December 1, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Somali Leader: Government We Will Not Tolerate Shedding Of Blood Of The Somali People
30 November – Source: Mareeg Online – 347 Words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the wake of clashes between the Puntland and Galmudug administrations in Gaalkacyo in central Somalia. In a press statement on Monday night, Mohamud, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces, warned that his Government will not tolerate the shedding of blood of its citizens.
“It is a tragedy of the highest order to see the continuation of unnecessary bloodshed of the Somali people in the recent clashes in Gaalkacyo. The fighting should stop and all disputes resolved through peaceful negotiation,’’ said the President of the clashes that have so far claimed over 20 lives. He also sent condolences to the families and relatives of those who were killed or wounded in the conflict.
“Allah’s mercy be upon those who died in this terrible fighting. On behalf of the Federal Government of Somalia, and personally, I express my deepest concern and heartfelt sadness over this tragedy. I feel totally sad when I see or hear of the deaths and displacement of Somali people in yet another unnecessary fight. All our efforts should be in uniting our people up to participate meaningfully in the reconstruction of our country and not wasting away their lives in fighting. We must be mindful that Allah holds us responsible for our actions, and we must consider daily the right or wrongfulness of the things we do,’’ the President said.
He explained that in light of the seriousness of the Gaalkacyo conflict, the Government had moved quickly to launch immediate mediation discussions, led by the Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Sharma’arke: “Any kind of conflict that is created is an obstruction to national recovery efforts and to the important tasks we have ahead of us. It interrupts our National Consultation process to determine an electoral model for 2016, and vital reconciliation, stabilization and reconstruction programs. We cannot accomplish our goal – to see Somalia standing on her own feet – without peace.’’
The President asked the Puntland and Galmudug administrations to fully engage with the mediation process led by the Prime Minister. He added that the Government will not tolerate further killings of its people, “who are thirsty for peace after being subjected to anarchy and insecurity for more than two decades”.
Key Headlines
- Somali Leader: Government We Will Not Tolerate Shedding Of Blood Of The Somali People (Mareeg Online)
- Government Forces Kill Up To Ten Members Of Al-Shabaab In Hiiraan Region (Wacaal Media)
- Puntland Ex-President Calls For Stability After Galkayo Clashes (Garowe Online)
- Somalia Regional States Urged To De-escalate Tensions (Xinhua News)
- UN Refunds Kenya $22mn For Somalia Fight (The EastAfrican)
- Uganda Contingent Commander Brigadier General Sam Kavumba Concludes One Year Tour Of Duty In Somalia (AMISOM)
- This Woman Travelled The World To Show Us What Climate Change “Really” Looks Like… (Marie Claire Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Government Forces Kill Up To Ten Members Of Al-Shabaab In Hiiraan Region
30 November – Source: Wacaal Media – 94 Words
Government forces in Hiiraan region killed ten members of Al-Shabaab after they launched a security operation in Mahaas town and surrounding areas. Confirming the incident, Mohamed Mumin Saney, a member of the government forces in the area said they had indeed battled with the militiamen in the area. “Nine militants died in the gunfight after trying to face off with our officers” said Mumin. Government forces in collaboration with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) colleagues have so far cleared Al-Shabaab from most of the settlements previously under their control in Hiiraan region over the last one year.
Puntland Ex-President Calls For Stability After Galkayo Clashes
30 November – Source: Garowe Online 161 Words
Former President of Somalia’s northeastern State of Puntland, Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, has called on leaders of Puntland and Galmudug states to bring the deadly standoff to an end . In a press briefing in the Puntland capital of Garowe, Farole urged Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to personally step in, and play a visible role in the ongoing mediation efforts.
“Delegations mediating between Puntland and Galmudug should have a bold look into the contentious issues that have given rise to this dispute,” the former Puntland leader remarked. A convoy carrying Puntland and Jubaland Presidents headed for Galkayo on Monday. Galmudug and Puntland leaders—Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Abdikarin Hussein Gulled—are both poised for roundtable talks over the ongoing hostilities in the presence of top Somali Government officials, led by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharma’arke.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Regional States Urged To De-escalate Tensions
30 November – Source: Xinhua News – 462 Words
The international community has condemned renewed outbreak of hostilities in the northern Somali city of Galkayo, and called on all parties to immediately ceasefire and open dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the underlying issues. The UN, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the EU, the U.S., Britain, Sweden and Italy expressed deep concern about the fighting in the two regional states following an outbreak of fighting on Nov. 22 that has so far left at least 15 people dead and over 30 others injured.
“We call on the leadership of Puntland and Galmudug to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and work together to assist civilians who have been displaced by the recent fighting,” they said in a joint statement received in Mogadishu Monday. “We also urge these leaders to instruct their security forces to stand down and conduct an orderly withdrawal from the line of division separating the northern and southern districts of Galkayo city in order to prevent further bloodshed,”said the statement.
Hundreds of civilian residents have fled Galkayo and environs over renewed hostilities between the security forces of Puntland and Galmudug, which remain in a dangerous standoff, despite a ceasefire that was brokered by elders last week: “We welcome the initiative of Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke to de-escalate mounting tensions and find a peaceful solution, and we urge both sides to cooperate with him,” it said. “We also commend the efforts of elders from northern and southern Galkayo vowed to restore calm and avert another outbreak of fight.”
Sharmarke and his delegation of ministers arrived in the autonomous region Sunday and vowed to ensure a lasting solution is found. The PM said he will not leave the northern town of Galkayo without restoring calm, noting that he was disappointed by the clashes which had cost lives: “I express my dismay at the occurrence of armed clashes in Galkayo over the last few days which has both directly and indirectly affected many,” he told journalists late on Sunday.
“We will not depart until we see the public who fled town because of this returning to their homes and the return of solid stability,” Sharmarke added. The border, which divides the regional capital city of Galkayo, is contested between Puntland and Galmudug, and has been rocked by inter-clan violence since 1993, although an official line of control was established in a peace agreement in 2011.
The clashes between rival forces began on Nov. 22 when militiamen from the Barahley area of Galkayo, in the Galmudug-controlled southern part of the city, exchanged fire with Puntland’s security forces, leaving 10 dead. The two warring sides clashes on Saturday in Galkayo town in Mudug region, which is controlled by the two administrations, Galmudud in southern parts and Puntland in northern parts.
UN Refunds Kenya $22mn For Somalia Fight
30 November – Source: The EastAfrican – 193 Words
The United Nations (UN) has eased Kenya’s cash crunch after refunding Ksh2.3 billion ($22.5 million) spent on fighting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia. The country’s Treasury documents show that the reimbursement of Ksh800 million ($7.8 million) was effected last month and Sh1.5 billion in September, accounting for 35.9 per cent of this year’s total refunds of Sh6.4 billion ($62.7 million).
This marks one of the few quarters that the UN has made a timely refund. In the past, delay in reimbursement of the money has been linked to the UN’s insistence on proper verification of Kenya’s claims. The refund is expected to ease budgetary constraints for a government reeling from a shortfall in revenues, stalling payment of essential services. Some flagship projects have also had to be frozen.
In October 2011, the country formally sent 4,660 soldiers to Somalia after incessant attacks and kidnapping by Al-Shabaab militants within its territory. A year later, the UN Security Council gave Kenya the green light to join the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom), a decision that meant the Treasury would not bear the full costs of the incursion.
Uganda Contingent Commander Brigadier General Sam Kavumba Concludes One Year Tour Of Duty In Somalia
29 November – Source: AMISOM – 433 Words
A colorful send off for the outgoing Contingent Commander of the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) and AMISOM Sector 1 Commander, Brigadier General Sam Kavuma was held last evening, Sunday 29 November 2015, in Mogadishu. Brigadier General Kavuma who has completed a one year tour of duty in Somalia handed over the reigns of power to the incoming Contingent Commander Brig General Sam Okiding.
Like his predecessor, Brig. Gen. Okiding will be in-charge of Sector 1 region, currently under the control of Ugandan peacekeepers. Sector 1 troops secure Banaadir and Lower Shabelle regions and protects State House, all government ministries, Parliament, Aden Abdule International Airport and the sea port. The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Somalia Mr. Raisedon Zenenga was the chief guest at the send off ceremony.
“We are here to celebrate, not his departure but his achievements and we are here to thank him for the great work he has done. Gen Kavuma, you had the most difficult task in the world. That is not an exaggeration and the verdict on your performance is very clear from not only what we have heard tonight but from what we witness ourselves daily,” said Mr. Zenenga.
The Force Commander Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono reminisced about their experiences on the frontline and commended his bravery. He said, “You have done your bit, you have done your job. To the incoming Commander, you have been inducted.” The incoming Contingent Commander Brigadier General Sam Okiding served in the Mission in 2012 during the Afgoye and Baidoa operations.
“The complexity of this operation is still fresh in my mind because it entails a lot of languages; the diplomatic, the military, political, cultural languages and so on and so forth but my blessings and salvation is that I have all of you. There is no way Brigadier Okiding will fail when I have all the support,” he noted.
In his remarks, Brigadier General Kavuma said, “The Mission is still on, it still needs all our efforts, I want to wish you all the best, I want to wish our Mission success and I’ll always pray for you so that you don’t get any issues with the mind and health, so that in future we can come back to Somalia as tourists ,to enjoy our fruits. I’m very sure that this Mission is going forward.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“I was humbled to see how hard these people, often young mothers or children, have to struggle on a daily basis to find water, and to see how that affects every single aspect of their lives. My images are a creative response to the awful reality of climate change”
This Woman Travelled The World To Show Us What Climate Change “Really” Looks Like…
30 November – Source: Marie Claire Online – 377 Words
As the world geared up for the United Nation’s Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, photographer Felicity McCabe travelled to Somaliland to photograph the impact the global warming is having on people and the landscape..The humanitarian photogapher has now released a series of photographs documenting the effects of climate change in Africa.
Working in association with Save the Children, Felicity, 33, took photos of nine women living in Somaliland – splitting the images to show the human and environmental impact of global warming: “I had wanted to work with Save the Children for a long time and we had been waiting for an opportunity to make a piece of work together that would benefit from my photographic approach which often swings focus between human and inanimate subject matter,” Felicity tells Marie Claire Online.
“In pairing the images together we can hopefully gain more insight and more understanding about the lives of our fellow human beings who are already suffering the dramatic effects of a climate change that we are all responsible for.” In Somaliland, the lack of rain (and regular droughts) over the last two years have affected nearly a quarter of a million people – threatening their access to clean, safe water, jeopardising their sources of income, and causing an alarming increase in child malnutrition. In fact, things are so bad, there’s been an estimated 40 per cent loss of livestock – meaning that the 55 per cent of the population who work on the land are now experiencing devastating poverty.
‘I was humbled to see how hard these people, often young mothers or children, have to struggle on a daily basis to find water, and to see how that affects every single aspect of their lives. My images are a creative response to the awful reality of climate change which is already creating this terrifying impact on people’s lives. Hopefully the series can highlight the issue in a slightly different way to how it’s usually presented and in turn help to push the message that action has to be taken right now.’
Save the Children is part of the action/2015 coalition, campaigning for action on poverty, inequality and climate change – and supporting vulnerable people by providing emergency trucking water, distributing aqua-tabs and chlorination of water sources, constructing wells and providing mobile healthcare facilities.