Mogadishu (HOL) - President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has spoken out for the first time about the rendition of former ONLF commander, Colonel Abdikarim Musa Qalbi-Dhagah. Source: Hiiraan Online

Earlier, a proposal was already passed to make rape punishable. Street scene in Somaliland. Somaliland, the country in the Horn of Africa that separated from Somalia in 1991, is taking steps forward in the protection of girls and women. Last month the parliament adopted a proposal to make rape punishable. And this week, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced a fatwa against female genital mutilation, according to the Voice of America channel. Somaliland, about four million inhabitants, is predominantly sunni. So far, rape is not punishable and victims were often forced to marry their attacker to prevent public humiliation. The parliament was elected directly in 2005 for the first time. If the bill is ratified by the more conservative House of the Elderly, with traditional clan leaders, rapists can get up to 30 years in prison. The scope of the fatwa against circumcision is unclear. The text refers to a prohibition of “all forms of circumcision that are in conflict with religion” – including heavy forms of genital mutilation such as the cutting away of parts of the sexual organ and the (partially) stitching of the vagina. That is not unusual in the region. When a girl undergoes such circumcision, she is entitled to compensation, according to the text. Who has to pay is unclear. NRC

Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Maxammed Cabdullaahi Maxammed(Farmaajo) ayaa markii u horraysay ka hadlay dhiibistii Cabdikariin Sheekh Muuse Qalbi-dhagax oo ahaa sarkaal a tirsan Jabhadda ONLF,kaasoo bishii Agoosto ee sannadkii tegay ay dowladda Soomaaliya u gacan gelisay dalka Ethiopia. Sarkaalka Ethiopia loo dhiibay ee Cabdikariin Qalbi-dhagax ayaa ka tirsanaa guddiga fulinta ONLF,isagoo horay uga mid ahaan jiray militariga Soomaaliya,islamarkaana ku dhaawacmay dagaal Ethiopia looga difaacayey degmada Galdogob ee gobolka Mudug,sida ay xaqiijisay jabhadda ONLF. Dhiibista sarkaalkan ayaa waxaa ka dhashay caro ballaaran iyo cadaadis xukuumadda Farmaajo uga yimid shacabka Soomaaliyeed,waxaana madaxda dalka xilligaasi lagu eedeeyay khiyaano qaran,balse golaha xukuumadda Soomaaliya,ayaa muddo kadib go’aan ka soo saaray dhiibista Qalbi-dhagax,waxayna sheegeen in khatar ku ahaa amniga dalka. Dhinaca kale Baarlamanka Soomaaliya ayaa go’aan ka duwan xilligaasi ka soo saaray arrinta Qalbi-dhagax,isagoo sharci-darro ku tilmaamay dhiibista sarkaalkan,maadaama aysan Dastuurk dalka meelna kaga qorneyn in qof Soomaali ah loo dhiibo dal kale. Haddaba Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Maxammed Cabdullaahi Maxammed(Farmaajo) ayaa markii u horraysay muddo lix bilood ku dhow ka hadlay dhiibista Qalbi-dhagax,wuxuuna sheegay in go’aanka Baarlamanka Soomaaliya ka soo saaray arrintaas uu kama dambaysay yahay. “Su’aashaasi runtii waa su’aal muhiim ah, waxaan ognahay in baarlamaanka ay ku sameeyeen dood, ayna kasoo saareen warbixin, ayna u codeeyeen, maxaa yeelay iyagu waxaa weeye, waa hay’adda ugu saraysa ee sharci dajinta, markay codeeyeene waxay gaareen go’aan, waxaan aaminsanahay in go’aankaasi uu yahay kama dambeys”,ayuu yiri Farmajo oo ka jawaabayey su’aal ay dhegaystayaashu weydiiiyeen xilli uu wareysi gaar ah siinayey BBC Somali. Hadalka madaxweyne Farmaajo ayaa loo fasiran karaa in uu dhiibista Qalbi-dhagax ka aaminsanyahay sharci-darro,maadaama go’aanka Baarlamanka Soomaaliya sidaasi ahaa,isaguna uu haatan taageeray. PUNTLAND POST The post Madaxweyne Farmaajo taageeray go’aankii Baarlamanka Somalia ka qaatay dhiibistii Qalbi-dhagax. appeared first on Puntland Post.

Human eggs have been grown in the laboratory for the first time, say researchers at the University of Edinburgh. Source: Hiiraan Online

Over 740 prisoners have been pardoned by Ethiopian authorities as part of a political reform move to foster national unity. Source: Hiiraan Online

Instagram is testing a feature that finally lets users share others people's public posts to their stories. Source: Hiiraan Online

2017 was a year of investigations for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). There was the investigation of the two-star commander of U.S. Army Africa who allegedly sent racy texts to an enlisted man’s wife. Source: Hiiraan Online

The US government slid into its second shutdown in three weeks early Friday after a senator in President Donald Trump's own Republican Party blocked a vote on a bipartisan budget deal before a midnight deadline. Source: Hiiraan Online

Taageerayaasha Madaxweyne Farmaajo oo Xusayay Sanad guuradii kowaad ee kasoo wareegtay MarkiibMadaxweynaha la doortay ayaa waxay ka dhici lahayd Magaalada Nairobi, Xafladaasoo isu badashay goob dagaaal. Kooxo ayidsan Cabdikariin Shiikh Muuse (Qalbi-dhagax oo Xukuumada Soomaaliya ay Sanadkii hore u gudbiyeen Dalka Otoobiya oo dambiyo Dagaal looga heystay ayaa Xaflada weerar Faadumo ah kusoo qaaday waxayna bilaabeen inay kala daadiyaan kuraastii, Miisaskii iyo waxyaabihii lagu sharaxay Hoolka Hotelka Bin Cali ee Magaalada Nairobi oo Xafladu ka dhacaysay. Ma jirin cid iska difaacday Weerarka oo shacabkii lagu casumay Goobta waxay la Bacaadweyn naftoosa, Kalayaac iyo sawaxan ayaana goobtii ka bilowday. Midka mid ah Kooxda Weerarka soo qaaday ayaa wuxuu sheegay in Madaxweyne Farmaajo iyo Xukuumadiisu ay Itoobiya u gacanngaliyeen Nin Soomaali ah oo bilaa dambi ah. Cabdikariin Muuse Qalbidhagax waxaa in Mudo ah baadi goob ugu jiray Dowlada Itoobiya , Waxaana Sanadkii tagay lagasoo qabtay Gobolada dhexe ee Soomaaliya, waxaana soo qabashadiisa iska kaashadey Sirdoonka Itoobiya iyo Dowlada Federaalka Soomaaliya.

Al-Shabaab militants have been training clan elders in southern Somalia on how to use guns to shoot accurately, in the latest attempt by the jihadists to win the hearts of residents, media outlets affiliated by the group have reported. Source: Hiiraan Online

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online)- Madaxweynaha dowladda federaalka Somalia, Maxamed C/llaahi Farmaajo ayaa markii ugu horeysay bulshada si toos ah ula hadlay xili maanta ay ku beegan tahay sanad guuraddii koowaad markii xilka loo doortay. Madaxweyne Farmaajo oo BBC la hadlayay isla markaana ka jawaabayay su’aallo shacabka soo weydiiyeen ayaa markii ugu horeysay faah faahiyay kiiska C/kariin Qalbi Dhagax, wuxuuna sheegay in arrintaasi baarlamaanka Somalia uu go’aan ka gaaray, go’aankaasina uu ku raacsan yahay. “Waxaan ognahay in baarlamaanka arrinta Qalbi Dhagax aad ugu hadleen, go’aan kama danbeysna ay kasoo saareen, maadaama hay’adda ugu sareysa baarlamaanka uu yahay, waxaana aaminsanahay in go’aanka ay gaareen uu yahay mid kama danbeys ah” ayuu yiri madaxweynaha oo aan wax faahfaahin dheeri intaas ka ah ka bixin su’aashii laga weydiiyay Qalbi Dhagax. Su’aallaha madaxweyne Farmaajo oo aad u badnaa halkaan hoose ka daawo jawaabahooda.  Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Video: Madaxweyne Farmaajo oo si toos ah shacabka ugu jawaabay su’aalo xasaasi ah appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online)- Waxaa caawa garoonka diyaaradaha Aadan Cadde ee magaalada Muqdisho ka duushay diyaarad rakaab oo ay la socdeen wafdi uu hoggaaminayo wasiirka maaliyadda xukuumadda federaalka Soomaaliya Dr. C/raxmaan Ducally Beyle iyo dad shacab ah. Wafdiga wasiirka maaliyadda ayaa garoonka ka raacay diyaarad dad shacab ah siday, taasi oo fiidnimadii caawa ka duushay Aadan Cadde, kuna sii jeeday magaalada Nairobi ee dalka Kenya. Wasiirka ayaa halkaasi uga qeyb galaya shir ku saabsan dhaqaalaha oo 13-ka bishan ka furmaya magaaladaasi. Wasiirka ayaa kahor inta uusan furmin shirka waxa uu si horudhac ahaan ula kulmi doonaa Madax ka tirsan Bankiga Adduunka iyo qaar ka tirsan Wasiirada Maaliyadda dalalka deriska ah. “Waxaa caawa farxad ii ah in xilli habeen ah aan ka duulo Garoonka Diyaaradaha Aadan Cadde, waliba aan raaco Diyaarad shacab, tani waxay cadeyn u tahay horumarka ay ku talaabsatay Dowladda Federaalka.” Ayuu yiri Wasiirka oo hadal kooban ku soo qoray bartiisa Facebooka. Wasiirka Maaliyadda oo maalmo kahor shir jaraa’id ku qabtay Muqdisho ayaasheegay in Dowladda Soomaaliya ay sameysay horumar dhanka Maaliyadda ah, ayna rajeynayaan in laga cafiyo deymaha Dowladda lagu leeyahay. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Sawirro: Dad shacab ah iyo wasiirka maaliyada oo caawa ka duulay garoonka diyaaraddaha Muqdisho appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Munaasabad si heer sare loo soo agaasimay oo lagu xusayay sanad guurada koowaad ee 8 Febraayo oo ku beegan doorashadii madaxweyne Farmaajo ayaa lagu kala cararay, kadib markii kooxo careysan ay weerar kusoo baadden. Munaasabadaan oo ka dhaceysay hotelka Bin Cali ee magaalada Nairobi ayaa waxaa soo qaban qaabiyay taageerayaasha madaxweyne Farmaajo, waxaana soo weeraray dhalinyaro ka careysan kiiska C/kariin Qalbi Dhagax oo dowladda Somalia ku wareejisay dowladda Itoobiya. Sawirro laga soo qaaday ayaa muujinaayo kuraastii dadka fadhiisanayay oo burbursan iyo kala cararka meesha ka dhacay isla markaana meeshaasi la isku fara saaray. Dhalinyarada soo weeraray xafladda ayaa la sheegay inay ahaayeen taageerayaasha ONLF ee Nairobi oo ka careysan kiskas Qalbi Dhagax. Ciidamo ka tirsan booliska Nairobi ayaa goobta soo gaaray oo kala ceyriyay dhalinyaradii weerarka soo qaaday iyo dadkii kale ee munaasabada ka qeybgalay.

Djibouti, one of Africa’s smallest countries, has become China’s “strategic partner.” The Chinese have built a military base and a port, and is currently constructing a free trade zone, fast establishing it as Beijing’s gateway to the continent. Republic of Djibouti, Djibouti, 2017Buses line up during rush hour in the main bus station in Djibouti. A police car appears in a cloud of red dust on the dirt road between the boulders. A young man in uniform opens the window and starts grousing in French. The Chinese men he is rebuking don’t understand any of it, but slowly realize where the anger is coming from. They had forgotten to register with the sentry guarding the entrance to the large construction site above the coast. When the police officer turns away, Nicholas Li says, “Unbelievable, this is my company here!” The company, under the leadership of the China Merchants Group, is currently building Africa’s largest free trade zone in Djibouti. Li, the company’s 37-year-old head, kicks rocks from the dirt road. Rules are rules, he says, OK. Then the tour in the SUV over the field of boulders continues. Li has left his driver back at headquarters down in the city, and is driving himself. He likes to have things under control. Soon the site, where bulldozers with specialized tools are breaking up the rocky ground, will be home to factories, warehouses, office buildings and hotels – a city built from scratch, reaching down to the sea, a 48-square-kilometer invitation to investors from around the world. Djibouti is one of the smallest countries in Africa, but for several years now, people here have been thinking big. Many are dreaming of creating, with Chinese help, something similar to Singapore and the Gulf States. It may not be easy to make something of this parched land, but there is a true feeling of ambition here, a willingness to take risks and move forward. The Djiboutians are searching for a better life and for a bigger role for themselves in a global society that is in the process of reordering itself. The country practically serves as a laboratory setting for the global shift in power from the West to the East, and many vivid examples can be seen. Djibouti is more open and willing to experiment than other African countries. And even though Europe and the United States continue to be important for the people here, when they think about their future, it’s China that they look to. The country has witnessed first hand just how quick the Chinese are at turning plans into reality. A new port has already been built on the coast, and the gigantic cranes in Doraleh have become Djibouti landmarks. Meanwhile, the free trade zone Nicholas Li is building up in the rocky land is meant to deliver jobs and prosperity. In the evening, Li turns on a couple of switches in the entry hall of his headquarters, and tiny lights illuminate a model showing the first construction phase of the free trade zone. Li points to a high-rise next to the eight-lane access road. “A hotel is going in here,” he says. The adjacent building is to become the new company headquarters of the consortium. “We are moving in this July.” He says. The timeline is tight. Li has only been in Djibouti for six months. After completing his B.A. in finance, he moved from China to the Welsh city of Cardiff to complete his master’s degree. “There were so many Chinese people in my courses, I didn’t like it,” he says. He attended other seminars to meet international students. He speaks English with a British accent. The planned free-trade zone that Li is overseeing is important for Djibouti, because its aim is to create jobs for locals. “In a place where 50 foreigners work, 50 of our people should also be able to find jobs,” says Mohamed Abdullahi Wais, the secretary general of the presidency and an influential person in the government. Wais, who studied in France, knows how skeptical Europeans are of large Chinese projects, but he doesn’t share their concerns. “We have set up the zone so that it will be modelled after Jabal Ali in Dubai,” he says. In the Gulf, the sheiks’ riches literally bubble out of the earth, but Djibouti has neither oil nor any other valuable mineral resources. The land is hot and dry. And up until one or two generations ago, the people here lived as nomads. Goats and camels can still be seen today walking through the capital city. Location, Location, Location But Djibouti does have one major commodity. In the real estate industry, they have a mantra for it, too: location, location, location. One of the most trafficked shipping lanes in the world is located right off the country’s coast. Dozens of oil tankers and container ships head to the Red Sea every day, bound for the Suez Canal and the ports of Europe. This strategic location is one of the reasons the Chinese are here with their project managers, bankers and engineers and, most recently, with their army. And although they may only be the latest in a long line of foreign powers to set up quarters in Djibouti, they do think in bigger terms than the others. The tiny country serves as their gateway to Africa. Those who were here before the Chinese came have also stayed, mostly with their militaries. Countries from three continents have bases south of the capital, including the United States, Japan, Italy and, of course, Djibouti’s former colonial rulers, the French. Spanish and German forces are also stationed at the French military’s Base Aérienne 188. French still happens to be the most important language in Djibouti. Almost a million people live here, in a country a little larger in size than the German state of Hesse. They come from different cultures, speak Arabic or the languages of the neighboring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia. Two large population groups were long embroiled in conflict with one another, the Afar from the north and the Issa from the south, but things have been relatively peaceful since the civil war ended in 1994. Authoritarian President Ismail Omar Guelleh has proven successfully in keeping the country at peace. Guelleh finds the notion of political freedom for all too risky, and he has instead emphasized strictness and stability. In a conflict-filled region, stability is the other resource that Djibouti has to offer. The third is a certain amount of openness to the world. Islam may be the state’s official religion, but faith is generally a private matter in Djibouti. Services regularly take place in its Christian churches, and if a woman wants to walk through the streets in jeans and without wearing a headscarf, nobody takes offense to it. President Guelleh can also afford to distance himself from the Western powers. Although they pay a lot of money for the right to station soldiers, aircraft and drones on Djiboutian soil, they are dependent on Guelleh because of their desire to stay. In an interview last spring with the newsmagazine Jeune Afrique, he said that “the Americans constantly tell us that the Chinese presence is hindering their operations, and the Japanese are even more worried.” But he says those concerns are unnecessary. His dealings with the Chinese tend to be a lot more pleasant. Chinese President Xi Jinping gave Guelleh the highest honor in November, welcoming him to Beijing with all of the pomp of a state visit. Both presidents agreed to a “strategic partnership,” although this sounds a little bit odd given that one of the men governs 1,400 times as many people as the other. Economic Aid or Exploitation? Still, the use of the term “partnership” sends a political message. When a much bigger state treats a smaller one as a peer, it can be interpreted as a bow — a bow toward Africa. The Chinese have faced a lot of criticism since they began securing access to the continent’s mineral resources and financing ports, train lines and dams with billions in loans. In Africa, they are often viewed as neo-colonialists, as ruthless business fanatics who think only of themselves. Alternately, could one instead view these Chinese investments as a particularly efficient form of development aid? The conflict over this question — carried out between China and the West, but also within Africa itself — is a heated one. Critics are riled over the conditions under which Chinese loans are often provided — with little or no interest early on, followed by high interest for many years — a financial model they argue creates dependency. Ge Hua is familiar with the accusations. Ge is the Chinese counsellor on trade in Djibouti, an important representative of her country. All civil projects that China is involved in cross her desk. She is there when the contracts are negotiated, she explains Djiboutian positions to officials in Beijing and oversees the implementation of the finalized plans in the country. Like most foreigners here, she struggles with the heat. The windows of her office are totally darkened. But there’s a sincerity when she talks about her fondness for Djibouti. “I told my friends that they need to come here this year,” she says. “It is a very beautiful and unique country. Tourism is going to become very important.” Even more important, of course, are the construction projects. In addition to the free trade zone and the port of Doraleh, three cross-border facilities backed by lots of money are also in the works. They will bring Djibouti and Ethiopia, which carries out its international trade almost entirely via the ports of its seaside neighbor, even closer together. The Chinese are handling the development of that infrastructure. The New Silk Road The electrified train line connecting the two capitals has been finished for a some time now, though there isn’t enough electricity for regular operation over the entire line. The water pipeline from Ethiopia is already functioning, with its final completion approaching, and a gas pipeline is also in the planning stages. From the Chinese perspective, this is all meant to fit into a larger whole: the new Silk Road. Beijing has been investing in the construction of port facilities, roads, train lines and trade centers in Asia, Africa and Europe under the cumbersome English name, “One Belt, One Road.” The goal is to create a tightly interwoven economic zone under Chinese control. One Belt, One Road is, above all else, a geopolitical project. Djibouti also happens to be located along this new Silk Road. Nicholas Li’s headquarters are situated right next to the building of the Silk Road International Bank, founded in 2016. Ge Hua works nearby. The economic expert emphasizes that “the Chinese government has many financing projects in Djibouti, mainly concessional loan projects.” She adds that her country is also making sure that all people involved profit. “It is important that the Djiboutians make good income from the projects so that they will have a better life and are able to repay their debts,” she says. And — and this absolutely must be mentioned, she says — there is also a long list of aid projects, including schools, hospitals and sports facilities, that have been financed by China, without any loans. A few days later, an opportunity arises to view the biggest project: Sixty Chinese and 150 Djiboutian workers are building a national archive that will include a public library. A red-and-white sign points out that the construction site has been free of accidents for 355 days. In July 2019, the building is to be handed over to the Djibouti state, including furniture and stacks. You can talk with Ge about any of these things, just not the military. “That’s not part of my job,” she says. Protecting Strategic Interests Chinese soldiers are very present in the country, despite having holed themselves up behind cement walls. West of the port, the army opened a naval base last summer. It has been the subject of many rumors. It’s the first Chinese military facility to be located outside of Asia, and that alone makes it interesting. Officially, it’s a logistical support base for the Chinese fleet. Western military people like to call the imposing facility “Jabba the Hutt’s palace,” a reference to “Star Wars.” The building reportedly has three underground floors and can accommodate up to 10,000 soldiers. Chinese media regularly report about the new military base. In November, the soldiers marched out for weapon practice, which they held on a drill ground in the middle of the country. Afterward, Beijing’s state-run Global Times newspaper reported on the strategic purpose of those drills. “It’s natural,” the paper stated, “that the Chinese troops stationed in Djibouti must be always prepared for combat.” It pointed out that the country had already invested over $100 billion in Africa and that, for this reason, the military was dutybound to “safeguard China’s interests in the continent.” With military displays like the ones in Djibouti, China wants to send a double message: One of strength and one of peace. The army is showing what it is capable of. At the same time, the Chinese politicians emphasize at every opportunity that this is merely a question of defense. Despite these efforts to placate the situation, the Americans are suspicious. They worry that China will soon be an equal not only on an economic, but also on a military level. One of the noteworthy qualities of Djibouti is that the old and the new superpower are closer to one another here than anywhere else on the planet. Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent U.S. military base on African soil, is located only a few kilometers away from the Chinese fortress. From here, special forces head out on their secretive commando missions, and drones take off to chase terrorists in Somalia or Yemen. The approximately 4,000 American soldiers live in their camp in ways reminiscent of life on an aircraft carrier, viewing the land around them as an ocean filled with perils. They are only allowed to leave their base with special permission. And ,even then, the capital is mostly classified as a “no-go area.” A ‘Key Region’ Originally a French base, the U.S. military took over Camp Lemonnier in 2002, following the 9/11 attacks, after Paris determined it no longer needed the facility. The current French base north of the airport is still expansive. It’s a place where you can see soldiers in shorts cycling to stay fit and children on their way to school. The engines of the Mirage fighter jets can regularly be heard as they control the airspace above the capital. Thierry Duquenoÿ, the head of the French armed forces in the country, explains why Djibouti is so important. “For Asia, Africa and Europe, this is a key region,” he says. “The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea don’t separate the Arab and Africa sphere so much as they connect them like a zipper.” Even if the size of the personnel has gone down in recent years, he explains, Paris is still convinced of the site’s importance. General Duquenoÿ emphasizes that point with a special detail: “I’m the only French commander outside of the country with three stars,” he says. He explains that his most important task is to fight terrorism, although he is unable to discuss that issue any further. It’s not only three different nations that come together in tiny Djibouti — the country also ties together three different eras. They include the period of European hegemony, embodied by the French, its former colonial rulers. Then, secondly, the still powerful American world order, supported by the military. And, thirdly, the future, which has already begun — the era of the Chinese. The Germans also have a presence in Djibouti, at least at the periphery. Together with a contingent of the Spanish armed forces, they are stationed at Base Aérienne 188. They are there as part of the European Union’s Atalanta mission to protect shipping traffic in the region from pirates. Using a P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft, the soldiers observe whether anything suspicious is happening along the Somalian coast. Any conspicuous activity gets reported back to Atalanta headquarters. When the German-owned turboprop aircraft rolls to its takeoff position, one can hear German, English and French on the radio traffic. French jets and American aircraft can be seen to the left and right of the runway. As the aircraft returns to Djibouti from the northeast, one gets a view of everything beneath — the Chinese-built port, next to it the country’s secretive naval base, the future free-trade zone a bit further inland and then the American and French military bases. Everything here seems so close together, and yet so far apart. spiegel.de

Chairman of Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission yesterday affirmed to President Musa Bihi their vow to hold parliament and local council election on March 13th 2019. The Election Commission made the remarks during a meeting with the Head of State of Somaliland at the presidency. President Musa Bihi called on NEC to set a clear timetable for ensuring that credible elections be held in Somaliland. National election commission has a huge responsibility in overseeing that the upcoming general election is clean, free and fair. President Bihi has confirmed that the govt is ready to assist whatever they need from it in holding the polls on the fixed date. Somaliland is reprimanded by the int’l community for postponing elections without impediment.

A fishing boat with a permit issued by the breakaway Somali state of Puntland, bearing the Thai name of Chotechai Navy 35, was recently intercepted in Samut Sakhon on suspicion of illegal fishing and human trafficking, police announced on Thursday. The crew of 22 Thais and one Cambodian were detained and 500,000 kilograms of fish and other marine life seized. During a press conference in Bangkok, Pol Lt-General Jaruwat Waisaya, chief of the Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation, said the boat, captained by Pawit Kerdsuwan, had docked at Samut Sakhon’s Thachin Union Port to unload fish. SVG Fisheries Development Co had earlier made a request to authorities to allow the unloading. However, officials found that the boat only had a fishing permit from Puntland and also violated the catch limit of 270,000kg of fish, Jaruwat said. After Thai officials filed an inquiry, Somali authorities replied that the country had not authorised the boat to fish in its own waters and it was not registered in its system. Puntland is internationally recognised as a part of Somalia, although it declared independence in 1998. The boat was not equipped with the vessel-monitoring system that was legally required, Jaruwat added. Police proceeded with legal action on charges of bringing an illegal fishing vessel into the Thailand’s waters without permission, which is punishable by a fine between Bt1 million and Bt30 million. Charges were being filed against Green Laurel International, the legal entity registered as the boat’s owner; its executives Supachote Saengsuk-eium and Surakan Saengsuk-eium; another man identified as the boat’s real owner, Wanchai Saengsuk-eium; and SVG Fisheries Development Co, Jaruwat said. Both Supachote and Wanchai surrendered to police last week, denying the charges and saying they would testify in court, Jaruwat said. Surakan failed to meet police after a second summons, claiming she was ill, and promised to surrender on Friday, Jaruwat said. The Cambodian worker apprehended on the boat told police that he had escaped from hardship working conditions on another vessel named Chotechai Navi 55 and hitched a ride on the Chotechai Navy 35 to return to Thailand. Thai authorities have already sent the man back to Cambodia. Thailand has been conducting an ongoing campaign to combat illegal, unlicensed and unregulated (IUU) fishing since being hit by the European Union with a “yellow card” for harmful practices within the fishing industry. Nationmultimedia

The recently-launched iRise hub has opened applications for its first incubation programme, which aims to mentor and support local entrepreneurs to help create sustainable and scalable businesses in Somalia. Disrupt Africa reported in September on the launch of iRise, the first ever tech incubator and co-working space to be established in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. iRise is community-based innovation hub for Somali entrepreneurs, innovators, developers and investors to share ideas, connect and collaborate. It has now opened applications for its first incubation programme, which will offer selected startups access to iRise events and resources as well as customised training and mentorship to develop their business acumen as well as entrepreneurial and technical skills. It will include a three-month curriculum of general and sector specific modules for startups and entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey. The aim is to allow entrepreneurs to move from the idea stage to launching their businesses. Applicants are required to have a strong founding team, a validated idea, and strong product-market fit. Bizcommunity

By Ahmed Abdi Hargeisa —The government will find a possible solution to the future tribal strifes in Somaliland, the government announced at a fifth ministerial meeting chaired by president Muse Bihi Abdi on Thursday. Isaaq tribal infighting in Dararweyne at El-afweyne district of Sanaag region left at least eight dead last month. “The tribal strife will be solved through government channels,” the authority said in a press release today. The government also said that it has learned illegal wildlife trade and called for the protection of the species. “We learned that people have returned to hunting wildlife which can endanger the animal’s existence so that we urge them to refrain from this business, the statement reads.” Somaliland’s constitution does not permit hunting and orders the police to arrest and detain anyone caught in the business. In the statement, the government said that it will establish a new research center that will manage recurrent droughts.

Hon. Abdisalan Yasin, a member of National Consultation & Rectification Forum (NCRF) called on the suspension of Somalia and Somaliland talks. Mr. Abdisalan has made the remarks during a press conference and urged the current adminstration under president Musa Bihi to give priority to urgent domestic issues in the country. NCRF members has suggested that the new leadership must focus on the consolidation of unity and securing Somaliland borders. Mr. Yasin has reminded that Somaliland is an independent state that has broke away from Somalia and said that once Somaliland is invited to attend conferences then the leaders must go there while they are recognized as a country. He advised the govt should not attend conferences where Somaliland is invited as part and parcel of regional states in Somalia. Professor Abdisalan has called on Somaliland president to heed to the calls from Khatumo leader who argued that Somaliland should belong to all its citizens not part of it should be considered as true Somaliland citizens. The new government has taken important strides in the right where it is combating corruption and broadening its authority to border areas with Puntland which has been a destabilizing neighbor for the past years.

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online)-Sida ay daabaceen qaar kamid ah Jaraa’idyada kasoo baxa dalka Isutaga Imaaraadka, waxaa magaalada Muqdisho ee caasimada Somalia ka dhacay kulan khaas ahaa oo u dhexeeyay Madaxweynaha Somalia Maxamed C/laahi Farmaajo iyo Safiirka dalka Imaaraadka ee Somalia. Kulanka ayaa si gaara uga dhacay Xarunta Villa Somalia waxaana looga wadahadlay arrimo ay kamid ahaayen xiriirka labada dal, Amniga, Siyaasada, Iskaashiga iyo Isgarabtaaga Ciidamada. Madaxweynaha Somalia Maxamed Cabdullahi Farmaajo waxa uu dowlada Imaaraadka ku amaanay kaalinta ay ka qaadato arrimaha Somalia, markii laga soot ago tabashooyin yaryar oo ay qabto dowlada Somalia. Waxa uu Dowlada iyo Safiirkuba uga mahadceliyay sida Dowlada iyo Shacabkuba u taageeran Somalia, isaga oo ka sheekeeyay xiriirka taariikhiga ah ee labada dal. Madaxweyne Farmaajo, waxa uu Safiirka u sheegay in dowlada Imaaraadka ay uga fadhiyaan sida looga dhabeyn lahaa ballanqaadyo hore oo ay wada galeen labada dhinac. Sidoo kale, Safiirka Imaaraadka Maxamed Axmed Cusmaan Al Hammadi, waxa uu Madaxweyne Farmaajo uga mahadceliyay sida uu Imaaraadka u qadariyo, isaga oo ballan-qaaday in Abu-dhabi sii wadi-doonto taageerada ay siiso Muqdisho. Dhinaca kale, Safiirka ayaa bilowga asbuucan kulan kan lamid ah la qaatay taliyaha amniga, lama oga wax ay ka wada hadleen, iyada oo jirto in December 30, sanadkii tagay ciidamo ay Imaaraadka tababaraan weerar ku qaadeen guriga Senator Cabdi Qeybdiid, weerarkaasi oo baaritaankiisa socdo. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Maxaadan Ogeyn oo ay kawada hadleen Farmaajo & Safiirka Imaaraadka ee Somalia ? appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Bosaso-[Puntland Post]-Mas’uuliyinta Shirkadda duulimayadka Diyaaradaha ee Jubbo Airweys oo shir jaraa’id ku qabtay xarunta shirkadda ee magaaladda Bosaso ee xarunta gobalka Bari, ayaa wax kama jiraan ku tilmaamay hadal dhowaan uu sheegay Wasiirka wasaaradda Cadaaladda Puntland Saalax Xabiib Jaamac. Wasiirka Cadaaladda iyo Arrimaha diinta Puntland Saalax Xabiib Jaamac oo dhawaan safar dalka dibadiisa ah dib uga soo laabataya ayaa sheegay in dadka Soomaliyeed Xajka ku tagaan lacag qaali ah oo uu arinta ku eedeeyey shirkadda Jubbo Airweys, Masuuliyiintan ayaa cadeeyey in arintasi ay tahaya waxaba kama jiran wasiirkuna uu hubsado hadalka uu lee yahaya isla markaana ay shirkado badan ay ka wada shaqeeyan Xajka. hoos ka daawo Muuqalka shirka Jaraa,id ee Masuuliyiinta shirkada Jubba Airweys. Cabdiqani Boos Puntland Post-Bosaso The post Shirkadda Jubbo Airways oo waxa kama jiran ku tilmaamtay hadal dhawaan ka soo Yeeray wasiirka Cadaalada Puntland appeared first on Puntland Post.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo rode into victory February 8 last year to become Somalia’s 9th President following a hotly contested poll pitting among others incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and former President Ahmed Sheikh Sharif. His win was greeted with jubilation and hope as Mogadishu residents burst into song and dance. Similar acts of excitement were reported in neighbouring Somali communities in Kenya, Ethiopia; and around the world. Somali’s genuinely had high hopes for the new leadership in Somalia. The president immediately vowed to crack down on the rampant corruption and declared war on Al-Shabaab militants, signalling a new way of doing things. The slogan for this new way of doing things would be ‘Nabad iyo Nalool”, or “Peace and Life”. “This is the beginning of unity for the Somali nation, the beginning of the fight against and corruption,” said Farmajo as he prepared to take over office from his predecessor Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. One year down the line, President Farmajo has achieved several positive goals while also running into roadblocks that damaged the image and confidence of his administration. Debt-Forgiveness process Somalia owes nearly $5.3 billion USD, most of it in interests and penalties on over three decades old loans accrued at a time the country was without a functioning central government. President Farmaajo’s administration has spearheaded the process towards debt relief which includes meeting several conditions set out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Ahmed Abdi Hadi, a political analyst in Mogadishu says Somalia is steadily moving towards debt forgiveness by winning the confidence of the IMF. “The country did not make amortization payment since the fall of Somali central government. Now the president and his prime minister have increased the local revenue income and carried out initiatives to relief the burden by negotiating IMF,” Hadi said. He pointed out the corruption which paralyzed the previous governments was still ravaging the country’s economy. “Despite showing commitment and will, the president has no capability to uproot the corruption. On the other side, his cabinet is incompetent making it difficult to rid the public sector of corruption and promote best governance practices,” he noted. Late last year, IMF hailed the 2017-2018 budget noting the $274 million budget met set standards and terms of the global lender. “From September until now, we see a strong commitment to reform. The authorities are more engaged on what needs to be done,” said Mohammed Elhage, head of IMF’s Somalia work who spoke to Reuters mid-December. Speaking to Financial Times, Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire urged multilateral lenders to accelerate the debt forgiveness process. “Certainly, ours is a very tiny budget for a country of 10 million people, fighting terrorism needs good governance. It means providing services for our people. To do this cost money and that’s why we need international community.” During this period, president Farmajo convinced the international community to support Somalia which has been engaged in a decade-long war with Al-Shabaab. International donors such as UK, US, Japan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia among others have contributed significantly to propping President Farmaajo’s administration. Turkey opened its largest overseas military training camp in Mogadishu last year with the pledge to train up to 10,000 soldiers who will ultimately take over from the African Union forces. Freed Somali prisoners Somali government successfully convinced the governments of Ethiopia, Seychelles and India to transfer Somali nationals serving jail terms in these three countries. Between July 2017 and January this year, Ethiopia and India released a total 155 prisoners from their jail following extradition and bilateral agreements Welcoming India freed prisoners at Aden Adde Airport last month, PM Kheire said his government is committed to ensuring freedom of all Somali nationals jailed in various countries across the globe. “Our mission is to free Somali prisoners suffering in foreign countries. My government will do everything that can free Somali prisoners,” said Kheire. Galmudug-ASWJ deadlock One of the highlights of President Farmajo’s first year in office is breaking the deadlock between Galmudug and Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ). The two groups have been fighting one another for at least two years. During his tour to Somalia’s central and northern regions in last month, President Farmajo oversaw the historic power-sharing deal inked by Galmudug and ASWJ which culminated in the flag of Galmudug being hoisted in Dhusamareeb town for the first time since the inception of Galmudug state. Other achievements of Somali government include the adoption of National Security Architecture and transfer of Somali Airspace to Somali government after 27 years under the control of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Growing discontent against Farmajo’s govt Following the extraordinary rendition of former ONLF commander Abdikarim Musa Qalbi-Dhagah, Farmaajo’s administration was faced with a public relations disaster as Somalis condemned the transfer accusing the president of betraying the cause for a greater united Somalia which many saw ONLF as championing. Mohamed Ali Warsame, a human rights activist in Nairobi said the handing over of Qalbi-Dhagah cost the government loss of support of many Somalis across the world. Somalis around the world are quite stunned about the controversy of illegal extradition of Colonel Abdikarim Sheikh Muse, known as Qalbi-dhagax/ FILE “There areseveral factors that led Somali government to lose support and the trust of many Somalis, one of them is extradition of former Somali military officer, Abdikarim Musa Qalbi-Dhagah,” said Warsame. The detention of opposition figures by Somali government marked another point in Farmaajo’s confidence slip. Hadi shares a similar view with Warsame on President Farmaajo’s approach political opposition. “Farmajo’s government deployed executive orders to silence his critics and perceived political enemies further alienating himself and losing the confidence of the public,” Hadi observed. The deadly October 14 truck bombing which claimed over 500 lives tested President Farmaajo’s resolve to deal with run-away insecurity in the country. He managed to secure international support among them commitments from Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti to up military support against the militant group Al-Shabaab. But winning the war against Al-Shabaab is still a long shot for President Farmaajo especially in light of phased withdrawals by the African Union as sanctioned last August by the UN Security Council. Source: Hol The post President Farmajo’s first year in office appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Minister: region is ripe for investment as new government aims to rebuild infrastructure destroyed during years of war A Somaliland government minister is in the UAE to drum up investment for power projects to stabilise the self-declared state’s precarious economy where energy costs are among the highest in the world. The self-governing region which broke away from Somalia in 1991 is seeking to build on its relationship with Gulf nations to improve its infrastructure following the election of a new president last year. The investment minister, Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud, is in Dubai to meet investors and try to secure funds for renewable and traditional energy projects and for agricultural sector as 80-90 per cent of food is imported. He said there was great potential for international investors to tap into the country’s mineral wealth. He said he had spoken with “six or seven” energy companies seeking to invest in Somaliland as the government sought to build a secure and stable environment for investment. Somaliland, a region of four million people, has previously secured sizeable investments from the Gulf with its access to the international markets limited by Mogadishu’s refusal to recognise it as an independent state. No foreign government recognises its sovereignty. “When we were campaigning, we promised economic growth for Somaliland and we want to improve healthcare and education,” said the minister. “But we have one of the most expensive energy sectors anywhere in the world. When it comes to renewable energy, the sun and the wind, we have a great potential. “We can generate a lot of cheap electricity but what we need is investment. The potential is there, which is why a lot of Chinese companies and Middle East companies are coming to me and showing their interest in investment.” The country effectively broke relations with Somalia in 1991 and has held democratic elections since 2003. Its GDP per head is only about $500 after its infrastructure was destroyed during fighting in the run-up to the independence declaration. Its main export is livestock. Its push for foreign investment has seen the UAE establish a naval base in its port of Berbera, on the south coast of the Gulf of Aden. Dubai’s DP World last year signed a 30-year contract to develop the same port. DP World said it would also develop an economic zone in the region, modelled on Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. The new economic zone is aimed at positioning Berbera as a gateway port for East Africa, by encouraging investments and trade in the warehousing, logistics, manufacturing and related businesses. Source: – The National The post Somaliland minister seeks energy investment from UAE appeared first on Caasimada Online.

The leaders of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have agreed to continue their cooperation in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project (GERD) following a meeting at the end of January. To make further progress on outstanding GERD issues and nurture tripartite relations, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, President Omar al- Bashir and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, agreed that: the heads of state would meet on an annual basis going forward; would explore a mechanism for the establishment of a tripartite fund aimed at enhancing cooperation through the realisation of common infrastructure projects connecting the three countries; and would establish a permanent technical committee to discuss all issues related to the GERD, specifically focusing on the filling and operation of the dam, with a view to reporting these results back to the leaders in one month. The leaders also reiterated their adherence to the spirit and letter of the Declaration of Principles on the GERD, signed in Khartoum in March 2015. They concluded their talks by highlighting the fruitful nature of their discussions and underscored their collective belief that cooperation on the GERD, based on a win-win approach, can and will meet the aspirations of their people. Source: – Water Power Magazine The post Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt renew commitment to cooperate over GERD appeared first on Caasimada Online.