September 6, 2016 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Somalia Bans Kenya Khat Planes From Its Airspace

05 September – Source: The Star – 158 Words

Somalia has stopped the entry of Kenya’s khat planes into its airspace effective Tuesday, spelling doom for the sector. Aviation minister Ali Ahmed said this on Monday without giving reasons for the decision that will stand until further notice. “Any violation on Somali airspace and disregard of this notice will have equal consequences,” he said in a letter copied to Internal Security and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Somalia is the largest market for Kenya’s khat; more than 16 planes carrying the plant enter Somalia every day. Farmers had been struggling to sustain markets following miraa export bans by several European states two years ago. President Uhuru Kenyatta announced in April that a budgetary allocation of Sh1 billion would cushion miraa growers from the challenges of the ban. The historical assent, which was witnessed by Deputy President William Ruto and Meru leaders, gave legal backing for farmers and traders to grow, harvest and sell miraa produce without any hindrances.

Key Headlines

Somalia Bans Kenya Khat Planes From Its Airspace (The Star)
Ahlu Sunna Imposes Taxes On Vehicles Operating In Dhusamareeb (Goobjoog News)
Puntland President Heads To Mogadishu For The NLF Conference (Garowe Online)
SRSG Keating Meets Women Leaders Over Women’s Representation In 2016 Electoral Process (UNSOM)
Dubai’s DP World Says Wins 30 year Concession For Port Project In Somaliland (Reuters)
Businessman Injured In Car Blast In Mogadishu (Xinhua)
PM Sharmarke To Square Off With President Mohamud In October 30 Poll (Goobjoog News)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Ahlu Sunna Imposes Taxes On Vehicles Operating In Dhusamareeb

05 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 142 Words

Somalia’s moderate Islamist group, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jam’a has impose taxes on vehicles plying between Dhusamareeb town and villages around it. The chairman of the group in Dhusamareeb town, Abdullaahi Ahmed Barre told the reporters that they are imposing taxes on vehicles operating in the region and the money will be used to improve the security in the town.

“We have improved the security of the town but to keep it consistent we need more finances, due to that reason, the administration orders all vehicles operating in Dhusamareeb district to pay taxes,” said Barre. The chairman also called on the residents to work hand in hand with the group’s fighters to secure the district. Ahlusunna which controls parts of Galgaduud region has previously exchanged gun fights with SNA.

Puntland President Heads To Mogadishu For The NLF Conference

05 September – Source: Garowe Online – 196 Words

The President of Puntland Government Abdiwali Mohamed Ali has travelled to Mogadishu on Monday morning to attend the National Leadership Forum on the upcoming Somali election. The leaders of the Somali Federal Government and regional administration are set to gather in the capital Mogadishu for continued talks this week to conclude issues on the upcoming Somali election.

Topping the agenda will be the Banadir region representation in the Upper House amongst other issues. The conference which comes a week before the term of the sitting president ends according to the provisional constitution will also discuss issues raised by the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) in relation to the electoral process.

While speaking to the media on an official trip to Galkayo before leaving for Mogadishu, President Ali denounced President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recent statement in an interview with VOA. President Ali’s words followed after President Mohamud said Puntland comprised of two and a half states in an interview with VOA. President Ali added “Puntland state was established with 5 regions and now it comprises of 9 regions, clearly the President doesn’t know his country,” Ali Said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

SRSG Keating Meets Women Leaders Over Women’s Representation In 2016 Electoral Process

05 September – Source: UNSOM – 427 Words

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia Michael Keating has vowed to press for the full participation of Somali women in the 2016 electoral process during a meeting today with prominent women leaders headed by Federal Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, Zahra Samatar.

The women expressed concern that political leaders in the National Leadership Forum (NLF) had yet to adopt specific measures to implement a proposed 30 per cent quota of seats for women in the next federal parliament that will be chosen in the forthcoming electoral process.

“We were tasked to formulate a review committee to address the absence of women in politics out of a realization that women had been left out in the political process. We feel that the public has been influenced to believe that the 30 per cent quota for women is a foreign idea,“ Minister Samatar said.

The minister emphasized that the push for women’s political empowerment is coming from within Somali society, and she refuted claims that it was being imposed by the international community. Mr. Keating reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to women’s political empowerment and pledged to engage the country’s leaders on the need to promote women’s participation in the electoral process.

Dubai’s DP World Says Wins 30 year Concession For Port Project In Somaliland

05 September – Source: Reuters – 87 Words

Dubai’s DP World has won a 30 year concession to manage and develop a port in the breakaway Somalia region of Somaliland that will require an investment of $442 million, the ports operator said in a stocks exchange statement on Monday. The Red Sea Port of Berbera project will focus on containers, with the capability to handle other types of cargo, the statement said. DP World will have a 65 percent share in the joint venture project with the government of Somaliland, it said.

Businessman Injured In Car Blast In Mogadishu

05 September – Source: Xinhua – 124 Words

A businessman escaped with injuries when a bomb planted in his car went off along Maka al-Mukarama road in Mogadishu’s central business district, police said Monday. A police officer at the scene Yahye Abdi told Xinhua the car had been rigged with explosive devices and went off when the businessman tried to start the car.

An eyewitness told Xinhua there was a huge explosion then the vehicle went up in flames. “There was sudden explosion across the street and shortly we saw a vehicle on fire,” said Elmi Noor. The street is popular with African Union convoys and government vehicles. No group has claimed responsibility, but Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab has been known to use such tactics to launch attacks.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“For the past four years, we have witnessed political rifts which have prevented us from achieving what we were set to. We were not able to finish the Constitutional Review process and other important benchmarks which was set for this term,” said Sharmarke.

PM Sharmarke To Square Off With President Mohamud In October 30 Poll

05 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 441 Words

Somalia’s Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke Monday declared his entry to the 2016 Presidential race, a move which could see him sit in an office his father occupied 47 years ago before he was felled by a bodyguard’s bullet.

Omar’s declaration would not only mirror a son’s quest to walk in his father’s footsteps as President but also as Prime Minister. Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was the Prime Minister of Somalia from July 12, 1960 to June 14, 1964, and later President from June 10, 1967 until his assassination on October 15, 1969.

While announcing his bid for Presidency based on security, good governance and economic development in Mogadishu, the PM said his Presidency will chart a new course for Somalia following what he termed as four years of political instability which seriously hindered progress in the country.

However he was enthusiasitic about his one and half years in the current government noting his government was able to fight insecurity and implement major development projects. His administration if elected October 30, Sharmarke said would focus on restoring peace, bridging political differences and promoting economic development.