September 21, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Prime Minister Kheyre Meets With Sergey Lavrov On UNGA Sidelines
20 September – Source: Garowe Online – 188 Words
Moscow plans to help Somalia in its efforts against extremism and terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday at a meeting with Somalia’s Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “We are glad at this opportunity to meet on the sidelines of the General Assembly to discuss our bilateral relations. We appreciate the history of our friendship and would like to help Somalia in its efforts to resolve the problems of extremism and terrorism,” he said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said “the sides discussed issues linked with the process of the Somalia settlement and stressed the necessity to continue persistent efforts of Somalia’s federal government and the international community towards establishing peace in that country,” the Russian foreign ministry said. “The Russian side expressed support to the anti-terrorism efforts of Somalia’s federal authorities and the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.” “The two sides exchanged views on the prospects for further development on bilateral relations and, reiterated mutual commitment to expand cooperation in politics, trade, economic and other areas,” the ministry added.
Key Headlines
- Prime Minister Kheyre Meets With Sergey Lavrov On UNGA Sidelines (Garowe Online)
- Newly Elected Hirshabelle President Appoints New Governor Of Hiiraan (Hiiraan Online)
- Gunmen Open Fire On Bus In Central Somalia 3 Killed (Shabelle News)
- Somalia Is The 50th African Country To Join The UNWTO (All African News)
- UAE Ambassador Somali Finance Minister Discuss Bilateral Cooperation (Emirates News Agency)
- Boom For Kenyan Khat Traders As Shortage Hits Somaliland (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Newly Elected Hirshabelle President Appoints New Governor Of Hiiraan
20 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 201 Words
The newly elected Hirshabelle State President, Mohamed Abdi Ware has appointed a new governor for Hiiraan region barely three days after he overwhelmingly won the presidential election. In a presidential decree obtained by Hiiraan Online, Omar Ibrahim Baadiyow, has been relieved of his duty of Hiiraan governorship, a move Ware aimed to reshuffle his administration.
Ali Jeyte Osman has been appointed for the post, making him the first official appointed for a top post since Ware was elected for the President in Hirshabelle. “Ali Jeyte Osman has been appointed for the governorship of Hiiraan region,” reads the decree, dated 19th September. Mr. Ali Osman Jeyte, former minister has held this post last year, replacing Yusuf Dabageed. Hirshabelle’s regional Parliament has elected Mohamed Abdi Ware nearly a month after they delivered a vote of no confidence against the former president Ali Abdullahi Osoble.
There were eight candidates during the election, but it was Mr. Ware who emerged victorious with 74 votes. His nearest rival, Dahir Abdulle Awale trailed behind with 23 votes only. Mr. Ware who previously worked in ICRC, FAO, UNDP and World Bank’s ICT Project has during his campaign pledged implementation of infrastructure development and enhance peace throughout Hirshabelle State.
Gunmen Open Fire On Bus In Central Somalia, 3 Killed
20 September- Source: Shabelle News – 122 Words
At least three people were killed in central Somalia after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying passengers, in what officials are calling a horrific attack on innocent civilians. Assailants armed with AK-47 rifles wearing face masks fired on the passengers from a four-wheel drive vehicles on a desolate road near Godad location in eastern Mudug region. Men, women and children are among the dead and injured, local officials said. It is not yet clear the motive behind the shooting of the bus, and no group has so far claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. This comes a day after two nomad girls were gang rapped in the area, which been been beset by inter-clan conflict in the past few months.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Is The 50th African Country To Join The UNWTO
20 September – Source: All Africa News – 353 Words
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) membership now includes Somalia and Comoros as the 157th and 158th member states respectively. The Somali tourism industry is growing fast, which helps in job creation, cultural exchanges and economic growth that the country desperately needs right now. Somalia’s Federal Government says it has been in the process of introducing a master-plan to revive the tourism industry and allow for the country’s re-admission into the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The country’s successful re-admission was recently announced during the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China after securing a two-thirds majority vote. Somalia is now the 157th Member State and 50th African countries to be admitted. It joins the organization along with Comoros the 158th Member States and 51st African country. The admission is despite security challenges in the country with frequent terror attacks on restaurants and hotels. Mogadishu, a region which in the past had some of the most beautiful hotels and beach views is currently unable to host foreign tourists due to continued attacks and bombings in the city by the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabab. The security situation is the city is precarious. Al-Shabab has carried out two deadly attacks, one of which was on a popular restaurant, leaving more than 20 dead.
On his visit to Madrid, Spain, the Somali Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism Abdirahman Omar Osman (Yarisow) met with the Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb D. Refai, along with his deputy and the UNWTO Director of Africa. The Minister together with his Advisor on Tourism, Yasir Baffo, provided an update on the history and current potential for the tourism industry in Somalia. “Even though Somalia is still improving security in order to bring peace and stability back to the country, nevertheless, as Federal Government of Somalia we need to lay down the foundations, strategies and plans that are necessary to revive the tourism industry,” said the hopeful Somali Minister. “… in the next few years, when the country becomes peaceful, we won’t waste any time attracting tourists and foreign investment back into the country,” he added.
UAE Ambassador, Somali Finance Minister Discuss Bilateral Cooperation
20 September – Source: Emirates News Agency – 184 Words
Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to Somalia, yesterday met with the Somali Finance Minister, Abdirahman Duale Beyle, at the embassy premises in Mogadishu. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and the Somali Republic and ways of supporting and developing them in various fields, especially in the fields of economic cooperation and development.
The Somali Minister expressed his appreciation to the UAE for its continuous support in Somalia, and its role in supporting economic development efforts through development projects carried out in various Somali regions. He also praised the strong relations between the two friendly nations, pointing out that the UAE has been one of the largest trading partners of Somalia over the past decades, and emphasised his keenness to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Al Hammadi expressed his appreciation to the Somali Minister for his efforts in consolidating relations between the two nations, highlighting the depth of the historical ties between the UAE and Somalia. He noted that the UAE will continue its efforts to support the development projects and economy in Somalia.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Khat is a major tax earner for Somaliland and reports indicate that its sale generated 20 percent of the government’s Sh15 billion budget in 2014. Somaliland is said to spend over Sh54 billion annually on Ethiopian miraa and the sector is a key source of employment in the unrecognised state”
Boom For Kenyan Khat Traders As Shortage Hits Somaliland
20 September- Source: Daily Nation – 403 Words
Khat traders from Kenya are cashing in on a shortage being experienced in Somaliland following the disruption of the business by conflicts in Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions. Ethiopia supplies most of the khat consumed in Hargeisa, Somaliland and Djibouti but recent ethnic conflicts have cut off transport from the miraa growing areas. In Ethiopia, khat is largely grown in the eastern regions of Dire Dawa state and Harari region which are both about 200 kilometres from Hargeisa. On Friday last week, BBC reported that dozens of people had died and at least 30,000 displaced in clashes across Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions in recent days while local media said the conflicts had affected business in eastern Ethiopia.
Speaking to Nation, Nyambene Miraa Traders Association (Nyamita) spokesman Kimathi Munjuri said they are now delivering 12 tonnes of khat to Hargeisa since last week. He said they entered the market after traders and consumers in Somaliland protested over shortage of the herb that is highly prized in the region. “Two aircraft are ferrying 12 tonnes of khat from Nairobi since last week.“We have been kept out of the market by hefty taxes and this is why we need government intervention for constant supply. We wish the national government can grab this chance to regularise the trading framework for us to continue with the supply,” Mr Munjuri said.