October 29, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
UNSG & World Bank President arrive in Mogadishu, pledge support for regional peace & development
29 Oct – Source : Unmissions.org – 585 Words
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, arrived in Mogadishu to pledge support for Somalia’s transition and for efforts to strengthen security and development across the wider Horn of Africa region.
The joint high level visit comes at an important time for Somalia which continues to make significant security gains against the Al-Shabaab insurgency, and is pushing forward essential political reforms with the goal of holding national elections in 2016. The delegation will also include Islamic Development Bank President Ahmad Mohamed Ali and senior representatives of the African Development Bank, the African Union, and the European Union.
“The UN, World Bank Group and indeed the international community as a whole are committed to helping the Somali people. Somalia is on the right track and I am confident that its people will rise to the challenges its country still faces. We are here to tell Somalis that they are not alone and that we will redouble our efforts to help them protect the gains made in recent years,” Ban Ki-moon said.
Somalia faces political, security, development and humanitarian challenges from its over two decades of conflict, but recent advances, including the creation of regional administrations in close cooperation with the Federal Government, are encouraging. Building a more stable Somalia will ensure greater security and economic prosperity across the Horn of Africa.
Somalia’s most vulnerable and marginalised communities, including the displaced, returnees, women and youth need to be included in the process of peacebuilding and statebuilding. Continued political unity will be essential for Somalia to meet its goals for democratic transformation.
“Somalia’s transition is a unique opportunity for the nation and the wider Horn of Africa region to improve the livelihoods of the people by engaging them in productive economic activities,” said Kim. “Political stability and human security are important pre-requisites for reducing extreme poverty and increasing shared prosperity for the Somali people.”
The United Nations and the World Bank, in cooperation with other partners, are committed to accelerate their programmes on the ground to support Somalia’s political, security and development goals, as set out in Somalia’s “New Deal” Compact agreed last year. The peacebuilding process and the scaling up of international assistance will require inclusive and transparent efforts by all.
The high level delegation will meet with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud to discuss the country’s transition and its critical importance to human security and economic prospects in the region. They will also meet with Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari, senior Government officials and representatives of Somalia’s civil society.
The trip marks the Secretary-General’s second visit to Somalia – he previously visited in December 2011 – and the first visit for the World Bank President. The Bank has stepped up its engagement in Somalia in recent years, evidence of the country’s ongoing transformation after a generation of conflict.
Key Headlines
- World Bank to help Puntland Govt pay civil servant salaries (Garowe Online)
- Security forces seize a container of military uniforms and magnetic devices used for explosives (Radio RBC/Radio Muqdisho/Radio Dalsan)
- Afey: IGAD is Sorry About the Disagreement Between the President and the PM ( Radio Dalsan)
- Government forces and Ahlu Suna plan to capture Bardhere district (Radio GoobJoog)
- Turkish delegation in Mogadishu visits former interior ministry headquarters (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Muqdisho)
- Brig Kavuma new Amisom head ( Daily Monitor)
- Abdullah calls for taking fight against piracy to extremist groups on land (Khaleej Times)
- UNSG & World Bank President arrive in Mogadishu pledge support for regional peace & development(unmissions.org)
SOMALI MEDIA
World Bank to help Puntland govt pay civil servant salaries
28 Oct – Source: Garowe Online – 259 Words
Amidst growing frustrations over the unpaid salaries of civil servants and security forces, World Bank has expressed keenness in helping Puntland Government in northern Somalia pay delayed wages, Garowe Online reports.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Puntland’s Minister for Finance Shire Haji Farah in the state capital of Garowe on Tuesday, Winston Cole-Senior Financial Management Specialist at World Bank-unveiled that the international monetary body will provide capacity building assistance and a credit totaling USD 1.5 million with Puntland at the beginning of 2015.
Meanwhile, Puntland Finance Minister Farah noted that discussions between the north eastern state and World Bank officials centred on the capacity building of government employees, realization of new deal pact for Somalia and Puntland Government institutions to meet World Bank pre-conditions. Civil servants and Puntland forces complain about unpaid salaries, with independent sources indicating that the shortfalls in budget remains a mystery considering income generating sources including Bossaso seaport.
United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea disclosed in confidential report that senior officials within Puntland government acknowledged possibly the existence of public sector financial mismanagement.
“Unconfirmed but credible information points to the low morale of the Puntland Security Forces since President Abdiweli’s election in January 2014, with senior security officials claiming financial mismanagement in terms of unpaid salaries,” the UN report alleged. Puntland, located in northern Somalia escaped the country’s bloodiest internal strife, and is held up as a role model when it comes to the loose federalization process.
Security forces seize a container of military uniforms and magnetic devices used for explosives
28 Oct – Source: Radio RBC/Radio Muqdisho/Radio Dalsan – 230 Words
Somalia’s Security forces have on Tuesday seized one container full of new military uniforms, hand knives and magnetic devices used for explosives imported from Mogadishu Port.
This large amount of items were detected during an inspection operation by a group of the police officers operating in the seaport on Tuesday afternoon, according to Colonel Mohamed Eebow, the head of the police unit at Mogadishu Port.
He said the detectives went to the container as part of their routine work to inspect items imported and those exported from the port.
Ministry of National Security Khalif Ahmed Ereg who has visited the port shortly after the police seized the container said the security agency commenced further probe up to identify those responsible of importing these items into the country.
“We can not allow these items which are dangerous to be smuggled into this country. We are going after them and we will bring them to the justice.” the minister said.
The minister added that the magnetic devices found among the contents of the container was a metal item used for improvising sticky bombs (often placed on the underside of cars) which was the source of explosions that killed government officials and civilians in several bombings in the capital. RBC Radio has learnt that the police arrested at least two business men from the port in connection to the container seized on Tuesday.
IGAD is sorry about the disagreement between the President and the PM
28 Oct – Source: Radio Dalsan – 54 Words
The IGAD Envoy to Somalia Mohamed Abdi Afey said IGAD is sorry about the disagreement between the president the prime minister of Somalia.
He called for the two leaders to solve their disagreement in accordance with the constitution. Despite the international criticism, the disagreement of the two leaders was worsening from time to time.
Government forces and Ahlu Suna plan to capture Bardhere district
28 Oct – Source: Radio GoobJoog – 129 Words
Ahlu Suna Wal Jama’a officials in Gedo region stated that they will capture Bardhere district. Mohamed Yusuf Al-Qadhi, among the top officials of Ahlu Suna in Southern Somalia stated that Ahlu Suna militias together with government forces have taken over many areas from Al-shabab.
Al-Qadi reiterated that the forces will not rest until the remaining areas under the control of Al-shabab in the region including Bardhere, the last stronghold of the group will come back to the federal government’s control.
He also underlined that the number of Al-shabab militias in Bardhere are few therefore he added not much resistance expected from the group in the town. Al-shabab has lost the control of many areas in South and Central Somalia since Operation Indian Ocean launched by the joint forces.
Turkish delegation in Mogadishu visits former interior ministry headquarters
28 Oct – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Muqdisho – 112 Words
A delegation from Turkish government which is in Somali capital Mogadishu has visited the former headquarters of interior ministry in Bondere district. The delegation is looking into a possible renovation to help in the federal government of Somalia in the reconstruction process.
Somali Deputy Minister for interior Abdirahman Mohamed has said that they have appealed to the delegation from the Turkey to help renovate the building. Mr. Abdirahman also thanked Turkish government role in his country particularly in the areas of humanitarian assistance to Somali citizens.
Turkish companies are heavily involved in the Somali reconstruction process and their presence has increased since former PM now President Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia in 2011.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Brig Kavuma new Amisom head
29 Oct – Source: Daily Monitor – 405 Words
The UPDF has appointed Brig Sam Kavuma as the new contingent commander to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), replacing Brig Dick Olum.
Brig Kavuma has been the commander of the African Union Regional Task Force in Central African Republic that is hunting for Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony. His new assignment in Somalia starts with a reinforcement of 2,754 fresh troops.
“Brig Sam Kavuma is an experienced commander and we are confident he will appropriately represent our country in Somalia,” the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Katumba Wamala, said.
The troops under Uganda Battle Group XIV is the 17th battle group Uganda is fielding to Somalia since 2007 and are replacing Battle group XII which has been under Amisom for a year and recently captured the last al-Shabaab stronghold of Barawe.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UNSG & World Bank President arrive in Mogadishu, pledge support for regional peace & development
29 Oct – Source : Unmissions.org – 585 Words
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, arrived in Mogadishu to pledge support for Somalia’s transition and for efforts to strengthen security and development across the wider Horn of Africa region.
The joint high level visit comes at an important time for Somalia which continues to make significant security gains against the Al-Shabaab insurgency, and is pushing forward essential political reforms with the goal of holding national elections in 2016. The delegation will also include Islamic Development Bank President Ahmad Mohamed Ali and senior representatives of the African Development Bank, the African Union, and the European Union.
“The UN, World Bank Group and indeed the international community as a whole are committed to helping the Somali people. Somalia is on the right track and I am confident that its people will rise to the challenges its country still faces. We are here to tell Somalis that they are not alone and that we will redouble our efforts to help them protect the gains made in recent years,” Ban Ki-moon said.
The trip marks the Secretary-General’s second visit to Somalia – he previously visited in December 2011 – and the first visit for the World Bank President. The Bank has stepped up its engagement in Somalia in recent years, evidence of the country’s ongoing transformation after a generation of conflict.
Abdullah calls for taking fight against piracy to extremist groups on land
29 Oct – Source: Khaleej Times – 681 Words
Bleak economic prospects and social discontent, fuelled by a wobbly political system, are enabling terrorist groups to spread their influence off the Horn of Africa, in the west of the continent and in the Gulf of Guinea. UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said international naval coalitions have stubbed out piracy at sea and the time has come to “take the fight” to terror groups operating in Somalia.
Somalia struggles to find its feet after decades of civil strife and exported piracy along its coast. Pirate attacks on ships have declined with only two incidents or two reported this year, but troubles on land cannot be wished away.
“In Somalia, root causes of piracy remain in place — a lack of economic opportunities, weak state institutions unable to exert their monopoly on the use of force, and the absence of the rule of law and effective governance,” the foreign minister said in comments ahead of the fourth conference against piracy to be held in Dubai today and tomorrow.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“This will not change the progress and victories of the government. We have been through explosions and events that were more painful than these, and in each of those explosions we lost valuable people…But the work to restore peace and progress in Somalia has never stopped because of explosions, and it will not stop now.”
Al-Shabaab targets civilians in Mogadishu after suffering string of losses
28 Oct – Source: Sabahi Online – 741 Words
Crippled by the Somali National Army and allied forces in the few remaining al-Shabaab-held territories in the country, the group’s fighters have resorted to targeting civilians in small-scale attacks in Mogadishu.
Most recently, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for car bomb attacks outside two cafés in the capital, saying its intended targets were members of Somalia’s intelligence services, the pro-al-Shabaab website Calamada reported October 15th.
“Both explosions claimed the lives of Somali people who were valuable within the society and [the attacks] were not the actions of people with any sense of Somali [patriotism] left,” said Benadir Women’s Association chairwoman Jawahir Barqab. Although Barqab said she was grieved by the attacks, she said al-Shabaab’s tactics indicate its desperation on account of the heavy losses it has suffered.
Frustrated by its inability to face down Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops, al-Shabaab has resumed its attacks against the public, she said, adding that young people, doctors and intellectuals were among the dead. “This shows the debilitation of al-Shabaab,” Barqab told Sabahi. “Since they have once again resorted to targeting civilians, it shows [the impact] of the losses suffered by the extremists.”
“This new financing represents a major new opportunity for the people of the Horn of Africa to make sure they get access to clean water, nutritious food, health care, education, and jobs.”
Report: Supporting regional peace and development in the Horn of Africa
27 Oct – Source: Worldbank.org – 1, 209 Words
To understand the plight of the nearly 2.7 million refugees in the Horn of Africa, you simply have to listen to 21-year-old Sarah’s story. “For as long as I have been alive, I have been a refugee. My Mum came to this camp as a refugee. She gave birth to me as a refugee. I gave birth to my daughter as a refugee.”
Like millions of people across Africa’s Horn region, war, drought and famine have forced Sarah and her family into a refugee camp, which they have called home for more than two decades. Sarah’s home, the Hagadera Camp in Daadab, on Kenya’s northern border with Somalia, houses 350,000 people, many of them from neighboring Somalia. Conditions are poor, unemployment high and food scarce.
A new report from the World Bank Group analyzes the critical factors contributing to regional instability and vulnerability in the Horn of Africa and proposes how countries with help from their international partners, can best address them.
The report describes a new $1.8 billion initiative, which the World Bank will commit over the next 24 months, to boost economic growth and opportunity, reduce poverty, and spur business activity in the eight countries of the Horn region: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
“This new financing represents a major new opportunity for the people of the Horn of Africa to make sure they get access to clean water, nutritious food, health care, education, and jobs,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on the first day of a joint visit with the UN and other partners to Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. “There is greater opportunity now for the Horn of Africa to break free from its cycles of drought, food insecurity, water insecurity, and conflict by building up regional security, generating a peace dividend, especially among young women and men, and spurring more cross-border cooperation.”
Top tweets
@TheVillaSomalia HE the President of #Somalia offers his sincere condolences on the unexpected passing of HE the President of #Zambia , Michael Sata
@AbdirashidMuse SOMALIA: Security forces seize a container of military uniforms and magnetic devices used for explosives | RBC Radio h.raxanreeb.com/2014/10/
@SOPresident #Somalia: The UN Secretary-General H.E. Ban Ki-moon will arrive to Mogadishu today but what he can offer to Somalia? We will update you soon
@samirasawlani Uganda sends 2,700 fresh troops to war-torn Somalia after capturing key port http://on.wsj.com/1rxdtd2 via@WSJ
@ferigom69Somalia: World Bank to help Puntland Govt pay civil servant salaries | @scoopit http://sco.lt/70BDqz #somalia#puntland #piracy
@Abdi_AlSheikh @WorldBank report analyzing regional instability and vulnerability in the Horn of Africa #security#somalia #Kenya http://www.worldbank.org/en/
@arabeeyjr #EU joining UNSG & World Bank President; high level joint engagement in #Mogadishu to build a new #Somalia
@UN_Spokesperson #UNSG arrives in Mogadishu. Somalia with @WorldBank and other high representatives @UNSomalia
@Hamza_Africa BREAKING NEWS: #UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon arrives in #Mogadishu without a bulletproof jacket.#Somalia
@TheVillaSomalia HE the President of #Somalia welcomes UN Secretary General #BanKiMoon and the president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim to #Mogadishu
Image of the day
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon arrives in Mogadishu, Somalia without a bulletproof jacket on Octtober 29, 2014.