September 7, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
AMISOM Force Commander Visits Troops In Kismayo, Urges Vigilance During The Electoral Process
07 September – Source: AMISOM – 327 Words
AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh has heaped praise on AMISOM troops based in Kismaayo for the remarkable work they are doing in securing Jubbaland State. The Force Commander was on an inaugural tour of Sector Kismaayo, where he held consultations with Jubbaland senior leadership, AMISOM sector commanders and senior officials from the Somali security forces.
The talks focused on strengthening security across the state. He urged the security forces to enhance their vigilance as the country starts the electoral process. Accompanied by the Deputy Force Commander Major General Nakibus Lakara and other senior military officials, the Force Commander toured AMISOM’s multi-national bases situated in Kismaayo.
“AMISOM’s key role will be to secure electoral venues in order to achieve a peaceful electoral process and manage the threats posed by the Al-Shabaab. We will work hand in hand with our colleagues from the Somali security forces,” Lt. Gen. Soubagleh said. The President of Jubbaland State H.E Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe expressed satisfaction with the troops and in other joint military efforts going on in Jubbaland.
“We are hoping of a peaceful electoral process in Jubbaland State and Somalia as a whole. We have put security measures in place and sensitized the electorate. We also request the international community to send observers in the upcoming electoral process for transparency,” stated President Madobe.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM Force Commander Visits Troops In Kismayo Urges Vigilance During The Electoral Process(AMISOM)
- Several Injured In Fighting Between Somali Forces In Jowhar (Goobjoog News)
- NLF Issued Permits To Elders Outside the 135 List Federal Electoral Body Says (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Government Says Munya To Blame For Ban On Khat (Daily Nation)
- High MP Absenteeism Rattles Somalia’s 9th Parliament (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Several Injured In Fighting Between Somali Forces In Jowhar
07 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 127
Heavy fighting broke out between the Somali Federal Government military forces and police officers at a security checkpoint in Jowhar town of Middle Shabelle region. A Witness confirmed that several soldiers and civilians were wounded in the shootout after police officers denied entry of a truck loaded with SNA soldiers into Jowhar.
“Civilians were caught in the crossfire was among the fatalities,” the witness said. The infighting between the militias within the armed forces has been a reoccurring event in the past few months claiming the lives of many civilian.
Somalia has been struggling to reconstitute its army, which collapsed with the government back in 1991, plunging the country into over two decades of chaos after warlords overthrew the country’s former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
NLF Issued Permits To Elders Outside the 135 List, Federal Electoral Body Says
07 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 482 Words
The National Leadership Forum has reportedly issued permits to elders who were not in the 2012 list to participate in the selection of delegates for the 2016 polls despite endorsing the same list in a communiqué in June, the Federal electoral body has said.
Warning the interference has and will adversely affect the upcoming polls, the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) called on the NLF which is meeting in Mogadishu to stick to the initial list of the 135 elders to ensure a unified election. “FIEIT has learnt there are traditional elders not in the 2012 list of 135 elders who were issued permits by the NLF to select delegates. This is already causing confusion some clans have raised complaints,” said FIEIT in a letter exclusively seen by Goobjoog News.
The NLF must be careful not to alter the list of 135 elders, FIEIT warned. In what is likely to generate more debate, FIEIT noted that it had realized some of the elders who participated in the 2012 selection of MPs were not bona fide members of clans they claimed to represent. It is not however clear if the NLF will consider revising the list.
The concerns by FIEIT was also raised by the UN. In a letter addressed to the leaders of the country, UN Special envoy Michael Keating warned the NLF against revisiting the electoral model or interfering with the list of elders. “International partners therefore urge you to refrain from making any further changes to the list that will raise questions as to the rationale for such late modification and open the door to more requests,” Keating said.
NLF is expected to wrap up talks today or tomorrow which will pave way for upcoming electoral process.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Government Says Munya To Blame For Ban On Khat
07 September – Source: Daily Nation – 272 Words
The Somali government has said it imposed a ban on khat imports from Kenya because Meru Governor Peter Munya had “used the business to campaign for the breakup of the country.” On Tuesday evening, Somali Ambassador to Kenya Gamal Hassan said Mr Munya’s visit to Hargeisa in July had caused political pressure back in Somalia to have the trade stopped.
“He linked the territorial integrity of the country to the khat trade and interfered in the internal affairs of the country,” he told the Nation.coke. “This has created a lot of unbearable pressure on the government. We have suspended the trade to have these matters addressed,” he added.
On Monday, Somalia announced it will no longer allow flights from Kenya carrying khat, most of which is grown in Meru County. In July, Mr Munya had travelled to Hargeisa, the capital of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland to lobby for easier trade rules for khat exporters in Kenya in exchange for some form of recognition for Somaliland.
While there, he met with Deputy President of Somaliland Abdurrahman Ishmael, the foreign affairs minister and finance minister. But Mogadishu said Mr Munya’s reported comments on the probable independence of Somaliland angered officials and politicians keen to have one united Somalia.
Mr Hassan told the Nation his government is discussing the issue with the relevant Kenyan authorities to find an amicable solution. Kenya sends about 540 planeloads of khat to Somalia every month. The ban could cause millions in losses, especially since Somalia was the last standing market for Kenya following bans in the UK and in the Netherlands several years earlier.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“With no bill that allows the dismissal of lawmakers who routinely missed sessions, Somalia’s leadership was left to give empty warnings against ‘unjustifiable’ absences by members of the legislative body; all cases went unpunished.”
High MP Absenteeism Rattles Somalia’s 9th Parliament (2012 – 2016)
07 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 543 Words
Attending parliamentary sessions is critical for fulfilling the representation and oversight mandate of parliamentarians in any country. For Somalia, attendance is even more crucial as parliament sessions set the national tone for rebuilding a state that has collapsed completely and representing the collective interest of a broken society ravaged by civil war.
An analysis by Hiiraan Online on the attendance of Somalia’s 9th parliament (2012-2016) – found that this national calling has fallen on the deaf ears of many parliamentarians as dodging parliamentary sessions with impunity has become a standard practice. The attendance sheet posted on the website of the parliament demonstrates that absenteeism ranges from 3% – 94%.
As demonstrated in the sessional statistics, many of the country’s lawmakers missed almost all sessions convened by parliament since it was formed in 2012. Most of the MPs who failed to appear in parliament missed sessions without bothering to seek formal permission. With no bill that allows the dismissal of lawmakers who routinely missed sessions, Somalia’s leadership was left to give empty warnings against ‘unjustifiable’ absences by members of the legislative body; all cases went unpunished.
Absenteeism has affected the functioning of the parliament as many parliamentarians failed to attend the 348 regular and extraordinary sessions held over the 4-year term of the 9th parliament. In the past, sessions have been cancelled or postponed for lack of the required quorum.
The frequent absence by some Parliamentarians not only frustrates the constituents the MP’s represent but also draws the ire of their punctual colleagues. “We are talking about months of absence, even at times a year or a bit close to that.” said one Somali legislator who requested not be named. “It makes it near impossible to get anything done”.
TOP TWEETS
@asmali77 : Meru Governor Munya went to preach sovereignty in #Somaliland & has as a result lost his County a lucrative#Miraa business with #Somalia.
@RadioErgo : #Somalia:Disabled Somali children get free school places in Kismayo http://bit.ly/2cjgRMw @unicefsomalia@OCHASom
@Eye_on_Somalia : #allAfrica Mortars Land Near Somali Palace in Mogadishu: [Shabelle] Several mortar rounds have lande… http://bit.ly/2cceLgR #somalia
@ahmedversi : 3 people were killed, many wounded by bomb at#Mogadishu’s main market, another killed nearby#Somalia http://goo.gl/YXoge5
@MoPIC_Somalia : Director Generals of @MoPIC_Somaliapresenting #NDPSomalia updates as 2nd draft of the National Plan ready.
@cadow10 : I’m totally against what they call ‘NATIONAL ID CARDS’, innocent pple can’t afford the cost, it’s too much.#Somalia #Mogadishu
@ESASavechildren : In #Somalia, irregular migration by youth has gradually become part of the Somali youth culture#YoungAndOnTheMove
@Daudoo: For 2nd day, No flights carrying #Khat drug arrived in#Mogadishu after #Somalia govt temporary suspended planes importing Khat from #Kenya
IMAGE OF THE DAY
On an inaugural tour to Kismaayo, AMISOM’s new Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh reiterated AMISOM’s position on the securing forthcoming electoral venues.
PHOTO: AMISOM