February 20, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Qoryooley Clashes Lull As Sides Call For Reinforcements
20 Feb – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 109 Words
Heavy fighting which erupted between two clan militias on Thursday in Qoryooley town has reportedly lulled as the warring parties call for more reinforcements. A local resident in the town whose name has been withheld due to security concerns told Goobjoog FM that the tension eased temporarily. People are moving away from the town and surrounding areas fearing the clashes, and the current tense situation. The administration of Qoryooley district and the traditional elders did comment on the clashes, and have not mentioned initiatives to ease the hostility.
Key Headlines
- Qoryooley Clashes Lull As Sides Call For Reinforcements (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali Entrepreneur Raises $100 Million To Revolutionize Money Transfer Industry (Sahan Journal)
- Galgadud Governor Asks Aid For Families Displaced By Guriel Clashes (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Seafarers Call For Assistance From The Government (Radio Danan)
- NUSOJ MAP and VIKES Hold Training On Principles Of Journalism Freedom Of Expression And Ethics For 30 Journalists In Garowe (Somali Update)
- DP William Ruto Says Kenya Keen To Stabilise Somalia Open Embassy In Mogadishu (Standard Media)
- EAC To Consider S. Sudan Somalia Request To Join Bloc (Daily Monitor)
- More Than War: ‘Captain Phillips’ Star Hopes For Another Somalia (AFP/Yahoo News)
- Bandy Builds Bridges For Somali Refugees (Nordstjernan)
- Dispatches: Overlooking The Cost To Somalia’s Civilians (HRW)
- Delivering Humanitarian Aid In Somalia: Islamic Identity Doesn’t Automatically Unlock Access To Areas Controlled By Al-Shabaab – New Report (Somali Current)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali Entrepreneur Raises $100 Million To Revolutionize Money Transfer Industry
20 Feb – Source: Sahan Journal – 384 Words
A Somali man has raised $100 million for his online money transfer startup, WorldRemit, a London-based company that lets expats and migrant workers send money to friends and family back home, Wired magazine reported Wednesday. Ismail Ahmed, CEO and founder of WorldRemit, said the company will use the latest round of funding to bring its low-cost transfer service to more countries. Customers can now send money from 50 countries and receive money in 117 countries, but the company hopes to expand into more countries. “WorldRemit believes that sending money should be fast, simple and fairly priced. By taking an offline industry online, we are able to achieve those goals for the benefit of all our customers,” Ismail told Wired in November. WorldRemit, launched in 2010, employs more than 100 people, mainly based in London.
The quick expansion of the online company comes at a critical time when Somali money transfer companies are struggling to find banks willing to work with them to transfer money overseas. Major banks in the West have already cut off relations with the hawalas over fears of money laundering and terror financing. Ismail said he was thinking about revolutionizing the money transfer system for a long time after he became frustrated with the inadequacies and high cost that hawalas impose on their customers. “Years after the internet had revolutionised other industries, such as travel and shopping, this particular financial service remained largely untouched by the financial revolution,” he said. “I came to realise that the person who was going to make that happen was me. It previously received $40 million funding from Accel Partners. The latest $100 million round of venture financing came from Technology Crossover Ventures and Accel Partners. “We are raising this funding to primarily drive growth in the U.S.,” Ismail told The Denver Post. “We will be doing a lot of hiring in Denver.” Ismail said the effects of the “internet revolution” will eventually force the money transfer industry to change the way it operates. “People will no longer tolerate the inconvenience and expense of using offline, brick and mortar agents when they can just pick up their smartphone and send money quickly and at low cost to friends and family around the world,” he said.
Galgadud Governor Asks Aid For Families Displaced By Guriel Clashes
19 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 157 Words
The Galgadud administration has asked for urgent aid for families displaced by recent clashes in Guriel town. Galgadud Governor Hussein Ali Wehlie (Irfo) said the affected people are in desperate need of immediate humanitarian aid such as water and food. He called on the Somali Government, humanitarian agencies, business-people and diaspora to provide emergency support to these families, whom he said were mainly women, children and elderly people. Some of them include former IDPs who fled from Mogadishu, Elbur, Elgaras, Elqohle and Galhareri. He said his administration alone was unable to address their plight. The displaced families camping on the outskirts of the town have not yet received any aid apart from water distribution they received from the local administration. They fled the town to escape fighting between Somali government forces and militias from the Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a group who are vying for control of the town.
Seafarers Call For Assistance From The Government
19 Feb – Source: Radio Danan – 112 Words
Somali seafarers have called for the Somali Federal Government to work with them. Bare Sheikh Mohamud Dhagool, one of the Somali seafarers, called for the Somali PM to work hand in hand with Somali seafarers. Speaking to Danan he requested recognition for the seafarers.“I call on Prime Minister Omar to work with us and to bring ships even if it is ten ships so that the citizens of this country can utilize the marine natural resources of the country,” Dhagool said. Most Somali seafarers became idle during the civil war, and the federal government of Somalia is yet to re-establish the Somali Seafarers Association.
NUSOJ, MAP and VIKES Hold Training On Principles Of Journalism, Freedom Of Expression And Ethics For 30 Journalists In Garowe
20 Feb – Source: Somali Update – 749 Words
Training on principles of journalism, freedom of expression and journalism ethics, co-organized by the Media Association of Puntland (MAP), the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (VIKES), was successfully concluded in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland State. The training that was held from February 17 to 19, 2015 attracted 30 working journalists from all regions of Puntland, representing more than 20 different local and national media organizations. The training intended to enhance high professionalism and integrity among Somali journalists and is part of a three-year support programme for the Somali media sector, a partnership programme funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. At the opening of the training, Mohamed Ibrahim, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists, briefed the participants about the training programme and thanked the Media Association for Puntland for all the practical arrangements of the training and their warm welcome.
“I am very delighted to be here in Garowe with you at this important training,” the NUSOJ Secretary General, Mohamed Ibrahim said. “I am pleased that the training has special value by bringing expertise from both Somalia and Finland to empower local journalists drawn from various regions of Puntland.” Peik Johansson, journalist from Finland and programme coordinator of VIKES, explained that as a journalist organization VIKES closely cooperates with journalists in different countries, Somalia one among them. He said that the training in Garowe is focusing on the basic principles of journalism, professional ethics and the importance of freedom of expression. He added that it is part of larger training and support programme for Somali journalists and Somali media in general. “So, we are very honoured to be here as this is the first journalist training occasion within this training programme that is organized here in the Puntland State of Somalia,” Peik Johansson said, adding that he was very happy to see so many colleagues from all parts of Puntland. “And I am especially glad that so many women journalists are present at this training.”
The General Secretary of the Media Association for Puntland, Fatima Mohamed Mohamud, took to the floor welcoming the participants, some of whom travelled from far to attend the training, and she also welcomed the facilitators from NUSOJ and VIKES who have come an even longer way to train MAP member journalists. “Welcome to Garowe, welcome to Puntland,” Fatima Mohamed Mohamud said, urging fellow journalists to take full advantage of the training in order to help them shape their reporting and story-telling experience. She also said that she was very proud to see a female trainer among the facilitators, referring to journalist and journalism trainer Nasra Abdirizak. Puntland Minister of Information Abdiwali Hersi Abdille officially opened the workshop and cordially welcomed the efforts made by VIKES, NUSOJ and MAP in organizing the training aimed at boosting the capacity of media professionals in Puntland. “I am very happy to attend this tasty workshop with high value,” Abdiwali Hersi Abdille, Puntland Minister of Information said, “Because it combines journalists from Puntland, Somalia and Finland. I want to specifically thank Abdiweli Hashi from Finland and asked him during our meeting to stay here for more days to train our journalists in Puntland.”
Finally, the minister urged the journalists to grasp this opportunity to further their professionalism and called on all journalists and the media in Puntland to work towards establishing peace in the region. The minister also praised the journalists and the media in Puntland for their role in the current peace in the regions. “The workshop is open and do please keep me updated about the outcome of the training.” Minister Abdiwali said. The three-day training, which was successfully concluded on Thursday 19 February, has been participatory and interactive with full participation of the journalists. The training sessions included presentations from the facilitators followed by practical group work, debates and a panel session. This is the first time such a joint workshop was organized by the national journalist union NUSOJ in collaboration with its Puntland regional affiliate MAP. NUSOJ and VIKES arranged several training events for Somali journalists in Mogadishu in 2014 as part of the support programme for empowering Somali journalists, including in-house trainings at local media houses. Outcomes from the previous trainings have been successful, including some more investigative documentaries produced by the trainees.
REGIONAL MEDIA
DP William Ruto Says Kenya Keen To Stabilise Somalia, Open Embassy In Mogadishu
20 Feb – Source: Standard Media – 618 Words
Deputy President William Ruto Friday said Kenya would assist in stabilising individual states of the Federal Government of Somalia as prerequisite to bringing stability to the whole country and the region at large. Noting that Kenya had no other interest in Somalia other than bringing peace and stability to the country, the Deputy President maintained that Kenya was in Somalia to help rid the country of dangerous elements that have undermined peace in the country and the region at large. “We do not want anybody to take advantage of the fragile situation in Somalia and incubate people to destabilize the country and the region,” the DP said. The DP was speaking when he held talks with the President of South West State of Somalia Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan who paid him a courtesy call at his official residence in Karen.
He appealed to leaders of the Federal States of Somalia to work together, noting that the challenges faced by the country should not be magnified by individual differences among the leaders. Saying that Kenya was ready and willing to participate in the reconstruction of Somalia through the Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC), the DP stated that the JCC would come out with mechanism to source for resources for training the police, teachers and paramedics among other professionals for the Somali government. “We are willing to share our expertise in infrastructure development, in education and in training the police in our efforts in stabilizing Somalia,” Ruto said. “If the request is made through the JCC a mechanism would be found out how to raise the resources.” The DP went on to say that Kenya would open an embassy in Mogadishu this year to help in deepening the bilateral relations between the two countries adding that he would be visiting Somalia later in the year to help create the right perception about Somalia. “As African leaders, we should be in the frontline in helping our brothers and sisters in Somalia,” he said. “We can be limited in capacity but not in willingness to assist.”
EAC To Consider S. Sudan, Somalia Request To Join Bloc
20 Feb – Source: Daily Monitor – 225 Words
South Sudan and Somalia’s plea to join the East African Community is one of the major topics the regional heads of States will be discussing today in Nairobi. This will be at the 16th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State to be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Kenya. The EAC secretary general, Dr Richard Sezibera, said: “Negotiations for the admission of the Republic of South Sudan into the EAC, verification of the application of the Federal Republic of Somalia will be priority matters on agenda”. Last year, the government of South Sudan pleaded with the EAC member states not to reject them because of the violence that had engulfed the country. The Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, Mr James Wani Igga, while meeting the EAC high level technical mission, said: “South Sudan, being a young nation, still needs support and integration from the “older” nations within the region”. In June 2011, South Sudan applied to join the bloc, and a verification Committee from the EAC visited the country a year later to establish the its level of conformity to the EAC regulations. However, in April last year, South Sudan halted negotiations because of the instability that broke out at the close of 2013 in this country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
More Than War: ‘Captain Phillips’ Star Hopes For Another Somalia
20 Feb – Source: AFP/Yahoo News – 665 Words
As a gun-toting Somali pirate, Barkhad Abdi was terrifying, earning an Oscar-nomination for his role in “Captain Phillips” with the chilling line to Tom Hanks: “I am the captain now.” They liked it in Somalia too: when Abdi returned to his birth nation for the first time in more than two decades, he was mobbed by fans who “wanted their photograph with me”, he said. But the image of Somalia as shown in such films of relentless war, famine and piracy is one the 29-year-old is determined to change. “I didn’t see a war, I didn’t see a single gunshot the whole time I was there – and I didn’t see a pirate either,” Abdi told AFP in a green garden in the Kenyan capital, days after returning from Somalia earlier this month “The Somalia I saw was a country that was in the process of being rebuilt. There is more there than war, drought, and hunger.” Before “Captain Phillips”, Somalia was known to outsiders because of “Black Hawk Down”, the 2001 blockbuster telling the story of the 1993 battle in Mogadishu, when American soldiers fought through the capital after two of their helicopters were shot down.
Abdi, who won a BAFTA as best supporting actor for his role in the 2013 film “Captain Phillips”, dreams some day of a film that shows a different side of Somalia. “I hope to tell a different story, because there are so many inspirational people, stories of struggle,” he said. “There is a lost generation, and now that I have a voice, I want to help them out.” Abdi was born in the Somali capital Mogadishu six years before war followed the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991. The country is still one of the most violent and dangerous on earth. Large areas remain at war, with the Al-Qaeda affiliated Shebab insurgents staging regular attacks to topple the government. But outside main war zones in the south, some progress is being made. Barkhad visited Somalia’s northern Puntland region to see the work of the Somali aid agency Adeso, which trains unemployed youth by giving them practical skills. “It is not as bad as people think,” Abdi said. “We still need a lot of help, but we don’t just need food and money — we need structure, strong government and we need peace, we need our people to help themselves and be independent.”
Bandy Builds Bridges For Somali Refugees
19 Feb – Source: Nordstjernan – 891 Words
Take a soccer field, fill it with water, let it freeze and then spend 90 minutes skating on it. Add in a shortened, field hockey-like stick and a small pink or orange ball and you have bandy. A prototypically Nordic sport, bandy requires strength, finesse and stamina. The two 11-player teams skate an average of six to eight miles in a match. The rink is outdoors where the elements are often as important as the players’ skills. Sweden, Finland and Russia have long been the bandy banner carriers, with the Swedes leading a losing effort to have bandy included in the Winter Olympics. Although not as popular as hockey or football, bandy holds a special place for Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, Danes (and yes, even the Russians) who view it as their sport. That, however, could be changing. At the recently concluded Bandy World Championship for second-tier teams, a new face emerged as a contender — or at least participant: Somalia. No, it’s not a misprint. Somalia.
The Somali National Bandy team owes its existence largely to the liberal immigration and refugee policy of Sweden. Every player but one now lives in Sweden and plays for Borlänge Bandy. How they made the transition from the hot sands of Somalia to the frozen rinks of Borlänge has become something of an international feel-good sports story. “Bandy is a lot like football, except you are skating,” said Somali team captain Ahmed Ahmed. “Of course you have the short stick and you are shooting a small pink ball and if you score one goal it is just one point, just like football.” Many of the Somali players never saw ice or snow until they left their war-torn homeland and fled to Sweden. Upon arrival, they faced the same sort of problems all immigrants face as they tried to learn a new culture, language and most of all, adjust to the climate. Although football — or soccer — is the top sport in their country, a small group of Somalis wanted to learn more about winter sports. Hockey was a bit too fast and physical, but bandy … bandy fit the bill.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“You could cry if you see how many children and elderly people are suffering. But we are expecting a peace deal in Guri’el in order to return to our houses,” said Hassan, referring to negotiations currently underway that are brokering an initial ceasefire.”
Dispatches: Overlooking The Cost To Somalia’s Civilians
19 Feb – Source: Human Rights Watch – 451 Words
When fighting broke out in the central Somali town of Guri’el last week, it was a stark reminder of how political power struggles can take a harsh toll on civilians. Although it’s unclear how many civilians have been killed and injured, hundreds are reported to have fled. On February 10, the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a (ASWJ) militia, a Sufi Islamist group,attacked Guri’el, recapturing it from the Somali National Army. A doctor at the main hospital told us that over the course of two days they treated 21 civilians, including 11 women and at least 3 children between 3 and 13 years old, all with bullet wounds. A local journalist said he had seen three dead civilians. On the second day of fighting, an elderly woman was killed when fighters took shelter in her home; a relative, Hassan (not his real name), told us she was shot in the back of the neck as she tried to escape. He said two of his neighbors had also been killed.
“The government forces and ASWJ militia fight in the town without any consideration for civilians,” Hasan said. “We have no shelter and no hope that the warring parties will respect our humanity.” This was the latest skirmish between ASWJ and government forces over this strategic town, which had been the militia’s stronghold for years. Government forces haven’t won back the town.And this is but one of Somalia’s simmering armed conflicts, which are all often overshadowed in the media by the armed Islamist group Al-Shabaab. In central Somalia, political maneuvering and clan differences over the possible establishment of a new state have increased tensions. The stakes are high, and unfortunately the region’s leaders have learned that showing a strong arm is often one of the best ways to get a seat at the table when states and leadership are being defined.
“Despite the challenges of operating in Somalia, the OIC was able to distribute 25,000 tonnes of food – enough to feed around 25,000-25,000 people over six months. They helped coordinate many Islamic and Somali NGOs and food was delivered to those in need rapidly.”
Delivering Humanitarian Aid In Somalia: Islamic Identity Doesn’t Automatically Unlock Access To Areas Controlled By Al-Shabaab – New Report
19 Feb – Source: Somali Current – 487 Words
Being a Muslim humanitarian organisation doesn’t instantly open doors when trying to provide aid in conflict zones controlled by Islamic extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia, finds leading UK think tank the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in a report launched today. The report debunks the commonly-held belief that Islamic extremist groups automatically grant access to Muslim humanitarian organisations, and reveals how Islamic and Somali NGOs coordinated by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gained access into Al-Shabaab held territory during the 2011 famine because they had the necessary existing local networks, rather than due to their Islamic identity or the links with the OIC.
According to the report co-author and ODI researcher from the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG), Eva Svoboda, “Islamic identity is no silver bullet to negotiating access to people in need with groups such as Al-Shabaab. It can help, but it’s far too simplistic to assume it’s a catch-all.” “Debunking this simplistic view is important as many of today’s conflict zones such as Syria and Iraq have become contested sites controlled by extremist groups professing Islamic faith, and negotiating with armed groups to gain access to people who are in desperate need of humanitarian aid is a constant challenge for all aid agencies,” added Ms. Svoboda. While the OIC has a strong reputation in Somalia and history of delivering aid worldwide for over 20 years, the regional organisation did not negotiate for access and instead focused its efforts on quickly marshalling funds from its member states.
Top tweets
@DalsanFM_SOM: BREAKING: #Somalia Central Hotel is under attack ,Deputy PM & at least 10 ministers are in the hotel. More to follow.
@AU_PSD: New #Somalia cabinet includes 3 female senior ministers & is composed mainly of technocrats, not politicians –#AMISOM SRCC @MamanSidikou1
@Oxfam: How clean water has changed lives of displaced families in #Somalia: http://oxf.am/Zq8e “I view our future w/ optimism & encouragement.”
@hrwdispatches: Dispatches: Overlooking the Cost to Somalia’s Civilians http://trib.al/z0CFaEN
@Hamza_M_O_Egal: #Economic interest in #Africa is warranted nevertheless we must address #regulatory #capacitiesespecially. #Environmental #law #Somalia
@UN_Women: Midwifery school in #Somalia helps tackle harsh conditions for women http://ow.ly/JhSRQ via @HuffPostImpact
@alihoshow: #Djibouti President will arrive in #Somalia to attend the opening ceremony of the regional academic of #Somalilanguage
Image of the day
A Djiboutian delegation led by General Zakariye Sheikh Ibrahim, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for Djibouti arrived in Beletweyne town where he is expected to visit all AMISOM sector four military bases in Hiran region. Photo: AMISOM