February 8, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
National Security Conference To Be Concluded Today
08 February – Source: Hiiraan Online – 101 Words
The National Security Meeting, which has been underway in Mogadishu since February 6, is set to be concluded today. Participants of the high-level security meeting discussed stabilization of the country before the 2020 general elections, strengthening of cooperation between federal and regional security agencies and reforming the security sectors.
Regional state leaders on Wednesday briefed the gathering on the security situation in their respective regions. Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled said the meeting will be concluded today and a joint communique would be issued. It is the 6th meeting of its kind since the establishment of the national security council.
Key Headlines
- National Security Conference To Be Concluded Today (Hiiraan Online)
- 2 SNA Soldiers Killed In Explosion Near Afgoye (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali President Receives UAE Ambassador Amid Somalia’s Continuous Neutral Stand On The Gulf Crisis (Goobjoog News)
- Mogadishu Roads Closed As Country Marks First Anniversary Of President Farmaajo’s Presidency (Hiiraan Online)
- Somaliland Minister Seeks Energy Investment From UAE (The National (UAE)
- For The Love Of The Game: The Girls Who Are Defying Al-Shabaab To Play Basketball (Women in The World)
NATIONAL MEDIA
2 SNA Soldiers Killed In Explosion Near Afgoye
07 February – Source: Radio Dalsan – 78 Words
Two Somalia National Army soldiers have been killed in an IED explosion near the Lower Shabelle town of Afgoye some 30km from the Somali capital Mogadishu. Several soldiers were injured in the roadside explosion that occurred Wednesday night. Al Qaeda linked militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility through an affiliated website. Alshabaab however claims it killed 5 soldiers injuring four others. The militants have intensified their attacks on the road linking Mogadishu to Afgoye targeting government security convoys.
Somali President Receives UAE Ambassador Amid Somalia’s Continuous Neutral Stand On The Gulf Crisis
08 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 334 Words
Somali Federal President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo yesterday received UAE Ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi in Villa Somalia, his office in light of the continued stance of impartiality by Somali government towards the Gulf Crisis. Several matters were discussed in the meeting among them the relations between the UAE and Somalia, and methods to develop them in various sectors to strengthen the common interests of the two countries. In the meeting, president Farmaajo uttered his gratitude towards UAE government for their continued support to Somalia and expressed his special thankfulness to the top UAE leaders.
In response, Ambassador Al Hammadi expressed his appreciation to the Somali leader, underscoring UAE’s desire to continue helping Somalia. In 2017, following the neutral stand of the Somali federal government, on the gulf crisis between Saudi-led coalitions against Qatar, president Farmaajo traveled twice to UAE though no information was made public on the outcomes of his trips.
On the other hand, after the election of president Farmaajo on the 8th February 2017, UAE government signed commercial and military agreements with Puntland and Somaliland. In Somaliland, the administration of former president Silanyo, agreed to hand over Barbara Port operations to DP World Company based in UAE. Also the largest military camp in Somalia located in Barbara coastal town was given to UAE for military purposes.
In Puntland, DP World signed a contract with the semi autonomous Somali state to run the Bosaso Port, which led to public demonstrations in the coastal town. The ports agreements and the Barbara military airport were ratified by the parliaments of the two regions though the position of the federal government on these matters are not yet clear or known.
The diplomatic rift in the Gulf Council corporation members between Saudi-led coalition plus Egypt and Qatari government in June 2017, resulted in the ostracization of the latter and imposing land, sea and air embargo on the tiny rich Arab island nation accusing it of supporting “terrorism” while Qatar has repeatedly rejected the allegation.
Mogadishu Roads Closed As Country Marks First Anniversary Of President Farmaajo’s Presidency
08 February – Source: Hiiraan Online – 86 Words
Some of the main roads of Mogadishu have been closed by security forces beefing up security as the country today marks the first anniversary of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s presidency. Some of the affected roads include the Howlwadaag junction, Sheikh Ali Suufi Tarabuunka, Taleeh and parts of the main Maka Al Mukarrama road. The security forces are barring public and private vehicles from accessing the closed roads. Many people opted to foot along the roads to reach their destinations and carry on with their daily activities.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland Minister Seeks Energy Investment From UAE
07 February – Source: The National (UAE) – 407 Words
A Somaliland government minister is in the UAE to drum up investment for power projects to stabilise the self-declared state’s precarious economy where energy costs are among the highest in the world. The self-governing region which broke away from Somalia in 1991 is seeking to build on its relationship with Gulf nations to improve its infrastructure following the election of a new president last year.
The investment minister, Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud, is in Dubai to meet investors and try to secure funds for renewable and traditional energy projects and for agricultural sector as 80-90 percent of food is imported. He said there was great potential for international investors to tap into the country’s mineral wealth. He said he had spoken with “six or seven” energy companies seeking to invest in Somaliland as the government sought to build a secure and stable environment for investment.
Somaliland, a region of four million people, has previously secured sizeable investments from the Gulf with its access to the international markets limited by Mogadishu’s refusal to recognise it as an independent state. No foreign government recognises its sovereignty. “When we were campaigning, we promised economic growth for Somaliland and we want to improve healthcare and education,” said the minister.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“From every state in Somalia, from every gym and court we create, our goal is to give women and girls the opportunity to learn, know and love sports. My ultimate goal is to build and train the first Somali national women’s basketball team since the civil war.”
For The Love Of The Game: The Girls Who Are Defying Al-Shabaab To Play Basketball
08 February – Source: Women in The World – 880 Words
In the U.S., “March Madness” basketball season is approaching. But in Sharjah, Somali women basketball players are making our own basketball history by competing in the 4th Arab Women Sports Tournament in Dubai. I am a Somali-American born in Sool and raised in Mogadishu. I began playing basketball at the age of 7 when my older sister Safia was playing and I tagged along and started drilling with the ball. I fell in love with the sport, and as I grew older, it helped me learn teamwork, get an education, earn respect, and become a leader.
In the 1980s, I was a player and captain on the Somali Women’s National Basketball Team. At that time, our government supported us with the freedom to play across Africa and the Middle East. I was also able to earn a scholarship at the University of the District of Columbia in the United States. But in 1991, soon after I arrived in America, civil war broke out, shattered my country, and prevented me from returning to Somalia until almost two decades later. My goal now is to empower Somali women and girls through sport so that they may share the joy and benefits from basketball that I had.
When I returned to my country in 2009, I was shocked and saddened to find that extremist groups like Al-Shabab banned women and girls from playing sports and regularly send death threats to those who dare to play. The collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991 shuttered all sports infrastructure and caused many athletes to flee the country. Men and boys continued to play sports even after the collapse of the government — but it became impossible for women and girls to participate in any kind of sport. Militants and religious extremists, controlling many parts of the country, branded women’s sport participation as an immoral act.
Extremists were all over the news banning basketball for women in Somalia, and they even claimed that athletic gear is against Islamic teachings. Sports like basketball can create educational opportunities, employment and safe places for women and girls. So in spite of threats from extremists, we are developing the game from grassroots to elite levels by recruiting players, training coaches across all states of Somalia, and building courts and gyms in secure environments.
Although we are making progress and galvanizing support from various communities in Somalia, the threat of violence lingers. “They tell me to quit playing basketball, otherwise they will slaughter me,” said one young Somali woman who has come to love the sport as I do. “They will not stop me from playing basketball.”
From every state in Somalia, from every gym and court we create, our goal is give women and girls the opportunity to learn, know and love sports. My ultimate goal is to build and train the first Somali national women’s basketball team since the civil war. In December 2016, we held the first “Somali Federal Women’s Basketball Tournament.” After one year of planning, we were able to bring together teams from the six different states of Somalia, and Somali diaspora players from the USA and Canada in the city of Garowe. With the generous support of donors, we built a brand new basketball court and carried out the tournament.
TOP TWEETS
@DalsanFM: Photos : Villa Somalia puts up a medical camp in#Mogadishu as one of the organised events to mark the first year of @M_Farmaajo presidency. Hundreds of people mostly IDPs and the poor are lining up for check up and treatment
@Goobjoognews: #Somali president receives #UAEAmbassador amid #Somalia’s continuous neutral stand on the Gulf Crisis http://bit.ly/2BL0TrM
@MediaWatchF: Outgoing AMISOM Force Commander honoured by the Somali government. – http://bit.ly/2scQIrM #Somalia #Mogadishu #Government #Security #AU #SNA
@SahraCabdi:Today marks one year, since #Somalia President@M_Farmaajo was elected as the head of the nation, so what are the major setbacks and progresses his government has so far achieved?
@engyarisow: Today we laid foundation stone 4 the rehabilitation of Via Roma road in HamarWeyne district, downtown of #Mogadishu
@Goobjoognews: #Abdiasis district administration, #Mogadishuin partnership with Norwegian Refugee Council @NRC_HoArenovated a fish market in the area.
@Eye_on_Somalia: #allAfrica Justice Eludes Rape Victims in Somalia’s Puntland – Campaigners http://ift.tt/2ENusaw #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Citizens of Mogadishu, this morning were treated with a free medical camp in commemoration to celebrate 1 year since the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
Photo: @DalsanFM