December 25, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Minister: No Ban on Christmas, New Year’s Parties
25 December – Source: VoA News – 294 Words
A Somali government minister said there is no ban on Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations in the country, contrary to earlier reports.The minister of religious affairs, Abdikadir Sheekh Ali Ibrahim, told VOA’s Somali service Thursday that the director of his ministry announced a ban at the urging of religious scholars, who warned Christmas or New Year’s parties could be targeted by Al-Shabaab militants.
He said while authorities reserve the right to cancel a party for security concerns, any Christians in Somalia, including African Union soldiers, diplomats and embassy staffers, have the right to celebrate the Christmas holiday.“The troops or other Christians in Somalia are free to practice their religion on their own, because we Muslims do Eid festivals in non-Muslim countries freely,” Ibrahim said. “Anyone can do a party that is not spreading another religion or ideology, and people can do the New Year celebrations.”
Christmas parties are a rarity in the overwhelmingly Muslim country.On December 25 last year, Al-Shabaab carried out an attack on an AU military base in Mogadishu, killing more than 10 people, including three AU soldiers. The group said the attack targeted a Christmas party at the base.
Key Headlines
- Somali Minister: No Ban on Christmas New Year’s Parties (VoA News)
- Somali Parliament Nullifies Former Headquarters’ Lease By Local Government (Hiiraan Online)
- Banadir Regional Police Boss Assaults Hamarweine DC (Wacaal Media)
- Hiiraan Elders Welcome President’s Call To Join Jowhar Conference (Shabelle News)
- Qatar Red Crescent Society Opens TB Centre In Somalia (The Peninsula)
- Horseed Crowned 2015 Somalia Super Cup Winners (Soko25east)
- The Mogadishu That Stole Christmas (Foreign Policy)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Parliament Nullifies Former Headquarters’ Lease By Local Government
25 December – Source: Hiiraan Online – 232 Words
Somalia’s parliament nullified the lease of the dilapidated former parliament headquarters by the local government, terming the agreement ‘illegal’ which lacks legitimacy.The new Mogadishu mayor Yusuf Hussein Jimale has signed a lease agreement with a Somali businessman, awarding him with a contract to rebuild the former parliament’s headquarters to turn it into a public garden as parts of an urban development plan for Mogadishu.
Monday’s parliament session saw legislators reviewed a report by the legislative body’s finance committee which suggested the rebuilding of the old building by the parliament itself.“The parliament by itself will refurbish the building; therefore that lease agreement is fully nullified.” Mohamed Sheikh Osman, the speaker of the parliament said after the session. Mr. Osman has also warned of the national property leases that he said violates the relevant rules as well as precedents set forth by the country’s law.No comment could be reached from the Mogadishu mayor on the development. Despite serious security challenges by the Al-Qaeda linked militant group, Somalia’s capital is experiencing a rebirth and contemporary process of post-war reconstruction, thanks to the Turkish government, a major ally for Somalia as it became the first foreign administrations to resume formal diplomatic relations with Somalia after the civil war.The Turkish government also continues to undertake major projects in Somalia in a bid to jumpstart the Somali economy shattered by the decades old conflict.
Banadir Regional Police Boss Assaults Hamarweine DC
25 December – Source : Wacaal Media – 155 Words
The regional police commander of Banaadir Gen. Ali Hersi Bare – Gaab has on Thursday reportedly assaulted the district commissioner of Hamarweine Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir. Reports indicate the police boss arrived in area with a contingent of police officers where they tried to force people out of the Hamarweine region film agency without the consent of the district administration. “The General approached me at Afar – irdood police station and ordered me out. When I reminded him that I was the DC and not an intruder, he started slapping and kicking me while firing in the area” said Abdikadir. The assaulted DC said the General abused him as well. One of his body guards also sustained gunshot injuries. It is not the first time General Ali is accused of disrespect to local administrators in Banaadir region. He has reportedly made a habit to act outside his jurisdiction without due regard for the rule of law.
Hiiraan Elders Welcome President’s Call To Join Jowhar Conference
24 December – Source: Shabelle News – 108 Words
The traditional elders of the central region of Hiiraan endorsed president’s call to attend a planned conference to form a federal state for Hiiraan and middle Shabelle regions.Following behind closed-door caucus talks in Beledweyne city the elders have agreed to go to Jowhar, the host city of the upcoming state formation conference.
Speaking in a phone interview with Radio Shabelle, Badal Jama Hersi has ruled out any disagreement between the president and Hiiraan elders during Beledweyne talks over Jowhar conference.Somali president returned to Mogadishu after paying two-day visit to Beledweyne, to make sure the endorsement of Hiiraan’s elders and politicians to the participation of Jowhar meeting.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Qatar Red Crescent Society Opens TB Centre In Somalia
25 December – Source: The Peninsula- 239 Words
As part of constant efforts to enhance the health sector in Somalia, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has begun operation of the Tuberculosis and Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Centre in Banaadir region, Mogadishu, in coordination with the Somali ministry of health, World Health Organisation, World Vision and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The centre is the only TB treatment hub in the eastern, central and southern parts of the country, with another in Hargeisa, northern Somalia. Access to TB centres in neighbouring countries is largely limited.By contributing to Mogadishu’s centre, QRCS seeks to reduce and control the morbidity and mortality caused by TB and MDR-TB by introducing and scaling up TB and MDR-TB intervention, diagnosis and management.Lasting one year, the first phase of the project will cost about QR1.62m, co-funded by QRCS and World Vision. It targets treating 1,640 patients and protecting 30,000 patient close-contact families.
Activities done so far included full rehabilitation, equipment, and furnishing of the centre’s buildings, operation, establishment of a TB management team, promoting capacity-building for health personnel, patient support, operational research and medical and paramedical training. After registering patients, samples were sent to the reference laboratory in Kampala, Uganda for tests for disease and diagnosis.Under an agreement with the MOH National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP), 18 patients were sampled and results are expected within two weeks. Confirmed patients will undergo two-year treatment. More patients will be enrolled over the coming few weeks.
Horseed Crowned 2015 Somalia Super Cup Winners
25 December – Source: Soko25east- 421 Words
The Somali military Football Club (Horseed) has today confirmed their second major victory in 7 days, after winning Somalia’s Super Cup for 2015.The 9-man military side defeated their rivals of the Somali Police [Heegan] by 3-1 in penalties after the allocated period of the match ended in 0-0.The duo hardly fought for the Super Cup title, but it was a big misfortune for Heegan who were unable to score against the 9-man team who got two of their players awarded with red cards.
Daniel Matengo (Kenya) was given a red carded in the 47th minute of the match, while his teammate, Mohamed Abdi Soomane was also sent out in the 79th minute, but that didn’t prevent their team from lifting the trophy.Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud of Heegan was recognized today’s man of the match. Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, who talked to the media after the Super Cup match first thanked the two Televisions,Universal TV and the state-owned SNTV for taking the match before international audience.The president said that the live coverage will continue, although he acknowledged that his federation was unable to put every league match on TV screens.“The SFF is intending to get live coverage for our football matches in the months to come, but during the early stages, some of the most interesting matches will be broadcasted live with the help from Somali TV channels” SFF president explained.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Somalia isn’t the only place where Christmas won’t be celebrated on Dec. 25. In Tajikistan, giving gifts and decorating Christmas trees is banned in schools. And in Brunei, Christmas celebrants risk a five-year prison sentence if they’re caught,”
The Mogadishu That Stole Christmas
23 December – Source: Foreign Policy – 348 Words
Somalia’s central government has a lot to worry about: corruption, upcoming elections that look less democratic each day, and a deadly extremist group terrorizing the already fragile nation — just to name a few.Now add Christmas and New Year’s festivities to the list.
This week, the Somali government labeled both holidays as anti-Islamic and banned celebrations on either day.Speaking on state radio, Sheikh Mohamed Kheyrow, director of Somalia’s ministry of religion, said police have been ordered to “prevent Christmas celebrations.” “We warn against celebration of Christmas, which is only for Christians,” he said. “This is a matter of faith. The Christmas holiday and its drum beatings have nothing to do with Islam.”
In Somalia, where Sharia law has been in place since 2009 and the vast majority of residents are Muslim, there probably isn’t much desire to celebrate the birth of Jesus or the Christian calendar’s New Year anyway.But it’s not only Muslim Somalis living in Somalia: It is also the temporary home for 22,000 African Union troops, including some from countries like Uganda and Kenya, where they are used to celebrating their Christmas traditions.
All the rhetoric aside about Christmas being anti-Islamic, Mogadishu’s move isn’t only rooted in a desire to keep Somalia as a Muslim state. It’s also about security concerns. Last year, Islamist al-Shabab militants who want to implement an extreme version of Sharia law launched a deadly Christmas Day attack on the country’s main African Union base. Three peacekeepers and a civilian contractor were killed. With increased security, some bases may still be allowed to celebrate the holiday this year.“Christmas will not be celebrated in Somalia for two reasons; all Somalis are Muslims and there is no Christian community here. The other reason is for security,” Abdifatah Halane, spokesman for Mogadishu mayor, told Reuters. “Christmas is for Christians. Not for Muslims.”
TOP TWEETS
@samirasawlani:Sahafi Hotel has re-opened in Mogadishu, after it was the target of a terror attack in November this year.
#Somalia
@AbdulazizOsman:#Somalia Minister: No Ban on #Christmas, New Year’s Parties http://www.voanews.com/
@calestous:Merry Christmas to Christians in #Somalia and#Brunei whose governments have banned celebrations@AJENews http://aje.io/qn9b
@Xarbi:A partner who was cooperative in every sense to#Somalia Ambassador Nicklaus Kay @Somalia111 Macsalama saxib
@AbdulBillowAli :Horseed won this years Super Cup on penalties. Both teams proved they are the city’s favourites.#Mogadishu #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud greets Hiran elders during his visit to Beletweyne.
Photo: AMISOM.