October 9, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Over 3 million in need of humanitarian assistance and the numbers are on the rise
09 Oct – Source: Radio RBC – 224 words
Somalia is again facing a serious crisis due to a lethal mix of drought, surging food prices, rising malnutrition, conflict and funding gaps. Over 3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the numbers are on the rise.
With another external shock, fragile gains made since the 2012 famine could be eroded and the country could easily tip back into another devastating emergency.
September food security assessments revealed that over 1 million people are already unable to feed themselves, an increase of 20 per cent from just six months ago. Malnutrition is equally alarming, with an estimated 218,000 children under the age of 5 acutely malnourished – a 7 per cent increase since January.
Overall, 3.2 million Somalis are now in need of life-saving or livelihood assistance. Drought conditions are unfolding in southern, central and north-eastern Somalia. Overall rainfall was recorded at less than half of normal levels during the April-June rainy season. Aid organizations are stepping up response, including through use of air cargo flights to deliver urgent aid supplies to the most affected areas too insecure to reach by road.
However, the humanitarian community is stretched and require rapid injection of additional funding. The humanitarian aid appeal remains woefully underfunded with only a third of requirements received forcing humanitarian partners to focus only on the most critical needs to save lives.
Key Headlines
- UN special envoy to Somalia arrives Kismayo (Markacadey Online)
- AMISOM congratulates Uganda on its 52nd Independence Anniversary (AMISOM)
- Labour ministry: Government cannot hire all the youth in the country (Goobjoog)
- Fighting erupts in Galgaduud (Radio Dalsan)
- Over 3 million in need of humanitarian assistance and the numbers are on the rise (Radio RBC)
- Federal government launches vaccination campaign against polio and measles (Radio Goobjoog)
- UNOPS Executive Director visited Mogadishu (UNSOM)
- Fighting Erupts in Galgaduud (Radio Dalsan)
- AMISOM captures Al shabaab camp at Bula Gaduud and kill 12 militia (Standard Digital)
- London to host Somalia Oil & Gas Summit 2014 (Oilreviewafrica.com)
- Al-Shabaab steals livestock from Middle Jubba residents suffering from drought (Sabahi Online)
- Taking Back Somalia: Analysis (CNN International)
- Askar takes on 40 year incumbent Kahn (Minnesota Daily)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM congratulates Uganda on its 52nd Independence Anniversary
09 Oct – Source: AMISOM- 217 words
The Acting Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Hon. Lydia Wanyoto extends warm wishes and congratulations to the Republic of Uganda, as it celebrates its 52nd Independence Day Anniversary.
The East African country was the first to deploy troops under AMISOM into Somalia in March 2007 and has the largest contingent with 6,223 troops deployed.
Uganda has also deployed 201 police officers in Somalia, including one Formed Police Unit comprising 140 men and women, 60 Individual Police Officers as well as 1 Senior Leadership Team officer.
“On behalf of the African Union Mission in Somalia, I wish to congratulate our Ugandan brothers and sisters upon this special occasion, when national sovereignty is celebrated. The independence of nations in Africa is a very sensitive matter and I encourage all countries across the continent to support each other in averting any threats to this liberty,” said Hon Lydia Wanyoto.
She further recognized the contribution the country has made to AMISOM and its successful operations in Somalia.
“We appreciate the contribution that Uganda has made towards this mission, including the input on the military front, the police as well as the civilian personnel. The contribution towards liberation and reconstruction of Somalia is highly appreciated,” she noted.
SOMALI MEDIA
UN special envoy to Somalia arrives Kismayo
09 Oct- Source: Markacadey Online/Radio Goobjoog/Saadaalnews Online – 128 words
Delegates led by the Specials representative of United Nations secretary general for Somalia Nicholas Kay arrived in the port city of Kismayo on Thursday. As he touched down at Kismayo airport, Nicholas Kay received warm welcome from senior officials of Interim Juba administration.
Our correspondent in Lower Juba region reports that Nicholas Kay is expected to take a special meeting with the leader of interim Juba administration Ahmed Mohamed Islam alias Ahmed Madobe.
Head of Somali Intelligence: we request the members of the public to work with us
09 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Dalsan – 149 words
The head of NISA General Abdirahman Mohamed Tuuryare, (Umda) requested from the members of the public to work with NISA and the police. “The security forces are not on every street, but the people are on every street. And you are requested to work with NISA and the police,” Gen. Tuuryare said.
He also requested from the members of the public to report any al Shabaab suspects to the security forces such that they will be arrested and investigated.” If the suspect is not among the peace spoilers, then they will be released.” Tuuryare said.
He believes that al Shabaab was weakened and the remaining members will be fought against so that the people can be protected against their threats. Gen. Tuuryare said at an event held in Mogadishu’s Wadajir District.
Labour ministry: government cannot hire all the youth in the country
09 Oct – Source: Goobjoog – 276 words
The ministry of labour of federal government of Somalia underlined that the federal government is not in a better position to provide job opportunity to all the jobless youth in the country.
The Minister for Labour of federal government Luqman Osman Mohamed said due to instability and limited finance the federal government’s efforts to hire all Somali youths graduating from local and international Universities is low.
The minister stated that since he took office before eight months the number of government workers has risen from 2900 to 5000 people adding that the federal government is planning to create more job opportunities in the country when stability returns and all regions come back to the government’s control.
Mr. Luqman also stated that the government will give vocational training to the youth to promote self employment by repairing and opening vocational centers in the capital, Mogadishu. Finally the minister said most of the job opportunities in the country is created by private sectors due to their presence in every part of the country.
The federal government of Somalia has recently declared that it will not allow foreign workers to take jobs that Somali nationals can take freely and vowed to take a step of tackling the high unemployment rate among Somali youth.
The youth in Somalia who graduated from the various Universities in the country are jobless, the youth believe that their rightful positions of work were taken over by foreigners from the neibouring countries and other nations in the continent attracted to Somalia by the stability gained by the federal government. The rate of unemployment in Somalia has reached souring rate.
Fighting erupts in Galgaduud
09 Oct- Source: Radio Dalsan – 86 words
Clan militias fought at Heraale in Galgadud Region yesterday. Reports say the fighting erupted when some militants attempted to close down a public water pool. Dalsan Reporter in that region confirmed that at least 4 people died in the fighting and scores of others were wounded.
The Commander of the Security Forces of Heraale, Mohamed Ali Mohamed and the administration of Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’a said they are now trying to contain the tension. Three injured persons were rushed to medical centres in Heraale.
Over 3 million in need of humanitarian assistance and the numbers are on the rise
09 Oct- Source: Radio RBC – 224 words
Somalia is again facing a serious crisis due to a lethal mix of drought, surging food prices, rising malnutrition, conflict and funding gaps. Over 3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the numbers are on the rise.
With another external shock, fragile gains made since the 2012 famine could be eroded and the country could easily tip back into another devastating emergency.
September food security assessments revealed that over 1 million people are already unable to feed themselves, an increase of 20 per cent from just six months ago. Malnutrition is equally alarming, with an estimated 218,000 children under the age of 5 acutely malnourished – a 7 per cent increase since January.
Overall, 3.2 million Somalis are now in need of life-saving or livelihood assistance. Drought conditions are unfolding in southern, central and north-eastern Somalia. Overall rainfall was recorded at less than half of normal levels during the April-June rainy season. Aid organizations are stepping up response, including through use of air cargo flights to deliver urgent aid supplies to the most affected areas too insecure to reach by road.
However, the humanitarian community is stretched and require rapid injection of additional funding. The humanitarian aid appeal remains woefully underfunded with only a third of requirements received forcing humanitarian partners to focus only on the most critical needs to save lives.
Federal government launches vaccination campaign against polio and measles
09 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 128 words
The federal government of Somalia has on Wednesday officially launched vaccination campaign against polio and measles in Banadir and Lower Juba region.
The minister for health of federal government of Somalia Ali Mohamed Mohamud said the campaign is expected to inoculate children against poliomyelitis and combat the outbreak of other infectious diseases.
The minister urged the parents to take their children to the vaccination centers for immunization noting that the vaccination campaign will reach all the regions of the country.
Over twenty thousand children are expected to benefit the vaccination campaign launched by the federal government of Somalia according senior official of health ministry.
On the other hand the minister met United Nations officials in Mogadishu, their meeting focused on the best ways of preventing polio and measles.
UNOPS Executive Director visited Mogadishu
09 Oct – Source: UNSOM – 130 words
The Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Grete Faremo visited Mogadishu yesterday to reiterate the UN’s commitment to its various development projects in Somalia. Speaking after her meeting with the Prime Minister, Faremo said UNOPS is working with several branches of the Federal Government of Somalia.
“UNOPS have been working together with a lot of ministries, on several projects for many years and we are here to support the very important development efforts. UNOPs can provide good advice in all the important work that now is going on to strengthen the political institutions, security and justice sector and we are looking forward to continue this strong cooperation,” she said. Ms. Grete Faremo was appointed UNOPS Executive Director in May this year.
IJA and AMISOM conducts operation in Hagar locality
09 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 122 words
The security forces of interim Juba administration in Southern Somalia backed by AMISOM launched massive security crackdown in Hagar locality and other areas in Lower Juba region.
Some areas in the region the joint forces clashed with Al-shabab members who attacked the forces as reporters in the region confirm. The security officials declined to give immediate about the operations in Hagar locality and its neibourhood, but officials say the aim of the operations is to maintain the overall security of the areas withdrawn by Al-shabab.
On the other hand the joint forces are advancing to Jilib district, a stronghold of Al-shabab. Kenyan warplanes have been carrying out airstrikes targeting Al-shabab bases in the district.
Poverty and early marriage keep girls out of school
09 Oct – Source: Radio Ergo – 344 words
Poverty and early marriage continue to be the main factors preventing many girls from going to school or continuing their education.
Dekha Farah’s education ended in 2007 when she was forced to get married. “I was in Form One in Omar Samatar secondary school in Galkayo when I was forced to marry. Two years later, I gave birth to my first child, but was later divorced,” Dekha told Radio Ergo.
She decided to resume her studies and succeeded in graduating from Hajji Abdi Medical Training Institute in Garowe after a two-year medical course.
Dekha now works as a professional nurse in a medical centre in Garowe. She believes that early marriage and poverty are the main reasons that force girls to drop out of school.
“When a young girl becomes a wife, she assumes the responsibilities of being head of the household. This and pregnancy among other life hurdles are the leading factors that contribute to their high dropout rate.”
Bashir Mohamed, a father of two in Garowe, said Somali husbands do not encourage their newly married wives to continue with their education. He said he married his wife while she was a form three student, but she left her studies shortly after her marriage. He intended to send her back to school to finish her studies so she would be helpful to herself, family and community, he said.
Lul Jama Aw-Nur, an official from Puntland Ministry of Women, told Radio Ergo that poverty was a major obstacle forcing girls to leave school. “Lack of school fees, lack of awareness on the importance of girls’ education, early marriage and poverty are contributing factors to the dropout by the girl child,” she said.
She urged for community initiatives and awareness programmes to promote positive attitudes towards girls’ education. She called on parents to send girls to school just like boys. Puntland Education Ministry said in a recent report that 719 girls out of a total of 2,480 students sat for secondary examinations in May this year.
REGIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM capture Al shabaab camp at Bula Gaduud and kill 12 militia
09 Oct – Source: Standard Digital – 389
Twelve more members of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants were Wednesday killed in an operation by the Kenya Defence Forces in Bula Gaduud area, Somalia. This brought to 34, the number of the militants killed in the same town since Monday. On Monday, 22 followers of the group were killed in a similar operation.
During the operation that happened at about 9 pm on Wednesday, one vehicle belonging to the militants was destroyed and several bullets and weapons recovered. According to KDF, several other militants escaped with injuries and withdrew towards Jammame.
“The capture of Bula Gaduud two days ago by KDF was part of the Amisom Operation Indian Ocean and is a major blow to Al Shaaab. The town lies on a strategic corridor that the militants have used to infiltrate Sector two under KDF,” read part of a statement from KDF spokesman Col David Obonyo.
Al-Shabaab steals livestock from Middle Jubba residents suffering from drought
08 Oct- Source: Sabahi Online- 344 words
Al-Shabaab is ordering residents of Middle Jubba region to round up their livestock that survived the drought and turn them over to the militant group, Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) officials and residents told Sabahi.
Al-Shabaab, which still controls most of Middle Jubba region, has started collecting camels, cattle and goats in the towns of Buale, Jilib, Sakow and surrounding villages, according to Colonel Urdan Kilas Gurase of the IJA security forces.
“Al-Shabaab often targets camels, which are the most important animals that Somalis keep,” he told Sabahi. “The people they are robbing have lost most of their herds to the drought, and [the militants] are taking the only surviving animals from each family.”
Gurase said the administration has been receiving complaints daily from relatives of residents living in al-Shabaab-controlled areas about the group’s actions.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Taking Back Somalia
09 Oct – Source: CNN International – 3:54 Minutes
African Union and Somali troops forced Al-Shabaab militants out of Barawe, the last stronghold in Somalia.
Askar takes on 40 – year incumbent Kahn
09 Oct – Source: Minnesota Daily – 533 Words
On Election Day, Abdimalik Askar is hoping to topple a candidate who has served more than 40 years in office. State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, who has served 21 terms in the state House of Representatives, is facing GOP candidate Askar in November’s election. The candidates are vying for the seat that represents the University of Minnesota and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Despite Kahn’s strong, extensive history in the state Legislature, Askar says he’s not backing down and is looking for a victory on Nov. 4. Askar said if he’s elected, he’ll focus on job availability and education reform.
London to host Somalia Oil & Gas Summit 2014
09 Oct- Source: Oilreviewafrica.com – 269 words
The second edition of Somalia Oil & Gas Summit 2014 will be held on 20 October at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London.
The event will explore developing Somalia’s oil and gas industry and showcase the resources available for investment. The event is being sponsored by Soma Oil & Gas and organised by the CWC Group for the second time.
Robert Sheppard, CEO of Soma Oil & Gas, said, “Our work to date, along with the support of the government of Somalia, has reignited interest in the country’s highly prospective upstream sector and we are delighted to continue to assist the government in accelerating the development of its oil and gas potential.”
Daud Mohamed Omar, minister of petroleum and mineral resources of Somalia, added that Soma Oil & Gas has been a good partner to the Ministry of Petroleum & Minerals of Somalia over the past year.
“We are pleased with the growing interest in the Somalia oil and gas sector as evidenced by the expected attendance at the Somalia Oil & Gas Summit 2014. The Ministry welcomes the support of credible oil companies to sponsor the Somalia Oil & Gas Summit 2014, and I would like to encourage and thank the organisers, sponsors, speakers and delegates for their commitment to and participation in this most important event.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“‘With such a strong shortlist, deciding on a winner was incredibly difficult. The Polari First Book Prize is about celebrating voices which are often ignored or difficult to hear. Writing as a black gay African man from a Muslim background, Osman dazzled us with the wide range of literary voices in this stunning short story collection.”
Osman wins Polari First Book Prize
09 Oct – Source: Thebookseller.com – 222 Words
The Polari First Book Prize has been won by British-Somali writer Diriye Osman for his short story collection, Fairytales for Lost Children.
Osman’s book, published by Team Angelica Press, beat a shortlist made up of books from established independent publishers and self-published titles.
Paul Burston, chair of the judges, said: “‘With such a strong shortlist, deciding on a winner was incredibly difficult. The Polari First Book Prize is about celebrating voices which are often ignored or difficult to hear. Writing as a black gay African man from a Muslim background, Osman dazzled us with the wide range of literary voices in this stunning short story collection.”
The prize is given out each year to a debut book exploring the LGBT experience published in the UK. Osman wins £1,000, presented this evening (8th October) at the Polari Literary Salon at the London Literature Festival.
“Somalia and its twin Somaliland are prototypes of states that fail and states that recover. The difference between Somalia and Somaliland is the difference between a peace owned and a rent-seeking peace. Local ownership is but one aspect of the conditions for state recovery.”
Why states fail and how states recover – analysis
09 Oct- Source: eurasiareview- 439 words
Somalia and Somaliland on the Horn of Africa are prototypes of states that failed and states that recovered. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia on 18 May 1991 after a six-week Grand Conference of the Northern Peoples in Burao. The conferences in Burao and later, Bomora were managed and financed by locals, bringing their own food and shelter over many weeks, sometimes months.
These events were “bottom-up, not top-down”, emphasised Mohamed Omar, the minister of commerce, “unlike Somalia’s, which has been top-down, driven by donors through leadership and taking place outside the country”. Somalilanders concentrated on achieving peace, not on acquiring financial rents for delegates from the process, a feature which has continually by contrast blighted Somalia’s attempts to the south, where conflict entrepreneurs have fed off both the fighting and the talking.
“Looking beyond 2015 said the potential for a resurgence in piracy remained as the intention and capability remained. ‘It might look like from the statistics the situation is gone, but is lying low down there and it might again rise unless we can deal with the root causes’.”
Analyst, industry officials warn on possible resurgence of Somali piracy
08 Oct – Source: Seatrade Global – 412 Words
Despite the sharp decline in piracy off the coast of Somalia concerns about its possible resurgence remain from analysts and industry officials.
“The issue for Somali piracy is the barrier to entry is extremely low,” Hans Tino Hansen, md of Risk Intelligence, told a Maritime Crime seminar a part of Danish Maritime Days in Copenhagen.
“Those who say it’s the armed guards that have changed the whole picture I don’t think they really understand what has been going on with Somalia onshore or actually in the naval cooperation at an international level,”
He explained that what had happened was in relative terms “a very improved security situation” in Somalia, compared to 2006 – 2008 when the situation was much worse. At the same time as security improved onshore the risk in undertaking pirate attacks increased sharply due to the international naval presence, so those who had invested in piracy moved into shore based businesses, which offered a higher yield with less risk.
Top tweets
@africanewsaddic SOMALIA: Over 3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the numbers are on the rise Mogadishu… http://ift.tt/1CX5QVf
@pauljamesharper Barawe residents still cautious depite Al-Shabaab’s absence #Somalia #AU Report by @robynleekriel http://www.enca.com/africa/
@RadioErgo Poverty and early marriage keep girls out of school
#Somalia http://bit.ly/1t4a4t7 @unicefsomalia
@RullySaputra34 @UN political situation in Somalia must be stable for economic stability. if u see a dinamic economy, then look again the regional economy.
@AFJournalists @UNICEF Somalia famine was declared after evidence ws given on food security classification as of sept 2nd 2011by #Gainnes cc @FAOnews @WFP
@UNSomalia #UNOPS Director visited #Mogadishu today to reiterate the #UN’s commitment to its development projects in#Somalia http://bit.ly/1BVfSUJ
@mohamedbashle #Breaking UN envoy 4 Somalia@Somalia111 has been arrived to Kismaayo,#Somalia
Image of the day
AMISOM Leadership Capacity Building and Strategy Formulation Workshop on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), held in Johannesburg, South Africa on 09 Oct 2014. Photo: AMISOM