November 18, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
UN Envoy Kay Congratulates Somalis On Consultations Across The Country
18 November – Source: UNSOM – 265 Words
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has congratulated the Somali people on the regional consultations on options for the 2016 electoral process, which concluded across the country today. “Over the past two days, Somalia spoke. Somalis across the country gathered and discussed the four options for the 2016 electoral process that have been proposed. In doing so, they upheld a fundamental principle of Somali society and politics, that of open deliberation among all stakeholders, in the manner of discussions under the Qoraac tree,” said SRSG Kay.
“But Somalis also took a major step forward: while one-person one-vote elections may not be possible in 2016, this consultative process facilitates the participation of a wider segment of Somali society in deciding on what the most appropriate and feasible electoral process for 2016 will be.” SRSG Kay noted with great satisfaction the active engagement and participation of Somalis from all walks of life across the country. “All of Somalia needs to be heard. Youth, women, elders, minorities, religious leaders, and persons with disabilities – they all need to have their say. This in itself is an important expression of democratic values.”
Key Headlines
- UN Envoy Kay Congratulates Somalis On Consultations Across The Country (UNSOM)
- Galmudug President Holds Talks With Ethiopian Foreign Minister (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Interior Minister Calls On Puntland To Be A Role Model For 2016 Elections (Shabelle News)
- National Consultation Forums On Somalia Upcoming Elections To Conclude Today (Villa Puntland)
- UNFPA Celebrates Progress In Maternal Child Health In Puntland (Garowe Online)
- Somalia Climate Plan Targets Illegal Charcoal Trade (Climate Home)
- Regional Consultations On 2016 Electoral Process Start In Somalia (APA/Star Africa)
- Foreign Fighters Get Special Treatment In Somalia (The Star)
- Al-Shabaab Still A Major Security Threat To Kenya – Returnees (The Star)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM Applauds Somalis Over The Successful Regional Consultations On The 2016 Electoral Process
18 November – Source: AMISOM – 171 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has applauded Somalis for turning out in large numbers, to deliberate on the 2016 electoral process. The regional consultative forums, which started at the weekend in several regions, including Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo, Garowe and Adado have registered a huge turnout.
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said; “The large numbers demonstrate the determination by the people of Somalia to participate in shaping the future of their country. It also demonstrates the spirit of inclusivity and conducive political environment being enjoyed in the country. AMISOM will continue to support the political process at all levels, including securing the environment for Somalis to achieve further political milestones until 2016.”
NATIONAL MEDIA
Galmudug President Holds Talks With Ethiopian Foreign Minister
18 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 162 Words
Galmudug President Abdikarin Hussein Guled has led a delegation to Ethiopia after receiving official invitation from the Ethiopian government. The Galmudug leader and the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Tedros Adhanom, discussed on enhancing the bilateral ties between the two sides. The discussions, which stretched for hours, ended with mutual understanding of the issues raised during the meeting. President Guled, who spoke to the media, disclosed that his discussion with the minister was based on concerns of his people and other issues of common interest.
“During our discussions we agreed to not only enhance the existing friendly relations between Ethiopia and Galmudug state but to start implementation of various agreements,” said the leader of Galmudug state: “We not only discussed but agreed that both sides start immediate facilitation on security cooperation,” he said. The Galmudug president paid a visit to Ethiopia where he met with Ethiopian officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Transport and held discussions on bilateral relations aimed at strengthening ties between Galmudug State and Ethiopia.
Somali Interior Minister Calls On Puntland To Be A Role Model For 2016 Elections
18 November – Source: Shabelle News – 170 Words
The Minister of Interior and Federal affairs of Somalia, Abdirahman Odawa has called on the northeastern regional administration of Puntland to be a role model for the upcoming elections in 2016. On a two-day visit to Garowe, where he took part in the consultative meeting on 2016 election, the minister said that the federal government wants Puntland to play an immense role in support of the national elections. The minister of interior has also applauded regional states over holding a nation-wide consultations on the model of the 2016 electoral process of Somalia as the mandate of the current government expires in August 2016. The delegates, comprising of representatives of regional administrations, community leaders, business community, civil society organizations and religious leaders, gathered to discuss what it would mean to adopt one of the four options for the 2016 electoral process.
National Consultation Forums On Somalia Upcoming Elections To Conclude Today
17 November – Source: Villa Puntland – 100 Words
National Consultation forums on Somalia 2016 elections is set to wrap up today in six towns in Puntland, Villa Puntland Agency Reports. These Conferences were launched yesterday in six places including Galkayo, Garowe and Bossaso. In quest for inclusive process towards 2016 elections, Somali leaders of Federal and Regional levels mutually agreed to decentralise consultations into the regions across the country. At least 100 delegates participated in every forum in the six set places as facilitators from the civil society and the government collect opinions on which type of elections to apply next year.
UNFPA Celebrates Progress In Maternal, Child Health In Puntland
17 November – Source: Garowe Online – 165 Words
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) alongside Puntland’s Ambassador for the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality (CARMMA) has celebrated years of success in maternal and child health issues. UNFPA sub-office head Dr. Bakhtior Kadirov and CARMMA Ambassador and Puntland Women Development and Family Affairs Minister, Anisa Abdulkadir Haji Mumin on Tuesday hailed the huge progress made in maternal and neonatal health services over a short period of time. Mumin said, the avowed intent is to reduce maternal deaths and ensure skilled birth attendance across Puntland. “[The campaign] saw violence against women reduce considerably,” she added.
Speaking at an event held in the state capital of Garowe, senior UNFPA official, Dr. Kadirov pledged that they will help CARMMA Puntland improve skilled birth attendance during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. Garowe General Hospital Director, Dr. Abdisamad acknowledged visible reduction in maternal deaths since CARMMA launch. UNFPA has trained many midwives and opened Maternal and Neonatal Health Centres in Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Climate Plan Targets Illegal Charcoal Trade
18 November – Source: Climate Home – 277 Words
Somalia is cracking down on unsustainable charcoal production in its contribution to a UN climate deal, submitted on Tuesday. The conflict-riven state said demand for the fuel at home and from Gulf countries was causing “colossal deforestation”. That made it harder for pastoralists to cope with drought like that of 2010-12, as their flocks had less to eat. With 80% of the population depending on livestock, crops, fishing or forestry for their livelihoods, environmental degradation takes a heavy toll.
The UN submission said: “The centuries old coping strategies employed during periods of drought in the arid/semiarid climate of Somalia are increasingly becoming impractical as resource depletion removes the natural resource assets which are heavily relied upon during drought events.” Meanwhile, charcoal exports “fuel the war economy”, it noted, generating US$15 million a year for militia groups like Al-Shabaab.
Regional Consultations On 2016 Electoral Process Start In Somalia
18 November – Source: APA/Star Africa – 203 Words
The Somali authorities have launched regional consultations to discuss the 2016 electoral process across the country, APA learns Wednesday.Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said forums were being held in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo, Garowe and Adado, and will each be attended by up to 150 people from the area.
The President said in a statement issued in Mogadishu that said, “It is a very exciting day in the development of Somalia as a democratic nation. People from all over Somalia will gather to consider and discuss the best way for Somalia to support a peaceful transition of political power in September 2016. The regional forums are being convened in order to identify and discuss the different possibilities for the electoral process next year.
Foreign Fighters Get Special Treatment In Somalia
18 November – Source: The Star – 499 Words
Abubakar’s first day at the Al-Shabaab training camp in Afmadow in southwest Somalia was intense. He arrived in 2008 as a madrasa teacher. Little did he know that he had to undergo paramilitary training, including assembling and detonation of Improvise Explosive Devices (IEDs). Inside the camps, they receive a mix of military, political and sharia training. During training, recruits are dispatched to checkpoints, but not to the frontlines until they graduate after three months. The camps are spread all over Somalia’s lower Shebelle where Al-Shabaab still has significant control despite constant incursion by Amisom troops.
Abubakar was deployed into Khalid Bin Walid camp that comprised fighters mostly from Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and European fighters from France, United Kingdom, US and Arab countries. “We were always on higher alert for possible airstrikes by the US drones and bombardment from the AMISOM troops,” says Abubakar, who deserted the group. Abubakar said women recruits — the so called Al-Shabaab brides — are trained separately, but they always undergo similar military training.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Most of these returnees came back after they were disappointed in Somalia because life there was not as rosy as they had expected. Others came back to recruit more youth by acting as the terror outfit’s point men in Kenya but later changed their minds. In an in-depth interview, five al Shabaab returnees told the Star that radical preachers, including the slain controversial cleric Aboud Rogo, brainwashed them to join the terror group. The lectures of these radical imams played a major role in convincing them to abandon their families and travel to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab.”
Al-Shabaab Still A Major Security Threat To Kenya – Returnees
18 November – Source: The Star – 944 Words
Al-Shabaab militia group continues to pose a threat to Kenya’s security fours years after the Kenyan Defence Forces crossed borders into Somalia in pursuit of the terror outfit. The militants still target disillusioned young Kenyans, promising them good money for their families back home and a place in paradise if they die shahid (as martyrs). Al-Shabaab has also been luring the youth by promising them scholarship opportunities to Islamic colleges and universities in Somalia and the Middle East.
However, when these youth arrive in Somalia, they are forced to train as mujaheed (those who fight for the sake of Allah and Islam) fighters. The Star has established that key individuals, who were recruited to join the group between 2006 and 2009, are the ones who have been planning and participating in the terror attacks, especially at the Coast and Northern Kenya. These individuals played a major role in waging terror attacks in Kenya between 2012 and 2014 — their aim being to start an Islamic caliphate in coast region.
Our extensive interview with Al-Shabaab defectors exposed a wide local network that continues to expose the country’s soft underbelly. The network is still active and recruitment is taking place under the nose of security agents in parts of Lamu, Kwale, Mombasa, Tana River, Malindi, Nairobi and other major towns in Kenya. At least 700 Kenyans, who had gone to Somalia, have quietly returned home after quitting Al-Shabaab.
TOP TWEETS
@farhanjimale: #Somalia is re-opening today its embassy in Washington after 25 years of absence from the diplomatic missions in USA
@_andrew_green: An interesting analysis on the rift between ISIS and al-Shabab in #Somalia from @SomaliaNewsroom:http://somalianewsroom.com/
@BColwell_EMGMKT: #Africa doesn’t need charity, says#Somalia as #Malta summit ends http://bbc.in/1MZxhXn @BBCAfrica #frontiermarket
@SalahOsman0: #Somalia held 2 days of National Consultative Forum on 2016 election process Youth and Women played an active role
@MogadishuNews: #BREAKING A jet carrying more than 60 Somali refugees who were in #Kenya for the past 20 yrs landed in #Kismayo. #Somalia #WelcomeBackToHome
@Eye_on_Somalia: #horseed Somalia: senior UN official calls for global support to improve human rights situation: (UN)…http://bit.ly/1SCBZZh #somalia
@Voiceof9jathugs: I miss the old #Somalia – By Meisha-kayhttp://goo.gl/fb/4AjMk2 #general #politics #meishak#meishakingston #peotry
@FaridaYX: “We @Waryapost are contributing to a dialogue abt difference & diversity in #Somalia“ @Fatumaabdulahi#ACMELecture 2:30pm Golf Course Hotel
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Mayor of Mogadishu, Yusuf Hussein Jimaale speaks during the closing session of the regional consultation in Mogadishu, Somalia on November 17 2015.
Photo: UNSOM