February 25, 2016 | Morning Headlines
International Partners Meeting In Istanbul Have Warned Against Any Obstacles Towards The September Poll In Somalia
24 February – Source: Goobjoog – 268 Words
In a joint communiqué released Wednesday after a two day High Level Partnership Forum, it was resolved curtailment of freedom of expression or any extension of terms limits both legislature and executive must be avoided at all costs. “We underline our strong expectation that there must not be any impediments to the timely implementation of the electoral process, including freedom of expression, nor any extension of the constitutionally mandated term limits of the legislature and executive,” read the statement in part.
The partners further called for the implementation of the 2016 Electoral Process Implementation Plan and the development of the 2030 Roadmap in an inclusive and participatory manner. The two-day conference which brought together representatives from over 50 countries and 11 international organizations was aimed at among others reviewing the Somali Compact, otherwise the New Deal agreed in 2013 in Brussels. The Deal is a development blueprint with key pillars notably on inclusive politics, economic development and federalization process in Somalia. The New Deal expires this year and the meeting deliberated on the way forward captured in a new development plan from 2016 to 2022.
The conference noted the need to overcome the current power sharing arrangement in Somalia which is based on clan system calling for universal suffrage ın 2020. Regarding the state formation process, the conference urged for the completion of Middle Shabelle/Hııraan state formation which has since stalled following disagreements among clans in the two regions. ‘’We underline the need to complete the state formation process in Hııraan and Mıddle Shabelle and also reach agreement on clarıfıcatıon of the status of Mogadıshu,’’ read the statement.
Key Headlines
- International Partners Meeting In Istanbul Have Warned Against Any Obstacles Towards The September Poll In Somalia (Goobjoog News)
- Allied Forces Seize Rebel-held Towns In South Central Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
- Puntland Health Ministry To Send Medical Teams To Drought-hit Areas (Villa Puntland)
- 500 Kwale Radicals Back From Somalia (The Star)
- Somalia Has Seen Less Piracy Due To Improved Governance: Expert (Hellenic Shipping News)
- Somalia Come Of Age As Somali Instructors Conduct CAF “C” License Course (Soka 25 East)
- Abdi Latif Ega And The Rejection Of The ‘African’ Novel (Africasacountry.com)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Allied Forces Seize Rebel-held Towns In South, Central Somalia
24 February – Source: Hiiraan Online – 241 Words
Somali and African Union forces retook two frontline towns in south and central Somalia from militants Wednesday, as part of a new military push aimed at recovering lost territory and opening a major road linking Somali capital to central regions, officials, residents said. Military officials told Hiiraan Online that the forces have taken control of El-Baraf, a long time rebel-held small town, 26km south of Jalalaqsi. Al-Shabaab fighters have reportedly withdrawn the town after brief clashes with the allied forces who entered the town from the southern direction.
The highway between Mogadishu and central Somalia which passes through large forests is a vital trade route that connects south, central and northern Somalia regions. Meanwhile armed villagers backed by allied forces have also retaken control of four villages in Middle Shabelle region after militants have pulled out before troops encircled the neighboring villages. Al-Shabaab hasn’t yet commented on the development, however, it comes as allied forces continue the multi-pronged offensive against the areas still under Al-Shabab group.
The offensive dubbed ‘Indian Ocean’ was halted after Al-Shabaab fighters launched multiple deadly attacks including three complex attacks on the African Union military bases in Somalia that saw militants overrun the bases since late last year that killed dozens of soldiers. Military officials said that the resumption of the offensive which was halted seven months ago gave Al Shabab more freedom to organize guerrilla attacks that saw its fighters recaptured towns and villages across Somalia.
Puntland Health Ministry To Send Medical Teams To Drought-hit Areas
24 February – Source: Villa Puntland – 110 Words
As concerted effort aimed at responding to the drought crisis in Puntland regions continues, Puntland ministry of health said it has readied medical teams to be dispatched to areas affected by the ravaging drought. At a meeting with international relief agencies, the ministry unveiled that it will send mobile medical teams to the drought-affected areas to respond to the health problems in the drought-hit areas. Due to delayed rainfalls and water shortages, drought has affected many parts in Somalia, particularly in Puntland. The government of Puntland with the help of international aid agencies is planning to reach out to people affected by the drought in various regions.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
500 Kwale Radicals Back From Somalia
24 February – Source: The Star – 189 Words
Kwale is the county with the highest number of radicalised youth and returnees from Somalia. “We know radicalisation and terrorism issues are in other areas, including Mombasa, but Kwale is the epicentre, with more than 500 Somalia returnees,” Prof Halima Shauri said. He is Human Rights Agenda board of directors chairman. Shauri said radicalisation and terrorism are deepening and everyone must get involved to fight them.
“We don’t know the returnees but they know us, and maybe they are training our children in schools and in society without our knowledge. We must make a contribution to counter violent extremism,” Shauri said. He said terrorism is a global problem. Shauri made the remarks at Amani Tiwi Beach Resort, Kwale, yesterday, during a two-day workshop on fighting extremism.
The workshop is being attended by residents, civil society groups, County Policing Authority members, the media, county and national government officials. Kwale county commissioner Kutswa Olaka said the government has reintegrated 48 returnees into society and 300 more will be assisted. On Monday, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho handed over motorcycles, fridges and fishing kits to 19 returnees to help them earn a living.
Somalia Has Seen Less Piracy Due To Improved Governance: Expert
24 February – Source: Hellenic Shipping News – 297
Improved governance has contributed significantly to the reduction in pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia in the past few years, the Somali government and experts have said. Speaking to Xinhua in separate interviews, the experts and officials urged the Somali government to rebuild its Navy to protect the country’s territorial waters and marine resources to help the Horn of Africa nation secure its marine resources.
Farah Ahmed Qare, a former Somali Navy commander said the setting up of federation units in the Horn of Africa nation has stabilized the government to thus enhanced the fight against piracy. “Piracy has dramatically declined because of the federal states formation in Somalia. “This has decentralised the fight against piracy once bestowed on the central government which has not had sufficient ability to deal with these cases. Currently federal states run their own military units, some which have helped to deter piracy,” Qare told Xinhua in an interview.
The experts said the positive development also reflects the combined efforts of navies in the region, along with greater compliance with the Best Management Practices (BMP) guidelines against Somali piracy, the employment of private security contractors and a stabilizing government.
The International Maritime Bureau announced this month piracy in the Indian Ocean waters had declined to an all time low with no cases of Somali based attacks.
Somalia Come Of Age, As Somali Instructors Conduct CAF “C” License Course
24 February – Source: Soka 25 East – 244 Words
For the first time in history, Somalia has been able to successfully hold its CAF “C” license coaching course, with qualified Somali instructors conducted the course, while previously the African football governing body [CAF] had sent foreign instructors to teach Somali coaches. A total of 24 coaches were awarded with the CAF “C” License certificates after successfully passing both practical and theory sessions.
Somali instructors: Awil Ismail Mohamed and Mohamed Abdulle Farayare were teaching at the course which was held at the SFF headquarters in the capital Mogadishu. Both Somali instructors gained their CAF “A” Licenses in 2014 and were given the go ahead as CAF instructors by the African Football governing body [CAF] and with their promotion to this level, Somalia seems to be recovering. Somali Football Federation senior vice president, Ali Abdi Mohamed, who addressed at the closing ceremony for the course this week, said that his country has now come of age and was hopeful that the number of qualified Somali instructors will increase in the years to come.
“Now we have two Somali experts who have successfully done this CAF level coaching course—We are now hopeful that Somalia will soon have its FIFA level instructors and I am sure that will happen because Somalia’s knowledge and experience of football is growing” said the senior vice president who congratulated the graduates on their gaining of the CAF “C” license certificates. Meanwhile, Somalia had already one CAF refereeing instructor, Ali Mohamed Ahmed.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Musa is a spoof on white supremacy. It’s called Musa after the prophet Moses and it deals with a lot themes; racism, institutional marginalization of immigrants particularly of African descent, which I am. The problems of immigration; which means paperwork, legalities during, before and after the war on terror, and how one pays into the capitalist coffers of the system.”
Abdi Latif Ega And The Rejection Of The ‘African’ Novel
24 February – Source: Africasacountry.com 1,763 Words
It’s not an uncommon sight to find Abdi Latif Ega, cup of steaming tea in hand, strolling through the streets of Harlem in the afternoon sun, stopping to converse with a range of acquaintances along the way. Ega, a contributor to Africa is a Country, is a Somali-American novelist whose first book Guban breathes life into Somalia’s vast and intricate cultural landscape through the journeys of its characters. It’s a refreshing contrast to the barbaric representations Somalia frequently experiences from the Western media.
Now in the process of writing his second novel, Musa, Ega has launched an Indiegogo campaign to support the creative production of the book. More than just a writer, Ega embraces being a cultural worker who subverts the pigeonholing of African narratives in the mainstream publishing industry by self-publishing his work. In doing so, his writing transcends limitation by not being beholden to what a publisher deems is the marketability of Somali and immigrant lives. Consider contributing to this fiercely independent thinker’s campaign to create Musa and read our interview below where Ega speaks about creating complex characters, the relationship of images to creative writing and the state of African literature today.
What kinds of issues move you to write?
My writing comes from being moved to say something about injustice. It’s almost reactionary to it, as a reflex to it. There is a colossal, almost belligerent continuum through history of the elite who everything seems to be working for at the cost of most of humanity. So I don’t see myself particularly as a writer, but part of many things that involve culture; a cultural worker meaning averse to the idea that the writer is put on this pedestal on the back of a book where no one encounters him unless they come to anevent or something like that. A cultural worker is a part of the village that creates toenhance the village. In essence as a cultural worker there’s some fundamental injustice or wrong narrative that I’m trying to amend, represent, change; there’s activism and it’s sort of like “writing is fighting” which Ismael Reed says all the time.