July 5, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
UN Begins Sorting False From Genuine Refugees In Dadaab
05 July – Source: Daily Nation – 630 Words
The United Nations on Monday launched a “verification exercise” to determine how many residents of the Dadaab complex are actually Kenya citizens posing as Somali refugees. “We are aware of Kenyans falsely registering as refugees in order to get free services and food,” UN refugee agency spokesman Duke Mwancha told theNation. The UN currently has no estimate of the size of this segment of Dadaab’s population of 340,000.
But Mr Mwancha says his agency is aiming to specify within two months the number of Kenyans living in the camps under false pretences. This effort to compile a “clean register” is part of a recent agreement involving the UN and the governments of Kenya and Somalia to facilitate the return of 150,000 Somalis to their homeland by the end of the year.
The three parties have also agreed that refugees from countries other than Somalia will be moved from Dadaab to the Kakuma camps. About 16,000 refugees — mainly from Ethiopia — are expected to make that 1,200-kilometre journey from Garissa County to Turkana County. Some Somalis have recently left Dadaab under circumstances that may not qualify as voluntary, says Ben Rawlence, author of a recently published book describing the lives of nine residents of the complex.
Key Headlines
- UN Begins Sorting False From Genuine Refugees In Dadaab (Daily Nation)
- Somali President Calls For Peace (Goobjoog News)
- Puntland Ends Suspension On Radio Daljir (Puntland Today)
- Uganda Reconsiders Pull-out From Somali Mission (Voice of America)
- Mogadishu Prepares For The End Of The Holy Month Of Ramadan (AMISOM)
- Well Water Is Creating Lush Green Farms In Bakol’s Semi-arid Lands (ICRC)
- East African Businesses Recruited To Open Streets Event In Minneapolis (Star Tribune)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Calls For Peace
05 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 150
Somali President Hassan Mahamoud has sent again a peace message to Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia, calling them to stop the killings of “innocent citizens.” In his state television speech marked at the end of the holy month, President Hassan Mahmoud asked both leaders and ranking members of Al-Shabaab to lay down their weapons and get back to the normal life. “I Hereby call both leaders and ranking file members of Al-Shabaab to stop suicidal actions and the killings of innocent Somali citizens”
The president also added that the Somali government is ready to rehabilitate those who want to denounce the radical ideology and integrate back to the society. “We are calling them to cross the bridge, so that we can help them reclaim their normal social life,” Said President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud. Somali government previously called for Al-Shabaab to embrace peace and offered amnesty for Al-Shabaab defectors.
Puntland Ends Suspension On Radio Daljir
5 July – Source: Puntland Today – 86 Words
Radio Daljir has resumed its broadcast services after it was closed two weeks ago by the Puntland’s information ministry. A presidential decree said the ban was lifted after President Abdiweli Gaas pardoned the station which was accused of airing content undermining security and unity of the people of Puntland. The Somali journalists’ association based in Mogadishu immediately welcomed the lifting of suspension and called on the Puntland administration to respect freedom of expression. Daljir Radio is an independent radio which has a big listenership in many areas in Puntland.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Uganda Reconsiders Pull-out From Somali Mission
05 June – Source: Voice of America – 213 Words
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says his country will reconsider plans to pull its troops from Somalia if the AU stabilization mission there moves in the right direction. Speaking to reporters at the end of a regional security summit in Kampala Monday, Museveni said the military mission in Somalia has not been working successfully. “Our main reason for going to Somalia was to help the Somali people to create their own army, but after 9 years we have not created the army,” he said.
He added “We cannot support that type of thing, the type of poor planning is something that we don’t support.” But he says he discussed the issue with AU and UN officials, adding that this time people are serious about building Somalia’s army and if Uganda sees the program is working it will support it.
“We shall not pullout if we are moving the right directions, helping Somali people to build the institutions they need, specially the army,” he said. Uganda said last month that it plans to withdraw its troops from Somalia at the end of next year. Uganda deployed troops to in Somalia in 2007, and is the force’s biggest contributor, supplying more than 6,000 of the 22,000 AMISOM troops.
Mogadishu Prepares For The End Of The Holy Month Of Ramadan
05 July – Source: AMISOM – 315
As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslim believers in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu have begun preparations to celebrate Eid al-fitr. In Hamar-weyne market, one of Mogadishu’s busiest commercial centres, traders offered price discounts on various items in the hope that they would attract new customers.
“We are reducing sale prices in preparation for Eid al-fitr, “said Mohamed Abdiweli Sheikh, a children’s clothes merchant. “We have dropped prices from $1.50 to $1 to 15000 Somali shillings, in order to make huge sales,” he said. Muslims in Somalia will celebrate Eid al-fitr tomorrow, after a month-long Ramadan fast. The end of the fasting period is marked with celebrations as families and friends gather to pray and eat together.
The presence of Somali Police Force (SPF) and troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has increased over the holiday period as they carry out joint operations to boost security in the capital and safeguard lives and property. Other merchants expressed their anticipation for the festival and said Mogadishu residents were glad to have made it through the month.
Well Water Is Creating Lush, Green Farms In Bakol’s Semi-arid Lands
05 July – Source: ICRC – 145 Words/ Video: 1:00 Minute
Very few trees and dry shrubs dot the parched landscape. However, clinging on to edge of the town, are a few small farms that stand out lush with vegetation. It’s a stark contrast to the dry lands surrounding them. Ali Adan is an owner of one of the farms. He says he must keep the farms constantly watered by pumping water from a nearby well. Water and a little extra attention from regular ploughing are what his crops – kale, bell peppers, chillies and lemons – need.
With his produce, he manages to provide food for his family and sell some in the local market. Despite most of Somalia being arid and semi-arid, a number of people still depend on farming as a way of life. The ICRC’s economic security program in Somalia supports farmers like Ali Adan with agricultural inputs, equipment and advice to promote self-reliance within communities. Improvement on infrastructure like water catchment systems are also carried out.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Elmi sees the event as a way to introduce Somali culture and products to the broader community. “It’s about how can we, as East Africans, connect with mainstream Americans,” he said.
East African Businesses Recruited To Open Streets Event In Minneapolis
05 July – Source: Star Tribune – 701 Words
Pharmacist Saida Mohamed peered from behind the glass windows at the counter at Lakes in the Seward neighborhood last week, skeptical. There was no way she was going to participate in the Open Streets event on E. Franklin Avenue, she told Burhan “Scot Isqoox” Elmi. “I can’t do Sundays. It’s my day off,” she said, adding that she needs the day to do laundry and cook.
Elmi, a Somali hired by the Seward Civic and Commerce Association to draw more East African businesses to the Aug. 21 event, was understanding but persistent. Open Streets is a great opportunity for local residents to learn of her pharmacy, he told Mohamed. “You can hand out fliers about your pharmacy,” he said. “Oh, all right!” Mohamed replied, managing to summon a smile. “If I can’t do the whole time, I will do two hours.”
Elmi has been walking the neighborhood, making his pitch to East African business owners. Only three or four participated in the Franklin Open Streets event last year. The idea behind Open Streets is to bring together communities, melding small businesses and cultures, getting the locals walking, biking, skateboarding and shopping on an avenue that’s closed to motor vehicles for a few hours. But few of the East African businesses were aware of the event or how to get involved. “Most of them don’t know what Open Streets is about,” he said.
TOP TWEETS
@MOALIMUU : #Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemns terror attacks in Saudi Arabia & reiterated his call for global anti- terror response.
@willswanson : Uganda says it will reconsider plans to pull its troops from #Somalia if @amisomsomalia moves in the right direction
@JoshuaKDubrow : #Somalia elections:”Somali women…concerned that…hard-won political, economic and social gains…may be removed” http://www.somalicurrent.com/
@AAbdishakur : #Somalia:The next 4 years r critical to future of our nation.Promoting peace& recon,fighting terrorism & working 4 social justice r vital.
@lasoco : Somalia: NUSOJ appalled of Puntland Information Ministry’s media crackdown. -… http://j.mp/29rYlkI #Somalia
@DrXaydar : Five clerics who have sighted the #Shawaalcrescent have been sworn in at #Badhan district in Sanaag region in #Puntland #Somalia.
@SCheney71 : Lessons from #Iraq, #Afghanistan, & #Somaliato help rebuild #Syria from #ISIL in white paperhttp://bit.ly/28Lqm6v @amsecproject
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The first reported pedestrian (zebra) crossing in Mogadishu.
Photo: @SONNALIVE