President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appointed Marwo Mako Mohamud Muse on Tuesday as his Advisor on Controlling Illegal Arms.
President Mohamud underscored that this appointment is an integral part of the nation’s strategic plan to lift the longstanding weapon sanctions placed on the country. He stressed the importance of managing arms effectively to prevent them from falling into unauthorized hands, further destabilizing Somalia’s security situation.
advertisementsMarwo Mako Mohamud Muse, the newly appointed advisor, was a candidate in the recent federal parliamentary elections for HOP064, where she lost to Sahro Omar Malin. Once a resident of London, she has previously worked with Travelex, a leading foreign exchange service. However, her expertise in the global and regional arms control landscape remains unclear, raising questions about her suitability for this challenging role. The Somali government typically does not publish the CVs of its political appointees. 
The arms embargo on Somalia, introduced by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 1992, aimed to halt the influx of weapons fueling the country’s civil war. The ban, encompassing all deliveries of weapons and military equipment, also included technical assistance, training, financial, and other assistance related to military activities.
In 2013, Resolution 2093 partially lifted the embargo, allowing the Somali government to acquire light weapons for a year under strict regulations. This partial lift has been renewed annually, with the most recent renewal under Resolution 2568 in November 2022.
However, despite the Somali government’s strong objections, the UN continues to maintain the arms embargo, citing the severe threat posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabab. The Security Council has recognized the Somali government’s progress in improving its weapons and ammunition management, leading to some modifications of the embargo. Yet, the country’s UN Ambassador, Abukar Osman, warns that the ban hampers efforts to rebuild the nation’s security forces and counter Al-Shabab.
Amid these challenges, President Mohamud announced a ban on carrying guns in the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. This announcement comes as the government intensifies its efforts to combat Al-Shabab and commences the second phase of a military operation against the group. The ban also extends to traders importing any form of military gear. However, weeks following the ban’s announcement, the regional police chief of Banadir reported that politicians were flouting the directive 

source hiraan

The Ethiopian government has released political prisoners among them media mogul and Oromo firebrand politician Jawar Mohamed following charges of terrorism in 2020.The release of the political prisoners, the government said was done for the ‘improvement of the political situation.’The move follows calls by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for reconciliation amid an ongoing war that has now lasted for over a year.“The government has granted amnesty to the prisoners to make the national dialogue a success and hoping that they will make a better contribution to the country and to the people,” the state control media reported.Mohamed, alongside several Oromo leaders, were arrested in June 2020 following the killing of popular musician Hachalu Hundesa whose death galvanised mass protests precipitating a political turmoil that has persisted to death.Among those released include Sebhat Nega, Eskinder Nega, Kidusan Nega, Abay Woldu, Abadi Zemu, Mulu Gebre Egziabher and  Kiros Hagos

Source hiiran

 Mohamed Hassan Irro has been elected as the new chairman of Somalia’s Indirect Electoral Commission

The elected chairman won the second round with 14 votes, while his rival Liban Mohamed Hassan received ten votes.

Mawlid Matan Salad, a lawyer and former disputed deputy chairman of the Electoral Commission, also won the election of the Deputy Chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission.

The newly elected chairman Mohamed Hassan Irro and his deputy Mowlid Matan Salad were previously both the chairman and deputy chairman of the disputed Federal Electoral Commission that faced stiff criticism from the Council of Presidential Candidates, Jubbaland and Puntland.

Presidential elections are scheduled to take place on October 10th.

source hiiran

Maritime case to proceed, ICJ rules, objects Kenya’s application

The International Court of Justice has maintained the maritime case between Somalia and Kenya will continue next month dismissing Nairobi’s prayers for a further delay.

In a letter dated February 12 addressed to the Federal Government, the UN said the case will commence on March 15 as earlier set.

The proceedings will be in hybrid format meaning part of it will involve in-person appearance of the legal teams and through video conferencing.

Kenya had on January 28 applied for a third delay of the case citing the COVID19 pandemic, absence of a ‘substantive government’ in Somalia and ‘mysterious disappearance’ of a map it intended to use in its defense.

Information Minister Osman Dube said this week Somalia had written to the UN court objecting a further delay of the case. Kenya has since made three applications seeking the postponement of the case.

source hiiraan

As Somalia marks three decades since a dictator fell and chaos engulfed the country, the government is set to hold a troubled national election. Or is it?

Two regional states refuse to take part, and time is running out before the Feb. 8 date when mandates expire. A parliament resolution allows President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and lawmakers to remain in office, but going beyond Feb. 8 brings “an unpredictable political situation in a country where we certainly don’t need any more of that,” United Nations special representative James Swan told reporters this week.

Amid the campaign billboards and speeches in the capital, Mogadishu, is a sense of frustration as people are urged to support candidates but once again cannot directly take part.

“Nobody has ever asked us what we want or whom we would choose as president,” said Asha Abdulle, who runs a small teashop.

“Every president wants to extend his tenure and at least add one more year, so why can’t they make it official and hold elections every five years instead of four?” wondered Abdirisaq Ali Mohamed as he watched TV at a hotel.

The uncertainty is ripe for exploitation by the Somalia-based al-Shabab extremist group, which has threatened to attack the polls. Meanwhile, the country is adjusting to the withdrawal of some 700 U.S. military personnel, a process completed in mid-January.

A successful election means Somalia’s government can move on to address urgent issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, a locust outbreak and hundreds of thousands of people displaced by climate crises like drought.

Despite its insecurity, the Horn of Africa nation has had peaceful changes of leadership every four years since 2000, and it has the distinction of having Africa’s first democratically elected president to peacefully step down, Aden Abdulle Osman in 1967.

But the goal of a direct, one-person-one-vote election in Somalia remains elusive. It was meant to take place this time. Instead, the federal government and states agreed on another “indirect election,” with senators and members of parliament elected by community leaders — delegates of powerful clans — in each member state.

Members of parliament and senators then elect Somalia’s president.

An alliance of opposition leaders, along with civil society groups, have objected, arguing it leaves them no say in the politics of their own country.

Now the regional states of Jubbaland and Puntland have refused to take part, objecting to issues including how electoral management bodies should be appointed and delegates selected. That includes delegates from the breakaway region of Somaliland, which considers itself an independent country though not internationally recognized.

Jubbaland and Puntland finally appointed electoral commissioners this week, a sign of progress. “No partial elections or parallel processes,” the U.S. Embassy said as it encouraged political leaders to meet on remaining issues.

An outburst of deadly fighting in Jubbaland this week has highlighted the tensions . Somalia blamed it on rebels backed by neighboring Kenya, with which Somalia severed diplomatic ties in December. Critics of the president say he is trying to rally support as he seeks a second term — an elusive goal for Somali leaders over the past two decades.

The opposition alliance, which includes two former presidents and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, has urged the president to return to his senses and let all stakeholders play their rightful role in the election.

“You promised that once president you will be a good Somali elder. You were given to lead a united people in a peaceful way,” said one of the former presidents, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He himself benefited from an extra year in office when elections were not yet ready.

The former president warned that Jubbaland and Puntland could go the way of Somaliland, with the unity of the country at stake.

“There’s no way that Somalia will go back to the 1990s,” Mohamud said of an era in which local warlords ran rampant in Mogadishu and an attempt by the U.S. military to intervene collapsed when the bodies of U.S. soldiers were dragged through the streets.

The objecting states have been given plenty of time to take part in the election, said Ibrahim Hassan Haji, an electoral commission member from Southwest state. “Otherwise, we will be forced to go ahead without them and select their quotas of (delegates) from here in Mogadishu.”

But the head of the local Hiraal Institute think tank, Hussein Sheikh Ali, said holding a partial election will not be tolerated in a country where clans are still “armed to the teeth.”

Instead, “it is always the ‘sixth clan’ (the international community) that intervenes” in such crises and a road map is usually agreed upon, added political analyst Liban Abdullahi.

The U.N. special representative, however, has stressed that any resolution must come from Somali leaders, whom he urged to “be imaginative.” He would not say how the international community might respond to a vote that goes ahead without all states involved.

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source AP

Farmaajo assures of poll fairness in meeting with donors in Mogadishu

President Mohamed Farmaajo has assured of a fair election in a meeting today with members of the international community amid accusations against his government of frustrating the process.

A statement from Villa Somalia noted that the President had agreed to a compromise and called on all parties to the process to work towards achieving a fair election.

“We have made compromises in regards to the implementation of the electoral process and that needs commitment and encouragement to ensure elections happen in accordance with the constitution,” the president said.

The meeting came two days after  Jubbaland and Puntland accepted to form their respective electoral committees. Leaders of the two states also called for a consultative meeting bringing together the Federal Government and Federal Member States to agree flesh out remaining contentions in the poll process.

UN head in Somalia James Swan has been on a whirlwind tour of the Federal Member States where he has since secured a deal with Jubaland and Puntland to drop their conditions and participate in the elections.

source hiiraan

The pain in Dawa Zone: Another Infrastructural Problem

One can hear the people in the Dawa Zone of the Somali Region complain about the long promised infrastructural projects. The sources who contacted Addis Zeybe say that the roads in the Zone are out of use, severe shortage of running water has been rampant in the area and other basic services are also similarly inadequate, if not worse.

Nejmia Faisel, a resident of Moyale Woreda says that the regional government promised to construct those infrastructural projects 12 years ago. “But nothing is accomplished except a promise to do so every year,” she says. According to Nejima, the representatives of the community in the Zone have sent their plea as they always do, to the zonal and regional governments for the accomplishments of the needed schemes. 

“We have been requesting the concerned bodies repeatedly for the execution of these development projects, but none of them were carried out,” says Haji Bashir Abdi, another member of the community in the area. “I hear every year that there is a plan to do this and that, but I don’t know where those things are on the ground,” he adds. Haji says that every kebelle in the Zone is having difficulty accessing basic services.

Many residents of the zone agree that the conditions of the roads, bridges and other infrastructures are major problems in Dawa Zone. They believe that if the roads to the rural health centers were better, many lives could have been saved so far. Emergency ambulances cannot reach villages to rescue pregnant women in labor. Family members have to use a motor bike to get a pregnant woman to a waiting ambulance, putting the life of her unborn baby at risk,” adds Haji Bashir. 

“The major problem for the delay of those basic projects in the zone were the subsequent administrators of the zone in the former government of the Region and the way they handled things” says Mohamed Abdi Harun, Deputy Head of the Regional Water Resources Bureau. “But now the Regional government has finalized a plan to reach the zone and implement the long-awaited projects.”

The Regional Roads and Transport Authority Head, Mr. Roble also says that the construction of a 39 km long asphalted road has begun and it will connect the districts in the zone. Mr.Roble said: “This will help solve the major problems of the districts in the zone, up on its completion in 6 months time.”

“Even though the previous administration’s had spent millions of birr for road and other infrastructure projects in the Region, most of these projects failed simply because of lack of quality, corruption and lack of proper designs. Especially because most of those who were given the projects in the past had no experience or capacity to build such huge projects” adds Mr. Roble.  

According to the residents, the people of the region have witnessed tremendous changes in terms of good governance, freedom of expression, security sector reforms and fight against corruption since the new government administration came to power. 

Mr. Roble says the regional government has made a public bid for almost all government funded projects.  “China Communication Construction company (CCCC) has won the first international bid in the history of our region to build Asphalt roads in Jigjiga and selected areas in the region with the total distance of 45km and a price tag of 72 million US dollar.” 

Source addiszeybe

Ethiopia, UK Sign Climate Partnership Agreement Ahead Of COP26

Ethiopia and the UK have signed a climate partnership agreement ahead of the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The agreement for collaboration between two countries was signed here yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

As part of his three-country tour of East Africa, Raab visited Ethiopia yesterday. Earlier he visited Kenya and Sudan discuss on tackling shared challenges including COVID-19, security and climate change.

In Gondar, he visited a WFP warehouse, central to distributing humanitarian aid such as food and sanitation supplies to those affected by the law enforcement operation in Tigray.

The UK is providing £11.4 million of humanitarian support – with money for healthcare and clean water, as well as shelter, nutrition kits and protection for children.

This is in addition to a £94 million package to support Ethiopia’s response to the triple threats of COVID-19, climate change and locusts.

In Addis Ababa the Foreign Secretary visited a school with President Sahle-Work Zewde to see how the UK is supporting girl’s education.

Raab also announced yesterday a £3 million new funding to improve skills and capacity of private Ethiopian media outlets.

source fana

Germany Continues Support To Ongoing Reforms In Ethiopia: Amb Stephan Auer

Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia Stephan Auer reiterated the commitment of his country to continue support to the ongoing reforms in Ethiopia.

Speaker of the House of Federation Adem Farah and Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia have discussed various bilateral and regional issues.

During the discussion, the house speaker noted that Ethiopia is committed to heighten its longstanding relationship with Germany in the economic, social and political spheres.

Adem said the countries have a fertile ground to scale up their relationship in the parliamentary diplomacy sector.

He expressed gratitude to the government of Germany for its unreserved support to Ethiopia and its people in several circumstances.

Ambassador Stephan Auer, to his part, said Germany is keen to deepen its cooperation with Ethiopia in the economic sector and other multifaceted areas, adding that several German business men are participating in the investment sector of the country.

He appreciated the progress of the relationship of the two countries in trade and investment between the two countries pledging commitment of his country to continue support to the reform agenda of Ethiopia in the economic, social and political spheres.

Germany is committed to heighten its ties with Ethiopia in multifaceted areas and further unwavering support for the successfulness of reforms in the country, he stressed.

Germany is keen to deepen its collaboration with Ethiopia in a way to maintain peace and stability and ensure sustainable economic growth in the IGAD region, Ambassador Stephan Auer added

Biden to rescind ban on Somalis upon swearing-in: White House Chief of Staff

President-elect Joe Biden will immediately revoke Trump’s order banning travellers from Muslim majority countries on his first day in office, US media reports.

According to Biden advisors quoted by US media, Biden will, upon being sworn into office rescind the ban which has subjected thousands of travellers from countries such as Somalia to restrictions including entry into the United States.

“These actions will change the course of COVID-19, combat climate change, promote racial equity and support other underserved communities, and rebuild our economy in ways that strengthen the backbone of this country: the working men and women who built our nation,” White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain wrote in a memo to new White House staff.

President Trump issued the first order restricting travel to the US by nationals of Muslim majority countries in January 2017.

Although the courts blocked most sections of the Executive Order, the Supreme Court upheld the third order (Presidential Proclamation 9645) in June 2018 retaining the ban on travellers from countries including Somalia.

The revocation of the order will be a major boon for Somalis who have been cut off from their families since the first order came into force in 2017

Head Of The TPLF Clique Ringleaders Sebhat Nega Arrested

Perpetrators including the head of ringleaders of the TPLF Clique, Sebhat Nega have been arrested today, the National Defence Force announced.

Sebhat Nega is the chief of the renegade group who was leading the strategy of instability occurred in the country over the last 27 seven years before the reform and orchestrated the atrocity the TPLF clique committed against the northern command of the national army and the war the renegade group waged against the country.

ENDF’s Deployment Department Head, Brigadier General Tesfaye Ayalew told ENA has been captured in a hideout situated in a hostile strip difficult to trace.

“As we promised, the gallant and diligent National Defense Force in collaboration with other security institutions has made vast exploration of the desert, valleys and mountains of Tembein to discover the hideouts of the hiding TPLF Clique ringleaders.”, Brig.-Gen Tesfaye underscored

The hideout of Sebhat has been discovered by a close raid undertaken jointly by the Federal Police and the National Defence Force army, Brig.-Gen Tesfaye stated.

Bodyguards who were escorting the TPLF Clique ringleaders including Sebhat Nega have been killed by the national army while defending to defend their bosses.

Totally, five culprits including the Head of the TPLF clique, Sebhat Nega has been captured.

Accordingly,

1. Sebhat Nega, the head and strategist of the TPLF Clique.
2. Lt -Col Tseadu Rich – Wife of Sebhat Nega and a retired physician in Army Hospital.
3.  Colonel Kinfe Tadesse who betrayed the National army
4. Colonel Yemane Kahisay who also betrayed the National Army
5. Asgede Gebrekiristos who joined the TPLF Clique from inland have been arrested today.                          Alganesh Meles who was wife of Maj-Gen Hayelom Araya and joined the TPLF Clique from US where she was living for many years das died falling down to groud from a top place while trying to escape the manhunt.

Ethiopia To Buy 5 Airplanes To Combat Desert Locust

The Ministry of Agriculture said the country is undergoing biding to buy five airplanes that will significantly assist the prevention activities of swarm infestation that threats agricultural production.

Agriculture State Minister Mandefro Nigussie told The Ethiopian Herald that increasing the number of aerial sprayers is crucial to effectively prevent the swarm that currently is posing threats in some parts of Somali regional state.

He said the country is under process to buy five airplanes of which two are surveyors and the remaining three are sprayers.

The total cost for the plane is $10 million and the county has secured the finance, he added

France and Israel are among the seven countries that are participating in the bidding process, he said.

According to Mandefro, the purchase will be completed this Ethiopian fiscal year.

Puntland orders use of Somali shillings for less than $10 transactions

Puntland president Abdullahi Deni has decreed against use of the American dollar for transactions which are less than $10 within the state.

Deni issued the decree Saturday noting that from today (Sunday), all transactions less that $10 will be transacted in the Somali shilling in what his administration said is a move to salvage the value of the Somali shilling which has depreciated in recent months.

“From tomorrow 10 dollars or more will have to be used for mobile money transactions,” Deni said noting his government had reversed an earlier order which set the bar at $1.

According to the directive, all transactions of less than $10 will be made using the Somali shilling which means all payments of such amounts will be made in cash. The mobile money system is calibrated on the American dollar.

The Puntland government also reversed an earlier order that required traders to pay import and export taxes in dollars. The new order now requires only 10% of the taxes to be in Somali shilling.

Deni said the decision to reverse the order was informed by complaints from traders who have in recent weeks protested the directive

source hiiraan

Opposition group leader calls for arrest of officer who fired at protestors in Mogadishu

Opposition leader and former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has called for the arrest and prosecution of a police officer who was captured on video brandishing a gun and firing at protesters in Mogadishu.

Addressing the media in Mogadishu Saturday, Sharif, who is also the Council of Presidential Candidates Union chairman said the officer reportedly attached to the national intelligence agency (NISA) must face prosecution.

In the video, the officer is seen pointing a pistol at female protestors and also firing at other

protestors.The former head of state also called for the release of the people who have in recent protests been arrested by police noting they were withing their constitutional rights to demonstrate against the government.

Meanwhile sources close to the opposition factions said the leaders had formed their own security teams to protect their supporters during protests.

The latest move by the opposition is likely to exacerbate an already fragile situation in the city as fears of violence abound.

Security personnel dispersed protesters last week with reports that some fired live bullets at the opposition supporters.

Several people were injured in the protests which hit various parts of the city.

The Opposition has demanded for the dissolution of the interim federal elections team terming it as packed with the president’s loyalists.

source hiiraan

Turkey Warns Libya’s Haftar and Supporters Against Attacking Its Forces

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar warned on Sunday that the forces of Khalifa Haftar and their supporters based in eastern Libya would be viewed as “legitimate targets” if they attempted to attack Turkish forces in the region.

Turkey is the main foreign backer of Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli, which for years has been fighting Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA is backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

In October, the GNA and LNA signed a ceasefire agreement and the United Nations has been pushing a political dialogue aimed at elections next year as a solution. Russia on Wednesday called for international efforts toward a peace settlement in Libya to be intensified.

Speaking during a visit to Turkish troops in Tripoli, Akar said Haftar had recently started making calls targeting Turkish forces in Libya and calling for attacks on Turkish troops, and also called on all parties to support political talks instead.

“This war criminal, thug Haftar and his backers should know that in the event of any attack attempt waged on Turkish forces, the killer Haftar’s forces will be viewed as legitimate targets everywhere,” Akar said.

“They should get this in their heads. If they do something like this, they will have nowhere to run,” he said. “Everyone should contribute to reaching a political solution here. Any move other than this is wrong.”

Turkey has sent military personnel and equipment to the GNA, helping to turn the tide of the war in Libya, while engaging in talks with Moscow for a solution to the conflict between the GNA and LNA.

Both sides have stopped short of withdrawing forces from the frontline, as demanded by the truce. A panel of U.N. experts has cited the foreign supporters of both sides as breaching an arms embargo on Libya.

Last month, Turkey and Germany traded barbs over the search of a Turkish freight ship by a European Union military mission in the Mediterranean aimed at enforcing the Libyan arms embargo, in a move Ankara called illegal.

This month, the LNA also intercepted a Turkish ship, under a Jamaican flag, heading to the port of Misrata, prompting an angry rebuke from Ankara. The ship was later released.

source reutres