November 23, 2016 | Morning Headlines
Lower House Election Resumed In Hirshabelle Following Suspension
22 November – Source: Garowe Online – 237 Words
The electoral commission of Hirshabelle state has announced on Tuesday the resumption of the lower house election following five days suspension of the polls. The suspension of the election came following violence in the voting hall caused by the security guards of the outgoing Somali minister for Youth and Sports Mohamed Abdullah Hussein Nuh in Jowhar last Friday. Consequently, Somalia’s Federal electoral body suspended the electoral process till the security measures are set in place in all voting centers in Jowhar town. However, UN special envoy for Somalia Michael Keating, AU Ambassador, Francisco Madeira and Somali government officials were reported to have intervened in the situation to negotiate a settlement in the electoral dispute between clans in Hirshabelle state to ease the suspension of the parliamentary election.
The election resumed in Jowhar town, as the Burundian contingent serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) took over the security responsibility of the election halls in Jowhar. Electoral dispute in the ongoing Lower House chamber has caused delays in the election deadline, which was set to be wrapped up in November 10 ahead of the presidential election. So far 111 MPs were elected out of 275-seats of the Lower House chamber, in the ongoing elections in Puntland, Jubbaland, Southwest, Galmudug and Hirshabelle states. Experts note that corruption, intimidation, vote-buying, substitute of the names of the legitimate clan candidates were widely reported in the parliamentary election across the country.
Key Headlines
- Lower House Election Resumed In Hirshabelle Following Suspension (Garowe Online)
- Somali President Congratulates On World Teachers’ Day (Goobjoog News)
- Puntland Leader Meets UNSOM Officials (Garowe Online)
- Somali Referees Embrace Communication Technology (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Presidential Candidate Warns Of Possible Poll Delay (Xinhua)
- Gender Equity Headache As Somalia Votes (The EastAfrican)
- Dahabshiil Calls On Africans’ Unity For Development (Daily Nation)
- How Women Are Changing The Face Of Politics In Somalia (New Vision)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Congratulates On World Teachers’ Day
22 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 246 Words
As the world marked World Teachers’ Day on Tuesday, Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has congratulated all Somali teachers for their hard work, steadfastness, self-sacrifices and for contributing their share of nation building by helping to develop and nurture tomorrow’s leaders. Mohamud who was once a teacher, has expressed his joy at this opportunity to celebrate teachers who he described as heroes in the educational sector. “We celebrate teachers who play a very important role in providing quality education at all levels,” said Mohamud. He added, “We are very passionate about education, just as we believe that teachers are the real heroes of every modern society, at various stages in our lives, we all have been taught by teachers, and so we have utmost respect and admiration for individuals who have chosen this noble profession of teaching.”
Somali education sector was battered by conflict and massive brain drain as a result of state collapse in 1991. After the collapse Somalia’s popular government, famine compounded by the conflict, which is still raging in Somalia have caused hundreds of thousands of Somali people in the nation to lead life without the candlelight of 21 century which is education. Since Somali central government was toppled early 1990, Somali teachers together with other scholars formed Somali Private Education Networks which were the sole network responsible for the education of millions of Somali School going children. This worked against all odds given the country’s status which has been paradigmatic example of anarchy.
Puntland Leader Meets UNSOM Officials
22 November – Source: Garowe Online – 224 Words
The President of Somalia’s northeastern region of Puntland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali “Gaas”, has received UN officials led by Howard Bell, the Head of the UNSOM office in Puntland, on Tuesday. The closed-door meeting held at the State House in Garowe city, with the presence of cabinet ministers of Puntland government. Reports said that talks were focused on the ongoing parliamentary elections and worsening drought situation in the region. Following the meeting, Puntland President noted that the drought situation poses serious humanitarian challenge to nomadic communities in Puntland and appealed for collective support from the international community to provide immediate assistance to those critically affected. He later praised the continuous support from the international community to ensure the political roadmap of the Somali election later this year.
On his side, Howard Bell, has commended the state’s efforts in leading the ongoing electoral process in the region. He also urged Puntland leader to push ahead the stalled democratization process in Puntland region and reiterated International partners’ commitment to support the process. The democratization process in Puntland is in “limbo” following the official resignation of Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) Chairman yesterday, who cited “personal reasons’’ for the sudden departure. Critics have previously blamed Puntland leader for unwillingness to implement the political multi party system that will pave the way for one-person-one-vote in the 2019 Puntland election.
Somali Referees Embrace Communication Technology
22 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 242 Words
Somalia has made a progress as soccer referees have been seen using the wireless referee communication system at the start of the 2016-2017 Somali National football league. This is the first time in history, that the new technology has been exercised during football competitions in the country. Football fans in Somalia see the arrival of the new technology in the country as a huge advancement which will help ‘sweeten’ soccer competitions in Somalia. Aisha Mohamed Mahmoud, who is one of the football-loving women in Somalia said “I always asked myself when Somalia will have such wireless communication system which is more helpful for the referees and also helps the smooth going of the matches. Now I am very happy because I see the system being practiced during the national league and I hope Somalia will soon make other key developments” she said when reached for comment on the development.
The African football’s governing body [CAF] has donated two sets of the sophisticated referee communication system to Somali Football Federation, whose president Abdiqani Said Arab was very happy with the new approach in his country. The Somali FA Boss, Abdiqani Said Arab, commended the Confederation of African Football for making possible one of his long-existing dreams. “I take this opportunity to thank CAF for donating us this sophisticated equipment which is very important for the betterment of our competitions” Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab” said at a press statement on Monday.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Presidential Candidate Warns Of Possible Poll Delay
22 November – Source: Xinhua – 191 Words
A presidential candidate in Somalia on Tuesday warned of another postponement of the poll set for Nov. 30 citing what he termed as slow process of Lower House elections. Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle who will be vying as an independent candidate said though the electoral body had not announced it was intending to postpone the poll, it was evidently clear that the Nov. 30 deadline would not be met. “It seems that the presidential elections will not be conducted in time because so far there are no signs to indicate that the Lower House will be conducted in time for the elections,” said Abdulle. The remarks come amid concerns in Somalia that the electoral body may not meet the Nov. 30 deadline for the presidential election. So far 115 lawmakers and 43 Senators have been elected. The Lower House consists of 275 MPs while the Senate is made up of 54 Senators. The breakaway region of Somaliland is yet to elect an MP or senator. The United Nations said Monday that it was disturbed by cases of voter bribery, intimidation of voters and candidates and use of state resources by some candidates.
Gender Equity Headache As Somalia Votes
22 November – Source: The EastAfrican – 732 Words
Somalia is struggling to meet the 30 per cent quota for women in the ongoing elections as local and security agencies remain vigilant to ward off threats by the Al-Shabaab to disrupt the polls. So far, both the elections of the Upper House or the Senate, and of the National Assembly have produced only 18 per cent women MPs. This comes as some clans and sub-clans that are required to submit lists of nominees that meet the 30 per cent requirement continue to resist the new rule that was proposed by the National Leadership Forum (NLF) to promote gender equity in a deeply patriarchal society. The deputy chairperson of the the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT), Ms Deqa Haji Yusuf, told The EastAfrican that the trend was worrying, but that the agency was optimistic about achieving the gender threshold because the elections were still ongoing.
“It is challenging because in Somalia, just like in most African countries, women are very active in every aspect of society, but when it comes to political participation, it is proving difficult because it involves clan elders who are culturally opposed to women leadership,” said Ms Yusuf. She explained that despite the woman quota opposition by some clan elders, FIEIT had received a lot support from the majority of stakeholders, including the religious leaders, and that the leadership forum had provided mechanism to meet the threshold in case those charged with its implementation failed to do so. “This process is not just an election but part of the Somalia national political dialogue where citizens are negotiating how to implement the federal system. However, if some people are unable to implement the election rules that have been negotiated, the law allows us to ensure its implementation,” said Ms Yusuf.
Dahabshiil Calls On Africans’ Unity For Development
21 November – Source: Daily Nation – 339 Words
Dahabshiil Chief Executive Officer Abdirashid Duale says Africa will grow to greater heights if the countries in the continent continue to support each other to realise development for its people. While echoing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call for greater African unity, Mr Duale said African businesses have made tremendous growth within and outside the continent because of the support from Africans. “As Africans we need to work together to build our economy and support businesses that create jobs in the region,” Mr Duale said. Speaking during the second annual Diplomatic Forum organised by the diplomatic corps in Uganda at the weekend, President Kenyatta told African countries to open borders, connect people, increase trade, support innovation and promote African knowledge in their quest to compete equally with the rest of the world. “As we seek to make the most of our potential now, we will need to drive the pan-African agenda as a tremendous ideological wave that will lift all the boats of African socio economic transformation,” said Mr Kenyatta. He said rapid sustainable development was the last agenda of Africa’s freedom struggle and called on Africans to speak with one voice.
“Let us therefore strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and solidarity throughout Africa.
At the same time, let us engage abroad to ensure that our voice is heard and interests secured,” he said. Mr Duale, whose money transfer company has roots in Africa, said African businesses can compete equally or perform even better than others with support from Africans. “Dahabshiil has grown to be what it is because of the support from Africa. We continue to work hard to grow even bigger. We have been able to make an impact in Africa because of the commitment we have to help improve the economies of our people through remittances,” added Mr Duale. Dahabshiil is the largest African money transfer company with a global network and strong presence in East Africa. During the Diplomatic Forum, Dahabshiil was among the 26 institutions that donated funds that will support the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago.
OPINION , CULTURE & ANALYSIS
“I cried,” Lul, who originally moved with her family to Norway, says about her return to the capital Mogadishu. She last visited her home capital 20 years ago.“I stood there in the middle of the street and tears streamed down my face,” she narrates. “This was not the Somalia I knew. It was nothing like I remembered.”
How Women Are Changing The Face Of Politics In Somalia
22 November – Source: New Vision – 1476 Words
Determined to challenge stereotypes that the coastal Horn of Africa country is the worst place to live as a woman, a group of Somali women set out on an ambitious journey. Their mission: to close the gender gap in their country’s political participation.One time, Zainab M. Hassan, Ifrah M. Farah, Lul H. Kulmiye along with seven other Somali women living in the diaspora met each other in Europe and the United States where they were separately going about their work. Eventually, they developed a bond. They realised the glaring absence of Somali women’s voices in critical debates such as the Somalia Vision 2016, the country’s transitional framework. This bond saw the birth of a women’s rights advocacy movement, the Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM). This social movement brings together thousands of Somalis around the world who believe in gender equity in dialogue in a traditionally male dominated cultural context. SGEM was formally launched in US in June 2015, before it was rolled out home.
Returning to Somalia: “I cried,” Lul, who originally moved with her family to Norway, says about her return to the capital Mogadishu. She last visited her home capital 20 years ago.“I stood there in the middle of the street and tears streamed down my face,” she narrates. “This was not the Somalia I knew. It was nothing like I remembered.” Lul describes her first reaction as a grip by shock when she set her eyes on what had remained of the fallen city. “I obviously didn’t expect heaven. I left as a young girl, almost fifteen years old, and Somalia was still peaceful and prosperous at the time. But during my time away I was conscious of the war when it started. So I knew there would be destruction. I just did not expect it to be so severe.” Lul talks about her work in Norway. There, she works as an interpreter with the immigration authority. “I used to meet lots of different Somali people at my workplace every day. I inquired about the situation back home and all the time over the years, it was horrifying tales of doom,” she says.