February 1, 2016 | Morning Headlines
Galmudug President Welcomes Consultative Forum Outcome
31 January – Source: Wacaal Media – 93 Words
President of the newly created State of Galmudug Abdikarim Guled has welcomed the resolutions and decision of the just concluded National Consultative Forum in Mogadishu. Speaking to the press in Adaado, interim headquarters of the administration, Guled welcomed the decision to use the tribal based model known as 4.5 in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Guled said it was not realistic to hold elections based on district and geographical representation at this point in time as the situation of the county won’t allow. He said the country therefore needs tough decisions to move forward.
Key Headlines
- Galmudug President Welcomes Consultative Forum Outcome (Wacaal Media)
- As Droughts Bite Somaliland President Urges National Prayers For Rain (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia Hold Elections After 45 Years Says President Hassan (Goobjoog News)
- Japan Donates 37$ Million To Fund Somalia’s Security (Radio Dalsan)
- Three Dead Several Injured After Attack By Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants In Lamu (Daily Nation)
- Minnesota Groups Seek Money To Keep Youths From Extremism (Fox News/AP)
- Somalia AU Forces Arrest 50 Al-Shabaab Suspects In Middle Shabelle (Indo-Asia News Agency)
- President Uhuru Kenyatta Meets Ban Ki-Moon To Discuss AMISOM (Standard Digital)
- Africa Threatens To Quit United Nations (The Star)
- St. Cloud Comes To Grips With Clashes Between Immigrants Longtime Locals (Star Tribune)
NATIONAL MEDIA
As Droughts Bite Somaliland, President Urges National Prayers For Rain
31 January – Source: Hiiraan Online – 248 Words
The president of the breakaway region of Somaliland has ordered holding a national prayer for rains after an acute drought that has affected more than 240,000 people in the region in northern Somalia. According to the United Nations, the regions most affected by the droughts include Awdal, Marodijeeh, and Gebiley, which are traditionally the main food producing regions. Other regions affected include Selel and Sahil.
Mr. Ahmed Silanyo said that people in the region would have a walk in masses to perform special prayers for rain. He set the 1st February as the date for which people in Somaliland would have to start the rituals. “I hereby request the people of Somaliland to join the prayers that will be held throughout the regions in Somaliland.” Mr. Silanyo said at a press conference in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital Saturday.
As a result of the failed rains, there has been poor crop production, acute shortage of water, and death of livestock – a key source of livelihood for communities in Somaliland. Aid agencies said that malnutrition was at its highest peak among infants, small children, the elderly, sick and other vulnerable groups. According to Save the Children, malnutrition rates – especially for children under the age of five – are currently at alarming rates and are likely to increase further. “So far, thirteen deaths of children and elderly people have been reported, a number likely to rise if no immediate assistance is provided.” The aid agency said in a statement.
Somalia To Hold Elections After 45 Years, Says President Hassan
31 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 168 Words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia has achieved tangible progresses in political reconciliation and that the country is expecting to hold elections later this year for the first time in 47 years. Speaking at 26th Summit of African Union, President Hassan said the maturity and the readiness of the Somalis has led the progresses achieved. The president applauded the international community for its support to Somalia during hard times the country passed.
“I thank the international community especially African Union for the role it played to stabilize Somalia” he said. During his speech at AU Summit, the president pointed out the need for sustained support to Somalia by the international community in order to facilitate the political process that will lead to an electoral transition by October 2016. Meanwhile several national consultative forums were held in the country – the latest in early January at Mogadishu, but no tangible results and resolutions were announced after days of closed door meetings between Federal leaders and Heads of federal members States.
Japan Donates $37 Million To Fund Somalia’s Security
31 January – Source: Radio Dalsan – 136 Words
The government of Japan has donated U.S $37 million dollars to Somalia to fund the security agencies in the country. This was announced by leaders from Japan in the AU summit in Addis ababa which is going on for it is second day. UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon who was speaking at the summit admired the role of AMISOM in Somalia, and their strength to face-off Al-Shabaab militias while paying the ultimate price.
In addition, the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe handed over the AU chairmanship to his counterpart Idriss Deby Itno of Chad. It was on Saturday that Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta urged the AU members to review the mandate of AMISOM and asked the UN and international partners to provide the necessary force multipliers to AMISOM for better operational capabilities.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Three Dead, Several Injured After Attack By Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants In Lamu
31 January – Source: Daily Nation – 553 Words
Three people have been confirmed dead, several injured and a house torched at Kaisari Village in Pandanguo, Lamu County after a Sunday morning attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants. According to a police officer who talked to the Nation from the scene on Sunday and requested not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media, heavily armed attackers suspected to be Al-Shabaab militants raided the village and carried out the killings of the three and also injured others.
The officer also said that the number of dead and was expected to rise since officers on the ground said there was a possibility that other bodies were yet to be retrieved. “I have been on the ground. We have recovered bodies of three people who were killed this morning. One was beheaded, another one was burnt to death when they set his house on fire. The third one is a local brewer who was gunned down atop a Mkoma tree where he had gone to tap wine.
“As we speak, we also have a survivor who was shot four times in the hand and is currently admitted to Mpeketoni Sub County Hospital. Kenya Defence Forces soldiers and police officers are on the ground,” said the officer. The officer said that the attackers were speaking in Somali. “According to the survivor and other witnesses, the attackers were speaking Somali and they kept shouting ‘kale kale,’ which translated means ‘come,’ he said.
Minnesota Groups Seek Money To Keep Youths From Extremism
31 January – Source: Fox News/Associated Press – 656 Words
A community advocate who spends his days helping Somali families and a youth soccer coach who works to keep kids off the street are among the people lining up for a crack at federal and private funds aimed at stopping terror recruiting. Friday was the deadline for applicants to request roughly $400,000 in money being administered by a nonprofit entity as part of Minnesota’s efforts to stamp out violent extremism. The program is part of a three-city pilot project, which includes Boston and Los Angeles, launched more than a year ago by the Obama administration.
Minneapolis’ program, called Building Community Resilience, focuses on the state’s large Somali community, which has been fertile ground for terrorism recruiters. More than 22 men have left the state since 2007 to join al-Shabab in Somalia, and roughly a dozen people have left in recent years to join militants in Syria. It was unclear how many people or groups had applied for funding by Friday’s deadline. Grant awards will be announced March 9.
Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said he’s excited about the program’s progress and he’s trying to get additional funding, both federal and private. He pointed to a bill Obama signed into law in December that includes $50 million for efforts that combat terrorism as a possible source. Luger noted that $10 million of that appropriation is specifically for states’ efforts to prevent violent extremism, though it’s not yet known how much of that money will flow to Minnesota.
Somalia, AU Forces Arrest 50 Al-Shabaab Suspects In Middle Shabelle
31 January – Source: Indo-Asian News Agency – 248 Words
At least 50 Al-Shabaab suspects have been arrested in a joint security operation conducted by Somalia and AU peacekeeping mission forces in Jowhar town, the capital of Middle Shabelle on Saturday. Somali government’s police commander in Jowhar town Mohamed Siyad Anjeh told reporters that they carried out home to home search to ensure the security at Hawadag neighbourhood, Xinhua reported.
“We wanted to ensure total security in the Jowhar town as there are guests including high ranking delegates who are attending a conference to establish a new state for Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle region,” Anjeh said. “We arrested 50 Al-Shabaab suspects during the operation, but we released some of them after investigation, we will also release others if they are not found guilty,” he added.
Jowhar is 90 kms north from the Somali capital, Mogadishu and there are government members from both the executive and federal parliament who are meeting to establish the last state in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. Similar operation by AU and Somali security forces have been conducted at Elasha-biyaha, 20 kms south of the capital Mogadishu, early this week.
President Uhuru Kenyatta Meets Ban Ki-Moon To Discuss AMISOM
31 January – Source: Standard Digital – 98 Words
President Uhuru Kenyatta today held a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to discuss Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom). The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 26th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Later, President Kenyatta held a bilateral meeting with the President of Namibia, Mr Hage Geingob, with whom he discussed trade issues. President Kenyatta will deliver his speech to the African Union Assembly tomorrow. The President will later present a report on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
http://www.standardmedia.co.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“If the UN and the security council is to survive we must be equal members. They must understand that we as Africans are also human,”
Africa Threatens To Quit United Nations
31 January – Source: The Star, Kenya – 341 Words
Africa has threatened to withdraw from United Nations if reforms are not done in its Security Council to include African states. Outgoing African Union Chair and President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe called for immediate inclusion of two members of the African states in the decision making of issues relating to peace in the continent
Mugabe pointed out that Africa had remained an artificial member of the council with no representation. “If the UN and the security council is to survive we must be equal members. They must understand that we as Africans are also human,” he said during the opening ceremony of the 26th Ordinary session on Saturday.
The Security Council consists of 15 members. However, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States serve as the body’s five permanent members. “These permanent members can reject any substantive Security Council resolution yet the decisions they are making affect us as a continent. Africa will no longer tolerate denial of rights and treatment in a manner “we regard as not equal,” he said.
Mugabe further said Africa, India and china were more populated than the “The people with the pink noses and chins” adding the white come to Africa as NGOs, Spies and even armed gangs. He said AU has showed its determination to ensure peace and security in the continent by sending troop and peace keepers in different countries. “The ongoing instability in South Sudan, Libya ,Somalia ,Burundi and DRC is of great concern to the AU, especially the Boko haram and Al-Shabaab attacks in the area,” he said.
“Most of us have assimilated or have tried to get into the community, but when somebody you want to talk to doesn’t want to smile back at you, how are you going to talk to that person? We feel like we sometimes isolate ourselves from the larger community because we don’t feel welcome.”
St. Cloud Comes To Grips With Clashes Between Immigrants, Longtime Locals
31 January – Source: Star Tribune – 1,159 Words
Haji Yusuf was shopping at a grocery store here when he saw a white woman accuse the East African immigrants in the checkout lane of belonging to an Islamic terrorist group. “Get out of our country! I don’t want you here!” he recalled her saying. Members of the surging African population in the St. Cloud area have reported some disturbing encounters with longtime locals, from classmates trying to pull off their hijabs to shouts that they should return to their homeland. Four Minnesota legislators were among about 100 people who met last week to discuss what they believe is the threat of sharia law to U.S. law and culture.
Amid growing racial tensions, Gov. Mark Dayton is seeking $180,000 in legislative funding to improve a satellite office of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights at St. Cloud’s City Hall. The state now sends an enforcement officer from St. Paul one day a month to hold office hours. “That’s really inadequate,” said Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud. “We’re a good-sized regional center; we’ve got a sizable minority population. … There’s more work to do than what can be done in one day a month.”
In 2010, St. Cloud became the only town in Minnesota to have a local office of the state Department of Human Rights. The department assigned a state enforcement officer to work out of City Hall, investigating discrimination complaints and educating the community. The officer left last fall. But even before that, records show that the office had limited success in addressing possible discrimination against African immigrants in St. Cloud. The rights department received 80 discrimination complaints from the city of 66,000 people in the past six years. Of those, just 15 were on the basis of race, religion, color or national origin (the rest were for age, disability or other reasons), and nearly all of the 15 were dismissed for lacking probable cause. Only two complaints from those categories were filed in the past two years, according to agency records.