October 21, 2019 | Daily Monitoring Report

AMISOM Daily Monitoring Report

October 21, 2019 | Daily Monitoring Report.
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Daily Media Monitoring
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President Farmajo Departs For Moscow For Russia-Africa Summit

21 October – Source: Halbeeg- 138 Words

Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo left the country on Monday on his way to Moscow, Russia. The Head of State is among leaders invited to attend the Russia-Africa economic forum, which is scheduled in the resort city of Sochi from 23 October. The Forum will be attended by African Heads of State, representatives from the Russian government, among other invited officials. During his visit, the Somali President is also scheduled to hold sideline meetings with government officials and leaders to discuss mutual interest and cooperation.

According to the organisers, the forum is expected to strategically step towards creating favourable conditions for the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and Africa by diversifying the forms and areas of Russian-African cooperation. A significant set of trade, economic, and investment agreements are expected to be signed following the conclusion of the forum.

Key Headlines

  • President Farmajo Departs For Moscow For Russia-Africa Summit (Halbeeg)
  • Prominent Kismayo Elder Gunned Down In A Spate Of Killings Targeting Elders (Hiiraan Online)
  • Mogadishu District Official Returns To Work Three Months After Al-Shabaab Suicide Attack (Halbeeg)
  • Yarisow’s Ex-Media Officer Arrested Over Late Mayor’s Facebook (Radio Dalsan)
  • Somalia Launches Unified Licensing Framework For ICT (SONNA)
  • President Farmajo Inaugurates National Heroes Statues In Mogadishu (Halbeeg)
  • Somali And US Officials Discuss Progress Made (Halbeeg)
  • Somalia Aims To Reduce Poverty Pump Up Infrastructure After Debt Erased (Reuters)
  • S. Africa: Refugees Keep Up Protests For Resettlement (Anadolu Agency)
  • Kenya National Theatre Hosts Annual Somali Heritage Festival (Daily Nation)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Prominent Kismayo Elder Gunned Down In A Spate Of Killings Targeting Elders

21 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 146 Words

A prominent elder was killed Sunday evening in Kismayo in what is becoming a spate of killings targeting elders in various parts of the country. The elder named Said Abdullahi is reported to have been shot dead by armed assailants Sunday evening. The assailants later fled the scene. The circumstances surrounding Abdullahi’s killing remain unknown but it adds to similar ones in the recent past. Jubaland State spokesman, Abdinur Ibrahim Hussein, confirmed the death of the elder noting investigations were already on to track down the killers. Another elder identified as Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim was gunned down last week in a similar manner in Afgoye in the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu. In the build-up to the parliamentary and presidential elections in Jubaland in August, a prominent elder named Sultan Rashid Duure Omar was shot dead as he left a mosque in Kismayo. The murders remain unresolved.


Mogadishu District Official Returns To Work Three Months After Al-Shabaab Suicide Attack

21 October – Source: Halbeeg- 214 Words

Mogadishu Municipality official, Zainab Habsey has returned in the country three months after the Banadir Region Administration attack. The District Commissioner for the Warta-Nabada District was among dozens of officials wounded when Al-Shabaab female suicide bomber detonated her explosives during security meeting in the regional headquarters on 24 July. Mrs. Habsey was airlifted to Turkey for specialized treatment. She thanked friends and family for the warm welcome during an event organised for her reception while vowing to continue serving her people. “The terror might have inflicted pain on us, but it never killed my spirit to return home to rebuild our nation and serve my fellow citizens. More than seven Banadir regional officials including the late Mayor of Mogadishu and the Governor of Banadir region, Abdirahman Omar Osman Yarissow were killed in the attack. Several people were arrested in connection to the attack by the Somali security agencies. Armed group Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility for the attack.


Yariisow’s Ex Media Officer Arrested Over Late Mayor’s Facebook

20 October – Source: Radio Dalsan – 102 Words

Former Media Officer for the late Mogadishu Mayor Abdirahman Omar is under police custody. Abdinur is being held at the CID Headquarters. Dalsan Media has learnt that Ahmed Nur was arrested on Friday for allegedly operating the late Mayor’s Facebook account. The arrest followed reports that the late Mayor’s account had been seen to be active several times after his death. Dalsan has also learnt that the late Mayor’s family had lodged an official complaint on the matter. Abdinur’s family, however, says the former media official had handed over the Mayor’s laptop and social media account details to Yarisow’s son Mohamed Abdirahman.


Somalia Launches Unified Licensing Framework For ICT

20 October – Source: SONNA – 287 Words

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has today officially launched a consultation process for Somalia’s first licensing regime for the Information Communications and Technologies (ICT) sector. The meeting was attended by local stakeholders including telecom operators, ISPs, domain registrars, broadcasters, and relevant government institutions. The draft Unified Licensing Framework (ULF) would allow the provision of multiple services through the introduction of service and technology-neutral licenses that would promote innovation and consumer choice. In addition to categorization, the regime also comes with terms and conditions that the relevant licensees are required to comply with. In his opening remarks, NCA’s General Manager, Abdi Sheik Ahmed, said ULF is a product of year-long discussions and benchmarking with several countries in Africa and Asia. He said “We wanted to start from where the global trend is now. Therefore, our ULF does not only take local context into consideration but also has a forward-looking vision to encourage our companies to compete globally.” The participants applauded the salient features of the new regime and may bring an end to uncertainties in one of the most developed sectors of our economy as lack of formal licensing system created chaos in the sector and hindered further investment into the sector.

Somalia did not have an official licensing regime since the state-run telecom operator ceased its operations in 1991. The draft Licensing Framework is the latest interventions to regulate the sector as part of its economic reform agenda of the Economic Development Pillar of the current government. Other regulations developed include numbering and interconnection, which will soon be implemented. As NCA’s transparent consultation process, the draft ULF and its accompanying documents are posted on NCA website and stakeholders have until December 5th to comment on them.


President Farmajo Inaugurates National Heroes Statues In Mogadishu

19 October – Source: Halbeeg- 214 Words

Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Farmajo’ has launched the statues of Somali freedom fighters in the capital, Mogadishu on Friday. The Head of State, who was accompanied by senior government officials including the Governor of Banadir Region and the Mayor of Mogadishu, Omar Mohamed Mohamud Filish, inaugurated Hawa Tako, Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan, Ahmed Gurey and Dhaqar Tur monuments along Maka Al-Mukarama road. The President said it is a proud moment for him and his government in taking a leading role in the restoration of the Somali national heroes statues after an absence of close to three decades. “I was proud to lead our nation today in restoring our historic monuments of Sayidka, Dhagah-tur, Hawo-Tako, Ahmed Gurey and SYL,” he said. “These figures are the pride of all of our Somali generations. Safeguarding our history reminds us of our historic journey and inspires our future,” he added

The Head of State urged fellow citizens in the country to unite by the principles of the national heroes and shun tribalism. The president also stressed the significance of the Is-Xilqaan Initiative which paved the way for the rehabilitation of key national structures such as the statues, the national theatre, national library, national archive and the Mogadishu sports stadium which will be reopened before the end of the year.


Somali And US Officials Discuss Progress Made

19 October – Source: Halbeeg – 177 Words

Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, held discussions with Assistant Secretary of U.S Department, State Bureau for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, in Washington DC. The two discussed ways to strengthen their partnership and enhance the progress made. Assistant Secretary U.S Department, State Bureau for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support ongoing government-spearheaded reforms in various sectors. “Somalia is making impressive progress towards debt relief and security sector reform,” he said.

Somali Premier and Assistant Secretary U.S Department, State Bureau for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy also discussed preparations on upcoming elections in the country next year. “We also discussed the importance of advancing federalism and preparing for elections next year.” On his part, Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Khaire said the United States is a key ally to his administration and close cooperation between two states is very significant in the quest for national reforms. “US is a key ally in our quest to enhance our broad based national reforms, reaffirmed our commitment to our partnerships,” Somali PM said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia Aims To Reduce Poverty, Pump Up Infrastructure After Debt Erased

20 October – Source: Reuters – 423 Words

Somalia will press ahead with poverty reduction efforts and a major regional ports and corridors initiative if international creditors forgive the country’s $5 billion debt this February, as expected, the country’s finance minister said on Sunday. Finance Minister Abdirahman Duale Beileh said he was heartened by progress made during discussions with officials from the United States, Somalia’s biggest creditor, Britain, and others during the IMF/World Bank annual meetings this past week. “Things are looking up … Everybody was positive,” Beileh told Reuters in an interview. He said the U.S. and other officials were pleased with Somalia’s strong performance in hitting key benchmarks in a program to work toward debt forgiveness.  International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Saturday pledged the IMF’s full support for Somalia’s push for debt relief in the “near future.” The African nation has about $4.7 billion in external debt, which the IMF has declared to be unsustainable. The Fund is analyzing the exact grants needed from members to address Somalia’s debt arrears ahead of a board meeting in mid-November, Beileh said. Britain, the European Union and Qatar had offered to cover about $150 million of the roughly $330 million that Somalia owes the IMF, he said. The U.S. Treasury, which is owed $1 billion by Somalia, had played a role in encouraging support from other IMF members and was in talks with Congress about steps needed to erase the big bilateral debt pile. “They were very sceptical when our government started, but now they are saying Somalia has travelled enough,” he said.

Once it obtains debt relief, Somalia is negotiating to receive grants worth about $300 million per year for the next three years, Beileh said That will allow it to start spending on projects to reduce poverty by improving education and healthcare, shoring up water and electricity supply and investing in other critical infrastructure projects, he said. After 30 years with little international support, Somalia has needs “on every corner,” he said. “The country is in bad shape, and that is an understatement. You name it, we need it.” Beileh said Somalia was also working with neighbours Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti on a five-year, $15 billion project to establish ports and transportation corridors. Backed by the EU, the African Development Bank and the World Bank, the project will help boost trade in the region, he said. “Somalia is very committed to doing its part. I think we really have turned the corner. And when people are committed, they will do miracles,” he said.


S. Africa: Refugees Keep Up Protests For Resettlement

20 October – Soure: Anadolu Agency – 456 Words

Protests by refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa continued for a second week on Sunday, with demonstrators demanding the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) relocate them to another country. Following a series of recent anti-immigrant attacks that claimed 12 lives, protestors camped outside the UNHCR offices in Cape Town and the capital Pretoria said they did not feel safe in the country. “All we are asking for is protection by the UNHCR by sending us to another country where we shall be safe,” a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who only identified himself as Pierre, told Anadolu Agency in Pretoria. Last month, angry mobs in South Africa looted several migrant-owned shops in parts of Johannesburg and Pretoria, accusing foreigners of committing crimes and occupying jobs meant for locals by accepting low wages. They also accuse migrants of unfair competition practices in the retail business, for which they seek a ban on ownership by foreigners. Protesting refugees also claim that they face difficulty renewing their documents at refugee centers across the country. Others claim they were harassed by officials and forced to pay bribes.  South Africa is home to tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from mostly African countries. As the continent’s most industrialized country, it has also attracted migrants seeking better economic prospects in the country faced with high unemployment and crime.  “Protest leaders have been lying to refugees and asylum seekers that they will be resettled to other countries overseas that’s why they are protesting, ” Patrick Matenga, an activist working with Unifam, an organization helping refugees, told Anadolu Agency. “I’m discouraging my community members from engaging in the protests seeking resettlement, but instead encouraging them to integrate with South Africans,” Abdulqadir Mohamed of the Somali Association in South Africa told Anadolu Agency via telephone from Cape Town on Saturday. He said refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa were not confined to camps, as they were in most countries. “They have freedom of movement,” he said……

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE  

Why is it worth attending? Because of the general feeling you get from experiencing genuine Somali culture through exhibitions highlighting traditional Somali artefacts and clothing, Somali foods, music, poetry, live arts, panel discussions touching on various important topics and critical conversations on the issues that concern the community at large; and if you are an art and cultural enthusiast, you are bound to love it.

Kenya National Theatre Hosts Annual Somali Heritage Festival

19 October – Source: Daily Nation – 943 Words

In the wake of the Nairobi International Book Fair and the Macondo Literary Festival comes the annual Somali Heritage Week, organised by the Awjaama Omar Cultural, Research and Reading Centre. This festival brings together the Kenyan Somali community to celebrate their culture, not as a separate group but as part of the collective Kenyan heritage, and to share with other Kenyans what makes them who they are. This year’s festival started on Friday at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi and will end Sunday. Entry is free. Among the events scheduled for the three days are an exhibition and a mural project; a photography exhibition; poetry sessions; a book fair; crafts sales; interactive storytelling, with performances by Zamaleo and Awjama Storytellers; screening of a film and performance of a play; and a series of panel discussions on various topics. The panels include local and international speakers from academia, authors, journalists, the corporate world, civil society, politicians and artists. Some of the subjects of discussion are: What is the role of traditional leadership in the modern world?; Somali corporate boardrooms: What is the representation of women and youth?; What are the challenges and opportunities?; and the role of youth in sociopolitical change and community development. The Saturday Nation’s Tom Odhiambo spoke to Hafsa Aden, a programme officer at the Awjaama Omar Cultural, Research and Reading Centre, about the festival.

Tom Odhiambo: Explain to the reader and potential attendee what the Annual Somali Heritage Week is all about.

Hafsa Aden: Somali Heritage Week is a cultural festival meant to shed light on the positive aspects of the Somali culture and who the Somali people are, unlike the negative image that has long been portrayed about the community. Why is it worth attending? Because of the general feeling you get from experiencing genuine Somali culture through exhibitions highlighting traditional Somali artefacts and clothing, Somali foods, music, poetry, live arts, panel discussions touching on various important topics and critical conversations on the issues that concern the community at large; and if you are an art and cultural enthusiast, you are bound to love it…….

Top tweets

@VillaCommsDirec: Departing for #RussiaAfricaSummit to continue the uttermost privilege of serving #Somalia. Yes – we have been a force to reckon with at the global stage and seeing us return to that level makes us all proud. Our target remains more partnership, more prosperity and more progress.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHYcB_rXUAEZSPR?format=jpg&name=medium

@HarunMaruf: 50 years ago on October 21, at 3:00am (Mogadishu time now), late military ruler Mohamed Siyad Barre came to power in a coup that ended a nine-year civilian rule. Barre was ousted by rebel groups on January 26, 1991. He died in exile in Nigeria on January 2, 1995. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHXER_LXYAIklA9?format=jpg&name=small

@AbubakarYasiin: High-level conference for the safety of Somali journalists held in #Mogadishu the meeting regards on the safety of journalists in #somalia & presented suggestions from the committee on safety of Somali journalists @MOISOMALIA organised the conference private media attended.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHY2ez5WwAAW4cO?format=jpg&name=small

@joaoscarpelini: #Opportunity for Somali nationals w/ disabilities (#PwD). Are you interested in learning more about call centers, e-marketing & IT essentials? Apply for a 2 week scholarship in #Egypt: http://bit.ly/SoICTPwDs Deadline Nov 1st! #Somalia #inno4dev #AcceleratorLabs #ICT4PWDs

@UNFPA_SOMALIA: Today we attended an information sharing meeting between government institutions & survivors of Gender Based Violence in #Puntland. Responding to violence against women including eliminating harmful practices such as #FGM & child marriage is our strategic priority #ICPD25 #SDGs

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHVXLXQX4AEvD7K?format=jpg&name=small

@HarunMaruf: Zainab Haabsey, Commissioner of Wardhigley district returns to Mogadishu after almost 3 months treatment abroad following the July 24 attack which killed Mogadishu officials including late Mayor Abdirahman Yarisow. “My appearance may have changed but my heart hasn’t,” she said.

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Image of the day

Image of the day

National Independent Electoral Commission held a workshop encouraging women to participate in the political process.

PHOTO: Somali Ministry of Information

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The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of AMISOM, and neither does their inclusion in the bulletin/website constitute an endorsement by AMISOM.