-related causes. “Being a woman and well aware of the dangers of pregnancy complications especially in a country still recovering from conflict I had to act fast to save her life and I am glad it went well,” she explained. Corporal Kyasiimire is one of the many female peacekeepers serving in AMISOM who are making positive contributions towards peace and security in Somalia.
Over the years AMISOM has been lobbying for more female peacekeepers to underpin the important role women play in peacebuilding, and to serve as champions in protecting women’s rights in Somalia. In fact, this year’s World Humanitarian Day is dedicated to women humanitarians like Kyasiimire and many others who are working hard to make the world a better place. Though the provision of humanitarian services is not a core mandate of AMISOM, the AU Mission has worked tirelessly to provide a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Brig. Gen. Michael Kabango is no stranger to Somalia, having served in various capacities prior to taking over as the UPDF Contingent Commander in December 2018. According to him, the humanitarian situation in Somalia has seen remarkable changes since AMISOM arrived in Somalia in 2007. “When AMISOM first arrived the humanitarian situation was difficult. There was insecurity and there were no hospitals. Mogadishu as the capital of Somalia was isolated from the rest of the country. The only functional hospital became the AMISOM Level II hospital here at the Airport,” recalled Brig. Gen. Kabango who served as Uganda’s Deputy Contingent Commander in charge of Operations in 2008/2009…… |
