September 10, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali President Rides Through a Bumpy Year
10 Sept – Source: IPS News – 961 Words
After his first year as president of the world’s most dangerous and failed state, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is still grappling with limited financial resources, corruption, a lack of service delivery, and the ongoing assassinations of government officials, including attempts on his own life.
The Somali president, who on Tuesday Sep. 10 celebrates 365 days of being voted into office by legislators, has had a difficult first year of his four-year term.
Analysts say that not only has Mohamud had to contend with the Islamist extremist group al Shabaab, which has waged a number of recent terrorist attacks on the capital Mogadishu despite being ousted from key cities across this Horn of African nation, and an increasing number breakaway states, he also faces a growing and deep disillusionment among Somalis.
Key Headlines
- Somali President Rides Through a Bumpy Year (IPS News)
- Somalia China sign cooperation agreement (Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
- Yemeni President Hadi meets Somali Prime Minister (Yemen News Agency)
- Former constitution minister dismisses allegations on Somali constitution changes (Raxanreeb)
- EAC to scrutinise Somalia’s request to join regional bloc (News Times)
- Building capacity a key in counter-piracy says Abdullah bin Zayed (Wam News)
- Mixed blessings for Mogadishu IDPs in Bardhere camps (Radio Ergo)
- Somalia: UAE Investing Millions Stop Children Turning to Piracy (Somaliland Sun)
- Spain sentences Somali pirates who tried to kidnap Basque fishermen (Think Spain)
- Somaliland seeks more trade ties with UAE (National News)
- Suspect denies link to Somali terror group (Daily Nation)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia, China sign cooperation agreement
10 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV – 209 words
Somalia federal government has on Monday announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic of China in Mogadishu. After meeting in Mogadishu, Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Somalia Fawsiya Yusuf Haji Aden and the Chinese ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyoun signed the agreement which will pave a five year plan to help recovery Somalia.
“We have signed two agreements following our visit to China which will allow the China government to help us.” Minister Fawsiya said in a press conference in Mogadishu.
Ambassador Liu Guangyoun said China and Somalia had a long time relation which dates back to 50 years ago. He said China is committed to rebuild three main facilities in Somalia including mother and child health hospital, Mogadishu Stadium, the National Theatre as well as the road between Galkayo and Burao on the north of Somalia.
The ambassador also announced today that China will re-establish its embassy in Mogadishu and requested to observe the land donated by Somali government. Mogadishu Mayor Mohamud Ahmed Nur who was attending the press conference announced that the local government of Mogadishu donated a land at the Liido beach resort to build a Chinese Embassy.
Former constitution minister dismisses allegations on Somali constitution changes
10 Sept – Source: Raxanreeb – 121 words
Former Somalia’s Constitution Minister MP Abdurahman Hosh Jibril has robustly dismissed allegations from Puntland president who recently claimed that the federal provisional constitution of the country has been changed.
The former Minister of Constitution, who is currently member of the country’s federal parliament said those who argue that the constitution changes are only seeking to incite political chaos in Somalia.
“The process to draft and adopt the constitution has been ongoing since 2004.” the former minister said. “Anyone argues that the constitution was changed illegally are making baseless statement.” he added.
MP Abdurahman Hosh Jibril said the legation from the leader if the semi-autonomous region of Puntland was only meant to cover up the political and security instabilities in his region.
Mixed blessings for Mogadishu IDPs in Bardhere camps
10 Sept – Source: Radio Ergo – 293 words
Around 940 IDP families living in Bardhere camps situated at Ex-Control Afgoye junction on the outskirts of Mogadishu are facing a food shortage and complain they have no health services. But the IDPs say they are benfiting from a new camp lighting project as well as free education for the children. Abdi Abi, who is one of the IDPs in the camp, told Radio Ergo the families living in the camp for the last two years has not received any food aid recently. There are more than 14 camps making up the Barhere site. Abi said there were no clinics serving any of the camps and that were unable to get treatment or medicines.
However, on the positive side, Abi and other IPDs in these camps are very happy with solar powered lighting that has transformed their camps from dark into a small town. “These lights have transformed our lives and brought new hopes to our camps,” Abi told Radio Ergo’s local reporter. “We feel that our wives are now safe because of these lights,” he added, saying the armed gangs used to take advantage of the darkness in areas surrounding the camps to rape women. The lighting project was implemented by the Danish Refugee Council(DRC).
The 14 camps of Bardhere also have a school that provides free education to the children. This service is greatly appreciated by the IDPs. Asho Ahmed Haji is one of the mothers who took her children to the school, which has been running for about 10 months. She told Radio Ergo that she is very happy that her children can get free education in the camps. Humanitarian organizations pay the teachers’ salaries and provide other essential for the school.
Somalia: UAE Investing Millions Stop Children Turning to Piracy
10 Sept – Source: Somaliland Sun – 118 words
The UAE is investing millions in Somalia schools to prevent children falling into a life of piracy and crime, a senior government official will tell an international conference.
By helping to fund Somali schools, hospitals, and businesses, the UAE hopes to give kids an alternative and aims to “get to the root causes of piracy”, the two-day International Piracy Conference in Dubai will hear. The UAE is also putting money into drought and flood relief so that Somalis are not forced into piracy because of the country’s disastrous economy.
Planned investments include building clinics and hospitals, developing the infrastructure of some existing hospitals and setting up field hospitals, as well as rebuilding as schools, medical and educational centres.
Politician accuses middle Shabelle administration
09 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle – 123 words
Mohamud Omar Affey, a politician who resides from the middle Shabelle region of Somalia has accused the current administration of the region of dictatorship.
Speaking to radio Shabelle, Mr. Affey accused Abdi Jinnow Alaso for not tackling the existing problems and said added that Alaso did not disserved the leadership role according to his past history.
“The government did not caution itself when it handed Alaso the top regional post. We know all the problems he caused when he was removed from the port authorities in Mogadishu” said affey.
The accusations directed towards the administration of the region comes as the president is expected to visit Jowhar town which is the headquarter town in the coming hours.
REGIONAL MEDIA
EAC to scrutinise Somalia’s request to join regional bloc
10 Sept – Source: News Times – 520 Words
Member states of the East African Community have agreed to set up a verification committee to analyse whether Somalia fulfils the requirements to join the bloc. The Horn of Africa nation submitted its application in February 2012 to be a member of the community which currently brings together Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
A Council of Ministers meeting that convened in Arusha, last week, approved the committee and directed partner states to nominate three members that would travel to Somalia in December to assess the requirements as stipulated in the EAC Treaty. The vetting process will take over seven months, according to a subsequent communiqué from the meeting. The list of experts to participate in the exercise will be submitted by October 31.
The process will take into account the country profile and the level of compatibility with the EAC community stages of development in trade liberalisation and development, cooperation in investments and industrial development. Other areas to be scrutinised include whether the conflict-torn nation has a well functioning monetary policy among other indicators.
Somaliland seeks more trade ties with UAE
10 Sept – Source: National – 381 words
Somaliland’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs has met UAE ministers and expatriates to discuss progress in his troubled homeland. Mohammed Behi Younis was Somalia’s top international diplomat and the architect of the world’s largest humanitarian relief operation in Darfur until he took up his new position six weeks ago.
He left his post as the assistant secretary general of the United Nations after more than 40 years and part of his new remit saw him speak to expatriates in the UAE from Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region of the East African country that seeks independence.
Mr Younis also met the Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Military and Security Affairs, Faris Al Mazrouei, on Friday ahead of his appearance at the third Dubai International Counter Piracy Conferencetomorrow and Thursday.
Building capacity a key in counter-piracy, says Abdullah bin Zayed
10 Sept – Source: WAM – 547 Words
Much has been done to tackle the problems caused by maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, but more needs to done to build the capacity of Somalia and its neighbours to control their own shores and patrol their own waters, the UAE Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said today.
He made his remarks in a statement issued ahead of a two-day international conference on Counter Piracy, organised by the UAE Foreign Ministry in partnership with local port operators, which opens in Dubaitomorrow. The text of the statement follows: “Despite a marked decline in pirate attacks launched from the coast of Somalia over the last two years, maritime piracy remains a threat to regional security and global commerce.
Representatives from around the globe are therefore gathering in Dubai tomorrow, 11th September and on12th September, to discuss ways of strengthening the response of the international community to meet this challenge. Building on the success of two previous conferences, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with its conference partners, DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, has again convened this high-level initiative on countering piracy.”
Yemeni President Hadi meets Somali Prime Minister
09 Sept – Source: Yemen News Agency SABA – 113 words
President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi met here on Monday with Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, who is currently visiting Yemen, to discuss areas of cooperation relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, President Hadi said that Yemen and Somalia were facing more challenges and difficulties, including economic and security challenges.
The president pointed out that Somalia needs to take advantage of the current circumstances to restore security and stability, adding that Yemen supports Somali people and government to achieve their desired goals and aspirations. For his part, the Somali official briefed President Hadi on the situations in his country, including various security and economic challenges.
Suspect denies link to Somali terror group
10 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 311 words
A man who was arrested in Laikipia County on suspicion of being a terrorist, on Monday told a Nyahururu court that he worked as a mason in Somalia.
Mr Samuel Wainaina Wanjiru, 20, denied having been a member of al Shabaab. The accused was arrested in Mwitiku village on Sunday night, after locals reported that there was a suspicious man in the area.
Somalia’s Vision 2016 Conference last week
09 Sept – Source: Walta Information Centre – 333 words
Last week a five day Vision 2016 Conference, convened by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, took place in Mogadishu, September 2-6. It is intended to be the first of a series of national dialogues on the transition towards democratic legitimacy.
The conference discussed the themes of constitutional development, options for models of federalism, reform and good governance, electoral processes and party politics, and political outreach, public engagement, reconciliation, and transitional justice.
The conference was attended by members of parliament, regional authorities, civil society groups and experts, as well as members of the Diaspora. It adopted a n umber of core principles.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Rides Through a Bumpy Year
10 Sept – Source: IPS News – 961 Words
After his first year as president of the world’s most dangerous and failed state, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is still grappling with limited financial resources, corruption, a lack of service delivery, and the ongoing assassinations of government officials, including attempts on his own life.
The Somali president, who on Tuesday Sep. 10 celebrates 365 days of being voted into office by legislators, has had a difficult first year of his four-year term.
Analysts say that not only has Mohamud had to contend with the Islamist extremist group al Shabaab, which has waged a number of recent terrorist attacks on the capital Mogadishu despite being ousted from key cities across this Horn of African nation, and an increasing number breakaway states, he also faces a growing and deep disillusionment among Somalis.
Horn of Africa Polio Outbreak Thwarts Global Eradication Effort
09 Sept – Source: VOA – 03:14 min
The global community came tantalizing close earlier this year to ridding the world of polio. But then in May, the eradication effort took a powerful blow. The virus turned up again in the Horn of Africa, first in Somalia. VOA’s Mary Alice Salinas looks at what happened and what is being done to wipe out polio once and for all.
Spain sentences Somali pirates who tried to kidnap Basque fishermen
10 Sept – Source: Think Spain – 273 Words
SPAIN’S National Court jailed six Somali pirates accused of trying to kidnap the crew on board a tuna-fishing boat from the Basque Country 11 months ago. The Izurdia was targeted by invaders with gun-shots and grenades on October 10, 2012 when it was sailing in the Indian Ocean some 350 miles off the coast of Somalia, East Africa.
Occupants of a pirate boat attempted to board the tuna ship and opened fire on the crew, at which point the on-board security guards put their emergency safety procedures into practice – everyone but the captain and the operations chief hid in the control room and a security barrier was raised around the boat.
Security guards responded to the six pirates with an ‘intense’ volley of gun-shots as the Izurdia was chased across the water for 30 minutes, before the accused men finally fled the scene. A Dutch NATO ship, sent out to the Indian Ocean to combat piracy, discovered the offending pirates the next day and sent out two helicopters who let off three warning shots to them. They finally surrendered and handed over their arms, although did not initially stop their boat when the NATO ship ordered,which in itself is an offence.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Friends cautioned me over the obsessive behavior that came with trying to get Nigel home. They were justified –Nigel was the last thing I thought about before I fell asleep and the first think I thought of when I woke up. It had a huge impact on my relationship with my husband as I was effectively working full time on getting Nigel home.”
When your loved one is kidnapped
10 Sept – Source: Daily Life – 839 Words
In 2008 my brother Nigel was abducted while working in Somalia alongside Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout. I picked up the phone and spoke to the kidnappers when they rang to deliver the first ransom message and so I fell into the role of next of kin negotiator (the NOK). After establishing who I was, and my relationship with Nigel, they demanded $US 1.5 million for his safe release. The situation still seems surreal.
Over time, and with the assistance of some wonderful local Queensland police negotiators, I was actively trained to take the calls. The AFP moved into my parents’ house and I was taught to negotiate with the kidnappers by responding to a series of ‘what if‘ mock phone calls in anticipation of a real call from the kidnappers.
Initially I was fearful of the calls coming in, lest I say something wrong or hear something horrible happen to Nigel. Dealing with the situation affected my home life and all social engagements. From the kids’ soccer parties or going out to dinner, everything revolved around time zone differences with Somalia.
Return to Mogadishu: Remembering Black Hawk Down
09 Sept – Source: Black Five Blog – 01:31mins
“Return to Mogadishu” chronicles the journey of Army Best Ranger Jeff Struecker’s return to Mogadishu, Somalia, as he reflects on the experience that transformed his life twenty years ago. As the film revisits the traumatic events of October 1993, we learn about the routine military mission that went awry and quickly unraveled into brutal warfare. It was in the middle of the violent combat when Struecker realized that He was free to LIVE because he wasn’t afraid to die.
Mogadishu’s IDPs Are Citizens, Too
09 Sept – Source: Refugees International Blog – 133 Words
Somalia’s capital and the surrounding areas are home to several hundred thousand internally displaced people (IDPs). Despite a still volatile security situation, reconstruction and development are moving ahead at a rapid pace in Mogadishu. As a result, the city’s IDP residents, who were displaced by famine and conflict, are being evicted from their camps and pushed to Mogadishu’s periphery.
Instead of further marginalizing this already vulnerable population, the government should recognize Mogadishu’s IDPs for who they are: Somali citizens. Those who prefer to stay and integrate into Mogadishu should have access to long-term housing, basic services, and livelihoods.
Those IDPs who wish to return to their home areas should be given temporary solutions that preserve their dignity and provide for basic needs until their places of origin are secure and ready for returns.
Top tweets
@MarkC_Anderson #Somalia: @Barclays extends deadline for money transfer accounts but many say more time is needed to find solution | http://bit.ly/1dXnxKo.
@Adesoafrica In #Somalia Halimo now attends a mobile school to suit her nomadic lifestyle. #StandingTall.http://bit.ly/19Iom9a pic.twitter.com/hFtedWRLEO.
@UNLazzarini Join me 2morrow, I’ll b on panel #Somalia + Remittances w/ @OxfamEAfrica @EdPomfret & @Dahabshil‘s Duale @RVInews http://bit.ly/1anYgbK.
@OCHASom August #Somalia Hum Snapshot recaps food sec gains, high malnutrition rates, polio campaign, MSF withdrawal@OCHAsom http://bit.ly/1aXswtB.
@SomaliaNewsroom #China and #Somalia affirm agreements on development and reconstruction http://www.markacadey.net/
Image of the day
Chinese ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyoun, left shakes hands with Somali Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fawsiya Yusuf Haji Aden during signing of a cooperation agreement in Mogadishu, on September 09, 2013. Photo: Hiiraan Online.