May 30, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Somalia President In Cadaado For Inaugural Ceremony
29 May – Source : Sahal News – 160 Words
Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi has on Monday arrived in Cadaado to join regional representatives who are in the town to attend a high level ceremony which is set to inaugurate Galmudug’s new president. Security has been tightened before president’s arrival at the ceremony venue with dozens of envoys invited to the inauguration. Somalia’s Interior Minister Abdi Farah Juxa along regional presidents including Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam delivered their speeches during the ceremony. Regional troops backed by AMISOM troops have already begun to patrol major streets to thwart any possible security threats which the city can face. Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has said that government will closely work with regional states and will support the new state president which he said could lead the state into the right path. He called state institutions to be friendly with the new president who will be the oldest president to head a regional state in the country.
Key Headlines
- Somalia President In Cadaado For Inaugural Ceremony (Sahal News)
- Cabinet Ministers Hold An Extraordinary Meeting In Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
- Al-Shabaab Fighter Shot Dead In Somalia’s Mogadishu (Xinhua)
- Four Displaced People Killed In Mogadishu (The Messenger )
- UN Refugee Agency: Spiraling Violence Claims Hundreds Of Lives In Somalia (Emirates News Agency)
- How A Literacy Programme In Somalia Changed The Life Of A Teenage Girl (UNESCO Media Service)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Cabinet Ministers Hold An Extraordinary Meeting In Mogadishu
29 May – Source : Garowe Online – 205 Words
The Deputy Prime Minister of Somali Federal Government Mahdi Mohamed Guled “Khadar” chaired an extraordinary meeting with the federal cabinet ministers in Mogadishu on Monday. The meeting was reported to focus on drafting bills and legislation for the ministries before it is passed to the federal parliament for endorsement. During the meeting Deputy PM Khadar highlighted the importance of setting up policies to promote rule of law and achieve promises made to the public to put in place regulations in the country.
On their side, the cabinet ministers revealed that some ministries have drafted bills but pending further consultation before they are passed to the federal lawmakers for approval. The upcoming bills expected to be endorsed by the ministries are; anti-corruption, anti-terrorism, national reconciliation, local municipalities, naturalization, marine resources, energy, humanitarian works and national statistics. The Somali Federal government led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo has earlier vowed that his government will tackle country’s challenges faced in the past two decades to bring needed stability, development and governance in the Horn of Africa nation. This comes following yesterday’s meeting of Prime Minister Hasan Ali Khayre with representatives of the international community in the capital Mogadishu, and urged them for mutual accountability on both sides.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab Fighter Shot Dead In Somalia’s Mogadishu
29 May – Source : Xinhua – 95 Words
Somali Security Forces on Monday shot dead an Al-Shabaab Fighter after the militant killed a civilian inside Bakara, a busy market in the capital Mogadishu, an official said. Spokesperson of Banadir Regional Administration Abdifatah Omar Halane said that the militant was killed on the spot. “Security forces shot dead an Al-Shabaab Fighter immediately after he killed innocent civilian at Bakara market in Hawl-wadag district today. The security forces are committed to taking action against Al-Shabaab Militants,” Halane said. Somali security forces have stepped up their operations against Al-Shabaab Militants during the holy month of Ramadan.
Four Displaced People Killed In Mogadishu
29 May – Source : The Messenger – 159 Words
Four internally displaced people have been killed by a government soldier at food distribution center in Mogadishu. Kahio Hussein, an IDP woman told Messenger Africa that Monday’s incident happened in the city’s Kahda district as a government soldier opened fire on displaced people over a disagreement. “I was lined up and waiting for food at the distribution center when a soldier argued with displaced people and started shooting them, at least 4 of them were killed,” Hussein said.
Police officer Osman Geelle Mohamud said that tens of police soldiers had been dispatched and launched an operation to arrest the soldier who was behind the shooting. “I can’t tell you why he shot and killed these poor people but he will be arrested and put on trial soon,” Mohamud told the Messenger Africa by phone. The incident comes after a gunman killed on Sunday at least three internally displaced people at a food distribution center in central Somalia’s Abudwak town.
UN Refugee Agency: Spiraling Violence Claims Hundreds Of Lives In Somalia
28 May – Source : Emirates News Agency – 214 Words
The United Nations refugee agency today voiced its grave concern over the escalating violence and worsening displacement crisis in the Somali capital, where local hospitals report that over 250 civilians have been killed and nearly 1,000 others wounded since fighting erupted last month. Continued fighting, which broke out on 7 May in several parts of north-west Mogadishu between Government forces and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam, “is leaving a trail of civilian casualties, destruction and renewed displacement,” William Spindler, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters in Geneva.
Since violence broke out last month, the agency estimates that over 160,000 people have been driven to other parts of Somalia or to neighbouring nations, with some 26,000 uprooted between 19 and 22 June alone. Most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), numbering nearly 50,000, have moved to safer areas within Mogadishu or to makeshift camps on the capital’s outskirts. A further 45,000 people have fled towards the so-called Afgooye corridor 30 kilometres south-east of Mogadishu, joining 400,000 other IDPs who have been displaced since 2007. Some of the newly displaced are families who had recently returned to the capital after a period of relative peace in the first quarter of this year, Mr. Spindler said.
OPINION/ANALYSIS/CULTURE
“Despite several attacks and bombings near our community learning centre this year, I will continue pursuing my dream pursuing my education and livelihood.” Fardowsa said. “I’m grateful to Al Maktoum Foundation, Ministry of Education, UNESCO and the Somali National Women centre, for giving me this second chance in life.”
How A Literacy Programme In Somalia Changed The Life Of A Teenage Girl
29 May – Source : UNESCO Media Service – 416 Words
Fardowsa is among the young women who benefitted from a literacy and life skills project funded by Al Maktoum and implemented by UNESCO in Somalia. She lost both of her parents at a young age and is currently staying with relatives. Fardowsa did not have the opportunity to learn and access education as a child due to civil unrest and bitter clan rivalry in her country. Basic education was only accessible to the few who could afford it, as most education institutions were private.
The lack of a stable government in South Central Somalia made it impossible to provide education for children like Fardowsa. It was through her close friends that she found out about the opportunity to study at a community learning centre in Mogadishu, with the support of Al Maktoum Foundation, UNESCO, and the Ministry of Education. “One day while I was going to the market, a friend of mine told me about this opportunity at the Somalia National Women Community Training Centre: I immediately went to the centre to register for the literacy, numeracy and entrepreneurship courses,” says Fardowsa. “This is a free and golden opportunity for learners like me who never had the chance to study.” Fardowsa does not take what she has for granted. She is optimistic about the future and wants to study further to improve her life.
Literacy level in Somalia: Somalia has one of the world’s lowest enrolment rates for school-aged children. There are 4.4 million out-of-school children, almost half of the country’s total population of 9.2 million. Only four out of ten children in Somalia are in school. The country is far from reaching the Sustainable Developmental Goals of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and the only way is to develop standardized quality literacy and life skills training which helps to improve access and equity to literacy education for such children.
The security situation in the capital Mogadishu and throughout the country remains unstable and dangerous. Terrorist attacks in Somalia are common and are most often carried out by suicide bombing. This has made it hard for youth like Fardowsa to access the community-learning centre and attend classes. “Despite several attacks and bombings near our community learning centre this year, I will continue pursuing my dream pursuing my education and livelihood.” Fardowsa said. “I’m grateful to Al Maktoum Foundation, Ministry of Education, UNESCO and the Somali National Women centre, for giving me this second chance in life.”