October 30, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Somali Cabinet Approves $340m Budget For 2019
29 October – Source: Halbeeg News – 203 Words
The cabinet of the federal government of Somalia on Monday approved a $340 million budget for 2019. Finance minister Abdirahman Duale Baileh told a cabinet meeting that his ministry is expected to generate a huge amount for the budget from local revenues. Mr. Beileh said the internal revenue increased by $30 million — thanks to the government’s Domestic Revenue and Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project. Part of the budget will come from foreign donors.
“The ministry of finance has strived to make as much revenue as possible,” Mr. Beileh told fellow ministers at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire: “The budget has hits an all time high of $340 million owing to financial reforms and economic growth. The ministry will review the budget and adjust accordingly to increase disbursements to the ministries.”
The minister pledged transparency in the process, saying, “the more transparent our budget is, the better Somalia’s chances of getting debt relief from the international donors (will be).” The new budget is $65m more than the 2017/2018 budget which was $274 million. Somalia’s economy was forecast to grow by an average of between 3.5 and 4.5 percent annually in 2019-2022, according to the World Bank.
Key Headlines
- Somali Cabinet Approves $340m Budget For 2019 (Halbeeg News)
- Governance: Somalia Ranks Last In Africa But Records Progress-Report (Goobjoog News)
- First Dairy Plant In Mogadishu Introduces Somalis To Packaged Milk (Radio Ergo)
- Somaliland Challenges Djibouti’s Oil Conduit Plans (Africa News Agency)
- Police Hunt For Killers Of Somali Reporter (The East African)
- Maternal Mortality In Somalia: What ARC Is Doing To Combat This Crisis? (Reliefweb)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Governance: Somalia Ranks Last In Africa But Records Progress-Report
29 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 320 Words
Despite ranking last in overall governance in Africa in 2017, Somalia has registered progress scoring positively in all indicators, a new report has said. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance 2018 report notes that Somalia rose from an index of 11.6 out of the continental average 50.8 in 2016 to 13.6 out of the African average of 49.9 which translated to a +6 difference. The report which is built on four broad indicators namely, human development, safety and rule of law, participation and human rights and sustainable development, indicates that though Somalia ranks least in all these areas, there is positive forward progress.
For example in Human Development which encompasses welfare, education and health, the Horn of Africa country recorded a score of 16.4 with a +8.2 against the continental average of 52.8. In safety and rule of law, Somalia recorded a dismal performance with a score of 12.3 equal to a +3 upward move. The country also recorded the lowest score in public management, business environment, infrastructure and rural sector all covered under Sustainable Economic Opportunity with a score of 7.4 against the African average of 44.8 but this was also an increase of 4.6 points.
In the last indicator, Participation and Human Rights, Somalia was ranked number 53 scoring 18.3 with a positive move of +8.3. This indicator which incorporates citizen participation in governance, rights and gender is the most improved area according to the report released today. Meanwhile the report which is funded by the Sudanese born Mo Ibrahim has warned of very marginal progress in job creation noting African economies were not producing jobs despite economic growth. The report observes that Africa’s working population (ages 15-64) is expected to grow by +27.9 over the next ten years but the job market is not expanding to meet the demands of this growth.
First Dairy Plant In Mogadishu Introduces Somalis To Packaged Milk
29 October – Source: Radio Ergo – 363 Words
Following months of sleepless nights and a huge personal investment, Abdukadir Mohamed Salad, the owner of the first milk processing plant in Mogadishu in 25 years, is now relishing his growing success. Located in southern Mogadishu, the million-dollar Irman Dairy processing plant stands tall after Salad, 40, invested the savings he had made whilst living in exile in the UK. He set up the milk processing plant in March last year to provide an alternative to the various brands of imported milk powder and raw milk produced by local small farmers that were available in Somalia.
During the first few months, the business incurred losses due to low demand. It was producing 250 litres per day, far below its maximum capacity of 10,000 litres per day. The biggest challenges were persuading people to choose milk other than the available imported milk powder and unpasteurized local milk from local farmers. Speaking to Radio Ergo, Salad said the business was now improving. “At the beginning, we were disappointed because people were not using our milk but the number of people who are interested has increased. We started with 250 litres per day due to lack of market but now we process 3,000 to 3,500 litres a day,” he explained.
Irman distributes milk to 230 shops and supermarkets in the city. There are 295 dairy cows in total on the property with 22 workers operating the plant. Irman Dairy sells a 1-litre sachet of milk for one and a half dollars. Salad’s short-term goal is to expand to set up branches across the country to boost sales. Amina Hassan Hassan, a mother living in Mogadishu, has been an ardent consumer of products of Irman Dairy for the last six months. She opted for this milk because it keeps for several days, unlike the raw milk which needs frequent boiling to keep it fresh. “Now I give my children Irman milk. My youngest child has been drinking this milk for the last six months; he is just turning one. Once I buy the milk, I use it for three to four days but if you preserve it well it can last longer,” Amina said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland Challenges Djibouti’s Oil Conduit Plans
29 October – Source: Africa News Agency – 311 Words
Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence from war-ravaged Somalia in 1991, a move not recognised by a single country – has requested that Ethiopia reroute its nascent oil and gas exports via a proposed new pipeline, challenging Djibouti’s long-held plans for a conduit. The move follows a bid by Ethiopia to begin exploiting an estimated 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and test-drilling for oil in its restive east, the Horn Diplomat media house has reported.
Somaliland is attempting to leverage its strategic location near the Red Sea to attract major foreign infrastructure projects as it battles on with its statehood attempts: “Why not send natural gas and crude oil from the Ogaden basin to Somaliland’s coast at Berbera?” Somaliland Minister of Energy and Minerals Jama Mohamoud Igel said in an interview, referring to the region’s main port. Such a pipeline would be more “cost-effective” at only 400 kilometres, rather than the 700 kilometers to Djibouti, he said.
Somaliland’s offer puts it directly in competition with Djibouti, a tiny former French colony that’s taken advantage of its strategic shipping location to host the US and China’s only official permanent military facilities on the continent. The United Arab Emirates already has a military facility in Berbera in Somaliland and a port is currently being built by DP World Ltd which the Dubai state-controlled harbour operator says will help boost trade flows to the UAE. Canadian, Chinese, Norwegian and British companies have expressed interest in exploring three offshore blocks on the approach to the Bab El Mandeb, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. Chinese and British companies are also in talks over two further onshore blocks at Somaliland’s border with Ethiopia.
Police Hunt For Killers Of Somali Reporter
29 October – Source: The East African – 173 Words
Police in Somalia are hunting for the gunmen who shot dead a local journalist, Mr Abdullahi Mohamed Hashi, on the outskirts of Mogadishu late on Saturday. Mr Hashi was working for a local independent broadcaster known as Daaru Sunnah and he was reportedly well known in the Eelasha Biyaha area outside Mogadishu. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the killing.
Mr Hashi’s killing reaffirms that media practitioners in Somalia were still vulnerable to violence. According to Shabelle Radio, an independent media in Mogadishu, Mr Hashi was killed by gunmen riding in a saloon car, who fled the crime scene soon afterwards. Government security agents arrived at the scene after the killers had made their escape.
In the past two decades, tens of Somali journalists and media officials have fallen victims to violence. Many have been killed, others have suffered injuries while more have been forced to flee the country and several media houses forced to close down. Journalists in Somalia often tell of being threatened, arrested and attacked over their work.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Our goal is to find the gaps in healthcare in Somalia and fill them, particularly in the most remote areas”
Maternal Mortality In Somalia: What ARC Is Doing To Combat This Crisis?
29 October – Source: Reliefweb – 397 Words
A recent story published by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) illustrates the maternal mortality crisis in Somalia . 11 women in Tulo Ano, a rural village in Somalia, died of pregnancy-related complications within the first week of October alone. All of the 11 cases were handled by Jamila Garad Ali, 23, one of the few qualified midwives in the area.
“Each of the 11 mothers had arrived after prolonged labour as they tried to manage the births themselves at home with unskilled traditional birth attendants. The warning signs and opportunities to manage the labour effectively were missed, and each mother was in a very bad state before the family brought them to seek professional care,” explained Jamila.
Unfortunately, stories like this are all too common. Women in Somalia have a one in 22 lifetime risk of maternal death making the maternal mortality rates in Somalia amongst the highest in the world. It’s estimated that the maternal mortality ratio is 732 deaths per 100,000 live births. Much of the country has little or no access to medical services and in the most remote villages traditional birth attendants handle all deliveries. Conditions are often unsanitary and birth attendants don’t have the capacity to deal with complications that may arise.
Just as in the case of Tulo Ano, women are often brought to medical facilities when it’s too late, some never make it at all. Moreover, the long-term effects of FGM put women at an added risk as they are prone to a number of obstetric complications including exposure to disease, infection, and a risk of hemorrhaging. The issue is further exacerbated by poverty, instability and a lack of education.
ARC International has been working in the health sector in Somalia since 2011, operating both fixed and mobile health facilities throughout the country. In particular, ARC works in maternal and child health to ensure that women are supported through their pregnancies, have safe deliveries and that their children have access to health services.