September 19, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Parliament Dismisses Reports Of A Motion Of No-confidence Against Prime Minister Kheyre’s Government
19 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 113 Words
Federal Parliament’s General Secretary Abdikarin Haji Abdi Buuh has dismissed reports that the Lower House received a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre’s government submitted by some MPs over the extradition of the ONLF official. Buuh said they saw the reports on social media and confirms that there was no such motion submitted to the parliament’s leadership.
“Recently, social media was filled with rumors that some MPs have submitted a motion of no-confidence against the government. Those rumors are not true,” he said. The Parliament on Monday formed a committee to investigate the circumstances under which the ONLF official Mr. Abdikarin Muse Qalbi-dhagah was handed over to Ethiopia.
Key Headlines
- Parliament Dismisses Reports Of A Motion Of No-confidence Against Prime Minister Kheyre’s Government (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia Media Fraternities With Civil Society Appeal Somali Media Law To Be Amended Properly – NUSOJ (Horn Observer)
- Somalia: Puntland Police Foil Bomb Attack At Bus Station In Bossaso (Garowe Online)
- More War: US Bombing Raids on Somalia Pick Up Since June (Sputnik News)
- Foreign Writers Descend On Somalia For Book Fair (Reuters)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Media Fraternity With Civil Society Appeal Somali Media Law To Be Amended Properly – NUSOJ
18 September – Source: Horn Observer – 433 Words
The consultative meeting attended by local Somali media organizations, civil society groups, media professionals and lawyers focused on creating a platform for media professionals to contribute to the ongoing media bill in a professional, accurate and comprehensive manner. Besides, the platform is aimed facilitating the identification of the priorities of Somali media for the amendments, particularly the articles they want to be changed. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organized the one-day Media Law Consultative meeting held at Jazeera hotel in Mogadishu on 16 September 2017.
Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) expressed, in his opening remarks, that the meeting has a particular importance to the Somali media fraternities, and their intention is to appeal to the distinguished Somali Parliament to seriously review and amend the clauses that are contradicting the international freedom of expression before officially passing the media law. Somalia Media Association (SOMA) Secretary General Ismail Shiekh Khalifa pointed out that it is so important for media family to get the support from the civil society partners, who are now united in finding a media law that can at least satisfy all sides and fully guarantee the freedom of Somali Media.
Demas Kiprono, a consultant from Article 19 “Global Campaign for Free Expression” who was among the facilitators of the meeting highlighted provisions that are in breach of standards of international freedom of expression, in particular, the regulations dealing with media registration, ethics of journalism and qualifications, media freedom and license, protection of confidential information and accreditation. “Finding an independent media is very important for a war-torn country like Somalia, so civil society organizations are working closely and supporting the media organizations” said Dr Mahad Mohamed Hassan. Professor Mohamed Haji Ingiriis said at the closing ceremony that he fully appreciates the hard work of Somali media in the country and have shown great commitment for the Somali people to access information they need”
NUSOJ President Mahir Jama Aden thanked the Free Press Unlimited for their support of the meeting and underlined that the meeting paves the way for progress that Somali journalists hope to achieve in the future. After hours of discussion, the participants have come up with the full understanding of the provisions of the Somali Media Law and the clauses of particular concerns in the current media bill. Finally, the media fraternity and members of Somali civil society who attended the one-day meeting appealed to the Minister of Constitutional Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mr. Abdirahman Hosh Jibril and, to abandon his unilateral attempts to undermine Somali journalists in their efforts to amendment media law.
Somalia: Puntland Police Foil Bomb Attack At Bus Station In Bossaso
18 September – Source: Garowe Online – 162 Words
A powerful explosion was heard across the port city of Bosaso in Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland on Monday afternoon, Garowe Online reports. The blast which resulted from an improvised explosive device (IED) occurred at a busy bus station in the city. The Police had prior information of the bomb hidden in a small container, before it exploded prematurely. According to the witnesses, who spoke to reporters over the phone from Bosaso said, the bomb disposal units had earlier been called to the scene after police said potentially suspicious item was found.
Meanwhile, Bari regional Police forces have cordoned off the scene, and urged the public to avoid the area, after discovering a ‘suspicious package’ at the bus station. No casualties has been reported. A security official told Garowe Online that they had succeeded to foil the attack that was aimed to kill civilians. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the botched blast in Puntland’s commercial hub, Bosaso.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
More War: US Bombing Raids on Somalia Pick Up Since June
19 September – Source: Sputnik News – 277 Words
Afghanistan isn’t the only place the US military is increasing operational tempo: 13 airstrikes have been conducted on al-Shabab jihadists in Somalia since June, Stars and Stripes reports.If and when African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeeping troops depart Somalia, al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab “would most likely retake some lost territory,” especially if the Somalia National Army cannot hold its ground by the time AMISOM personnel leave, a US Africa Command (AFRICOM) spokeswoman told the military newspaper. Still, it’s “too early” to decide “what, if any, additional support will be required from the international community,” spokeswoman Robyn Mack said Monday.
For the first time since the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, a conflict inspiring the Hollywood film “Blackhawk Down,” regular US troops were marshalled to the east African country in late August, according to AFRICOM. The US Army 101st Airborne Division, a specialized air assault infantry unit known as the “Screaming Eagles,” was summoned on a so-called “train and advise” mission to bolster the capability of Somali and AMISOM forces. On Monday, the Pentagon officially announced a troop surge of 3,000 US forces to AFghanistan, keeping with US President Donald Trump’s promise to attack “America’s enemies” in the country, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Andrews confirmed to Sputnik. The most recent strike on Somali soil occurred September 13, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Since 2001, the investigative team estimates 10 to 28 civilians have been murdered by US drone strikes in the country. In Afghanistan, meanwhile, the US Air Force dropped 503 bombs in the month of August alone, about two times the monthly numeric average of munitions delivered in 2017, Sputnik reported.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“That didn’t stop 31 authors, including a Rwandan, three Kenyans and a British doctoral student, from presenting their books, Diini said. Fartumo Kusow, a Somali-Canadian fiction writer who holds dual nationality, made her first trip home in 27 years.”
Foreign Writers Descend On Somalia For Book Fair
18 September – Source: Reuters – 462 Words
Long associated with pirates, famine and bombs, Somalia showed a different face to the world this week, as it welcomed foreign writers for the first time to its annual book fair. The event took place for the third time in the scarred seaside capital Mogadishu, but until now security was too precarious for overseas authors to take part. Their participation is a sign that things are changing as government troops, backed by African Union peacekeepers, claw back territory from Islamist insurgents in the Horn of Africa country.
Still, there were 60 guards on duty on Friday outside the hotel where the book fair was taking place, as well as plainclothes security inside. “In 2015, authors were afraid, but now security has improved,” said organizer Mohamed Diini. “But authors are not yet brave (enough) to write or present books on the chaos of the country.” Somalia has been riven by civil war since 1991 when clan-based warlords overthrew a dictator and then turned on each other. Although the Islamist al Shabaab militia was pushed out of the capital in 2011, it continues to mount almost daily bomb attacks and assassinations.
That didn’t stop 31 authors, including a Rwandan, three Kenyans and a British doctoral student, from presenting their books, Diini said. Fartumo Kusow, a Somali-Canadian fiction writer who holds dual nationality, made her first trip home in 27 years. “It’s like the country has been hit by an earthquake. No building is where it is meant to be,” she said sadly. “The landscape by the sea is different.” Her novel, “The Tale of a Boon’s Wife,” tells a story that reverberates across cultures: a love affair forbidden by powerful clans. It was published in Canada by Second Story Press, she said, but only after she had received 104 rejection slips.
Rwandan author Dominik Alonga said she came to the book fair out of solidarity – like Somalia, her tiny east African nation is also inextricably associated with past violence “When you hear Rwanda, you think ‘genocide’. So I write about culture to show the sympathetic and the good side of life,” she said. Abdirahman Ali Mohamed, 21, is an accountancy student from Mogadishu who works as a waiter between classes. His book, “A Country whose Citizens Migrate,” tells the story of an ordinary life in a failed state. “I was born after central government collapsed and during a civil war. So writing in my own mother tongue was a pain in the neck because I did not get a good teacher who could teach Somali literature,” he said with a grin. “But I studied the literature of many foreign countries by myself… I want Somalis to read my book so their life can be a little bit better and they can stay home.”
TOP TWEETS
.@Goobjoognews: GULF CRISIS Q&A: Federal Government must stand ground despite dissent from the regions.
.@DConcar: David Concar Retweeted Gamal M Hassan Congratulations @AmbGamal & @MoPIED_Somalia. Progress is built one brick at a time. This is an important brick.
.@DrBeileh: Sustainably financing our security sector is an absolute priority. We are grateful to our national heroes for their service & sacrifice.
.@DalsanFM: Former Foreign Minister Warns Soverignity of Somalia is in Danger – http://radiodalsan.com/en/
.@Goobjoognews: SPECIAL REPORT: Judges on stipends, courts merge jurisdiction in the road to justice in Somalia.
.@FarahmohamudM: It is a time Somalis to realize that Qaad is a narcotic and addictive https://www.youtube.com/watch?
.@DalsanFM: NUSOJ Calls Media Law Amendment & End To Interferance By The Constitution Ministry @MoCASomalia@HoshAbdi #Somalia http://radiodalsan.com/en/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre and his delegates at the airport, on their way to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
@SomaliPM