May 25, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Mogadishu Mayor Hosts Iftar Dinner For Ambassadors From Islamic Countries
25 May – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 159 Words
Mogadishu Mayor and Banadir Governor, Abdirahman Omar Osman (Yarisow), hosted an Iftar dinner for ambassadors from Islamic countries who are based in the capital Mogadishu. Speaking at the occasion, Mayor Yarisow said the aim of holding the event was to acknowledge the support of the hosted ambassadors’ nations to the Somali people.
He briefed them about his administration’s plans and aspirations towards enhancing the stability and reconstruction of the capital and urged the ambassadors to increase their brotherly help towards Mogadishu so that it can regain its lost glory and position in the Islamic world.
Besides the ambassadors, the event was attended by Somalia’s ministers for Foreign Affairs and Security, representatives from the Organization of Islamic Council (OIC), Islamic Relief and officials from the Banaidr administration. On their side, the ambassadors commended the Mayor for the visible changes he had so far made, stability, economic and infrastructural developments he had made to restore the capital’s glory during his term.
Key Headlines
- Mogadishu Mayor Hosts Iftar Dinner For Ambassadors From Islamic Countries (Radio Muqdisho)
- Up To 60 Auto-rickshaws Seized In A Security Operation In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- Prime Minister Blocks The Sacking Of Directors And Permanent Secretaries (Jowhar.com)
- Dozens Killed In Clashes Between Two Somali Regions In Land Dispute (Reuters)
- Gravely Concerned’ Over Northern Somalia Clashes UN And Partners Call For Ceasefire (United Nations)
- Perfecting Somali State Institutions (Wardheere News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Up To 60 Auto-rickshaws Seized In A Security Operation In Mogadishu
25 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 184 Words
Security forces seized up to 60 auto-rickshaws in a security operation at Mogadishu’s KM4 junction for allegedly contributing towards the capital city’s insecurity. The captured three wheelers reportedly don’t bear any number plates or license, thus the police suspect they were being used to commit crime.
Deputy commissioner for security and politics for Banadir Administration, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, arrived at the scene where the seized three-wheeled motorized vehicles were displayed: “I am in Hodan district where unlicensed Bajaj (nickname for the three-wheeled vehicles) mostly without numbers are displayed. The operation that saw their seizure came after an unlicensed Bajaj was used in a shooting incident targeting some people. We call upon the young operators of this vehicles to ensure they are licensed. We will not allow unlicensed Bajaj to operate on the streets of the capital,” he stated.
The number of Bajaj in the capital has been on the rise in recent years as it remains the most versatile and convenient means of transportation for many residents of Mogadishu. However, the vehicles are sometimes hired by criminal elements who use them for their activities.
Prime Minister Blocks The Sacking Of Directors And Permanent Secretaries
24 May – Source: Jowhar.com – 82 Words
A communiqué from Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has blocked the dismissal of director generals and permanent secretaries of ministers, without consulting the Prime Minister Office.
Some of the cabinet ministers have previously dismissed their director generals and permanent secretaries thereby resulting in disagreement and disruptions over their sackings or demotions. The letter from the Prime Minister’s office is dated on16th of this month, and it directs that all cabinet ministers should consult with his office before taking such a disciplinary action.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Dozens Killed In Clashes Between Two Somali Regions In Land Dispute
25 May – Source: Reuters – 353 Words
Fighting between Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region and breakaway Somaliland has killed dozens of soldiers, according to a witness and a military commander who spoke of a “hellish” outbreak of violence. The clashes on Thursday morning appeared to be a resumption of more than 10 years of periodic conflict between Puntland and Somaliland over the disputed Sool region.
“Somaliland attacked us and we had to attack Somaliland from other sides,” Abdifatah Saiid, a Puntland military commander, told Reuters late on Thursday. “It was a hellish battle. We killed 30 soldiers from Somaliland … and from our side we lost six soldiers.”
A local elder in the area said the fighting broke out on Thursday morning and he counted a total of about 40 dead soldiers on both sides, with residents fleeing the area. Puntland said it had captured 11 wounded Somaliland soldiers, according to the military commander. “We shall continue fighting till we reach Las Anod town which is ours but illegally controlled by Somaliland,” he said.
Last week, clashes between the two sides over the ownership of Tukaraq village, seized by Somaliland last month, killed at least 45 people. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 and operates as an independent state but has not won international recognition. It suggested Puntland was trying to exploit turmoil in the region caused by a tropical cyclone that led to more than 50 deaths, wiped out livestock and destroyed hundreds of farms as heavy rains and floods hit the Horn of Africa.
“Somaliland will not endure the constant aggression of Somalia’s federal forces at the border of the two countries,” Abdirahman Abdullahi Farah, Somaliland’s information minister said in the statement. Puntland blamed Somaliland for the confrontation. “Puntland will defend its land and people,” a presidential statement said.
The U.N. Assistance Mission on Somalia and the country’s international partners, which include the United States and the European Union, called on both sides to halt the fighting. Clashes only add to the suffering of people in the area as they deal with an already-difficult humanitarian situation aggravated by tropical cyclone Sagar, a statement by the U.N. mission said.
‘Gravely Concerned’ Over Northern Somalia Clashes, UN And Partners Call For Ceasefire
24 May – Source: United Nations – 161 Words
According to reports, heavy fighting began in the morning, local time, near the Tukaraq area of the Sool region between Puntland and ‘Somaliland’ forces, involving heavy weaponry.“The international partners call on both sides to bring an immediate halt to the fighting, start dialogue between military commanders on the ground, secure humanitarian access for displaced persons, and enter into talks to discuss a separation of forces and an exchange of detained security personnel,” said a joint statement.
The statement noted that the violence was compounding “an already-difficult humanitarian situation that has recently been aggravated by the impact of tropical cyclone Sagar – the clashes only add to the suffering of the people in the area”. Thursday’s call for an immediate ceasefire was endorsed by the UN, African Union, European Union, the African regional body known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Belgium, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“In the Constitution, there is an article which stipulates the need of regional states’ consultation for any consequential and critical decision. As a result, the regional states claimed the FGS sided with Qatar, in the current Gulf conflict, without consulting with them and that had dire consequences in their economy.”
Perfecting Somali State Institutions
24 May – Source: Wardheere News – 553 Words
When people are afflicted by civil war, poverty, and terrorism, trust of the rule of law and governmental institutions dwindles; groups get organized to defeat each other and politics becomes a zero-sum game. As unfortunate as that may sound, there are ways the government can get the public trust back. For instance, consensus building and appointing capable people in key positions.
The Attorney General is the prism through which the strength of justice system is judged, and it requires a strong academic background, good judgement and a solid moral compass. Unfortunately, Farmajo’s current attorney general, Ahmed Ali Dahir, is neither a legal scholar nor a politically conscientious person and that is a travesty of justice and attack to all round moral fortitude. Similarly, the regime’s vehement support for the election of Mahamed Mursal to the speaker of the parliament was unconstitutional and against consensus building.
Having said that, self-reflection is in order before one opposes the current government. We are in, no doubt, a critical time for our political discourse and need to put personal interests aside for the common good. Positive and constructive individuals should lead the opposition so that a dialogue can start, and an atmosphere of constructive criticism can flourish.
The objective of an opposition, in moral aspect, is not to replace a regime but to perfect it through dialogue and constructive criticism. This government has three more years to go, and no one should think derailing it before it runs its course, on the other hand, the president should stop focusing on the 2020 campaign and should start working on the mandated tasks.
Not having well defined foreign policy based on our national interest had impaired development and created conflicts within the executive branch in the past. But now, this has taken another turn and threw the regional states into the mix. In the Constitution, there is an article which stipulates the need of regional states’ consultation for any consequential and critical decision. As a result, the regional states claimed the FGS sided with Qatar, in the current Gulf conflict, without consulting with them and that had dire consequences in their economy. Consequently, they started signing their own agreements with UAE and that is what ignited the current debacle between FGS and the regional states.
TOP TWEETS
@DalsanFM: A major crackdown on Tri-cycle taxis known as “Bajaaj”conducted in #Mogadishu.”Bajaaj” without number plates and those deemed unsafe for public use were impounded.
@HarunMaruf: Thursday’s fighting between Puntland and Somaliland was the single deadliest confrontation in Tukaraq area according to medical reports. The international community is calling for an immediate ceasefire
@EU_in_Somalia: On going joint @EU_in_Somalia and@MoPIED_Somalia NAO Operation office meeting.The Unit was established to effectively manage & coordinate EU funded programmes, projects and development aid to #Somalia.
@HarunMaruf: TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT! Cyclone Mekunu could hit Somalia coast in coming hours. Meteorologists say it could be severe. Cyclone Mekunu already killed number of people in Socotra island. Areas likely to suffer most are the coastal areas Puntland
@SahraCabdi: US airstrike in Somalia against al-Shabab kills 10 fighters
@engyarisow: This evening I hosted an Iftar with Ambassadors from Islamic Countries in #Mogadishu & thanked their generosity to help poor people during the Holy Month of Ramadan
@ZainabSirad: Disappointing that 6 ministers, 5 deputy ministers & 2 state ministers were appointed last night with no woman.@SomaliPM @M_Farmaajo your gov’t started with 6 women ministers & now there is only 4 remaining. Could hv filled @ least 2 ministerial positions 4 women. #Injustice
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Mogadishu Mayor Abdirahman Osman Omar at the Iftar dinner hosted for Ambassadors from Islamic countries in Mogadishu.
Photo: @engyarisow