November 27, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Pope Says Christian-Muslim Dialogue ‘Essential’ For Peace
26 November – Source: Associated Press – 424 Words
Pope Francis told Christian and Muslim leaders in Kenya on Thursday that they have little choice but to engage in dialogue to guard against the “barbarous” Islamic extremist attacks that have struck Kenya recently, saying religious leaders must be “prophets of peace” in a world sown by hatred. On his first full day in Africa, Francis insisted that religion can never be used to justify violence and lamented that “all too often, young people are being radicalized in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies.” He said interfaith dialogue isn’t a luxury or optional, but is simply “essential.”
Francis made the comments in a meeting with Kenyan Christian, Muslim and other faith leaders at the start of a busy day that will also see him celebrate Mass on a rain-soaked university campus and deliver a major environment speech to the U.N. regional headquarters in Nairobi. On Friday, he heads to Uganda for the second leg of his first African pilgrimage. Kenya, a former British colony is majority Christian, but Muslims represent about 10 percent of the population.
In his remarks, Francis referred explicitly to three recent attacks claimed by the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab extremist group, saying he knew well that the memories were still fresh in Kenya’s mind. In April, the Al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on a mostly Christian college in northeastern Kenya that left some 150 people dead. A month earlier, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for attacks in Mandera county on the Somali border in which 12 people died. In September 2013, at least 67 people were killed in an attack by Al-Shabaab on the Westgate mall in Nairobi. Al-Shabaab opposes Kenya’s decision to send troops to Somalia to fight the group as part of an African Union force backing Somalia’s weak federal government.
Key Headlines
- Pope Says Christian-Muslim Dialogue ‘Essential’ For Peace (Associated Press)
- Puntland Bars Somali PM From Traveling To Their Region (Hiiraan Online)
- Galkayo Tensions Dominate Puntland Cabinet Meeting (Garowe Online)
- Minister Supports Legally Detaining Journalists Who ‘Cross The Line’ (Wacaal Media)
- Somali Officials Warn Of Attacks By Al-Shabaab Faction (Voice of America)
- Operation Atalanta German Warship FGS Erfurt Trains With Somaliland Coast Guard (EUCAP Nestor)
- Somalia’s Fragile Security Puts Aid Out Of Reach For Many Who Desperately Need It (The Guardian)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Bars Somali PM From Traveling To Their Region
26 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 240 Words
The Puntland semi-autonomous state in northern Somalia has prevented Somalia’s Prime Minister from travelling to its region amid a territorial dispute with its neighboring central government-backed Galmudug state. The move follows this week’s clashes in Galkayo town that left 10 people dead. PM Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke’s planned visit to the restive Galkayo town was cancelled after Puntland officials protested his visit, which they referred to as “unrewarding”.
Sources in Mogadishu told Hiiraan Online that the Prime Minister had cancelled his trip upon receiving an official letter from the Puntland government reportedly barring him from visiting the town. Mr. Sharmarke had planned to meet officials and elders from the two sides to defuse the tension, which risks further clashes between the two sides. The development raises serious questions about the troubled relations between Puntland and the central Somali government, which is trying to push for greater collaborations with the regional administrations.
Puntland often tries to evade the central government’s influence in its internal affairs, by maintaining its independence in governance and running financial systems. Despite a recent ceasefire deal by local elders, fears of fighting linger on in the town as the central government continues to deploy more military personnel into the town. However, traditional elders have called for cessation of hostility and urged the two sides to end their dispute through talks. Galkayo town is divided into two zones, where the northern portion forms part of Puntland state, while its southern part is governed by the Galmudug administration.
Galkayo Tensions Dominate Puntland Cabinet Meeting
26 November – Source: Garowe Online 184 Words
Tensions witnessed in central Somalia town of Galkayo equally dominated a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Puntland President, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali on Thursday, Garowe Online reports. The meeting intensely centred around security, Mudug tensions, Environmental Conservation Police and passage of several bills.
Security was high on agendas, with Puntland expressing optimism about ongoing efforts to quell damaging tensions in restive Galkayo. Listening to ordinary briefings by Security Ministry, the Puntland Cabinet agreed on the need to confront any move detrimental to territorial integrity. Puntland once again lambasted Galmudug militiamen for provocation, while hailing efforts of defusing tensions that degenerated into a deadly battle last Sunday.
The cabinet debated a blueprint presented by Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, describing it a “welcome first step towards the realisation of a new environmental policy”. The Security Ministry will accordingly cooperate with Environment Ministry on a framework that includes the formation of environmental conservation police officers. The Puntland Cabinet also endorsed three key legislations — anti-rape bill, statistics law and Town Planning policy. The first aims at providing a solution to the increased cases of violence against Somali women.
Minister Supports Legally Detaining Journalists Who ‘Cross The Line’
26 November – Source: Wacaal Media – 139 Words
Journalists who overstep their mandate will be arrested, Federal minister for Information Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareeye has said. Speaking on freedom of speech, the minister said that journalists were bound by professional codes of conduct to report fairly and justly. He however warned against illegal detention of journalists. Maareeye asked the Federal government and member states to arraign in court arrested journalists and set them free if proved innocent: “I request authorities to respect the rule of law when dealing with journalists just like any other arrested suspect. They should be arraigned in court and if proven innocent, they should be set free, otherwise they should face detention,” he said. His sentiments come at a day after a media conference on the plight of journalists came to a close in Mogadishu.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Officials Warn Of Attacks By Al-Shabaab Faction
26 November – Source: Voice of America – 228 Words
Somali authorities in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland have warned of potential attacks by an Al-Shabaab splinter faction that recently announced allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. Commander of Puntland forces General Said Mohamed Hersi has confirmed officially for the first time that Al-Shabaab fighters in Puntland had split into two factions.
General Hersi told VOA’s Somali service the new splinter faction is active in planning attacks in order to demonstrate that “ISIS is present” in Somalia, using a common acronym for IS, which is also known as ISIL or Daesh. Asked if there are any specific attacks the faction may be planning, General Hersi said: “Terrorist acts — explosions, assassination of individuals and planting devices.”
He said his security forces are monitoring the situation and are ready to “respond and engage.” Last month an Al-Shabaab official who hails from Puntland, Abdulkadir Mumin, declared allegiance to IS. Mumin and his fighters recorded an audio and video published by IS. He is believed to be based in a mountainous area southwest of Bosaso town, Puntland’s biggest town and the main business hub.
Last year Hersi led an offensive against Al-Shabaab in the Galgala Mountains, capturing several towns. Despite acknowledging a pause to the military campaign, he insists his forces succeeded in holding captured areas. He demanded logistical support from the Somali government as well from the international community.
Operation Atalanta German Warship FGS Erfurt Trains With Somaliland Coast Guard
26 November – Source: EUCAP Nestor – 138 Words
In partnership with EUCAP Nestor, Operation Atalanta warship, FGS Erfurt, carried out maritime training with the Somaliland Coast Guard in the Gulf of Aden. During the two days of training, representatives from the Somaliland Coast Guard were hosted on board FGS Erfurt and provided with maritime and first aid training by the German sailors.
The first day consisted of first aid training, including the treatment of burns, smoke inhalation and fractures, with day two focusing on firefighting and damage control. The lead training officer on board FGS Erfurt, Chief Petty Officer Juliane, thanked the Somaliland Coast Guard for their participation in the training, and said; “It was a very important opportunity for both sides. The Somaliland Coast Guard was keen to learn, with joint training such as this helping to strengthen their maritime safety and security capabilities.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Two years ago, aid agencies were more easily able to reach communities like this one. Due to the worsening security situation, however, NGOs have decreased in both presence and reach. Usmaa shakes her head sadly as she explains: There are still no jobs for us, or a solution to people being able to return home in safety. The rains have come and the shelters aren’t enough to keep us dry. The camps are getting very wet and everything is very dirty …”
Somalia’s Fragile Security Puts Aid Out Of Reach For Many Who Desperately Need It
26 November – Source: The Guardian – 1,220 Words
The streets of Mogadishu are eerily quiet. Military roadblocks and checkpoints are everywhere. This is not unusual, but these days it is increasingly hard to know who is manning them – the army, a private militia or insurgents. In recent years, the national army, backed by peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Somalia force, has largely pushed the Islamic militants of Al-Shabaab out of many key towns, including Mogadishu, Kismayo and Barawe.
But gains are fragile: Al-Shabaab still carries out frequent gun-and-bomb attacks, as well as assassinations, in Mogadishu, and also seeks to recapture territory around the city. To complicate matters further, Somali soldiers are underpaid, undertrained and often demotivated. Soldiers in Somalia are not paid a fixed rate. Instead, income varies depending on the battalion and on how close a soldier is to the commander. That is if they get paid at all.
On the road heading to Shibis, a district in Mogadishu, our vehicle is stopped several times at checkpoints. It is still impossible for staff from foreign aid agencies to move around without armed bodyguards, and the sheer difficulty in travelling has put the brakes on critical humanitarian projects in a city that still bears the physical and human scars of more than two decades of war and natural disasters. In Howlwadaag district, more than 120 families live in a collection of ramshackle iron and plastic shelters. Some have been here for five years; many arrived in 2011 during the drought that ravaged Somalia and the region. Others are here because they were threatened by al-Shabaab.
Usmaa is 50 and has eight children. “We moved here from Kismayo because of Al-Shabaab – they were threatening my husband,” she recalls. “He was a businessman, selling camel meat. Al-Shabaab were demanding a lot of taxes from him to do business there, so we decided to leave because we felt threatened. We haven’t gone back to Kismayo in five years because the road is very dangerous and you can get ambushed. But I want to go back because it is home.”