July 17, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Brussels Conference Doesn’t Concern Us, Somaliland President
17 July – Source: Jowhar.com – 232 Words
Somaliland authorities have said the ongoing conference in Brussels, Belgium, between the Somali government and International Partners is not relevant to the Somaliland government. A statement from the Somaliland’s Office of the President stated the Brussels conference is similar to earlier conferences held in Mogadishu and Garowe. “The conference in Brussels is intended to benefit the Somali Government and has nothing to do with Somaliland,” said a brief statement from Somaliland’s Office of the President.
Meanwhile, the Somaliland House of Representatives has observed that the Brussels conference is a disruption of the international community’s support for Somaliland. The Somaliland Lower House said that Somali Government was keen at fronting some restrictions to Somaliland in order to cut off international aid. They accused the Somali Government of swaying foreign nations against Somaliland and called upon the Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister to counter Somalia’s strategy in order to enable Somaliland to get its fair share of international grants.
They also criticized opposition’s Justice and Welfare (UCID) party leader Faisal Ali Warabe, who is in Brussels, terming him a national criminal offender. The Brussels conference is set to highlight key security issues including the ongoing Tukaraq conflict between Somaliland and Puntland.
Key Headlines
- Brussels Conference Doesn’t Concern Us Somaliland President (Jowhar.com)
- Kenya Deploys Hundreds Of Security Forces Along Its Border With Somalia (Halbeeg News)
- Somali Government Unveils New Currency Printing Timelines (Radio Dalsan)
- Convictions Upheld For Women Who Raised Money For Al-Shabaab (Daily Mail)
- At Partnership Forum UN Officials Highlights Need For Continued Support For Somalia (UN News)
- Edmonton Man Leaves High-paying Job To Build School In His Home Country Of Somalia (The Star Edmonton)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya Deploys Hundreds Of Security Forces Along Its Border With Somalia
17 July – Source: Halbeeg News – 231 Words
Hundreds of Kenya’s National Police Reservists (NPR) and military forces have been deployed along Kenya’s border with Somalia on Tuesday in a bid to boost border security. Last Thursday, heavily armed suspected Al-Shabaab fighters attacked a camp owned by Kenyan Police administration in Mandera County. Mandera County Commissioner, Kutswa Oloka, who spoke to the local media said the officers would assist in patrols in villages along the Kenya-Somalia border that have increasingly become a soft target. “Earlier today, we deployed well-armed national police reservists and military troops to the areas along the border with Somalia,” he said.
The commissioner noted that the troops will patrol areas Al-Shabaab fighters could possibly attack. “The troops will enhance the security of the areas along the border. We will not allow Al-Shabaab militants to launch attacks on villages neighbouring Somalia,” Oloka stated. This move comes days after Al-Shabaab attacked a camp at Manza in Sheikh Barrow, Mandera County. Lafey deputy County Commissioner Erick Oronyi said the attack found the Administration Police unit on high alert. “The attackers started by hurling explosives into the camp before shooting at officers but luckily no one was injured,” he said.
Al-Shabab fighters have been attacking Kenyan towns since 2011 when the East African nation sent its troops to Somalia. Kenya Defense Force (KDF) has sent its troops to Somalia under the framework of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Somali Government Unveils New Currency Printing Timelines
17 July – Source: Radio Dalsan – 117 Words
The Minister of Finance Abdirahman Duale Beyle has detailed the latest developments on the printing the new Somali Shilling, which has already been okayed by the Federal Government. Mr Duale Beyle said the Ministry was still mobilising cash for printing new currency since the Somali Government still has a large amount of debt owed. Nonetheless, the Minister gave an assurance the new currency will be printed in the course of the year.
The ministerial statement follows a crucial meeting with the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Brussels conference. Printing of the new currency is part of the government’s plan to boost the economy and replace the defaced currency notes in circulation.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Convictions Upheld For Women Who Raised Money For Al-Shabaab
16 July – Source: Daily Mail – 130 Words
A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions and prison sentences of two women who used an internet chat room to raise several thousand dollars for the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab. Muna Osman Jama of Reston, Virginia, and Hinda Osman Dhirane of Kent, Washington, were convicted of providing support to a terrorist organization. Jama was sentenced to 12 years, while Dhirane received 11 years.
In their appeal, Jama and Dhirane argued that a federal judge was wrong to deny their motion to suppress evidence and to apply certain sentencing enhancements. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected those arguments in a ruling Monday. The women did not deny their sympathies for Al-Shabaab, but their lawyers argued that the money went to people who were not clearly defined members.
At Partnership Forum, UN Officials Highlights Need For Continued Support For Somalia
16 July – Source: UN News – 337 Words
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo praised Somalia’s leadership for the steps it has taken in developing a political roadmap for inclusive politics, especially with regard to preparations leading to the ‘one person, one vote’ elections in 2020-2021, and advances in its constitutional review process. “The Federal Government of Somalia would need to continue its efforts in building constructive relations with all those who would benefit from its leadership: the federal Parliament, Federal Member States, political groups and civil society,” said Ms. DiCarlo.
“This will ultimately help to stabilize the political environment, achieve further progress and strengthen Somalia’s resilience against pressures that risk undermining its unity,” she added. The Horn of Africa country is facing a range of political, developmental, security and humanitarian challenges as it rebuilds after decades of armed conflict and climate-related shocks.
Taking place in the Belgian capital, the two-day Forum also spotlighted the importance of supporting a nationally-owned and led reconciliation processes. Ms. DiCarlo noted that further progress is needed to strengthen the constitutional, legal and institutional foundations of the Somali Federal State, including allocation of powers and resource sharing. “Despite the challenges that may arise, it is critical that these processes are conducted in an inclusive, consensual manner to ensure ownership by the Somali people,” she said, adding that the UN is committed to advancing inclusive politics in Somalia.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“What attracted me to teaching was he fact that I can make a difference in someone’s life by simply sharing information,”
Edmonton Man Leaves High-paying Job To Build School In His Home Country Of Somalia
16 July – Source: The Star Edmonton – 677 Words
When his science teacher in Ottawa first asked him to become a teacher’s assistant for a Grade 10 class, Farah Dahir discovered a new hobby; teaching. Though he eventually went on to find a career in oil, his love of educating never left him. Now the 37-year-old is committing to it full-time. On Sunday, he was preparing for his flight to Bosaaso, Somalia, where he built a school to provide quality education to the local community.
Last year he quit his job of 10 years as a scientist for Shell Canada to continue teaching full time at this two tutoring centres and building a school in his home country. “I truly enjoyed working for Shell and it was not an easy decision to quit. However, at the end, money aside, A Plus Learning Circle is more rewarding and I’m happy with my decision,” he said. Ever since moving to Canada in 1992, Dahir had visited his home country a number of times and noticed the need for quality education. “I’ve seen how people value education and how much everybody is willing to invest in education even though they don’t have a lot. And there is not a lot of quality schools out there that would provide quality education,” he said.
He said that’s when he decided to do something about it himself. He decided to finance the school in Somalia both personally and from tuition fees he collected from his two tutoring centres, one located in the north and the other in the south part of Edmonton. Dahir says he noticed children in Canada have the privilege of having quality education, but many lack the motivation to take advantage of it. However, in Somalia he saw things were the other way around. “Back in Somalia, they have 100 per cent motivation (for education) but they are missing everything else. So I believe if somebody provides that opportunity, they would take advantage of it.”
Dahir moved to Canada in 1992 and lived in Ontario for most of his life. Since Grade 11, he had been involved in tutoring children and volunteering his time at homework clubs teaching math and science. In university he even started a homework club himself for less fortunate youth in Ottawa. “What attracted me to teaching was he fact that I can make a difference in someone’s life by simply sharing information,” he said. “Also, whenever I teach, I also learn from that person.”
TOP TWEETS
@TheVillaSomalia: H.E @M_Farmaajo is chairing the Private public sector side event on accelerate private sector investments for economic recovery and resilience through innovative finance mechanisms in #Brussels. #SomaliaPartnershipForum#ForwardTogether
@margotwallstrom: Today’s meeting with Somalia president “Farmaajo”. Important discussions on state-building, security and how to achieve a peaceful development in Somalia. Including women at all levels of political, economical and social life is essential.
@EU_in_Somalia: #SomaliaPartnershipForum Second day in Brussels. Ongoing side events on Women, Peace and Security discussions led by #PedroSerano Deputy Secretary-General for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response at EEAS. #SomaliaConference #ForwardTogether
@DrBeileh: I thank all our partner IFIs for their statements of support for our reforms on the road to economic recovery & debt relief. In partnership, I am confident we can achieve fiscal & economic reforms for sustainable development. @WorldBank@IMFNews @AfDB_Group @isdb_group
@shf_somalia: @shf_somalia will be channeling additional funds for response in the northern Somalia (Bari, Nugaal, Sool, Saanag, where food security outlook remains particularly concerning) in the coming weeks through integrated and cluster-specific interventions. MORE INFO SHORTLY
@TheVillaSomalia: H.E @M_Farmaajo earlier at the women, peace and security side event encouraged women in their pursuit for inclusivity in all sectors of development and growth, saying his administration is committed towards supporting Somali women in all their endeavors. #SPF #forwardTogether
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo Address gathering on women, peace and security in Somalia at the side events in the ongoing Somali Partnership Forum.
Photo: UNWomen