August 23, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama Is Sluggish On Peace Talk Says Galmudug Administration
23 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 264 Words
Galmudug new state deputy interior minister Mahad Mohamed expressed his frustration over the apathy of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama to attend a planned meeting yesterday, with Galmudug administration. The meeting was supposed to take place between officials from both sides. The absence of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama for peace talks is one of the challenges against the restoration of peace in the region according to state deputy Interior minister Mohamed. “There were pacifist people and some local Islamic scholars who brought them here saying they are ready for peace and passed our gratitude for this move and told them for the preparation of a place for a meeting and every time we are ready they are always lagging behind and keep on attacking and destroying things” said Minister Mohamed.
Top agenda of the proposed meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing fight in Herale location for almost 2 months in Galgadud region in Galmudug state allegedly started when Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama fighters attacked the location and some of the local residents took arms to fend off the invasion which led to death, destruction of properties and large exodus of the local people.
The state minister also touched on the several efforts Galmudug administration had put in place on how to initiate talks with Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama but fell on deaf ears. Galmudug President Ahmed Duale Haf is endeavouring on how his administration will bring on board Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama said minister Mohamed. Goobjoog News attempted to contact with Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama but remained reserved to respond to this report.
Key Headlines
- Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama Is Sluggish On Peace Talk Says Galmudug Administration (Goobjoog News)
- Borderline Talks Between Federal Land Boundary Commission And Hiran Administration (Goobjoog News)
- Government Forces Carry Out Security Operation In Kahda and Wadajir (Radio Mustaqbal)
- Tension Rises Between Galmudug and Ahlu Sunaha In Mareerguur District (Jowhar.com)
- Meet Somalia’s First Female Car Mechanic (CGTN)
- AMISOM Police Holds Training On Counterinsurgency For Somali Police Force (AMISOM)
- Using Cash-based Interventions To Prevent Famine In Somalia (UN OCHA)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Borderline Talks Between Federal Land Boundary Commission And Hiran Administration
23 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 165 Words
Committee from Boundaries and Federation Commission are in Beletweyne today to discuss with Hiran administration on land boundary with Galgadud region in central Somalia. Speaking to Goobjoog News, the deputy governor of Hiran administration Hussein Osman Ali cited their deliberations with the boundary commission today over issues relating to the borderline between the two provinces in consultation with the local residents.
Yesterday there was an extensive meeting between the land commission and the civil society. “Committee from Boundaries and Federation Commission came to us 2 days ago. They told us they will do a workshop for the civil society followed by the local administration. We expect to meet them tomorrow” said Deputy Governor Osman.
Later there will be a subsequent meeting by Hiran administration only to discuss matters discussed with the Land Commission according to the Deputy Governor Osman. Hiran region shares boundaries with central Somalia and Middle Shabelle regions which sometimes lead to borderline disputes that need to be smoothed out for proper demarcation.
Government Forces Carry Out Security Operation In Kahda and Wadajir
23 August – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 104 Words
Federal government soldiers have carried a door to door search operation in the Kahda and Wadajir neighborhood in Mogadishu. The Benadir Police Commander, Ahmed Hassan Maalim has told Radio Mustaqbal said the operation was part of the efforts to secure the city of Mogadishu and that investigation are going on the people who were arrested.
In the operation the soldiers searched both private and public service vehicles. It is reported that bodyguards and weapons assigned to senior government officials has been limited and that military have been asked to stay away from the city. The Mogadishu Stabilization force is tasked with the city’s security.
Tension Rises Between Galmudug and Ahlu Sunaha In Mareerguur District
23 August – Source: Jowhar.com – 117 Words
Tension was high in Mareerguur district after Galmudug administration deployed a heavily armed soldiers. According to reports the deployed forces have arrived from Adado town, the interim capital of Galmudug administration. However, sporadic gunshots have been heard in the town, though ASWJ forces vacated the town early morning. Mareerguur district is about 30km from Dhusamareb district where ASWJ is based.
On the other hand, military operations reportedly commenced in DhusaMareb district, ASWJ stronghold to allegedly resist the Galmudug offensive. It’s unclear how this could affect the talks between Galmudug and Ahlusuna. The tension comes after fierce fighting between Ahlu Sunaha and the local militia in the port city of Harardhere for the last few days.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Meet Somalia’s First Female Car Mechanic
23 August – Source: CGTN – 340 Words
Meet Nasra Haji Hussein, Somalia’s first female car mechanic and works at a service garage. In the male dominated field, Nasra has been ridiculed and discouraged by many, but she says over time she has managed to build a regular customer base in a country where jobs are scarce. When Nasra Haji Hussein left home two years ago in search of a job in Mogadishu, working as a mechanic was not one of the options she had in mind. After a ten-day journey Nasra arrived in the capital to stay with a relative.
She spent several months hunting for a job and eventually approached mechanics at the service garage where she found an opportunity as an apprentice. “I repair different types of cars luxury cars, bullet proof cars and pickups. Sometimes I service trucks when they are brought to the garage.” Nasra said Working in what is traditionally seen as a male domain, Nasra says at first she was ridiculed and chided for taking up the job, but over time she began to win customers. One of her clients praises her job. “She has repaired my car very well and she did it right on time just as we agreed.” Nux Sheikh Abdi said.
For many youth, getting a solid education or even finding a job is difficult with the economic and security challenges Somalia continues to face. Nasra encouraged Somalis to exploit various options. She is also spreading her message through social media. “When I came to the city I wasn’t encouraged, no one offered me a job so I decided to become a mechanic to help my family.
AMISOM Police Holds Training On Counterinsurgency For Somali Police Force
22 August – Source: AMISOM – 344 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has organized a 10-day training course on countering insurgency for the Somali Police officers to improve their expertise in fighting terrorism. The officers will also be trained on how to protect vulnerable populations, mainly women and children, from various forms of crimes.
The trainings sponsored by the Japanese government, through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), was opened by the Deputy Somali Police Force (SPF) Commissioner, Brig. Muktar Hussein Afrah, and AMISOM Police Trainer, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Christopher Kashita. SSP Kashita noted that the two courses were aimed at strengthening the capacity of the SPF to improve service delivery and enhance public safety.
“The basic counterinsurgency course is aimed at equipping the participants with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to effectively counterinsurgency activities in their areas of operation and Somalia at large,” the AMISOM officer noted. SSP Kashita said the objective of the women and child protection course was aimed at enhancing participants’ capabilities to effectively protect vulnerable groups, especially women and children, in a post conflict environment.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Cash interventions can also help to overcome access challenges. Access to people in some parts of Somalia, including in some areas worst affected by drought, is hampered by insecurity and logistical challenges. This makes electronic cash transfers through e-payments, or through mobile money, an optimal solution,”
Using Cash-based Interventions To Prevent Famine In Somalia
22 August – Source: UN OCHA -550 Words
Somalia is facing a prolonged drought that has left 6.7 million people—more than half of the population—in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Drought conditions are deepening following poor and below-normal Gu (monsoon) rains, which started late April and ended in early May instead of June in most parts of the country. Cereal production across Somalia is expected to be 40 to 50 per cent below normal, and there is now an elevated risk of famine.
The use of cash-based assistance continues to be central to the famine-prevention strategy in Somalia, building on the lessons learned from the famine response in 2011. Giving cash or vouchers to the most vulnerable people, as opposed to providing aid in kind, has enabled drought-affected families to decide how to meet their most pressing needs, while supporting local markets. In Somalia, these markets are highly resilient, supported by complex supply networks. This, in turn, has helped to sustain the local economy.
Cash-based interventions have been instrumental in enabling an early and rapid scale-up of the response, thanks to the experience acquired by humanitarian partners in recent years and the generous contributions of the international community. In May, more than 80 per cent of food assistance was delivered through cash and vouchers, and NGO and UN partners in Somalia reached an estimated 3 million people with cash and vouchers, up from 2.4 million people in April. In May,US$48 million was disbursed directly to people.
Understanding recipients’ experience of cash assistance, i.e., how they used the money and whether they were able to access the goods and services they needed to meet their most pressing needs, is key to ensuring the continual improvement of cash programming, and to inform priorities across the response. Most cash partners have built feedback mechanisms into their programmes. A DFID-funded call centre in Mogadishu has contacted more than 32,000 recipients of cash transfers to understand their experience. The data shows that recipients typically spend about 75 per cent of cash on food and 25 per cent on non-food needs, including household items. They also pay off short-term debt and health-care costs.
Using cash to save lives in Somalia is possible because markets continue to function, despite ongoing violence associated with non-State armed groups or regional and inter-clan conflicts. Despite the increase in the prices of local staples since late 2016, regular monitoring of market prices and functioning across the country shows that market-based responses remain feasible and appropriate across Somalia.
TOP TWEETS
@Acemal71: Turkish Armed Forces announces: their mission to train and support Somalian military forces in TSK military base in#Somalia started today.
@Somaliupdate: #Somalia: FIFA President Expresses Condolence on the Death of Somali Football Referee
http://somaliupdate.com/
@SIMS_SubAfr: Gunmen opened fire on a passenger bus near#Afgooye killing 3 civilians #Somalia@AarMaanta: Earlier in the studio with one of the founding members of#Somalia‘s Iftin band; percussionist Salah Hariri. New album coming along nicely..
@Alihalane: “Social Terrorism” is the main obstacle to promote freedoms and justice in #Somalia . It is the hotbed for all other forms of terrorisms.
@radiogarowe: Over 200 #Turkish soldiers arrive in #Somalia, as#Turkey will open its largest overseas military training camp in#Mogadishu in next Sept.
@cgtnafrica: Meet #Somalia’s first female car mechanichttp://ow.ly/zpaS30eC4Mr
IMAGE OF THE DAY
His Excellency President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo jets back to the country from a state visit in Egypt.
Photo: @TheVillaSomalia