June 28, 2016 | Morning Headlines
UNSC Urges Prevention of Financing Al-Shabaab, Other Terrorist Group In Somalia
27 June – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 339 Words
The members of the UN Security Council stressed today in a statement the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of Al-Shabaab, and any other terrorist group in Somalia. The French led Council, condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack perpetrated by Al-Shabaab on the Nasa Hablood Hotel, Mogadishu, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, including the death of Bur’i Mohamed Hamza, the Somali Minister for Environment Affairs and Former Foreign Minister.
In their statement, the Council members expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Somalia, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. Reaffirming once again that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, the 15 member body underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.
The members of the Security Council stressed in their statement that “those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.” Reiterating that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, the Council reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Key Headlines
- UNSC Urges Prevention of Financing Al-Shabaab Other Terrorist Group In Somalia (Kuwait News Agency)
- Mauritania Foreign Minister Visits Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Puntland Former Minister Calls On Government To Reopen Radio Daljir (Garowe Online)
- UAE-based Expat Killed In Somalia Attack (Gulf News)
- Ancient Caves In Somalia Prone To Erosion (Press TV)
- As The World’s Largest Refugee Camp Closes Some Kenyans Struggle To Prove They Belong In Kenya(Quartz Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Mauritania Foreign Minister Visits Mogadishu
27 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 97 Words
Mauritania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Khalid Omar Ali, has paid a visit to Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu on Monday. During his short visit to the capital, he met his counterpart, Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Hadliye.
Both sides had discussed on ways of bolstering the bilateral relations. Mauritania Minister of Foreign Affair said that his side will continue to support Somalia at its recovery from the over two decades of civil war. “We are determined to continue our support to the government and people of Somalia. We are looking forward to enhancing the bilateral relations,’’ he said.
Puntland Former Minister Calls On Government To Reopen Radio Daljir
27 June – Source: Garowe – 376 Words
Former Puntland Education Minister Abdi Farah Saed (Juha) has called for Radio Daljir to resume broadcasting on its FM stations on Monday. Juha said the recent “threats of bullets” made by Information Minister Mohamud Hassan So’adde amounted to a “vitriolic degeneration” after years of political maturity, referring to 18 years into Puntland statehood. The former minister lamented the closure which continued into its third day following a government directive that ordered Radio Daljir to shut down on June 24.
“It is really unfortunate for Puntland to lurch backward after 18 years of governance. [Closure] was something we didn’t expect from Abdiweli’s government and of course any other one in place today. I hope the government will be more sensible to this disturbing move, and ban on [Daljir] programs will be lifted immediately,” said Juha during a Monday interview. He added that the government needs to offer a space and avoid censoring voices willing to raise questions over pressing political issues, ailing economy and security at this critical time.
Asked about the violation of 22nd article of the regional constitution that stipulates the press is free and independent, Juha responded as follows: “To be very frank, I don’t have a justification for such muzzling. Simply, I can say the government has let its authority slip, and failed to rise to responsibilities to which parliament entrusted.” Continuing, former Puntland Education Minister called parliament effectiveness into question: “Another matter that begs a question is the effectiveness of parliament which is tasked with ensuring an accountable government. The autonomy of parliament seems to have been undermined.”
“The real interlocutors when it comes to debates pertaining to the constitution are [MPs]. Media should write to parliament and pose their questions to them so that whether the minister’s remarks were constitutional or not could be clear,” he said. “Parliament has legislative powers but so far, I see no signs that those powers are exercised,” noted Juha, stressing that parliament is the organ that holds the executive to account. On Thursday, Information Ministry closed down the independent radio station for interviewing former Bari Governor Abdisamad Mohamed Galan. The U.S. Mission to Somalia said the following day, it was alarmed by the closure that contradicts the right of free expression.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UAE-based Expat Killed In Somalia Attack
27 June – Source: Gulf News – 417 Words
Dubai based Somali expat was among at least 15 people killed in an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu on Saturday. Fouad Omar Ameen, who was an American University of Sharjah (AUS) graduate working for Standard Chartered bank in the UAE. Ameen, 29, had recently travelled to strife-torn Mogadishu as part of his resolve to build a better Somalia, his sister Sara Abu Bakr posted on her Facebook page on Sunday morning. Abu Bakr could not be reached for an immediate comment.
Saturday’s attack by Al-Shabaab militants on the popular Naso-Hablood hotel involved a car bombing followed by gunfights and taking of hostages. Somalia’s Environment Minister Buri Mohammad Hamza was also killed in the attack. By Sunday afternoon, the AUS Alumni Association sent an email to alumni saying: “It is with profound sorrow that we convey the sad news of the demise of alumnus Fouad Omar Ameen, BS Business Administration (2011). On behalf of AUS community we extend our sincere condolences to Fouad’s family members and friends.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with them in these difficult moments, the university said . “May his soul rest in peace and may Allah give strength to his family and friends to bear this loss.” According to Hodan Nalayeh, founder of Integration TV, Somalia’s English-language television company, Ameen arrived in Mogadishu around three weeks ago “to create jobs for the country he loved”, she wrote on her Facebook page.
The post adds that he was born in Dubai, spoke five languages, and graduated from AUS School of Global Commerce and Finance. Ameen’s sister described him as a person close to Allah who regularly attended the Fajr dawn prayer at the mosque. He choose to leave the “‘conventional lifestyle’ to challenge himself to build a ‘better’ Somalia.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Las Geel attracts many tourists from Europe, Asia and America. Without instant financial and practical support, however, the rocks and their aesthetic values cannot survive any longer than 20 years.”
Ancient Caves In Somalia Prone To Erosion
27 June – Source: Press TV – Video: 1:56 Minutes
The unique and stylish cave paintings of Laas Geel in Somalia continue to bedazzle archeologists and historians with their ancient brilliance. This is while preserving the five-millennia old site is hitting the rocks as it has been neglected in the self-declared state of Somaliland. Located in the Horn of Africa, this site that was found some 12 years ago depicts pastoralist history illustrated by Neolithic artists. The paintings include red and white sketches of cattle, giraffes, antelopes and hunters with bows and arrows, a collection that is incomparable even in Africa.
“Most of us ended up in the refugee database because we innocently wanted to access necessities such as water, food, education and security. I never knew that by going to the camp, it would be so difficult for me to get a national identification card. I have tried at least five times to get it to no avail. Now, I am worried that I may be among the thousands of Somali refugees who will be repatriated to Somalia, a country I know nothing about.”
As The World’s Largest Refugee Camp Closes, Some Kenyans Struggle To Prove They Belong In
Kenya
27 June – Source: Quartz Africa – 609 Words
When a 15-year old Fatuma Abdi, a Kenyan Somali accompanied her parents and siblings to the Dadaab Refugee Camp in 2003, all that was on her mind was how they could survive the vagaries of life that had pushed them to the limits at home in Garissa. They made the decision to seek refuge in the camp after all their livestock was decimated by drought, depriving them of their main livelihood source. Struck by the loss, Abdi’s parents ushered the entire family of 10 into the camp, where their details were promptly captured in the refugee database.
At the time of going to the camp, her parents and five older siblings already had national identification cards, proof of their Kenyan citizenship. However, Abdi and her two younger siblings are yet to be issued with the vital document and this is what makes them very worried. Countless efforts to get the all-important document have failed, and now, they face the very real danger of being repatriated to Somalia, a war-torn country they know little about. The reality dawned on them when Kenyan officials announced in May this year that they will shut down the 25-year old camp.
For many residents of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid northern region (pdf), basic amenities such as water, schools, health facilities and security are hard to come by. Likewise, conflicts over resources such as water and livestock are a common occurrence. The drought condition that is ever so ubiquitous in north eastern Kenya as well as sporadic insecurity cases have for ages pushed many families into refugee camps, with the hope of partaking of free food, water, safety and shelter provided by aid agencies.