February 21, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
UN Security Council Reaffirms Its Commitment To Support Somalia’s Peace Process
21 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 202 Words
The UN Security Council on Monday reiterated its determination to support peace, stability and development in Somalia barely a day after a massive car bomb killed over thirty people. In a press statement, the 15-nation council paid tribute to all Somali and international actors working to bring peace and stability in Somalia.
The Council condemned “in the strongest terms” a terrorist attack on Sunday at Kawa-goday market in Mogadishu. “They underlined that neither this nor any other terrorist attack would weaken that determination,” said the Security Council in the statement. The statement called on all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
It also reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. “The Security Council reaffirms the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, as well as reaffirmed the need to combat the scourges in accordance with international law,” the Council urged. The death toll from Sunday’s blast in Mogadishu has risen to 35 people mostly civilians. No group has yet claimed responsibility but Al-Shabaab remains the main suspect of the attack.
Key Headlines
- UN Security Council Reaffirms Its Commitment To Support Somalia’s Peace Process (Goobjoog News)
- Dozen Foreign Trawlers Arrive Bosaso Port Amid Concerns Of Marine Exploitation (Garowe Online)
- Unconvicted Prisoners Should Be Released Speaker Jawari Says (Dhacdo.com)f
- Security Beefed Up Ahead Of President Farmaajo’s Inauguration (Radio Muqdisho)
- 1.4 Million Children At ‘Imminent Risk Of Death’ As famine Looms In East Africa Warns Unicef (International Business Times)
- Can The New Somalia President Really Deliver? (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Dozen Foreign Trawlers Arrive Bosaso Port Amid Concerns Of Marine Exploitation
21 February – Source : Garowe Online – 171 Words
Foreign fishing trawlers were reported to have reached Bosaso Port recently in an attempt to secure fishing licenses from Puntland government amid public concerns of marine resource depletion and illicit fishing practices that affected the livelihood of local fishermen. Ministry of Fishing and Marine Resources in Puntland state issues licenses to vessels and trawlers in return for fees that is undisclosed to the public, however, this unregulated process has only facilitated illicit fishing practices that damaged marine resources.
Close sources tell Garowe Online that those trawlers owned by companies in South Korea and Thailand are holding talks with officials from Ministry of Fishing and local businessmen to reach a deal on the fishing licenses, but dispute on the fees has halted the process.
“Those officials are associated with illicit activities that provoked exploitation of marine resources in Puntland,” said the source who spoke under a condition of anonymity. Other top Puntland officials are also believed to have links to the illegal fishing activities that endangers natural marine resources of the state.
Unconvicted Prisoners Should Be Released, Speaker Jawari Says
21 February – Source: Dhacdo.com – 151 Words
The Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, Mohamed Sheikh Osman ‘Jawari’ called on branches of the justice department to release prisoners who have not been convicted. Mr. Jawari said rights of Somali citizens should be upheld and therefore no Somali should stay locked up in jail if they have not been convicted of a crime.
The speaker urged the attorney general and other top officials in the judiciary to open proper cases regarding the prisoners. “I urge the attorney general and the commissioner of prisons to look into the cases of prisoners who have not been convicted of a crime, we have to uphold the rights every Somali citizen,” Mr. Jawari said while speaking at the Central Prison in Mogadishu. The speaker also urged the judicial system to be rebuilt, citing it to be one of the weakest sectors in the country.
Security Beefed Up Ahead Of President Farmaajo’s Inauguration
21 February – Source : Radio Muqdisho – 83 Words
Security in Mogadishu has been tightened ahead of Wednesday’s inauguration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. Forces from the various armed forces were seen patrolling the streets of Mogadishu ahead of the big day. Various dignitaries are expected to attend the inauguration of the new President. The big day comes after Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo won a highly contested election held in Mogadishu.The inauguration of the new President is expected to be held in a secure zone in the capital.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
1.4 Million Children At ‘Imminent Risk Of Death’ As famine Looms In East Africa Warns Unicef
21 February – Source : International Business Times – 336 Words
Almost 1.4 million children are at imminent risk of death this year, as famine looms in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, according to the United Nations (UN). South Sudan’s government and three UN agencies on 20 February declared famine in two of the country’s counties as a result of a prolonged civil war and an entrenched economic crisis that has devastated the East African nation.
More than 270,000 children are severely malnourished in the conflict-ridden nation, according to the UN International Children’s Fund (Unicef). “Time is running out for more than a million children,” said Unicef executive director Anthony Lake. “We can still save many lives. The severe malnutrition and looming famine are largely man-made. Our common humanity demands faster action. We must not repeat the tragedy of the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa.”
In Somalia, drought conditions are threatening an already fragile population still reeling from decades of conflict. Almost half the population – 6.2 million people – are facing acute food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance. This includes some 185,000 children, who are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year. Unicef suggested this figure is expected to rise to 270,000 in the next few months.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The relationship between successive Somali Presidents and their PMs have been characterised by power struggles and public spats, as the PMs sought to assert their “independence”and fend off “interference” from the President keen to push his agenda and interests.”
Can The New Somalia President Really Deliver?
21 February – Source : Hiiraan Online – 637 Words
The election of Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” as the new Somalia President has unleashed hope not only among Somali nationals but also regional countries like Kenya keen to see law and order prevail in the war-torn nation. However, the capacity of the new leader to implement his wide-ranging agenda for the country including restoring security may be hampered by the structure of the Somali federal government itself as contained in Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution (2012).
Executive authority to craft and implement government policies and programmes and make key top state appointments lies not with the President but an unelected Prime Minister and his team of deputy prime minister (s), ministers, state ministers and deputy-ministers. While the President is the head of state, it is the Prime Minister who is the head of government, directing the day to day running of the government. This arrangement may significantly impede Farmaajo’s ability to deliver on his mandate and leave his supporters disappointed.
Farmaajo’s public perception as a performer in public officer emerged during his 8-month stint as PM between November 2010 and June 2011. At that time, his office had executive powers to determine and implement the agenda of his government. But currently as President, he lacks those powers and his impact may thus be limited. Interestingly, when asked about plans for his first 100 days, the new President seemed to recognize his limited powers, saying his job is to appoint a Prime Minister who will come up with the government programmes.
TOP TWEETS
@MarkTJones500 : Sending my best wishes to all at the Kismayo Book Fair – Happy reading. #KBF2017 #bibliophiles #Somalia
@YuusufIsse : #Somalia‘s “Economic growth may slow to 2.5% in 2017 from 3.7% last year, the #IMF estimates” said IMF’s country head Samba Thiam.
@mpfsomalia: How can dev. partners support contextualised development of #health sector in #Somalia? Roundtable discussion ongoing, w Min. of Health & IC
@SomaliaEnviron : As #Ethiopia sees it: #UAE military base will boost Somaliland-Ethiopia relations http://bit.ly/2kGmWI1 @M_Farmaajo invasion of #Somalia
@AbdulBillowAli : My report: Al-Shabaab terrorists vow to retaliate following #Somalia‘a president’s pledge.
@Vatescorp : #Somalia: Dozens of foreign trawlers arrive Bosaso Port amid concerns of marine exploitation, illegal fishing
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo meets Jubbaland President, Ahmed Mohamed.
Photo: Radio Dalsan