November 8, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Influential Somali Regional President Resigns, Pulls Out Of Election Race
07 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 231 Words
The long-serving powerful President of Somalia’s Southwest State, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, has resigned and pulled out of the presidential race, just days before the region holds the much-awaited election slated for November 17. Mr. Aden, who had been in power since 2014, announced his resignation on Wednesday in Baidoa, the regional state’s administrative capital. His resignation follows days of speculations over his resignation after the region’s electoral commissioners, including the chairman, resigned in a surprise move that observers say preceded a political ploy by Mr Aden, who was facing imminent defeat, to delay the elections.
Mr. Aden’s resignation is major sigh of relief to the central government, which had considered him a political threat due to his political influence in the region. According to analysts, Mr Aden’s departure has also dealt a big blow to the regional states, which are opposed to the government, and will make it easier for the government to install its prefered candidate as President.
Mr. Aden, who wielded significant influence in the region’s day-to-day politics was facing tough political challenge in his bid to retain his seat in the upcoming elections. Mr Aden, a former Somali Parliament Speaker, had been involved in the South West politics since re-establishments in 2009 as a Federal Member State of Somalia. Critics have accused of him of ruling with iron fist, prompting demands for a change in political leadership.
Key Headlines
- Influential Somali Regional President Resigns Pulls Out Of Election Race (Hiiraan Online)
- Over 100 Somalis From Libya To Arrive In Mogadishu (Halbeeg News)
- Somali Government And AMISOM Investigating Civilian Deaths In Mogadishu (252politics)
- UN Mission Calls For Consensus On South West State Presidential Elections (UNSOM)
- Ex-Somali Refugee’s U.S. Congress Win Sparks Debate In Former Home Kenya (Reuters)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Over 100 Somalis From Libya To Arrive In Mogadishu
07 November – Source: Halbeeg News – 216 Words
Over 100 Somali returnees from Libya are expected to arrive in the capital city of Mogadishu. According to reliable sources who spoke to Halbeeg News, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is helping 17 Somali migrants to voluntarily return home from Libya.
About 124 Somali migrants, who faced months of confinement in detention centers in the North African country, were expected to arrive in Mogadishu later on Wednesday. For the last four years, Libya has become a major transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East, who are trying to get to Europe to flee from political instability and violence at home and for better economic opportunities as well.
Since 2014, more than 600,000 people have crossed the central Mediterranean to Italy. But the number of illegal migrants housed in Libyan detention centers has risen dramatically this year since armed groups in the western city of Sabratha began preventing boats from departing for Europe. After clashes in Sabratha in September, thousands of migrants held near the coast were transferred to detention centers under the nominal control of the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli. However, Amnesty International said in December 2017 that up to 20,000 people were being held in detention centers and were subject to “torture, forced labor, extortion, and unlawful killings.”
Somali Government And AMISOM Investigating Civilian Deaths In Mogadishu
07 November – Source: 252Politics – 136 Words
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officials have said they will investigate civilian casualties believably caused by the peacekeepers on Tuesday. Four people were killed in Mogadishu following an explosion that rocked the AMISOM troops convoy in the city. A statement from the Ministry of Information said the government was aware of the incident and was following up on investigation to establish the facts behind the killing of innocent civilians.
The statement sent to newsrooms added that the FGS was sorry about the deaths and will share its investigations outcome with relevant AU agencies for necessary action. On their part, AMISOM officials said they would contact families of the deceased to express their sorrow and condole with the bereaved as they wait for the outcome of the investigations launched.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN Mission Calls For Consensus On South West State Presidential Elections
07 November – Source: UNSOM – 291 Words
The events unfolding in the last few days, including the divisions among the stakeholders, ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Somalia’s South West State have the potential to lead to violence, the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has warned.
In a press statement released on Wednesday evening, UNSOM called on all parties and stakeholders to work together to ensure that this Somali-owned electoral process proceeds in accordance with the established rules and avoids any behaviour which may lead to conflict or undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
“With this election being the first in a series to be held around the country – both at the regional level next year and national level in 2020 – there is a real need to set the precedent for credible and peaceful electoral processes,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Haysom. “I note that Somalia’s international partners had expressed similar hopes and concerns in November 2016 during the country’s federal parliamentary elections, when it called on all stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring a positive outcome.”
“I am confident that, in keeping with their tradition, Somali leaders will find a solution, through dialogue, to the issues surrounding this electoral process. An electoral process that is transparent, enjoys broad consensus on the rules governing its conduct, and is free from irregularities can only promote widespread acceptance of the results, and avoid violent confrontations at or after polling,” added Mr. Haysom, who also serves as UNSOM’s head. The regional assembly of South West State is due to hold a presidential election on 17 November. Similar votes will take place in the Federal Member States of Puntland and Jubaland in 2019.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Even as we thank the host governments for their generosity over such a long period of time, I think it is necessary for them to include refugees more in their national plans so that refugees can grow, progress and have opportunities”
Ex-Somali Refugee’s U.S. Congress Win Sparks Debate In Former Home Kenya
07 November – Source: Reuters – 552 Words
The historic win of a former Somali refugee as one of the first Muslim women elected to the U.S. Congress sparked celebration and debate in her one-time home of Kenya on Wednesday, with some criticising the east Africa nation’s treatment of refugees.
Somali-American Ilhan Omar, about 36, won a seat for the Democrats in Minnesota on Tuesday – one of the first two Muslim women ever to sit in the House of Representatives. Rashida Tlaib, 42, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, won for the Democrats in Michigan state. Omar’s story – fleeing war in Somalia to live in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp before moving to the United States at the age of 12 – drew Kenyans to social media hours after her win, with “Ilhan Omar” and “Dadaab” among the top Twitter trends.
“An absolutely remarkable achievement. She is the epitome of sheer grit, tenacity, perseverance & courage. She has braved incredible odds to get here,” said Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations head of delegation in Kenya on Twitter. Seen as a safe haven in a volatile region, Kenya hosts around half a million people fleeing conflict, drought and persecution from countries such as Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Burundi.
More than half of the refugees – over 250,000 people – are from neighbouring Somalia where conflict has raged since 1991 and most live in the remote Dadaab camp in northeastern Kenya: “CONGRATULATIONS from Kenya’s #Dadaab @Refugees camp!” tweeted Somali journalist Moulid Hujale. “Your victory & journey is a SPECIAL ONE for the hundreds of thousands still trapped in ths camp. They are talking about your story. U really INSPIRE them.” Yet while many Kenyans celebrated Omar’s victory – saying it helped dispel negative stereotypes about refugees and gave encouragement to millions forced to flee their homes, others pointed to Kenya’s restrictive refugee policy.
“I’m so happy for Ilhan Omar. I wish that Kenya, where she lived for so many years, could have given her the opportunities she clearly deserved. We need to do better by our refugees,” said political analyst Nanjala Nyabola on Twitter. Refugees must live in one of the country’s two northern camps, Kakuma or Dadaab, which offer basic accommodation, clean water, some food rations and access to healthcare and education.