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26 August – Source: AMISOM – 253 Words
Military officers from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zimbabwe have been challenged to diligently perform their duties in furthering the mission and mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This was said on Sunday at the completion of an intensive five-day induction course for the recently deployed officers. The induction training is a mandatory requirement for all uniformed personnel before they commence service under AMISOM. The staff officers, to be based at the AMISOM Force Headquarters in Mogadishu, will be attached to logistics, training, communication, intelligence, operations and plans units. “The knowledge attained during the induction will assist you to deliver diligently, effectively with competence and professionalism,” AMISOM Chief Training Officer, Col. Sebsibe Duba told the inducted officers.
Col. Sebsibe Duba also urged the officers to maintain discipline and apply the highest level of professionalism during their time of service under AMISOM. During the training, the officers were grilled on their roles and responsibilities and equipped with knowledge and skills to enable them to perform their work effectively in assisting AMISOM to deliver on its mandate. A topic of importance was the Somalia Transition Plan, under which AMISOM is gradually transferring security responsibilities to Somali Security Forces. During the induction training, the AMISOM staff officers were apprised of the AMISOM mandate, context and culture of the host country, and international humanitarian law (IHL). Other topics covered include the rules of engagement, conduct and discipline, prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation, and human rights in the context of AMISOM operations. |
NATIONAL NEWS
26 August – Source: Goobjoog – 116 Words
Al-Shabaab fighters have early Monday attacked Somali federal government-backed with AMISOM forces military base in Buulo Burde of Middle Shabelle region. According to officials from the FGS, Al-Shabaab attacked the military forces base in the area but the forces have repulsed. The attack prompted hours of heavy fighting between the Somali army and heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters. There are a number of casualties on both sides, although it is unclear exactly what the official casualties are. Al-Shabaab, which is fighting the southern part of Somalia, routinely targets AU forces and government bases in the country. Bulo Burde is situated along the Shabelle river and is the second largest town in Hiran after the provincial capital Beledweyne.
26 August – Source: Halbeeg – 213 Words
The Somali National Army, backed by contingents from Djibouti military who are part of AMISOM peacekeeping forces, has recaptured Burweyn in Hiiran region on Sunday. According to SNA military officials, Burweyn was a main tax collection centre for armed group al-Shabaab in Hiraan and surrounding regions and its loss is a big blow to the group’s operational capabilities. It is a location which is between Bula Burte and Jowhar and is strategic as far as the movement of people and manoeuvring of troops in Middle Shabelle and Hiran region is concerned.SNA Hiran region commander, Captain Dambe Abdi Mohamed, said the troops will continue their operation against the group saying their planning to establish a permanent base in Burweyn to ensure the stability of the surrounding towns including Bule-Burte. The Somali National Army, backed by AU forces, continue their offensive against armed group in the recent past week that led to recapture of key strategic areas that were a lifeline to the operations of the group. SNA repulsed an attempt by the group to launch an attack on Aw-Dhigle which was liberated weeks ago. The developments on the frontline follow reshuffle of the security chiefs in the country last week. SNA, Police Force, NISA and Custodian corps were affected in the new changes.
25 August – Source: Somaliaffairs – 87 Words
Galmudug State President, Ahmed Duale Gelleh Haaf, has today dismissed the Minister of Planning and International Relations of the Galmudug state government. A decree from the Office of the Galmudug President dismissed Abdi Kafi Mohamed Mohamud as Minister of Planning and International Relations and asked his deputy to hold the position in an acting capacity until a new minister is appointed. Although the decree did not mention the reason for the minister’s sacking, the Minister and the state president had different views on the Galmudug reconciliation committee.
24 August – Source: Radio Shabelle – 619 Words
Leaders of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) met yesterday the President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo, at Villa Somalia – Somalia’s governing house. The delegation led by IFJ President Younes Mjahed, included the President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, the Vice President of Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) Stephen Ouma Bwire, the Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) Omar Faruk Osman, and IFJ Gender Council Member Mounia Belafia.
The discussions centred on press freedom developments in Somalia, in particular on the safety and security of journalists, the professionalisation of journalists’ work and the enforcement of the right to freedom of association. President Farmaajo expressed the total commitment of his government to protect freedom of expression and of association, highlighting that journalists have been free to do their work, even when their reporting at times bordered on incitement and sensationalism. He encouraged the IFJ to help their Somali colleagues enhance their professional ethics in order to ensure responsible journalism.
In his response, Mjahed acknowledged recent actions taken by the Federal Government of Somalia in prosecuting soldiers accused of mistreating working journalists and the changes that have been taking place to confront ingrained impunity and create a better environment for journalists to do their work and exercise their right to freedom of association. He, however, pointed out to the horrendous challenges journalists in Somalia and their union, NUSOJ, had to endure for many years and applauded that the federal government had taken steps to draw a line behind the past history marred by recurrent abuses of journalists.
He said “the IFJ and its member unions worldwide as well as the global labour movement has supported NUSOJ and its members during the darkest hours where the Somali authorities clamped down free trade unionism, denied journalists of their right to peaceful assembly, and interfered with their union. We welcome the commitment in unequivocal terms by President Farmaajo to turn the page and carry through the State’s obligation of ensuring journalists’ safety.”……
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
26 August – Source: The East African – 267 Words
Somalia’s Jubaland state President Ahmed Islam Mohammed, popularly known as Madobe, is fronting a conciliatory tone with the federal government, calling for unity to defeat Al-Shabaab. In a speech delivered after he was sworn in for the second four-year term in office, Madobe said Jubaland would remain under the Federal Government of Somalia, adding that the country must unite to address the security challenges.
“Somalia needs positive engagement, dialogue, consultation and collaboration, which are benchmarks that can drive our people to development,” he said in a speech initially made in Somali but translated and provided by his office to media houses. We face a collective responsibility to secure our country. We have to confront and wage an offensive against al-Shabaab,” Madobe added, referring to the militant group that controls some parts of Jubaland. “We have to collaborate with stakeholders, including neighbouring countries, peace institutions and other partners involved in security.”
BRIGHT FUTURE
The speech came before the Federal Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation Ministry said Mogadishu would not recognise his victory, arguing the process was not within the law. It ordered the Jubbaland Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to repeat the poll. On Thursday, however, JIEBC chairman Hamza Barre said Madobe beat his challengers, winning by the requisite two-thirds majority in the first round. He garnered 56 votes out of the 74 cast by MPs in the legislative assembly. The poll was overseen by assembly Speaker Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman, who himself had retained the seat the previous Saturday. Kenya has congratulated Madobe on his win, endorsing a leader who has also been supported by former Somali Presidents.
25 August – Source: Anadolu Agency – 172 Words
At least two people including the former secretary of the Banadir regional administration were killed with several others wounded in two separate bomb blasts in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, officials said. The first attack involved a roadside bomb targeting security forces in Mogadishu’s Hodan neighbourhood, killing one person and wounding several others, according to local media. Mohamed Bulle, a police officer in Mogadishu, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the second attack took place near a security checkpoint near the capital, killing a former secretary of the Banadir regional administration. Amiin Sheikh Elmi, a former secretary of Banadir regional administration was killed in the second attack carried out with a bomb attached under his vehicle that went off at a security checkpoint in Mogadishu on Sunday,” Bulle said. He added that at least four people including civilians had been wounded in both the first and second attacks and were rushed to hospitals for treatment. Somali-based insurgent group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the second blast, saying it had killed Elmi.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Lul went on to form a local charity called SOCWER, working for child welfare and the rights of abused children. She also works in support of women and minority communities. She is now standing for election to the post of mayor in Borama, where she is busy trying to establish a care home for street children.”
23 August – Source: Radio Ergo – 311 Words
Lul Hassan Matan has faced hostility, harassment, and detention in her lifelong struggle to help street children in Somaliland. A mother of six, Lul’s mission to provide shelter, love, and care to abandoned and vulnerable children in Hargeisa has earned her the nickname of ‘mother of homeless children’ among those who know her. But she has not always met with warmth and support from society.
She built the Mohamed Moge centre for street children in 2009 with contributions from relatives, traders and local companies such as Dahabshil and Telsom, selling her own land to raise enough to open the home. “Immediately people started rumours that the children would be trafficked and taken to Mogadishu and sold to foreign,” Lul said. “People said we were doing it for money. Clerics preached against us everywhere, but later on, when everyone had visited the centre, they understood.”Lul’s centre succeeded in reuniting 130 children from the streets with their families.
However, in 2013 the Somaliland government decided to take over the centre. Lul was detained for seven days after refusing to hand it over. Eventually, she had no choice, although around 150 children living in the centre ran away because they did not trust the new management. Lul went on to form a local charity called SOCWER, working for child welfare and the rights of abused children. She also works in support of women and minority communities. She is now standing for election to the post of mayor in Borama, where she is busy trying to establish a care home for street children. “If God helps me to win, I want to do much for the society, to protect the rights of the poor, but if I lose, I will engage in humanitarian activities,” said Lul, who is among a group of 10 local women lobbying for more female positions in the Somaliland government. |
