February 14, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somalia To Inaugurate President Farmaajo On 22nd February
14 February – Source : Goobjoog News – 190 Words
The inauguration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is scheduled to take place on 22nd February. Farmaajo was sworn in as 9th president of Somalia immediately after his predecessor, Hassan Sheikh conceded in the second round vote of the election. In a statement on Monday by the deputy prime minister of Somalia, eight member committee that will oversee the inauguration of the newly elected president was formed.
The members of the committee are, Abdullahi Ahmed Jama’a, Minister for Justice, Abdirisack Omar Mohamed, Internal Security Minister, Abdirahman Odowaa, Interior Minister, Ahmed Ali Kadiye Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mohamed Adan Fargeti, Minister for Finance, Abdirahman Aynte, Minister for Planning, Said Hussein Iid, Minister of Livestock and Pasture of Somalia and Mohamed Hayir Mareeye, Minister of Information.
President Farmajo is staying at the heavily secured Jazeera hotel, the same venue where president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud resided four years ago after he won the presidential election. The hotel’s security is taken over by specially trained Somali forces from the intelligence, the police, and Danab commando unit supported by AMISOM. On the other hand, somali citizens have widely welcomed the election of president Farmajo with high hopes for the future of the country.
Key Headlines
- Somalia To Inaugurate President Farmaajo On 22nd February (Goobjoog News)
- Senior Al-Shabaab Commanders Surrender In Baidoa (Garowe Online)
- Electoral College Delegate Killed In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Galmudug And SNA Forces Launch An Operation Toward Harardhere (Dhacdo.com)
- New Burundi Battle Group Arrives In Somalia (AMISOM)
- Iran Gets 8 Sailors Freed From Somali Pirates: MP (Press TV)
- Lessons Derived From Somalia Polls (Standard Digital)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Senior Al-Shabaab Commanders Surrender In Baidoa
14 February – Source : Garowe Online – 171 Words
Two Al Shabaab commanders have turn themselves to the Somali government authorities in Baidoa town on Monday, after abandoning their insurgent group. The disarmament and militia rehabilitation minister of Southwest state Hassan Hussein Mohamed known as “Hassan Elay”, confirmed the defection of the two commanders from Al Shabaab. The Minister has welcomed the extremist commanders’ move, saying they hoped defection will inspire others to denounce Al Shabaab ideology and embrace “peace and unity” in the country.
“They were high-ranking commanders in charge of Zakawat levy collection in this region. They had communication with us and told us that they are planning to leave the militant group,” Mohamed said. The disarmament minister of Southwest added that the government will welcome those Al Shabaab members who denounce violence and surrender, but those still with the group will be dealt with accordingly. The surrender of the two Senior Al-Shabaab commanders becomes the first of its kind since the election of the new President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo by lawmakers in February 8.
Electoral College Delegate Killed In Mogadishu
14 February – Source : Goobjoog News – 131 Words
A tribal elder who was among the Electoral College delegate who voted for members of the 10th parliament has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Somalia’s capital on Monday night, sources said. A witness who did not want to be named said that the delegate who was identified as Bashiir Mohamed Ali was gunned down outside a mosque in Hodan district. Ali was murdered by two men armed with pistols while on his way to his residence.
The killers are reported to have escaped from the scene immediately after shooting dead the delegate, according to the eyewitness. Somali security forces reached the scene of the incident and launched operation to arrest the perpetrators. This comes as Al-Shabaab militant group have vowed to kill anybody who participates in Somalia’s parliamentary election.
Galmudug And SNA Forces Launch An Operation Toward Harardhere
14 February – Source: Dhacdo.com – 119 Words
Reports from the Mudug region in Southern Somalia indicate that forces belonging to the Galmudug state backed by Somali National Army(SNA) have launched an offensive against Al-Shabaab. The forces yesterday captured the town of Camaara in Mudug region and have today embarked on an offensive towards the road leading to Harardhere. The town of Harardhere was for years under the control of Al-Shabaab. Its reported that Somali commandos are part of the offensive aimed at liberating the town. There has been reports of low flying planes in the area of Camaara and its environs, according to residents. An official from Galmadug has told Dhacdo.com that the aim of the offensive is to liberate the town of Harardhere.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
New Burundi Battle Group Arrives In Somalia
14 February – Source: AMISOM- 313 Words
A new battle group from Burundi has arrived in Mogadishu to replace soldiers of the 34th battalion who are rotating out after completing one-year tour of duty in Somalia.The soldiers from the 40th battalion of the Burundi National Defence Force (BNDF), who will serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), were upbeat about their assignment in Somalia.
Speaking on arrival at the Mogadishu International Airport on Monday, the battalion’s commander, Major Leonidas Nsingirankabo, said his soldiers were ready for the task ahead and promised to do their best to help stabilize Somalia.“My soldiers are ready for the task ahead to fight Al-Shabaab and contribute in stabilizing Somalia. We will engage them by observing all the international rules on war by ensuring our soldiers remain disciplined to win the support of the people of Somalia”, Major Nsingirankabo added.
The Chief of Operations of the Burundi soldiers in Somalia, Col Anicet Barusasiyeko, bid farewell to the soldiers rotating out and welcomed those deployed to take over their responsibilities.“Effectively, for those who are rotating out, we have briefed them on what to expect when they get back to Burundi,” Col. Barusasiyeko said, adding; “Those arriving will also be briefed on the task ahead before they are deployed. We shall take them through orientation on what to expect.”
Iran Gets 8 Sailors Freed From Somali Pirates: MP
14 February – Source: Press TV- 250 Words
Eight Iranian sailors have been freed from captivity of pirates in Somalia, an Iranian lawmaker has announced, as efforts continue for the release of the remaining captives.Ali Yar Mohammadi, an Iranian MP said Monday that the eight sailors were freed as a result of negotiations between Senegal’s embassy in Somalia and the pirates. The lawmaker, who was speaking to a media outlet associated with the Iranian state TV, said head of consular affairs office at Iran’s Foreign Ministry had confirmed the release of the sailors.Yar Mohammadi said the sailors were now in the Senegalese embassy in Mogadishu.
This comes six months after the crew members of an Iranian fishing vessel, which fell prey to pirates in May 2016, managed to escape from the chains of the kidnappers.Reports suggest that 12 other sailors, from a separate Iranian boat, are still in captivity. The pirates have demanded a large ransom for their release. Piracy used to be a major problem in the Gulf of Aden as Somali pirates frequently attacked ships, seized their cargoes and kidnapped crew members, later demanding ransom for their release. However, over the past years, the threat has largely been contained after international warships took to the area to protect trade vessels. In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The lesson for Kenya is the way in which the Somali people accepted the change of leadership. All the Presidents elected under this electoral system have been one term presidents. The Somalis have simply refused to extend their terms reflecting their impatience and their desire to see quick change.”
Lessons Derived From Somalia Polls
13 February – Source : The Standard Digital – 942 Words
It is an understatement to admit that our neighbour to the North East, Somalia, is dynamic. Though classified as a failed state, Somalia epitomises the endurance of the human spirit. The people of Somalia have been to hell and back. They have existed (some still do) in some of the most abhorrent human conditions you can ever imagine. For a quarter of century, these people have been killed and murdered, humiliated, abused, tortured, promised false hope. New beginnings have become false dawns. It all started with the fall of the regime of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
Somalia degenerated into a free fall. Sometimes it has looked as if Somalia is turning the corner then bang, something just happens. So much effort has gone into trying to rebuild Somalia from the rubble yet it is the wisdom that lifting Somalia out of the abyss ultimately depends on Somalis. A lot of them though have taken courageous steps to get their country back on its feet. Yet those efforts get undermined as often as they are made. To many Somalis, Donald Trump’s travel ban on seven mostly Muslim countries including Somalia is the latest of a string of this humiliation. Some of them are eager to pick up their belongings and leave the burning house behind. When that door closes in their faces, only them know what pain that causes. But something significant happened last week; the election of the new President Mohamed Abdullahi popularly known as ‘Farmajo’ (Italian for Cheese; probably he liked cheese when he was a child) offers Somalia another dose of hope.
Actually, there were no real elections. Somalia uses an Electoral College system to elect their leaders. Some 14,000 elders from different clans are selected at the grassroots and they in turn choose members of parliament who in turn elect the President. It is a perfected form of negotiated democracy. It is however a system most Somalis agree to and are happy with; something similar to the Greek democracy during the times of Socrates.Since some form of order has returned to Somalia mostly in the capital Mogadishu under the watchful eyes of the African Union troops (Amisom), the Somali people have managed to elect four different people to become president. The President of Somalia also has very little powers. He controls the capital. The rest of the country is under the control of mainly Al-Shabaab and a few other equally powerless regional governments.
TOP TWEETS
@HassanIstiila: More than 100 of Southwest state lawmakers have signed a no confidence motion against the president Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. #Somalia
@M_Farmaajo: This is the personal twitter account of 9th President of Federal Republic of #Somalia.
@Goobjoognews: EDITORIAL: UAE naval base deal with Somaliland must be scrutinized by the Federal Government
@Daudoo: BREAKING: #Somalia govt rejects #Somaliland parliament’s approval of the establishment of #UAE military base in #Berbera, calls it unlawful
@UNdeClercq: Fruitful mtg yesterday w/President @M_Farmaajo. Top priority: Address critical #drought in #Somalia. @UN will support in every possible way!
@alihwarsame:#Somalia is facing huge political, social & economic challenges & the only way out is patience, good faith & collaboration among all actors
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo Meets with representative from the International community to discuss with ways to counter the current drought situation the country.
Photo: Radio Muqdisho