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wararka ka imaanaya tuulada Karin oo hoostagta degmada Ceerigaabo ee gobolka Sanaag ayaa sheegayaa in halkaasi uu saaka dagaal ku dhexmaray ciidamada Somaliland iyo jabhadda la baxday DULMIDIID ee uu hoggaamiyo Col. Siciid Cawil Jaamac Caarre. Cutubyo ka tirsan ciidamada Somaliland ayaa sida la sheegayo saaka weerar ku qaaday ciidamada jabhadda Caarre oo shalay u soo guuray degaankaasi karin halkaasi oo ay ku taallo waddo istiraatiijiya oo lagu magacaabo Tabca. Dadka degaanka ayaa soo sheegay in ay maqlayeen daryanka hubka ay isu adeegsanayeen labada dhinac balse weli faahfaahin lagama helin khasaaraha dagaalka dhexmaray ciidamada Somaliland iyo jabhadda Caarre. Dagaalka ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli la hadal-hayay in waan-waan heshiis laga dhex wado xukuumadda Muuse Biixi iyo hoggaamiyaha jabhadda DULMIDIID Col. Caarre kadib markii jabhaddiisu ay gashay gudaha Somaliland. PUNTLAND POST The post Dagaal dhexmaray ciidamada Somaliland iyo Jabhadda Caarre appeared first on Puntland Post.

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online) – Sida ay sheegayaan warar soo baxaya waxaa si aad ah loo adkeeyey ammaanka xarumaha Qaramada Midoobay ee magaalada Muqdisho. Wararka ayaa sheegaya in ay jirto cabsi laga qabo weeraro ka yimaada dhanka Al-Shabaab, kadib qaraxii ka dhacay xarunta maamulka gobolka Banaadir. Al-Shabaab ayaa shaacisay in weerarkaasi ay la damacsanaayeen Ergeyga QM ee Soomaaliya James Swan oo kulan uga qeyb galay xarunta dowladda hoose ee Xamar. Sidoo kale Al-Shabaab ayaa horay weeraro kala gadisan ugu qaaday qaar ka mid ah xafiisyada Qaramada Midoobay ee magaalada Muqdisho. Shalay ciidan ka socday dalka Uganda oo qeyb ka ah ciidamada UNGU (United Nations Guard Unit) ayaa lagu soo dhaweeyey xarunta Xalane degmada Wadajir ee gobolka Banaadir. Ciidamadan oo gaarayey 625 askari oo 86 ka mid ah ay yihiin haween ayaa howshoodu waxa ay tahay sugidda amniga shaqaalah QM ee ku sugan Muqdisho. Weerarkii ugu dambeeyey ee lala beegsaday xarunta QM ayaa dhacay 1-dii January ee sanadkan, kaas oo ay waxyeelo ka soo gaartay qaar ka mid ah shaaqalaheeda. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho caasimada@live.com

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online) – Xildhibaan Daahir Amiin Jeesow oo katirsan Xubnaha Golaha Shacabka ee Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya ayaa sheegay in Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Maxamed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo iyo Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya Xasan Cali Kheyre, Wasiiro iyo shaqaale kale ay halis galeen islamarkaana ay si dhib leh uga soo baxsadeen Al-Shabaab. Jeesow ayaa sheegay in uu aad uga wal walsanaa Xaalada Madaxdaan balse uu Alle soo badbaadiyay hadda wixii ka dambeeyana ay ka feejignaan doonaan in ay dib ugu laabtaan magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobalka Jubada Hoose. Magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobalka Jubada Hoose ayuu sheegay Xildhibaan Daahir Amiin Jeesow in ay maamulaan Al-Shabaab isagoo Axmed Madoobe ku tilmaamay garab kamid ah Al-Shabaab. “Axmed Madoobe waa Al-Shabaab waxaana qatar galay Madaxweynaha iyo Ra’iisul Wasaaraha dalka balse Alle ayaa soo badbaadiyay” ayuu yiri Xildhibaan Daahir Amiin Jeesow oo ka tirsan Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya. “Axmed Madoobe waa hogaamiyaha garab kamid ah Al-Shabaab waxa uuna aaminsan yahay fikirkooda sababtoo ah waad ogeed in uu ajaaniib ku tilmaamay dadkii ku dhintay weerarkii Kismaayo” ayuu hadalkiisa sii raaciyay Xildhibaan Daahir Amiin Jeesow oo katirsan Golaha Shacabka ee baarlamanka Soomaaliya. Dhinaca kale Xildhibaan Daahir Amiin Jeesow ayaa sheegay in uusan rajo ka qabin in uu tago magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobalka Jubada Hoose inta uu ka shaqeeyo maamulka Axmed Madoobe oo uu ku tilmaamay garab kamid ah Al-Shabaab. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho caasimada@live.com

Madaxweynaha Dowladda Puntland Mudane Siciid Cabdullaahi Deni ayaa xalay casho sharaf u sameeyey martida kasoo qayb gashay Bandhigga Buugaagta Garoowe oo sanadkii 5-aad la qabtay, waxay ka yimaadeen dhammaan geyiga Soomaalidu degto iyo qurbahaba. Casho sharaftan waxaa Madaxweynaha Ku wehelinaayey masuuliyiin ka tirsan Goleyaasha Dowladda, qaban-qaabiyayaasha Bandhigga, abwaano iyo masuuliyiin kale oo madasha lagu casuumay. Madaxweynaha Dowladda Puntland Mudane Siciid Cabdullaahi Deni ayaa khudbad dardaaran iyo sagootin ah u jeediyey martidii kasoo qeyb gashay munaasabadda casho sharafta ah. Madaxweynuhu waxa uu kula dardaarmay inay xoojiyan hal-abuurkooda iyo qoraaladooda. Waxa uu sidoo kale soo jeediyey in buug laga qoro bandhigyada noocan oo kale ah si loo helo dhitada wixii qabsoomay iyo horumarka kusoo siyaaday sanad walba. “Runtii fursad bay ii tahay caawa in aan sii dardaarano, waxaan aad ugu faraxsanahay inaan maskaxdii bulshada Soomaaliyeed oo caawa Garoowe ku kulansan in aan la kulmo, aad bay waxay iigu tahay sharaf, waxaana ka mahadcelinayaa cid walba oo fursadaas noo samaysay dadkii qaban qaabiyey Bandhigga Buugaagta”. “Waan idiinka mahadcelinayaa doorkii aad ka qaadateen in aad dadka Soomaaliyeed aqoontooda wax ku biirisaan, baahida dadkiinu idiin qabaan weli waa jirtaa , waxaa ani ii muuqday buugaagta la qoro iyo habka dadka maanta wax u fahmaan in farqi weyn u dhaxeeyo, dadkeenii maanta FACEBOOK ayey ku jiraan qoraal dheerna ku dhiiranmayaan in ay akhriyaan marka arrintaas bal dib u eegis ku sameeya”. Ayuu yiri Madaxweyne Siciid Cabdullaahi Deni. PUNTLAND POST The post Madaxweyne Deni oo Casho Sharaf U Sameeyey Martidii ka qeyb gashay bandhiga Buugaagta Garoowe appeared first on Puntland Post.

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia is planning a futuristic £400 billion desert city where residents can visit glow-in-the-dark beaches, watch cage fighting robots, and drink alcohol - unlike in the rest of the conservative Muslim country. Source: Hiiraan Online

Wasiir ku xigeenka Wasaaradda awqaafta iyo arrimaha Diinta Soomaaliya, Cusmaan Aaden Dhuuboow, ayaa Magaalada Madiina Al-munawara ee Dalka Sacuudi Carabiya kusoo dhoweeyay Xujeyda Soomaaliyeed ee halkaasi gaaraya si ay ugu war qabaan xaaladda Xujeyda. Wasiirka oo ay socdaalkiisa Indha-Indhaynta iyo soo dhoweynta ah ku wehliyaan , Qunsulka guud ee Soomaaliya u fadhiya Magaalada Jiddah , Ilyaas Sheekh Cumar, la taliyaha Wasaaradda, Maxamed C/raxmaan Nadiif iyo mas’uuliyiin kale ayaa waxay gaareen Garoonka Diyaaradaha ee Madiina, si ay ula socdaan Xujeyda halkaa tagaeysa iyo xaaladahooda guud. Cusmaan Aaden Dhuuboow, Wasiir ku xigeenka Wasaaradda awqaafta iyo arrimaha Diinta Soomaaliya, ayaa sheegay in ay wadaan dedaallo ballaaran oo la xiriira ka war qabka xaaladda Xujeyda iyo fulinta adeegyada ay u baahan yihiin, taas oo ah qorshe ay ugu tala gashay Dowladda Federaalka, isagoo intaa raaciyay in ay sii Laba jibbaari doonaan howlaha ay halkaasi u joogaan. Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ayaa dhowaan u dirtay Dalka Sacuudi Carabiya Guddi ka shaqeeya saacidaadda iyo la socoshada Xujeyda Soomaaliyeed, iyagoo kormeer iyo u kuurgal ku sameeyay inta badan Garoomada ay ka degaan Xujeyda, goobaha ay ka deggen yihiin Dalka Sacuudiga iyo qaabka ay acmaasha u gudanayaan. PUNTLAND POST The post Mas’uuliyiin ka tirsan dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya oo Sacuudiga ku soo dhoweeyay Xujeey Soomaaliyeed appeared first on Puntland Post.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey will turn elsewhere for fighter jets if the United States does not sell it the F-35 aircraft, adding that Ankara planned to start using the Russian S-400 missile defence system in April 2020. Source: Hiiraan Online

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Noordin Haji, head of public prosecutions in Kenya, is the urbane son of one of the country’s most prominent families. George Kinoti, born in the slums, rose from burly beat cop to head the powerful police investigation department. Source: Hiiraan Online

Kismaayo (Caasimada Online) – Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ayaa si gaabis ah dusha sare uga eegaysa xaaladda doorashada ee ka jirta magaalada Kismaayo ee Xarunta Gobalka Jubada Hoose. Wali si toos ah uma aysan faragelin Arimaha doorashada balse waxaa arintaasi lagu micneeyay laba ujeedo oo ay ka damacsan tahay Dowladda Soomaaliya kuwaas oo u horseedi doono in ay ka yelato sida ay rabto. Saraakiil katirsan Villa Somalia ayaa Caasimada Online u sheegay in Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ay Jubbaland faragelin doonto markii ay xaaladda adkaato kadibna ay si fudud ula wareegi doonto xaaladda doorasho. Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya waxay raadineyso qalalaaso ka bilaawda Jubbaland oo ay noqoto lama huraan in ay farageliso, kadibna ay la wareegto maamulka iyo hanaanka doorasho maadaama ay tahay Dowladda dalka. Sidoo kale Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ayaa damacsan in ay toos u farageliso Jubbaland markii ay meel gaar ah iska taagaan Mushaaraxiinta sida loo wado doorashada islamarkaana Axmed Madoobe lagu marqaatiyeeyo Beesha Caalamka si sifudud ay Dowladda ula wareegto doorashada. Arimahaan ayaa waxaa lagu micniyay in Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ay hore ugu ceebowday doorashadii ka dhacday Koonfur Galbeed Soomaaliya islamarkaana aysan ku deg degi karin arrimaha doorashada ee ka socda degaanada Maamul Gobaleedyada dalka. Maamulka Axmed Madoobe ayaa wada doorashada waxaana hogaamiyaha Maamulkaasi uu kamid noqday Musharaxiin is diiwaan gelisay oo qaatay Shahaadada Musharnimada Jubbaland. Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa hore u soo saartay Habraaca doorashada inkastoo uu maamulkaasi ka soo horjeestay. Musharaxiinta ugu saameenta badan ayaa ilaa hadda ka qayb galin diiwaan gelinta iyo shaqada socoto waxayna qabaan doorasho ku saabsan Gudiga iyo maamulkuba. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Kismaayo caasimada@live.com

A United States court has been told of gun trade link between the Akasha family and Al Shabaab terrorist group. Source: Hiiraan Online

MOGADISHU -- Some 625 Ugandan peacekeepers have arrived in Mogadishu to begin duties of supporting the UN efforts to bring peace and stability to the Horn of Africa nation, the UN said on Friday. Source: Hiiraan Online

Garoowe (Caasimada Online) – Wasiirada ku jira Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ee ka soo jeeda degaanada maamulka Puntland ayaa qaaday tallaabooyin aan lagu aqoonin Wasiirada kale ee Xukuumadda Soomaaliya ee ka soo jeeda gobalada kale ee dalka. Wasiiradan oo gaaraya ilaa 3 Xubnood ayaa dhowr jeer shirar ku saabsan Wasaaradaha ay hogaamiyaan ku qabtay magaalada Garowe ee xarunta maamulka Puntland waxaana ka soo qayb galay tobaneeyo dad ah oo ay ku jiraan wasiirada maamul gobaleedyada dalka. Wasiirka Qorsheynta Soomaaliya Jamaal Maxamed Xasan, ayaa ugu horreeya xubnahaas oo marar badan magaalada Garowe ku qabtay shirar ku saabsan Wasaaraddiisa iyo waxqabadkeeda waxaana dadkii ka qayb galay ka kala yimaadeen gobalada iyo degaanada maamul gobaleedyada dalka. Muddada uu socday shirkaas waxaa ka faa’iideestay ganacsatada Garowe, siyaasiinta, dhalinyarada iyo Haweenka oo qaarkood marti ku ahaa Shirka. Hoteelo badan ayaa laga kireestaa magaalada Garowe maalmaha ay shirarka socdaa, gaadiidka ayaa sidoo kale aad loo kireestaa, warbaahinta ayaa ka hesha fursado shaqo halka ay ciidamada iyo qaybaha kale ee bulshada helaan fursado muhiim ah. Wasiirka Shaqada iyo Arimaha Bulshada Soomaaliya Sadiiq Warfaa, ayaa sidoo kale Shirkiisii ugu horreeyay ee ku saabsan Shaqa abuurka Soomaaliya ku qabtay halkaas, waxaana ka qayb galay Wasiirada maamul gobaleedyada iyo ururada shaqaalaha iyo dad kale oo lagu marti qaaday. Shirkaas waxay shacabka Puntland ay ka faa’ideen kumanaan doolar kadib markii ay heleen fursado ganacsi iyo kuwa kale oo muhiim u ah degaankooda. Shirkii ugu dambeeyay waxaa Garowe ku qabtay Wasiirka Kaluumeysiga Soomaaliya Cabdullaahi Bidhaan, waxa uuna shirkaas ku saabsanaa horumarinta ganacsiga Kaluunka iyo kheyraadka kale Badda dhax ceegaaga. Qalad ma ahan in Wasiirada Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya ee ka soo jeeda Puntland ay degaanadooda uga faa’ideeyaan shirarka iyo fursadaha ay helaan balse waxay muujineysaa in ay ka il dheer yihiin wasiirada kale ee Xukuumadda Soomaaliya. Haddii Wasiirada kale ee Xukuumadda Soomaaliya shirarka ku qaban lahaayeen magaalooyinka Baydhabo, Jowhar, Kismaayo iyo Dhuusamareeb waxay noqon laheyd fursado muhiim ah iyo shaqooyin kale ay oo fud fud. Sidoo kale waxay qayb ka noqon laheyd daadajinta nidaamka Fedraalka Soomaaliya iyo kawar qabka degaanada ay ka soo jedaan. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho caasimada@live.com

Tehran (Caasimada Online) – Imaaraadka Carabta ayaa qaaday tallaabo kale oo dhabarjab ku ah Sacuudiga, islamarkaana wafdi u diray dalka Iran oo Sacuudiga uu loolan siyaasadeed kala dhaxeeyo. Xuseen Dahqan oo ah la-taliyaha hoggaamiyaha ruuxiga ah ee Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ayaa shaaca ka qaaday in mas’uuliyiinta Imaaraadka ay wafdi usoo direen Tehran, si ay ugala hadlaan xiisadda ka taagan gacanka. Tallaabada Imaaraadka ee ku wajahan Iran ayaa ah tii labaad oo dhabarjab ku ah Riyadh oo ay xulufo yihiin Abu Dhabi wax ka yar labi bilood un, ayada oo Imaaraadka ay horey inta badan ciidamadooda uga soo saareen dalka Yemen. Dahqan ayaa sheegay in Imaaraadka ay noqdeen xudunta weerarada Mareykanka uu ku qaado danaha amniga ee Iran, sidaas darteedna ay ogyihiin waxa looga baahan yahay si ay farriin nabadeed ugu diraan shacabka Iran. Imaaraadka ayaa garowsan in dagaal kasta oo lagu qaado Iran uu horseedi doono in Iran ay beegsato magaalooyinka Dubai iyo Abu Dhabi, oo ay gantaalo ku garaacdo, waxayna isku dayaysaa inay xiisadda qaboojiso. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Qaahira caasimada@live.com

Hargeysa (Caasimada Online) ― Boqor Cismaan Buurmadow oo ka mid ah madax-dhaqameedka Somaliland ayaa ka hadlay Arrimaha doorashooyinka Somaliland iyo xaalada guud ee ka jirta deegaanada Somaliland. Boqor Buurmadow ayaa sheegay in xukuumada Somaliland iyo xisbiyada mucaaridka looga baahanyahay in doorashooyinka ay waqtigooga ku qabtaan, haddii kale ay Somaliland waayi doonto taageerada iyo tix-gelinta ay ka hesho beesha caalamka Buurmadow ayaa sidoo kale waxa uu ka hadlay xiisada u dhaxeysa Xukuumada iyo Jabhada uu hogaamiyo Kornayl Caare, isagoona baaq u direy Madaxweyne Biixi, wuxuuna yiri “Dalku xaalada uu marayo hadal badan uma baahna, dalku wuxuu u baahan yahay dhawris iyo xanaano fara badan”. “Xukuumada iyo xisbiyada waxaan u soo jeedinayaa laba arrin oo taagan oo midi doorashadii caalamku inagu tix-galinayey ahayd, inta qudha ee aynu naruuro lahayn ama caalamku inoogu soo joogsanayey waa doorasho, haday inoo dhici waydana waxaynu noqonaynaa dad caalamkuna indhaha kala noqdo”. Wuxuuna intaas kusii daray “Arinka kale ee hada taagan ee buurta ee la leeyahay waa lays horfadhiyaa labadaba tanaasul iyo nabad galyo ayaan xukuumada iyo dadka ehelka ah ee aanu walaalaha nahay ugu baaqayaa”. “Madaxweynaha iyo xukuumada waxaan leeyahay arrimaha taagan oo dhan mid dhibaato ah ha noqoto ama cid mucaarid ku ah dawlada ha noqotee ama arin siyaasadeed oo doorasho ah ha noqotee inay dhimriso oo dajiso ayaan kula talinayaa”. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Hargeysa Caasimada@live.com

Hargeysa (Caasimada Online) ― Wararka naga soo gaaraya magaalada Hargeysa ayaa sheegaya in Xukuumada Muuse Biixi ay xabisga dhigtay Wariye si weyn ugu ololeyn jirey Madaxweyne Muuse Biixi. Ciidamada Booliska Somaliland ayaa xabsiga u taxaabay Wariye Maxamed Yuusuf Bakayle, xili uu ku sugnaa gudaha magaalada Hargeysa. Maxamed Bakayle ayaa ahaa Wariye si weyn u taageera siyaasada xisbiga talada Somaliland haya ee Kulmiye iyo Madaxweyne Muuse Biixi, isla markaana ka qeyb qaatay ololihii uu ku soo baxay Muuse Biixi. Ilaa iyo hadda ma jirto war rasmi ah oo ka soo baxay laamaha amaanka iyo xukuumada Kulmiye oo ku aadan xariga Wariyahan. Xukuumada Muuse Biixi ayaa waxay hore xabsiga u dhigi jirtay Suxufiyiinta dhaliila siyaasada maamulkeeda, balse talaabadan ayaa u muuqata mid ka gadisan kuwii hore. Wixii ka soo kordha kala soco Caasimada Online Caasimada Online Xafiiska Hargeysa Caasimada@live.com

Minneapolis (Caasimada Online) – Wargeyska Daily Mail ee dalka UK ayaa qoray in Ilhaan Cumar iyo seygeeda ay kala guuraan islamarkaana ay ku guda jiraan hanaan ay isku furayaan. Daily Mail ayaa warbixin gaar ah oo uu qoray ku sheegay in Ilhaan ay cayrisay seygeeda Axmed Xiris, oo markii ugu horreysay ay is-guursadeen sanadii 2002 , balse is-fureen 2008, ka hor inta aysan mar kale dib isugu noqon. Wargeyska ayaa sheegay in Ilhaan ay hadda ka guurtay Axmed kuna nooshahay dhisme qaali ah oo ku yaalla Mill District oo ah xaafadda ka tirsan Minneapolis. “Waan ka xumahay, waxba kama oran karo arrintan” ayuu yiri Axmed Xirsi oo Daily Mail ay wax ka weydiisay. Sidoo kale, Ilhaan Cumar ayaan ka jawaabin xiriir ay la sameysay Daily Mail. Axmed Xirsi ayaa hadda kaligiis ku nool gurigii ay wada deganaayeen isaga iyo Ilhaan, hase yeeshee waxa uu tagaa guriga cusub ee Ilhaan ay kiraysatay marka ay ku maqan tahay magaalada Washington DC, halkaasi oo ay xubin ka tahay congress-ka Mareykanka. Axmed Xirsi ayaan sidoo kale xaaskiisa kusoo dhoweyn garoonka diyaaradaha Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport markii ay toddobaadkii tagay kasoo laabtay Washington DC. Arrintan ayaa imaneysa ayada oo Ilhaan Cumar ay wajaheyso eedeymo aan weli caddeyn loo hayn oo xubno Jamhuuriyiin ah ay ku sheegeen inay si been ah u guursatay walaalkeed si ay u keento dalka Mareykanka. Sawirrada guriga cusub ee ay degtay Ilhaan Cumar Caasimada Online Xafiiska Minneapolis caasimada@live.com

This week, Somaliland police arrested six councilors of the Gabiley district Council. They are being held at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the police in Hargeisa. Source: Hiiraan Online

Zarah Ali (not her real name) remembers how things changed for the better. “In 2014, I received a loan of 40 000 Djiboutian francs (US$ 250) that I used to develop and improve my garment business. I was also trained in business entrepreneurship Source: Hiiraan Online

Wararka aan ka helayno Dad aad uge dhow Gudoomiyaha Gobolka Banaadir Ing. Cabdiraxmaan Cumar Cusmaan Yariisow waxay noo xaqiijiyeen in Xaalada Gudoomiyaha ay aad usoo [...] Source

African Development Bank helps to modernise South Sudan’s financial systems Abidjan 26 July 2019 – The African Development Bank Board on 17th July 2019 approved $6.6 million funding to finance South Sudan’s payment and settlement systems integration project. The project is consistent with the Bank’s updated country strategy paper which concentrates on state building through capacity and infrastructure development. The project is also aligned with South Sudan’s National Development Strategy 2018-2021; the latter confirms the need to restore and maintain economic infrastructure. The objective of the project is to modernise the payment systems in South Sudan in order to improve the country’s financial systems and promote regional integration. To this end, the project will assist South Sudan to develop and harmonise its payment systems in line with those of five member countries of the East African Community (EAC), thereby facilitating progress towards the a monetary union in the EAC and increasing trade and economic activities within the region. For South Sudan, the development of real time gross settlement (RTGS) and the other components of the project will improve the efficiency of financial intermediation, enhance the management of systemic risks, and promote liquidity management, monetary policy implementation, and strengthen the financial sector. The newly approved project complements the ongoing EAC payment and settlement systems integration project (EAC-PSSIP) and support to South Sudan, which is closely aligned with the 4th EAC development strategy (2011/12 – 2015/16) and the EAC common market protocol, which emphasises trade facilitation, a single market in financial services, an EAC monetary union, and infrastructure connectivity into regional development initiatives. Implementation of the new project will commence during the 2019/2020 financial year, and the EAC secretariat will coordinate project implementation, in close collaboration with the Central Bank of South Sudan. Once completed, the project will have produced a modernised payment system for South Sudan, a Central Bank with greater capacity to provide oversight, and policies and regulations to support payments and settlements. These achievements will put South Sudan in a position to interconnect better with other East African countries to ease transfers of funds through the East African Payment System (EAPS) platform. The Bank’s country manager for South Sudan, Benedict Kanu, noted that “the modernisation of payment systems to bolster the financial system’s performance will not only increase the formal financial sector, but also encourage regional integration. Moreover, the established linkages between financial inclusion and inclusive growth will benefit the people of South Sudan by assisting them to invest more in their economy”. He added that the activities of the proposed project will not only promote better governance in the financial sector, but also improve access to much-needed credit, thereby enabling businesses, especially SMEs, to expand, creating jobs and reinvigorating growth. South Sudan’s economy currently functions mainly on a cash basis, with very low usage of commercial Bank cheques. Banks are the main providers of payment services in the country. 29 commercial banks are licensed to operate in South Sudan, six of which are foreign-owned. The indigenous banks are mainly one-branch operations, whose main business is foreign exchange trading. Appropriate regulations have been drafted and it is envisaged that mobile payment and banking services will be launched by several banks as soon as the regulatory framework is ratified. Since 2012, the Bank has contributed more than $160.55 million in development aid across various sectors for South Sudan. The Bank’s support has focused on capacity building, and infrastructure development, with particular emphasis on creating conditions for promoting peace, stability and state building, in line with South Sudan’s and the Bank’s strategic priorities. Qaran News

The United Nations in Somalia today marked the arrival of a new contingent of Ugandan peacekeepers charged with ensuring the safety of the world body’s staff in their compound in the capital city, Mogadishu. Source: Hiiraan Online

By JOHN VANDIVER | STARS AND STRIPES STUTTGART, Germany — Hours after taking charge of U.S. Africa Command Friday, Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, was at work assessing the state of operations on the continent where he now leads military efforts. After a brief change of command reception at Stuttgart’s Patch Barracks, Townsend huddled with his top commanders. Next week, Townsend said he will make his first trip to East Africa, where the U.S. faces a complicated security situation in places like Somalia. “I intend to very thoroughly assess everything the command does,” Townsend told Stars and Stripes. Townsend replaced Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, who is set to retire after leading AFRICOM for three years in a tenure that saw a growing mission in Somalia, an air bombardment campaign in Libya and a deadly ambush of U.S. troops in Niger that jolted the military community. “We honor the bravery, service and sacrifice of those American, African, and partner soldiers who have given their lives over the past three years in the noble pursuit of peace and security across the African continent,” Waldhauser said during the ceremony. Townsend, who previously led the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command and, before that, headed the U.S.-led coalition that battled the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, takes over at AFRICOM at a tumultuous time. n 2017, four U.S. soldiers were killed in the ambush in Niger that brought intense scrutiny and political attention on the U.S.’s role in Africa. The military also has picked up the pace of operations in Somalia, where it has conducted 46 airstrikes this year against forces aligned with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. As drone strikes have increased, accusations of civilian casualties also have begun to emerge. So far, AFRICOM has acknowledged that two civilians have been killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2018, but watchdog groups like Amnesty International earlier this year claimed the toll is higher. When asked whether he intends to reassess how the military operates in Somalia, Townsend said he would, just as he will examine everything AFRICOM does. “I am comfortable with what the command has been doing (in Somalia), but as a new commander I am going to do what all commanders do,” Townsend said. “I am going to give my own look, my own assessment.” Regarding questions from human rights groups about civilian casualties, Townsend said, “I understand their concerns.” However, Townsend said the military conducts airstrikes in a careful way and takes measures to avoid civilian deaths whenever possible. As head of the U.S. coalition against ISIS, Townsend oversaw a massive air campaign against militants in Iraq and Syria. “These things are a part of conflict. It’s unfortunate, but they are,” Townsend said. In Somalia, AFRICOM leaders say they have seen important progress over the past couple years. The Somali military has been growing and taking on a larger role against the insurgent group Al-Shabab and the central government has become more capable, military officials say. “These gains in Somalia are extremely fragile,” Waldhauser said. “But they are gains nonetheless.” AFRICOM is adapting to a new Pentagon strategy that calls for greater focus on countering Russia and China in Africa, where both countries have sought to gain influence. China, in particular, now operates a base in Djibouti near the U.S. military’s hub at Camp Lemonnier. Townsend also faces the challenge of keeping pressure on militant groups, while working to keep Russian and Chinese influence in Africa in check. Without naming China or Russia, Townsend said, “We will continue to counter corrosive influence on the African continent, whatever those corrosive influences may be.” Although the command posting in Stuttgart is Townsend’s first military assignment in Germany, it marks something of a homecoming for him as he grew up on bases in the country as part of an Army family. “This is an incredible assignment,” Townsend said. vandiver.john@stripes.com Twitter: @john_vandiver