July 18, 2017 | Morning Headlines

UN Launches Judicial Training Curriculum For Somalia

17 July – Source: Xinhua – 409 Words

The UN and Somalia government have launched an extensive program to train over 350 judicial officers countrywide as part of efforts to rebuild the country’s justice sector. David Akopyan, UNDP Deputy Country Director for Somalia, said delivery of justice was critical to ensuring good governance, strengthening the rule of law and establishing order.”The UNDP is here to help the country to get on its own feet; and to start developing its own systems,” Akopyan said in a statement from the UN mission in Somalia (UNSOM) released on Monday. “We want Somali politics, justice, security and jobs; employment and economic opportunities to be inclusive. This is the key message of inclusiveness from UNDP; and we are here to make this country a better place for you and your children,” he said.

The UNDP has in the past trained 90 judges and prosecutors in rule of law issues, justice and security in Somalia. Ibrahim Idle Suleyman, the country’s Chief Justice said the series of donor-funded trainings would support judicial reforms and development of laws to bring the country to current global standards. “The country’s political architecture has changed and this has an impact on the judiciary. As a result, we need to undertake judicial reforms,” Suleyman said.”This also includes the need to reconstruct the buildings that house the judicial institutions. Our structures were destroyed during the war and are in need of repair,” he added.

Key Headlines

• UN Launches Judicial Training Curriculum For Somalia (Xinhua)
• Federal Ministry For Security Denies Reports On The Closure Of City Roads (Goobjoog News)
• Galmudug And Puntland Create Joint Security Force In Galkayo (Goobjoog News)
• Somalia’s Internet Returns After 3 Week Outage Caused Outcry (Associated Press)
• Students In Somalia Stand With Turkey Against The Attempted Coup (Middle East Monitor)
• Somalis Back Omar For Mombasa Governor Denounce Joho Supporters (The Star)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Federal Ministry For Security Denies Reports On The Closure Of City Roads

17 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 183 Words

The spokesperson for the Federal Ministry for Security Ahmed Arab cited the good progress of the security operations of stabilizing Mogadishu City and in terms of achieving peace as a result of this move. “These days in the capital city, there was operations against Al-Shabaab as well collecting illegal firearms and the Federal Security Ministry succeeded in these issues and as a result there is a steady progress has been made” said spokesman Arab.

He also thanked the different security organs of the Federal government for the impressive security work they have done. “I pass my gratitude to the police and military personnel who are made up of the security team manning the city for stabilization” he added. No road is closed in Mogadishu because security staff is doing security checks along the main roads in the city in order to maintain peace which cannot be regarded as blocked roads according to the spokesman of the Security Ministry. There are major security plans implemented by the Federal Security Ministry geared towards stabilizing the city and redoubling this effort as stated by the spokesperson.

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Galmudug And Puntland Create Joint Security Force In Galkayo

17 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 161 Words

Regional administrations of Puntland and Galmudug Monday announced the formation of a joint security force which will be stationed in the border town of Galkaayo. The 50 force strong unit drawn from Galmudug and Puntland will ensure peace and rule of law in the border town as the two regional states seeks to end perennial conflicts which in the past caused untold deaths and displaced thousands.

The event attended by Puntland deputy president Abdihakim Abdullahi and his Galmudug counterpart Mohamed Hashi, the two states said the 50 police officers will be trained and deployed in the town. Also in attendance were officials from Amisom. The town in central Somalia is separately administered by Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the southern part. It has been the epicenter of tribal clashes especially in the rural areas due to revenge attacks and access to green pastures thus leading sometimes to full scale conflict where the security forces from both sides are involved.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s Internet Returns After 3 Week Outage Caused Outcry

17 July – Source: Associated Press – 248 Words

Somalia’s internet has returned after an outage of more than three weeks cost the Horn of Africa nation about $10 million a day, authorities said Monday. Hormuud Telecom, the country’s largest telecom company, announced the restoration of service in a message to subscribers. The loss of internet service sparked anger across Somalia and affected the central and southern parts of the country including the capital, Mogadishu. The government called it a “major disaster.”

Officials and internet providers attributed the problem to a commercial ship that they said cut an undersea cable. Major companies reported millions of dollars in revenue losses. University studies were disrupted. The internet outage also complicated efforts to combat a nationwide drought that has half of the country’s 12 million people in need of assistance.

Residents in the capital celebrated the return of service. “This is really good news. We had faced weeks of blackout that hit our businesses so hard,” said Ahmed Mohamed, the manager of a travel agency that had to close during the outage. The lack of internet service also stranded patients who were seeking medical attention abroad as they couldn’t access online paperwork.”The internet outage had my father stuck in Mogadishu. Now we can take him to India having received all medical paperwork via internet,” said Nur Hussein.

Students In Somalia Stand With Turkey Against The Attempted Coup

17 July – Source: Middle East Monitor – 178 Words

Students in Somalia have expressed their support for the Turkish people against the failed coup which was launched last year, a video which was released online on the anniversary of the event shows.“The Turkish people’s will and unity prevented the coup orchestrators from reaching their goals,” the students from the Recep Tayyip Erdogan School of Health Services, affiliated to Mogadishu University in Somalia, stressed.“We wish a speedy recovery for the wounded heroes on that night,” the Somali students added.

On Saturday, Turkey marked the one year anniversary of the failed coup attempt that was carried out by members of the army allegedly backed by the US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. The coup was meant to “oust the President Recip Tayyep Erdogan, capture power and control the state’s security and information institutions”. Gulen has repeatedly denied accusations that he backed the coup attempt.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Hurre said they have probed all of the four governor candidates in Mombasa including Nyali MP Hezron Awiti and have settled on Omar because of his policies and structured approach to issues. Community organising secretary Abdulnassir Ibrahim said Omar has three main sectors in his manifesto that he wants to tackle.”

Somalis Back Omar For Mombasa Governor, Denounce Joho Supporters

17 July – Source: The Star – 517 Words

Members of the Somali community have denounced a section of the community members who met with and endorsed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. Led by the community’s Coast chairman Mohamed Hurre, they said they are firmly behind Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar as their preferred candidate for the governor seat. “We have decided to support Senator Sarai because he is honest, educated and has leadership qualities, and believes in equal rights for all,” said Hurre.

This came after other community members living in Mombasa had breakfast with Joho at a hotel in Mombasa on Monday. Joho then posted on his social media accounts that they community had endorsed him for a second term. “During the breakfast meeting we exchanged ideas on the progress we have made this far and what we need to improve in the next five years,” Joho posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts. “The leaders agreed to support my bid for a second term to cement the foundation we have built towards a more prosperous county while accommodating aspirations and expectations of all residents,” he posted. But at a separate press conference in the afternoon, Hurre and community secretary general Mohamed Arale said those who met Joho were county employees and contractors who are doing business with the Mombasa county government.

The community had on Saturday also held a meeting where they declared support for Omar. Omar, who was at the meeting and was declared a Somali elder, said he does not take their support and that of the entire Mombasa community for granted. “I am certain that the silent revolution will replace the current government on August 8, 2017. I affirm that I will reorganize the county government and transform the country,” said Omar. On Monday, Arale said in every society, there must be one or two dissidents. “It is obvious, there will be self-interest at play. The Somali has one structure of leadership. We are the legitimate officials. Any others will be sideshows,” said Arale.

Arale said they have engaged Joho and Jubilee’s governor candidate Suleiman Shahbal for the last six months and have decided to settle on Omar because his manifesto has impressed the most. He said they have the blessings of the Somali Council of Elders and have been consulting frequently on who to support for the governor position. Community spokesman Osman Mohamed said Omar has been accepted by the majority of the Somali people living in Mombasa. “Sarai is acceptable to the masses and the people of Somali. The choice of the people is Sarai,” Mohamed said. Hurre said they have probed all of the four governor candidates in Mombasa including Nyali MP Hezron Awiti and have settled on Omar because of his policies and structured approach to issues. Community organising secretary Abdulnassir Ibrahim said Omar has three main sectors in his manifesto that he wants to tackle. “These are health, education and management of the town. Politicians who have many issues in their manifestos are liars. They will not implement most of them. It is better to focus on a few main things and implement them fully,” said Ibrahim.