January 24, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Al-Shabaab Fighting Kills 5
23 January – Source : Anadolu Agency – 208 Words
At least five people including three soldiers were killed Monday in heavy fighting between the Somali army and heavily armed militia belonging to Al-Shabaab, officials said. Abdurrahman Ahmed, a Somali national army captain, told Anadolu Agency on the phone that the fighting began after Al-Shabaab attacked an army base in Afgoye, the Lower Shabelle region, a town 30 kilometers southwest of the capital Mogadishu. “Al-Shabaab militants attacked an army base in Afgoye. Three soldiers were killed and two others were also wounded. We killed two Al-Shabaab militants and wounded over 10 others. Our forces are controlling the entire town,” Abdurrahman said.
The fighting began at 5:00 pm local time and ended by 7:00 pm, eyewitness Mukhtar Ali told Anadolu Agency. “It was rush hour when the fighting began, we don’t know the real casualties caused by the fighting. We are still hearing sporadic gunfire,” he said. Afgoye is a strategic agriculture town which has seen more attacks in recent years since the Somali government recaptured it from al-Shabaab in 2012. Separately, three people including soldiers and al-Shabaab fighters were killed in fighting in the town of Eil-baraf, in the middle Shabelle region, Monday. Qadar Mohamed Abdi, Eil-baraf commissioner, confirmed the fighting and casualties to Anadolu Agency.
Key Headlines
- Al-Shabaab Fighting Kills 5 (Anadolu Agency)
- Three Killed In Fighting Between SNA And Al-Shabaab In Middle Shabelle Official Confirms (Goobjoog News)
- Galmudug Parliament In Deadlock Over Leadership (Shabelle News)
- Food Supplies To Mogadishu To Drastically Fall As River Shabelle Dries Up( Goobjoog News)
- Qatar Red Crescent Society Prepares Relief Mission To War-torn Somalia (Gulf Times)
- Somaliland: Hating Politics (Somaliland Informer)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Three Killed In Fighting Between SNA And Al-Shabaab In Middle Shabelle, Official Confirms
23 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 190 Words
Three people including Somali soldiers and suspected Al-Shabaab fighters have been killed in firefight at El-Baraf village, about 45 km west of Mahaday town in Middle Shabelle region, a government official has said. The fighting broke out after Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers attacked Al-Shabaab base prompting hours of fighting. Kadar Mohamed Abdi, local administrator said the fighting took place on Monday morning in the outskirt of Mahaday town where the group had training camps. “The attack was successful as planned. During the firefight, two Al-Shabaab fighters were neutralized. Several others fled with injuries towards the forest and hot pursuit is currently under way,” he said.
Mentioning the casualties on allied forces, Abdi said one soldier was killed during the fighting. Abdi added the operation to annihilate the fighters will continue until the insurgents are eliminated from the whole region. Somali National Army backed by the African Union Peacekeeping forces liberated key towns in central Somalia in the past two years. However the group occasionally carries out attacks at government installations and hotels in mogadishu and other city in the country.
Galmudug Parliament In Deadlock Over Leadership
23 January – Source : Shabelle News – 117 Words
Galmudug regional state parliament members are yet to break a deadlock over the recent controversial no vote of confidence motion against President Abdikarim Hussein Guled. Elder Hassan Hilowle Osman has called for the arrest of the deputy speaker of Galmudug parliament for allegedly fueling the political tension and lobbying the anti-president impeachment. He said local elders began efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region over the leadership. Ali Ga’al Asir, the Speaker of Galmudug Parliament has termed the MPs’ motion against the president as “illegitimate” and against the state’s constitution. Galmudug State President Abdikarim Hussein Guled who has been elected in 2015 in Adado city by MPs made tangible achievements in the security and reconciliation of the region.
Food Supplies To Mogadishu To Drastically Fall As River Shabelle Dries Up
23 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 293 Words
Food supplies to Mogadishu and other markets in the region will drop significantly in the coming weeks as the main water source-River Shabelle is fast drying up with some parts of the river already being used as footpaths. Shabelle River which feeds farmlands in Hiiraan, Lower and Middle Shabelle regions has experienced serious water flow shortage in the last one year and locals now report the river is drying up plunging thousands into uncertainty even as the continuing drought goes largely unabated. Unless it rains, water in river Shabelle River, which is the main sources of irrigation water, farmers fear that there will be no harvests in the current season.
Farah Abdi, a farmer in Afgooye said the drought is a threat to the farms using irrigation. “All the villages in the regions rely on water from the river to survive. I don’t think irrigation is possible without the flow of water of Shabelle River,” said Abdi. Mire Osman Indha-Yare, an official from Somali Chamber of Commerce said without water from River Shabelle, Somali farmers cannot meet the market demand from millions of Somalis. “It is hard for farmers to to irrigate their land now since their main source of water is now dry land,’ said Indha-Yare.
Shabelle River extends from Ethiopian highlands and enters Somalia in Hiiraan region where it passes Baledweyne, Bulabarde, Jalalaqsi and dozens of other villages before draining into the ocean. Severe water shortages have been the trend for the last few months as water sources in remote areas have dried up and people now fear for the loss of human life due to the escalating drought. Sections of the river have now been turned into huge dumping sites with polythene bags and other household wastes littering the strip.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Qatar Red Crescent Society Prepares Relief Mission To War-torn Somalia
23 January – Source : Gulf Times – 252 Words
Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has sent a delegation to Somalia to make a “needs assessment” and launch a relief response for the victims of drought and civil war in the city of Galkayo. The response will involve relief, development, and health projects for internally displaced people (IDPs) with funding from the Qatar Fund for Development. The delegation consisted QRCS’ International Development head Naglaa al-Hajj and Africa Office in Doha headquarters head Ezz al-Din al-Galal. The three-day visit saw meetings and discussions with local authorities and community leaders of the city. The delegation also visited university hospitals, IDP camps, and regional office of the Somali Red Crescent Society to survey the conditions on the ground and plan for the relief intervention. Among the top humanitarian priorities identified during the initial assessment include food, water, and healthcare.
The joint initiative seeks to improve the complicated humanitarian situation in Somalia with multiple health and development projects to support local hospitals. In addition, part of the intervention will involve distribution of food packages and drilling/rehabilitation of artesian wells aimed at containing the crisis. QRCS was among the first humanitarian organisations to come to Galkayo since the recent eruption of the crisis. QRCS’ presence in Somalia dates back to 2003 with significant services and health projects for the affected populations across the country in line with optimal health and environmental standards. According to humanitarian reports, the drought and civil war between the two belligerent parts of the city have affected more than 250,000 people.
OPINION, CULTURE & ANALYSIS
“Lack of loyalty: Fake promises that are not fulfilled by politicians causes the citizens to think that the politicians are working for their benefit and not the development of the country and lack of transparency which causes inaccurate information and figures.”
Somaliland: Hating Politics
23 January – Source: Somaliland Informer – 1041 Words
Somali politics based on traditional methods of solving under the trees where the Sultans from each tribe to create stability between tribes. In the 21st century, this negotiation method is used in a modern style and it does have some positive effect though. In this article I would like to go deeper about factors causing political hatred, its effect our autonomy and provide solutions. Reasons of political hatred? Tribalism: As this is known phenomenon, every tribe wants get a share of the pie but what if you are not represented, no one is there for you even the law. In Somaliland the law is written but not practiced. During elections the candidate should show more of competence than tribalism. They do it because it’s the way to win that’s how they see it and they know that people are more faithful to their tribes than their country. Each clan wants their “son” to win the presidency in order to prove their clan superiority. Corruption: Political corruption is the use of powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism. The causes and level of corruption suggests that bribery is the form of corruption that is highly used in government institutions according to Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Commission (GGACC) which indicates a mean of 2.10.( The effect of corruption on Economic Growth in Somaliland).
The corruption level which is 42.5% according to survey carried out by Good Governance And Anti-Corruption Commission(GGACC) in 2013 undermines social services, such as health, education, water, electricity and others, therefore, the people with limited income were extremely affected. The poverty in urban areas of Somaliland is 29%, but that rural poverty at 38% in Somaliland is higher according to World Bank and Ministry of Panning in 2013. The low investment in social services, has taken a toll on human and economic development due to lack of skilled labors, fragile economy and the unpredictable regulatory framework. This low economic growth got worse to the point of threatening our society leading them to the social havoc.