December 9, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Political Leaders OK Presidential Polls For Dec. 28
09 December – Source: Associated Press – 274 Words
Somalia’s political leaders say they have agreed to hold presidential polls on Dec. 28 after three delays and amid allegations of bribery, fraud and voter intimidation.Presidential polls had been pushed back to Nov. 30, but the electoral commission last month announced they would be in December instead. In a statement issued after political stakeholders met late Thursday, Somali leaders said they expected a new parliament to elect a speaker on Dec. 22 before parliament members elect a president Dec. 28.The delays reflect the challenges of holding elections in this Horn of Africa nation riven by clan rivalries and threatened by Islamic extremists, al-Shabab, opposed to Western-style democracy. Somalia’s president is not elected by popular vote. Some 14,000 delegates selected by their clans elect parliament members, who elect the president.Officials have said voting for members of the upper house is almost complete, while that for the lower house is just past the halfway mark.Somalia has been trying to rebuild after recently establishing its first functioning central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a longtime dictator and plunged the impoverished nation into chaos.
Key Headlines
- Somali Political Leaders OK Presidential Polls For Dec. 28 (Associated Press)
- Saudi Arabia Bans Somali Livestock Again (VOA Somali)
- Somalia’s Acting Foreign Minister Receives Credentials From Yemen Envoy (Hiiraan Online)
- One Of Somalia’s Two Female Presidential Candidates “To Pull Out” (BBC)
- 10 Al-Shabaab Militants Killed In Southwest Somalia (China.org)
- Does the Kenyan FM’s Call For Self-Determination Translate To Support For Somaliland (Somalia Newsroom)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Saudi Arabia Bans Somali Livestock Again
08 December – Source: VOA Somali – 165 Words
Saudi Arabia has again imposed a ban on the import of livestock from Somalia, livestock traders in Jeddah confirmed. Somali traders in Jeddah shared with VOA Somali a copy of a letter from the Saudi ministry of environment, agriculture and water stating the temporary suspension of livestock import from the Horn of Africa nation. Nuh Dahir Amud, one of the traders, said the ban was imposed over concerns of Rift Valley Fever. However, both the Saudi and Somali governments have not yet officially confirmed the ban, though some Somali officials contacted by the VOA Somali said they heard the report and would later comment on it. The ban comes at a time severe drought continues to ravage most parts of the country negatively affecting the livelihoods of the pastoralists community. If the move comes into effect, it will worsen the humanitarian situation in Somalia with Somali leaders and international humanitarian aid agencies appealing for urgent humanitarian assistance for nationals affected by the acute drought.
Somalia’s Acting Foreign Minister Receives Credentials From Yemen Envoy
07 December – Source: Hiiraan Online – 122 Words
Somalia’s deputy foreign minister, who is also the acting foreign minister Ahmed Ali Mohamed Kadiye on Thursday received credentials from incoming Yemen ambassador to Somalia Ambassador Fadal Ali Al-Hanak. After the brief ceremony, the two officials held a special meeting where they discussed a range of issues including the strengthening of ties and cooperations between the two countries, latest political situation in the region, refugees and security affairs. Kadiya lauded the existing bilateral relations between Somali and Yemen which he said existed since in 1960. Ambassador Al-Hanak promised to enhance the ties between the two nations to a higher level for the benefit of the people of the two nations. He is also scheduled to meet with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
One Of Somalia’s Two Female Presidential Candidates “To Pull Out”
09 December – Source: BBC World Service – Video
Fatumo Dayib is one of only two female presidential candidates running in the Somali election. She’s also a fierce critic of the clan-based election process. Now, it’s been announced that the presidential election has been rescheduled for later this month. Fatumo Dayib explains why she’s pulling out.
10 Al-Shabaab Militants Killed In Southwest Somalia
08 December – Source: China.org – 139 Words
The Somali army killed at least ten Al-Shabaab militants and injured several others on Thursday during fighting in Goof-Gaduud area near the southwestern town of Baidoa town, an army commander said. Gen. Ibrahim Yarow told reporters the army and South West State forces repulsed the militants and recovered weapons during the fight.”Al-Shabaab militants attacked our base here early Thursday, then heavy fighting broke out and we repelled the terrorists. We killed 10 Al-Shabaab fighters and wounded several others. We lost some soldiers and the situation is calm at the moment,” Yarow said. Independent sources told Xinhua by phone that five government soldiers were killed in the attack.However, the Al-Shabaab Islamist group said its fighters overran the military bases of South West State forces, killed four soldiers and seized weapons from the Somali army, before briefly seizing Goof-Gaduud.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“It was unclear if this would be part of his platform as a prospective presidential candidate heading into Kenya’s national elections in August 2017, but there has long been a perception among some Somalilanders that an Odinga presidency would bode well for the prospect of recognition,”
Does the Kenyan FM’s Call For Self-Determination Translate To Support For Somaliland
09 December – Source: Somalia Newsroom- 868 Words
Kenyan Foreign Minister (FM) Amina Mohamed has advocated for self-determination for the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic’s (SADR) as part of her campaign for chairperson of the African Union (AU) commission, raising the issue of whether she would also push for recognition of the Somaliland region as well if she wins the January 2017 election. Kenyan officials and politicians previously have indicated a willingness to strengthen ties with the region. Last year, Mohamed said in an interview that Kenya and Somaliland could cooperate on health, livestock, agriculture, mining, and other issues if an agreement could be put in place. Mohamed, who has family roots with the Darod-Dhulbahante clan in northern Somalia, pointed out that numerous Kenyan nationals lived and worked in the region.
The Kenyan government also has promised to enhance its engagement with Somaliland, though there have not been many tangible results. Earlier this year in May, the Kenyan government announced it would expand its consular presence in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa (which has been in discussion for more than four years), as well as other towns in Somalia. Lastly, in August 2016, Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga stated in an event at Chatham House in London that he personally supported recognition of Somaliland — to the dismay of the Somali government.It was unclear if this would be part of his platform as a prospective presidential candidate heading into Kenya’s national elections in August 2017, but there has long been a perception among some Somalilanders that an Odinga presidency would bode well for the prospect of recognition.
TOP TWEETS
@VdMiroir: #AllAfrica #Somalia EU Condemns Alleged Attack On Journalist, Expects Full Inquiry Into Claims of Tender Malpractice.
@Omaar_nor :#Somalia presidential election postponed for 4th time. The leaders pushed the election to 28 Dec due to low progress of parliamentary polls
@Daudoo: #AlShabaab militants ambush #Kenya police traveling between Masalani & Haluqa in #Garissa county. 2 officers dead, 1 vehicle destroyed – Source
@HarunMaruf: Villagers in south #Somalia report possible airstrike near Mansuro village outside Jilib late Wed.; Al-Shabab vehicles seen in targeted area
@HarunMaruf: Last resident to flee Qandala is the first of several ppl who returned to town after pro-IS militants were dislodged http://www.voanews.com/a/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Ahmed Ali Mohamed receives credentials from Yemen Ambassador to Somalia Amb. Fadal Ali Alhanak
Photo: Radio Muqdisho