November 28, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Cabinet approves appointment of interim Central Bank Governor

28 Nov- Source: Office of Prime Minister-172 Words

Cabinet has today approved Bashir Isse Ali as interim Central Bank Governor. Mr Ali has previously served as Deputy Governor and Governor of Central Bank of Somalia. The process to recruit a permanent Governor continues.

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon announcing the appointment, said: “I am pleased to announce that Mr Bashir Ali has today been appointed as interim Central Bank Governor. Mr Ali brings with him a track record of reform and a wealth of knowledge and experience having previously been CEO of the Commercial Savings Bank of Somalia and served as both Deputy Governor and Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia.

“After two decades of civil war our financial institutions were not fit for purpose. Working with our international partners, IMF and World Bank great progress has already been made in modernising and reforming public finance management and our financial institutions. It will be up to Mr Ali, alongside our international partners, to continue to implement the program of reforms that are needed in our financial institutions.”

Key Headlines

Fire engulfs Petrol station in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Kulmiye)
Security forces seize weapons explosives in Kismayo (Dhanaan Online/Kismaayomedia)
Cabinet approves appointment of interim Central Bank Governor (OPM)
Puntland yet to receive aid promised by Somali government (BBC Somali Service/ Jowhar Online)
Somalia navy commander sacked (Radio Dalsan)
Somalia’s defense minister commends improved military capability of forces (Radio Mogadishu/Somali current)
Boost for Development In Somaliland (UK in Somalia)
IOM to fight child trafficking and gender-based violence in Somalia (Bar-kulan)
Al Shabaab to turn Somalia into a shared country (Somali Current)
Somalia stumbles backwards amid political infighting (AFP)
Fate unknown of El Bur elders kidnapped by al Shabaab (Sabahi online)
Somali government lines up temporary central bank governor (Reuters)
Somali repatriation process must be voluntary (News Afrique/SAPA)
Somaliland minister initiates an M.C.H. In Da’arta Village (Somaliland Press)
Somalia takes on Burundi in Cecafa (The Standard Media)

PRESS STATEMENT

Cabinet approves appointment of interim Central Bank Governor

28 Nov- Source: Office of Prime Minister-172 Words

Boost for Development In Somaliland

28 Nov- Source: UK in Somalia-537 Words

Today the Somaliland authorities, along with the UK’s Department for International Development and DANIDA, committed to working together to improve the lives of the people of Somaliland. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Somaliland and its Somaliland Development Fund development partners at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa.

The SDF provides a single channel through which donors can support Somaliland’s development goals. It supplements Somaliland’s own resources to help deliver the National Development Plan (2012-2016) and associated Somaliland Special Arrangement. It demonstrates a level of confidence and trust in the level of progress achieved in Somaliland. The SDF aims to reduce the fragmentation of development assistance going to Somaliland, and give the Somaliland Government ownership over how and where the funds are spent.

Speaking at the event President Silanyo welcomed the agreement.

“Somaliland has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring, peace, stability and development over the years and has been supported by its partners and close friends, specially the UK and the Danish Government’s. The SDF is a vote of confidence in Somaliland’s efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals and create a strong and sustainable country. We thank the UK and Danish Government’s for their commitment and faith in our people and our systems.”

The SDF aims to contribute to a more stable and prosperous Somaliland. Achieving stability and prosperity is dependent on citizens receiving core public services and the Government engaging with their citizens through transparent and accountable systems.

The SDF will deliver the following headline results:

• Delivery of core state functions by Central and local government in Somaliland

• Improving service delivery – initially focused on roads, livestock, water, and the environment. This will include:

§ Rehabilitation of Hargeisa to Berbera road, and feasibility study of Burao – Erigavo road providing much needed infrastructure and links to Berbera port and regional markets

§ Upgrading of Hargeisa urban water supply to benefit an additional 500,000 people as well rural potable water supply to 200,000 people

§ Construction of two livestock holding grounds to support exports and the livestock sector which is the mainstay of the Somaliland economy
§ Regeneration and protection of rangelands to enhance productivity

§ Promotion of reforestation through community managed tree nurseries

• Political commitment delivers public financial management and wider public sector reforms, leading to improved accountability and government strengthening.

UK Ambassador Mr Neil Wigan and Danish Ambassador Mr Geert A. Andersen, signed the MOU together with the Head of DFID Somalia Ms Joanna Reid.

“Our visit represents the continued commitment of the UK and Denmark to support Somaliland. We recognise the efforts the government is making to strengthen governance, and providing access to equitable basic services for all citizens of Somaliland” said Mr Wigan

“The Somaliland Development Fund will ensure that ordinary people in Hargeisa and across Somaliland will benefit from improved services. For example 500,000 men, women and children will soon have access to a clean water supply” added Ms Reid.

Mr Geert A. Andersen said, “Having visited Somaliland on several occasions, I am truly impressed by the progress seen in so many areas. Our support to SDF and other areas is based on a close partnership with Somaliland having demonstrated leadership and ownership. SDF is the New Deal in practice.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia’s defense minister commends improved military capability of forces

28 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Somali current-148 Words

The Somali Federal Government said the country’s military capability has significantly improved in the face of military operations against al Shabab in parts of Hiran region. Defense minister Abdihakim Haji Mohamud said that the Somali National Army has improved in terms of technical and strength and is hopeful of their capability to eliminate al Shabab from the country.

“They (al Shabaab) have started using the children, [persuading them] to blew themselves up in populated areas and that shows their weakness,” Abdihamkim Haji said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminate al Shabaab out of the country, vowing to continue the ‘liberation operation’ against the group.

The al Qaeda affiliated terror group still controls towns and districts in seven regions in south and central Somaliya. Middle Jubba is the only region under their full control. The Minister acknowledged that Somali National Forces have weakened the ability of the group.

Security forces seize weapons, explosives in Kismayo

28 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online/Kismaayomedia- 109 words

Security forces have Wednesday seized a stash of weapons, ammunition and explosive devices after staging a security crackdown on Farjanno and Gulwade neighborhoods in Kismayo city.

Harun Haji Ali, one of the Interim Jubba Administration officers told Bar-kulan that security forces seized the weapons after conducting a door-to-door search for the last two days.

He added that the operation was designed to maintain the security of the city and vowed that his administration will continue carrying on with the measures in the coming few days.

The crackdown comes after an explosion killed one person and injured six others on Monday in which security forces blamed on al Shabaab militant group.

Fire engulfs Petrol station in Mogadishu

28 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online/al Shahid- 78 words

A massive fire has engulfed a Petrol station at KM 4 intersection of the capital Mogadishu. Reports say that the fire is spreading very quickly to the surrounding areas. Firefighters who arrived at the scene are trying to extinguish and control the fire. It is not yet known the cause of the fire. The Somali security forces cordoned off the place to avoid casualties or looting.

Puntland yet to receive aid promised by Somali government

28 Nov- Source: BBC Somali Service/ Jowhar Online/Xogta News- 131 words

Puntland state of Somalia said that it has not received the aid that the Somali government promised for the victims of the cyclone that hit the coastal areas in Puntland.

The Minister of Planning of Puntland said in a statement to the Somali section of the BBC that the Somali government did not materialised its promise of a million dollar aid to help those affected in the disaster in Puntland.

He added that Puntland officials do not have time to receive the delegations sent by the Somali government to the state of Puntland, due to their preoccupation with the relief operation. Relations between the Somali federal government and the state of Puntland experienced frequent tensions in the recent period.

Somalia navy commander sacked

28 nov- Source: Radio Dalsan/ Jowhar Online- 108 words

According to presidential sources, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sacked the national navy commander Admiral Farah Qare. The position was appointed to a new commander whose name only identified as Gen. Ufurow.

The sacking of the navy commander was part of great changes within the national army, the sources said. Admiral Farah Qare who has been serving as the navy commander since 2009 has became the first navy commander since the collapse of the late central government of Somalia.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 as the country’s coastal area became known with rampant piracy due to lack effective navy forces and coastal guards.

Somaliland minister initiates an M.C.H. In Da’arta Village

28 Nov- Source: Somaliland Press- 490 words

Somaliland Minister of Health and labor Hon. Suleiman Issa Ahmed (Haglatosie) laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new M.C.H the village of Da’arta in Faraweine district located 60KM south east of Hargeisa of Marooodi Jeh.

Dr. Saleban Issa speaking at the foundation laying ceremony said, “The government of Somaliland is working with both the people and the regional authorities in order to initiate project which would make sure all corners of the country receive medical services by implementing health projects that will go a long way to help alleviate the health of the populaces.

Residents of Da’arta have for long complained of being forgotten by the government of Somaliland and without any infrastructure of whatever kind in place life in the hamlet of Da’arta is so tough.

Al Shabaab to turn Somalia into shared country

27 Nov- Source: Somali Current- 591 words

Somalia’s al Qaeda linked, terrorist group in Somalia, al Shabaab, which has been fighting for a longtime to rule entire Somalia has been frequently calling and inviting al Qaeda extremists all around the world to come to Somalia and join the fight.

Top leaders of the militant group called on foreign fighters to come and fight in the country, claiming Somalia is free for all Muslims in the world hence open for all foreign jihadists.

Analysts and politicians believe that this call by al Shabaab’s leaders brought the influx of foreign fighters in the country, and some of them became well respected among the group. The exact number of the foreign fighters in the country that are bolstering al Shabaab is still unknown.

Several al Qaeda operatives were killed in Somalia, namely Salah Ali Saleh Nabhan who was killed in 2009, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed who was killed in 2011 and Bilal al Barjawi who was killed in 2012.

IOM to fight child trafficking and gender-based violence in Somalia

27 Nov- Source: Bar-kulan-109 Words

International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the European Union has started a project which will help fight child trafficking and gender-based violence in Somalia. The organization said that the child trafficking in the Horn of African nation has significantly increased in the past few years.

The International Organization for Migration stated that the only way to prevent child trafficking practices in Somalia is to raise awareness programs, support authorities and provide assistance to the child trafficking and gender-based violence survivors.

Child trafficking and gender-based violence in Somalia is reportedly one of the highest in the developing countries and the IOM said it occurs with varying degrees in Somalia.

Somalia retains its CECAFA EC position

27 Nov- Source: Somali Current- 282 words

CECAFA organizing committee chairman and member of CECAFA Executive committee, Mr. Abdi Qani Said Arab has retained his position during the regional football body’s elections held in the Kenyan capital if Nairobi.

Mr. Arab who is also member of FIFA beach soccer committee and Somali Football federation secretary General has accumulated 9 votes out of the 12 votes casted during the elected which held in Nairobi on Tuesday.

“I am grateful to all CECAFA member nations, both who voted in favour of me and those who voted against me, I am happy with all of them, because this is football and football is all about friendship and brotherhood, that is what the football principles teach us” Mr. Abdi Qani Said Arab told the media after election.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia takes on Burundi in Cecafa

28 Nov- Source: The Standard Media-283 Words

Council for East and Central Football Association ( Cecafa) action moves to Machakos today where favourites Zambia take on Tanzania while Burundi tackle Somalia. The first match will be between Burundi and Somalia coach Mohammed Abdulle says his focus remains to get his team to the next round of the competition.

Abdulle said he is determined to overturn the 5-0 loss his side suffered against Burundi in last year’s tournament held in Uganda. “We are proud of our achievement of not having missed any competition despite the many challenges we face at home.

“We understand that as a country, results are measured at two levels — in terms of participation and results on the pitch. We have not done well in the latter but want to make a difference this year. “Burundi is a formidable side that hammered us last year, but that is in the past. We have had some good training in the last two months and I believe it will show in our results today,” he said. The coach said his young players are ready to start doing well in the competition.

Fate unknown of El Bur elders kidnapped by al Shabaab

27 Nov- Source: Sabahi Online-637 Words

Al Shabaab has been kidnapping traditional elders in villages near El Bur since the beginning of October, accusing them of encouraging residents to flee with their livestock from rural areas that serve as hideouts for al Shabaab militants.

Mohamed Abdi, a 38-year-old livestock trader in El Laheley, told Sabahi that al Shabaab has arrested more than 20 elders from the villages of El Laheley, Hindhere and other areas that come under El Bur jurisdiction. He said no one knows where al Shabaab has taken the kidnapped elders.

“Since the kidnappings, residents are wondering the exact location where al Shabaab is holding them, even though the group has asked some families to pay ransom to release [the elders],” he said.

Before they were kidnapped, the elders resisted al Shabaab’s order to convince local residents to take their livestock to the remote rural areas so that al Shabaab operatives hiding out could eat, said Salah Dahir, a 55-year-old elder who lives in El Bur.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali government lines up temporary central bank governor

28 Nov- Source: Reuters-396 Words

Somalia’s government has lined up a former governor of the central bank to return to the job temporarily and could approve his appointment on Thursday in its bid to steady an institution that has been rocked by rows about corruption.

Two governors have left in quick succession this year. The first was accused by U.N. investigators of corruption, which he denied. The second quit and fled Somalia, saying she was under pressure to sign off on shady dealings. The government has denied any corruption, but the departures have undermined donor confidence in the bank whose probity is seen as vital to the rebuilding effort.

Bashir Issa Ali, governor under a former transitional government who also held a top post in Somalia’s commercial bank, has been asked to take up the post on an interim basis, Finance Minister Mohamud Hassan Suleiman told Reuters.

Somalia stumbles backwards amid political infighting

28 Nov- Source: AFP- 795 words

Bitter divisions between Somalia’s top leaders threaten internationally-backed efforts to battle al Qaeda-linked insurgents and end decades of anarchy in the war-torn nation, experts warn.

Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, who has been in office for just over a year, is facing a confidence vote in parliament this week after he resisted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s demand that he resign.

The precise cause of the power struggle is unclear, but politicians have pointed to wrangling over alleged corruption, personal loyalties as well as Somalia’s complex clan politics, where each community expects to be represented in the corridors of power.

“The prime minister told us he is at loggerheads with the president over several issues including who should be in cabinet,” said MP Mohamed Yusuf.

Somali repatriation process must be voluntary

28 Nov- Source: News Afrique/SAPA-287 Words

UN agency says Somali repatriation process must be voluntary – The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said the agreement signed earlier this month between the agency and the Governments of Somalia and Kenya supports the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees.

The UN refugee agency spokesperson, Mr. Adrian Edwards, Wednesday reiterated that the parties were not forcing anyone to return to Somalia, noting: ‘UNHCR does not support forced returns.’ ‘This understanding was reaffirmed last Friday, when the Kenyan and Somali refugee commissioners, Mr. Badu Katelo and Mr. Ahmed Nur, visited Dadaab refugee camp.

‘UNHCR works and speaks with the refugees daily, but this visit provided the refugees with an opportunity to ask high-level Somali officials about the areas to which they are considering returning with some lively informal discussions in addition to town hall meetings,’ the spokesperson added.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Time’s up for the hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in Kenya, apparently. In a fit of impatience, a Kenyan official unveiled plans to close the Dadaab complex of refugee camps – the largest in the world. This is easier said than done, however, especially as most of the refugees still don’t have a safe home to which they can return. Whether Kenya likes it or not, Dadaab is here to stay. “

Despite threats, the world’s largest refugee camp is here to stay

28 Nov- Source: Daily Maverick-968 Words

“All the camps should be closed and the debate on whether or not it is appropriate has been passed by time.” With these words on Saturday last week, Kenya’s interior secretary Joseph Ole Lunku appeared the seal the fate of the more than half a million refugees from Somalia who have, over the past two decades, found refuge of sorts in Kenya.

Of these, most have been housed in the mammoth, sprawling complex of camps that make up Dadaab – the largest refugee camp in the world, with a population of 470,000-plus. Were it recognised as such, it would be Kenya’s third-largest city. Opened in 1991, in response to famine and instability in Somalia, it was intended as a temporary solution.

Since then, however, conditions in Somalia have just got worse, and the camp complex has taken on an air of permanence. There are thriving shops and markets, real buildings in places, and young adults who have known no other home; all supported by a network of humanitarian agencies providing healthcare, education and other services.

“Indeed, a one thousand miles journey starts with that first step. We Somalis know have travelled thousands of miles and in the process have made many missteps. We the Somalis have to pause for moment to ponder and to rethink our situation. Are we being confronted with a set of new problems all the time to keep us stray?”

The Somali Problem

27 Nov- Source: Wardheernews-1156 Words

If a journey of thousand miles starts with one step, then how many first steps we the Somalis, have travelled since our friends in Kenya, in cohort with the UN and western investors chose for us our first TNG, which seems so long ago. In time, we had a number of TNGs and now those same powers gave us a permanent government which came into existence a year ago. Our quest for a resolution to this game of musical must have paid off because now we have a permanent government. But we know better, don’t we?

After decades of tutelage and expertise handled by outsiders, have our governing institutions finally come of age to address the needs of the ruined nation or to at least meet the challenges faced when building a nation? Why haven’t these governments succeeded in actually controlling more than a few blocks of Mogadishu? Even with the support of thousands of African military personnel the government cannot drive out hostile elements and restore a sense of normalcy to a nation that seems bent on self destruction.

“Given the history outlined here, Captain Phillips can at best be described as unfair. It may not be the overt political propaganda that is Black Hawk Dawn, but Greengrass has worked hard to make goodies and baddies out of Phillips and his Somali captors respectively. His film perpetuates negative stereotypes of Somalia and false ideas about the role of the West in the region generally.”

Hijacking Somalia

26 Nov- Source: Overland Blog-2249 Words

There is something deeply unsettling about Paul Greengrass’ new film Captain Phillips. Despite being reviewed positively and tipped as an Oscar winner for Tom Hanks, it has also garnered negative attention. The men who crewed the Maersk Alabama when it was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009 have brought a lawsuit against the Maersk Line, claiming that they were deliberately put in danger of hijacking by Captain Richard Phillips in the interests of the company.

Greengrass denies their accusations but curious details from the court case do seem to lend them merit. Phillips received no less than seven emails advising container ships to exceed as far as possible the recommended 600-mile distance from the Somali coast because of piracy warnings. Despite this, official reports put the Alabama at 240 miles from the coast at the time of the hijacking – and even Phillips put the distance at only 300 miles. It should be noted that hugging the Somali coast saves freight time and, of course, company money.
But these are matters for the courts.

Top tweets

@LefkowHRW The risks of returning #Somalia asylum seekers too soon: a cautionary tale from the Netherlands:http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/11/27/memo-hague-somalia-not-safe …

‏@stability_fund Land, #governance & transparency- whose responsibility? http://bit.ly/1cpao97 Useful debate for #Somalia. Thanks @odi_development

@NGOConsortium Interested in working in #Somalia? Have a look at vacancies from NGOs with programmes in #Somaliaand the region. http://bit.ly/tdI0jo

@UNSomalia #orangeurworld tweet: #Somali Gov’t & #UNcommitted to prevent sexual violence. 7 May joint communiqué:http://bit.ly/1bVle4U @SayNO_UNiTE

@qataharraymond UPDF soldiers under AMISOM cross Johwah swamps in Somalia Northwest of Mogadishu .Photo By UGABAG10 pic.twitter.com/i81fPSf8on

Follow the conversation →

Image of the day

Image of the day The signing of MOU for Somaliland Development Fund (SDF) by Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo, UK Ambassador Neil Wigan, Danish Ambassador Geert A. Andersen and Head of DFID Somalia Joanna Reid at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa. Photo: @UKinSomalia