NATIONAL MEDIA
2 September – Source: Halbeeg – 147 Words
Somali military court sentenced officer to death in Mogadishu on Monday. Bashi Omar Dhaqane was found guilty by the martial court for killing a student by the name Sheikh Noor Mohamed in Hamar-Jajab district in July. Somali armed forces court judge, General Ismail Salad Mohamed, who oversaw the case ruled out the arguments by sentenced soldier lawyers’ that the officer was under the influence of drug abuse during the unfortunate incident. General Salad termed the action by the private officer Bashir Omar Dhaqane as disrespect to the image of the armed forces. Somali National Army court chief judge, General Noor Shute, announced the verdict following cross-examination of the evidence provided by both sides. The ruling is open for an appeal. Somali military court which is accused by human right advocacy groups for violations handles cases related to terror and murder within the armed forces in the country.
1 September – Source: Goobjoog – 187 Words
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire welcomed Galmudug Presidential Candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein (Odawa), along with his colleagues from the UPD party from the Galmudug state. The meeting comes after Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire invited the opposition politicians from Galmudug to discuss the process of establishing a Galmudug state. Sources close to the meeting confirmed that the two sides discussed ways to build an inclusive administration in Galmudug and to dispel any mistrust with federal government fairly. Abdirahman Odowa suggested the FGS should avoid any illegal interference in Galmudug election process and urged the people of Galmudug’s demand to be respected. Prime Minister Hassan Khaire, on his side, also promised the integrity of the Galmudug election and the government will remain under surveillance, and the people of Galmudug will have their choice. Former federal Minister of Interior and current member of the federal parliament Abdirahman Odawa yesterday officially announced his candidacy for Galmudug Presidential election. He is believed to be one of the leading candidates for the Galmudug presidential election. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire led efforts to create an inclusive Galmudug for one month-long tour.
1 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 418 Words
With Somali government’s recent move to overhaul its institutions with the appointment of new officials, HOL has exclusively learned from reliable sources that former Villa Somalia Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration and Finance Abdirisaaq Hussein Aato is set to be appointed for the deputy governorship post of the Somali Central Bank.
According to reliable information obtained by HOL from officials in the Central Bank, the post set to be appointed for Abdirisaaq Aato is currently held by Maryan Abdullahi Yusuf who is also a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank. The source further adds that Office of the Prime Minister proposed this nomination and subsequently made a formal request to the President for the ratification of the appointment. The Office of the Prime Minister previously picked the current Central Bank Governor Abdirhahman Mohamed Abdullahi who before assuming this post was a senior economic advisor to the Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. Mr. Abdirahman Abdullahi was also a panel member of the committee tasked to oversee the hiring process of the Somali Central Bank Governor, but eventually got the post himself, albeit bulk of other candidates who applied for the position including both experienced Somali and non-Somali applicants…..
1 September – Source: Radio Shabelle – 80 Words
The newly appointed Somali Police, General Abdi Hassan (Hijaar), promised that he will increase the number of women officers in the police force. The police boss made the announcement during a hand-over ceremony held in Mogadishu, which he took place on Saturday. Also, he said that he would take care of the orphans of the Somali Police soldiers who have sacrificed their lives serving the nation. The Somali police force is the backbone of the Nation and is the first line of defence.
31 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – 123 Words
Somalia’s designate Ambassador to India, Faduma Abdullahi Mohamud, presented her credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Prior to her appointment, Ms Mohamud served as Somalia’s permanent representative to the UN office in Geneva. During her tenure at the UN office, Somalia was elected member of the Human Rights Council in October 2018. Somalia, alongside other 17 member states, will serve their three-year term, which started January 2019. In the new appointment, Ambassador Mohamud swapped places with Ambassador Abyan Salah, who is now heading to the Geneva office after her service in India. A lot of Somali students study in India and it is the healthcare destination for Somalis especially the city of Hyderabad.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
2 September – Source: devdisourse – 149 Words
3 militants have carried out a car bomb blast in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, according to reports by local media. The attackers also exchanged fire with security forces and some of the soldiers were injured. At least 2 civilians are feared dead and 6 others are injured, local media has reported. The attack comes just a few days after Xinhua reported that Somali security agency has claimed to have arrested a senior al-Shabab leader. Al Shabaab controls swathes of territory and several towns in Jubbaland, an autonomous region in southern Somalia. The militants, who want to overthrow the Somali government, have killed thousands of Somalis, and hundreds of civilians across East Africa, and in a decade-long insurgency. Somalia is still trying to claw its way out of the embers of the civil war that engulfed it in 1991 when clan warlords overthrew a dictator and then turned on each other.
1 September – Source: The Star – 783 Words
As bizarre as it might sound, al Shabaab militants seem to now find a shortcut to legally take over reins of power secretly through the ballot, with help from clan chiefs rather than with the violence often associated with them. As if wanting to prove its influence, the militants recently summoned elders involved in the 2016 election to go and repent. Those elders who heeded the call for fear of reprisals were literally held hostage for 20 days in secret locations around the country. The meeting became an al Shabaab civic engagement plan, plotting a silent takeover of power. “They gave us clothes and money and even promised to pay us $300 every month on one condition which is that we do what they order us to do. They told us the country is being taken over by infidels and that we have to salvage it. We are still waiting for their order,” a clan chief who did not wish to be named said. Considering there are three parliamentary elections coming up in Galmudug and South West State in September and October and of course the countrywide presidential and parliamentary elections in 2020. The latest revelation makes many people wonder the influence the militants can have on the elections, if indeed the elders, just like before, are involved.
ELDERS INFLUENCE
Subject to change, under Somali’s current electoral system, elders choose MPs, who in turn elect the president. In previous election models, the clans directly nominated the MPs. We can never dismiss the influence of elders in Somalia politics. Some of the elders who took part in the ‘al Shabaab civic education’ say the militants plan to use force and persuasion to convince the elders to nominate their own to parliament in 2020. The only way these elders will be rendered invaluable is if Somalia succeeds in organising a one-person-one-vote election.
However, that depends on several factors, including the adoption of the interim charter, the liberation of areas still controlled by al Shabaab and preparing the country for the vote. Recent events such as the Jubaland elections show cracks in national unity, which are likely to be used by the militants to further their agenda. One year before the next election, al Shabaab continues to destabilise peace at will. Just recently, they claimed responsibility for a suicide attack inside the office of the late Mogadishu mayor Eng Abdirahman Omar Osman “Yarisow”, who died from the attack. Such sad incidents make people wonder how Somalia plans to secure its next election. As a benefactor, am sure al Shabaab will do everything in its power to disrupt the election, playing dirty politics of bribing, threatening officials as it often does or even going out to kill their targets to silence their critics just to clear the way for their candidates of choice…….
31 August – Source: AMISOM – 362 Words
AMISOM Sector One, which is under the command of Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) held a gala marked by traditional dance performances and a cultural exhibition to display how peace and unity can prevail in culturally diverse communities. Held under the theme ‘UPDF: a united force in cultural diversity,’ the gala aimed to celebrate Uganda’s cultural diversity by bringing together soldiers serving under AMISOM to showcase their cultures and the peaceful coexistence between the different communities.
The commander of the Ugandan AMISOM contingent, Brig. Michael Kabango said, “In the African culture, we get an excuse to celebrate, dance, sing, feast, eat. And here in Somalia, we have a very big excuse. For the first time in Africa’s history, we have seen a homegrown African mission make great strides in securing the continent’s peace.” Away from the battlefield and with the military fatigues put away, the soldiers of all ranks and file displayed the rich array of dances from the various communities of Uganda. Brig. Michael Kabango added, “We are celebrating the success, so far, of this mission. Secondly, the success would not have been possible, but for those who have sacrificed. So, we are celebrating the lives and sacrifices of our heroes and heroines who have gone through this mission.” Addressing guests present, Uganda’s Ambassador to Somalia, Prof. Sam Turyamuhika highlighted the commitment of his country to AMISOM in order to ensure the success of the mission to bring peace and security to Somalia. “You will agree with me that we have been entertained through a diversity of culture, mainly dances. So, these men and women you see here are not just good fighters. They are also good dancers,” added Prof. Turyamuhika.
Lt. Mary Sylvia Lamunu, who was among the performers at the cultural gala said, “We are diverse as Ugandans. We are of different tribes, but we are one as UPDF. We follow the goals of the mission, which leads us to success.” She added, “In our diversity, we are still standing as one in the name of peace”. Besides the music and dance performances, there was an exhibition of cuisines, regalia and artefacts of the various indigenous communities of Uganda.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“VSLA members can also request loans to help them set up income-generating activities or improve their small businesses. Nuro took a loan of $220 from her group, the Kobac iyo Keyd group, and drawing on the financial and business training provided by the project, she was able to expand her small shop – which sells everyday foods like sugar, rice, wheat, as well as other items such as clothes – and plan for and manage her loan repayments. Nuro is now the chairperson of her group.”
30 August – Source: Care International – 727 Words
“My old shop was a stress shop.” That is how Nuro Adan Ali, a 33-year-old mother of eight children, felt about her shop in Somalia. She says: “It was a stress shop because I never made any profit. When I started, I borrowed $150 from my friends to build the shop. Every month I counted losses because customers came and took things for credit and I did not write them down anywhere.” As the months went by, her losses increased. She didn’t know how to repay the money she had borrowed from her friends. She says: “It was difficult to do anything, and I felt demoralised.”
Then Nuro met Muhidin Ali, chair of the local community education committee, who told her about the village savings and loan association (VSLA) supported by CARE’s SOMGEP-T project. CARE provides financial and business training and supports women to set up their own VSLA groups. The Somali Girls’ Education Promotion Project – Transition (SOMGEP-T), funded by UK Aid through the Girls’ Education Challenge Fund (GEC), and with additional support from the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, works with schools, communities, religious leaders and the ministry of education in Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug, and aims to increase marginalised girls’ access to quality post-primary education opportunities; improve learning outcomes; and enhance economic sustainability.
So how does a VSLA help girls to go to school, and stay there?
Many families – and particularly female-headed households – do not have a reliable source of income. Mothers in the Sool region told CARE that before the project intervention, they faced a lot of challenges: they could not afford basic necessities and their children often missed school because they could not provide basic requirements, such as uniforms. One mother said that her daughter was often mocked by other children because she used to wear a dirty uniform. This touched her as she was unable to provide a decent uniform because of a lack of income and no safety net, as her close relatives were also struggling with the impact of the drought on their livestock – the main source of livelihood for most families – and could not help her out. That’s where the VSLA groups can help. As Nuro explains:” I learnt a lot from the classes. We came together as 20 women and formed a group to save and take loans to improve our lives.”……. |
