November 11, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
French President Receives Credentials From Somali Ambassador
11 November – Source: Jowhar.com – 142 Words
French President François Hollande has received credentials from Somalia’s new ambassador to France, Ambassador Ali Sharif Ahmed. Ambassador Ahmed handed over his credentials in a brief event at the French presidential palace. He also presented a message from the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to President Hollande. The Somali diplomat received a warm reception at the Élysée Palace. The Somali Cabinet on March this year approved the ambassadorship of Ahmed.
Somalia has one of the largest embassy buildings in the France, which is located near the presidential palace of France. Somalia has in recent years made great strides in restoring diplomatic relation with the rest of the word, strengthening its foreign relationship and re-opening several embassies. Ambassador Ahmed becomes the first Somali ambassador to France since the collapse of the central government in 1991. France remains one the countries that support Somalia.
Key Headlines
- French President Receives Credentials From Somali Ambassador (Jowhar.com)
- Somaliland Announces Publication Of A Comprehensive Foreign Policy (Somaliland Informer)
- Somalia Urges Continued International Support For Fighting Piracy (Radio Dalsan)
- Cord Leaders Call On Uhuru To Withdraw Kenyan Troops From Somalia (Daily Nation)
- People In War Zones Feel Needs Not Being Met By Humanitarian Organisations (The Guardian)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland Announces Publication Of A Comprehensive Foreign Policy
11 November – Source: Somaliland Informer – 271 Words
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland has announced the publication of a comprehensive foreign policy. The foreign policy will help guide Somaliland’s approach to pursuing international recognition, political engagement, promoting regional security, attracting foreign direct investment and engaging the diaspora, amongst other matters.
The document was informed by discussions at the foreign policy dialogue in Hargeisa in November 2015 which solicited suggestions, policies and ideas from a wide range of stakeholders including Government Ministries, political parties, civil society and the public at large. The document is intended to be an inclusive, living document that will be regularly updated to take account of new ideas and initiatives.
President Silanyo, welcoming the publication of the foreign policy, noted that it outlines “the vision, values and objectives that will inform Somaliland’s approach to foreign policy in the coming years. Alongside our efforts to secure international recognition, it will also address the need to improve regional security, create jobs and economic opportunities, promote development and build harmonious relations with our neighbours and strategic partners.
Over the past 25 years Somaliland has emerged as a functioning democratic state, that enjoys peace and stability, . Nevertheless, it still faces challenges in asserting itself on the international stage. It is hoped that the new foreign policy will provide strategic direction to the Government and to the people of Somaliland on how to achieve their foreign policy objectives.
Somalia Urges Continued International Support For Fighting Piracy
11 November – Source: Radio Dalsan – 251 Words
The Somali government has called for the international community to continue supporting the fight against piracy off the Somali coast amid reports of new piracy incidents in the international waters in recent weeks. For the first time in over two and half years, Somali pirates attacked a UK-flagged merchant vessel off the Somali coast last week, according to the European Union’s counter piracy operation Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR), raising concerns of possible piracy resurgence.
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, Mohamed Rabi, the Somali Chargé d’affaires of thecountry’s UN mission lauded the international community’s “robust commitment” to address piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia that he said resulted in a “massive reduction” of the crime in recent years.
His remarks come after the Security Council adopted a resolution reauthorizing anti-piracy measures in the Horn of Africa country for another year. The Council also expressed concern over illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Somalia’s Exclusive Economic Zone that resulted in loss of revenue and can lead to destabilization in coastal communities.
Somali pirates seized hundreds of vessels including large containers and tourist yachts at the height of piracy activities. The sea gangs also received hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom. Attacks have sharply declined in recent years, thanks to the European Union naval forces that intensified naval operations that have led to a further drop in successful piracy attacks in the international waters.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Cord Leaders Call On Uhuru To Withdraw Kenyan Troops From Somalia
11 November – Source: Daily Nation – 445 Words
Leaders from the Cord coalition have called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to withdraw Kenyan soldiers from Somalia over a United Nations report that linked the troops to illegal charcoal trade from the country. The leaders including, ODM National Chair John Mbadi, Cord Management Committee Chair Eseli Simiyu, Wiper Vice Chair Mutula Kilonzo, ODM Secretary of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi, ODM Treasurer Timothy Bosire and Deputy National Assembly Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo said the troops have ashamed the country in the international arena.
Speaking to the Nation over the phone, Mr Mbadi accused President Kenyatta of rushing to withdraw Kenyan troops from South Sudan following the sacking of the Kenyan commander of the UN Mission in South Sudan Lt-Gen Johnson Ondieki but is doing nothing to call back home those doing illicit business in Somalia. Last Friday, the United Nations released a report indicating that the Kenyan troops in Somalia were receiving fees for allowing illicit exports of charcoal from a port under their control – a statement that seemed to have worsened its relationship with the Kenyan government.
According to the report, the soldiers reap as much as Sh1.2 billion a year from charcoal exports banned by the UN Security Council in 2012 in an effort to cut off funding for the Somalia-based Islamic militant group – Al-Shabaab. The government through State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu however, dismissed the report terming it “hogwash masquerading as research.” However, Mr Mbadi claimed that the charcoal sale is lucrative adding that it is benefiting some senior government officials.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Haver found that national partners in Somalia, Syria, South Sudan and Afghanistan were taking on more security risks, but often with insufficient support. They saw the main risks as coming from aerial shelling and military clashes.”
People In War Zones Feel Needs Not Being Met By Humanitarian Organisations
11 November – Source: The Guardian – 521 Words
People in some of the world’s worst conflict zones believe the presence of humanitarian organisations is declining even as their need for them increases, according to an investigation into the impact of violence and insecurity on relief efforts. Researchers also found that incentives to highlight the presence of such organisations on the ground to the general public and donors meant they sometimes overstated their impact, inadvertently making humanitarian situations appear less dire than they were.
The findings, based on three years of field work in Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan and Syria, emerged from the secure access in volatile environments (Save) project, funded by the Department for International Development and undertaken by the Humanitarian Outcomes consultancy and the Global Public Policy Institute, a Berlin-based think tank. Only in Somalia and one Syrian province did most people surveyed perceive an increase in the number of aid agencies operating.
The study comes at a time of acute concern about the security and safety of aid workers, including local staff, in humanitarian situations. NGO staff were assaulted and raped during an attack on aid workers in South Sudan in August that left at least one person dead. As access becomes more difficult in “high-risk countries”, aid is becoming more basic and less responsive to the critical needs of the most vulnerable people, the project found.
TOP TWEETS
@HassanIstiila: Happening Now: Day two of Job fair and hiring event in #Mogadishu. #FursadoAbuur #Somalia
@MoulidHujale : U.S. air strike in #Somalia killed local militia, not al Shabaab http://reut.rs/2g1jMM1 via @Reuters
@FartaagConsult : If #Islamists loose control in the upcoming election will they ensure smooth transition of power?”Breaking Point in #Somalia” FartaagReport!
@AU_PSD : #AMISOM MOCC is reviewing the strategic & operational posture of @amisomsomalia during the ongoing election process in #Somalia.
EliasSagmeister : People in war zones feel needs not being met by humanitarian organisations #Syria #SouthSudan #Somalia#Afghanistan
@Vatescorp : #Somalia: Somaliland announces publication of a comprehensive foreign policy http://ow.ly/H5Y43064kuw
@Somaliupdate : Delegates From The #PanAfrican Youth Union Encourage #Somalia To Champion Peace
IMAGE OF THE DAY
French President Francois Hollande receives credentials from the new Somali Ambassador to France, Ali Sharif Ahmed
Photo: Ali Sharif Ahmed