May 3, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Parliament Approves Security Architecture With Few Amends
02 May – Source : Goobjoog News – 368 Words
Somalia will have a 22,000 strong defence force with ground troops making a majority-18,000 while special forces, Danab will be made up of 4,000 forces, a revised plan following talks between the Federal Government and Parliament reads. The two parties agreed on most of the articles presented to the House last week by the government despite sharp criticism by the House defense committee.The Committee had questioned the inclusion of Federal Member State leaders in the composition and distribution of the Somali National Army among a number of issues which it considered violated the constitution.
But following emergency talks convened by House Speaker Osman Jawaari and Prime Minister Hassan Khaire ahead of recess on Sunday, the two parties endorsed all the proposals safe for four areas which were amended.In the new framework, Somali Police Force will consist of six units in line with the pre-1991 arrangement. The units are; Darwish (paramilitary unit), tax Protection unit, diplomatic guards, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and a coast guard.In the previous plan presented to parliament, the government had proposed the establishment of 500 Danab Special Forces in each Somali National Army (SNA) sector. The SNA has 8 sectors which would translated to 4,000 forces.
Federal Member State presidents will not take part in the redistribution of forces, the new arrangement reads contrary to an earlier government proposal. The leaders can however submit any complaints against a sector commander to the chief of defense forces.The chief of defense forces will in consultation with the minister of defense appoint sector commanders, the two parties agreed.
The rest of the articles were agreed including the number of the federal police which will stand at 32,000, the scope of operation for the SNA which is within the boundaries of the Federal Member States and structure of the National Security Council.Federal Member States presidents will sit in the NSC chaired by the President but the president has exclusive powers over decisions regarding external threats to the country. The NSC will make decisions concerning internal security threats.The agreements clears the government to present the new security architecture during the upcoming London Conference to seek international support for implementation.
Key Headlines
- Parliament Approves Security Architecture With Few Amends (Goobjoog News)
- Somalia’s Federal Government Held Consultative Meeting In The Capital Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
- Somalia Bans Khat Jets To Land In Jowhar (Sahal News)
- Zayed Youth Giving Forum Opens In Somalia (Emirates News Agency )
- Kenya Somalia To Collaborate In Promoting Security (Daily Nation)
- 2017 London Conference On Somalia: Context And Scope (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s Federal Government Held Consultative Meeting In The Capital Mogadishu
02 May – Source : Garowe Online – 233 Words
The Prime Minister of Somali Federal government, Hasan Ali Khayre, has officially opened the consultative conference in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday. The consultation conference “support government performance” is organized by the Federal government and attended by deputy PM, cabinet officials, lawmakers and members of the civil society. The conference aims to draw respective inputs, recommendations in context of supporting the government to put policies to achieve goals that will ensure political stability, national security, and improve economy, education, health, national unity and foreign policy.
“we need to cooperate with the ordinary citizens, listen and accept their opinions, we have to accept accountability, encourage our national army. I am also planning to visit our troops in the frontlines even if there is a risk on my life,” said PM Khayre.
He told the cabinet minister that the Federal government has a genuine opportunity with all support from public and international community to bring needed political stability and development to the country. “Today you have a good opportunity to tackle country’s challenges, at the same time make history to remember for this government, we can achieve that if we genuinely worked together,” added Khayre. The meeting comes ahead of London conference on Somalia next week hosted by UK government, where Somalia’s international partners will attend the conference to show support to the new government in areas of security, rebuilding the nation and drought relief.
Somalia Bans Khat Jets To Land In Jowhar
02 – May – Source : Sahal News – 127 Words
Somalia Gov’t on Tuesday barred Rudufu cargo carrier which is a Kenyan based company following violation of an order which Somalia government called local airplanes not to airlift Khat leaves to Jowhar. The nation’s aviation ministry has said Rudufu might lose its operational licensee if it violates the order which has largely affected airplanes operating in Somalia. Somalia government has initially increased heavy tariffs on Khat traders which some companies forced to use a domestic airstrip in Hirshabelle’s Jowhar town. Hirshabelle President,Abdullahi Osoble has recently called airplane owners to import the Khat in Jowhar with a promise of lower tax rates. Kenya export large cargo of Khat in Somalia which is making its largest market in East Africa and such ban would worsen Kenya’s economic challenges.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Zayed Youth Giving Forum Opens In Somalia
02 May – Source : Emirates News Agency – 222 Words
The Zayed Youth Giving Forum, organised by the Zayed Giving Humanitarian initiative, has opened in Hargeisa, Somalia, with the participation of young people from around the world, in conjunction with the Youth for Good Forum. The forum aims to establish a culture of volunteerism and humanitarian work amongst youths, and promote participation between government and private institutions in the humanitarian field. It also offers programmes designed to empower young people into participating in volunteer work by providing them with the needed skill-sets to carry-out humanitarian field work.
Organisers hope that this will enable young volunteers to contribute to alleviating the suffering of underprivileged groups regardless of race, gender or religion. The hosting of the Zayed Youth Giving Forum comes in line with the UAE leadership announcing 2017 as the ‘#Year of Giving’, and is a expansion of other humanitarian initiatives like the Zayed Giving Convoys, or mobile clinics and hospitals, that deliver medical treatment to thousands of needy children and elderly people in Somali villages, with the participation of more than 50 medical and technical professional volunteers.
The forum will also review the UAE, Arab and international humanitarian initiatives, offer experience exchanges between institutions, and support partnership and cooperation among them. In addition, it will provide practical programmes to increase the efficiency of governmental and private sectors working in the humanitarian field.
Kenya, Somalia To Collaborate In Promoting Security
02 May – Source: Daily Nation – 194 Words
President Uhuru Kenyatta has exuded confidence that a closer partnership between Kenya and Somalia will enable the two countries to overcome terrorism and other challenges facing them. The President said that his Somalia counterpart is not alone in the war on extremism. “I want to assure President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed that he has a friend here. I like his approach of prioritizing security and we will work together in this,” said Mr Kenyatta, who spoke today at State House in Nairobi when he bade farewell to outgoing Somali Ambassador to Kenya Gamal Mohamed Hassan.
Ambassador Hassan has been appointed as a minister in the new Somali government. President Kenyatta said he is also keen on working with President Mohamed in encouraging formal trade between the two nations. “I look forward to opening one border post – either at Liboi or Mandera – with President Mohamed to encourage the people of our two countries to do legal trade. “We need to work together to formalize the cross-border movement of our people,” he added. As a way of achieving the ambitions, he said the two countries will be holding regular high-level meetings to enhance their cooperation.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Although the role of the international community in Somalia is indispensable for many reasons, the immediate challenge against the pledged change is the London Somalia Conference scheduled on May 11, 2017, announced by the British Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May during her debut speech to the UN General Assembly on September 20, 2016. The reasons the PM cited for organizing the conference were the leading role British government plays in the fight against Al Shabaab and the need to increase the support to the regional countries contributing troops to the African mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to build the capacity of the Somali security forces.”
2017 London Conference On Somalia: Context And Scope
02 May – Source : Hiiraan Online – 1457 Words
A Kleptocratic government a government whose leaders make themselves rich and powerful by stealing from the rest of the people –monopolized the Somali affairs and interests for the past 4 years. Abuse of power, unprecedented level of corruption (looting), injustice, insecurity, wrong execution of state building strategy, and lack of public service delivery were the lessons and legacies left behind by the kleptocratic government under the leadership of former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The 4.5 billion dollars in humanitarian and development grants reportedly given to Somalia between 2013 and 2016 by the international donors advanced little the statebuilding goals. Unfortunately, the Somali people suffer bad reputation for corruption, disunity, and foreign dependence.
The spontaneous widespread public demonstrations participated by the presidential guard of former president by firing live bullets in the air, upon the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on February 8, 2017, reflected the public discontent about the performance of the voted out president and hopeful expectations for positive change from the voted in president.
During the presidential campaign of 2016-2017, all presidential candidates, except the incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, advocated for quick and real positive change to prevent further deterioration of the Somali situation. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo shoulders the awesome responsibility of undertaking convincingly and effectively the promised positive changes for the multifaceted problems facing Somalia. Somalia should not remain any longer a privatized country for contractors, looters, terrorists, and polluters.
Although the role of the international community in Somalia is indispensable for many reasons, the immediate challenge against the pledged change is the London Somalia Conference scheduled on May 11, 2017, announced by the British Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May during her debut speech to the UN General Assembly on September 20, 2016. The reasons the PM cited for organizing the conference were the leading role British government plays in the fight against Al Shabaab and the need to increase the support to the regional countries contributing troops to the African mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to build the capacity of the Somali security forces. UK, as permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), positions itself as the UNSC trustee for Somalia. UK nationals holding different international positions are responsible for Somalia.
Immediate government of President Hassan did not share the background and scope of London conference with the Somali people. Practically, the conference challenges the change because it directs the federal government to stay on the course of the last 5 years. This contradicts the general public expectation for changing course to improve the livelihood of the Somali people. In addition, the conference takes place at the backdrop of political changes in the world.
Two major changes that have taken place in the world in 2016 are the election of US President Donald Trump under the nationalistic platform “America First” and the nationalistic decision of the British people to leave the European Union (EU) after more than 40 years of membership. The British Exit (“Brexit”) from the EU will have serious repercussions on the cooperation between Somalia and other European countries. The UK government seeks among others the alliance of US and Norway to face-off with EU members like Germany, Italy, France, and Sweden. The involvement of the Middle East countries and neighboring countries in Somalia is creating political and security tensions.