June 15, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali President Congratulates People On Eid Occasion, Praises Security Forces For Preventing Terrorist Attacks During The Ramadan Month
15 June – Source: SONNA – 251 Words
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Friday congratulated the public on the first day of Eidul Fitri, and praised Security forces for their role of preventing terrorist attacks during the Ramadan. “Congratulation to my people in and outside the country on this Eid day, I wish you celebrate happily and in peace and we are praying to Allah to reach next year with health and complete peace”, the president statement read.
President Farmaajo also thanked Somali Security forces for protecting the people and preventing terrorist attacks from Al-Shabaab militants, during the holy month of Ramadan, urging the public to work continue with the security forces.
“I am thanking our security and stabilization division, who were standing day and night to protect the people from the horror by the militants, who are accustomed to carry out attacks and kill people, young and old in Mogadishu city, I thank people for how they endured traffic problems, the government is trying its best to restore peace and stability”, President Farmaajo said.
On the other hand, UN Special Envoy for Somalia, Michael Keating congratulated all Somalis on the occasion for the Eidul Fitri. “On behalf of the entire United Nations family in Somalia, I wish you a festive and peaceful Eid,” said SRSG Keating. “We join you in welcoming the sighting of the new moon that signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan. May the blessings of Eid bring families and friends together to celebrate in a spirit of goodwill and reconciliation”, he said.
Key Headlines
- Somali President Congratulates People On Eid Occasion Praises Security Forces For Preventing Terrorist Attacks During The Ramadan Month (SONNA)
- Two Hurt In Rally Against Somaliland In Las Anod (Garowe Online)
- Somalia Secures Release 15 Nationals Jailed In Zimbabwe (Halbeeg News)
- UN Says 53 People Killed By Tropical Cyclone In Somalia (Xinhua)
- Adding Missing Points To The Natural Resources Agreement (Wardheere News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Two Hurt In Rally Against Somaliland In Las Anod
15 June – Source: Garowe Online – 254 Words
At least two women were reported to have been wounded by the Somaliland soldiers in Las-Anod, the regional capital of Sool during a riot on Thursday. Protesters marched through the town, shouting slogans against the self-declared state and called for the immediate withdrawal of invading forces from the entire Sool region, the epicentre of the conflict between Puntland and Somaliland.
A resident speaking to the media on condition of anonymity said, hundreds of people, including women and children took to the streets of the city, to express their opposition to Somaliland’s army presence in the region. Somaliland police fired bullets to disperse the angry protesters staging the rally and wounded two unarmed women, who have been admitted to a local hospital for medical treatment. Several others were arrested.
Last month, more than 40 protesters and two local journalists covering a similar anti-Somaliland demonstration were arrested, a move that has been condemned by Puntland government as an “oppression against local residents.” Somaliland officials could not be reached for comment.
The protests in Las Anod came amid a brewing tension between Puntland and Somaliland in Tukaraq village, which has been under Somaliland administration since last January. Military sources said dozens of soldiers from both warring sides have been killed, and dozens are injured in the latest clashes, between the rival forces who are still remain in city. Somalia’s international partners voiced concern over the renewed conflict in the region between Puntland and Somaliland, and called for an immediate ceasefire and end the differences through peaceful dialogue.
Somalia Secures Release 15 Nationals Jailed In Zimbabwe
15 June – Source: Halbeeg News – 206 Words
Fifteen Somali national was released from Zimbabwe jails have arrived in Mogadishu. Since early 2017, over 300 Somali nationals were freed from jails of several countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Seychelles and India after Somali initiated efforts to secure their release.
The Somalia’s ambassador to Zimbabwe said, the prisoners have been repatriated after they were released from Harare Remand Prison. “The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to South Africa and the Non-Resident Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E. Mr. Jamal Mohamed Barrow, had held successful talks with officials of the Zimbabwean government after visiting the prison,”.
The Indian Muslim community living in Zimbabwe have paid the return tickets for the 15 Somalis, according to reports. The repatriated nationals were arrested in November last year by Zimbabwe security forces for staying illegally in country.
Seven other Somali nationals who are in Zimbabwe jails will be released soon as talks between the governments of Somalia and Zimbabwe is underway. Early this week, four Somali nationals were released from Kenyan jails, after serving 10 years. In December, 114 Somalis were released from Ethiopian detention facilities and handed over to the Somali government, following talks between Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre and former Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN Says 53 People Killed By Tropical Cyclone In Somalia
15 June – Source: Xinhua – 333 Words
At least 53 people were killed and some 229,000 others affected by tropical cyclone Sagar that caused heavy rains and flooding in Somaliland and Puntland in northern Somalia in May, the UN humanitarian agency said on Thursday. Citing estimates from local disaster management authorities in the two regional states, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 50 people were killed in Somaliland while three lost their lives in Puntland.
“The subsequent floods and strong winds exacted a heavy toll on infrastructure and farmland, leaving many people dead and thousands of others displaced. Basic infrastructure, including water sources and communication equipment, collapsed in many areas,” OCHA said in its latest Flash Update.
The latest update comes after a powerful tropical cyclone with winds in excess of 120 km/per hour and an entire year’s worth of rain which landed in Somalia on May 19 left in its path a trail of destruction, with thousands of people still counting their losses. According to the UN, the cyclone Sagar tore through the coastal north of the country, destroying homes and livelihoods in its wake. The UN humanitarian agency said communities in the coastal areas of Somaliland and major portions of Awdal district, as well as some coastal communities in Puntland are still reeling from the impact of Sagar.
The UN agency said the cyclone affected nearly 168,000 people in the five worst-hit districts of Somaliland – Baki, Lughaya and Zaylac in the Awdal region, and Berbera in Woqooyi Galbeed. According to OCHA some 60,800 people along coastal areas were affected by the flooding and heavy rains in Puntland.
The UN humanitarian agency will be releasing about 3.5 million U.S. dollars for response to the impact of the cyclone for Somaliland communities affected. “The funds will be used for emergency rehabilitation of prioritized communal infrastructure (schools, water points, hospitals, nutrition centres), for support to integrated emergency response teams, and integrated response activities focusing on shelter and livelihoods support,” said OCHA.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“This agreement does not reflect what will happen if a federal member state or states have no oil at all such as Fujairah of the United Arab Emirates. This Agreement does not specify the relationship between the allocation of responsibilities in a federation. Now we see Mogadishu complaining of the heavy burden it shoulders.”
Adding Missing Points To The Natural Resources Agreement
13 June – Source: Wardheere News – 1057 Words
I would like to congratulate the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) on agreeing on the 2020 Election Model and the Ownership, Management and Revenue Sharing from Natural Resources (Petroleum and Minerals). As a former Minister of Petroleum, I was deeply involved in the negotiation of natural resources and I want to thank those who worked tirelessly to help the two levels of governments negotiate and reach an agreement as Article 44 of the Provisional Constitution stipulates.
As the current Minister of Petroleum, Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, said in his press release on 7th June 2018, this agreement was 3 years in the making. As soon as I took over the ministry in February 2015, I started a regional outreach initiative aiming to reach an agreement on resource ownership, control and sharing revenue from natural resources. A negotiation team was appointed to set a clear strategy to identify and approach federal member states. The negotiation team visited member states for the first time in March 2015 to exchange views and share issues related to the development and management of the petroleum sector.
The Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States held a meeting in Mogadishu on the 21st of October 2015 to develop a common political understanding of petroleum and mineral resources. The negotiation process was long and difficult as participants were negotiating with emotions. Special thanks go to the hard-working staff members of the Ministry of Petroleum.
In March 2016, The FGS reached with South West and Galmudug states an interim agreement on management and revenue sharing from natural resources. The negotiation came to a halt due to the 2016 general election. The negotiation resumed earlier this year when the Council of Interstate Cooperation and the Federal Government appointed representatives for the intergovernmental negotiations. An agreement was reached on the 5th of June 2018 in Baidoa.
As a former Chairman of the natural resources negotiation, I am in a prime position to inform on where we performed well and what needs further improving in regard to the natural resources agreement. In this document, I will highlight key points that are missing from this agreement so that we can find the right political and economic balance that considers the spatial distribution of natural resources and the associated regional equity concerns.
First, it is worth celebrating that the FGS and FMS have collaborated in reviewing the Provisional Constitution with respect to ownership, management and revenue sharing from natural resources. It is also worth noting that leaders have used the natural resource dialogue as an opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation. That is a positive move.
This Agreement is entitled “The Agreement on Ownership, Management and Revenue Sharing from Natural Resources (Petroleum and Minerals)” which means it is a formal agreement and not an interim agreement. An agreement with four (4) pages is difficult to cover the ownership, management and revenue sharing from natural resources in the country. Furthermore, it does not have the provisions for amendment or addendum.
TOP TWEETS
@Tuuryare_Africa: A little boy playing with his AK-47 toy – celebrating Eid al-Fitr festival in #Mogadishu . #Somalia
@US2SOMALIA: On behalf of the entire United States Mission to Somalia, the Chargé d’Affaires extends to all Somalis in#Somalia and around the world best wishes on the joyful occasion of Eid al-Fitr. Eid Mubarak. Ciid Wanaagsan!@US2SOMALIA
@DalsanFM: PICS: #Somalia President @M_Farmaajo joined Somalia nationals for the #EidulFitr prayers in the capital#Mogadishu.
@IlwadElman: An IDPcamp burned in2 the night last night w/fatalities.1 mum even lost all3 of her kids 2the fire.2day@ElmanPeaceHRC visited the site2 provide emergency relief items.I posted about it+the distribution on my Instagram &so wild ppl in Mogadishu dont know this tragedy happened!
@engyarisow: World Blood Donor Day event held at my office in order to raise public awareness of the importance of blood donation
@MayorMogd: All garden structures such as Afisiyoni, 4ta gardens and Bondhere junction, among others, should all be demolished and made public gardens which all citizens can use equally, to allow them to contribute to the beautification activities of the City.
@antonioguterres: My heartfelt wishes to everyone celebrating Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Let us all take inspiration from Ramadan’s spirit of compassion and solidarity. Eid Mubarak.
@DalsanFM: No reason for celebration this #Eid at this IDP Camp near the Aden Abdille Int Aiport in #Mogadishu after an inferno gutted down part of the camp killing 3 children aged between 1-3 from one family. #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo greeting the public after Eid prayers outside the main mosque in Mogadishu this morning
Photo: @DalsanFM