European Union Training Mission

PRESS SUMMARY 29th May 2018

“In ‘Media’ stat virtus” EUTM - SOMALIA 29/05/2018

Somalia’s Supreme Court chief refused to leave the office after president Farmajo sacked him on Sunday

May 28, 2018 234 Views

Mogadishu-KNN-Supreme Court chief of Somalia Ibrahim Idle Suleiman declined a presidential degree from Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, which is stated that he is sacked by the President and Bashe Yusuf will be his successor.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo sacked the chief of Justice Ibrahim Iidle Saleban and appointed Bashe Yusuf Ahmed as chairman of the Supreme Court, as president rebuilds the judiciary system the country.

Ibrahim Iidle told BBC on Monday that he is not accepting his dismissal, citing that the presidential degree is illegitimate.

He said president must flow the legitimate way and he refused to leave the office.

Farmajo fired Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, saying he took the step after a public outcry over several judicial decisions and allegations of corruption in the judiciary, according to a presidential decree published on Facebook account of Villa Somalia

Farmajo asked lawmakers to expedite the nomination of a new judicial services commission, to replace one that was dissolved by former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed before presidential elections in 2017, it said. Somalia’s judiciary system has been on ground since 1991, but President Farmajo wants to restructure the justice. http://radiokulmiye.net/2018/05/28/somalias-supreme-court-chief-refused-to-leave-the- office-after-president-farmajo-sacked-him-on-sunday/

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Here to stay, fired CJ vows, terms sacking illegal

May 28, 2018

Fired Chief Justice Ibrahim Idle Suleiman.

Immediate former Chief Justice Ibrahim Idle Suleiman has dismissed his sacking as unconstitutional vowing to stay put as the judiciary top man even as President Mohamed Farmaajo has settled for former Waddani party chief executive Mohamed Bashe.

In an interview with VOA Somali Sunday, Suleiman said the president erred in relieving him of his duties adding he had not received any complaints contrary to what the president said Sunday.

In sacking Suleiman who came to office mid- 2016, President Farmaajo said he arrived at the decision based on concerns from members of the public about the functioning of the judiciary and need for judicial reforms.

“Responding to the pledge to establish a transparent and fair judicial system, I have appointed Chairman of the Supreme Court of Somalia Mr. Baashe Yusuf Ahmed. I hope the new Chief Justice will fulfill his duties,” President Farmaajo said.

RELATED COVERAGE: CJ Suleiman fired, replaced by ’s Waddani party chief executive

But Suleiman added besides other reasons which could have been used as reason for his sacking, he had not attained the legally set age of 65. “The Chief Justice and other Judges of the High Court leave office when they reach 65 years,” Suleiman noted. Asked about

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“I submitted recommendations for reform of the judiciary on 25th of this month to the President, Prime Minister and the Federal Parliament. What has happened is illegal.”

Suleiman said he will remain put adding the move by the President amounts to interference of the Judiciary. “This is an independent arm of government.”

The Provisional Constitution mandates the Judicial Service Commission to hire and make recommendations for firing of judicial officers. However that body has not been formed giving the President leeway to unilaterally take up the task. http://goobjoog.com/english/here-to-stay-fired-cj-vows-terms-sacking-illegal/

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Does President Farmaajo’s pick for CJ meet the threshold for office?

May 28, 2018

His longest continued service is from 2014 to 2017 as a lecturer at University

Newly appointed Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed.

President Mohamed Farmaajo’s pick for the post of Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed will not only be one of the youngest CJs in the region but also with very little experience required of such office holders in most jurisdictions.

According to bio available on his LinkeIn account, Ahmed graduated from Hargeisa University in 2008 and served as a consultant with various organisations among them UNDP, MerCorps and Somaliland parliament for a maximum of two year contracts. He was born in 1982.

His longest continued service is from 2014 to 2017 as a lecturer at Hargeisa University. Prior to his appointment by President Farmaajo, Ahmed was the chief executive officer of the opposition Waddani party in Somaliland. He earned a master’s degree in Commercial and Maritime Degree from Hertfordshire University in the UK in 2104.

In most jurisdictions, a judge of a superior court and for this case the Chief Justice will always have accumulated a considerable number of years either as a judicial officer, distinguished academic or legal practitioner. From this understanding, it appears President Farmaajo’s pick does not come close to any of the qualifications expected of the head of the Judiciary who shall be looked upon not only to develop the institutions of the judiciary but also actively

EUTM - SOMALIA 4 EUTM - SOMALIA 29/05/2018 nurture and build jurisprudence. The Chief Justice will also be expected to render rulings grounded in solid understanding and experience in legal practice.

A look at neighbouring countries in the region could shed light on tough competencies for the office of the Chief Justice. In Uganda, the chief justice is appointed from persons who have served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda or of a court having similar jurisdiction or has practiced as an advocate for a period not less than 20 years before court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil; criminal matters.

To be a Judge of the High Court on the other hand, one must have been Judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or has practiced as an advocate for a period not less than 10 years before a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters.

To become a Chief Justice in Kenya, one needs at least 15 years’ experience as a superior court judge; or at least 15 years’ experience as a distinguished academic, judicial officer, legal practitioner or such experience in other relevant legal field.

A high court candidate on the hand other must have at least 10 years’ experience as a superior court judge or professionally qualified magistrate; or at least ten years’ experience as a distinguished academic or legal practitioner or such experience in other relevant legal field http://goobjoog.com/english/does-president-farmaajos-pick-for-cj-meet-the-threshold- for-office/

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Prof. Samatar blasts Farmajo's Chief Justice appointment

Monday May 28, 2018 - Mogadishu (HOL) - One of Somalia’s leading intellectuals Prof. Abdi Ismail Samatar blasted President Farmajo’s decision to appoint a legal novice as Somalia’s top judge, calling his decision a disaster to the justice system.

President Farmajo dismissed Hassan Ibrahim Idle Suleiman who served as the Chief Justice for two years on Sunday replacing him with a relatively unknown and inexperienced 36-year- old lecturer, Bashe Yusuf Ahmed. The decision was made in the name of judicial reforms but has received a strong rebuke from Somalia’s legal and intellectual community.

In a Somali-language interview on Monday, Prof. Abdi Ismail Samatar - who also was the head of the election commission to oversee the integrity of last year’s Somalia presidential elections - said that it was unfathomable that an individual who never sat as a judge to be appointed as the nation’s Chief Justice.

“This (Chief Justice appointment) is something that I have never heard about in my life. This man who was named as the Chief Justice never sat as a judge. How can he render legal judgements with no experience?” said Prof. Samatar.

He added that “for a man who never sat as a judge to be elevated as the top justice in Somalia is a problem for our country and if the President insists on his appointment than his credibility as a leader should be called into question.”

Furthermore, Abdi Ismail Samatar charged that the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia and Bashe Yusuf Ahmed are maternal cousins, which leads to more nefarious speculations surrounding the controversial appointment.

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Prof. Samatar said that to be a functioning democracy, the three arms of government must be separated. “The executive branch should be separated from the legislative branch which should be separated from the judiciary.”

Prof. Samatar also said that Somalia has barely healed from the scars of the last political conflict that pitted the legislative branch and the executive branch and came within whiskers of open conflict. That protracted political tussle eventually led to the ouster of former Speaker Jawari. Samatar lays blame with the executive arm of government for that political crisis.

Many analysts have said that Jawari’s ouster was in direct response to fears from Villa Somalia that he was growing too powerful in the Parliament. The recent election of former Defense Minister Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdurahman as the new speaker in late April was seen by many as Villa Somalia ’s consolidation of power within the legislature.

Farmajo’s latest appointment has only compounded those fears.

Prof. Samatar likened Farmajo’s decision to appoint a legal novice as Somalia’s Chief Justice as someone who just obtains their Ph.D. beginning his career as the Dean of the university.

“ I’m a university professor. I’ve been teaching at this university for 15 years. I was the head of the department. If we have new professor arrives who just obtained their Ph.D., They receive training first. They won’t be hired as the Dean of the University or the head of a department as their first position. Typically they would begin as an assistant professor. If they perform well they will be promoted to associate professor if they advance from that stage they will become a full professor. If they decide at that point to enter the administration part of the University and stop teaching then they can switch to that.”

“So for someone to never sit as a judge to get automatically promoted to the Chief Justice is hugely problematic for Somalia and a disaster of the justice system.”

According to his professional LinkedIn account, Bashe Yusuf Ahmed graduated from the University of Hargeisa in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in Law. He later graduated from a one year Masters program at the University of Hertfordshire with a focus in commercial and maritime law.

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Waddani Party of Somaliland

His professional career is primarily NGO work, notably at Mercy Corps as a Program Officer and later as a Youth Employment Technical Advisor. Both positions do not require a legal background. He also had a brief stint at the UNDP as a Review Consultant, again, a position that does not require an analytical legal mind.

Mr. Ahmed also worked with the Somaliland Government, both as a consultant and a legal advisor.

His most recent posting is at his former alma mater, the University of Hargeisa, as a lecturer for just over 4 years. His LinkedIn resume does not specify if he is a lecturer of law.

He has not worked as a professional barrister or lawyer.

Politically, Bashe Yusuf Ahmed was a member of the opposition Waddani Party in Somaliland where he acted as the party’ s Chief Executive Officer.

In nearly every country, the nation’s top judge must have extensive experience in the legal field preferably as a superior judge but also as an acting barrister or advocate. Although they are appointed by the country’s head of state, the tradition almost always dictates that the Chief Justice is appointed by a judge already on the Supreme Court. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/May/158337/prof_samatar_blasts_farmajo_s_chie f_justice_appointment.aspx

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All you need to know about the newly appointed 36-year-old chief justice of Somalia

Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, Somalia's new chief justice

Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo announced the sack of the country’s chief justice Hassan Ibrahim Idle Suleiman on Sunday after a two- year service.

The president said his decision was part of a plan to improve the justice system that has been struggling for so many years amid several questionable judicial decisions and allegations of corruption.

The dismissal was immediately followed by the appointment of little-known Baashe Yusuf Ahmed as the new chief justice. He will assume the position of chairman of the Somali supreme court.

Yusuf Ahmed’s appointment was received with mixed reactions in Somalia as some questioned if the young lawyer is qualified to be a chief justice as the constitution requires a minimum of seven years of work experience as a lawyer or in a high judicial position.

Others have also questioned his ties with rival state Somaliland where he is an active politician and a member of the opposition Wadani party led by Abdirahman Mohamed

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Denmark pledges support to AMISOM in Somalia

Monday, May 28, 2018

Denmark’s Ambassador to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Seychelles, Mette Knudsen, had paid a visit to African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) headquarters in Mogadishu.

The Ambassador Knudsen has held talks with the Mission leadership, highlighting the need to effect AMISOM’s transition in a way that does not erase the gains that have been made over the last 11 years.

The Deputy of African Union Ambassador Simon Mulongo thanked the envoy Knudsen for her visit to the AMISOM headqueters in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Mulongo has thanked Denmark’s Ambassador for the continued support the Danish Government has given to AMISOM in the Mission’s efforts to restore peace to Somalia.

The Denmark’s Ambassador pledged Denmark’s continued support for AMISOM, especially, efforts in stabilization and the transition plan in Somalia. http://www.nabadiyonolol24.com/2018/05/28/denmark-pledges-support-to-amisom-in- somalia/

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Kenya set to raise Amisom refunds bill to Sh7 billion

Monday, May 28, 2018 A KDF soldier in Kismayu town.

Kenya will demand more compensation in the year starting July from the (UN) for its troops fighting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia. Treasury documents show that Kenya expects reimbursement of Sh7.05 billion in the next financial year starting July, up from the current Sh6.1 billion — which has remained static for the past four years. The refund is set to drop to Sh5 billion and Sh3.5 billion in the next two years, signalling gradual reduction of troops in Somalia. The UN eased Kenya’s cash crunch after it refunded Sh4.68 billion in the 10 months to April.

In the past, delay in reimbursement of the funds has been linked to the UN’s insistence on verification of claims. About 4,000 Kenyan soldiers are part of Amisom. The international community pays $1,028 (Sh103,828) for each soldier per month; their respective governments then deduct about $200 (Sh20,200) for administrative costs meaning the soldiers take home about $800 (Sh83,628). The soldiers receive the funds through the government. Kenya formally sent 4,660 soldiers to Somalia in October 2011 after incessant attacks and kidnapping of civilians by Al-Shabaab militants within its territory. A year later, the UN Security Council gave Kenya the green light to join the African Union Mission to Somalia, a decision that meant the Treasury would not bear the full costs of the incursion. Amisom’s soldiers are drawn from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Kenya. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/economy/Kenya-set-to-raise--Amisom-refunds- bill/3946234-4584670-9ske9kz/index.html

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AMISOM hands over police station to Somali Police Force

May 28, 2018 - The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today formally handed over a fully refurbished and equipped police station in the capital’s Kaaraan district, to the Somali Police Force.

The Kaaraan Police Station, which has been under rehabilitation for several months, will serve residents in the district and its environs.

“The renovation of this police station is part of AMISOM’s Quick Impact Projects, aimed at providing speedy service delivery to the people,” ACP Maxwel Chikunguru, AMISOM Police Restructuring and Development Coordinator said in his remarks, during the handover ceremony. Benadir Police Commissioner General Ahmed Hassan Malin, expressed gratitude to AMISOM for its continued institutional capacity building of the Somali Police Force.

“AMISOM Police has played a crucial role in renovating Kaaraan Police Station. It is in order to thank them for the good work they have done. We are grateful for the assistance. Now, we have a place where our police teams can work and coordinate activities,” stated General Malin.

The renovation of the police station was done through joint efforts of AMISOM Police and the AU Mission’s Civil Affairs Unit, with funding from the Japanese government. “Building a strong police institution in Somalia especially in this period where AMISOM is preparing for transition requires a comprehensive strategy with clear, realistic and achievable objectives pegged by the goodwill of all our stakeholders,” noted ACP Chikunguru.

Mr. Christopher Ogwang Aria, AMISOM’s Civil Affairs Officer said the police station would be vital for keeping law and order in Kaaraan district and expressed AMISOM’s willingness to support the rehabilitation of more police stations across the country. http://www.allsoomaali.com/2018/05/28/amisom-hands-over-police-station-to-somali- police-force/

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https://mareeg.com/somalia-parliament-staff-member-shot-dead-in-mogadishu/

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https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/somalia-eight-hurt-as-anti-somaliland- rally-in-las-anod-turns-violent

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Abdullahi. Somaliland has declared itself independent of Somalia since 1991 and has remained so despite ongoing efforts by Somalia to merge.

Keep reading for details about the life of the new chief justice of Somalia Baashe Yusuf Ahmed.

Baashe Yusuf Ahmed is a 36-year-old lawyer born in Hargeisa, Somaliland in 1982. He obtained his law degree from the University of Hargeisa in 2008 and then a Master’s Degree in Commercial and Maritime Law in 2014 from the University of Hertfordshire under the UK government’s Chevening scholarship programme for students with leadership qualities.

Prior to that, he served as the programme officer for the United States NGO Mercy Corps in Hargeisa where they empowered people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

He served as the Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Somaliland between 2010 and 2012 and upon his return from the UK, he returned to Mercy Corps as its Youth Employment Technical Advisor.

While lecturing at the University of Hargeisa from 2014, Yusuf Ahmed also served as a consultant for UNDP and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs where he used to work. He also worked as a legal advisor for the Somaliland parliament and other international agencies including the German development agency GIZ.

Baashe Yusuf Ahmed has been married since 2011 and lived briefly in Oslo, Norway. https://face2faceafrica.com/article/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-newly-appointed-36-year-old- chief-justice-of-somalia

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Somaliland: Sheikh Dirir and Sheikh Mustafa Urge Somaliland and Puntland to Stop the Tukaraq War

05/28/2018

Somalilandsun: Renowned Mullahs Sheikh Mustafa Haji Ismael Harun and Sheikh Mohammed Omar Dirir have called on the Somaliland and Puntland authorities to stop the war and spilling of Muslims blood in the holy month of Ramadan, and instead do righteous deeds and Fear Almighty Allah. The two Mullahs were speaking in their respective mosques during the Friday congregation prayers. They called on both sides to cease hostilities and sit on the negotiation table. Sheikh Dirir was speaking from Rusheye Mosque situated at the heart of Hargeisa he said that Muslims blood is sacred and should not be spilled because of clans or governments wars.

Sheikh Dirir requested the government not to allow a third party to mediate the war and instead initiate talks with the Puntland and Somalia administration directly. “You can see that whenever there is a war the transport network between the two countries is compromised. The people are not fighting so the politicians should clear these mess once and for all. In another development Sheikh Mustafa speaking from Ambassador Mosque stated “These people who have standing and respect in the society should know that if they stop this war they will get reward in the hereafter and in this world. Please stop the senseless war whereby Muslim blood is being spilled for no reason and fear Allah Almighty.” http://www.somalilandsun.com/2018/05/28/whoever-attacks-somaliland-will-suffer-a- heavy-loss-mr-faisal-ali-warabe-the-party-of-justice-and-development-boss-mr-faisal-ali- warabe-has-spoken-about-has-spoken-abou8t-the-war/

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https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-former-president-joins-call-for- ceasefire-in-tukaraq

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Somaliland: Somaliland Government Accepts the International Community Call on Somalia/Puntland to Stop Attacks on Somaliland Town of Tukaraq

05/28/2018 - Somalilandsun: The has accepted the call by the international community concerning the war between Somaliland and Puntland in Tukaraq town. The international community had issued a stern warning to the Puntland militia to stop the constant attack on Somaliland.

The minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation Mr.Sa’ad Ali Shire speaking to a local English daily newspaper the Horn Newspaper accused the Somalia sponsored Puntland administration for constant incursions into Somaliland territorial borders to initiate attack on Somaliland armed forces guarding her international borders.

Addressing the international community Dr.Sa’ad stated “I urge the community of nations to exert pressure on Puntland and her sponsor Somalia to stop the naked interferences on Somaliland internal affairs. I call on the international community to urge Somalia to intervene so that Somalia quits her constant attacks and propagations of anarchy in Sool region of Somaliland.”

Minister Sa’ad revealed that the people of Sool are thirsty and need development, hospitals, schools, jobs. Sool province is located in Somaliland and her people are Somalilanders.

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“Somalia should disengage from fueling fire in Somaliland. I send my congratulations to Somaliland armed forces for the spirited fight to defend their people and country from the invading Somalia/Puntland militias. This is an army that day a night loses sleep to defend their country and .

Speaking about the Tukaraq war Mr.Sa’ad “The war that has transpired is an insult to Somaliland because the country boundary is well known inherited from the British colonial masters. We did not create it. It was created by the British and the Italians; furthermore it is an international border just like the one Somalia has with Kenya and . “

In another development the minister of foreign affairs talked about the recent visit by the H.E president Musa Bihi Abdi in the western coastal plains that were hit by cyclone.

“We toured four towns they are as follows Asha-ado, Gargaar Bari,Lughaya and Sayla’a. The people we met told us many livestock died, many farms were destroyed and upto 31 people lost their lives as a result of the cyclone disaster. These people need emergency relief aid; they need water, food stuff and humanitarian assistance. They lost their livelihood and now live in destitution. I call on the local people who have resources to help their brothers who have been afflicted by the cyclone disaster. International and local humanitarian organizations should come to the peoples’ rescue.” Dr.Sa’ad said.

The foreign minister also revealed that the UAE sent two Chinook helicopters to reach the marooned people of the cyclone disaster. They distributed basic disaster relief aid to the western coastal plains. The government of Djibouti also helped with a aero plane that ferried the H.E Musa Bihi Abdi to tour the affected region. http://www.somalilandsun.com/2018/05/28/somalilandsomaliland-government-accepts- the-international-community-call-on-somalia-puntland-to-stop-attacks-on-somaliland- town-of-tukaraq/

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Somaliland:President of Somaliland Shows Journalists a Three Point Memorandum that America and UN had Tried to Prevail Somaliland and Puntland to Stop the Tukaraq War

05/28/2018 - Somalilandsun: The president of Somaliland H.E Musa Bihi Abdi has shown journalist a three point agreement that America and the UN had tried to convince Somaliland and Puntland to stop the Tukaraq war however the Puntland president Abdiwali Gaas ignored.

The president said this yesterday while speaking to journalists in Hargeisa. He accused the president of Puntland Mr.Abdiweli for breaking the America and UN agreement and the following day invading Somaliland border with his forces.

President Bihi said “The international community suggested in January we hold talks with Somalia which we did without hesitation we talked to Mr.Farmajo then Mr.Abdiweli entered the picture he too wanted to talk to us. The America ambassador and the UN special envoy to Somaliland and Somalia mediated the talks through the telephone on the 23th of May 2018 the American envoy to Nairobi, Kenya called to inform me that the three point Mr.Keating has forwarded should be respected and tomorrow there should not be a war in Tukaraq. However on 24th May 2018 the Puntland militia attacked Tukaraq. Somaliland loves peace so it followed the America’s ambassador instruction to not engage however it was attacked by Puntland.”

Here are the three point memorandums they are as follows……..

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1. The war has to stop.

2. Humanitarian activities should be encouraged.

3. A communication channel between the two military chief should be established to avoid confrontations between the two armies.

“Somaliland accepted the American and UN proposition however the Puntland administration brought their army to within 500 meters of Somaliland army in ready to attack our positions. The Puntland army had move from 7 KM distance. The following morning Puntland militias attacked Somaliland army however they were in for a rude shocked the militias was dismantled.

The Puntland president is a poor man being used by the Somalia president a Mr.Farmajo to reach his selfish ends. We have intelligence that the Somalia administration claims that Somaliland is a province that has gone rogue and need to be nipped in the bud. http://www.somalilandsun.com/2018/05/28/somalilandpresident-of-somaliland-shows- journalists-a-three-point-memorandum-that-america-and-un-had-tried-to-prevail- somaliland-and-puntland-to-stop-the-tukaraq-war/

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The Puntland President Is A Poor Man Being Used By The Somalia President Mr. Farmajo.

May 29, 2018 - President Of Somaliland Shows Journalists A Three Point Memorandum That America And UN Had Tried To Prevail Somaliland And Puntland To Stop The Tukaraq War…..

Hargeisa- The president of Somaliland H.E Musa Bihi Abdi Has Shown Journalist A Three Point Agreement That America And The UN Had Tried To Convince Somaliland Government And Puntland State Of Somalia To Stop The Tukaraq War However The Puntland President Abdiwali Gaas Ignored.

The President Said This Yesterday While Speaking To Journalists In Hargeisa. He Accused The President of Puntland Mr. Abdiweli For Breaking The America And UN Agreement And The Following Day Invading Somaliland Border With His Forces.

President Bihi Said “The International Community suggested in January we hold talks with Somalia which we did without Hesitation We talked to Mr. Farmajo then Mr. Abdiweli entered the picture he too wanted to talk to us. The America Ambassador and the UN special envoy to Somaliland and Somalia mediated the talks through the telephone on the 23th of May 2018 the American envoy to Nairobi, Kenya called to inform me that the three point Mr.Keating has forwarded should be respected and tomorrow there should not be a war in Tukaraq. However on 24th May 2018 the Puntland militia attacked Tukaraq. Somaliland loves peace so it followed the America’s ambassador instruction to not engage however it was attacked by Puntland.”

Here are the three point memorandums they are as follows……..

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The war has to stop. Humanitarian activities should be encouraged. A communication channel between the two military chief should be established to avoid confrontations between the two armies. “Somaliland accepted the American and UN proposition however the Puntland administration brought their army to within 500 meters of Somaliland army in ready to attack our positions. The Puntland Army had Move From 7 KM Distance. The Following Morning Puntland Militias Attacked Somaliland Army However They Were In For A Rude Shocked The Militias Was Dismantled.

The Puntland President Is A Poor Man Being Used By The Somalia President Mr.Farmajo To Reach His Selfish Ends. We Have Intelligence That The Somalia Administration Claims That Somaliland Is A Province That Has Gone Rogue And Need To Be Nipped In The Bud. http://qorilugudnews24.com/2018/05/29/the-puntland-president-is-a-poor-man-being- used-by-the-somalia-president-mr-farmajo/

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Ethiopia Offers Britain Land In Exchange For Zeila Port Of Somaliland – 1946.

May 28, 2018 - Important Document Found In UK Shows That Ethiopia Offered Great Britain Part Of The Haud Reserved Area (Areas Close To Somaliland Border) In Exchange For Zeila Port Of Somaliland To Have Access To The Red Sea In 1946.

The document is dated August 6 , 1946 and was sent to Sir Norman Brook , His Britannic Majesty’s Government by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Colonies Here is a summary that I made of the correspondence :

1- The Ethiopians came up with a proposal that if a corridor to the sea , to the port of Zeila in , could be given to Ethiopia , they would in turn , be prepared to cede to British Somaliland part of the Ogaden in exchange . They said that Ethiopia was ready to convene a conference on Lake Tana and to have a Boundary Commission at once meet the British governments requirements in respect of the ratification of frontiers on the Kenya and Sudan borders which have been continuing source of trouble for many years.

2- That it would be helpful to consider the Ethiopian proposal for an exchange of territory in Bristish Somaliland since the Kenya and Sudan governments have little or nothing to offer in exchange for the ratification which they seek .

3- In respect of of British Somaliland , the Ethiopian proposals offer good prospects of meeting , to a very considerable extent , the long standing requirement of the British Somali tribes for free and undisturbed access to grazing areas essential to their livelihood

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4-We are anxious , now that the Ethiopian government have themselves moved in the matter, to seize the opportunity which may not recur, of rectifying the injustice done to the British Somali tribes by the treaty with Ethiopia in 1897 which left their grazing grounds on the Ethiopian side of the frontier. We therefore think it desirable to open negotiations on the general basis proposed by the Ethiopians without delay.

5- In addition to the interests of British Somaliland alone and our relations with Ethiopia , there are also certain extraneous factors to be taken into account . The first of these is the uncertain future of Italian Somaliland. The the territory which the Ethiopians have offered to Britain includes the only useful land communications between British and Italian Somaliland , and would be of considerable importance if , as a result of the eventual settlement of the Italian Colonies , Britain would find itself responsible for the Italian Somaliland.

6- French reactions have also to be taken into account , since French Somaliland lies on the other frontier of British Somaliland , and the proposed corridor would substitute Ethiopia for Great Britain as the neighbour of French Somaliland on this side. Moreover, the whole object of the Ethiopia’s proposal is to obtain direct access To The Sea ,thereby by-passing the French Port Of Dijibouti and the French controlled railway which leads to it and which at present is Ethiopia’s main commercial outlet. It is therefore probable that the exchange of territory , if affected , would not be welcomed by the French. This document is of 19 pages and is available free here : Zeila http://qorilugudnews24.com/2018/05/28/ethiopia-offers-britain-land-in-exchange-for- zeila-port-of-somaliland-1946/

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12 stranded SL migrant workers to be repatriated from Somaliland

2018-05-28 - Twelve Sri Lankan migrant workers stranded as a result of a labour dispute in Somaliland, a self-declared state of Somalia, would return to Sri Lanka shortly, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

The Ministry said the workers would be brought back safely in coordination with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a statement, the Ministry said Sri Lanka does not have diplomatic and consular presence in Somaliland.

“Therefore, the Ministry and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Addis Ababa worked with the IOM Office in Hargeisa which interceded to negotiate with the employer concerned in Somaliland to resolve the labour dispute, to secure the release of the Sri Lankans, and facilitate their safe return,” it said.

The Sri Lankan Government expressed its gratitude to the IOM for the role it played by providing assistance to the Government and people of Sri Lanka on this particular occasion as well as in the past in many similar situations.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry urged all Sri Lankans to be cautious in undertaking employment in high risk territories in which Sri Lanka does not have resident diplomatic and consular presence http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-stranded-SL-migrant-workers-to-be-repatriated-from- Somaliland-150539.html

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Fun, interesting and unique facts about Somaliland

Somaliland is a very unique and peculiar place. For one, it is not even a recognized country. So when talking about it it pays to really understand some facts about Somaliland that make it such a fascinating place.

Let’s look at some Somaliland facts below and find out more about traveling and discovering this destination.

1. Somaliland was an internationally-recognised country for 5 days

Monument to independence in Hargeisa

Despite the local government’s declaration of independence in 1991, Somaliland is not an internationally recognised country. It is a self-declared republic that has been seeking recognition since.

What makes this most interesting is that, for a brief period of five days in 1960, when Somaliland became independent from the UK, the country existed as an independent state. However, it then agreed to join the rest of Somalia who had been under Italian rule until then to form a .

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Constitutional promises made by the south were never fulfilled and the central government of Somalia proceeded to crush and oppress the Somaliland clans and population, taking unfavorable decisions that benefited Mogadishu. Eventually, when Bare’s regime collapsed in 1991, Somaliland took the opportunity to grab independence again.

Despite the complete lack of international aid, World Bank support and budgets to manage a new country, Somaliland has managed to nurture its own government, parliament, Constitution, elections, rule of law and army. The last elections took place in November 2017 and were considered democratic and peaceful.

Because the country is not recognised, neither is its passport. The Somaliland passport looks the part and has everything to be an official passport but you can’t have a passport from a country that does not exist.

Somaliland flag

Somalilanders are officially Somali citizens and so need to obtain a passport from the central government to travel internationally, although Djibouti and Ethiopia are said to let Somalilanders travel with their passport together with Belgium, the UK, France, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan and, since early 2018, the UAE.

2. Unrecognised but safe

Despite lacking official recognition by any country, Somaliland is one of the most stable and democratic parts of the war-ridden Horn of Africa. I wrote a post about Safety in Somaliland specifically to address the topic.

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Our Somaliland SPU police escort chatting to a khat seller in Hargeisa

As opposed to unstable and terrorist fuelled Somalia, Somaliland has not seen any terrorist attack since 2008 and crime is low. Tourists are required to be escorted by the Special Police Unit (SPU) in Hargeisa for any travels outside of the city and should be accompanied at all times. I did not feel like the police escort was going to risk his life for us but it did help in crowded places when we were getting too much attention or aggressive looks from the locals.

Although the low crime and lack of terrorist attacks may appease some people’s fears, you may still not feel fully safe as the situation could change anytime if Al Shabab decided to attack the north or the war in the rest of Somalia expanded. Safety in Somaliland seems to be pretty guaranteed at the moment.

This relative safety makes Somaliland the prime destination for those seeking to visit all the countries in the world, but is still not enough of a reassurance for the majority of the population to embark on a trip to this unrecognised state. Somaliland, together with the rest of Somalia, is at the top of the list of the least visited countries in the world.

3. Pay electronically or be a millionaire

I spent a long time working in Africa with telecom companies so I know that mobile payments are pervasive and help bridge the gap between urban and rural areas. In Somaliland, mobile payments are so important that they are estimated to account for half of the transactions and they are made in US Dollars.

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Money changers in Hargeisa

While this may sound strange, there are a few reasons why this makes a lot of sense. Firstly, the Somali currency, the Shilling, is constantly devalued and suffers from inflation. So it is less and less valuable every day.

Secondly, the amount of counterfeit Shilling is so high that the World Bank estimates 98% of the currency is fake.

Thirdly, the exchange rate of the Shilling is about 8,000 per US Dollar so you only need to exchange 100 US Dollar to become an instant millionaire.

Counting money in Hargeisa

And lastly, the most common currency denomination is the 1,000 Shilling so you need to carry a bucket load of notes every time you need to pay for something more than a coffee. Seeing wheelbarrows full of stacks of cash around the Hargeisa market is not unusual.

All of the above creates the perfect ground for an electronic, US Dollar based mobile payment system to thrive. And thrive it has. Around the country you can see small khat sellers and street vendors receiving small payments with the local mobile payment systems, Zaad or e-Dahab.

What do they do with all that electronic cash in US Dollars? They go to the money market and exchange it for Shilling, if they need local currency.

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Piles of money on the floor in Hargeisa Somaliland

The money changers display their goods on the floor, like any other seller, only in their case, we are talking about money, stacks of it amounting to $20,000 in the local currency. And just exchange whatever you need it for. How do they get it out? They then go to the telco companies who offer the service and cash out the US Dollars.

4. It’s the desert but when it rains, it floods

I was very confused when it started to pour like crazy and the ground became absolutely drenched and flooded. I thought Somaliland would be similar to Djibouti: desertic and dry. But Somaliland is a bit greener and it does get a lot of rain, even if the soil is not particularly fertile.

Flooded wadi cuts the road Hargeisa- . An ambulance get stuck in the gushing water

And since it is so dry and the earth becomes cracked under the blaring sun, the rain soon becomes a flash flood turning otherwise empty wadis into gushing rivers in no time. While this is fascinating to see, it is also very dangerous and it does cut main roads like the one from Hargeisa to Berbera which crosses a wadi at around half way. A wadi is a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.

We were stuck there for four hours while waiting for the water level to come down. The locals seemed to be enjoying the entertainment it provided and some of the cars are ready

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5. Drive on the right, steering wheel on the right

Cars in Somaliland drive on the right hand side of the road but have the steering wheel on the right. This makes for the very weird situations of the passenger seat being next to the oncoming traffic.

This would probably mean that the cars used are imported from left hand driving countries, of which there aren’t many, but some of which are neighbours of Somaliland. The below is an image of the left and right hand driving countries in the world. You can see how a lot of former British colonies in East Africa are still driving on the left.

6. Graphic signs on stores

Storefront in Hargeisa

The storefronts in Somaliland are incredibly colourful and filled with pictures of what is on sale inside. At first I thought it was just a nice way to paint the facade of the stores, as opposed to the usual, ever-pervasive one color paint used across Africa and sponsored by the telecom operators and other large FMCG companies.

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Another Storefront in Hargeisa

But then I realised that it was just a graphical representation of what was being sold in-store. I inquired about this practice to see if there was a reason and realised that one of the most interesting facts about Somaliland is the practice of painting stores with their merchandise. This is not just for fun but also because a lot of people cannot read so the pictures aid in deciding whether the specific store has what the buyer is looking for.

7. Spaghetti with your camel, curry with your pancakes

Spaghetti the staple in Somaliland

Your diet in Somaliland will be pretty limited and mostly confined to some goat and camel meat. Although a lot of people will tell you camel meat is pretty healthy, it is very greasy, fatty and chewy and not pleasant to eat. At least not to me.

But Somalia as a whole has half of the world’s camel population. Add this abundance to the infertility of the soil and the extreme weather and poverty of the country and it should come as no surprise that not a lot of alternatives are on offer. You will eat a lot of camel meat.

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Camel meat

Somalilanders also like to eat camel liver and that is a popular breakfast item accompanying some laxoox, a pancake type of bread that resembles a bit the Ethiopian injera but is thankfully sweeter and more pleasant. Camel liver stew can also be found in the market in Hargeisa, if you are feeling brave enough.

For a bit of change, you might be able to find some goat meat. Goat meat is common across the Middle East and I had my fair share in Oman. At the Six Senses Zighy Bay I enjoyed it in the traditional way of cooking: buried underground with hot stones and left to cook slowly for many hours. Goat meat is not very different from the taste of lamb and it is a good variation from the camel meat.

Somalilander market seller with her camel liver

Perhaps the most curious things about Somaliland is that fact that they eat spaghetti as the main staple and carbohydrate. All African countries have one type of staple or other, sometimes it is cassava, ugali, potatoes, banana, tapioca or even just plain rice. But I had never seen spagheti as being such a commonplace item.

The time of Italian colonialism in the south of Somalia brought pasta to the country and I felt grateful for whoever added a bit of variation to the rice. If everything else fails, you can always eat plain pasta. Bear in mind you might have to learn to eat it with your hands as locals do.

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And if you are in Somalia, you can also always have a banana, with your spaghetti or rice. While bananas may not be as common in Somaliland, they are certainly as staple of the rest of Somalia.

Laxoox

Somaliland’s cuisine is pretty limited and aside from camel, goat, rice and spaghetti you are unlikely to eat anything else. Except for breakfast where a local variation of a pancake called laxoox which is a spongy, holed up pancake of a slightly darker color than the French crepe and usually eaten with chickpea curry for breakfast.

8. Don’t wear trousers

If you are a woman and are visiting Somaliland, you will have to cover your head. I thought this was all I needed to do so I dutifully put my tube scarf on every time I left the hotel, but I was wrong.

My outfit in Somaliland

I was dressed in tunics and leggings or baggy pants underneath, an outfit that I have worn everywhere in the Islamic world and have never had an issue with. This would even be an acceptable outfit in conservative Saudi Arabia now that they have lifted the requirement to wear a full length abaya and headscarf, or in Iran. Somaliland was going to be the first place where this was not enough.

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I got told off by locals pretty much every day. Sometimes, in an aggressive manner, sometimes in a more conciliating way, trying to explain that I would feel more comfortable in a wrap-around sack-type of dress, but it was clear that wearing trousers was not acceptable and made the locals question whether I was a woman or a man.

To sort this out, I headed to the Central Market in Hargeisa and got a bhati dress made, the local version of a kaftan, to appease the locals and blend in. Bhati have been praised by international Somali models and made an appearance in Vogue, but I doubt it helped me camouflage. The colourful flowy nature and the huge size turned me into a massive walking sack.

Check this video of the whole dress-making experience in Hargeisa Central Market. The end- to-end dress making process took no more than 20min. And guess what, men are the ones sewing the clothes in Somaliland. Western husbands, take note.

9. Entrepreneurial and proud locals

Somaliland’s annual budget was around $300 Million in 2016. This is a very low amount for a country of 3,5 Million population. However, most of the economic development and business is fuelled by the many Somalilanders returning to the country every year and the remittances sent from abroad.

It is estimated that the amount of remittances sent by the Somalilanders living abroad could be almost 2.5 times the annual budget of the government. These remittances are sent by the diaspora living in Europe and North America and are often sent in the form of small amounts via remittance companies. This would mean that remittances contribute over half of Somaliland’s GDP as per the UN Office for the High Representative of the Least Developed Countries.

10. Fast internet and free WiFI

I spent a long time planning for my trip to Somaliland and making sure I had all the email auto-responders and measures in place for not being reachable for five days. However, this was not necessary as I found myself perfectly connected in Somaliland.

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The availability of internet services was perhaps one of the most interesting and unexpected facts about Somaliland and one which I certainly did not expect.

The internet connectivity is essential to the money transfer ecosystem as you can’t pay or receive money if you don’t have signal, but even to someone who was a telecoms consultant in emerging markets for eight years like me, the connectivity in Somaliland was quite impressive. It was not the fastest, but it certainly was pervasive.

However, note that internet for visitors does not come cheap and we bought 4GB for $50 at the airport. The Damal Hotel I stayed at both in Hargeisa and Berbera both had free internet for guests and the airport had free WiFi. https://www.onceinalifetimejourney.com/inspiration/facts-about-somaliland/

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Somalia marks the 55th Africa Day

May 28, 2018 - Mogadishu(RBB)-The African Union has paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union.

In Somalia, the day was marked in the capital Mogadishu yesterday, where the chief guest, the Secretary of the Federal Parliament’s Defence Committee, Mr. Sadiq Hirsi Warfa reiterated Somalia’s commitment to fighting corruption, in response to the continental body’s efforts to rid the continent of the vice. The African Union Assembly declared 2018 as the ‘African Anti-Corruption Year’ under the theme – “Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”.

“Somalia is putting in place a mechanism to fight c orruption”, Warfa said adding, “we are really in the process of debt relief and Somalia can once again re-establish its currency because we believe that corruption is the root cause of all the problems”.

The AU Deputy Special Representative for Somalia Mr. Simon Mulongo read the African Union Commission Chairperson H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat’s speech, in which he enumerates achievements made by the African Union in improving the quality of life in member countries. In his speech, Mahamat cautions against pervasive corruption and challenges African leaders to demonstrate deliberate action against the vice.

“Corruption destroys lives of ordinary people and undermines their trust in their leaders and public institutions. Resources that are needed for development and delivery of services such

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Mr. Mulongo stated that AMISOM had already started transitioning the security responsibility to the Somali security forces, adding that the AU Mission was currently preparing Somalis to take up the security responsibilities. “We are in advanced stages of crafting an implementation plan and this implementation plan is going to ens ure that we not only hand over the responsibilities but we prepare and make ready those security institutions and individuals to be able to effectively and efficiently undertake those responsibilities that are currently handled and managed by AMISOM”, Mulongo remarked.

The Kenyan ambassador to Somalia, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo speaking on behalf of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to AMISOM, expressed the commitment of the TCCs to restore full stability to Somalia.

“Kenya aspires to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Somalia. Kenya has therefore been steadfast in supporting efforts towards this end since the year 2004 and will continue to do so together with other TCCs and countries of goodwill”, he said.

Also present at the celebrations, was the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General for Somalia and UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter de Clercq, who paid tribute to AMISOM for the work the Mission has accomplished in Somalia.

“We have come a long way in Somalia and we owe it to those that have given their lives in their ultimate efforts to bring us to where we are today to ensure that A

MISOM continues to receive the support for the successful completion of this Mission to help Somalia towards peace, stability and prosperity”, de Clercq said.

AU Day is marked annually, to commemorate the creation of the Organization of African Unity – the precursor of the African Union, 55 years ago. http://radiobanadir.com/?p=662

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Somalia’s recovery efforts firmly on course

Standard Digital | May 28, 2018 – Slowly but surely, Somalia is making admirable progress. From the basket case it was for more than two decades following the overthrow of President in 1990, the country is on the road to recovery.

It has been a slow, painful journey, but the desire of the people of Somalia to live in peace and harmony will eventually see them get there.

After Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was elected President of Somalia in February 2017, replacing Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the hopes of a nation torn apart by incessant clan wars and the menace of Al Shabaab rode on his shoulders.

It was not lost on anybody that bringing Somalia back from the brink was a herculean task, but Mr Farmajo, despite some opposition, seems equal to the task.

The ray of hope still shines bright for Somalis as normalcy returns. At least 50 per cent of the people who fled their homes have gone back. Schools and universities are open, as are government offices that continue to offer services in 80 per cent of Somali territory under government control. http://www.qaranimo.com/news/2018/05/28/somalias-recovery-efforts-firmly-on-course/

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Minister of Islamic Affairs Receives Somali Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs

Dar Al-Salaam, Ramadan 12, 1439, May 28, 2018, SPA -- Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, currently on a visit to Tanzania, received here today Somali Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs, leading his country's delegation participating, in the Competition of the Holy Quran for the East African countries.

Al Al-Sheikh reaffirmed importance Sunnah followers' unity as well as the importance of urging Muslim scholars to protect Muslim youth and future generations, from the dangers of extremism and terrorism. https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1770723

Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary Receives Somali Ambassador

Riyadh, Ramadan 12, 1439, May 28, 2018, SPA -- Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary for Protocol Affairs Azzam bin Abdulkarim Al-Qain received here today Ambassador of Republic of Somalia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tahir Mahmood Geely.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and means to consolidate them, in many fields, in addition to a number of issues of common interest. https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1770739

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Somalia, la beatificazione di Suor Leonella Sgorbati per un Paese da costruire

Il vescovo Giorgio Bertin, che amministra Somalia e Gibuti

Di Andrea Gagliarducci

MOGADISCIO , 28 maggio, 2018 / La beatificazione di Suor Leonella Sgorbati, lo scorso sabato, ha posto ancora una volta i riflettori sulla Chiesa di Somalia. Una Chiesa che conta molti martiri, come suor Leonella, in un Paese dove la Chiesa vive con difficoltà.

Anche perché la Somalia è uno dei pochissimi Paesi al mondo che non ha relazioni diplomatiche con la Santa Sede. E non ce le ha anche perché il primo obiettivo è quello di ricostruire lo Stato, sottolinea ad ACI Stampa il vescovo Giorgio Bertin, che amministra la Somalia e Gibuti.

“Trenta anni fa – dice il vescovo Bertin – la Chiesa era presente, e faceva parte del paesaggio della Somalia. Con l’anarchia che si è instaurata con il crollo dello Stato somalo, tutto è stato attaccato, bruciato e occupato. Non solo la Chiesa è stata colpita, ma tutte le istituzioni”.

Da quanti anni è in Somalia?

Sono entrato tra i francescani all’età di 11 anni e mezzo, ho fatto il mio noviziato nel 1968 e ho fugato i dubbi della contestazione che ci venivano inculcati anche dagli educatori con una missione di due anni in Somalia. Dopo quella missione, durante la quale ho insegnato nelle scuole elementari (allora avevamo ancora le scuole), sono tornato, ho studiato da sacerdote, ho studiato l’Islam al PISAI e l’inglese, e poi, nel gennaio del 1978, sono tornato a Mogadiscio, in Somalia.

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Quali sono state le sue sfide di evangelizzazione?

Ho capito che bisogna parlare il più possibile un linguaggio comprensibile, che risponda ai quesiti della popolazione cui ci si rivolge. Per far comprendere il Vangelo, devo usare un linguaggio comprensibile, e per farlo devo conoscere le loro tradizioni. Così, nel 2000, quando ero ormai rifugiato in Kenya, ho potuto preparare una nuova versione dei Vangeli in lingua somala, con note appropriate e destinate proprio alle popolazioni locali e ai musulmani.

Questo porta conversioni?

Le conversioni sono rare, sia in Somalia che a Gibuti, perché la società musulmana rende impossibile la vita ad una persona che si converte. Ma posso dire che, se il registro dei Battesimi non è enorme, c’è un grande registro di Battesimi nel Regno dei Cieli, persone che si avvicinano alla Chiesa grazie alla nostra testimonianza. La conversione riguarda il cambiare il cuore e renderlo più aperto, più disponibile e rispettoso delle differenze.

Cosa è cambiato in questi 40 anni in Somalia?

La nazionalizzazione del 1972 ha privato la Chiesa del lavoro principale, che erano le scuole. Eppure la Chiesa è riuscita a rafforzare la presenza negli ospedali e nel 1979, per affrontare il dramma dei rifugiati di guerra, è stata istituita Caritas Somalia. Questa presenza di testimonianza, specialmente quella delle suore, è essa stessa mezzo di dialogo.

Come mai la Chiesa è stata presa così di mira?

Con il crollo dello Stato, la Chiesa è stata prima preda di forme ‘claniche’, e poi del fatto che si è insistito sull’Islamismo per portare unità nella regione. Questo, però, non ha portato l’unità, ma ha permesso di impiantare una forma di islamismo radicale che rende impossibile la nostra presenza, soprattutto perché lo Stato è debole: può controllare le grandi città, ma le zone rurali sono in mano alla Shabab e ad altri gruppi radicali.

Quanti sono i cattolici in Somalia?

Non eravamo tanti. Fino all’1989-1990 c’erano circa 2000 cattolici e il 95 per cento erano stranieri, in buona parte italiani, che sono tornati in patria dopo il dissolvimento dello Stato.

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Landslide Kills 23 in Ethiopia

Monday May 28, 2018 - Ethiopia's state- affiliated broadcaster reports that a landslide triggered by heavy rains has killed 23 people in the country's Oromia region.

Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported that the landslide happened Saturday evening after hours of heavy rains in the area. The report said 16 of the fatalities were women.

It said six others were injured and taken to health centers after sustaining heavy bodily injuries.

Ethiopia is receiving heavy seasonal rains which sometimes cause severe landslides in some parts of the country.

Close to 50 people died in a similar landslide in May 2016 after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/May/158330/landslide_kills_23_in_ethiopia.aspx

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Asia security cooperation: EU increases engagement on security in and with Asia

28/05/2018 - The EU will strengthen cooperation on security in Asia and with Asian partners, in view of the importance of the region to global stability and security and thus to European interests. Priority areas are maritime security, cyber security, counter terrorism, CSDP and peacekeeping operations, hybrid threats, conflict prevention and the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. Pilot cooperation projects will be developed with key partners to concretely advance shared interests in these areas. Meeting in Brussels on 28 May, EU foreign ministers agreed to strengthen work with Asian partners to promote global security, and to engage more for enhanced security in Asia. The EU's approach will build on existing security-related cooperation with its Asian partners that has already delivered positive results, including for example joint efforts to tackle piracy off Somalia. "The time when Europeans and Asians could consider themselves distant friends is over. To preserve and strengthen our economic exchanges we must also work together on global security", said EU High Representative Federica Mogherini. The goal of enhanced security cooperation in and with Asia is to safeguard its citizens, defend the fundamental values upon which the Union is founded, including the protection of human rights, uphold the international rules-based system, promote multilateralism, contribute to regional

EUTM - SOMALIA 45 EUTM - SOMALIA 29/05/2018 stability, prevent violent conflicts and secure the Union's economic interests. To strengthen the EU's operational capacities there is a need for a greater coordination between the EU institutions and Member States to enhance security- related engagement with Asian partners with a tailor-made approach, through capacity building, training programmes, including on UN peacekeeping and joint exercises. In some areas, good work with several Asian partners is already underway and delivering concrete results like tackling piracy off the coast of Somalia or maritime security dialogues. As the next step the EU will develop pilot projects with India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia. Following the exercise, further tailor-made cooperation will be advanced with a wider group of the EU's priority partners in the Asian region. The EU currently has 16 civilian and military missions and operations around the world, from providing training to the armed forces, to fighting trafficking and smuggling networks in the Mediterranean Sea. Recently the EU launched the Permanent Structured Cooperation - PESCO on security and defence, enabling EU Member States to jointly develop defence capabilities that can be made available for EU operations. https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/45299/asia-security- cooperation-eu-increases-engagement-security-and-asia_en

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Chi è rimasto, è stato ucciso o sequestrato. Molti i nostri martiri: il 26 maggio è stata beatificata suor Leonella Sgarbati. Ma ricordiamo anche Annalena Antonelli, il nostro vescovo Salvatore Colombo, Padre Pietro Turati, Graziella Fumagalli, molti altri.

Cosa può fare la Chiesa nel Paese?

Ci sono azioni che facciamo con la cooperazione di alcuni amici e alcune ONG, attraverso la nostra Caritas Somalia. Facciamo buone attività in modo molto discreto. La Caritas non ha solo la funzione di rendere prioritaria l’azione concreta, ma di risvegliare l’attenzione, e far aprire gli occhi e il cuore alla gente. Se apriamo i loro occhi, possono cambiare atteggiamento. https://www.acistampa.com/story/somalia-la-beatificazione-di-suor-leonella-sgorbati-per- un-paese-da-costruire-8776

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