June 18, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Sharmarke Expresses Optimism Over Resolution Of Jubbaland Stand-Off
17 June – Source: Wacaal Media – 124 Words
The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke has expressed optimism in resolving the row between the federal government and the Interim Administration of Jubbaland. Speaking in an interview with the VOA’s Somali service, the Premier who is currently on official visit in the US said that his administration was willing to urgently conclude talks with Jubbaland in order to resolve their grievances following a motion passed by the Federal Parliament. Sharmarke said that the Federal government has named a team that will seek to resolve the standoff by holding talks with aggrieved parties including clans that criticized the selection process of the Jubbaland house. The team is expected to visit Kismaayo to start talks in the coming days.
Key Headlines
- Delivering As One: Federal Government Of Somalia UN EU And Donor Partners Launch New Joint Programmes Through The Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility (Somaliland Sun)
- Minister Of Petroleum & Mineral Resource’s Visit To The United States of America (Dalsan Radio)
- Hassan Shiekh Returns To Mogadishu (RBC Radio)
- Delegates Endorse Central State Charter (Goobjoog News)
- Sharmarke Expresses Optimism Over Resolution Of Jubbaland Stand-Off (Wacaal Media)
- Somali Parliament Set To Vote On Media Law (Radio Danan)
- Some 5000 Children Vaccinated In A Campaign Against Polio
- Kenyan President Says Troops Will Stay In Somalia (Yahoo News/AFP)
- China Donates Office Equipment To Somali Women Organization (Global Post/Xinhua)
- Coast Anti-terrorism Police Question Wife Of Said Abdalla Hemed (Coast Week/Xinhua)
- The Somalis Who Mark Ramadan – In A Synagogue (The Guardian)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Delivering As One: Federal Government Of Somalia, UN, EU And Donor Partners Launch New Joint Programmes Through The Somalia Development And Reconstruction Facility
17 June – Source: Somaliland Sun – 426 Words
The Federal Government of Somalia, United Nations, European Union and donor partners welcomed the signing today of six new Joint Programmes through the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF), within the framework of the Somali New Deal Compact. These joint programmes directly support the Peacebuilding and State-building Goals of the Somali Compact, and the key deliverables of the Government’s Vision 2016, with a specific focus on achieving results in the state formation process, constitutional review, electoral support, rule of law, youth employment, and institutional capacity development. The initiatives will in particular build a stronger civil service at Federal and State levels, support more effective delivery of justice services, and provide thousands of jobs for Somali youth. They will also support key deliverables in the Government’s Vision 2016, including the formation of new federal member states in the South and Central regions of Somalia, undertaking the review of the constitution, and building capacity of the country to deliver democratic electoral political processes.
The launch of these programmes within the framework of the SDRF reflects the strong commitment of the international community and the Government of Somalia to work as one in order to improve the lives of Somali women, men and children. “This is an important agreement which will strengthen the government institutions and it is also a milestone for the cooperation between Somalia and our international partners” said His Excellency Abdirahman Ali Aynte, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. The European Union, UK-DFID, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Italy have pledged more than USD 106 million over three years towards these priority programmes. “The signature of the new Joint Programmes is a major step in the New Deal Compact implementation. It will allow us to empower significantly the Federal Government and to support directly core state functions” said Daria Fané, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Somalia.
The six Joint Programmes are led by the Somali Government and implemented by UN partners including FAO, ILO, UNDP, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNODC, UNOPS, UNSOM and UN Women. The programmes will benefit all areas of the country, including Puntland and the newly emerging Federal Member states. “The signing of these new programmes reflects our continued commitment to support Somali-led and Somali-owned priorities,” said Philippe Lazzarini, DSRSG. “Our collective focus now must be on accelerating delivery of tangible results to the Somali people, and in in translating these programmes into delivery in particular at the sub-federal level.”
Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resource’s Visit to the United States of America
17 June – Source: Dalsan Radio – 150 Words
The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mohamed Mukhtar Ibrahim visited the United States of America. The Minister met with U. S. State Department and discussed current challenges and opportunities in the Somali Petroleum Sector. The Minister also met with U.S. Department of Commerce and discussed revenue management and legal framework for petroleum investment. In addition to his meeting with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Minister met with U. S. Department of the Interior and explored how to collect, disburse, and verify natural resource revenues. The Minister said, “US is one of the best regulated countries when it comes to the oil sector and we want to learn from them. Oil can be both a blessing and curse. We want Somalia’s oil to be a blessing.”
Hassan Shiekh Returns To Mogadishu
17 June – Source: RBC Radio – 84 Words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has returned to Mogadishu after his trip to South African, RBC Reports. The President along with large delegation has returned to Mogadishu, Somali capital on Tuesdayafter attending African Union summit in South Africa. Hassan Shiekh has met African Heads of States separately on the bilateral relations between Somalia and the African Nations. The President has discussed with his African counterparts extending support to the war-torn Somalia according to statements released from Villa Somalia .
Delegates Endorse Central State Charter
17 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 210 Words
The members of Somali central state delegates have debated provisional charter. After hours of long debate, the members casted their vote for the charter. The results of the vote was announced. 310 delegates voted in favour of the motion, 12 rejected while 29 abstained therefore the provisional charter was endorsed. According to the newly approved charter, Galmudug state is the selected name for the soon-to-be-formed state as its administrative capital will be Dhusa-Mareb town which is now under the control of moderate Islamist group, Ahlu-Sunna Waljama’a.
The Somali Federal Government is currently in talks with Ahlu-sunna which has taken over control of Dhusa-Mareeb earlier this month after engaging in gun battles with government soldiers who later withdrew from the town. On June 10th, Ahlu-Sunna declared that its delegates would vacate the conference within 24 hours. Speaking to Goobjoog News, its leader Sheikh Ibrahim Gurre, who was among the signatories to Somali central State formation conference put the blame on Somali Federal Minister Of Internal Affairs,
Somali Parliament Set To Vote On Media Law
17 June – Source: Radio Danan – 166 Words
Somalia’s parliament is set to vote on the controversial media law that creates a watchdog for the media, giving authorities wide-range of options to revoke the license of media companies, critic of the administration and arrest journalists. Proposed by the information ministry, the new law is the results of months of lobbying by the government which aims to fight back critical media reporting. Journalists say the law gives control of the media to the government that violate freedom of the press. Despite media concerns, it’s unclear if the lawmakers would endorse the law pending their approval on Thursday. The new law bans reproduction, airing of songs without consent and without paying the artist. It also prohibits selling pirated music in the black market. Somalia is one of the most dangerous places for journalists. 18 journalists have been killed in the last year alone. Despite government’s promises to prosecute of those behind the killings of journalists, few if any of the alleged killers have ever been convicted.
Some 5,000 Children Vaccinated In A Campaign Against Polio
17 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 175 Words
At least 5,000 children in Buur-dhubo town and its villages have benefited from three-day Polio vaccination campaign since 2014. Hussein Ali, a health worker in Bur-Dhubo told Goobjoog news that they have carried out polio vaccination campaign in the town and areas under its administration. He added “the traditional elders in the areas have put great effort get polio vaccination for their children.” He underlined that it has taken long time before parents were convinced to take part in vaccination campaign and take their children to the vaccination centres, adding that there are several villages which the vaccination did not reach due insecurity. Though Polio has been eradicated from many parts of the world, African countries continue to wrestle with the disease. In Somalia, progress has been made over the last few years to stem the spread of the virus. The focus for the government and all of the polio partners has shifted to missed children. Vaccinators have gained access to areas that were once controlled by Al-Shabaab.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan President Says Troops Will Stay In Somalia
17 June – Source: Yahoo News/AFP – 357 Words
Kenya’s president vowed Wednesday to keep troops in Somalia to fight Islamist Shebab rebels, apparently dismissing suggestions the country may be drawing up an exit strategy in order to focus on attacks on its own soil. Kenyan troops crossed into Somalia in 2011 to fight the Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents, and later joined the African Union force, AMISOM, which is supporting Somalia’s internationally-backed government. The Al Shabaab have since stepped up their operations in Kenya, dealing a blow to plans for the troops to serve as a buffer and protect the long, porous border.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who met with other leaders contributing troops to AMISOM — including Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda — at an AU summit in South Africa last week, said Kenya’s role was clear.He insisted Kenya “will continue with the mission to support the stabilization of the Horn of Africa country,” a statement from the presidency said. “We are a nation that appreciates and recognises the rights of every individual and their freedom of worship. We will not allow any person to force on us a way of life that is not ours,” he was quoted as saying during a visit to soldiers wounded in a recent attack.
China Donates Office Equipment To Somali Women Organization
17 June – Source: Global Post/Xinhua – 278 Words
The Chinese Embassy in Somalia on Tuesday donated office equipment to the Somali National Women Organization in Mogadishu. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Wei Hongtian said the donation is part of China’s efforts to support the rebuilding of Somalia. “This is a confirmation of the efforts by the government of China to contribute towards the reconstruction of Somalia. China is dedicated to ensuring every sector of Somalia is developed for the benefit of its people,” Wei said. He reaffirmed the willingness of the Chinese government and his embassy in enhancing the Somali women capacity building and empowerment.
Wei said China will always firmly support the peaceful reconstruction of Somalia, and provide assistance to Somalia in various areas, including enhancing the exchanges and cooperation between the women organizations of the two countries. Speaking on behalf of the women group, Sahra Omar Ali, Second Lady of Somalia, thanked the embassy and government of China for its efforts in helping Somalia develop after years of ruin by war. “We are grateful to your government for its continued support in empowering women in Somalia. We hope to engage further in future to help our country achieve its development goals and restoration of peace and stability,” she said. Batula Sheikh Ahmed, Chairperson of National Women Organization, also thanked the embassy, noting that the support will go a long way in advancing the goals and objectives of the association. The donation includes desktop computers, sewing machines, projectors and office tables. China reopened its embassy in Somalia last year, and has been instrumental in contributing to the development of Somalia in various sectors.
Coast Anti-terrorism Police Question Wife Of Said Abdalla Hemed
17 June – Source: Coast Week/Xinhua – 219 Words
Kenya’s anti-terrorism police officers on Tuesday night raided home of one of terror suspect killed in an earlier raid at military base in coastal county of Lamu, and arrested his wife. The counter terrorism police officers impounded three vehicles from the compound of Said Abdalla Hemed alias Said Hamza, and confiscated documents for further investigation in terrorism network. Hemed was among the 15 ‘al-Shabaab’ militants killed in a raid on a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) military base in Lamu on June 14. Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur said Hemed’s wife was picked up for questioning over alleged recruitment and funding of ‘al-Shabaab’ activities in the coastal region and latest invasion of military camp in Lamu.
“We are inspecting the vehicles to establish if they might have been used in past gun and grenade attacks in Mombasa and Lamu County. “We suspected they were used to ferry ‘al-Shabaab’ fighters to Somalia,” Kitur told Xinhua on Wednesday. Hemed is believed to be operating with ‘al-Shabaab’ regional commander Luqman Isa Osma to launch last year Mpeketoni attacks in Lamu, which saw over 60 people dead. According to detectives, Hemed has been on their radar for engaging in terror activities mainly in supplying food stuff and medical supplies to ‘al-Shabaab’ fighters in Somalia.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“While offering hospitality to the Bravanese is an expression of Jewish values, Rabbi Berger said: “It’s also a demonstration of how easy it is to have harmony between different cultures and faiths. We are discovering that we have more in common than we think.”
The Somalis Who Mark Ramadan – In A Synagogue
17 June- Source:The Guardian – 510 Words
When Ramadan gets under way this week, a group of Muslims in north London will gather for prayers not in a mosque, but a synagogue. In an tale of interfaith tolerance for our times, the Finchley Reform Synagogue has been hosting local Bravanese people – members of an Islamic community from south-east Somalia – since their nearby community centre was burned down in an arson attack two years ago. The cohabitation has broken down stereotypes on both side. “Now we really look forward to Ramadan,” said Jon Freedman, an outreach organiser at the synagogue.
“It’s become another holiday on our community calendar.“We hope they get their own centre soon,” Freedman added, “but it’s been a wonderful experience hosting them here.” Friendships have developed over shared meals of gefilte fish and Bravanese donuts called kalamati, and the two communities recently held an interfaith sukkot festival at a local shopping mall. The Bravanese community centre was gutted by fire on 5 June 2013, 10 days after the killing of fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south London. Video footage showed a suspect lighting several fires within the building. Graffiti extolling the English Defence League was daubed on a nearby building.