November 8, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Public-Private Partnership Key To Sustainable Energy In Somalia- Forum
07 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 314 Words
A dedicated public-private partnership backed by effective policies and regulatory framework is key to achieving sustainable energy goals in Somalia, stakeholders attending an energy forum in Mogadishu Monday said.The stakeholders, among them Somali government ministers, investors and the UN said sustainable energy was instrumental in achieving meaningful progress and stability in Somalia but its realization hinged on a strong partnership not only between the private and public sectors but also with international community. The participants lauded the role played by the private sector in filling the gap left by absence of functioning government institutions especially during the war period noting the experience and expertise of the private sector should be tapped into to build viable investments in the energy sector.
Energy Minister Salim Ibrow said the private sector’s role cannot be gainsaid adding the government was ready to create the favorable environment and partnership to spur further growth. “I congratulate private companies that stood in taking care of the energy needs of the public in the country but you also need the government to assist you in the field. The private sector needs to come together so that the government can approach you as one,” said Ibrow.
UN Special Representative to Somalia and head of UNSOM, Michael Keating echoed the Minister’s remarks calling for enhanced collaboration with the support of the international community. “Despite so many years of conflict and lack of strong institutions the private sector in this country works,” Michael Keating said. “The question is, how can we benefit from your entrepreneurship, how can you benefit from the commitment of the government to move forward in this area and how can both of you benefit from the willingness and eagerness of the international community to facilitate change to achieve lift-off.” Keating called on the stakeholders to leverage on the triangular partnerships to develop a successful model in rebuilding the energy sector.
Key Headlines
- Public-Private Partnership Key To Sustainable Energy In Somalia- Forum (Goobjoog News)Somali Ministry For Petroleum Distances Itself From Oil & Gas Summit Organised By UK-based NGO (Somali Update)
- UK Provides Shelter Kits For 140000 Vulnerable Somalis Displaced By Drought (Mareeg)
- Anti-terror Police Arrest Two Tanzanians Suspected To Be Al-Shabaab Recruits (The Standard)
- AMISOM Says 1000 Troops to Leave Somalia (VOA)
- Somaliland Election: Will The Self-declared State Show East Africa How It’s Done? (African Arguments)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Ministry For Petroleum Distances Itself From Oil & Gas Summit Organised By UK-based NGO
07 November – Source: Somali Update – 214 Words
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry has distanced itself from the upcoming Somalia Oil, Gas & Mining Summit which International Research Networks (IRN) says is set to take place March 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. IRN which is UK-based organization said earlier in a statement that it is going to conduct a summit endorsed by Somali government which will run for two days in Nairobi.
In a letter written to IRN chairman Ben Hillary, the Ministry has distanced itself from involving and collaborating with the the organization of the conference. “I want to inform you that the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has neither endorsed nor involved in any discussion of the said summit,” reads the letter addressed to Ben Hillary, the chairman of IRN.
Somali Minister for Petroleum, Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed said he was surprised to learn that Somali government has been mentioned in IRN statement which said the government endorsed the conference “It has surprisingly come to my intention that International Research Networks is organizing a summit in Nairobi, called Oil, Gas & Mining Summit in March 2018,” said Ahmed. The minister urged IRN to call off the Summit which he said the Ministry is in no way party to it. Therefore, I strongly urge International Research Networks and its organizers to officially withdraw the announcement of the Summit with immediate effect.
UK Provides Shelter Kits For 140,000 Vulnerable Somalis Displaced By Drought
07 November – Source: Mareeg – 267 Words
Emergency shelter kits, funded by the UK Government, have started to arrive at ports in Somalia. According to UK embassy in Mogadishu, the 20,000 kits will provide shelter for 140,000 drought displaced Somalis across various regions in the country. In addition to protecting families living in harsh conditions, they will provide a level of security and protection for some of Somalia’s most vulnerable people.
The UK government has provided over US$1 million to supply these kits, responding quickly to an increase in the number of displaced Somalis. This allocation alone will provide support to almost a seventh of those displaced as a result of the current drought. The kits will be delivered to families in the coming weeks, in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Following the arrival of the first batch of kits into Somalia, Head of DFID Somalia, Phil Evans, said:”Drought related displacements continue at an alarming rate, posing risks to some of Somalia’s most vulnerable families. It is critical that we address the issue of shelter as a matter of urgency. That is why I’m pleased that we have been able to provide this extra help.”
The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains critical – with over 943,000 people displaced since November 2016. This number continues to rise. The UK has been leading the way in the drought response. Early action has helped avert a famine so far. To date, the UK has committed over US$250 million in emergency relief and supplies. The provision of shelter kits is the next step in UK support to Somalia’s most vulnerable.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Anti-terror Police Arrest Two Tanzanians Suspected To Be Al-Shabaab Recruits
07 November – Source: The Standard – 187 Words
Detectives from Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) have arrested two Tanzanians on suspicion that they were travelling to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab. Isiolo County Police Commander Charles Ontita Tuesday said the foreigners were arrested by the detectives along the Isiolo-Moyale road near at the junction leading to Garba-Tula. ‘‘The officers on patrol stopped the bus heading to Moyale from Nairobi and found the two foreigners who did not have valid travel documents,’’ said Mr Ontita.
Omar Mwalimu Kasambe alias Juma Abbas Zuberi (28) and Ali Juma Kaondo (17) told the detectives that they were travelling to Moyale to take up jobs of herdsmen they were offered there. Unconvinced, the cops searched their mobile phones and found several contacts with Somalia cell phone numbers. ‘‘They told the police officers that the Somalia numbers are for people they communicated with regarding the job offer,’’ said the officer. Ontita said the Tanzanians were arrested and taken to Isiolo police station. They are suspected to be heading to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab terror group. The officer said investigation that will also involve ATPU detectives from Nairobi and other State agencies had started.
AMISOM Says 1,000 Troops to Leave Somalia
07 November – Source: VOA News – 559 Words
African Union peacekeeping troops will start withdrawing from Somalia next month, says the head of the AU mission in the country. Francisco Madeira told a news conference in Mogadishu that 1,000 soldiers from the five troop-contributing countries — Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti — will depart. “As a result of this, troop movements have started in different parts of the country and will continue for the coming weeks,” Madeira said Tuesday. “This is a process of realignment to effect the reduction in numbers and also begin the handover process of national security responsibilities to the Somali national security forces.”
Members of the AU mission, known as AMISOM, have warned for over a year they may pull their troops from Somalia. AMISOM has been helping Somali government’s battle militant group al-Shabab since 2007. Madeira said the withdrawal will be conducted with caution to ensure that the security of the Somali people is not comprised. “Our drawdown and transition must be gradual, conditions-based, responsible and done in a manner that does not compromise the safety and security of the Somali people,” he said.
He said, “We’ll exit this place when the SNA [Somali National Army] is ready to take over, when the SNA feel that we can now leave.” The announcement to reduce troops comes a day after AMISOM announced an operation to flush out al-Shabab militants from the Lower Shabelle region and secure main supply routes in the area. Paul Williams, an associate professor at George Washington University who is writing a book about AMISOM, says the troop reduction was not unexpected. “The plan was always to reduce by 1,000 troops and add an additional 500 police by December 31st, 2017. Then there would be additional reductions and potentially reconfigurations by October 2018,” he said.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“When compared to the ongoing election fiasco in Kenya and the non-election which took place in Somalia – not to mention the situation in the likes of Ethiopia, Eritrea and the two Sudans – Somaliland can use this poll to further leverage its position as a democratic outpost in an ever-volatile neighbourhood.”
Somaliland Election: Will The Self-declared State Show East Africa How It’s Done?
06 November – Source: African Arguments – 1191 Words
On 13 November, Somaliland will embark on its third presidential elections since it unilaterally declared independence in 1991. With the incumbent set to step down, voters at 1,600 polling stations across the autonomous region of Somalia will choose a new president. Despite not being a recognised independent state, Somaliland is considered to be one of East Africa’s best-functioning and most stable democracies. The election, part funded by the European Union and UK, will be overseen by international observers and may be the first in the world to employ iris-based biometric voter registration.
Somaliland also has a relatively mature political culture. This was exemplified on 30th September when outgoing President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Silanyo” issued a decree banning government officials from utilising state resources for election campaigning and ordering state media to give fair and equal coverage to all contesting parties.
Another example of Somaliland’s political maturity was seen on 19th October when the three presidential candidates engaged in a town hall-style debate. The event, which was live-streamed from the capital Hargeisa, allowed the media and public to scrutinise each of the nominees’ policies. This state of affairs contrasts sharply with Somalia’s recent elections, which concluded this February. That fraught process faced repeated delays amidst political infighting and insecurity; relied on abundant international funding and support to take place; and involved a highly limited franchise in which just 14,025 people selected the president.
Next week, Somaliland will be hoping to show the region how things can be done “All international eyes are on Somaliland’s election,” says Laura Hammond, Reader of Development Studies at SOAS University of London and long-time analyst of Somaliland affairs. “If it comes off smoothly…then Somaliland will (not for the first time, it must be said) have demonstrated its political maturity and ability to pull off what the Mogadishu-based government of Somalia can still only dream of: a direct election by the people.“The fact that the result is too close to call is already in many ways a sign of healthy democracy in action.”
Somaliland’s election comes at a critical moment for the autonomous region. While the government continues to demand recognition as an independent state, the international community has recently been exerting pressure on Somaliland to join Somalia’s federal state-building exercise. However, Somaliland has so far dismissed these calls and may have been strengthened in its position this year thanks to a $442 million deal with DP World. The UAE-based company agreed to modernise Berbera port in conjunction with Somaliland and its land-locked neighbour, Ethiopia. This development could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in customs revenue for the Somaliland government, making it even more self-sufficient.