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Somaliland:First Lady at ‘SGT’ Awards

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DSC_0215By M.A. Egge

THE First Lady Amina Sheikh Mohammed Jirde said that she was one of foremost fans of the live “Somaliland Got Talent” Television programs that has just come to its first seasonal close.

The First Lady revealed her enthusiasm for the local talent at a ceremony that saw the awarding of the best five top winners as first season series closed its curtains.Somaliland has got Talent

She at the same time hailed the information department for their production and airing of the talent show which brought local mega stars to judge the competitors.1509803_805101022920210_671518331919908989_n

The First Lady appealed to the officials to reschedule the time that the show is aired.

“I am a great fan of the program”, she said, and added, “I had to stay late into the night to view the programs”.

She then appealed, “I hope the timing will be re-scheduled when the next season resumes”.

Lady Amina-weris advised the producers of the programs to put in their itineraries a wide range of talents such that the raw ones may be able to be positively exploited. She said that it was a great chance for those with these talents to come to the limelight.

Somliland:We have services of great professionals for programmes development, says U’kuse

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By M.A. Egge

The Minister of Information, National Guidance and Heritage Hon. Abdillahi Mohammed Dahir U’kuse has announced that the department of information has lined up great professionals with vast experiences and engaged their services to boost the production, developement and perfection of the publicly appealing programmes to international standards.

The minister revealed the fact at a ceremony to honour five top awardees of the “Somaliland Got Talent” Television program aired by the SLNTV.

The function was graced by the presence of the First Lady Amina Sheikh Mohammed Jirde (see story elsewhere in this issue).

Hon. U’kuse said “It is incumbent upon us at the ministry to disseminate such programs through the radio and Television”. He said that besides a lot efforts on developing programs having been made, “there is still a lot which remains to be done in this direction”.

He termed such program e.g. the ‘SGT’ as those which have much public appeal, especially amongst the youth bracket.

“We have now pooled great professionals with great talents to help in developing the programs such as Yonis Ali Noor, Hassan Ali Waji, Said Aden Egge, Abdillahi Wayab and Fadhfadhle”, said Hon. U’kuse.

Earlier in the day a handful of Imam’s notably Sheikh Mohammed of Ali Matan Mosque decried the airing of the “SGT’ show, according to reports.

Without giving evidence or being elaborate, they termed it as “un-Islamic”.

Members of the public were mostly taken aback by their claims. A Mr. Abdillahi of a locally based international NGO wads heard exclaiming, “What on earth do they mean or are they in reality saying!?”, while wondering aloud not really expecting an answer.

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Somaliland:Education minister calls apt standards

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Geedoley M.A. Egge

The Education Minister Hon. Prof. Farah Mohamud Elmi has asked Marodijeh regional educationist to pep up their services and at the same time file evaluation reports constantly as concerns the educational standards.

In a meeting that the minister held yesterday with the headmasters of the schools within the region, the minister put emphasis on the need of making sure that basic and inter-mediate levels of the primary education be re-vitalized hence perpetually to be aptly standardized.

The scores of head teachers who talked to the media after the meeting could not hide their overwhelming enthusiasm in keeping their part of the bargain.

“We pledge the pepping up of over services”, they said, going by quote in local reports.

Somaliland:Let the GUURTI do its job

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Guurti777

 

Let the GUURTI do its job

Whenever elections are around the corner, its fever grips many a nation.

Now that ours is high on the agendas, hullabaloos and un-necessary cries of foul are heard from all quarters that matter.

We do know that political climates usually hot up in electioneering scenarios, but surely, it shouldn’t be the reasons to stir up un-necessary emotions to foment trouble.

Whatever has been the causative agent for having the date of the election being re-scheduled to a whole year later does not really matter today. This is because the same quarters that are wailing loudly today kept mum when their voice mattered.

What is clear though is that the dis-service dealt to the people is theirs to judge now that the pointers to the D’Day have been highlighted.

It remains for the Guurti who have just received notice of the re-scheduling to do the necessary. Voices, both from within the country and abroad, or (for that matter from the citizenry and foreigners) who are ‘warning’ or cautioning the Guurti are un-called for.

For more than two decades the Elders addressed fragile and pertinent issues that bordered religious, cultural, and constitutional and security issues with wisdom that heralded their cue.

To this extent it is our hope that they will do the necessary by living up to their expectations.

Stop coercion, National unity government is illegal

Just as we herein defend the sovereignty of the Guurti and that of our nationhood do we defend that of the administration of the day.

The horns being sounded yelling for a government of national unity is baseless, unfounded and illegal.

We have said this before and we are repeating it quite vividly.

The opposition squandered their chances, failed to do their work of putting government on toes or in check (for they were elected to do just that) hence wasted their time either sitting on their laurels or squabbling on petty issues.

NOT for one single moment have Somalilanders seen any worthwhile matter raised, addressed or delved into by the opposition members or parliamentarians as a whole.

Nobody has any night to call for on illegal “government of national unity” at all. This is simply because it is illegal.

The government has so far played its cards by the rules of the game. They too should adhere to it.

Similarly, the government should not allow for it to be hoodwinked or black-mailed by those who do not have the interests of the land at heart.

Their demands should be rejected with the contempt that they deserve.

However, whatever the stakes, conciliatory tones should never be abused by forcing coercion.

SL is bigger than petty politics.

 

Daring Abroad Kenyans find home in Somaliland

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kenyan_flag_03Click the link to watch the video

 https://youtu.be/XAraHrbL3fM

African migrants drown: Ask your questions LIVE TODAY at 09:00GMT to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

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African migrants drown: Ask your questions LIVE TODAY at 09:00GMT to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will host an online press conference TODAY at 09:00GMT

 

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 24, 2015/ As many as 700 African migrants are feared drowned after their packed boat capsized off Libya in what was described as the deadliest such disaster to date in the Mediterranean. The tragedy is the latest in a growing catalogue of mass drownings of African migrants attempting to reach the European Union.

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) (http://www.iom.int) will host an online press conference on Friday, April 24th, 2015 at 09:00GMT.

 

Journalists interested in attending this online press conference will be able to ASK QUESTIONS LIVE VIA THE INTERNET.

 

WHO: Itayi Viriri, Media and Communications Officer at International Organization for Migration (IOM)

 

WHEN: Friday, April 24th, 2015 at 09:00GMT (Time converter: http://bit.ly/1J22Tby)

 

LANGUAGES: English

 

How it works: This service is FREE and only requires a computer connected to the internet.

 

REGISTER NOW: http://www.apo-opa.com/application.php?L=E&vc=IOM

 

 

Technical Contact:  

sec.sg@apo-opa.org

+41 22 534 96 97

 

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

 

SOURCE 

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Somalia:Norm Coleman fans the flames of fear and mistrust in the land of 10,000 lakes

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Norm Coleman

Statement to the Press by Abdi Warsame

April 24, 2015 (Minneapolis): Recent days have been trying for all of us in Minnesota. We have heard stories about terror recruitment problems and the arrest of 6 young men who were attempting to leave the country. We have seen the grief stricken faces of mothers on the news and the cover of our major newspapers. Today I came face to face with words of hatred.  Norm Coleman’s comments promote distrust while inciting fear and loathing of Somali Americans.

In the past few years I have worked diligently to support the integration of the community into the mainstream. Along with community leaders, we have been working with law enforcement as well as local, state and federal agencies to address underlining causes of terror recruitment. I know these are testing times. We all must strive to work together and put in place initiatives that show our youth how much we value them, that their families matter and that the Somali Americans are welcomed members of society.

Minnesotans are calling for true dialogue that engages in collective solutions. Truly, we are all in this together.

Abdi Warsame is a Minneapolis City Council Member representing the Sixth Ward 

Contact: Abdi Salah – abdisalah7@gmail.com612-701-0913

Somalia:The Spreading Militancy and Islamic Salafism in the Horn of Africa threatens Women’s Dignity

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SIHA logoSTATEMENT TO THE 56th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
Caught Between Militant Ideology and Terror: Women in the Horn of Africa face growing threats and degradation of their dignity as a result of fast spreading militancy and Islamic Salafism.

 

BY: THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN IN THE HORN OF AFRICA (SIHA) NETWORK

Banjul, April, 2015
Honorable Chairperson, Commissioners, the Secretary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and distinguished participants,

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) is highly concerned about the rapid spread of religious militancy and Salafism in the Horn of Africa, and specifically for the plight of women, who suffer on a daily basis as a result of lashings, stoning and discriminatory laws and acts. Religious militancy and fundamentalism remain the biggest challenges women and men in the Horn of Africa face. As they attempt to live and access basic human rights, they are faced with constant threats and are subjected to laws that dictate all aspects of their lives.

SIHA is specifically aware that subjugation of women and the undermining of their humanity have been central components of religious militancy ideology. Salafi groups have shown a tendency to exclude women, have exhibited extreme intolerance to other religious beliefs and ideologies and have generally refused to co-exist peacefully with others. Thus, militant ideologies around the Horn of Africa are accelerating ongoing wars and civil conflicts.

In this statement, SIHA will show how the Sudanese legal framework has been largely influenced by militant ideologies, particularly when it comes to women’s human rights. This influence seems to go against the country’s international and regional obligations. Fanatical ideologies have instead led to situations of women being detained and flogged and their human dignity compromised. In this environment, women’s ability to prosper is hindered and their well-being is constantly under threat.

Similarly in Somalia, the fragile state is struggling to protect its citizens as it is under constant attack by militants. Women are therefore unable to secure government protection and continue to experience physical threat such as sexual violence and undue persecution such as death by stoning.

Sexual violence, impunity and criminalization of women are shared elements for women in Sudan and Somalia.

SUDAN

In Sudan, women who are charged with adultery (Zina), a crime often tied up with legal definitions and understandings of rape, are arrested by the public order police (now known as the community security police) which has the right to raid houses and arrest women at random from the streets. These women often find themselves sentenced to 100 lashes and if they are married, they are regularly sentenced to stoning.

Lashing and stoning remain the most common forms of punishments used to intimidate, control and subjugate women in Sudan. Thousands of women are lashed every year under laws that criminalize their personal behavior, most importantly, their dress-code, as a result of vague laws that disfavor women and give the state the power to control their existence and lessen their feeling of security in the public sphere.

We are also concerned about the ongoing crackdown on religious freedom evident in many cases of prosecution for both women and men. These cases are often charged as apostasy and justified by Articles 125 and 126 of the Criminal Act of 1991 (on offending religious beliefs and apostasy). As a result, many individuals will find themselves facing the death penalty if they oppose the fundamentalist interpretations of religion.

SOMALIA

In Somalia, sexual violence and death by stoning or by firing squad remain a daily ordeal, especially for women. Women remain at the mercy of militia groups and especially of Al-Shabab who act with total impunity. Women subjected to sexual violence are stigmatized, suffer criminalization and are unable to access justice in the court of law while their perpetrators are often set free. Worse, these victims are frequently accused of committing adultery and are in turn stoned to death without a fair trial. These trials are conducted by militant groups in the name of religion to impose their political will onto the population.

The Somali government is exercising little political control to end this impunity and the horrific sexual violence and stoning punishment imposed on Somali women in Al-Shabab-controlled areas.

Any strong women who challenge religious militancy are sure to be silenced, such as was the case of Saado Ali Warsame, a parliamentarian who was shot dead in July 2014.This brutality is a daily reality for Somalis living in Al-Shabab controlled areas and in areas where Al-Shabab has influence.

As a coalition of civil society organizations working on women’s rights, we are extremely troubled about the impact and growing influence of militant ideology on the women and girls in the region. We have seen Salafi extremism srpead to other countries as the kidnapping of female students by Boko Haram and the killings of innocent students at Garissa highlight.

We call on the African Commission to consider the following recommendations and urge the said Commission to:

-Call upon the Sudanese Government to abolish the punishment of lashing and stoning which are incompatible with Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Prohibition of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment.

-Call upon Sudan to reform the Public Order Articles of the Criminal Act of 1991 and revise the recent amendment of the Articles related to offending religious beliefs and apostasy.

-Advise the Government of Sudan and the Government of Somalia to give space to Civil Society Organizations to function and implement projects that fight militant religious ideology.

-Call upon the Sudanese and the Somali Governments to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

-Call upon Somalia Government to revise their national gender policy to include provisions on Gender-Based Violence.

-Call upon the Government of Somalia to establish the Human Rights Commission mandated by the Constitution of Somalia, and ensure that it receives the necessary parliamentary support to become an effective body that investigates all cases of brutality and violence and brings perpetrators of human rights violations before relevant judiciary bodies.

Is Istanbul, Waddani, Mogadishu trio planning a Somaliland takeover?

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Cirro-oo-libaax-ahAt least two of the more prominent dailies of Somaliland and their website pages- Jamhuuriya and Somalilandtoday – published related stories accusing the current chairman of Waddani opposition party, also the House Speaker of the Somaliland House of representatives, of secretly meeting the president of the internationally propped federal Somalia government in Istanbul, Turkey.

 

Somalia-Turkey-692x360The papers said that the meeting was arranged under tight security by the Turkish President himself, Mr. Teyyeib R Erdogan, who invited both to attend the centenary commemorations of the 1915 Battle of Canakkale (Gallipoli).

 

One of the papers claimed that the Honorable Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Irro” was expressly invited there alone in order to reach a deal with President Hassan Sheikh and Mr. Teyyib Erdogan ensuring that Somaliland went back into a reunion with Somalia against the wishes of the Somaliland people, the results of the 2003 referendum on issue, the earlier charters in Burao (1991) and Borama (1993).

 

The Somalilandtoday daily went to say that Mr. Irro was promised by the Turkish president a grant of US Dollars 4 million to manage his upcoming run for the Somaliland presidency campaign, and in return, Mr. Irro steer Somaliland towards an unconditional reunion with Somalia once he ascends to the highest executive seat in Somaliland.

 

The suspicion is lent credence, primarily, the reports and the public discussions that ensued on subject indicate, by a few telltale signs that can be interpreted as signals of ‘treachery and insincerity’ for the Somaliland national cause on the part of the Honorable Waddani Chairman and Speaker of Parliament:

 

The Speaker-cum-Chairman was picked out for the participation of the Turkish centenary commemoration. Neither of his deputies who were with him in Addis Abeba was chosen to accompany him. Neither was any member of the rest of the delegation including members of the Cabinet of ministers was given the honor.

Mr. Erdogan and his government pointedly ignored the highest leader of Somaliland – the President, where they invited that of Mogadishu and – in his place – Mr. Irro:a contender for the ROS presidential palace in the 2016 elections. Why Irro alone?Why not Faisal of UCID, too? Why not the higher Guurti Speaker or one of his deputies? WHY not the President or a member/members of the elected government?

Mr. Irro is relatively a newcomer to world diplomacy and as such cannot claim an established niche in world statesmanship going back a mile or two back in history.

Mr. Irro is becoming known in Somaliland circles as a clever ‘dodger’ of high profile events showcasing Somaliland quest for sovereignty such as those in Sheffield and Cardiff, UK.

The Chairman has proven that he is inordinately attached to a vision of himself as president forgetting on numerous occasions that showing humility, democracy, respect for rule of law and relinquishment of current post may be necessary requisites for crowd pull when the need for more votes arrived. Past tests at the House that he presided over proved him erring and clearly too attached to power – a very unhealthy combination for a true Somalilander harkening after a higher post.

Some of his followers are known rowdies who will not shy away from treading on public toes even if it called for the total abrogation of the sovereignty issue.

The Somaliland public has long suspected that there was a clandestine agreement between him and his party, on the one hand, and members of the weak Mogadishu government led by people he and his lieutenants were related with by blood or marriage, on the other hand, not auguring well for the independence issue that Somaliland has for more than two decades lobbying for.

Turkey is known to favor a reunion and is by all standards and measurement showing a clear leaning towards Mogadishu, showing no sympathy for the Somaliland cause. Turkey hosts the talks between Somaliland and Somalia and still claims it is neutral about them belied by its preponderant presence in a Mogadishu it is actively involved on all fronts.

Above all, Mogadishu has in recent months picked up its naked aggression against Somaliland sovereignty, development, international standing and territorial integrity – not even trying to conceal it from espying international intellect.

 

On the other hand, at least one other website I read dismissed the printed allegations as government-engendered propaganda although how the connection was arrived at was not convincing. Calling Jamhuuriya and somalilandtoday ‘government-supported’ media can by itself be a harbinger of war-of-words among Somaliland media practitioners – something that Somaliland can do without.

 

Either way, Irro’s visit to Turkey at this time without the support of the leading government or a suspicious public may pose as many questions and fears as it may attempt to answer. His movements of recent seem to be following a tom-tom beat of a drumming in a jungle he alone reigns king – unquestioned.

 

Abdishakur Essa

Somaliland:Dahabshiil’s Duale takes up the Somali Remittance issue with US White House, Treasury Department

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Dahabsahiil4b1c7b34-cba2-4b7f-b281-31a49de3d53b.mp4_20150423_084544.218Mr. Abdirashid Duale, Group CEO of Dahabshiil companies meets with top US officials on challenges that need to be removed to effect a smooth flow of  remittances benefiting Somalis.

Mr. Duale, among others, met with the Treasury Department, members of the House of Representatives, the World Bank and went all the way to the White House to highlight the importance of remittances to Somalis’ livelihood touching all facets of all of their personal, professional commercial, educational and health sectors.

Dahabsahiil4b1c7b34-cba2-4b7f-b281-31a49de3d53b.mp4_20150423_084541.674Mr. Duale pointed out that the meetings he held with these officials bore fruit. “My impression was that everyone was sympathetic to the issue and that they were trying to find a solution to the current challenges. Clearly more work needs to be done to realise a lasting, meaningful”, he said. solution.

“My impression was that everyone was sympathetic to the issue and that they were trying to find a solution to the current challenges. Clearly more work needs to be done to realise a lasting, meaningful solution”, he said.

Mr. Duale revealed that Dahabshiil was sending remittances from the US as usual and that the only difficulty currently facing the industry there was the issue of the US banks and the recent Kenyan move to close almost all remittance companies operating in that country without a legal due process – or warning.

Dahabsahiil4b1c7b34-cba2-4b7f-b281-31a49de3d53b.mp4_20150423_084331.109

 

“The issue is being discussed with the Kenyan authorities, and we are hopeful that the rule of law will prevail at the end of the day. Dahabshiil is fully licensed in Kenya and there is no indication anywhere that our services have been knowingly used ‘illegally’ at any time – not there, not anywhere else,” Mr. Duale said.

Group CEO gave interviews to the VOA English, Kiswahili and Somali services in which he presented the case of Somali remittances and the ongoing efforts to ease the stranglehold some countries such as Kenya are trying to put on an indispensable Somali lifeline.Dahabsahiil4b1c7b34-cba2-4b7f-b281-31a49de3d53b.mp4_20150423_084457.907

Following the attack by the Islamic militant group al-Shabab on the Garissa University in northern Kenya, where over 140 students were killed, the government suspended the license of Dahabshiil Money Transfer Company and another 12 companies. To tell us more about what impact this is having on their business, VOA’s Vincent Makori is joined by Abdirashid Duale, Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshiil.

To define the impact the closure will have on the business and on beneficiaries, Abdirashid Duale, Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshiil.,  joined VOA’s Vincent Makori.

Following the closure, Abdirashid told the VOA, Dahabshiil lawyers in Kenya immediately wrote to the Inspector General and shared all relevant documents with that office including, but limited to, how Dahabshiil operates globally in a network spanning over 126 countries 40 of which were African, and how Dahabshiil was fully compliant with all the financial laws regulating money matters in all of the host countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSKXckf9qB0