November 16, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Somalia Hosts Its First National Economic Policy Forum
15 November – Source: UNDP.org – 385 Words
Somalia has hosted its first high level National Economic Policy Forum this week in Mogadishu, which saw participants discuss a national investment strategy, financial governance, tackling corruption and how to enhance regional economic cooperation with other East African countries.
The day-long forum was hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mr. Mahdi Mohamed Guled, and by the Chairman of a newly established National Economic Council (NEC) for Somalia, Dr. Ali Issa Abdi. It was attended by Federal and Members State Government representatives, UN officials, and private sector, academia and civil society members. The Federal Minister of Finance, Dr. Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh, and the Federal Minister of Planning, Mr. Gamal Hassan, also attended the event. The forum was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In his key remarks at the opening session, Deputy Prime Minister Guled said the Federal Government had made tangible progress on public financial management reforms and in increasing domestic revenue to deliver services to the Somali people, adding: “The government is committed to enacting policies and developing strategies to revive the economy, and the National Economic Council, and this Forum, plays a key role in these efforts,” he said.
During the event, a team of economic experts presented initial findings from research on tackling corruption, domestic revenue mobilization, resource sharing, and economic governance and cooperation. The legal frameworks required for an investment strategy were also presented at the meeting.
Key Headlines
- Somalia Hosts Its First National Economic Policy Forum (UNDP.org)
- Somalia’s Foreign Ministry Holds Farewell Ceremony For Outgoing Turkish Ambassador (Halbeeg News)
- US Ambassador To Somalia Arrives In Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
- UN Says Some 4.2 mln People In Somalia To Require Assistance In 2019 (Xinhua)
- Kenya Airways Postpones Flight To Somalia (CTGN)
- Guard Peace Unity In Ghana – Police Contingent In Somalia Advise (Graphic Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry Holds Farewell Ceremony For Outgoing Turkish Ambassador
15 November – Source: Halbeeg News – 120 Words
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed-Kheir Abdi, met in his office the ambassador of Turkey to Somalia, Olgan Bekar, before the envoy’s departure from the country after the end of his term as the ambassador to Somalia.
The State Minister observed that Olgan Bekar was a best friend and a supporter of the multifaceted diplomatic relations between Mogadishu and Ankara. The outgoing ambassador, received special recognition among the Somalis, officially and publicly, during his four-year term as a diplomat.
On his part, Bekar expressed his deep thanks and gratitude to the Federal Government of Somalia, stressing that relations between the two brotherly countries will improve steadily for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
US Ambassador To Somalia Arrives In Mogadishu
15 November – Source: Garowe Online – 223 Words
The newly appointed United States of America Ambassador to Somalia, Donald Yamamoto, arrived in Mogadishu on Thursday, a week after triple car bombs killed at least 50 people in the seaside city. The U.S. mission to Somalia confirmed the arrival of Yamamoto, saying he looked forward to strengthening the ties and cooperation between Somalia and the U.S.
“The United States is pleased to announce the arrival of the Ambassador, Donald Y. Yamamoto, to head the United States Mission to the Federal Republic of Somalia,” said the U.S. mission in a statement. According to the statement, Mr. Yamamoto is one of the highest-level U.S. ambassadors on the African continent, a symbol of the significance the U.S. attaches on the relationship with the people and government of Somalia.
Previously, Yamamoto, 65, served as the U.S. ambassador to neighboring countries, namely Ethiopia from 2006-2009 and Djibouti from 2000-2003. His arrival comes at a time when the U.S. is expanding its military presence in Somalia.
Appointed last July 2018, Yamamoto will replace Mr. Stephen Michael Schwartz, who has been serving in the office since July 2016, but, resigned in September last year, citing personal reasons. The U.S restored its diplomatic mission in Somalia in 2014 for the first time since the “Black Hawk Down” incident barely 25 years ago.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN Says Some 4.2 mln People In Somalia To Require Assistance In 2019
15 November – Source: Xinhua – 265 Words
An estimated 4.2 million people in Somalia will require humanitarian assistance in 2019, the UN agency said on Wednesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the reduction in needs, compared to 2017, reflects an improvement in the overall humanitarian situation and a more focused approach in defining needs. “An estimated 2 million people continue to receive food assistance every month,” the OCHA said in its latest humanitarian report.
The UN agency however said humanitarian needs remain above the pre-crisis level from two years ago. “Contrary to earlier forecasts, the 2018 Deyr rainfall season has so far performed less well than expected and some areas have not received significant rains,” said OCHA. “It said humanitarian agencies are stepping up investment in recovery and resilience programming, alongside life-saving assistance. The Horn of Africa nation experienced a prolonged drought from late 2016 through late 2017 that resulted in significant livestock losses and consecutive seasons of below-average production, causing severe and at times extreme acute food insecurity.
According to the FAO-led Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM), rainfall in October has been below average across most parts of Somalia. It said rainfall performance in November and December will determine the impact of the Deyr season on food production. The UN agency also recorded an overall decline in the major communicable diseases (cholera, measles and malaria) since the beginning of the year. “Sustained funding for health and water, sanitation, and hygiene clusters will be required in the follow-up to the Deyr rainy season in early 2019 to protect the gains,” said the UN agency.
Kenya Airways Postpones Flight To Somalia
15 November – Source: CGTN – 201 Words
Kenya’s national airline postponed the launch of its direct flight to the Somali capital Mogadishu from Nairobi until December 5. Kenya Airways initially scheduled to launch the direct flights on Thursday, from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Aden Adde International Airport, but said it had pushed the launch to the later date “due to additional airline and operational requirements beyond our control.”
The airlines CEO Sebastian Mikosz, however, said he expected the hitches to be sorted out soon in order for the flights to commence. “Kenya Airways wishes to inform our customers and the public that the launch of the Nairobi- Mogadishu route that was scheduled to commence on November 15 has been postponed to December 5,” he said. “We are engaging the relevant authorities on the necessary approvals and we expect to finalise this process as soon as possible and officially start operations for this eagerly awaited route,” he added. Kenya Airways’ plan to fly to Mogadishu comes after Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights to the city on November 2, the first time in four decades. Both airlines hope their flights to Somalia will boost regional trade and build better relations between the Horn of Africa nation and its neighbours.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“AMISOM, which has been in Somalia for 11 years, has a police component that is building the capacity of the Somali police through mentoring and providing support for the restoration of the rule of law in that country.”
Guard Peace, Unity In Ghana – Police Contingent In Somalia Advise
15 November – Source: Graphic Online – 502 Words
The Ghanaian police contingent serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has advised Ghanaians to safeguard the peace and unity being enjoyed in the country in order to build a prosperous nation. Citing the rate of destruction and desperation they had seen in Somalia, which had been engulfed in civil war for close to three decades, they urged Ghanaians to stick to the path of peaceful and united coexistence no matter the circumstances they encountered.
In random interviews conducted by this reporter who was part of a team of Ghanaian and Nigerian journalists invited by AMISOM to cover the activities of the mission in Somalia, the Ghanaian police personnel were unanimous that judging from the situation in Somalia, it was important for Ghanaians to jealously guard the peace and unity in the country.
“It is unfortunate all Ghanaians cannot come here and see the state of destruction, the poor quality of life of the Somalis as a result of the conflict. If Ghanaians could come here and experience for themselves the life here in Somalia, they will appreciate the peace we enjoy in Ghana,” the leader of the 37-member Ghanaian contingent, Chief Superintendent of Police Mr Paul Kissi Frimpong, said.
Mr Frimpong said tribal sentiments had been found to be some of the fundamental factors responsible for conflicts in most of the African countries. Another Ghanaian who is in charge of Administration and Personnel at the AMISOM Police Component, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Kombat Damentim, said, “Based on what I have seen here, I am convinced that war is not a good thing. I can’t put what I have experienced here in words for people to understand. It is just bad.”