December 30, 2015 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

UN Envoy For Somalia, Nicholas Kay, Ends Tour Of Duty

29 December – Source: UNSOM – 286 Words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, today officially left Somalia bringing to an end an illustrious diplomatic stint spanning more than two years in the country. A short send-off ceremony was held at the Aden Abdulle Airport, for the UN Envoy who has worked tirelessly for a better Somalia since his arrival in Mogadishu in June 2013.

In his speech, the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abdusalam Hadliye Omar, described Nicholas Kay as a true friend of the Somali people, whose efforts have left an indelible mark in the history of the country: “The UN Mission in Somalia is crucial to Somalia’s future and during his tenure as a leader, Nick worked with the government of the Federal Republic of Somalia to help shape a new vision for a better Somalia and its people,” Hon. Abdusalam Hadliye Omar said, noting that Nicholas Kay’s name is now one of the most popular in the country.

Ambassador Kay told the gathering he was leaving Somalia with fond memories and full of optimism about the future of the country: “Today is a happy and positive day as well. Happy because as Minister Abdusalam Omar said there is now in Somalia an unstoppable momentum to peace, stability prosperity and democracy. This unstoppable momentum was not here three years ago. It is here now and it is thanks to the Somalis themselves, international partners and, it is thanks to the UN colleagues I had the privilege to work with,” SRSG Nicholas Kay observed. He stressed that he will forever remember the brightness of the smiles of the Somalis, the sharpness of their arguments in negotiations and their resilience to make Somalia a better country.

Key Headlines

UN Envoy For Somalia Nicholas Kay Ends Tour Of Duty (UNSOM)
Hiiraan Middle Shabelle Inter-Regional State Formation Conference Set To Open In Jowhar (Hiiraan Online)
Governor Demands Arrest Of Police Officers Involved In ‘Al-Shabaab’ Killings (Shabelle News)
Puntland President Sees Off Students Leaving For Saudi Arabia After Winning Scholarships (Wacaal Media)
QC Drought Relief Project Benefits 71000 People In Somalia (The Peninsular)
Somali High School Student Punches Teacher In The Face Over Perceived Gay Overture (The College Fix)
Report: 69 Journalists Died On The Job In 2015 (Associated Press)
Northern Kenya Attacks May Shed Light on Country’s Security (Voice of America)
Soccer In Puntland Somalia: Giving Kids A Chance (Deutsche Welle)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle Inter-Regional State Formation Conference Set To Open In Jowhar

29 December – Source: Hiiraan Online – 261 Words

The Somali government has announced that the the inter-regional state formation conference for Hiiraan and its neighbouring Middle Shabelle region will kick off in the agricultural town of Jowhar, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region next week. The development comes against the backdrop of fresh opposition by Hiiraan elders, who have demanded that the conference be held in Beledweyne, the Hiiraan region’s provincial capital. They have dismissed the President’s proposal of holding the talks in Jowhar.

Somalia’s interior minister Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein, who’s leading the government’s new federalism system initiative, announced that the conference would open in Jowhar town next week. He however declined to specify the date: “The conference will start next week – we shall advise on the exact date of the conference later.” Despite the announcement, elders in Hiiraan region boycotted the conference this week, accusing the president of securing an ‘inconclusive’ endorsement from ‘rogue’ elders who do’ ‘not represent’ the region’s traditional elders, leaving behind the 63-member of the region’s elders board.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met elders and politicians in the region last week who endorsed his bid of holding the conference in Jowhar. Under this understanding Beledweyne will instead be identified as the proposed state’s regional capital. Political analysts have earlier pointed out complexities surrounding the state’s formation process, given lack of consensus, mistrust and rivalry among clans in the two regions. Despite challenges on the conference’s venue and power sharing arrangements, analysts also warn that the ‘apparent’ controversy would further impede the government’s efforts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table.

Governor Demands Arrest Of Police Officers Involved In ‘Al-Shabaab’ Killings

29 December – Source: Shabelle News – 149 Words

The governor of Mandera county Ali Roba has demanded from the Kenyan government the arrest of police officers involved in Monday’s killing of two civilians – a well-known footballer and his driver: “Monday’s incident of shooting of civilians by security forces is a definite setback on the gains made in winning public trust in Mandera county,” said Ali Roba in a twitter post

The victims were identified as local footballer Abdirahman Rahoy, popularly known as Maney, and driver Adan Nyanya. One of them died on the scene and the other while being rushed to hospital. Police have claimed the two were suspected Al-Shabaab operatives who attempted to attack a vehicle with security personnel. The shooting took place in front of Green View hotel near the Mandera miraa market as members of the public watched. County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the officers opened fire on the vehicle after receiving intelligence that the vehicle had explosives.

Puntland President Sees Off Students Leaving For Saudi Arabia After Winning Scholarships

29 December – Source: Wacaal Media – 153 Words

Puntland President Dr. Abdiweli Ali Gas on Tuesday saw off a group of students to Tabuuk University in Saudi Arabia. The students, who are recipients of university scholarships, were hosted by the President at a colourful ceremony at the presidential palace in garowe. The Minister for Education and his assistant also attended the ceremony. In his address, Dr Abdiweli urged the students to be good ambassadors of Puntland during their stay in Saudi Arabia. He further urged them to make use of the opportunity to learn skills that will be of value to their people back home upon their return. The eight students are part of the 283 students from all the regions of Puntland who won scholarships from different countries this year including Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt. The Minister for Education Prof. Abshir Aw-Yussuf Isse said it was the first time for Puntland to receive scholarships from Saudi Arabia. He thanked the government of Puntland for its concerted efforts towards the realisation of the scholarships.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

QC Drought Relief Project Benefits 71,000 People In Somalia

30 December – Source: The Peninsular – 384 Words

Qatar Charity (QC) has implemented an urgent relief project to support people hit by drought in Somaliland, in the north of Somalia. More than 71,000 people benefitted from the project which included health care services and food supplies. For the past two decades, Somalia has been through crises and natural disasters described as the worst globally. Around 1.1 million displaced people are living in big cities of Somaliland, Puntland and south of Somalia.

According to Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit reports issued this August, the food situation in Somalia has been deteriorating for the past six months; 855,000 people suffer from urgent conditions; and 3.1 million people face the hunger threat if the situation remain the same the coming months. During two phases of the project, dry food supplies were distributed to 7,500 families (52,500 people) such as rice, sugar, date, milk and oil. Some 18,873 beneficiaries also received health services through medical convoys.

Relief campaigns covered three areas: north of Somalia (Somaliland), northeast (Puntland), and south of Somalia; 4,000 food boxes were distributed to the people of Somaliland, 1,000 to the people of Puntland and 2,500 to the people of south Somalia. The boxes included rice, flour, sugar, oil, milk and date. Seven medical convoys were sent to 45 villages and camps in the affected areas. Medical reports showed that the most common diseases were those related to inflammations, especially in the pulmonary and urinary systems, and diseases resulting from malnutrition infecting children under five.

Under its ‘Early Relief’ project for the flood-affected in Middle Shebelle, QC has implemented rehabilitation and income-generating projects for the affected families to improve their living standards; 750 sheep were distributed to 150 families; each receiving five. QC has also repaired fields for the benefit of 250 affected families who used to work in farms before their lands were damaged due to floods, admeasuring 250 hectares fit for cultivation.

Somali High School Student Punches Teacher In The Face Over Perceived Gay Overture

29 December – Source: The College Fix – 310 Words

An attempt at anti-bullying went awry at Southwest High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, leading to a teacher getting punched in the face. Ridwaan Mohamud, a 17-year-old of Somali background, broke his teacher’s nose on December 21 after stewing all weekend over comments the teacher made the previous Friday.

Allegedly, in an attempt to assure Mohamud that he is “not ugly,” the instructor jokingly had told the student “I would date you.” Mohamud’s family says that “the interpreted homosexual comment is extremely offensive.” [Mohamud] is charged as an adult in Brown County Circuit Court with substantial battery and disorderly conduct and could face 3½ years in prison if convicted.

The school’s associate principal, Jeff Vanlannen told police he’d been made aware of the discussion on Fridayand assured Mohamud the teacher wasn’t making advances to him, the complaint says. Mohamud’s mother told school authorities and police that she had tried to talk Mohamud out of being angry over the weekend, the complaint says. Mohamud entered the teacher’s first-hour class Monday, called out his name, then approached and punched him in the face, the complaint says. Witnesses who intervened said the teacher made no effort to defend himself, the complaint says.

Report: 69 Journalists Died On The Job In 2015

29 December – Source: Associated Press – 578 Words

Sixty-nine journalists were killed around the world on the job in 2015. Twenty-eight of them were slain by Islamic militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The New York-based organization says Syria again was the deadliest place for journalists, though the number of deaths there in 2015 — 13 — was lower than in previous years of the conflict.

“These journalists are the most vulnerable,” Joel Simon, the committee’s executive director said of reporters and broadcasters working in Syria and other areas inundated with Islamic extremists. “This is, clearly based on the data, an incredible risk for journalists.” Those killed by Islamic extremist groups this year included eight journalists killed in an attack in Paris in January at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which had published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. The group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack in which two gunmen massacred 12 people. They said it was in “revenge for the prophet.”

In October, two Syrian journalists, Fares Hamadi and Ibrahim Abd al-Qader were killed by Islamic State militants. While some of the deaths were among reporters covering conflict zones, journalists in several countries also were killed after reporting on sensitive subjects. At least 28 of the reporters who were killed had received threats before their deaths, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. In Brazil, Gleydson Carvalho, a radio broadcaster who often criticized local police and politicians for purported wrongdoing, was shot and killed while presenting his afternoon radio show in August. The committee tracked six killings in Brazil this year — the highest it has recorded there.

Northern Kenya Attacks May Shed Light on Country’s Security

29 December – Source: Voice of America – 488 Words

There was more violence in northeastern Kenya Monday, as two civilians were killed when Kenyan military officers fired on a car in the Mandera region. Other incidents have raised concern about safety in the region, where Al-Shabab militants from Somalia are known to be active. The Mandera region in far northeastern Kenya has experienced a rash of attacks in recent weeks.

On December 21, Al-Shabab militants shot at a passenger bus and then attempted to divide the passengers into groups based on religion – Muslim or Christian. Six days later, militants killed two police officers and injured several others. The next day, Kenyan soldiers shot and killed two motorists they suspected of carrying weapons. Three others were injured. This violence is only the most recent in a region of Kenya that borders troubled Somalia. A year ago, al-Shabab gunmen killed 28 non-Muslims traveling by bus to Nairobi. Richard Tuta is a homeland security and counter-terror expert in Nairobi: “So, those who are intending to attack those areas, they have realized that there are some soft spots, there are some gaps which are existing within the security systems, in Mandera,” he said.

Some of those gaps may be the result of the Kenyan intelligence community’s limitations when it comes to quickly acting upon information. Mwenda Mbijiwe, chief executive of Eye on Security, a Nairobi counterterrorism consulting firm, said that proper resources have not been allocated for intelligence officers, who work without weapons or handcuffs: “So they are still operating like they were two, three years ago, where they see the suspect and just point at him,” said Mbijiwe.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“There are a lot of soccer fans in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, Somalia. Now, fitness centers are getting kids off of the streets and giving them a safe place to play the game.”

Soccer In Puntland, Somalia: Giving Kids A Chance

29 December – Source: Deutsche Welle – 855 Words

When the floodlights go on, the muezzin makes his call to evening prayer at the nearby mosque. The kids playing on the astroturf field don’t let it distract them. Said fakes left, breaks right, aims, shoots and scores. The 23-year-old is on the pitch at the Garowe Fitness Center several times a week. He always comes here in the evening after his classes at the Puntland State University. The center provides a clean place to play soccer. And an armed security guard stands at the entrance to make sure that it is also safe.

That is the way things are in Puntland’s capital Garowe. Security guards wielding machine guns also guard the entrance to the university. The government has even ordered that Western visitors be shadowed by three Kalashnikov-toting “attendants” to ward against kidnappings. Internationally, the semi-autonomous Puntland region of northeastern Somalia is most well known as a refuge for pirates. A civil war has been raging in Somalia for 25 years – weapons and soldiers are simply a part of everyday life. However, in Puntland and neighboring Somaliland the situation seems to be under control. It is mainly the residents of the Somali capital Mogadishu that suffer the brunt of bomb attacks and the terror perpetrated by the Al-Shabaab militia. Mogadishu lies to the south, and seems far away.

Somalis love soccer, it was that way before the war too. Nothing has been able to change that. Not the violence and the terror, not even Somalia’s dismal national team. Currently listed third to last in FIFA’s world rankings, only Eritrea and Tonga are worse than the Ocean Stars from the Horn of Africa. Yet, thanks to satellite technology, German Bundesliga, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and Italian Serie A matches light up TV screens across the country.

In Somalia, soccer is played wherever there is space to do so. Whether that be among bombed out ruins, or in refugee camps where people who have fled terror and drought live. Beyond that, new fitness centers that feature soccer pitches have been sprouting up all across the region over the last year and a half. They can now be found in cities like Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa, as well as larger cities in Puntland such as Bosaso, Garowe and Galkayo.

The fitness center idea came from the director general of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ahmed Abdallah Tigana, who is also responsible for the implementation and management of the project. Tigana fled to Europe in 1991 when the war broke out. Until recently he had been living in England, but sports brought him back to Somalia. Soccer is his passion. He says it always has been. When the war came, he was playing in the country’s top youth league and was just about to sign a professional contract. But his dream of life as a pro soccer player ended when he sought security abroad.