February 22, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Foreign envoys make beeline to Somalia
22 Feb- Source: Africa Review- 550 words
More than 20 countries have deployed envoys to Somalia in the last five months following end of internal strife in the country. On Thursday, Somalia President Hassan Mohamud received the newly appointed Japanese ambassador to Somalia the Toshihisa Takata.
After accepting letters of credential from the ambassador, the President said: “Japan is among the first countries to directly engage with our government and we welcome you to a recovering Mogadishu at this essential time. Japan has contributed over $200m to the stabilisation of Somalia since 2007 and we gratefully acknowledge your continued unconditional support to Somalia.”
The President stated, “More than 20 countries have sent ambassadors to recommence direct diplomatic relations with Somalia in less than five months more and more countries are in the process of doing so. This is the direct result of the stability achieved by our security forces in partnership Amison.”
A statement from President Mohamud office also said he received USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.
Key Headlines
- Kalmoy meets Sudan’s Transport and Roads minister in Khartoum (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali foreign minister talks of UN tour (Radio Kulmiye/Universal TV/Horn Cable TV)
- Foreign envoys make beeline to Somalia (Africa Review)
- Former Bay region Governor escorted by armed forces to Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
- Ethiopian PM praises progress made in Somalia (Waltainfo/ENA)
- Al Shabaab releases detained medics (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Security operation underway to arrest Garissa killers (Coastweek/ Xinhua)
- Turkish Ministers to visit Somalia and Sudan (World Bulletin)
- U.S. Promises More Food Aid for Somalia ( New York Times)
SOMALI MEDIA
Kalmoy meets Sudan’s Transport and Roads minister in Khartoum
22 Feb – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu – 108 words
Somalia’s Public Works Minister Mohyadin Mohamed Kalmoy who is in Sudan for official visit on Thursday held talks with Sudanese Transport and Roads minister Ahmed Babakir in Khartoum.
The two ministers discussed range of issues including strengthening cooperation between their two ministries, with Babikir reiterating his government’s commitment to support Somalia.
Kalmoy said they agreed to form a joint technical committee who will be finalising a deal signed between the two ministries, adding that Sudanese expats will soon visit Mogadishu to assess Somalia’s current situation.
In mid January, Sudan’s envoys to Somalia Abdulmun’in Taysir visited Mogadishu to deliver a formal invitation from Sudanese Transport and Roads ministry to Kalmoy.
Former Bay region Governor escorted by armed forces to Mogadishu
21 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 144 words
Sacked Governor of Somalia’s Bay region, Abdifatah Mohamed Geesey was escorted by armed forces and put on a plane to Mogadishu, after he had refused to accept the new governor, Garowe Online reports. According to government sources, a plane sent from the Somali National Security forces was sent to Baidoa to take the former Governor to Mogadishu.
The sources told GO that they couldn’t verify if Geesey was arrested or take into custody. Former Governor Geesey and the new Bay region Governor Abdi Adan Hasow had been at odds which caused a security scare in the region.
The new regional officials assigned to Baidoa were unable to work due to the dispute. Earlier this month, a delegation from Mogadishu was sent to smooth things over. Geesey had publicly stated that he was still governor and according to sources had the support of many military officers.
Al Shabaab releases detained medics
22 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 88 words
Al Shabaab militant group in central Somali village of Halgan Thursday evening released two doctors from a militant run cell in the area where they were being held since February 16.
The doctors were arrested shortly after arriving at the village from Beledweyne and were accused of working for a banned aid agency in the region.
A local nurse who received them during their arrival at the village was also set free with several binding conditions. They were barred from returning to areas where the said organisation still works.
Somali foreign minister talks of UN tour
21 Feb- Source: Radio Kulmiye/Universal TV/Horn Cable TV- 174 words
The foreign minister of the Somali government Fowziya Yussuf Haji has returned back to the country after completing her tour to the United Nations.
Speaking to journalists, the minister said she argued Somalia’s case in front of the United Nations where she has tabled different point, including better developments for Somalia.
Ms Fowziya Yussef added that she spoke about AMISOM in Somalia and how the government need to be transformed since the country left the transitional period.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Foreign envoys make beeline to Somalia
22 Feb- Source: Africa Review- 550 words
More than 20 countries have deployed envoys to Somalia in the last five months following end of internal strife in the country. On Thursday, Somalia President Hassan Mohamud received the newly appointed Japanese ambassador to Somalia the Toshihisa Takata.
After accepting letters of credential from the ambassador, the President said: “Japan is among the first countries to directly engage with our government and we welcome you to a recovering Mogadishu at this essential time. Japan has contributed over $200m to the stabilisation of Somalia since 2007 and we gratefully acknowledge your continued unconditional support to Somalia.”
The President stated, “More than 20 countries have sent ambassadors to recommence direct diplomatic relations with Somalia in less than five months more and more countries are in the process of doing so. This is the direct result of the stability achieved by our security forces in partnership Amison.”
A statement from President Mohamud office also said he received USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.
Security operation underway to arrest Garissa killers
22 Feb- Source: Coastweek/ Xinhua- 584 words
A major security operation is underway in northern Kenyan close to the border with Somalia to arrest those behind early Thursday’s murder of seven people.
Garissa County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed said security forces are combing the nearby bush of Maleiley village near the Kenya border with Somalia in a bid to arrest those who were involved in killings.
“We want to assure members of the public that we will not rest until we apprehend these people. We are told that the 20 individuals who were all armed with AK-47 guns might have crossed to Somalia.
ISSP of IGAD adopts implementation plan 2013
21 Feb- Source: Waltainfo/ENA- 196 words
IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP), an outfit of IGAD, officially adopts its implementation plan for 2013. This is the first meeting after ISSP went transition from its earlier duties under its former name ICPAT.
Addis Ababa hosted the meeting of the Steering Committee of ISSP on Tuesday, 19 February 2013.
The Steering Committee meeting adopted terms of reference for ISSP. ISSP also adopted implementation plan for the year 2013 that sees to spend a budget of over 2.9 million USD to run activities that help to better shape security concerns of the IGAD region.
ISSP is mandated to search for mechanisms and help build capacity in combating terrorism and piracy, human trafficking, plus money laundering in the sub region.
It also envisages finding ways to stop dumping of toxic waste in the Indian Ocean and in the Somalia ocean line.
IGAD Executive Secretary Eng. Mahboub Maalim said management and prevention of security threats in the IGAD region ultimately support the creation of enabling environment for economic integration.
Ethiopian PM praises progress made in Somalia
21 Feb- Source: Waltainfo/ENA- 325 words
Prime Minister Hailemairam Dessalegn has praised the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, for his strong cross-border initiatives in support for global peace and stability.
In an interview published in the Qatari Daily newspaper, Al Sharq on February PM Hailemairam praised the progress made in Somalia with the election of a President and a Parliament, and underlined the country’s economic revitalization.
The Prime Minister, who is also the African Union Chairperson, stressed the importance of support from the international community but underlined the need to solve African issues within the African context and under an African umbrella.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Turkish Ministers to visit Somalia and Sudan
21 Feb – Source: World Bulletin – 110 words
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag and Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz will pay visits to Somalia and Sudan between February 22 and 24.
Within the scope of Somalia visit, Bozdag and Yilmaz will meet president and prime minister in Mogadishu as well as attend groundbreaking ceremonies of a mosque, school and orphanage.
On the second day of their visit, ministers Bozdag and Yilmaz will proceed to Khartoum, capital of Sudan, and visit a laboratory built by Turkey, and inaugurate a professional and technical training center.
Turkey is the first country which opened an embassy in Mogadishu, while Turkish Airlines (THY) is the first airline company which started flights to Somalia.
U.S. Promises More Food Aid for Somalia
21 Feb – Source: New York Times – 114 words
An American delegation led by the administrator of the Agency for International Development, Rajiv Shah, met with Somali leaders in Mogadishu, the capital, on Thursday and announced $20 million in new American food aid for Somalia.
Mr. Shah said that after two decades of conflict, famine and terrorism, it was necessary not only to address Somalia’s “critical emergency needs” but also to promote stability and recovery.
“It is important now to build a government and capacity for this country to become self-sufficient and to prosper economically so that children don’t die because they don’t have food to eat,” Mr. Shah said. In January, Washington formally recognized Somalia’s government for the first time since 1991.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Still, Somali journalists are wary. Authorities have pledged their concern in the past, and yet arbitrary detentions and killings of Somali journalists continued. “Well we shall wait and see,” said one local journalist who preferred not to be named, “but so far we need less announcements and more action.”
Will talk of stronger Somali justice lead to action?
21 Feb – Source: CPJ Blog – 676 Words
Spirits of journalists in Somalia, the most dangerous country in Africa to practice the profession, were lifted slightly this week after Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon made several auspicious announcements. The key concern on the minds of journalists in the capital, Mogadishu, is access to justice–both in terms of journalists’ own court appearances and in terms of solving the many outstanding murder cases of their colleagues. Twelve journalists were killed in the line of duty last year, the worst on record, and there hasn’t been a single prosecution.
After a consultative meeting February 16 with the journalist union and government officials, Shirdon announced a $50,000 public reward for information leading to the conviction of a journalist killer. “One journalist killed is one journalist too many,” Shirdon said via Twitter. Authorities and journalists alike hope the offer may curb the trend of impunity; for the third consecutive year, Somalia ranked second on CPJ’s Impunity Index, which calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population.
Ahmed Ali Abukar, head of protocol and public relations in the premier’s office, said he hopes the announcement will encourage those who may have information regarding journalist murders but fear retribution to be emboldened to come forward. New York Times correspondent and union leader Mohamed Ibrahim welcomed the reward offer. “We also hope it may act as a message to the killers of journalists that their chances of being identified and prosecuted are greater than before. Maybe it will act as a deterrent.”
“Hargeisa is a city with great potential. It is the capital of a nation seeking recognition from the international community and its economical and political heart. However, with so much hope invested in it by everyone, it could end up letting the nation down. It is too populated, increasingly divided, poorly and confusingly governed as well as expensive. This is not the recipe for city survival and success.”
Hargeisa: a city on the edge
21 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online – 2281 Words
The Capital city of the self declared independent State of Somaliland has much to be proud of. It is home, by conservative estimates, to more than a million people and it is the national centre of commerce. By simply observing the growing corporate skyline, it is evident that this reputation will only grow. More than any other city in Somaliland, Hargeisa, is a place of great tribal diversity and the unrecognised nation’s political heart.
Since breaking off the unity forged after independence with the South in 1991, Somalilanders, as the nations citizens like to be called, were governed from Hargeisa. The capital of any nation is the focal point for politics, business, trade and individual ambition. Hargeisa is no different. Today like Bombay and London, Hargeisa is a city facing enormous problems that can only be resolved by visionary leadership, political will and national economic redistribution.
Globalisation has led to a larger concentration of people internationally living in cities than ever before. In 2007 the global urban population overtook the rural one and the speed of urbanisation, especially in developing nations, is phenomenal and unsustainable. Much of the reason why so many want to come and live in Hargeisa is because they feel it offers the best hopes for employment in the whole country. All NGOs, businesses and government departments are clustered in specific areas of the capital and as such it is easy to see why people, often with stable lives elsewhere will be attracted to the city.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia PHOTOS OF THE DAY: #AMISOM Djiboutian contingent in #Beletweyne http://on.fb.me/11YYr9h @TheVillaSomalia #Somalia wg
@KenRoth It’s no time for Netherlands to end its suspension of deportations to #Somalia. Wait for UN refugee agency, says @HRW http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/
@mary_harper #Japan appoints ambassador to #Somalia. #Somali president says more than 20 countries have appointed ambassadors to Somalia in past 5 months
@Anisa_Hajimumin #Somali women broke their backs raising and sacrificing for their children and it’s sad their sons become ignorant about women’s rights!
@RGrynspan In case you missed it! My visit to #Somali President & @UNDPSomalia http://tinyurl.com/aoxazp4 pic.twitter.com/EtctPuCoaQ
Image of the day
Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, left and the USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, right, at a joint press conference at Mogadishu airport, Somalia, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Photo: AP