November 28, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Senate Identifies ‘Common Ground’ To End Political Crisis
28 November – Source: Garowe Online – 255 Words
The Upper House Committee currently mediating between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) has released a report of its findings. Members of the Senate’s Dispute Resolution ad hoc Committee held a press conference on Tuesday in the capital of Mogadishu where they briefed the media on efforts to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the country.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Abdirahman Farole, explained the report was based on the outcome of a fact-finding mission by senators dispatched to the headquarters of the FMS last September. The Senate committee found common ground between the feuding sides, which could form the basis of a political resolution in ending the gridlock that threatens Somalia’s peace and stability progress.
“Today, were hereby declare that a milestone has been reached on a partial solution to the differences and the Senate is committed to continue with its efforts to bring an end to the remaining challenges,” said Senator Farole. He added that their report sets the framework for an amicable solution and the Upper House will follow through the matter to ensure a solution is arrived at soon.
The report identifies common and specific grievances by the FMS, which suspended relations with Mogadishu last September, citing lack of political and security progress in the Horn of Africa nation. The Senate mediation committee has accordingly called on the President Farmaajo administration to promptly act on the execution of their findings in the report in order to end the political crisis in the shortest time possible.
Key Headlines
- Senate Identifies ‘Common Ground’ To End Political Crisis (Garowe Online)
- MP Urges Legal Action Against 2nd Deputy Speaker Over Breach Of law (Goobjoog News)
- Somaliland To Host An Investment Forum In Nairobi On Friday (Somaliland Standard)
- Commander of United States Africa Command Visits Somalia (US Africa Command)
- Soma Media Members Discuss Media Role In Social Transformation (KMAUpdates)
- Daughters Of Al-Shabaab (Al-Jazeera)
NATIONAL MEDIA
MP Urges Legal Action Against 2nd Deputy Speaker Over Breach Of law
28 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 425 Words
A Member of Parliament (MP), Mahad Salad, has claimed the Lower House deputy Speaker, Mahad Awad, usurped the powers of Parliament and violated the House Standing Orders and the Constitution. The MP now demands for apology to Parliament and legal action taken against the deputy Speaker.
In a letter to the Speaker, Mohamed Mursal, Salad outlines what he terms as violations by the deputy Speaker during the November 24 debate on the 2018 budget report. In dismissing the report, Awad said the manner in which the motion had been filed breached the House Standing Orders and further accused the House Budget and Finance Committee of failing to include reference material for the report.
But in his address to the Speaker on Wednesday, Salad dismissed Awad’s assertions noting that all procedures were followed in filing of the report for debate. First, Salad says, Article 26 (1,2,3) provides that the motions must be filed within 48 hours prior to the debate and that any amends can be adopted in the event 10 MPs petition the Speaker. In the case of the budget report, Salad says, there was no objection.
In his earlier objection, deputy Speaker said the report was not presented to the House Business Committee (HBC), which comprises of the Speaker, deputies and select members. The HBC is charged with the duty of setting and overseeing the calendar and business of the House. But Salad observed the HBC had not met for four weeks. Even then, Salad argued there had been no request from any lawmaker to suspend or halt debate on the report: “As you see, the deputy Speaker has arrogated to himself the powers of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament in violation of the Standing Orders of the House of the People and the mandate of the Federal Parliament.”
Salad, who is also a member of the Finance and Budget Committee stated that members did not get any chance to respond to Finance Minister’s defence noting the Standing Orders dictated that the Speaker must take into account all comments by giving MPs chance to respond to a minister’s presentation. “After the Finance Minister and Deputy of the Central Bank completed their presentations, the deputy Speaker denied MPs a chance to make any contributions. He also read from a pre-written document, which the House had nothing to do with.” Noting that House has the mandate to audit and oversee public expenditure in all public bodies, Salad said it was unfortunate the deputy Speaker violated the laws of the House.
Somaliland To Host An Investment Forum In Nairobi On Friday
28 November – Source: Somaliland Standard – 342 Words
Somaliland government, through its Liaison office in Nairobi, will this week on Friday hold a major investment conference in the Kenyan capital to woo investors to the Horn of Africa nation. Somaliland is targeting top Kenyan and East African investors to Hargeisa and Berbera, the two big cities in the country, which the government says are ripe for foreign investment.
The conference is also aimed at pushing for the Somaliland agenda for international recognition. Top leaders from the Kenyan and Somaliland governments will grace the day-long investment forum, which will be used to showcase the investment opportunities available in Somaliland. The Somaliland Liaison office in Nairobi is also working closely with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance to woo Kenyan investors to Somaliland.
This will be the biggest investment forum to be staged by the Somaliland government in Africa. A similar forum has previously been held in London. “We want to use the forum to open up Somaliland to Kenyan and East African investors,” Bashe Omar, the Somaliland envoy to Kenya said. “There are so many areas we can work together with Kenya and East African countries. We are looking to have Kenya export its commodities to Somaliland as we also exports our livestock to Kenya,” he added.
“The cooperation between Kenya and Somaliland will see trade between the two countries grow. We will also work on improving security in the region and empower the hundreds of thousands of youth some of who are looking for opportunities to invest or further their education,” observed Bashe.
Somaliland is also seeking to have direct flights between Nairobi and Hargeisa which according to Bashe will increase trade and interaction between citizens of the two countries. Kenya Airways has already shown its willingness to fly to the Somaliland capital. Kenya and Somaliland are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will open up trade between the Berbera Port (Somaliland) and the Port of Mombasa. Over 18,000 Kenyans live and work in Somaliland with almost a similar number of Somalilanders living and doing business in Kenya.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Commander of United States Africa Command Visits Somalia
28 November – Source: United States Africa Command – 468 Words
U.S. Marine Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), met with senior government officials during a visit to Somalia on Nov. 27, 2018. During the visit, Waldhauser met with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as President Farmaajo, and key Somali defense officials.
“AFRICOM and the U.S. government support the Federal Government of Somalia, the people of Somalia, and the African Union and its mission to Somalia in their efforts to achieve sustained progress in governance, development and security,” said Waldhauser.
AFRICOM, in close collaboration with the U.S. Mission to Somalia and the U.S. Agency for International Development, provide support to President Farmaajo and his administration across the “3 Ds”: development, diplomacy and defense. Under this strategic framework, the U.S. takes a whole-of-government approach to addressing security issues and broader challenges alongside Somalis, because the solutions in Somalia require efforts beyond just the military.
“I’m proud of the strong relationship we have established with President Farmaajo and his government,” said Waldhauser. “President Farmaajo and his administration have made measurable progress and it’s clear they are dedicated to reaching the goal of a safe, stable and prosperous Somalia.”
Soma Media Members Discuss Media Role In Social Transformation
28 November – Source: KMAUpdates – 570 Words
The International Media Support and Fojo Media Institute have organized a meeting that focused on how the Somali media can play a socially transformative role in the country. In attendance were members of the Somali Media Association (SOMA), members from media houses, and members of social media teams, Member of Parliaments and civil society organizations.
The main participants included directors and members from the various media stations, NUSOJ, SOSCENSA, and the Faculty of Journalism of the Somali National University in the region. The one day meeting aimed to grant a platform for discussing inspiring and fundamental roles that the Somali media plays in engaging citizens in the ongoing process of the country’s economic, social, cultural, religious and political developments.
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted and thanked the crucial role that Somali Women Journalists have contributed in breaking the perceived gender barriers within their communities and also the role they play in inspiring the younger generation of women. In her welcome remarks, Manja Kamwi, Program Director, IMS/FOJO Media Program pointed out that the media has the potential role in building democracy and also sustaining it.
The meeting also applauded major organizations that have worked hard to ensure that Journalists or Media personal work in a safe and protected environment which has helped Journalist to dually produce quality, educative and professional content. This content, they said, has helped the public to engage in the activities happening within their communities and the country at large.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee and Communication Khalid Maow Abdulkadir who officiated the meeting applauded FOJO for organizing the meeting, and highlighted that despite the changing roles of media in society, they are still many challenges that they face. Abdulkadir called on media houses and the government to team up because it is the media that helps to distribute information, its educative, entertaining, and creates community awareness.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Since September 2017, al-Shabab has ordered communities to provide hundreds of children as young as eight to fight for them, or risk retaliation. In recent months, hundreds of unaccompanied children have fled their homes to escape forced recruitment, according to Human Rights Watch.”
Daughters Of Al-Shabaab
28 November – Source: Al-Jazeera – 628 Words
Youth unemployment has been described as a ticking time bomb in Kenya, a nation where three quarters of the population are younger than 30. Due to poverty and hopelessness, thousands of young Kenyans have been recruited by Somalia’s armed group al-Shabab in the last decade. Most vulnerable are women, as they face the highest unemployment rates.
Female recruits are especially appealing for al-Shabab because they’re less likely to draw suspicion. “They [women] are now being used to gather intelligence, to collect information, they’re being used as spies,” says Robert “Rowbow” Ochola, a radio DJ and activist who works to rehabilitate former fighters.
He believes that the lack of opportunities and hopelessness is one of the main reasons why young Kenyans decide to join al-Shabab. “If I had a job like I do now and was able to live and put food on the table, [to] meet my basic needs, I wouldn’t have considered doing what I did [joining al-Shabab],” says Fatuma, a former al-Shabab fighter who now works as a hairdresser, a motorcycle taxi driver and a community social worker. Fatuma was one of the first Kenyan fighters to join al-Shabab when the group was first formed in 2006.
“I was only 17 when I met him [my husband]. I knew he wanted to marry me and [he said] that he would take me back to school … After I found out he was an al-Shabab fighter, I realised my life had been ruined. I knew he’d lied to me … but I had nowhere to go, so I decided to stay with him,” says Fatuma. “I stayed for three years. At least there I would eat and they would provide for me.”
After her husband had disappeared fighting in Somalia, Fatuma managed to escape and returned home to Kenya. Returnees from Somalia not only face retaliation from al-Shabab; the hard security approach adopted by the Kenyan government has alienated former fighters who’ve accused the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) of harassment and extrajudicial killings.
While in recent years, more women have played an active role in spreading al-Shabab’s ideology in Kenya, they have also been at the forefront of the Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) initiatives. “When someone comes back they should also get a second chance and be rehabilitated,” says Hidaya Said, a P/CVE activist. “Because since the police started killing them, abducting them and wiping them out, this problem has gotten even worse.”
TOP TWEETS
@radiogarowe: The Council of Inter-State Cooperation [CIC] consisting #Jubbaland, #Puntland & #Galmudug states welcome #Senate efforts to solve the political crisis.
@hans_faber: Reconnecting w partners in Hargeisa, Somaliland this week: Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Interior, and w Chairman of National Displacement & Refugee Agency. Also discussed w @IOM_Somalia running Assisted Voluntary Return programs and capacity building. #shakinghands.
@Goobjoognews: FINANCE COMMITTEE member Mahad Salad (MP) accuses deputy speaker Mahad Awad of violation of Standing Orders & Constitution during Budget report debate Saturday by suppressing debate and dismissing the budget report.
@EvidenceWeek1: @EvidenceWeek1 is finally here in Mogadishu. Panel discussions & knowledge fair on Innovative Solutions for Somalia will be the centre of the event’s timeline.#EvidenceWeek #somalivoices #SGMogadishu.
@Halbeeg_News: President Farmajo holds meeting with Commander of United States Africa Commandhttps://en.halbeeg.com/2018/
@taakulosom: Another pleasant day @evidenceweek engaging local partners to exchange and identify gaps and opportunities to inform re-integration planning and programming for displacement affected communities @drcEA_GL @DRC_dk@ReDSS_HoA @WorldVisionEU @DanishMFA
@DalsanFM: AU Peace And Security Council Delegates Hold Talks With South West Leaders In Baidoahttps://www.radiodalsan.com/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Members of the Senate Mediating Committee addressing the media on the political standoff between the Federal Government Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS).
Photo: @radiogarowe