European Union Training Mission

PRESS SUMMARY 07th April 2018

“In ‘Media’ stat virtus

Twin Bomb Blasts Kill 2 in Somalia's Capital, 4 Militants Eliminated – Reports

206.04.2018 - MOSCOW (Sputnik) - At least six individuals were killed and some others injured as a result of twin car bomb attacks in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, the Garowe Online news website reported Friday, citing security officials and eyewitnesses.

The first explosives-laden car exploded near the city's Aden Abdulle Airport when intercepted by the local intelligence at the checkpoint, the media said. The bomber died, while three National Intelligence and Security Agency members were injured.

READ MORE: Four Somali Officials Killed by Al-Shabab Militants in Mogadishu — Reports

The second car blew up at another checkpoint near Sei Piano area. The blast killed two soldiers and wounded some others, while three militants were eliminated by the Somali troops.

Al-Shabaab militants, who have sworn allegiance to the al-Qaeda terror group (banned in Russia), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Somalia has been engulfed in violence since the eruption of a civil war between clan-based armed factions in the early 1990s. Al-Shabaab is staging numerous attacks across the country in an attempt to impose a radical version of Sharia law. https://sputniknews.com/africa/201804061063295074-twin-bomb-blast-somalia-militants/

Six killed in Mogadishu twin explosions

Civilians look on as smoke billows from the scene of an explosion at a security checkpoint in the Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia on April 6, 2018. | Photo Credit: REUTER

MOGADISHU:, April 07, 2018 In the second attack, two soldiers were killed after troops neutralised 3 militants who passed through a checkpoint with vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

At least six persons including two soldiers have been killed and several others injured in two separate explosions here.

The police and witnesses said on Friday the first explosion occurred at a checkpoint along the road near the airport in Mogadishu after the vehicle had been intercepted by the security officers manning the checkpoint. The blast injured three soldiers while a bomber died, Xinhua reported.

“The second blast occurred an hour later at another checkpoint in Sei piano in Hodan district [west of Mogadishu] a few minutes after Friday prayers,” said a police officer who declined to be named.

He said two soldiers were killed after the security forces killed three militants who had passed through the checkpoint with vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

Internal Security spokesman Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim said security forces managed to thwart the deadly attack by the extremists.

Mr. Ibrahim said the security officers managed to stop the suicide bomber but noted that the vehicle exploded after the security forces barred it from entering the road to the airport. http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/six-killed-in-mogadishu-twin- explosions/article23463374.ece

Three Killed in Pair of Suicide Car Bombings in Somali Capital

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — April 06, 2018 Three people are dead after a pair of suicide car bombings in Somalia's capital, police said Friday.

The first explosion occurred at an army checkpoint on the airport road in Mogadishu, injuring one soldier, Capt. Mohamed Hussein said. The bomber apparently was heading to Mogadishu's international airport but was stopped by soldiers.

The heavily fortified airport houses embassies and is a major target for al-Shabab extremists.

The second car bomb detonated shortly afterward near busy Benadir junction after soldiers stopped the vehicle, firing on it as it tried to speed through a checkpoint.

The three dead included a soldier, Hussein said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the two explosions. The al-Qaida-linked al- Shabab often targets high-profile areas of the capital and holds large parts of southern and central Somalia. https://www.voanews.com/a/three-killed-pair-suicide-car-bombings-somali- capital/4335415.html

Somali security forces prevents two car bomb attacks in Mogadishu

April 6, 2018

Somali security forces prevents two car bomb attacks in Mogadishu. [Photo: Twitter]Mogadishu-(Puntland Mirror) Somali security forces in Mogadishu have prevented two suicide car bombs on Friday, army officer said.

A Somali Security officer, who requested anonymity, told Puntland Mirror that the forces stopped a car bomb seemingly heading to Mogadishu International airport, killing a suicide bomber.

A second car bomb exploded at security checkpoint in Mogadishu when the forces stopped it, killing at least two suspected to be Al-Shabab fighters, according to the officer.

At least three security soldiers were wounded in the blasts, the officer added.

No group has claimed the responsibility, but Al-Shabab militant group often carry out blasts in the capital, Mogadishu.

The Friday’s attacks happened few hours after Mogadishu hosted its first marathon race since 1991. http://puntlandmirror.net/somali-security-forces-prevents-two-car-bomb-attacks-mogadishu/

http://theinsider.ug/index.php/2018/04/06/besigye-condemns-parliament-over-soldiers-killed- in-somalia/

Somalia: opposing government troops fighting leads to displacement

April 6, 2018 - Mogadishu-KNN- A fighting between government soldiers erupted in Mogadishu Thursday afternoon, Radio Kulmiye reports.

The warning government troops organised as clan based trying to control a village near the ministry of defence.

The village called 77 is former military camp, in which civilians inhabited for long years ago.

At least five people dead and 10 others wounded, according to witnesses.

But, most of the residents with children and elders displaced to other districts of Banadir region.

There is no intervention from the government and Banadir regional administration. http://radiokulmiye.net/2018/04/06/somalia-opposing-government-troops-fighting-leads-to- displacement/

AMISOM WIll Take Over Parliament Security Only On Request By Somalia, Madeira Says

On Apr 6, 2018

The African Union Special Representative to Somalia Amb. Francesco Gaetano Madeira has reversed an earlier declaration by Amisom Commander Paul Lokech that it had taken over Parliaments’s security after the Wednesday standoff.

“The African Union Commission and AMisom respect the sovereignty of the people of Somalia and recognize their rights and have full confidence in the capacity of its Leadership to address the challenges besetting their country including the current political challenges that saw the Lower house of the parliament being split in two” Madeira said.

“In this context, AMISOM has no mandate to impose on the Somali people and, indeed, on the Parliament, the way they should conduct their business. AMISOM will, therefore, not take control of the House of the People unless the competent Somali authorities request it to do so in full respect and within the parameters of AMISOM mandate” he stated.

“AU and AMISOM recognize and respect the right of the Somali Federal Parliament to determine when, where and how they conduct their business. It is therefore not the responsibility of AMISOM to determine where and how they should handle their parliamentary activities” Madeira statement said.

AU says it will continue to back the Federal institituions until Somalia is ready to tale over its security.

AU calls for rival politicians to resolve the current political stalemate.

“The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is deeply concerned with the security implications of Wednesday’s developments in Parliament. I appeal to the Members of Parliament, legitimate representatives of the people of Somalia, to continue to exercise restraint as they strive to resolve the differences that oppose them”.

Somalia has been thrown in to a one month old political squabble pitting the Speaker of the Lower House Mohamed Osman Jawari and the Executive. http://radiodalsan.com/en/amisom-will-take-over-parliament-security-only-on-request-by- somalia-madeira-says/

U.S. conducts air strike in Somalia, says three militants killed

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Friday it had killed three militants after launching an air strike in Somalia against al Shabaab, a militant Islamist group allied with al Qaeda.

The military’s Command (Africom) said they carried out the strike on April 5 near the town of Jilib, about 230 miles (370 km) southwest of Mogadishu.

“In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Forces conducted an air strike against Al-Shabaab militants near Jilib ... killing three terrorists and destroying one vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun,” it said in a statement.

Washington has expanded its operations in the country after President Donald Trump eased combat rules last year.

Since withdrawing from the capital Mogadishu in 2011, al Shabaab lost control of most of Somalia’s cities and towns. But they retain a strong presence in regions outside the capital.

On Friday, one soldier was killed by a militant who attacked a checkpoint in Mogadishu. A car bomb in the same place injured two other soldiers.

Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. https://in.reuters.com/article/somalia-security-usa/u-s-conducts-air-strike-in-somalia-says- three-militants-killed-idINKCN1HD1WC?rpc=401&

US military flights still suspended in Djibouti, but operations in Africa continue

U.S. Marines fast-rope from a CH-53E Super Stallion during helicopter rope suspension technique training near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 7, 2017. U.S. air operations in Djibouti remain grounded Friday after two Marine Corps aircraft were involved in crashes earlier this week.

By JOHN VANDIVER | STARS AND STRIPES Published: April 6, 2018

STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. air operations in Djibouti remain suspended Friday after two Marine Corps aircraft were involved in crashes earlier this week, but the pause hasn’t put a stop to air strikes in neighboring Somalia, U.S. Africa Command said.

“We are still assessing the impacts of this operational pause,” said Maj. Karl Wiest, an AFRICOM spokesman.

AFRICOM did not say when it expected flights to resume. However, the pause will not affect the military’s ability to conduct counterterrorism operations in the region or perform crisis response missions, the military said.

On Thursday, while flights in Djibouti were grounded, AFRICOM carried out an airstrike in neighboring Somalia that killed three terrorists. Though Djibouti is a hub for U.S. counterterrorism efforts and a potential launching pad for strikes in Somalia, Thursday’s strike is an indication that AFRICOM has alternatives.

“As a matter of policy, I can’t go into where this strike originated from, but I will say we have a range of capabilities at various locations in the region that allow us to carry out these airstrikes,” Wiest said.

American commanders reached an agreement with the Djiboutian government to pause U.S. military flights following Tuesday’s accidents.

“That’s just a reasonable precaution by the commander on the ground to determine that we’re not doing something that we need to fix,” Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the director of the Joint Staff, told Pentagon reporters Thursday. https://www.stripes.com/news/us-military-flights-still-suspended-in-djibouti-but-operations- in-africa-continue-1.520740

US continues to disrupt Shabaab in Jilib, Somalia

By Bill Roggio & Alexandra Gutowski | April 6th, 2018 | [email protected] |

The United States attacked al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia in the southern town of Jilib, a recurring strike location and known Shabaab safe haven. The strike killed three terrorists and destroyed a vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun yesterday afternoon, according to a US Forces Africa Command (AFRICOM) press release today.

The US has now conducted a total of eleven strikes in Somalia in 2018, all of which have targeted Shabaab, AFRICOM Media Relations Officer Samantha Reho told FDD’s Long War Journal. Strikes in 2018 have been concentrated in and around Jilib, including nearby Jamaame and an

unspecified location outside of Kismayo. The plurality of American strikes in both 2018 and the decade-long air campaign have occurred in Jilib.

Jilib is a known safe haven for Shabaab. The US State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism for 2016 noted that the Jubba River Valley serves as an operational hub, as Shabaab controls “several villages and towns throughout Jubaland region, including Janaale, Jilib, and Kunyo Barow.”

Although strikes have been concentrated in the vicinity of Jilib, AFRICOM has also targeted Shabaab across Somalia. Last week’s strike in El Burr, nearly 400 miles away from Jilib, demonstrates Shabaab’s geographic scope.

Shabaab has maintained a potent insurgency across Somalia for well over a decade. At times it has controlled the Somali capital of Moadishu and other major cities such as Kismayo. Shabaab was ousted from the major cities during an African Union offensive that began in 2011. However, Shabaab has maintained control of its forces and retreated to rural outposts, where it still wreaks havoc from small towns and villages to this day.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Alexandra Gutowski is a military affairs analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2018/04/jilib.php

Kenya Police are searching for eight men with suspected links to the Al Shabaab and have offered a 2 million shillings bounty for each one

April 6, 2018 John Madanji Abdi Ahmed Ibrahim, Abdirashid Ibrahim Osman Noor, Bashie Adan Osman Kulo, Bishad Hared Hussein, Habiba Omar Ali, Issack Alio Mohamed Intalo, Mohamed Muhumed Ahmed, Rahim Mohamed Sheikh, Siyat Ibrahim Abdullahi

The Kenya Police are searching for eight men with suspected links to the Al Shabaab and have offered a 2 million shillings bounty for each one. In a police notice the suspects who are labeled as “armed and dangerous” include Abdi Ahmed Ibrahim, Rahim Mohamed Sheikh, Abdirashid Ibrahim Osman Noor, Bashie Adan Osman Kulo, Siyat Ibrahim Abdullahi, Mohamed Muhumed Ahmed, Bishad Hared Hussein and Issack Alio Mohamed Intalo. A statement from the office of the Inspector General of Police said the eight have been identified as part of efforts by several security agencies in the fight against terrorism. The police however stated that they have already made several arrests including that of one woman, Habiba Omar Ali, who was found in possession of five AK 47 rifles and a large cache of ammunition. If anyone spots them they can call police hotlines 999, 911 or 112 http://www.kbcenglish.co.ke/index.php/kenya-police-are-searching-for-eight-men-with- suspected-links-to-the-al-shabaab-and-have-offered-a-2-million-shillings-bounty-for-each-one/

How Turkey is winning hearts and minds in Somalia

Saturday April 7, 2018

Abdifatah Mahad stands tall in the middle of his farm on the outskirts of Baidoa, Somalia. He boasts about how well he’s doing and the variety of his produce: maize, beans and vegetables such as peppers and onions.

Farmers here used to stare at the sky and wait for a drop of rain. Now they look under their feet – to where they have dug wells. They are ambitious; the reliable water source means farming is possible all year round and they hope to supply nearby towns. ‘We want to meet the demands of the local people,’ says Abdifatah.

Six years earlier, this region was the epicentre of a famine that claimed the lives of 250,000 . Four million people were in danger of starvation, according to the UN. Successive natural disasters, and an apparent lack of compassion from rich nations, have taught Somalis a hard lesson: to strive for self-reliance.

‘They call it humanitarian aid but we call it dead aid; meaning it’s intended to kill,’ says Abdifatah. ‘They brag about helping us and take credit for things that are not even beneficial.’

His claim is not baseless. With regular US drone strikes terrorizing communities in this area, it’s also hard for Somalis to believe the same hand is giving out humanitarian aid.

Western nations make appealing promises but help does not always materialize. The famine of 2011, which I covered for British TV network Channel 4 News, is a prime example.

We had finally arrived in Baidoa, southwestern Somalia in August, after more than a week travelling through famine-affected areas controlled by the al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabaab.

We headed to the main hospital, which was full of malnourished children. I met three very young patients Khadija, Mohamed and Safiya, who were suffering from acute malnutrition and dehydration. Their bones had decayed; they were too weak to cry. All they had for comfort was the heat of their mothers or siblings who had been left to care for them.

Families had walked miles from villages to get here. Desperate parents were competing for the attention of a goatee-bearded man with a white jacket, Dr Abdalla Bulle, who was struggling to cope with the influx. He told me that many children were dying soon after arrival, with five or six being buried every day.

Seven years later, I spoke again with families who had lost loved ones to the 2011 famine. They still struggle to understand why they were abandoned to their fate. ‘How is it that the world’s richest nations with so much wealth to spare couldn’t save our children?’ one woman asked. ‘What did we do to be disowned by fellow human beings?’ asked another.

Left to die

Why didn’t the pictures of starving Somalis convince politicians in the US and Europe to act? After all, aid workers on the ground had been raising the alarm for more than a year. The answer is that, led by the US, Western nations (with the exception of Nordic countries), stood back, withheld aid and watched Somalis – among them some 125,000 children – die.

The publicized narrative was that donors feared some of the food aid could fall into the hands of al-Shabaab – a proscribed terrorist group. For NGOs, this meant they were at risk of prosecution under the US Patriot Act.

But some humanitarian workers suspected a different motive. They told me the Western military planned to use starving Somalis as a cheap way to defeat the militants – by eroding their support and, eventually, provoking a local revolt.

While men and women in suits pondered over the outcome of their decision, and al-Shabaab blocked relief, aid workers on the ground were pleading for help. ‘We really need, sometimes, to put politics aside,’ said Hassan Ismael who I met in Baidoa distributing food aid from Islamic Relief, the only UK-registered organization operating in areas controlled by al-Shabaab at that time. ‘This is a humanitarian emergency. We need to save lives.’

His appeal was falling on deaf ears. By the time the declaration of famine spurred the West into action, shaming the US into lifting restrictions, it was too late. Many more people would have perished had it not been for the speedy mobilization of Somalis in the diaspora, and charities from the Muslim world.

It was a lesson and a game changer for the humanitarian industry in Somalia. ‘New’ foreign actors came in – notably Turkey.

At the height of the famine in August 2011, Turkey’s leader Recep Erdoğan and his family arrived at the head of a huge delegation consisting of senior cabinet ministers, business leaders, NGOs, media and celebrities.

Erdoğan brought a sense of brotherhood and hope. Since 2011, Turkey has sent almost $1 billion in aid to Somalia. After the emergency was over, Turkish companies launched into major infrastructure projects, building roads, hospitals and the port. Turkish Airlines is the only international carrier that flies to Mogadishu. Turkey has cemented its place in the hearts of the Somali people, who watch its soap operas and buy its products.

Evidence suggests that Western nations sent more money than Turkey. For instance, the UK alone spent $148 million in Somalia in 2017-18. But while Somali elites may talk about money spent by the West on promoting democracy and security, ordinary Somalis are unlikely to be able to name one thing. Asked about Turkey, they would give a long list. Simply, ordinary citizens feel the Turkish presence in the country is improving their lives.

The US and European nations no longer have a monopoly on the humanitarian industry in Somalia. Arab charities have always been in Somalia doing things quietly, but the renewed, up- scaled commitment from the Muslim world in 2011 did much to break the mould.

The differences between the two are stark, according to Khalif Abdirahman, an independent researcher on humanitarian aid.

Muslim organizations, he says, operate on trust. They are based in-country. They focus on development and switch to emergency when necessary. They buy food-aid locally. They are pragmatic, quick to respond. They deal with people directly. And with much money flowing in direct from the faithful – obligatory charitable giving is one of the five pillars of Islam – they don’t waste time and resources on paperwork.

In contrast, he says, Western NGOs focus on ticking boxes. They operate out of Nairobi. They compete for funding for specific projects, which is not necessarily what people need. They usually import food. They do less on development. They are slow to respond to emergency situations. They concentrate most on proposal writing to capture more market share.

‘Western organizations seem to be emotionally disconnected,’ explains Khalif, ‘Somalis seem to better understand the rationale behind the Muslim organizations’ operations.’

I returned to Baidoa in 2017 to cover another drought. This time the aid community was better prepared – and so were the people themselves. In the past, Somalis would often say to me: ‘We ask donors to help us’. Today, I rarely hear that.

Somalia has a long way to go to feed its citizens. After all, the nation is still embroiled in a 30- year-long war. But attitudes are changing; people like Abdifatah have a stronger determination not to depend on foreign aid and ‘Muslim brothers’ are playing a critical role in improving people’s lives. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157496/how_turkey_is_winning_hearts_and_mind s_in_somalia.aspx

ISS Today: Climate change is feeding armed conflict in Somalia

06 Apr 2018 (South Africa)

Photo: A handout photo made available by the African Union-United Nations Information Support team shows troops advancing on foot towards the town of Janaale on 14 February 2013. Photo: EPA/AU UN IST PHOTO / TOBIN JONES

Conflict prevention in the Horn of Africa must include environmental initiatives, not just counter-terrorism and piracy efforts. By Giovanna Kuele and Ana Cristina Miola for ISS TODAY.

The blast that killed over 350 people and the double car bombing in Mogadishu last October have frustrated Somalia’s efforts to build stability. For almost 30 years, the country has been tackling a combination of civil war, famine, desertification, piracy, political fragmentation and terrorism.

Although the conflict has many underlying causes, one factor that remains poorly understood is climate change. In a country where, alongside war, six million people face starvation, understanding the role of climate change and its impact on patterns of drought – and developing innovative responses – is urgent.

Since the resilience to climate consequences by government and society is limited, the ability of around 70% of Somalis to meet their basic needs depends heavily on a regular climate pattern. However, over the past decade climate change-related desertification has expanded in Somalia, making the local population even more vulnerable.

Climate change feeds armed conflict in Somalia in three ways: by exacerbating tensions between clans; boosting the ranks and role of terrorist groups, including al-Shabaab; and increasing migration.

First, climate change sharpens disputes over already-scarce resources between warlords. While al-Shabaab has conquered large pieces of the country’s territory, clan elders still wield considerable power, dominating the political system. In this sense, the severe droughts cause disruptions to water access, high rates of malnutrition, disease outbreaks and food insecurity. This leads to tension and even open disputes between clans. In a country facing such challenges, resources like food and water are not only a basic need, but also a source of power.

Second, the relationship between the proliferation of illegal armed groups and the severe droughts in Somalia is evident in the case of al-Shabaab. The group has been successful in attracting young people who are affected by famine and food insecurity and who face no job prospects. Those youth end up joining al-Shabaab in a bid to survive, finding no other option than to get involved with the extremist group.

Third, migration has become more complex due to climate change. In 2016, at least one million Somalis were internally displaced, exposed to protection risks, discrimination and gender-based violence. Making the situation even worse, around 300 000 Somali refugees living in the Dadaab refugee complex – the world’s largest refugee camp, located in neighbouring Kenya – have faced heightened uncertainty since Kenya announced the compound will close.

Although desertification perpetuates and expands the levels of violence in Somalia – with possible spill-overs into neighbouring states, as is already the case in Kenya – climate change has received relatively little attention when compared to anti-terrorism and security sector reform. Global and regional powers and international organisations have focused on fighting terrorism and piracy in the Horn of Africa.

Most of the international community recognises the influence of human activity on the climate system and its severe consequences. These include shifts in rain patterns, increasing desertification, higher frequency and severity in tornados and hurricanes, temperature disturbance and frequent heat waves.

But neither the Paris Agreement nor last November’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, have addressed the links between climate change and armed conflicts. They also haven’t offered recommendations on how to build resilience in this area in fragile states. This is particularly worrisome because even a slight change in the global temperature is enough to provoke a set of weather calamities.

Many developing and developed countries are implementing public policies to prevent, mitigate and adapt to climate change consequences. In most cases, governments and other stakeholders are able to tap into technical expertise, new technology, and relatively or highly stable societies.

But conflict-affected countries, which are socially, politically and economically vulnerable, encounter considerable obstacles in addressing the effects of climate change. Instability, low state capacity and prioritising more immediate goals tend to sideline climate change issues. This is despite the fact that climate change exacerbates existing problems and intensifies violence, as in Somalia’s case.

Given these obstacles, initiatives to adapt and mitigate consequences of climate change in fragile countries must be incorporated into approaches to prevent armed conflicts. These include the G7+ group of ‘fragile states’ and its effort to promote the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 in conflict-affected states, including through implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16. This goal is dedicated to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building accountable and effective institutions at all levels.

A partnership between Somalia’s government, the UN Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility represents a promising yet somewhat isolated example. The goal of this partnership – the Enhancing Climate Resilience of the Vulnerable Communities and Ecosystems in Somalia initiative (2014-2019) – is to implement ecosystem-based drought and flood preparedness to adapt to extreme climate events.

For example the project currently works with small-scale farmers in parts of Somalia, such as Puntland. Although the initiative is local, if it succeeds, efforts to scale up the response should be considered.

International actors should also consider responses such as the transfer of agricultural technology capacity, whether through aid or south-south cooperation, to help farmers avoid losing their crops and livestock. Microcredit should be offered in order to help farmers keep productive land.

Most African countries don’t have strong measures in place to adapt to climate change. Environmental initiatives must be taken into account in conflict prevention in Africa, as such initiatives could help decrease violence, as well as promote food security and development.

While climate change requires a global response, local efforts are also needed in order to build resilience and improve living conditions in conflict-affected states. DM

This article was first published by the Igarapé Institute: Somalia: the Role of Climate Change in Recurring Violence

Giovanna Kuele is a Research Assistant, Igarapé Institute and Ana Cristina Miola is an environmental lawyer and student, Natural Resources Management and Development Programme, University of Applied Sciences of Cologne, Germany. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-04-06-iss-today-climate-change-is-feeding- armed-conflict-in-somalia/#.WshRIWD6hD8

Refugees from South Sudan, Somalia and Iran are now excluded from settlement in Australia with priority given to migrants from eight other countries

They have reportedly been left out of the government's sponsorship program

Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said program does not discriminate

By Ben Hill For Daily Mail Australia 7 April 2018

Refugees from South Sudan, Somalia and Iran have been excluded from settling in Australia through the government's sponsorship-based program.

Eight countries will be prioritised as part of the resettlement program: Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Myanmar and Syria.

Samuel Dariol from the Refugee Council of Australia told News.com.au that Somali, Sudanese and Iranian refugees would not be considered for the Community Support Program.

The program offers up to 1000 places for refugees.

'What's strange is the inconsistency around the eligibility,' he said.

'If you're Eritrean and coming Kenya you're not eligible, but if you're Eritrean coming from Ethiopia you are.'

Mr Dariol said the Refugee Council had received information from refugee community leaders and service providers - although verbally, and not in written terms.

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said the program does not discriminate by race or nationality.

'Australia's refugee and humanitarian program is non-discriminatory and has the flexibility to respond to emerging humanitarian situations,' they said.

'No nationality is excluded from consideration, but the Australian Government does establish priorities each program year based on a range of inputs including NGO and community views put forward through the annual program consultations.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5586773/Refugees-South-Sudan-Somalia-Iran- excluded-settling-government-program.html

New port projects in Red Sea corridor for Sudan, as Arab backers jostle for position

By Laura Angela Bagnetto Issued on 06-04-2018

A view on the Port of Suakin, SudanBertramz

The battle to establish new ports on the Red Sea corridor with Gulf money could create better African economies and could define exactly who controls the Red Sea, according to analysts.

Sudanese state media announced that Qatar will finance the redevelopment of the historic Red Sea port of Suakin to the tune of 3.2 billion euros, to be completed and running by 2020.

“There are big challenges around the Red Sea and who’s going to win over the other,” Marc Lavergne, Sudan expert with the Paris-based French National Centre for Scientific Research tells RFI. “Qatar is strangled by Saudi Arabia, and is responding by challenging to Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, facing Jeddah and Mecca. Qatar is not on the defensive any more, but on the offensive now.”

Lavergne is referring to the boycott carried out against Qatar by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), with the United Arab Emirates as a staunch Saudi ally.

Involving Sudan in the current GCC-Qatar spat complicates the issues, says Issam Mohamed, a Sudanese economist and dean of the Nile Basin Research Center at Alneelain University in Khartoum. “Sudan is saying it’s neutral and Saudi cannot spend such money. So when Qatar comes with a big investment like this, Sudan has to accept,” says Mohamed.

“But at the same time, you understand that establishing a new trade region will always be competing with Jeddah,” he adds.

The population in the area is expected to grow as well. United Nations estimates that the population of the 20 countries that use the Red Sea as their primary shipping corridor will increase by 110 per cent-- to 1.3 billion people in 2050.

The amount of money for the port is seemingly more than for just the refurbishment of an old port, says Mohamed. He believes that an airport or free trade area would be part of the package.

“This money cannot only be to fix the small island of Suakin it needs to be extended to other areas or regions of eastern Sudan,” he says.

Both UAE and Qatar are jostling for position, says Benedict Craven, a Horn of Africa analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit in London. Craven believes land-locked Ethiopia could be the major customer they are looking for. He says that countries are hoping to tap into Ethiopia’s double-digit growth.

“I would see Suakin serve as a gateway to East Africa, through Ethiopia, which is obviously the biggest economy,” says Craven, adding that Massawa Port in Eritrea is completely closed off to competition due to the strife between the two countries that continues.

Nostalgia

In terms of practicalities, there is a lot to be done, says Sudan expert Lavergne, who has been a number of times to Suakin since the 80s.

Although Khartoum has reportedly denied that Turkey is involved in the process, economist Mohamed says Turkey will contribute to the engineering and infrastructure.

And for Turkey, the port is a nod to the Ottoman Empire, when it used the ancient area for trade and for the pilgrimage to Mecca, right across the Red Sea.

“In Africa, especially on the Sahelian Belt, there is nostalgia surrounding Suakin, especially for everyone who goes on the pilgrimage to Mecca,” says Lavergne, referring to the Senegal- Mauritania-Burkina Faso-Mali-Niger-Sudan route.

Red Sea Corridor

The port of Suakin will have some competition in the Red Sea corridor, namely in Berbera Port, in Somaliland, a project won by UAE company DP World in 2016. Separate deals were signed

with the UAE to build a military base in Somaliland along with a new 250-kilometre highway, known as the Berbera Corridor, according to Robleh Mohamud, an analyst and former consultant to the Somaliland presidency.

“The highway will link Ethiopia with Somaliland, and turn Berbera into a major regional trading hub,” says Mohamud, adding that the highway will begin at Berbera Port, through Wachale, an important border town for animal trade.

Somaliland, the self-declared country often confused with its unstable neighbour to the south lacks international recognition-- until now.

While some point to the lack of Western involvement in the Red Sea Corridor ports, Mohamud maintains that there is plenty of room for future US or European investment.

“Now that there are many ports undergoing development, there will be a rapid increase of opportunities in the region,” he adds. http://en.rfi.fr/africa/20180406-new-port-projects-red-sea-corridor-sudan-somaliland-arab-backers-jostle-position

International Day of Sport for Peace and Development marked in Mogadishu with first mini-marathon in decades

6 Apr2018 - Mogadishu – Dozens of youth hit the pavement in the Somali capital today, taking part in the city’s first mini-marathon in decades to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

The four-kilometre race, which took place on some of Mogadishu’s main roads amid sweltering conditions, was organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to promote peace and unity among youth.

While mainly attracting young competitors, the event also brought together people from all walks of life, including sports enthusiasts, professional and amateur athletes, and spectators. Those in attendance included one of the country’s best-known and revered athletes, Abdi Bile Abdi, who won the 1500-metre races at the World Championships in Athletics in in 1987 and the International Association of Athletics Federations’ World Cup championship two years later.

“Our youth are our future and they need our unwavering support, to protect them from any harm so that they become productive and useful members of the society tomorrow,” said the retired athlete, who also represented Somalia in the 1500-metre track event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the U.S. city of .

Speaking before the start of the race, Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Khadija Mohamed Diriye, cited Mr. Bile as an example for participants, especially the younger ones, to emulate.

“Whoever works hard can be just like Abdi Bile Abdi and even better than him,” she said, adding that her ministry had launched sports projects countrywide to help promote and advance peace and development.

In remarks delivered at the end of the event, Mogadishu’s Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman, also known as ‘Yarisow,’ urged Somali youth to embrace activities such as sports for the benefits it can have for both individuals and Somali society.

“I would like to tell our young people that peace is in our hands and we can create development. If we come together, work together, cooperate with one another, work towards our common good, our unity and solidarity, we will be unshakeable,” he said. “We can achieve anything we want.”

The top three places in the mini-marathon were taken, respectively, by Ali iidow Hassan, Mohamed Muhidin Yalahow and Abdisalam Mohamed Ahmed – all of whom are members of Somalia’s national football team.

“I am very happy to win this marathon. I wouldn’t have achieved this without the support of the Somali Olympic team and my trainers. They believed in me and encouraged me to work hard,” said a jubilant Ali, soon after crossing the finish line.

As well as taking place on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, today’s race also coincided with Somalia’s National Sports Day.

Sport is acknowledged by the United Nations as a tool for social progress, that can be used to inspire youth to engage in peacebuilding and development activities in countries that have experienced conflict such as Somalia. In 2013, the United Nations set aside 6 April as the date to mark the International Day, which aims to promote goodwill and positive social outcomes through sports achievements. https://unsom.unmissions.org/international-day-sport-peace-and-development-marked- mogadishu-first-mini-marathon-decades

Men groups in love with tomatoes and bees

Friday April 6 2018

Sharif Sheikh Dahir packs tomatoes after harvesting in Banisa, Mandera. The best variety of tomatoes to be cultivated in the area is the Tilka-F1, which is resistant to harsh conditions and needs little water and has a longer shelf-life, according to an expert in the area. PHOTO | MANASEH OTSIALO | NMG

The group started the project with almost no capital since all the materials needed were readily available.

The honey combs are plucked using the hive tool or a knife and packed in the bucket before being lowered down.

According to Deka, having the hives placed on the tall trees prevents the bees from attacking people and animals. It also keeps it safe from thieves.

Charles Kyalo, a sub county agriculture officer in Banisa, singles out F1 hybrid tomato seed as the best since it survives the harsh conditions in Mandera.

Mandera is a vast county neighbouring Somalia to the East and Ethiopia to the North.

The men of the county, especially in Banisa constituency, understand the beauty of keeping bees and growing fruits and tomatoes. And they do it in groups.

One group, which comprises of 13 men and keeps bees, goes by the name Oginicho. “We started nearly two decades ago and to date, it has remained our main source of income,” says Abdi Hassan Deka, the chairman of the group.

The group started the project with almost no capital since all the materials needed were readily available.

At their apiary, the beehives can easily be seen hanging high up on tree branches.

The group harvests honey in two seasons, that is, between May and June and November and December.

“The harvest is high in the May/June season since it is immediately after long rains here the plants are flourishing therefore there is plenty of nectar,” says Deka.

To harvest the honey, the harvestor climbs the tree with a bucket, a smoker and the hive tool. The wooden smoker is lit once up and the hive is smoked to neutralise the bees.

The honey combs are plucked using the hive tool or a knife and packed in the bucket before being lowered down.

They sieve and pack the produce in three litre containers, some sold in Mandera and the bulk in Eastleigh, Nairobi, at between Sh1,800 and Sh2,000 wholesale.

Currently, the group has a total of 726 hives at the apiary and 600 of them are occupied. Every hive gives the group 10 litres of honey per season, with the group collecting at least 12,000 litres of honey every year.

Being in a group made it easier for the Mandera County government to support them by buying modern beehives.

According to Deka, having the hives placed on the tall trees prevents the bees from attacking people and animals. It also keeps it safe from thieves.

Charles Kyalo Kithuva, an agriculture officer in Mandera, says to trap bees into a new hive, a farmer needs to smear wax or propolis inside.

ABLE TO DIVERSIFY

“The scout bees will visit and assess the condition of the new hive before a colony arrives to settle. You need to get a good balance between light and shade. A bright apiary covered from direct sunlight works the best as bees are most active in such environment,” says Kithuva, adding farmers Langstroth hives ensure production.

Deka says they are working to expand their enterprise by making candles and wax from the honey combs so that we can earn more cash.

Two members of the Oginicho beekeepers group check on the hives in their apiary in Mandera. The group harvests honey in two seasons between May and June and November and December. PHOTO | MANASEH OTSIALO | NMG

Zahara Rashid, the county chief officer for livestock, says the farmers would benefit from a Sh4 million honey processing plant built in Banisa by the county government.

Not far from them is Golbo Omachu Farmers Association, a group of ten men engaged in fruits and vegetable farming.

Sharif Sheikh Dahir says they have been farming bananas, oranges, guavas, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, lemons and sweet potatoes since 2013.

“We have been growing tomatoes in the greenhouse since 2014 supplying all markets in Mandera County,” says Dahir, noting the structure cost them Sh250,000.

Charles Kyalo, a sub county agriculture officer in Banisa, singles out F1 hybrid tomato seed as the best since it survives the harsh conditions in Mandera.

“The best variety of tomatoes to be planted here is Tilka-F1 that is resistant to harsh conditions and needs little water and has a longer shelf-life,” Kyalo reveals.

The farmers get the seeds from Nairobi at a cost of Sh4,000 for a sachet of 1,000 seeds,” says Dahir, adding they make profits of up to Sh170,000 a season from their various groups.

The group sells a bucket of tomatoes weighing 10kg at Sh1,000 at the local markets.

“Good spacing in greenhouse production is a necessity for high yields in any farming of this kind,” says Kyalo. He adds a well-spaced greenhouse allows easy weeding, spraying against insects and harvesting. Dahir notes that they have been able to diversify due to the number of people in the group, since as one group take care of tomatoes, others tend to the other crops. https://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/Men-groups-in-love-with-tomatoes-and- bees/2301238-4375386-deqcyi/index.html

Awards honor achievements of worldwide Somali community

At the International Somali Awards, UNHCR Special Envoy Ambassador Affey praises the strength of the “the Somali spirit”, joining in the celebration of Somali people around the world.

By Kim Nelson | 06 April 2018

Somali-Swedish singer Cherrie (left) poses for a selfie at the International Somali Awards. Cherrie was a nominee for the Best Entertainment Award, and also performed during the ceremony. © ISA/Shayez Ali

LONDON – On Wednesday evening the 2018 International Somali Awards (ISA) were held in London to honour the achievements of the Somali diaspora around the world. The ISA ceremony shone a light on the successes of Somalis in the field of sports, entertainment, education, innovation and business, as well as Somali organisations which are making important contributions to their own communities.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was supporting this year’s awards, which took place in the historic Church House in Westminster, home to the United Nation’s first Security Council meeting in 1946. UNHCR’s Special Envoy on the Somali Refugee Situation, Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey was also in London to present an award at this year’s ceremony.

“It is important for you to know and take pride in your Somali origins”

Although an evening of celebration, the International Somali Awards also stood as a reminder of the challenges which lay ahead for Somalia, a country that has been wrought by decades of conflict, famine and instability.

At present, 5.4 million Somalis are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, 1.5 million Somalis are displaced within the country, and over 800,000 Somalis have been forced to flee to countries in the surrounding region. People attending the ceremony wore red badges with the

word nabad (meaning ‘peace’) to commemorate the October bombing in Mogadishu, which killed over 300 people.

Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, the first Somali to become president of the International Court of Justice, at the ISA reception. © ISA/Shayez Ali

Opening the ceremony, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, the first Somali to become president of the International Court of Justice, spoke about his country’s recent history.

“Over the past 30 years the Somali people have suffered all kinds of indignities,” Yusuf said. “It is as if the Somalia has been visited by the four horsemen of the apocalypse: war, famine, disease, and death.”

“As we envision the bright future of Somali people and put behind us the recent past, it is important for you to know and take pride in your Somali origins”

The 2018 International Somali Awards was held at Church House in Westminster, home to the United Nation’s first Security Council meeting in 1946. © ISA/Shayez Ali

From BAFTA-winning actors to American politicians, Somali refugees and migrants around the world continue to make a lasting impact on their communities, at home and abroad.

One shining example was the winner of Outstanding Educational Achievement, Mubarik Mahmoud, a young Somali refugee who had won an international scholarship to study at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

UNHCR’s Ambassador Affey, presented this year’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Community’ Award to Abaarso School, a non-profit school changing the lives of children in Somaliland.

“Evenings like these where we lay foundations, cultivate new ideas and bring together a new generation of Somalis”

Addressing the audience, Affey praised the ISA for rewarding “individuals and entities that have changed lives and illuminated the Somali spirit.”

“It is evenings like these where we lay foundations, cultivate new ideas and bring together a new generation of Somalis who are keen to impact lives abroad and back home,” Affey said.

UNHCR’s Special Envoy on the Somali Refugee Situation, Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, presented the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Community’ Award to founder of Abaarso School, Jonathan Starr. © ISA/Shayez Ali

In his speech Affey also emphasised the continuing need to protect vulnerable Somali refugees.

“It is equally important to recognise that the majority of Somali refugees in the region continue to require asylum space and protection of the countries that are hosting them.” http://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/stories/2018/4/5ac727004/awards-honor-achievements-of- worldwide-somali-community.html