January 10, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Galmudug Parliament Votes To Sack President Abdikarim Guled
10 January – Source: Kismaayo24 – 139 Words
Galmudug’s parliament has passed a vote of no confidence in President Abdikarim Hussein Guled . The regional parliament of Galmudug met in Adaado today to vote on the no confidence motion tabled against the regional leader. 54 Members of Parliament attended the session chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hared Ali Hared.
According to Abdikarim Omar Ahmed, a Member of Parliament in the regional assembly, all 54 MPs voted to pass the no confidence vote. Security forces failed in an attempt to postpone the impeachment by storming the residency of the deputy speaker, according to reports.
The office of the regional leader released a press statement condemning the move by the parliament, citing legality issues in the process. According to the statement, the regional leaders said the “Galmudug administration does not recognize the parliamentary session and will not acknowledge the impeachment.”
Key Headlines
- Galmudug Parliament Votes To Sack President Abdikarim Guled (Kismaayo24)
- Al-Shabaab Commander Surrenders In Southern Somalia (Garowe Online)
- Ahlu Sunna Announces They Will Form Own Parliament (Hiiraan Online)
- Somali Police In Baidoa Demolish Business Centres Along The Busy Roads (Goobjoog News)
- Africans Citizens Stranded As Somalia Issues Tough Immigration Measures (Radio Dalsan)
- Qatari Emir Receives Message From Somali President (Emirates News Agency)
- An Interview With Shiekh Noor A. Qassim (Wardheer News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab Commander Surrenders In Southern Somalia
10 January – Source: Garowe Online -183 Words
A Senior Al-Shabaab commander named, Mohamed Abdullahi Hashi ‘Iiro’ has on Monday surrendered to government forces in Gedo region. Sources said the defected commander served as head of Al-Shabaab’s taxation unit in Tulo-Barwaqo village near Garbaharey town, the regional capital of Gedo. He has defected with a large sum of cash from Al-Shabaab and handed himself into the Somali Government. He first made a phone contact with the authorities in the region before eventually turning himself in.
The commander who was received by local security officials said he regretted being brainwashed by the Al-Shabaab group and wanted to live in peace with the rest of the society in Garbaharey town. Somali military officials in Garbaharey said the government will welcome those who abandon the group adding that Al-Shabaab will be wiped out from their remaining pockets in southern and central regions of Somalia. In 2014, Somali government has offered an amnesty to Al-Shabaab members and leaders who it says realized the mistake and renounce violence.
Ahlu Sunna Announces They Will Form Own Parliament
10 January – Source: Hiiraan Online – 187 Words
Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ), a moderate Sufi Islamic group, has announced their intent to form their own exclusive parliament within their organization on Monday. The announcement was made by ASWJ officials in Dhuusamareeb, Central Somalia. It would be the first time the group ever organized themselves in this fashion, although they do maintain an administrative headquarters in Dhuusamareeb which they use as their base of operations.
The ASWJ Parliament will have 65 members that are selected by community elders from the Galgaduud region. The parliamentary speaker will be Sha’ir Sheekow Mohamed. The group also announced that they will immediately put forth a cabinet of ministers after parliament officially convenes.
ASWJ has constantly been at odds with the Federal Government of Somalia, publicly criticizing their performance on many occasions. Most recently, the group vehemently refused to join the regional administration of Galgaduud and has denounced the National Leadership Forum (NLF). ASWJ is rooted in the early 90’s but has come to international prominence in 2008 when they formed the main resistance force against Al-Shabaab after several Sufi clerics were killed and tombs desecrated.
Somali Police In Baidoa Demolish Business Centres Along The Busy Roads
10 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 223 Words
The Somali Police Force launched operations to demolish buildings and business centres along the main roads in Baidoa, the administrative capital of Southwest State. The bulldozers arrived at the site with a battalion of police and army officers armed with rifles to stop any riots. The police said that the operations are intended to fight illegal building that has been increasing the recent months and restore the beauty of the town.
Some of the business people who spoke to local media outlets said the administration has not given them enough time to vacate the affected areas. A shopkeeper whose shop was demolished said he had not been given notice over the intended demolition. The officers, however, maintained that the business owners had been informed that their shops had been marked for demolition.
“We told the occupants of the buildings built along the main roads to clear the place and they agreed to quit the places therefore the police assisted them to carry the goods and we are here to serve the public, not harass them” said a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. The exercise follows other demolitions targeting structures near main roads, which the government says lie on public land. The operations have hindered other business activities in the area.
African Citizens Stranded As Somalia Issues Tough Immigration Measures
10 January – Source: Radio Dalsan – 90 Words
Somalia immigration has issued tough measures on citizens from African countries entering the Somalia resulting in several people to get stranded at the Aden Abdulle Airport. Somalia now requires persons coming to work in the country to have a work permit. Most affected have been Kenyans and Ugandans. Airlines have been rejecting citizens from the two countries with no visa or work permit. A source told Radio Dalsan that the Somali immigration deported back several Kenyans for lacking work permit and visa.
INTERNATIONAL
Qatari Emir Receives Message From Somali President
10 January – Source: Emirates News Agency – 78 Words
H.H. the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, has received a message from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, pertaining to bilateral relations between the two countries and means of enhancing and developing them. According to the Qatar News Agency, QNA, the message was conveyed to the Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, during a meeting yesterday with Somalia’s Ambassador to Qatar, Omar Sheikh Ali Idris.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Unfortunately, the current administration in the SW has alienated many of the educated sons of the region and stumped their growth. I have talked to SW intellectuals in the diaspora who cannot return to the region because they know they are not welcomed by Sharif Hassan, who sees them as a threat to his tyrannical rule. He prefers officials who lack education and experience.”
An Interview With Shiekh Noor A. Qassim
10 January – Source: Wardheer News – 1,241 Words
WDN: Welcome to WardheerNews, first what can you tell us about the political situation in South West (SW) state of Somalia today?
Sheikhnoor: Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my thoughts with the valuable readers of WardheerNews.The political situation in the South West is precarious for several reasons. The region is suffering from the presence of an administration that lacks transparency, participation in decision-making from the people, and political creativity. Power is in the hands of one man, Sharif Hassan, and the business interest groups that are closely aligned with him that want to maintain the status quo.
Unfortunately, the SW resembles the tragedy of Shakespeare’s King Lear. King Lear, the absolute ruler, acts as though he owns his kingdom and decides to distribute it to his three daughters. Paradoxically, unlike King Lear, Sharif Hassan is neither abdicating nor is he an aging potentate who has descended into madness. Sharif Hassan is in full control of the government machinery. He is street smart, calculating, and conniving. However, he has let his family members run the show, among them his nephew, Mohamed Mursal. Mursal is the state minister for the presidency office and the chief of the election commission.
Both Sharif Hassan and his nephew act like the SW region is family property. Here is a family that controls the regional administration and is engaged in illegal activities such as fraud, extortion, voter suppression, and systematic targeting of rivals. I explained the situation in the SW in a recent interview. Rigged elections have become synonymous with SW politics.
WDN: Why does Al-Shabaab has a strong presence in the South West?
Sheikhnoor: It is true that al-Shabaab has the strongest presence in the South West, more than in any other region in Somalia. The majority of al-Shabaab foot soldiers hail from the region. It is unfortunate that our children are being used by the terrorist organization for murder and mayhem. They are being captured in regions as far away as Puntland.
Sharif Hassan
Al-Shabaab has found a fertile land in the SW because there is no functioning government in the region that can provide safety and security for its residents. It is typical for militant organizations to thrive in failed states, where there is oppression, injustice, bad governance, and extensive human rights violations. Al-Shabaab militants operate in the SW at whim. They come and go as they please. Sharif Hassan has neither the police force to maintain law and order in the region nor does he have the will-power to fight extremism.
TOP TWEETS
@Sabaaward : There is a lot to celebrate in #Somalia? What is your moment? #sabaawards2017 is worth our celebration.
@M_Kulan : The complexity of the #Somalia election process has been perplexing- to say the least.
@engyarisow : Thanks to @UKinSomalia leadership towards#Somalia as business thriving & economy is growing@HarrietLMathews
@Vatescorp : #Somalia: Somaliland’s main opposition party denies it is seeking to reunite with Somalia ahead of electionshttp://ow.ly/vpIS307QRxX
@Axmed_wali2 : #Somalia ‘’we have #foreign nationals in our#custody,’ #Commander of the #Somali Prison Warden, says.
@Suheyfa : #Galmudug parliament votes to dismiss President Abdikarim Guleed. #Somalia
@Vatescorp : #Somalia: Puntland security forces to beef up security in Galkayo town, another ban on window tint
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Commissioner Chergui, SRSG Keating, ASG Price and SRSG Menkerios discussing AU and UN partnership for peace and Stability in Somalia in a meeting.
Photo: @AU-PSD