March 21, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

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Somali President Calls for Immediate Humanitarian Assistance to areas liberated from Al-Shabaab

20 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 130 words

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appealed to international partners for immediate humanitarian assistance to Somali citizens living in areas liberated from al Shabaab militant group. “We must show the people they are not alone and that they have government,” The President said. “People need to get help they need,” he added. Updating international partners on federal government support on the expanding newly liberated areas president said some of his cabinet is already on the ground to assess the situation. “Government ministers have already visited newly liberated areas to assess the situation and establish short-term local community needs and this will continue in earnest.” Cabinet ministers have also been allocated responsibility for different regions and some will be deploying on a more permanent basis to assist local communities and administrations.” He added.

Key Headlines

Somali President Calls for Immediate Humanitarian Assistance to areas liberated from Al-Shabaab(Radio Mogadishu)
Somalia ratified three core ILO conventions & joins Decent Work Program (Office of the Prime Minister)
AU Special Representative commends Djibouti for its continued commitment to peace in Somalia(AMISOM)
Qatar announces U.S $1.86 Million Somali Relief Aid (AP)
Mogadishu mayor fires Shibis district commissioner (Radio Goobjoog)
Security meeting held in Hudur (Radio Shabelle)
Somalia farmers reaping from irrigation (New Vision)
Al Shabaab imposes sanction on liberated town (Garowe Online)

PRESS RELEASE

Somalia ratified three core ILO conventions & joins Decent Work Program

20 Mar – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 471 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, on Thursday addressed the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body followed by signing the ratification of three core ILO Conventions and joining of the Decent Work Program at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Prime Minister on behalf of the Federal Republic of Somalia ratified: the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention; Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention and ratified against the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

Somalia’s engagement in the Decent Work program which aims to grow sustainable jobs, with a specific focus on the youth, as well as protect the fundamental rights of the worker.

Addressing the ILO Governing Body, the Prime Minister, Said:

“Somalia has vast natural and untapped resources, however, the poorly diversified economy, underdeveloped infrastructure, weak education system, lack of markets and weak capacity to manage these resources in a sustainable way, leave the economy’s full potential still untapped.

“Large numbers of unemployed youths are a potential source of insecurity given their vulnerability to recruitment into criminal and violent activities by terrorist groups.

“While we engage in military operations we must continue to address the main challenges which allowed the collapse of the state, ultimately allowing al Shabaab to rise. We must make efforts to:

* Harmonise our traditional setting

* Ensure fair access to resources and fully inclusive political engagement

* Implement sustainable Somali owned state building process for peace

* Institutionalisation of protection and promotion of Human Rights in harmony with the Paris principles

* Integration of the Post Transition Human Rights Road Map, New Deal Compact, National Stabilisation Plan and Decent Work Program

“Job creation is a key part of our stabilisation plans as we must prove to the people that there is a peace dividend now that al Shabaab has been driven out. Investing in job creation is much more productive, sustainable and cost effective than peace-making, peacekeeping or any other conventional military operations.”

The Director General of the ILO, Guy Ryder, hosted a working lunch for the visiting Prime Minister and his delegation where they discussed the importance of concerted multilateral and bilateral co-operation.

Following the working lunch the Prime Minister met with the Geneva’s Friends of Somalia chaired by the UK Ambassador to UN Missions (Geneva) Karen Pierce, which is a unique cross-regional member states group within the UN system in Geneva, briefing them on the current developments in Somalia and ongoing operations against al Shabaab. The State representatives reconfirmed their support for Somalia’s ongoing stabilisation and welcomed the Prime Minister’s vision of self-reliance.

AU Special Representative commends Djibouti for its continued commitment to peace in Somalia

20 Mar – Source: AMISOM – 239 words

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif has hailed the role played by Djiboutian troops serving under AMISOM. Speaking during a meeting with the visiting Chief of Defense Forces of Djibouti- General Zakariah Sheikh Ibrahim, Ambassador Annadif observed that since their deployment into the mission, the troops have made significant contribution towards the fight against al Shabaab terrorists in the country.

The AU Special Representative noted that last week alone, the troops from Djibouti serving under AMISOM helped Somali National Army soldiers to liberate the strategic and key town of Buulo-Burto from Al-Shabaab terrorists.

Ambassador Annadif paid tribute to six Djiboutian soldiers who have lost their lives during the military operation to liberate the town of Buulo-Burde and prayed for quick recovery of those who sustained injuries. He said; “On behalf of the African Union Commission and on my own behalf, I express heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Djibouti, relatives and friends of six Djiboutian colleagues who lost their lives in the fight for peace and stability in Somalia.”

In his remarks, General Zakariah Sheikh Ibrahim reaffirmed his government’s continued commitment to peace and stability in Somalia noting that the death of the six soldiers will not deter Djibouti’s resolve to end fighting in the country. After their meeting, the two saw off six bodies of the fallen Djiboutian Soldiers at the Aden Abdulle Adde Airport.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President Calls for Immediate Humanitarian Assistance to areas liberated from Al-Shabaab

20 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 130 words

Mogadishu mayor fires Shibis district commissioner

20 Mar – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 90 words

The Governor of Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu Hassan Mohamed Hussein “Muungaab” appoints a new commissioner for Shibis district, Abdifatah Yanyo to replace the former district commissioner Daud Iftin. The former district commissioner Mr. Daud is expected to handover the office to the new commissioner on Saturday. This comes a time when the governor of Banadir region and mayor of Mogadishu Mr. Muungaab had meeting with district commissioners in Mogadishu and asked them to work closely with him. Few days ago he appointed the new spokesman of Banadir region.

Security meeting held in Hudur

20 Mar – Source: Radio Shabelle – 96 words

Officials in Hudur district of the Bakool region held a security meeting to discuss the situation in the region. This meeting involved Security Officials from the Somali Federal Government and Ethiopia who agreed to cooperate in order to strengthen the peace of territories where al Shabaab have been wiped from and work towards liberating further districts under their control. Despite military offensives, al Shabaab are continuing to launch assails in many districts recently liberated by African Union troops and the Somali National Army.

Al Shabaab imposes sanction on liberated town

20 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 107 words

Somalia’s al Qaeda linked al Shabaab group imposed blockade on Bakool regional capital of Hudur of southwestern Somalia, turning back the vehicles moving into the newly liberated town, Garowe Online reports. Speaking with Mogadishu-based radio station via telephone, Bakool Governor Mohamed Abdi Tool said that the price of food is now up after al Shabaab group which maintains militias presence around Hudur denied trucks loaded with commercial commodities entry into the town. “If the trucks carrying food and other essential items veer-off the road leading to Hudur, we will take action against them, the commercial commodity will be confiscated and distributed to the needy persons,” added Tool.

Music show to encourage Somali National Army opens in Mogadishu

20 Mar – Source: Bar-kulan – 102 words

A music show to encourage and boost the morale of the Somali security forces is taking place at ministry of defense headquarters in the capital Mogadishu. Renowned Somali musician Farhia Kabayare is among some of the musicians expected to performed at the occasion. Speaking to Bar-Kulan Farhia Kabayare has said she is very excited to share her time with Somali forces. Farhia also urged Somali Diaspora to return to the country and see the difference. Ministry of defense has weekly event in its headquarters in Mogadishu meant to enhance encourage Somali national army in their efforts to stabilize the country.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia farmers reaping from irrigation

20 Mar – Source: New Vision – 166 words

Growing up in the 1940’s, Haji Nasir Al hamed remembers his parents and grandparents involved in farming in the Lower Shebelle in Somalia.“I knew to make it in life, I had to do agriculture,” he says. Now at 60 years of age, farming is his life. Al hamed owns over 130 acres of land in Lower Shebelle which passed on through generations. “It took us 30 years to buy this entire land,” he recalls. His family cultivates matooke, oranges, lemons, mangoes, avocadoes and coconut among others. Although Somalia is prone to prolonged droughts, farming is flourishing here. Through irrigation canals which supply water from the nearby Shebelle river which is just meters away all you see is lush green and banana plantations. It is hard to believe it hardly rains in this region. Before the war erupted in the 1990’s, Al hamed used to export lemons and grape fruits to Italy and Dubai. But with gunshots everywhere, and people scampering for safety, that soon changed.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Qatar announces U.S $1.86 Million Somali Relief Aid

20 Mar – Source: AP – 162 words

The Qatar Relief Alliance, an umbrella organization of charities, announced early this week a relief package for Somalia worth $1.86 million as part of its second phase of emergency assistance. Saleh bin Ali al Mohannadi, QRC secretary-general said that such projects were immediately introduced for implementation after the completion of Phase I where food and non-food items were delivered to more than 1,000 vulnerable families at a total cost of about $1 million. The recovery package, which includes the purchase of fishing boats and cattle, the rehabilitation of aquifers and healthcare centers, and the launch of four mobile healthcare clinics, is focused on serving the federal state of Puntland. The first phase, valued at $1 million, included food delivery to more than 1,000 vulnerable families affected by the cyclone that hit the semi autonomous region of Puntland in November. Punt Land was hit by deadly cyclone which lead to death and destruction unspecified properties in November last year.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The appreciation of the Somali Shilling is an anomaly as remittances (hawalas) from abroad constitute the economic lifeline for many of its people. These are mostly received in dollars, with some then converted into local currency.”

The curious tale of the world-beating Somali shilling

20 Mar – Source: Financial Times Blog – 516 words

Here’s a pecuniary peculiarity to rival Bitcoin – the world strongest currency over the past 12 months belongs to a small, war-torn African state without foreign currency reserves or any discernible monetary policy and a central bank of only three years’ standing. Yet the Somali shilling, Somalia’s official currency, has overcome such disadvantages to appreciate against the US dollar by just under 60 per cent since March last year, becoming the strongest among global 175 currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Its surge has been so pronounced that the second most robust currency over the same period – the Icelandic Krona – could only manage a measly 10.2 per cent rise. So what lies behind the shilling’s gravity-defying performance? Improving security over the past year has encouraged native Somalis to return to the country, bringing foreign currency with them, said Ben Payton, senior Africa analyst at London-based risk analysis company Maplecroft. Somalia is recovering from decades of civil war and also faces an Islamist insurgency from al Qaeda-linked jihadis who mount regular attacks on the capital and claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack on a Nairobi shopping mall in October last year.