February 13, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Free Media Vital For Open Governance-President Farmaajo
12 February – Source : Goobjoog News – 132 Words
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has underscored the importance of media freedom in promoting transparency and good governance in Somalia. In a tweet Sunday, President Farmaajo who is on his first week as the 9th President of Somalia said a free media was essential in bringing the nation to its feet and enhancing an open system of governance. “Free media vital for the revival of our nation and ensuring transparency at every level of the govt,” the President tweeted.
The President rode on a platform of accountability during his campaign and pledged to ensure best practices of governance in Somalia. Meanwhile unconfirmed sources have indicated President Farmaajo will be officially inaugurated and occupy his official palace, Villa Somalia from 20th of this month. Former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is still based at Villa Somalia.
Key Headlines
- Free Media Vital For Open Governance-President Farmaajo (Goobjoog News)
- Heavy Fighting Between SNA And Al-Shabaab In Hiiraan (Goobjoog News)
- Farmaajo Meets Former President At Villa Somalia Ahead Of Inauguration (Garowe Online)
- Somaliland Agrees To UAE Military Base In Northern Port *(Associated Press)
- Somalia Says It Will Resume Printing Currency Soon (VOA)
- Kenya May Have To Study Somalia’s New President More (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Heavy Fighting Between SNA And Al-Shabaab In Hiiraan
12 February – Source : Goobjoog News – 168 Words
Heavy battle has flared up in villages in the outskirt of Beledweyne town region after Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers backed by AU troops launched operations against Al-Shabaab fighters in central Somalia. Sources said that SNA and AU troops have carried out operations to hunt down Al-Shabaab fighters in Luq-Jelow and Gambarlawe villages prompting fighting between the two sides. Residents nearby said that there was huge battle between the two sides, which lasted for some hours.
“The fighting continued for some hours in Gambarlawe village.We later heard that Al-Shabaab was ambushed by AMISOM and Somali troops,” local villager Muse Sheikh told Goobjoog News.
On the other hand Al-Shabab has not yet commented on the clashes and its causalities. The situation is calm and things returned back to normal after the battle between government troops and Al-Shabaab subsided. Al-Shabaab, which is battling to topple the Somali federal government, has lost strongholds in southern and central Somalia, though the group still is able to launch attacks in and outside Somalia.
Farmaajo Meets Former President At Villa Somalia Ahead Of Inauguration
12 February – Source : Garowe Online – 247 Words
The new President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has paid a visit to the former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia in Mogadishu on Saturday before the upcoming inauguration ceremony. Sources said the meeting has focused on the power-transfer and inauguration ceremony that is expected to take place next week at Villa Somalia in the capital.
After the meeting, Former Somalia President Mohamud took his successor Farmajo for a brief tour to his new office and residence in the heavily fortified Presidential Palace. President Farmajo thanked the outgoing President for his cordial welcome and achievements that his government has made during his four-year-term in office. It was the first face-to-face meeting since he was elected last week as the new President of Somalia by the country’s newly sworn-in Federal Parliament in Mogadishu.
In the past days, President Farmajo was reported to have held meetings with foreign diplomats and leaders of Somalia’s regional states at his temporary resident in Mogadishu,. Sources said that President Farmajo and regional leaders have discussed cooperation between his incoming government and Federal member states in the country.
Following the meeting, Hirshabelle state President Ali Abdullahi Osoble, told local media that sides have agreed to work closely to tackle challenges, including security and intensify the fight against the Al Shabaab militant group. Osoble has called on the people of Somalia to work with the new President, as he faces a daunting task in rebuilding the country and to restore peace and stability.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland Agrees To UAE Military Base In Northern Port
12 February – Source: Associated Press – 252 Words
Somalia’s breakaway northern territory of Somaliland has said the United Arab Emirates can establish a military base in its territory. The Emirati government in January submitted a formal application seeking permission from the Somaliland government to open a military base in the port town of Berbera.The parliament of Somaliland on Sunday approved the UAE plan. The plan is controversial and the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti are opposed to it, according to local reports.
In Sunday’s vote 144 lawmakers were in favor of the military base, two voted against and two abstained. Nine others opposed to the base shouted against President Ahmed Silanyo and were led out of the chamber by soldiers. Silanyo had spoken in favor of the base, saying it would create jobs in Somaliland.
The UAE government is planning to establish a naval base with warships that would be used to attack Shia Houthi fighters fighting the government in Yemen, according to a Somaliland official who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.
Speaking at the parliament session, Somaliland’s president said that the military base would benefit Somaliland most and help create jobs.The plan follows a multi-million dollar, 30-year contract for UAE’s international ports operator, DP World, to manage Somaliland’s largest port, Berbera.The former British protectorate of Somaliland declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 and has succeeded in establishing peace and stability. But no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.
Somalia Says It Will Resume Printing Currency Soon
11 February – Source: VOA -731 Words
Somalia intends to resume printing banknotes this year for the first time since the government collapsed in 1991.The governor of Somalia’s central bank, Bashir Issa Ali, told VOA in an exclusive interview Saturday that all technical preparations are complete, and his government is confident it can assemble a financial aid package within three months to fund the printing program. Further work would take another four months.Asked if Somalia will print and distribute banknotes during 2017, Ali answered: “Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely!” He pledged the new currency would include “good, reliable security features.”
Pre-1991 banknotes have disappeared from Somali markets, replaced by either Western currencies, including dollars, or privately printed notes, most of which are worthless fakes. Ali said international institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the U.S. Treasury, have been helping Somalia reform its financial sector and train central bank staff.“We have prepared all the issues and all the basic groundwork, and put in place the technical requirements,” he told VOA.
Outgoing Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met a key demand of the international community last year by signing into law parliament-approved legislation to outlaw money laundering and “financial terrorism.”The Somali government needs $60 million to be able to begin printing banknotes. Ali said he expects to obtain pledges for that sum at an international donors’ conference for Somalia in London in May.“We expect the international community to assist us with that issue,” the bank governor said.
OPINION, CULTURE & ANALYSIS
“Nur, Somalia’s envoy to Kenya between 2007 and 2015, said Mohamed was liked by the many MPs who voted for him because he “performed well” as Prime Minister between October 2010 and June 2011, under the transitional government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The former ambassador said Mohamed ensured a regular flow of pay to civil servants and security officers involved in the war against Al-Shabaab,”
Kenya May Have To Study Somalia’s New President More
11 February – Source: Daily Nation -910 Words
Kenya may have to study Somalia’s new President a lot more to know how the two countries’ relations will be under his leadership.Elected on Wednesday after incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pulled out of the third round of voting and conceded defeat, Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” Mohamed who has also served as the war-torn nation’s Prime Minister in the past, comes in with a full in-tray.His country must deal with the perennial menace of al-Shabaab and put systems in order for a stable country.
Kenya promptly congratulated him with State House saying Nairobi will continue to work with Mogadishu to stabilise Somalia.“The just-ended election process represents an important democratic milestone and gives renewed hope to the people of Somalia, as well as the international community, that Somalia is indeed on the road to full recovery,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement.“As you assume the onerous responsibilities of this high office, I wish to reaffirm my commitment to continuing the fruitful collaboration and interaction between our countries at various levels, particularly in helping realise a more secure and prosperous future for the Somali people and the region,” the President added.
But Kenya is in great need of a quick solution on the refugee situation, especially after the High Court blocked its planned closure of the Dadaab refugee camp.Besides, Kenya is also entangled in a case with Somalia over the maritime border.Last week, the International Court of Justice ruled the case must proceed to full hearing, dismissing Kenya’s argument that there exists an alternative mechanism to handle the dispute.Yet Kenya has also contributed 3,664 soldiers to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) whose future and working relationship with Somali security agencies Mohamed’s government will have to determine.“I did not know the guy very well but, going by the celebrations we have seen among Somalis, it tells something,” Macharia Munene, professor of history and politics at the United States International University – Africa, told the Nation.