September 28, 2018 | Morning Headlines
EU Approves 1st Budget Support To Somalia As Trust Grows
27 September – Source: Daily Mail – 131 Words
The European Union says it has approved 100 million euros ($116 million) in its first-ever budget support to Somalia’s government in the latest sign of confidence in a country long shattered by conflict. The EU announcement comes a day after the World Bank said it would provide $80 million in direct financing to Somalia’s government for the first time in 27 years, calling it a “milestone.”
The EU statement says “this combined response opens entirely new opportunities” in Somalia’s nation-building and will help to increase local authorities’ role in providing basic services. The money from the EU, which calls itself the largest donor to the Horn of Africa nation, will be disbursed until 2021. Somalia’s federal government remains fragile and the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group remains a deadly threat.
Key Headlines
- EU Approves 1st Budget Support To Somalia As Trust Grows (Daily Mail)
- Somali President Launches Blistering Attack On ‘Fuming’ Opposition (Hiiraan Online)
- Somali Forces Kill Al-Shabaab Foreign Fighter In Lower Shabelle (Halbeeg News)
- At Least 2 Killed In Twin Blasts In Somalia (Xinhua)
- Turkey’s IHH Builds Orphanage In Somalia’s Capital (Anadolu Agency)
- UK Urges Donors To Support African Union Mission In Somalia (Africa News Room)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Launches Blistering Attack On ‘Fuming’ Opposition
27 September – Source: Hiiraan Online
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has fiercely attacked opposition politicians for playing double standards in the ongoing political battle with the government. In recent weeks, opposition politicians have united in their criticism against the government, blaming it squarely for security lapses, which have led to renewed attacks by milia groups and separately faulted it for igniting a political crisis between it and regional states.
Responding to the accusations, President Farmaajo slammed opposition politicians for wrongly portraying the country as one under a perpetual crisis: “The fuming politicians always say the international community should come and act as a go-between for us. They also claim this country is shattered beyond repair and that our army is incompetent. That’s not conventional Somali wisdom,” reacted the enraged President.
With dramatic flair, the President also accused opposition politicians of undermining public confidence, and called on them to work in the interest of the country. His remarks come days after the country’s regional leaders skipped a meeting he had convened. At an earlier conference in Kismayo, the five regional states resolved to cut off working relations with the central government, which they accused of failing to deliver on its promises and lacking the mechanism for sharing the country’s resources.
Somali Forces Kill Al-Shabaab Foreign Fighter In Lower Shabelle
27 September – Source: Halbeeg News
Members of the Somali National Army (SNA) say they killed an Al-Shabaab foreign fighter in an operation in southern Somalia. The military also killed 16 other fighters in an operation in Lower Shabelle region. Omar Dhere, the commander of 12th April Battalion of SNA, told the military-owned Radio that the forces killed an Afghan fighter in clashes with Al-Shabaab along Jilib-Marka road.
The commander identified the slain Al-Shabaab fighter as Nasir Al-Jabin. He did not give details on when the fighter was killed. The latest development comes barely a month after the Somali government claimed it had killed a Russian jihadist fighting for Al-Shabaab. Sheikh Abdinasir Azerbaijan crossed into Somalia from Yemen where he fought alongside Houthi rebels before joining Al-Shabaab in Somalia three years ago.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
At Least 2 Killed In Twin Blasts In Somalia
27 September – Source Xinhua – 173 Words
At least two people were killed and six others injured in two explosions in El-Wak town in southern Somalia on Thursday, witnesses said. Residents living the area which is close to the border with Kenya said the blasts occurred at a restaurant situated near a police station in El-wak district of Gedo region of southern part of the Horn of Africa nation. “There were two explosions which targeted both tea shops in Elwak town where some people were killed and others critically injured,” a resident who did no want to be named told Xinhua by telephone.
The incident caused confusion and panic in the border town as emergency rescue teams rush the injured to hospitals. Residents and local officials believe the explosions to be from improvised explosive devices which were planted inside the restaurant in El-Wak, close to the border with Kenya. No group has yet claimed the attack but government officials blamed al-Qaida allied terrorist group al-Shabab, who often carries out such attacks as part of efforts to overthrow the Western-backed government.
Turkey’s IHH Builds Orphanage In Somalia’s Capital
27 September – Source: Anadolu Agency – 212 Words
The Istanbul-based Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) completed the construction of an orphanage in Somali capital Mogadishu to commemorate a Turkish teenager martyred by PKK in 2017. “The construction of the orphanage, which has a total area of 215 square meters, has been completed,” Zuhtu Kalma, head of the IHH in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, told Anadolu agency.
The orphanage will accommodate a total of 120 orphans, Kalma said. Kalma said: “When the finishing touches are done, we will go to Mogadishu for the inauguration ceremony of the orphanage which we have built by the name of our brother Eren.” “We will also invite Eren’s mother Ayse Bulbul to the ceremony. We want her to see her son’s name living in Mogadishu,” he added.
According to UNICEF reports, it is estimated that there are about 400 million orphans in the world. Eren Bulbul ,15, died from wounds sustained as he helped gendarmes track PKK terrorists in Macka, a town 22 kilometers (14 miles) south of Trabzon. The PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU — resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of some 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The UK is a leading partner for Somalia, and the second largest bilateral donor. This financial year, the UK will provide approximately £313m of support to Somalia, contributing to the country’s stability and helping to make a tangible difference to the lives of its poorest and most vulnerable people.”
UK Urges Donors To Support African Union Mission In Somalia
27 September – Source: Africa News Room – 485 Words
Today the UK, Somalia, Italy and Ethiopia brought together international partners in support of Somalia’s security, political and economic reforms. Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin co-hosted the meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, with Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad of Somalia, State Minister Hirut Zemene of Ethiopia and Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. Alongside senior government representatives, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Chergui and Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development attended.
Minister Baldwin praised the bravery and positive impact of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops and the Somali forces who are fighting against Al Shabaab and restoring stability to the country. She emphasised the importance of a successful transition of responsibility for Somalia’s security to its own forces. A rushed withdrawal, without sustainable and predictable funding in place, would jeopardise the fragile progress made over recent years.
During her visit to Kenya (30 August 2018), the Prime Minister announced over £7m of additional funding to support AMISOM’s work. She called on the international community to join the UK in providing additional funding to AMISOM to ensure it was sufficiently funded to deliver a successful security transition.
Minister Harriett Baldwin said: “Somalia has a real chance for a better future. One that allows its people to flourish, provides no space for terrorist groups, and contributes to regional stability. Helping to build that future must be a truly international effort. Today I am calling on Somalia’s friends to contribute to ensure sustainable funding for AMISOM.”
Somalia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency Ahmed Isse Awad said: “The Federal Government of Somalia remains committed to implementing the key political, economic and security reforms that will help Somalia emerge from the many difficult years it has experienced. The support of the international community has been vital to Somalia thus far.
We look forward to continued engagement and support with our international partners as we advance our reform agenda and the transfer of responsibility for Somalia’s security from AMISOM to Somali security forces.”