May 9, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Madobe Accuses Federal Government Of ‘Doublespeak’ In Gulf Row
08 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 220 Words
Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe has berated the Federal Government over what he termed as double standards in the Gulf Crisis stance. Madobe, who spoke upon arrival from UAE via Ethiopia, said the Government sided with Qatar despite declaring last June it would hold a neutral position in the near yearlong row. “My idea is that we do not isolate Qatar but are we doing this in a systematic manner?” Madobe posed. “The government has decided to align itself with Qatar. We, the Somalis, have nothing to do with Arab conflicts and even when they go to war they do not use our land”, Madobe added.
Madobe, who has not publicly stated his stand over the bitter dispute, appeared to lean towards the UAE days after visiting the Gulf nation. Galmudug, Puntland and Somaliland chose to stick with the Saudi-UAE axis last year spiraling a serious fall-out with the Federal Government. which almost cost Galmudug leader Ahmed Haaf his job in a no confidence motion.
The remarks come amid an ongoing dispute between Puntland and the Federal Government regarding the termination of UAE military support to Somalia. Puntland’s leader, Ali Gaas, has maintained UAE’s stay in Somalia was necessary for regional stability. Madobe added it was unfortunate Somalis were fighting each other over a foreign dispute.
Key Headlines
- Madobe Accuses Federal Government Of ‘Doublespeak’ In Gulf Row (Goobjoog News)
- Mogadishu Mayor Asks The Joint Forces To Ensure People’s Security During Ramadan (Jowhar.com)
- Two Electrocuted In Mogadishu After Stepping On Live Wire (Halbeeg News)
- AU Mission Seeks To Strengthen Ties Between Somali Police Public (Xinhua)
- Somalia Bans The Export Of Charcoal (Africa Business)
- Life In Somalia Under Peacekeepers And Al- Shabaab Threats ( Deutsche Welle)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu Mayor Asks The Joint Forces To Ensure People’s Security During Ramadan
08 May – Source: Jowhar.com – 151 Words
Mogadishu Mayor and Governor of Benadir region, Abdirahman Omar Osman, has said his administration has initiated a strategic approach to the security situation in the capital city. The security plan incorporates all the 17 districts of Banadir region.
The mayor stressed the need of preventing criminal incidents, particularly those orchestrated by insecurity within neighbourhoods. His remarks came after a supervision tour of the Joint Stabilisation Forces base, yesterday. “For this city to favourably compete with other cities, we need security and stability in Mogadishu, and it’s you who can provide security. I thank you for your dedication to the security of Mogadishu. You should always be aware that the enemy has the intention of harming the lives and wealth of Somali people, said the Mayor. He urged the forces to step up security in the capital in order for the residents to feel secure, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
Two Electrocuted In Mogadishu After Stepping On Live Wire
08 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 158 Words
Two people have died from electrocution in Mogadishu. The victims reportedly came into contact with live electrical wire on the road. Hussein Issa, a local resident in Warta-Nabada district in Mogadishu confirmed the incident saying the two accidentally stepped on the live electric wire. “The victims were passing near electric pole and stepped on a high tension electricity cable lying on the ground,”He added, “The two with varying degrees of burning died immediately.”
Bodies of the two were discovered by members of the public on Tuesday morning. The police, who later arrived at the scene, took the bodies to Warta-Nabada police station. The local administration of Warta-Nabada district has not yet commented on the incident. According to Issa, several cases of electrocution have been reported in the town due to poor wiring. “Several people died previously due to electrocution. The problem is the poor wiring done by incompetent electricians working for power companies,” he said
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU Mission Seeks To Strengthen Ties Between Somali Police, Public
08 May – Source: Xinhua – 209 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said on Tuesday that it has kicked off a week-long training to enhance communication skills of Somali police officers to help improve their interaction with members of the public. The AU mission said the training aims to strengthen relations between security officers and the public and help Somali Police establish communication departments, within the force, in all the federal member states.
Simon Mulongo, Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, said the training, organized by the police component of AMISOM, is being attended by officers drawn from Mogadishu and the five federal member states: “As part of your work as a police force in this country, you need to have skills, knowledge and capabilities to make people know what the police force in Somalia stands for and you can do this by speaking out,” Mulongo said in a statement.
He described the training as timely, adding that the skills learned will help improve cooperation between officers and the public on security matters. He noted that the training was part of the transition plan, which requires AMISOM to prepare Somali national security institutions to take over the country’s security once AMISOM’s mandate comes to an end.
Somalia Bans The Export Of Charcoal
08 May – Source: Africa Business – 446 Words
The export of charcoal from Somalia has been banned, both by a 2012 United Nations Security Council resolution and by the Somali Government, due to its destructive effect on the environment and its exacerbation of conflict and humanitarian crises.
At the opening of a two-day, UN-supported conference on charcoal in Mogadishu, from 7th to 8th May 2018, the Federal Government of Somalia has called for international, African and Gulf States cooperation in halting the illegal export of charcoal from the country. An estimated 8.2 million trees were cut down for charcoal in Somalia between 2011 and 2017, increasing land degradation, food insecurity, and vulnerability to flooding and drought. Over 80 percent of charcoal produced in Somalia is exported to the Gulf States and neighbouring countries.
Illegal trade in charcoal is recognized as a key contributor to insecurity in Somalia, providing a major source of funding for militias, terrorist groups, and other actors linked to conflict, who illegally tax exports. The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, reaffirmed the Somali government’s commitment to halting illegal trade of charcoal and providing alternative livelihood and energy options. He also called for urgent action and support from the international community and countries that are importing charcoal.
“We need a holistic response to address the issues of charcoal in Somalia. Both the demand and supply side have to be tackled – to do this we need cooperation to implement the UN Security Council Resolution and ensure the environmental, economic and human losses that happen because of illegal charcoal trade are curbed,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “The environmental destruction brought on by the charcoal trade contributes to drought, flooding, the loss of livelihoods and increase in food insecurity. Together with conflict, this exacerbates the humanitarian situation in Somalia,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Peter de Clercq.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Despite increasing threats from Al-Shabaab, the people of Somalia are now enjoying relative peace and stability apart from a few isolated areas where the peacekeepers are stepping up their operations”.
Life In Somalia Under Peacekeepers And Al- Shabaab Threats
08 May – Source: Deutsche Welle – 640 Words
After a long day’s work, Somalis and foreigners like to catch up for a drink and chat at the Leaf Camp hotel in Mogadishu. The Somalian capital is busy and bustling despite the threat of attacks by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, says Suleiman Elmem, one of the patrons. Maka al Mukarama is the busiest street in Mogadishu, with overflowing traffic jams, pedestrians crisscrossing under the scorching heat, and crowded business outlets displaying all sorts of merchandise. Life seems to be normal unlike in the past when the al-Shabaab Islamists were in control. “Three years ago, they used to control parts of Mogadishu – now they don’t control anything, so their presence is insignificant,” Elmem told DW.
The al-Shabaab Islamists not only controlled Mogadishu but also large portions of the Somali countryside. Although an African Union–led military campaign has pushed them back, the insurgents remain a major security challenge in Somalia – where their ultimate goal is to establish an Islamic state. “A journey of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) begins with a step,” says Ama Shiddo, a Mogadishu-based real estate salesman. He is convinced Somalia is headed for a bright future. “People are coming back, rebuilding their houses, universities and hospitals are opening, and business is booming more than ever in the past three years,” he told DW.
Young people like Ahmed Abdul, who studied civil engineering in Uganda, are increasingly returning home to be part of the reconstruction process of their country. “The Somali youth are now active and they participate in development and reconstruction,” Abdul boasted. Further to the southwest, in the village of Ceelijaale, the Quick Impact Project initiated by the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), is helping young people develop their capabilities and talent. And they are excited about this initiative, says officer Muhumuza, pointing out the importance of targeting young people and keeping them busy “because if you don’t, that gives al-Shabab the chance to lure them in their ranks.”For peacekeepers it’s important to keep young boys busy and off the streets to prevent them from going al-Shabaab Islamists