NATIONAL MEDIA
21 July – Source: Halbeeg – 156 Words
The construction of Mogadishu–Afgooye road has officially commenced on Sunday. Qatari funded project was launched by Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, early this year. Caterpillar tractors have started the ground levelling from ex-control Afgoye. The contract to rebuild 30 kilometres road was awarded to Turkish company during the tender. Once completed, the significant road connecting the Somali capital to the strategic agricultural rich region of the lower Shabelle will be helpful to farmers and livestock keepers to transport their products to the port in the city for export. Somali government and Qatar signed USD 200 million project to rebuild the 120-kilometre road and other development projects last year. Doha also pledged to renovate Baidoa airport in a new move on Sunday during the visit of Qatar ambassador to Southwest state. Mogadishu and Doha developed close diplomatic and defense cooperation since the Horn of the African state neutral stance on Saudi led Gulf blockade on Qatar.
21 July – Source: SONNA – 122 Words
The President of Southwest state of Somalia, Mr Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, met with a high-level delegation led by the Qatari Ambassador to Somalia, Hassan bin Hamza. The two officials held fruitful discussions at his office in Baidoa. The Qatar delegation surveyed sections of Baidoa town and its surroundings, places they are soon to launch development projects. The Ambassador said he wants to take part in the development programs in Southwest State and he promised to build a school, an airport and renovate the presidential residence in Baidoa. The brotherly nation of Qatar has heavily contributed to rebuilding Somalia, it has completed several projects, and others are ongoing. Qatar similarly takes part in strengthening Somalia’s armed forces by training them and equipping them.
21 July – Souce: Halbeeg – 209 Words
Somali Minister for Finance, Abdirahman Duale Beileh, discussed with United Nations (UN) envoy in Somalia, James Swan, about the country’s bid of debt relief. In a statement, Minister Beileh said he met with Swan over range-wide ranges issues. The two officials talked about the implementation of the IMF SMP Program on the road to debt relief, saying they discussed Somalia’s economic reforms process. “Had a fruitful discussion with the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Somalia. The UN & its member states are valuable partners in our reform based activities,” he said in a Twitter post.
For the last two years, the government led president Farmajo has been carrying out initiatives to international lenders to help the nation in debt cancellation process. The World and IMF have jointly commended Somali government for its commitment to improving the economy of the country which is recovering from decades-long civil war. The Horn of Africa nation owes around $4bn, most of its interest and penalties on nearly three-decades-old loans. Those arrears make it almost impossible for Mogadishu to access new funds from the International Monetary Fund or the International Development Association, the soft loan arm of the World Bank that has money explicitly earmarked for fragile states like Somalia.
21 July – Source: SONNA – 155 Words
The first lady of the Republic of Somalia, Mrs. Seynab Abdi Moalin, alongside the Director-General of the Office of the President and other key officials from Seynab Moaalim Foundation met with a high-level delegation from King Salman humanitarian Agency led by its African branch Deputy Director Mr. Yuusuf Al Bakheet. The first lady was briefed on the operations of King Salmaan agency and its current humanitarian projects in the country, which include mother and child health support, humanitarian and development projects. The first lady explained her current efforts and the efforts of her foundation in improving mother and child health in the country. She suggested that both organisations partner and produce better results, which will see Somali mothers and children getting quality and reliable health services promptly. Finally, the first lady advised the Deputy Director to put the focus on preventing humanitarian crises in Somalia, improving health, improving education standard, taking part in development programs.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
21 July – Source: Hivisasa – 239 Words
Kenya Army Commander Lieutenant General Walter Raria returned for the third time in as many months to Somalia amid increased Al-Shabaab retaliatory attacks. Last week, Al-Shabaab militants killed over 26 people at Kismayo, the first deadly attack within the port town in as many years. KDF managed to regain control of the town. And on Saturday, General Raria took time with the soldiers in several Forward Operating bases where he shared with them field experiences. “This was under his routine visits that the commander makes to monitor and motivate troops in the field. As the troops continue to defend the territorial integrity of the Republic of Kenya, such visits accord the commander an opportunity to interact and share experiences with the soldiers at their areas of operation,” read a statement from KDF.
During May visit, General Raria had assured KDF troops in AMISOM continuity on provision of training and logistics. Such visits act as morale boosters. “The Commander assured the troops on continuity on provision of training and logistics as they continue to execute KDF’s primary role. “The visit also served as a morale booster to the troops it being an indicator the KDF command appreciates their selfless efforts as they execute its mandate,” a previous statement said.The Commander was accompanied by several senior officers including Chief of Operations and Training Brigadier William Shume, Artillery Commander Brigadier David Tarus and Engineers Brigade Commander Brigadier Stephen Radina among others.
20 July – Source: Education Cannot Wait & Save the Children – 573 Words
The Government of Puntland, Education Cannot Wait and Save the Children launched a comprehensive new multi-year education programme today to improve learning and wellbeing of children affected by crises in Puntland. The three-year 5.6 million seed-funding grant from Education Cannot Wait is designed to catalyse contributions from additional donors to cover the remaining $54.4 million required to implement the full programme over the next three years. The programme will be implemented by Save the Children in partnership with the Government of Puntland to bridge the education gap for children and youth who have been forced out of education due to conflict and drought.
Access to education in Puntland is still limited with more than 41.2 percent of children still out of school. Many of these children are recovering from being recruited into armed groups or have suffered significant psychological distress as a result of the on-going drought and conflict in the region. Girls are especially at risk for gender based violence, early marriage and being left behind. The programme puts special emphasis on reaching children with disabilities.
H.E Said Abdullahi Deni, the President of Puntland, said the programme is a new beginning for Puntland’s children, and is a critical part of the state’s education in emergency strategy, which was finalised in December 2018. “Puntland welcomes the new funds which bridge the humanitarian and developmental gaps within the education sector in the region. Save the Children and its partner Education Cannot Wait are responding to the chronic underfunding of education in emergencies and crises by placing education as a priority,’’ H.E Said Abdullahi Deni said…..
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Even though he continued to deny the offences which he was charged with, he maintained that he was arrested on his way to Somalia to join al-Shabaab. When asked about the events around him on the day of the attack or just information about himself, he said he could not recollect. In the probation officers’ report, it was concluded that Mr Mberesero, was not remorseful at all and that he was a difficult interviewee.”
21 July – Source: Daily Nation – 1225 Words
On July 3, Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi handed a life sentence to a Tanzanian national and 41-year jail terms for two Kenyans found guilty of orchestrating the Garissa University terrorist attack.
NOT REMORSEFUL
The 2015 attack claimed 148 lives and left scores of others injured. Magistrate Andayi convicted the trio for three offences — conspiring to commit a terrorist act, committing a terrorist act and being members of a terrorist group. He handed specific sentences for each of these three offences even though the trio had been charged with over 150 counts of these charges. But who exactly are these accused persons? We know they are all young men with no previous conviction records. Sunday Nation now goes back and digs into their past to establish who they are.
Richard Charles Mberesero believes he is a hard worker and a patriotic person. That is what he told court during mitigation. He also believed that he was going to be set free to continue “working for the nation.” He is the first-born son of Tanzanian businessman Charles Mberesero and farmer Fatuma Ali Bere. He was born in 1994. His father had three wives and he has two other siblings. He has no relatives residing in Kenya. He attended Kalemani Primary School from classes one to seven where he claimed to have scored division one and Gonja Secondary School where he studied up to Form Four before joining a college to his advance studies.
What many do not know is that he was a self-confessed member of the al-Qaeda linked terror group based in Somali, the al-Shabaab. He told probation officers that he was recruited into the terror group soon after dropping out of college over what he claimed was lack of tuition fees. Prior to the April 2, 2015 attack, he was living at a mosque at Mororo in Tana River, a walking distance from Garissa University. He went for prayers at this mosque every day at the crack of dawn except on the day of the attack. Although he did not attend prayers on that day, he left the mosque between 3.45am and 4.30am in a hurry, leaving his bag with his belongings behind. The court noted that this was ample time to link up with the terrorists.
NO RECOLLECTION
He was found in one of the hostels by police on a rescue mission in the wake of the attack, but he could not provide satisfactory information about who he was and what he was doing there yet he was not part of the university community. He was hiding under a bed in room 13B even after he had been called to come out. The court observed that he was fearful to come out and mix with the students because he was simply not part of them. Following his arrest, he led the police to that mosque three days later.
During an interview with probation officers, Mr Mberesero described himself as a person of good health — doesn’t take alcohol, smoke cigarettes or bhang. Even though he continued to deny the offences which he was charged with, he maintained that he was arrested on his way to Somalia to join al-Shabaab. When asked about the events around him on the day of the attack or just information about himself, he said he could not recollect. In the probation officers’ report, it was concluded that Mr Mberesero, was not remorseful at all and that he was a difficult interviewee. In fact, he walked out of the interview, agitated and complaining that he had already disclosed more than enough.
Before the attack, 28-year-old Hassan Edin Hassan was a shop attendant in Mandera. He was born to Edin Hassan who is deceased and Sangaba Muhammed in 1992. His late father had two wives and his mother was the second one with two other children. Hassan was her last born. One of his older siblings is a teacher in Moyale while the other is a camel herder in the same area. Hassan only studied up to Class Seven at Burduras Primary School. He dropped out of school due to lack of fees after his father’s death. From 2009, he stayed at home helping his mother with house chores until 2013 when he went to live with his sister to help her run the shop……. |
