March 5, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Auto-Rickshaw Drivers In Mogadishu Stage Demos Against “Exorbitant” Tax
05 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 197 Words
Hundreds of auto-rickshaw drivers in Mogadishu on Wednesday staged demonstrations complaining of what they termed as exorbitant tax imposed by the Mogadishu local government. They also complain of constant harassment by the municipal soldiers who they claim beat them in public and drag them in the streets.
Mahdi Farah Afey the chairman of a committee set up by the drivers told reporters that the problem is so serious that they are on the verge of breakdown.“We are protesting because of high taxes imposed by the local government, this is unjust and is unreasonable, to make things worse if the driver gets sick and the rickshaw lays idle for a month or two, the municipality want to charge for those months and if one refuses he is subjected to harassment and imprisonment” said Mahdi.
They said that they accept paying the taxes but through legal means and demanded that the money they pay should be deposited to the central bank. The popular three-wheeled public transport is seen to be driving the country’s economy forward and employs thousands of youth in the capital alone. Authorities are yet to respond to the claims made by the protesting drivers.
Key Headlines
- Forces Of South-West State To Remove Roadblocks (Radio Goobjoog)
- Government of Kenya Arrests SNA Official (Radio Danan)
- Foreign Minister Receives UNHCR Somalia Representative (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Auto-Rickshaw Drivers In Mogadishu Stage Demos Against “Exorbitant” Tax (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali PM Meets Envoys And Donors On New Deal (Mareeg Media)
- Somaliland Opposition Parties Warn Government Of Election Delay (Garowe Online)
- Nelson Marwa Threatens To Storm Mosque Over ‘Inflammatory’ Sermons (Standard Media)
- Strengthening The Quality Of Somali Maternal Health Care (Midwivesforall.org)
- Growing Somali Mall In Minneapolis Now Boasts One Of The State’s Largest Mosques (Star Tribune)
- Kenyan Sentenced To Death Over Judith Tebbutt Pirate Kidnap Could Be Freed Thanks To British Data Protection Laws (Telegraph)
- Yes I’m ‘Mr Black’ And Here Is My Story (Somali Investor)
- With Grit and Girded by College Possible Young Immigrant Makes His Way (Minnpost)
SOMALI MEDIA
Forces Of South-West State To Remove Roadblocks
05 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 116 Words
Forces of South-West State have successfully removed checkpoints set by gunmen in some parts of Lower Shabelle region, South-West state minister for Agriculture, Mohamed Hassan Fiqi told Goobjoog FM. He added that they uprooted illegal road barriers which led to negative impacts on the passengers and public vehicles of Lower Shabelle region. Mr. Fiqi noted that the operations against illegal roadblocks will continue until the overall security of the district and the surrounding areas is tightened adding that his administration will not tolerate the threats posed by illegal checkpoints. Roadblocks interrupt people’s daily lives because the armed men at the checkpoints demand a lot of money which the drivers cannot afford to pay.
Government Of Kenya Arrests SNA Official
05 March – Source: Radio Danan – 104 Words
The Kenyan government arrested Abas Ibrahim Gurey, a SNA official based in Gedo Region,. He was in Gedo when he was called by the Kenyan government and later arrested him. Sources say his whereabouts or whether he is dead or alive remains unknown. Danan Radio interviewed another SNA official in Gedo regarding the whereabouts of Colonel Gurey was seen and any other information that might be available on the Colonel.The SNA soldier said since Gurey was arrested by the Government of Kenya, they did not get any information about him and his whereabouts. He was arrested a couple of months ago.
Foreign Minister Receives UNHCR Somalia Representative
05 March – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 80 Words
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdisalan Hadliye Omar has received the UNHCR representative to Somalia, Alessandra Moreli in his office. The two officials discussed the role of UNHCR toward Somali refugees in Kenya , Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen. The foreign affair Minister said the Federal Government of Somalia is aiming to bring law and order in the country. On her part Representative Alessandra Morelli promised that UNHCR will increase assistance to Somali refugees in order to reduce the difficulties facing them.
Somali PM Meets Envoys And Donors On New Deal
04 March – Source: Mareeg Media – 122 Words
Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharamarke has met envoys and donors in the country and briefed them on the new deal. The meeting chaired by the PM has brought together ambassadors, leading international humanitarian organizations, donors and senior Somali government officials. Somali Planning and International Cooperation minister Abdulrahman Aynte who spoke to the media after meeting said seven committee members were selected to oversee and implementation of the deal.
“The PM has tasked planning, interior, finance, defense and justice ministers to monitor the new deal,” Aynte said. The New Deal was formulated on a conference in Brussels on September 2013 to promote and strengthen already existing programs in community stabilization, economic growth, education, and enhancing democracy, governance, and rule of law.
Somaliland Opposition Parties Warn Government Of Election Delay
04 March – Source: Garowe Online – 183 Words
As general elections are drawing closer, Somaliland opposition parties formed an alliance, warning President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Siilaayo)’s administration of election delay, Garowe Online reports. The two main parties, Justice and Welfare party and Wadani, on Wednesday pledged allegiance to each other during a ceremony in Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. “Elections should be held the due date on June, 26, 2015 and the government doesn’t have a justification for delay in parliamentary and presidential elections,” the two parties said in statement after their unity against ruling Kulmiye party.
Opposition segments once again reiterated that they will not recognize sitting parliament and President Siilaanyo if elections are postponed. “The government can’t enter into contracts since legitimate mandate is very likely to expire,” they warned. In mid-2014, opposition figures strongly contested election delays, threatening that interim government would come into being. Despite premature resignation by four minister-designates, President Siilaanyo reshuffled his cabinet on Saturday. Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as de facto sovereign state but it has not been recognized internationally yet.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Nelson Marwa Threatens To Storm Mosque Over ‘Inflammatory’ Sermons
05 March – Source: Standard Media – 250 Words
Commissioner Nelson Marwa has claimed radical Muslim youths are streaming into Mlango wa Papa Mosque in Old Town Mombasa to listen to ‘inflammatory’ sermons. Mr Marwa said the Government has been monitoring the mosque, which he said had been attracting a huge following from all over the country due to the nature of its sermons. The Standard has not confirmed these claims independently, but the county official said on Monday police arrested 30 youths believed to belong to a gang known as Gaza, accused of terrorising non-Muslims in Kisauni recently. Governor Hassan Joho condemned the attacks.
He claimed Gaza is behind land invasions in Kisauni and added that police have a list of 57 gang members. “We are putting the Mlango wa Papa imam on notice because we are aware of what is happening in that mosque. Several groups of youths are streaming there to listen to lectures issued after the prayers,” said Marwa.
“The Government will not hesitate to take action on clerics who undermine national security,” he warned yesterday in his office. Mlango wa Papa mosque is situated on Mombasa’s Old Town. Three years ago, the mosque came to the limelight after two groups of faithful clashed over the annual Maulid festival. Four people were seriously injured. Joho accuses Muslim leaders of condoning radicalisation of youths. In November last year, four mosques were closed down, albeit temporarily, as the government sustained a full scale security operation to weed out ‘jihadists’ blamed for terror attacks in the country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Strengthening The Quality Of Somali Maternal Health Care
04 March – Source: Midwivesforall.org – 326 Words
Somalia is a country currently recovering from more than 20+ years of complex civil war which, among other things has resulted in a total collapse of the countries health systems. Today, the country has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world and is “off-track” in reaching the eight Millennium Development Goals, and particularly the goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health by 2015. The country does not only lack the critical number of qualified doctors, nurses and midwives needed to address the high maternal and newborn illness and Deaths, but also lacks qualitymaternal health care and services. Efforts to strengthen the country’s health systems remain therefore a key priority area.
Sweden in its Development Cooperation with Somalia during the period 2013-2017 contributes to the country’s health system by having concrete and focused results area on health and gender equality – and more specifically results indicators on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health. Sweden is providing funding to a large joint health and nutrition programme (JHNP) – a programme which is jointly funded and jointly collaborated between Somali health authorities in the three regions of the country (Puntland, Somaliland and South Central Somalia) and three UN agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO). The programme aims at improving the six health systems building blocks which are leadership and governance; human resource for health; reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health; health financing; essential medicines and vaccines; and health information, management and systems).
Growing Somali Mall In Minneapolis Now Boasts One Of The State’s Largest Mosques
04 March – Source: Star Tribune – 798 Words
Construction of the metro area’s newest mosque involved a shopping trip to the Middle East, some back-and-forth with the city of Minneapolis and a reported $3 million investment. But developer Basim Sabri says setting out to build one of Minnesota’s largest mosques at his Karmel Square mall wasn’t a vanity project. Instead, the space — part of a major expansion at Karmel — was meant as a goodwill gesture to the local Somalis who rent and shop at the south Minneapolis mall.
The expansion has tested Sabri’s famously tense relationships with the city and the mall’s neighbors, who have voiced concerns over parking and traffic issues. Part of the construction collapsed in May, cutting off electricity to the neighborhood and briefly stalling the project. Since it opened earlier this year, the mosque has gotten rave reviews from a growing cadre of worshipers, who cover the sun-filled, 5,000-square-foot prayer hall completely when they kneel at Friday prayer.
“This mosque is not about showing off,” said Sabri. “It’s about need.” The new mosque replaces a prayer room on the second floor that could not handle the crowds; worshipers spilled out into the mall hallways and, during the holy month of Ramadan, even the mall parking lot. The space is on the newly added third floor of the state’s oldest Somali mall, where shops sell long skirts and scarves, henna tattoos, jewelry, handbags, rugs and Somali specialties such as savory sambusa pastries.
Kenyan Sentenced To Death Over Judith Tebbutt Pirate Kidnap Could Be Freed Thanks To British Data Protection Laws
04 March – Source: Telegraph – 705 Words
A penniless Kenyan farmer sentenced to death over the kidnap of a British holidaymaker by Somali pirates willon Thursday take the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to court over an alleged illegal conviction. The High Court in London is expected to hear how Ali Babitu Kololo claims Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and police officers under his command have refused to hand over documents that could help his appeal.
A Kenyan court found Kololo guilty of robbery with violence over the kidnap of Judith Tebbutt from her luxury Kenyan beachside lodge in September 2011, and the murder of her husband David, 58, as he fought to save his wife.Mrs Tebbutt, 60, from Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, was sold to a notorious pirate gang and held hostage in rural Somalia for more than six months before being released.Kololo is the only person so far prosecuted in connection with the attack. He intends to appeal because Scotland Yard officers gave evidence against him, which breaks British directives on its opposition to capital punishment.
They ban officials from helping prosecutors overseas if that assistance could lead to a conviction carrying a death sentence.Kololo believes that information held by Scotland Yard, which sent a team to Kenya to gather forensic evidence and witness statements in the days after the attack, could help his appeal.However, he claims he is being denied access to the documents in contravention of the Data Protection Act. “Mr Kololo was never shown the vast majority of the information gathered on him by the Metropolitan Police,” said Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at Reprieve, the prisoners’ rights lobby group. “If it turns out that the Met police hold evidence that proves Mr Kololo’s innocence, he would of course want to use this in his criminal appeal against his death sentence.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“When I studied, I used the Somali tax payers’ money. I have to pay back and there is nothing as rewarding as living here and seeing my people. Here, everyone knows me, and it makes me proud.
Yes, I’m ‘Mr Black’, And Here Is My Story
04 March – Source: Somali Investor – 352 Words
Mr Mohamed Egal, the deputy Manager of Somali Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority (SCAMA), is fondly referred to as “Mr Black”. “I do not know why they nicknamed me ‘Mr Black’. Maybe it’s because I am black,” he quips. The name has however stuck and everyone calls him Mr Black. Egal goes back memory lane, and with his face lighting up, he says of his home: “This country was beautiful. We had everything. Somalia was the place to be. I am one of those who benefited from the government at the time.My education was paid for; everything to the last cent.” In 1973, Mr Egal left Somalia for Russia to further his studies, under the then Somali Airforce, as a pilot. He came back to the country in October 1976 as a fighter pilot, still sponsored by the Somali Government.
He worked at the air force for some time. After the collapse of the government in 1991, Egal moved to the US. There, he studied aviation management and administration, at the Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. He later worked for the US government in Minnesota.One day, he says, he was helping his children with their homework and on the background was a news item on Somalia.
“Abubakar was surprised. He had thought his background was a complicated liability: “It never occurred to me someone would hear my story and think of it as a strength.”
With Grit And Girded By College Possible, Young Immigrant Makes His Way
05 March – Source: Minnpost – 1681 Words
When Walid Abubakar began thinking about paying for college, he budgeted for textbooks, transportation, living expenses — all of the usual stuff. And then he thought long and hard about the $300 to $400 a month he has been sending his family in Ethiopia. Remittances — the money immigrants send from their new, more prosperous home — are life-changing to the family members who get them, but they’re not the lynchpin for a stable household budget, much less the cornerstone of a healthy national economy.
Anxious though he is to improve things in East Africa, Abubakar, who is Oromo, doesn’t think continuing to send money indefinitely is the healthiest way to help. At the same time, he can’t abandon his relatives.His father transports potatoes from Somalia to Ethiopia along a road frequently ambushed by the militant group Al-Shabaab, a job that allows the family to subsist. Most of the money Walid sends pays for his sisters to go to school. And so Abubakar, who is a senior at Ubah Medical Academy in Hopkins, has a plan to set his father up in a sustainable business while he, Abubakar, goes to college. He’s considering becoming either an engineer or a pharmacist — both professions that could make a critical difference in Ethiopia.
Encouraged to write about background The plan existed only in Abubakar’s mind until recently, when a coach he works with through the St. Paul-based national nonprofit College Possible cajoled him into writing an essay about his journey from a refugee camp to academic success here. He was going to need scholarships, lots and lots of scholarships, and a “special circumstance” letter would go a long way toward securing them.
He was working on an application for the very competitive National Horatio Alger Scholarship when Grace Fowler, the coach who has worked with him for two years, glanced over his shoulder. “I was sitting in the computer lab thinking about how many students across the country were applying for this,” he recalls. “She said, ‘I know you can go deeper than that, Walid.’”
Top tweets
@UNFPA_SOMALIA Promoting the rt of every woman to the best possible health care during pregnancy & childbirth @NorBarni@GKyeyune
@Mogadishuevents #BREAKING: former Somalia president, Sheikh Sharif’s brother, Abdullahi Sheikh shot & injured by unknown men armed with pistols in Mogadishu
@AnalystSomalia As promised when @HIPSINSTITUTElaunched Nat’nal Dialogue on #Federalism we R pleased we R informing policy #Somalia
@loaideeb We highly appreciated the determination of#Somalia to improve on #human_rights_situation
@KnowSomalia ·Ayaan & Idyl Mohallim are Somali-American fashion designers & the founders of Mataano, a clothing label#SheIsSomalia
@GermanyinKenya #Germany extends training mission for#Somalia to contribute to stabilization process prior to elections 2016 @SomaliPM @mofasomalia
Image of the day
The president of Somalia H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joins Somali cultural dancers during the farewell ceremony of AMISOM troops from Sierra Leone in Kismayo, Somalia. Photo: AMISOM