July 3, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Al-Shabaab Commander Captured In Qoryoley, Says Official
02 July – Source: Shabelle Media – 121 Words
A senior Somali regional district official says government forces have captured an Al-Shabaab commander during a joint security operation in the outskirt of Qoryoley town. Speaking to Radio Shabelle on phone, Mohamed Abdi Abdullahi, the city’s deputy commissioner on the security and political affairs, said several members of the militia group were also arrested.
With support from the African Union forces, Somalia National Army have detained the Al-Shabaab Intelligence officer, who is reported to have been handed over to the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Al-Shabaab is yet to comment on the latest development. Qoryoley, which lies some 120 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu, has been the scene of attacks since it was liberated by Somali and AMISOM forces in mid 2014.
Key Headlines
- Al-Shabaab Commander Captured In Qoryoley Says Official (Shabelle Media)
- Saudi Lifts Ban On Livestock From Somalia (Halbeeg News)
- Second Phase Of Constitutional Review Process Opens In Mogadishu (Halbeeg News)
- AU Special Representative Holds Talks With Members Of Somalia’s Federal Parliament (AMISOM)
- AMISOM To Intensify Training Of Somali Police Officers On Security Maintenance (AMISOM)
- From Herding Camels To Digging Graves – Demise Of A Proud Somali Pastoralist (Radio Ergo)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Saudi Lifts Ban On Livestock From Somalia
02 July – Source: Halbeeg News – 186 Words
Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on livestock imports from Somalia, paving way for the export of livestock. Saudi Arabia, formerly the biggest buyer of Somali livestock, lifted the two-year ban this week to secure meat supplies from Somalia, according to Somali Ministry for Livestock. Saudi Arabia imports 80% of Somalia’s livestock through the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, Mogadishu and other towns.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Minister for Livestock Sheikh Nur Mohamed Hassan, said the livestock trade will officially resume after Saudi Arabia lifted the ban imposed on livestock from Somalia. “Our livestock trade with Saudi Arabia will resume soon. This will be an opportunity for the traders as well as the whole country to do business considering that livestock is the backbone of our economy,” Hassan said.
Animal exports account for 40 per cent of Somalia’s Gross Domestic Product. The Middle East is the main export destination with other Asian countries accounting for very small portions of the trade. The Middle Eastern country banned imports in December 2016, saying it had detected disease in the Somali livestock.
Second Phase Of Constitutional Review Process Opens In Mogadishu
02 July – Source: Halgeed News – 221 Words
The constitutional review and implementation committee opened the second phase of constitution review process in Mogadishu on Monday. The Chairman of the committee, Mohamed Dahir Afrah, told the press that the committee had a workload that needs to be cleared in order to finalize the interim Constitution. Mr. Afrah described the Constitution as an agreement that can only be developed after all people take part and give their ideas. “Today, we opened the second phase of the constitutional review process. There are many issues at hand that need to be finalized within a short period. A Constitution is an agreement that calls for consultation with all the Somali people” said the Chairman.
The committee has divided the workload into three phases and expressed optimism that they will complete the first part within a few days. In May 2018, the Federal Government of Somalia pledged political and financial support to ensure the country gets a new Constitution by the end of 2019. Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, who launched the constitutional review process in Mogadishu, stated that his government will leave no stone unturned until the constitution of the country is fully reviewed.
Addressing a national convention attended by lawmakers, international partners, religious leaders and members of civil society, the Prime Minister said Somalia will produce a Somali-owned document “that will rebuild the Somalia we lost”.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU Special Representative Holds Talks With Members Of Somalia’s Federal Parliament
02 July – Source: AMISOM – 291 Words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, today held talks with members of Somalia’s Federal Parliament. The closed-door discussions, held at parliament building, in Mogadishu, focused on security, protocol and ways of strengthening relations between the federal parliament and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). “We discussed matters related to security and protocol. We are now reading from the same page. We are happy and satisfied with mutual explanation. From now we will work very well with each other,” Ambassador Madeira said.
The Upper House Speaker, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, who received the SRCC, thanked AMISOM peacekeepers for the sacrifice made in stabilizing the country, adding that their efforts had brought positive gains to the people of Somalia. “We are very grateful and aware of the efforts and sacrifice of AMISOM peacekeepers and the role they play to secure Somalia and we are very happy to receive you [the SRCC],” said the Upper House Speaker.
Ambassador Madeira reiterated AMISOM’s respect for the leadership and people of Somalia, adding that the AU Mission will continue working closely with the government and federal parliament in bringing lasting peace and security to the horn of Africa country. The meeting was also attended by the 1st Deputy Speaker, Abshir Mohamed Ahmed Bukhari, 2nd Deputy Speaker, Mowlid Hussein Guhaad, and the Secretary General of the Upper House, Ali Mohamed Jamaa.
AMISOM To Intensify Training Of Somali Police Officers On Security Maintenance
02 July – Source: AMISOM – 350 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will step up the training and mentoring of Somali police officers during the transition period to prepare them for handover of security responsibilities. Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo, said the trainings will be done in all the federal states to empower Somali police officers to take charge of the country’s security.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of a six-day in-Mission training course on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), for AMISOM Police officers, on Sunday, Ms. Alalo urged the participants to ensure the objective of establishing a strong and professional police force in Somalia is realized. “Whatever you have learnt from here, we expect you to get it out to our counterparts, the Somalis, who you are mandated to build their capacity,” Ms. Alalo stated at the function attended by other senior AMISOM Police officers, among them, Daniel Ali Gwambal, AMISOM Police Coordinator for Operations, and the Acting AMISOM Police Training Coordinator, Leon Ngulube.
The refresher course, the fourth this year, is aimed at improving the knowledge of officers on SGBV matters to help Somalia tackle the crime. More than 100 police officers have undergone the training this year. Ms. Alalo noted that proper training and mentoring of the Somali Police Force (SPF) is crucial, adding that it will enable AMISOM handover security responsibility to competent officers. “This training comes at the right time when we are talking about the transition. We must ensure that we have the right people who can deliver. The right people who can bring out the information. The right people who can guide the Somali police about professional policing,” Ms. Alalo observed.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Drought has brought to huge numbers of Somali pastoralists unemployment, food scarcity, displacement, and the stress of getting accustomed to a new life in the urban areas. Many have had to accept that they can no longer build their lives around livestock.”
From Herding Camels To Digging Graves – Demise Of A Proud Somali Pastoralist
02 July – Source: Radio Ergo – 605 Words
Former pastoralist Ibrahim Ismail Ige, 39, lives in the Somaliland capital Hargeisa, and earns a living as a gravedigger. It is a far cry from the life he used to lead, when he had a large herd of 60 camels and 200 goats in the rural areas. His whole family depended on livestock for a living. But the harsh drought that hit Somalia in 2016 turned his village, Dobo-bariyale, on the southern border with Ethiopia, into a desert. All the animals died and the family moved to Nasa-Hablood 1 IDP camp, east of Hargeisa, where they live now. “I never thought my income would be tied to the death of people,” Ibrahim told Radio Ergo.
Ibrahim learnt all about grave digging in the early part of 2017. Now it takes him three days to complete a grave and he sells the space for $40. It is a decent amount to support his 12-member family. Still, Ibrahim is sad that he has not been able to continue the proud pastoralist tradition that he inherited along with his livestock from his father. “If I got my camels back I would not choose the city over the rural lifestyle. Keeping livestock is prestigious and a respectable man’s job. I would go back to the previous life any day, I was leading a very good life,” Ibrahim said.
Drought has brought to huge numbers of Somali pastoralists unemployment, food scarcity, displacement, and the stress of getting accustomed to a new life in the urban areas. Many have had to accept that they can no longer build their lives around livestock. Abdi Haashi Keynaan, 65, a former pastoralist and father of 20 children from his four wives, owned 700 goats in Galgadud region of central Somalia. His entire herd was wiped out in the drought. Abdi’s family migrated to Adado town in 2016, and settled in Karama IDP camp. He started repairing shoes, earning $2-3 a day, which provided an important lifeline for his large family. They cook one meal to share together when they all come back home in the evening.
Despite working every hour he can, Abdi cannot make enough from shoe repairs to support his family. Sixteen of his children are of school age but do not go to school as he cannot pay the fees. Abdi said he was able to provide enough for his children before and that he would love to go back to the rural lifestyle if he could get some more livestock. He enjoyed his life much better then.
Across Somalia, from north to south, destitute former herders have been displaced from the rural areas and turned to new trades or casual jobs. Abdi Deero Muhumed, 58, is working as a watchman at Al-Shifa Hospital in Bardera, Gedo region. He earns $100 a month that takes care of his family living in Habaal-Cadey camp. He lost his 200 goats and 50 camels in Daar village, 30 km north of Bardera, after five years of drought.
The odd jobs that pastoralists have picked up have been a relief for their families. But many are a burden to relatives, who have let them move in to share their homes. Abdisamad Mohamed Abdullahi, a professor of social sciences at the University of Hargeisa, sees the exodus of former herders to the urban areas as very damaging to the country’s economically important livestock sector.