June 6, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
President Farmajo Set To Visit Kismayo Today
06 June – Source: Jowhar.com – 152 words
A delegation led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo is today expected to travel to Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubaland administration. It will be his first trip to the seaport town and third to regional state capitals. He previously visited Baidoa and Adado in Southwest and Galmudug respectively. Accompanied by ministers and federal MPs, the president is set to meet with Jubbaland leaders to discuss a number of issues including military operations against Al-Shabaab, resources sharing among other political issues.
An initial delegation including his special security guards arrived in Kismayo on Monday. The Jubaland administration has been in the past few days busy in preparation of the reception of the president. Security has been beefed up with heavy armed security personnel deployed into the streets to ensure security of the city. Key roads have been also sealed off. His visit comes a day after a bomb planted by Al-Shabaab in a police station killed at least one police officer and injured several others.
Key Headlines
- President Farmajo Set To Visit Kismayo Today (Jowhar.com)
- One Person Killed In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Large Delegation Of Ministers Scheduled To Travel To Saudi Arabia For Bilateral Talks (Jowhar.com)
- Federal Government To Take Over Seaport And Airport Of Kismayo (Jowhar.com)
- President Farmajo’s 100 Days In Office Amid Al Shabaab Continued Terror Attacks (Bernama.com)
- Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back In The Water (Forbes Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
One Person Killed In Mogadishu
06 June – Source : Goobjoog News – 95 Words
A young man was killed this morning at the four ways of San’a in Mogadishu by men armed with pistols. Eyewitness informed Goobjoog News that the victim was known as Hussein Hassan. He was a Barber and the motive behind his murder is unknown. The assailants immediately disappeared from the scene. The security forces reached the area and carried out an operation though no suspects were caught in the search. The four ways in San’a is a very busy place with many business shops and acts as a municipal boundary between Shibis, Yaqshid and Karaan.
Large Delegation Of Ministers Scheduled To Travel To Saudi Arabia For Bilateral Talks
06 June – Source: Jowhar.com – 113 words
A large delegation of Somali government ministers is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Up to seven ministers will sign deals with their Saudi counterparts regarding developmental projects the Saudi government is expected to implement in Somalia. Saudi Arabia has recently pledged 4 billion dollars for Somalia, which will be used to carry out developmental projects in Somalia. Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has so far paid two visits to Saudi Arabia since he was elected to seek financial support for his new government. The ministers’ anticipated visit to Saudi Arabia will come days after the Saudi government and some of its allies in the region severed diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Federal Government To Take Over Seaport And Airport Of Kismayo
06 June – Source: Jowhar.com – 191 words
The Federal Government of Somalia is aiming to take over the management of Kismayo’s seaport and airport. This is as per the deal the Federal Government of Somalia reached with the Jubaland Regional Administration in Addis Ababa back in 2013. Reliable sources stated that President Farmaajo’s government has been working hard to see this agreement implemented and this issue is one of the agenda’s of the talks in Kismayo. Other reports indicate that the federal government has increased its financial aid to regional states from $150,000 to $300,000 in a bid to persuade the regional administrations share revenues with the federal government.
The Jubbaland administration is said to be reluctant to transfer management of its seaport and airport to the federal government since other ports in Berbera and Bosaso are still under the management of other regional administrations. However, if the Jubbaland Administration accepts to do so, it will be the first time that the federal government will control ports other than the one in Mogadishu.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
President Farmajo’s 100 Days In Office, Amid Al Shabaab Continued Terror Attacks
06 June – Source : Bernama.com – 382 Words
Sunday June 4 marked President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s first 100 days in office in Somalia. Thousands of people and government officials took part in an organized rally held in Mogadishu’s Banadir Football Stadium to mark President’s 100 days in Villa Somalia. Addressing thousands of people at the rally, Farmajo spoke about his achievements during his first 100 days in office. “We are determined to compete with the world; We also want you to compete with other communities in the world.
We want to compete not only with African countries but with European countries in terms of transparency and credibility. We want you to work with us in terms of paying taxes and security, so that we can move forward with the rest of the world,” the president said. Somali president promised to fight the corruption, bring back stability in the war-ridden country and create jobs to thousands of Somalia youths in the next 4 years. Since the President was elected early this year, Al-Shabaab carried out the deadliest attack that killed more than 200 people within the first three months of his stay in office. Somali President on the other hand has called on Al-Shabaab to come to the negotiating table, and open talks with his government or face eradication within the coming 2 years.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“At its peak a few years ago, securing captured vessels, cargo and crew off the coast of Somalia coast the global shipping industry billions of dollars in ransom pay-outs. The menace also led to increased operational costs due to higher insurance premiums and the use of longer alternative routes around the coast of South Africa. The shipping lines also had to incur the extra expense of hiring security personnel to escort vessels through the troubled route around the Gulf of Aden, as well as other pre-emptive measures, such as installing watchtowers and razor wire.”
Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back In The Water
05 June – Source : Forbes Africa – 696 Words
A string of fresh piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia spells uncertainty for commodity dealers and consumers in East Africa. The shock hijacking of a commercial oil tanker, the MT Aris 13, in March ended a five-year lull in piracy on the key Indian Ocean route around the Gulf of Aden. In early April, it is suspected Somali pirates seized an Indian dhow, Al–Kausar, on its way to the port of Bosaso in northern Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, while another bulk carrier, OS 35, was hijacked a few days later. It has sparked fears of a return of the menace the caused global concern at its peak between 2011 and 2013.
In 2016, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded two incidents of failed attacks off Somalia. Pirates attempted to attack a container vessel in the Gulf of Aden in May, and fired on a product tanker in the Somali basin 300 nautical miles from shore in October. The attempts showed that the threat of piracy had not disappeared. The latest back-to-back attacks have prompted an EU naval force operating on the sea route to urge “for vigilance to all ships transiting the piracy high risk area”. Commodity dealers and consumers in East Africa should pray that these are isolated incidents rather than a precursor to the return of piracy on this key sea route that links eastern Africa to the Arabian Gulf, Europe and beyond.
At its peak a few years ago, securing captured vessels, cargo and crew off the coast of Somalia cost the global shipping industry billions of dollars in ransom pay-outs. The menace also led to increased operational costs due to higher insurance premiums and the use of longer alternative routes around the coast of South Africa. The shipping lines also had to incur the extra expense of hiring security personnel to escort vessels through the troubled route around the Gulf of Aden, as well as other pre-emptive measures, such as installing watchtowers and razor wire. Shipping lines did not absorb the heat alone. The pain of inflation trickled down the supply chain, causing the prices of basic industrial and household items to rally sharply. With East Africa’s huge dependence on import commodities, such as farming and industrial machinery, vehicles, clinker, steel and petroleum, the return of piracy in Somali waters means consumers will be squeezed even more. The booming infrastructure and housing projects in East Africa would also suffer a jolt of higher implementation budgets, reflecting the cost variations attributable to the piracy.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: 14 Al-Shabab militants killed in clashes w/ African Union and Somali troops in Abdalla Biroleh W of Kismayo, Mond: @amisomsomalia
@VSChiefOfStaff: President H:E @M_Farmaajo Will Make his first visit to #Kismayo ,the capital city of #Jubbaland state .#Somalia #First100 days #Progress
@SRSGKeating: #WorldEnvironmentDay. Somalia’s beautiful natural environment suffering from climate change & conflict; people are paying a heavy price.
@bilaay009: #Qatar Airways is using #Somalia airspace after #Saudi & 7 other countries cut ties with it. 15 Qatar flights flew over #Somalia
@DalsanFM: Farmaajo Faces first Foreign Policy Challenge As Arab Countries Cut Ties With Qatar – http://radiodalsan.com/en/
@GEEL_Somalia: Somalia is the 12th largest producer of sesame in the world. Annually, sesame revenue in Somalia is estimated at $300 Million.
@UNdeClercq: Strong gov’t leadership, quick donor funding and humanitarian response in #Somalia have saved lives! @washingtonpost
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Prime Minister Hassan Ali khayre is welcomed by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Garad during his first official visit to the Ministry in his efforts to promote transparent work ethics in government ministries
Photo: Radio Mogadisho