December 3, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Robow Coalition Question New Southwest Poll Dates, Says May Lock Out International Observers
03 December – Source: Radio Dalsan – 300 Words
A coalition led Mukhar Robow, former Al-Shabaab deputy leader stated that the new date December 19th set by the Southwest Election Commission, will make it impossible to have a free fair and favor election, since most of the international community will not be present during the Christmas holidays.
The statement was dated on 2nd December and signed by Mr. Robow, Ibrahim Maalim and Nur Adan Nur. “The new date comes at a time that the international community is preparing for the festive season, thereby making it difficult for proper supervision from international agencies. And so that creates fear of whether the polls will be free and fair”.
“We are asking the UN, EU, AU, IGAD and Aid agencies from USA, UK,FRANCE, SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK, Finland, Italy, Germany and others, who care for the wellbeing of Somalia to stand with us, so that we have a free and fair elections in Southwest Somalia” the statement added. The coalition said that security must be beefed up worrying that, Al-Shabaab may be planning to disrupt the polls
“The candidates are urging the security agencies to act steadfastly to prevent any issue that deters peace effectively.” The electoral commission of Somalia’s Southwest state has admitted it is ill prepared for the elections set for December 5th therefore postponed to the 19th. A statement released by the commission stated that it had several tasks to complete before the elections.
The regional parliament will vote for next leader for Southwest, to replace Sharif Hassan Adan, former president who recently quit the race, after he announced his resignation. The race pits former Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mr. Robow, against pro federal government candidates. The government supports former spy Chief Hussein Osman Hussein, former Trade Minister Abdiaziz Hassan Laftagareen and former Somali envoy to Uganda Sid Ahmed Muse.
Key Headlines
- Robow Coalition Question New Southwest Poll Dates Says May Lock Out International Observers (Radio Dalsan)
- Tension Brewing On The Outskirts Of Jowhar Following Battle (Shabelle Media)
- Armed Men Gun Down Businessman In Outskirts Of Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- EU UN Launch Urban Water Project In Northern Somalia (Xinhua)
- Somalia Must Be Better Addressed By Media (Anadolu Agency)
- Ghanaian Police women In Somalia Raise Country’s Flag High (Graphic Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Tension Brewing On The Outskirts Of Jowhar Following Battle
03 December – Source: Shabelle Media – 108 Words
Reports from Jowhar states that fighting has erupted at the outskirts of the town, which is the regional capital of Middle Shabelle. Tension has been brewing between two tribal militias, who fought in the area in the past few days, thereby forcing many families to flee their houses and seek shelters in the nearby villages.
Meanwhile, Somali military forces were reported to have left for the battle zones to de-escalate the tension, and prevent any further confrontation in Mandheere and Kongo. Mr. Abdullahi Mohamed, one of the Somali military commanders in the region, told Radio Shabelle that the two sides welcomed the peace efforts by the Somali government.
Armed Men Gun Down Businessman In Outskirts Of Mogadishu
02 December – Source: Goobjoog News – 94 Words
Armed men have shot dead a businessman in the outskirts of the capital, eyewitnesses said. According to witnesses, the three men walked into the shop of a popular businessman and opened fire, killing him instantly at Arbow street in Eelasha Biyaha area.
The circumstances surrounding the killing of the businessman identified as Mr. Maow Omar, is yet to be established. Armed groups have in the recent weeks gunned down several businessmen in the city. At least 10 employees of the Hormud Telecom, have been killed in the last two months in a similar incidents.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
EU, UN Launch Urban Water Project In Northern Somalia
02 December – Source: Xinhua – 326 Words
A sustained water system was launched on Sunday by Somaliland, the EU and the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) in northern Somalia. According to a joint statement issued in Mogadishu, some 800,000 people will now have sustainable access to safe drinking water thanks to the concerted efforts by Somaliland government, private water companies and communities.
“Water is a basic right. It plays a crucial role in our lives. We are glad that the people of Somaliland and in particular Tog Wajaale now have access to clean and affordable water,” EU Chargé d’Affaires to Somalia Fulgencio Garrido Ruiz said. “We are extremely proud to be here, witnessing this important milestone and the realization of the prayers of so many communities to have access to safe and clean water for the first time,” he added.
Water systems in four towns — Borama, Burao, Erigavo and Tog Wajaale — were rehabilitated or rebuilt with the funding provided by the EU and technical support from UNICEF and partners. According to UNICEF, some 68 percent of the population have access to a reliable water source in Somaliland.
However, the disparity between urban and rural areas is significant, the UN agency said, noting that only 28 percent of households can access an improved water source in rural areas. For many Somaliland communities, their struggle to get clean water is compounded by poor infrastructure and intensifies in periods of crisis such as the 2017 drought. UNICEF Acting Representative Jesper Moller said access to safe, affordable and sustainable water is a dream for so many people in Somaliland.
“Today, that dream has finally been realized for many children, women and their families in Somaliland. We are grateful for the government’s strong leadership and the EU’s generous funding in making this huge undertaking a success,” said Moller. He said the water project is a true testament to the commitment and hard work of all partners involved, and the courage, resourcefulness and resilience of the people of Somaliland.
Somalia Must Be Better Addressed By Media
02 December – Source: Anadolu Agency – 269 Words
Somalia must be better addressed by media representatives, said a senior official of Turkey’s leading news agency on Sunday. “We need to better address Somalia which has stood up on its feet again,” said Metin Mutanoglu, deputy director general and editor-in-chief of Anadolu Agency.
Speaking at the first annual East African Development Forum in Istanbul, Mutanoglu focused on the role of media in rebuilding nations. The forum was organized by the East Africa Association for Development and Research under the theme “Turkish-Somali partnership: Stepping forward”.
He said that Somalia has dozens of television channels, newspapers, radio stations and web portals but they are enough to tell the world about the nation. Mutanoglu expressed his happiness on the “rebirth” of Somalia, noting that the country is shifting from a static economy to a self-developing one.
“The contribution of Turkey in this [development] makes us happy,” he said. Based on his research on how Somalia was represented in Turkish media, he said the most highlighted news were about explosions, armed conflicts and Al-Shabaab’s terror attacks, as well as Turkey’s support to Somalia.
Stating that Turkey runs its largest foreign military training base in Somalia, Mutanoglu said that the benefits of this military base will be seen much better in the coming years. He noted that the creation of a strong Somali army will give the country the ability to eliminate threats on its own.
Turkey has been the biggest supporter of Somalia for years and has its biggest embassy in Africa in Mogadishu. Mutanoglu also provided brief information about Anadolu Agency underlining that it is the biggest news source of Turkey.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“They are Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ms Mary Ama Nani of Teamsite One in Mogadishu, Chief Inspector Patience Affum, based at the Baidoo Sector in the Southwest State, and of Teamsite Two in Mogadishu.”
Ghanaian Police women In Somalia Raise Country’s Flag High
02 December – Source: Graphic Online – 935 Words
Female police officers serving in peacekeeping operations and special political missions act as role models and inspire women and girls to advocate their own rights and pursue careers in law enforcement. In the ongoing conflict resolution processes to establish peace in Somalia, women serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are playing a vital role in the conflict resolution process. Key among these women are Ghanaian policewomen serving with AMISOM, which is at the centre of restoring peace in the war-torn country. The peacekeepers are at the forefront of counter-terrorism and campaigning to neutralise activities of al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups.
These Ghanaian policewomen are not only raising the flag of Ghana high through their exceptional performance but are also making a positive impact on the peacekeeping environments. At about 7 a.m. on a sunny morning, a group of journalists from Ghana, on a field trip to Somalia at the invitation of AMISOM, went to a site in Mogadishu known as the Mamba Park, where the police contingent from the six contributing countries go on parade and are deployed every morning.
The journalists found a Ghanaian policewoman, who is the coordinator at the Joint Operation Command Centre (JOCC), at the Somalia Police Force headquarters in Mogadishu, Inspector Peace Abra Nyampo, issuing orders and doing the deployment. Currently, Ghana has the highest number of policewomen among the six police contributing countries, which comprise Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Zambia.
There are 13 women from the Ghanaian Police, contingent of 37 individual police officers (IPOs), seconded to the AU Mission in Somalia, while Zambia places second with 11 women out of a 20-member contingent. Nigeria has six women out of a contingent of 28, Kenya six out of 26, Uganda five out of 20 with Sierra Leone having two women out of 28 police personnel with AMISOM. The Ghanaian team is made up of a deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents, a chief inspector, three inspectors and four sergeants and two corporals, who are serving in the various units as either the head of the unit or playing leading roles.
Another member of the Ghanaian policewomen team is Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ms Susana Dery, who works as a mentor and helps the Somali Police Force to build the capacity of the local police at Beledweyne Sector in the Hirshabelle State, while the Situation Report Office is headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ms Hannah Adjei, who also serves as a Secretary to the Police Component of AMISOM in developing and preparing its concept of operations for 2018.
TOP TWEETS
@radiogarowe: Tension rises in #Baidoa as #Southwest State candidates cast doubt on free & credible election on Dec 19, accuse @TheVillaSomalia of ‘blatant interference’.https://www.garoweonline.com/
@shiinetown: #Somalia some of the youth in Banadir region have on Sunday assiduously taken part in a voluntary program initiated by Banadir region administration, the youth have inexhaustibly taken part in the renovation of the National Theatre. @engyarisow
@radiogarowe: IN-DEPTH REPORT: Bush’s #Somalia mission to save ‘innocents’ echoes today.https://www.
@sntvnews1: Somali state Minister for Foreign, Abdulkadir Ahmed-Kheyr Abdi on Sunday received credential letters from Sudan ambassador to Somalia. Khalafallah Mustafa Babakar was recently appointed to lead Sudanese mission in #Somalia.
@DalsanFM: Media Vital In Somalia’s Rebirth, Turkey’s Top News Agency Official Says https://www.radiodalsan.com/
@RaoufMazou: With returnees from #Dadaab in houses built for them in Kismayo #Somalia. A mortgage scheme could help more families finance their homes for a little over $15 per month, payable over 20 years. Good housing strengthens peace & supports wealth creation @IFCAfrica @UNHABITAT
@UNSomalia: From handouts to help. From rejection to#respect. Persons with disabilities in #Somalia need these and much more. Check out this photo story on the challenges they face and the progress they’ve made! #IDPDhttps://bit.ly/2BNgDJq
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Mukhtar Robow and other presidential candidates allied to his camp addressing the media.
Photo: @garoweonline