December 20, 2016 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Regional Somali Forces ‘Destroy’ Islamic State Base

19 December – Source: VOA – 239 Words

Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region say security forces have destroyed a base belonging to fighters aligned with militant group Islamic State. Admiral Abdirizak Dirie Farah, the commander of the Puntland Marine Police forces, said police launched an attack Sundayon the base in El Ladid, a village 30 kilometers south of the port town of Qandala. “During the fighting, we have successfully destroyed the base where the militants were regrouping and making a military buildup,” Farah told VOA’s Somali Service. “We have also discovered and destroyed underground militant survival caches.” Puntland is a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia. Last week, Puntland troops regained control of Qandala, the first town the IS-linked militants ever fully controlled in Somalia. “The militant chose this strategic remote mountainous area (in El Ladid) for their stronghold and hide out and to launch their attacks.

Once we got the news about their military build-up we have attacked them, killing four militants, and one of our soldiers was wounded,” said Farah. The IS faction is led by Abdiqadir Mumin, a former Al-Shabaab commander and British citizen who broke away from Al-Shabaab last year and swore allegiance to Islamic State. He is believed to command between 100 and 150 fighters. His group is not believed to have direct operational links to Islamic State in the Middle East. Regional security experts believe the group received military supplies from Yemen, and learned from IS trainers who inspected their bases.

Key Headlines

Regional Somali Forces ‘Destroy’ Islamic State Base (VOA)
Puntland Police Commander Announces Tough Measures To Enforce Security (Garowe Online)
Six More MPs Elected To Lower House As Electoral Process Resumed In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
Somalia Gradually Becoming Receptive To Female Leadership Says AMISOM Report (AMISOM)
President Uhuru Kenyatta urges European Union to extend more support to AMISOM (Standard)
Young Girls Taking Up The Fight Against Gender Based Violence (Relief Web)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Puntland Police Commander Announces Tough Measures To Enforce Security

19 December – Source: Garowe Online – 241 Words

Puntland Police forces commander, General Abdulqadir Shire Farah has announced tough measures to be introduced which is aimed at curbing crime and tightening security in towns across Puntland. In a press conference held in the state capital of Garowe, Gen. Farah stated there is surge in crimes committed by armed youths, stealing belongings from civilians in neighborhoods. Gen. Farah urged the public to assist the Police authority to capture the criminals, and ensured confidentiality and rewards for people who come forward with the information. He also encouraged the public for more collaboration between communities and Police. He also issued an order banning the use of tinted window glasses for vehicles in Puntland cities and informed the security forces to take the necessary actions against those who violated the rule.

However, the rule permits Puntland President, Vice President, Parliament Speaker and his both deputies to use it. “With reference to an order issued by Puntland President on 12 July 2014, I officially ban the use of tinted glasses on cars. The rule only permits Puntland leadership and deputies to use it, but the rest are banned from using it,” said Farah. The Police official noted that criminals and fugitives use vehicles with tinted windows to avoid being caught by security forces. It’s noteworthy that the ban of tinted glasses was introduced previously in Puntland, but authority only enforced it on civilians, whereas government officials were reported to still use it on their vehicles.

Six More MPs Elected To Lower House As Electoral Process Resumed In Mogadishu

19 December – Source: Goobjoog News – 188 Words

300 Electoral College delegates have casted ballots to elect parliamentarians representing Somaliland communities in the upcoming Lower House chamber. Six MPs including three female MPs have been elected in Mogadishu after Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) announced the resumption of election following the suspension before three days caused by disputes and complaints from Somaliland elders. Today’s election took place at the Police Transport headquarters in Mogadishu. Among the six parliamentary seats elected today, were three seats exclusively allocated for women candidates. Fadumo Ismail became the first winner of the ballot as she has retained her lower house seat after winning 47 votes, defeating her two rival female candidates, Hafsa Ahmed and Naima Sulaiman. Khadro Mohamed Tukaale and Suri Dirie Arab have also been elected for the second and third women allocated seats. Two more MPs, Ismail Abdirahman Bashiir and Osman Elmi Boqore, a former MP and Deputy Speaker have been elected as Lower House MPs, with 25 and 33 votes respectively. The election will see a total of 275-seats of lower house who will vote for Somalia’s next Parliament Speakers and Somali President in the upcoming presidential polls.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia Gradually Becoming Receptive To Female Leadership, Says AMISOM Report

17 December – Source: AMISOM – 584 Words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has launched the report of a survey on Somali women’s participation in politics and public life in which it highlights the giant steps they have made since 2007. The objective of the survey was to gauge public perceptions towards women’s political participation and to understand Somali women’s role and contribution in politics and decision-making process at all administrative levels namely national, regional and local/municipal. The 32-page report titled “Somali Women’s Participation in Politics and Public Life”, says that whereas Somalia remains a patriarchal society, women are gradually making their way into key positions in government due to the trust they exhibit. The study, which identifies some prominent Somali women who have made it in government and the private sector, notes that women in leadership positions face significant opposition from men, and especially the clan elders who consider women weak and unsuitable for leadership.

According to the report, the Somali culture does not allow women to speak in public and those who dare to speak are often intimidated by the men. “Given the patriarchal nature of Somalia society, it is not surprising that many men are still opposed to women participation in politics and public decision-making,” the study says. In addition, women are told that “Islam does not allow them to seek higher positions, such as the presidency,” the report adds. Other barriers to women’s political participation include lack funds, attacks from militia groups and political opponents, opposition from clan elders and family members. However, the study shows that the barriers and odds facing women have been reducing over the years, and the environment is becoming more conducive for women seeking political leadership.

President Uhuru Kenyatta urges European Union to extend more support to AMISOM

19 December – Source: Standard – 541 Words

President Uhuru Kenyatta today called on the European Union to provide more support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). President Kenyatta said the continued presence of the threat of Al Shabaab endangers global and regional stability and that was why it is important for the world to support AMISOM. He urged the EU to increase its support to the AMISOM forces! sighting the terror group that threatens to undermine governance and economic opportunity. “More can be achieved if the African Union Mission to Somalia becomes even more effective. The region’s and the world’s fight against Al Shabaab in Somalia is one of the frontlines between stability and chaotic insecurity,” said the President.

President Kenyatta made the statement when he officially opened the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly at the Kenyatta International Convention Center. “I urge the European Parliamentarians present to push for the change we all want to see, by insisting on bolder investment in security in the Horn of Africa and into AMISOM,” said the President. He said there is much that ACP countries and Europe can learn from Kenya and contribute to the work to ensure young people are not exploited by the cynical actors who utilize conflict and violence for their own political and economic ends. The President said Kenya has pioneered an all-of-government strategy to prevent extremism, which aims at reducing radicalization, providing rehabilitation, and disengagement from terrorist groups.

OPINION , CULTURE & ANALYSIS

“One of the young girls who participated in the discussions and the tournament Deko Ahmed Omar noted that girls have a major role to play in combating violence against women and girls,”

Young Girls Taking Up The Fight Against Gender Based Violence

19 December- Source: Relief Web – 531 Words

Young girls, including adolescents, from internally displaced persons (IDPs) settlements and host communities in Garowe and Bossaso in the Puntland State of Somalia are taking up the fight against gender based violence through advocacy and sensitisation activities including sports. The advocacy emanates from undertakings conducted in line with the global campaign, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, which mobilises leaders, communities and individuals around the world to end the pandemic of violence. The Ministry of Women Development and Family Affairs in Puntland led the campaign in the region. UNFPA, a number of UN agencies namely UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, UNSOM together with international and local NGOs, jointly conducted the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence under the theme “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All”.

The 16 Days Campaign Against Gender Based Violence is an international campaign which begins on the November 25 every year, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on December 10; the International Human Rights Day symbolically emphasising that violence against women is a human rights violation. In keeping with the campaign activities, the Ministry organised basketball tournaments for girls in Garowe and Bossaso. The Ministry explained that the basketball teams were selected from the IDPs’ settlements and the host communities to encourage community integration and collective action on preventing and mitigating violence against women and girls. Prior to the basketball tournaments, the girls had a one day session where they had comprehensive discussions on gender based violence and human rights and their vital role in participating in the ongoing prevention and mitigation efforts across Puntland and within their communities.