August 22, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali Government welcomes Human Rights Task Force report
22 Aug – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 272 words
After six months investigation, independent Human Rights Task Force reported the state of the human rights in Somalia with particular reference to Mogadishu. The report highlights human rights issues and points out root causes of the alleged abuses against civilians. His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon with five members of his cabinet today welcomed the report as they took part in the briefing event organized by the Task Force. Also present at the event were members of the Somali Parliament committee on human rights and representatives from the civil society.
“We welcome the finding of the independent committee and we value their recommendations. I assure both the committee and the Somali public that my government will not tolerate any kind of human rights violations and abuses” Prime Minister said. He stated that there is a need to end the culture of impunity in a sustainable manner and that rule of law must prevail. The report praised the current government for protecting and promoting human rights of its citizens especially the most vulnerable. The report took into accounted institutional capacity, which is in development stage after years of lawlessness, as a contributing factor to human rights violations and abuses.
Interior Minister H.E. Abdikarin Hussein Guled responding to the issue of the institutional capacity stated that the government is undertaking police and justice reforms. He also affirmed that the government will soon adapt its post translational human rights road-map. “We are committed to improve the state of the human rights in Somalia. I assure you, we are on the right track by reforming our police force and justice system,” Interior Minister said.
Key Headlines
- Somali Government welcomes Human Rights Task Force report (Office of the Prime Minister)
- Somali Government to investigate kidnapping attempt of Swedish Politician in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan)
- Puntland Government Statement on New Deal Framework (Garowe Online/Horseed Media)
- Flying into hostile territory: Somalia experiences boom in air travel (CNN)
- President Silanyo Receives Dutch Ambassador to Somalia (Somaliland Press/Somali Chnannel TV/Universal TV)
- Somalia vows action over alleged rape by AU troops (New Vision)
- Puntland information minister comments on region’s decision to ban state media (Radio Dalsan)
- Somalia: Al Shabaab ‘to stop caning civilians’ (BBC)
- assassinations continue with security officials discussing insecurity in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan)
PRESS STATEMENT
Somali Government welcomes Human Rights Task Force report
22 Aug – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 272 words
After six months investigation, independent Human Rights Task Force reported the state of the human rights in Somalia with particular reference to Mogadishu. The report highlights human rights issues and points out root causes of the alleged abuses against civilians.
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon with five members of his cabinet today welcomed the report as they took part in the briefing event organized by the Task Force. Also present at the event were members of the Somali Parliament committee on human rights and representatives from the civil society.
“We welcome the finding of the independent committee and we value their recommendations. I assure both the committee and the Somali public that my government will not tolerate any kind of human rights violations and abuses” Prime Minister said. He stated that there is a need to end the culture of impunity in a sustainable manner and that rule of law must prevail.
The report praised the current government for protecting and promoting human rights of its citizens especially the most vulnerable. The report took into accounted institutional capacity, which is in development stage after years of lawlessness, as a contributing factor to human rights violations and abuses.
Interior Minister H.E. Abdikarin Hussein Guled responding to the issue of the institutional capacity stated that the government is undertaking police and justice reforms. He also affirmed that the government will soon adapt its post translational human rights road-map. “We are committed to improve the state of the human rights in Somalia. I assure you, we are on the right track by reforming our police force and justice system,” Interior Minister said.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali Government to investigate kidnapping attempt of Swedish Politician in Mogadishu
22 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 190 words
The Spokesperson for the President of Somalia Eng. Abdirahman Osman Yarisow has confirmed to Dalsan Radio that the government has initiated investigation into the attack on the Swedish politician Ann-Margarethe that took place on Wednesday.
Eng. Yarisow said the Police are investigating how the attack took place and who was behind it. He also said the government is very saddened by the attack and offer their sincere condolences to the Sweden government. A Somali-Swedish youngster who accompanied Anne-Margarethe died in the attack.
Yasin Maaxi, the Chairman of Somali Social Unity Party (SUPP) who also spoke to Dalsan Radio said the Somali community in Sweden are very shocked and saddened by the attempted killing of Anne-Margarethe who he said was a lady who had come to Somalia to help the Somali people.
“The militia that carried out the attack, who were wearing government military uniform, ambushed Ann-Margarethe and Abdirahim as they were leaving the University of Somalia. Anne-Margarethe was there to give a speech on party politics in Sweden and why they had travelled to Mogadishu,”, said witness Ahmed Farah who is a student at the University of Somalia.
Puntland Government Statement on New Deal Framework
22 Aug – Source: Garowe Online/ Horseed Media – 106 words
Puntland Government welcomes the New Deal Conference for Somalia, hosted by the European Union in Brussels on September 16, 2013, as the New Deal provides the guiding framework for working partnerships in fragile and conflict-affected States.
Puntland recognizes the importance of the New Deal Framework, signed in Busan on November 29, 2011 in accordance with other international accords including the Paris Declaration and the Dili Declaration.
The New Deal is a country-owned and led process that brings structural change to Aid Effectiveness in Fragile States and seeks clear roles and responsibilities for the affected States receiving the aid, in collaboration with Donor Communities and Development Partners.
Puntland information minister comments on region’s decision to ban state media
21 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 123 words
Puntland Information Minister Ahmed Sheikh Jama has told radio Dalsan that his ministry has issued the order which banned the Somali federal government state media from its regions.
The Minister said that his ministry has concluded investigations on the Somali National TV and that they will discuss with officials from Somali information ministry who will be visiting Garowe on 25th August. The Puntland Information Minister did not reveal what kind of allegations they used for the ban order against the National TV which is run by the information ministry of the federal government of Somalia.
Puntland is a semi-autonomous region on the northeastern Somalia but the region’s local administration based in Garowe has been in bad terms with the federal government of Somalia.
President Silanyo Receives Dutch Ambassador to Somalia
21 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press/Somali Chnannel TV/Universal TV – 105 words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmud (Silanyo) received Ambassador Joost Reintjes Netherlands ambassador to Somalia at the Presidency.
The Ambassador said that the government of Netherlands is eager to reestablish relations with the government of Somaliland after an absence of more than 22 years held lengthy discussions in which they explored ways to enhance future bilateral relation between the Somaliland and the Netherlands.
The Visiting Envoy said, “I and President Silanyo have discussed with political and development cooperation as well as stimulating future investment by Dutch companies in Somaliland ,adding this won’t be easy but still it’s possible,”.
Armed assassinations continue with security officials discussing insecurity in Mogadishu
22 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 129 words
Armed assassinations and targeted explosions against government officials, foreigners and other valuable individuals in the society are on the high rate in Somalia capital, Mogadishu while the government security officials continue constant discussions on the insecurity.
On Wednesday unknown attackers shot and wounded a Swedish politician visiting Mogadishu while her bodyguard and a Somali-Swedish man were killed after an attack near the University of Somalia compound at KM4 in Mogadishu.
Later on that day assailants shot and killed a police officer at Siinaay junction of Wardhigley neighborhood. According to local sources, two hand grenades were attacked at a market at Arjentine village in Kaaran neighborhood. As these insecurity incidents continue to happen in Mogadishu, on the other side the security officials maintain day and night meetings over the city’s growing insecurity.
EU delegation arrives in Hargeisa for talks
21 Aug – Source: Somaliland Informer/Somali Channel TV – 127 words
A large EU delegation arrived in Hargeisa Wednesday to hold talks with Somaliland’s leadership. Somaliland’s Foreign Minister has welcomed the EU delegation from donor countries at Hargeisa airport upon arrival.
The EU delegates hold lengthy talks with Ministers of National Panning, Foreign Affairs, Labor and Social, Agriculture, Fishery, and Finance. Somaliland ministers raised with the delegates from the European Union to provide assistant on wide range of areas be it health and education.
Somaliland FM Mr. Mohamed Biihi briefed the press and said that they put in place special agenda for Somaliland regarding ways and means to support the unrecognized nation in the Horn of Africa. He made clear that Somaliland will ask financial aid in order to develop and move the country in the right direction.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia vows action over alleged rape by AU troops
22 Aug – Source: New Vision – 172 words
Somalia’s government vowed Wednesday to deliver justice in the case of a local woman who alleged she was gang raped by African Union troops and Somali soldiers. “My team and I are committed to getting to the bottom of this case, and all other allegations of sexual violence,” Somalia’s minister for human development, Maryan Qasim, said in a statement Wednesday.
“We want perpetrators of crimes to be brought to justice and to build a society where the rights of every citizen are protected.” Qasim, the head of a government team probing the case, distanced herself from an audio recording in Somali media in which she appeared to angrily criticise rape victims for publicising their cases in the press.
Instead, she said she had been “misquoted and misrepresented”, and that she had instead been stressing the need to “protect each and every rape victim’s identity”. “Rape in all its forms is totally unacceptable,” Qasim added. “The government cannot tolerate such incidents, no one should be allowed to violate the rights of Somali women.”
Polio outbreak in Dadaab camp
21 Aug – Source: The Star News – 224 Words
The United Nations has reported at least 10 cases of “an explosive” polio outbreak in the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab. The highly contagious disease is feared to have spread into the country from the neighboring Somalia, with 105 cases already confirmed.
“About 10 cases have been reported in North Eastern Kenya, which hosts almost half a million Somalia refugees in the sprawling camps,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said.
The humanitarian agency said in a statement that the risk of spread of the disease is extremely high in the region given the movements of people through the porous Somalia border with hundreds of refugees said to cross into Kenya daily. In May, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation launched a week-long vaccination campaign in 22 counties seen to bear the highest risk of the disease.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Flying into hostile territory: Somalia experiences boom in air travel
22 Aug – Source: CNN – 740 Words
Somalia, getting from point A to B can be a perilous business. Towns are remote, the roads that link them are poor and prone to attack, while the coastline is manned by pirates. So why are so many airline operators eager to launch routes to Mogadishu?
Despite Somalia’s many security woes, the aviation industry is experiencing an uptick. Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport — which was essentially out of commission prior to 2010 following years of civil war, in-fighting and a reign of terror brought on by al Qaeda -backed terrorist group al Shabaab — has been expanding.
“Before 2010, there wasn’t really an airport, just a runway. Now, we have 35 flights a day. The airport is booming,” says Sean Mendis, Aden Abdulle’s station manager.
Security in the country is an on-going concern, though it has improved. Al Shabaab was forced out two years ago, allowing some local businesses to reopen and Aden Abdulle to beef up its security, which is currently under the purview of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Somalia Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, the Somali police and the Somali National Security Agency.
Somalia: Al Shabaab ‘to stop caning civilians’
21 Aug – Source: BBC – 156 Words
Hardline Islamist group al Shabaab could be about to stop caning civilians as punishment, if reports from Somalia are correct. Senior figure Fuad Mohamed Shongole, is quoted by the Hiiraan news site as saying it will instead teach people in areas it controls about Islam.
He apparently made the remarks at a meeting with clan elders in the southern region of Lower Shabeelle. “We have decided to stop caning people. We will instead teach them about the religion. People will outshine us once they taste the sweetness of the religion,” the Canadian-based website, which has reporters in Somalia, quoted him as saying.
A 2011 US State Department report highlighted al Shabaab’s use of punishments such as caning and beating for perceived transgressions of Islamic law. According to the US-based campaign group Human Rights Watch, al Shabaab “routinely mistreats persons in areas under its control”. It adds: “Women are caned or arbitrarily detained for greeting men, including relatives, in public.”
Swedish politicians shot in Somalia drive-by
21 Aug – Source: Local News – 162 words
“We can confirm that a Swedish woman has been shot. She is alive and has spoken to the Swedish ambassador. She is at the field hospital of the African Union Mission in Somalia and will be transferred for treatment in Nairobi,” Camilla Åkesson Lindblom, spokeswoman at the foreign ministry, told The Local.
The injured woman was identified as Swedish politician Ann-Margarethe Livh of the Left Party. Local journalist Hamza Mohamed told The Local on the phone from Mogadishu that Livh was injured near the University of Somalia, where staff confirmed she had given a guest lecture.
“She was leaving the premises and was fifteen steps outside the university compound when men in a tinted (window) car opened fire,” he said. Local Stockholm newspaper Norra Sidan also reported on Wednesdaythat Abdirahim Hassan had died in Somalia. His family confirmed the death. Hassan was a member of Sweden’s Left Party, which referred all questions to the foreign ministry when contacted by The Local.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Former MP Dawn Butler on why the Government must act to keep UK banking services open to Somalia”
The biggest threat to Somalia in two decades
21 Aug – Source: Voice Online – 652 Words
THE GOVERNMENT is coming under growing pressure to convince Barclays bank to reverse its decision to close the accounts of 250 UK money-transfer companies which allow people to send remittances to support families in various countries across the world, including Somalia, Pakistan, Ghana, Ethiopia and Poland.
More than $3.2bn of remittance a year is sent from the UK, and remittance amounts to some $530bn worldwide, which is more than the total global international development budget. This basically means that the diaspora of all nationalities are helping themselves and not relying on aid. People have come to the UK to make a better life for themselves but are also helping families back home, its vital support.
Barclays and the Government are being urged to find a solution which does not lead to the closure of this vital industry. Around 20 businesses in Harlesden alone could face closure and many of the Somali diaspora in Brent are worried that their families will no longer be able to afford an education and more worryingly not have enough to eat or drink.
“FIFA is again kicking off training programs in Somalia after suspending them for two decades because of war.”
FIFA Supports Somalia Football
21 Aug – Source: VOA – 281 Words
World football’s governing body, FIFA, recently organized a five-day training program to help develop the sport in Somalia. The football festival in the capital, Mogadishu, was attended by more than 30 coaches and 300 children. During the clinic, local coaches learned basic training techniques with the hope of improving the skills of young Somali footballers.
Ulric Mathiot, a FIFA instructor from Seychelles, says “The Beautiful Game” can grow in Somalia.
“Now we hope that the Somali Football Federation, they can have a long time vision or long time program, where they can bring this sort of activity all around the country,” says Mathiot, “in fact in as many regions as possible. So touching as many kids as possible from six to 12 years old.”
“Growing up in Mogadishu and in Minneapolis, Adawe said she encountered many women who regularly used the skin-lightening products. She said became involved in the study a few years ago after coming across an article about bleaching cosmetics that reportedly contained mercury. Adawe said he began to worry about the health of women she knew who used these products, so she started investigating the issue in 2011.”
Somali woman researches health risks of skin-lightening practices
21 Aug – Source: Minnpost Blog – 951 Words
For some Somali women, having lighter skin tone is the ultimate beauty goal and they use skin products containing dangerous chemicals to reach that goal, according to a new University of Minnesota study.
“To be a beautiful Somali woman, one has to have lighter skin color,” Amira Adawe, co-author of “Skin-Lightening Practices and Mercury Exposure in the Somali Community,” said in a recent interview describing the attitude of some women.
Several Somali women who were interviewed for the study published in July said they mix products that include lemon herbal whitening cream, lulanjina, diana and dermovate — some of which have mercury, a poison that can damage the nervous system, according to the study.
“These chemicals are proven neurotoxins and have been linked to birth defects if used by women during the prenatal period,” stated the study. “Inorganic mercury exposure is associated with rashes, skin discoloration, scaring, secondary bacterial and fungal infections, and even renal impairment and damage to the nervous system.”The study added: “It should also be noted that mercury … can be transferred from mother to infant through breast milk.”
“The increasing frequency of attacks by al Shabaab and the willingness of the Somali government to tolerate attacks on humanitarian aid organizations that are dedicated to serving vulnerable Somalis requires a reality check on governing priorities in Somalia. Due to growing instability, other groups are unlikely to replace the critical medical services that MSF provided to Somalis.”
Doctors Without Borders: Unprecedented Departure from Somalia
21 Aug – Source: Heritage Blog – 373 Words
Violent attacks against humanitarian aid workers in Somalia—and tolerance of the violence by Somali civilian leadership—is forcing Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières—MSF) to end its programs in the country. MSF has been serving continuously on a medical humanitarian mission in Somalia for over 22 years enduring tremendously high levels of risk in order to provide vital services to many Somalis who would otherwise receive no care.
MSF is renowned for providing care to those most vulnerable in war-torn and failed states, often operating in areas deemed too dangerous for the United Nations and international organizations to operate. In 2012, MSF provided over half a million medical consultations in Somalia.
MSF is not naive about operating in high-risk environments, even operating in Afghanistan at the height of the violence and continuing to provide medical care in Afghanistan despite a high-security environment. Thus, MSF’s departure from Somalia highlights just how unstable the country is despite the presence of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM) and the country’s return to civilian leadership in September 2012 under assembly-appointed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Top tweets
@UKinSomalia Interesting daily #Somalia news summary@CKelshall: Piracy and maritime security Update is out!http://paper.li/CKelshall/
@t_mcconnell This is why foreigners (should) still hire armed guards and wear body armour when in Mogadishu, #Somaliahttp://fxn.ws/1dssJUT via @AFP.
@UNSomalia #UNSOM presents communication and information technology equipment to #Somali #Police Force in#Mogadishu @UN_DPA http://on.fb.me/16vGH4x.
@UNOCHA #Somalia: Who are the main contributors to the#humanitarian response in the country? Latest funding infographic – http://ow.ly/o8V4A.
@Jay23481 These R the initial peace & optimism images of#Mogadishu before it got worst recently! Keep the #Somaliahope alive.http://www.youtube.com/
Image of the day
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia presents communication and information technology equipment to Somali Police Force in Mogadishu. UNSOM Facebook.