A week ago, Wengel Tessema Ayalew was getting ready to go to work in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia when the U.S. Embassy called her: she was to leave for Indianapolis the next day. Source: Hiiraan Online

The African Union and Kenya are set to unveil a new camel drug to help increase productivity and improve livelihoods in the Horn of Africa market. Source: Hiiraan Online

NO ONE seized by pirates can be considered lucky. But many of the seamen taken hostage by Somali pirates have at least been set free fast, once fat ransoms have been paid. At the height of the piracy scourge off the coast of Somalia almost a decade ago, the average ransom to free a crew and vessel was, by one tally, $3.5m. Source: Hiiraan Online

Addis Abeba, June 28/2018 – In its 32nd regular session today, Ethiopian parliament has passed a proposed amnesty bill into law. The bill, which is now a law, was presented to the parliament for consideration by the Law, Justice and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee. Source: Hiiraan Online

Police in Wajir yesterday killed a suspected al Shabaab militant between Mansa and Boji Qaraas and recovered loaded rifles as the crackdown on the terror group intensified. Source: Hiiraan Online

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) commander Abdikarim Muse Qalbi Dhagah has been freed by the Ethiopian government on Thursday. Source: Hiiraan Online

HOW to sell cars when most people can’t afford to buy one? That is the conundrum for Volkswagen in Rwanda, where it is opening the country’s first car-assembly plant. A new Polo costs 33 times the average Rwandan income Source: Hiiraan Online

Addis-Ababa (Caasimada Online) – Cabdi Kariin Muuse Qalbi-Dhagax oo ka mid ah saraakiisha Jabhada ONLF, islamarkaana mudo hal sano ku dhow ku xirnaa xabsi ku yaalla dalka Itoobiya kadib markii dowladda Soomaaliya ay u gacan gelisay, ayaa shalay la sii daayey. Warar aan helnay waxa ay sheegayaan in Cabdi Kariin Muuse Qalbi Dhagax uu dhawaan uu aadi doono dalka Kenya kadib markii ay magangelyo siisay dowladda Kenya, islamarkaana halkaas uu ku noolaan doono. Ilo-wareedyo lagu kalsoon yahay ayaa Caasimada Online u sheegay in ujeedada ugu weyn ee Qalbi-Dhagax uu u tagayo Kenya ay tahay inuu soo arko qoyskiisa, ayada oo xaas iyo caruurr ay ka joogaan magaalada Nairobi. Wararka ayaa sidoo kale sheegaya in Qalbi-Dhagax uu warbaahinta la hadli doono, islamarkaana uu bixin doono xog badan oo ku saabsan xarigiisa iyo sii deysmadiisa. Arrinta sida aadka ah looga sugayo Qalbu-Dhagax ayaa ah inuu shaaca ka qaado qaabkii loogu gacan geliyey Ethiopia, iyo qaabka dowladda Ethiopia ay kusii daysay, iyo kaalimihii ay dowladda federaalka ah ku lahayd labada dhacdo. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Nairobi caasimada@live.com

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online) – Suldaan Fowzi Maxamed Cali oo ah Suldaanka Qalbi-Dhagax, isla markaana gurigiisa uu ku sugan yahay Qalbi-Dhaga, ayaa wareysi uu siiyey idaacadda Dalsan ee magaalada Muqdisho, waxa uu ku sheegay in iyada oo aan wax shuruud ah lagu xirin xabsiga laga sii daayey Qalbi-Dhagax. Sidoo kale Cabdi Kariin Qalbi-Dhagax, ayaa xaqiijiyey in xabsiga laga siidaayey, islamarkaana uu ku sugan yahay guri ku yaalla magalada Addis-Ababa ee xarunta dalka Itoobiya. In kastoo xilligaan aan weli loo ogolaan in uu warbaahinta la hadlo Qalbi-Dhagax ayuu sheegay in maalmaha soo socda uu hadli doono, islamarkaana uu shaacin doono xarigiisa sababtii uu ku yimid iyo cida ka dambeysay siideyntiisa. Suldaan Fowzi Maxamed Cali oo la weydiinay su’aal aheyd ayaa sabab u ahaa in Qalbi-Dhagax la siidaayo? Ayaa sheegay in ra’iisul wasaaraha Itoobiya Abiy Axmed uu ka dambeeyey sii deynta, waxa uuna intaas ku daray in dowladda Soomaaliya aysan wax lug ah ku laheyn sii dayntiisa. Hoos ka dhageyso wareysiga Suldaan Fowzi Maxamed Cali oo dhameystiran. https://www.caasimada.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Wareys-Suldaan-Fowsi-Maxamed-Cali-Nabadoonka-Gacanta-Ku-Haya-Qaldhigax-oo-laga-sii-daayey-Xabsiga-Dalka-Ethiopia.mp3 Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com

Saddex bilood kahor xisbiga talada dalka Itoobiya haya ayaa soo magacaabay raisul wasaare cusub, kadib iscasilaaddii kadiska ahayd ee hoggaamiyihii hore. Arrintaan ayaa timid kadib dibadbaxyo ballaaran oo sanado badan socday oo gilgilay guud ahaan dalka ayadoo dawladda lagu eedaynayey musuqmaasuq iyo xad gudubyo kadhan ah xuquuqda aadanaha. Dawladda ayaa arrintan kaga falcelisay in ay xirxirto kumanaan mucaarad ah ayadoo soo rogtay xaalad dagdag ah. Hadda, Abiy Ahmed oo 41 jir ah ayaa la yimid isbaddallo loo arko in dalku uu iska baddalayo siduu ahaa waayadii hore. Waxa uu siidaayey boqolaal maxaabiis siyaasadeed ah, wuxuuna qaaday xaaladdii dagdagga ahayd ee dalka saarnayd. Maamulkiisa ayaa sidoo kale ballan qaaday xorriyadda hadalka ayadoo xayiraaddii laga qaaday boqolaal bogagga wax lagu qoro ee internet-ka. Balse arrinta ugu muhiimsan ee uu ku dhawaaqay ayaa ah in uu shuruud la’aan aqoonsaday uuna hilgalinayo heshiiskii nabadda ee dalka dariska ah ee Eritrea kaas oo la saxiixay sanadkii 2000. Sanadkii 1998 ilaa 2000 labada dal waxaa dhex maray dagaal ay ku dhinteen dad kor u dhaafaya 80’000 oo qof. Heshiiskii nabadda ee Qaramada midoobay ay garwadeenka ka ahayd ayaa Eritrea lagu siiyey magaalada Badme. Maamulkii hore ee Itoobiya ma aanu hirgalin xukunka ciidamadiisuna wali waxay ku sugan yihiin deegaankaas. Balse hadda, markii ugu horraysay 20 sano kadib, ayaa wafdi ka socda Eritrea waxay toos u yimaadeen magaalada Addis Ababa. Heshiiska nabadda ayaa horseedi kara in uu soo afjaro nidaamka askaraynta khasabka ah ee aan dhammaadka lahayn ee Eritrea. Nidaamkan askaraynta khasabka ah ee aan dhammaadka lahayn ayaa ah sababta ugu weyn ee dhalinyaro badan oo Eritrea u dhashay ay dalkooda uga carareen. Itoobiya gudaheeda, cid waliba raali kama wada ahan isbaddalladiisa cusub, arrintaas ayaa waxaa hoosta ka xariiqay bambo gacmeedkii lala beegsaday isusoobixii nabadeed ee ballaarnaa. Inkastoo haatan uu Raisul Wasaare Abiy uu haysto shacbiyad ballaaran oo ku aaddan qorshihiisa isbadalka. ISHA BBC

The president of Somaliland H.E Musa Bihi Abdi yesterday met with the members of the nation’s judiciary. The regional judicial officers were led by the chief justice Mr.Adam Haji Ali Ahme. According to Somaliland News Agency reporters at the meeting confirmed the agenda of the meeting, which was to streamline the judiciary by removing all challenges facing it. Present at the meeting were the provincial chiefs of courts of appeal and other district chiefs of courts, such as chief magistrates, principal magistrate and district magistrates to name a few of the judicial officers at the president meeting. The chairmen of provincial courts informed the president about the progress they have made and the things are a still holding them back. Senior officers of the judiciary called on the president to help in implementing some court cases that have already been ruled and need only to be executed. They said these done early will help in improving the wellbeing of the nation importantly national security. The president was informed about the milestone reached by the judiciary following implementation of worthwhile policies that have rendered the judiciary independent. Speaking to the regional court chiefs the president assured them that the government will look into their grievances making sure they are all sorted out. He also congratulated them for striding a big stride by implementing good policies and showing integrity in their day to day work. Last but not least the president called on the judiciary to make sure fairness in court proceeding are protected at all cost to protect the peaceful coexistence of Somaliland population. Solna

The 15th meeting of Somaliland executive branch of government discussed security and development of the country this is according to news disseminated by Somaliland News Agency (Solnanews.com) reporters at the presidential palace. The meeting was chair by the head of state H.E Musa Bihi Abdi who was flanked by his deputy H.E Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismael (Sayli’i) following a press release from the office presidential spokesperson. The meeting agenda was the constant incursions into Somaliland eastern territory whereby the inhabitant have been subjected by trauma of the Somalia interference and psychological war. It was put forward in the meeting that Somaliland should work to promote peace and good neighborhood with all countries bordering Somaliland. It was decided that Somaliland will protect her sovereign border inherited from the British colonial master at all cost and no amount of intimidations and coaxing will make Somaliland bulge. Somaliland wll always defend her border and at no time will it invade another country border. Therefore Somaliland as a nation confirm to the international community and countries neighboring Somaliland of importance of peace and tranquility in the region. Solna

Umbrella for women organizations Nagaad held a women only meeting at the prestigious Mansoor Hotel. The umbrella organization commended the president of the republic H.E Musa Bihi Abdi for earmarking quotas for women parliamentarians and councilors in the 2019 elections. This is according to Somaliland News Agency reporters at the meeting. The ruling party Kulmiye secretary general Mr.Hassan Saeed Yusuf, top Nagaad officials and the chairmen of the women affairs from the three national political parties occasioned the meeting. The second vice chairman of Nagaad Women Umbrella Organization Mrs.Khadra Omar Hassan thanked the head of state for giving women the opportunity to represent their interest in parliament and council. She called on women voters to vote for their gender so as to further women causes in politics. Philanthropist Edna Adam Ismael said that time has come for women to take their role in national building through joining political parties. She urged the three national political parties to make sure women have fair representations in their parties or else they will lose out on women voters support. Ruling party secretary general Mr.Hassan Saeed Yusuf said that president Musa Bihi Abdi was fulfilling the promises made during the electioneering period. He congratulated the head of state for allocating women their share of the national cake. Mrs.Hukun Ali Dahir an official from the women affairs of the opposition party UCID thanked the president for giving women the platform to voice their interest and rights in politics. Also speaking at the meeting was the women rep for the opposition national party Wadani Mrs.Asha Mohammud, the chairman of women affairs of the ruling party Kulmiye Mrs.Dalays Shire Farah and the director of Nagaad women organization Mrs.Nafisa Yusuf all of whom called of the national political parties to give women their share of political seats in parliament and the councils. Solna

Dear Prime minister, Imagine Agaro or Jimma town bombarded and destroyed by planes belonging to the Ethiopian Army whose whole and sole responsibility was to protect, not to bomb its people. What if MIG17 were to take off from the airport to bomb the town itself? What if you were in your mother’s womb and she could not even walk the distance between Jimma and Sudan-Ethiopia border to look for shelter and safety and to keep you survive inside her womb? Just visualize a situation where your mother could not even think that you would ever survive, because of the planes’shelling and soldiers slaughtering their fellow citizens in every corner of the Agaro streets? How would you feel if your mother’s efforts and patience helped you being born in a refugee camp in Sudan and becoming a Sudanese citizen? From all the above-mentioned questions, I am trying to project how my mother had been able to outlive the long suffering of the shelling and bombing by Somali Army of Hargeisa, where she had been living. In 1988, my mother was expecting her first child and her ambition was to have her baby born in an environment with adequate medical facilities, but unfortunately, like other mothers in Somaliland then, she was forced to flee to Ethiopia. Luckily enough, she was not among the dead for I would have also died in her womb. In a dark night, without a medical doctor’s help, I joined this world. Many moons later, and in an absolutely different situation, I was lucky enough to be able to have a country – Ethiopia, its citizenship and other necessary facilities in life. But what about my ancestor’s country- Somaliland? Like the liberation movements in Ethiopia, Somali National Movement took over the power in Somaliland. After years of armed struggle, they managed to withdraw from the failed union with Somalia in 1991. Since that year, Somaliland has been developing and building its own state with limited external help. Since then, the only friend in the region both politically and economically that my ancestor’s country of Somaliland has had is Ethiopia. It’s been a longtime friend of Ethiopia in terms of Security with mutual interest. So, I know firsthand how Somaliland is contributing to the region’s stability, including Ethiopia’s. Dear Prime Minister, as an Ethiopian citizen having also family members in Somaliland, I am well aware of their desperate need of their right to be recognized as a sovereign independent state. I am thus urged to kindly submit this open letter to you. As a part of your new political strategy in the region and in Africa at large, which I really admire, do please take the lead to recognize the earnest efforts and the tangible contributions being made by the people of Somaliland to the region and to the world. It is in the interest of our both countries. There are a lot of important matters that the two countries share together, and by further elevating our diplomatic status to a higher level of full-fledged ambassadorial level, will only do to consolidate the existing friendly relationship and enhance the common interests of the two countries. Mr. Prime Minister, I am confident that you would give serious consideration to the abovementioned issues and the other vital ones that are not mentioned in this letter, not only because of my being a fellow Ethiopian citizen, but more so because of the dire need which has been emphasized by your declaration at your oath ceremony: “We will stand by our African brothers in general and our neighbors in particular, during good and bad times.” Needless to reiterate Somaliland is our neighbor and African brother too. Yasmin M. Kahin, Law graduate, Poetess and Playwright. Qalinbila01@gmail.com

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) welcomes the reopening of privately-owned SOMNews TV station and the release of a detained journalist and a blogger by the government of Somaliland. On June 11, 2018, authorities in Somalia’s break-away northwest regions ordered the reopening of SOMNews TV, which was shut down on May 29, 2018, after the Somaliland Ministry of Information and Public Awareness accused the station, based in the Sool Region, of waging a political campaign against Somaliland and breaching journalistic ethics. However, another station, SBS TV, which was closed down on the same day on similar accusations, remains closed. On June 19, President Muse Bihi pardoned Mohamed Kayse, a blogger who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making critical comments about the president in a Facebook post, alongside journalist Mohamed Adan Dirir, who was also sentenced to 18 months in prison, for criminal defamation charges and publication of false news on October 8, 2017. These amnesties follow a petition to Somaliland’s President by fifteen prominent freedom of expression organisations in Africa over the increasing spate of press freedom violations in the country. The petition, which was dated June 6, 2018, called on President Bihi to intervene to ensure an end to the repression. While AFEX welcomes the release of Kayse and Dirir, as well as the reopening of SOMNews TV, as a positive development, we remain concerned about the continued crackdown on freedom of expression rights in Somaliland. We find the ban of the privately-owned Waaberi newspaper upon the request of the Attorney General, which was granted by a Hargeisa court, very disturbing as it is in flagrant breach of the principles of press freedom, which is guaranteed under the Somaliland constitution, the African Charter and International human rights mechanisms. The June 19 shutdown of Waaberi newspaper, coupled with the continued closure of SBS TV, undermines the recent conciliatory gesture by the president of Somaliland. AFEX urges president Muse Bihi to order the reopening of SBS TV and Wabeeri newspaper, end the frequent judicial attacks on journalists and media houses and ensure that freedom of expression rights are upheld in the country. Members of AFEX: Africa Freedom of Information Centre Association for Media Development in South Sudan Center for Media Studies and Peace Building Freedom of Expression Institute Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda Institute for Media and Society International Press Centre Journaliste en danger Media Foundation for West Africa Media Institute of Southern Africa Media Rights Agenda National Union of Somali Journalists West African Journalists Association

By Princene Boyd I love the people of Somaliland and Somalia and I’m against the travel ban upheld by the Supreme Court. Why? Because I got to meet and know some awesome brothers from Somalia in a college environment who were activists and was changing policy and opening great dialog on human rights. I returned back to college after I had been a divorced Mother of 3 children, to earn my college degree, after being out of college for 14 years. I had a campus job at the student-ran newspaper as Business Manager, and hired many students to write there. After all positions had been filled a particular white student approached me for a job there. I wasn’t sure that he really fit in but he practically begged me for a writing job, so I hired him. He was very happy, and most times very cordial toward me. I later had some influence with articles written concerning black or African issues, because the majority of students and faculty were white. One day an article came out about a very intelligent and popular teacher from Somalia. He was written up in a very negative light because, in my view, of a lack of understanding of just how much he contributed to the civil rights issues which took place at the college and the black community. I was speaking up in support for him, if I recall correctly to the newspaper advisor, yet the newspaper policy was that students have to investigate more deeply to get the stories correct yet that story stood as they were just students trying to learn how to become journalists. The student I hired, not understanding much about the black experience came to me about writing on black issues, after discussing it with him further, a story he wanted to turn in I killed the story, and he became very angry with me. I wasn’t aware at that time that he was either a member of a white supremacist group on campus or was to embark on it. What I observed shortly after that was that he began to wear Nazi influenced clothes and he looked at me differently, eyes seemed full of hatred. One afternoon I was leaving campus and opted to walk down 3_flights of stairs alone instead of waiting for the elevator. As I was walking down the stairs, the student who I hired who was angry at me was walking up the stairs, and when he saw me he became very agitated. No one else was around us. I was going to ignore him and kept walking down yet I admit I was scared. He blocked me! I said something like, get out of my way! He stood there staring at me for seconds, which to me seemed like forever. He said something to me but eventually got out of my way. As I continued down the stairs he turned around and began to follow me! I quickly got outside and he was right behind me! Thank Jesus, I saw my Somalian friends sitting nearby with friends, and I ran over to Najib Ahmed Shunufand Abdirahman Ahmed Shunuf, telling them how the guy over there, pointing to him then, was acting like he wanted to hurt me or something, I just recalled how he was saying things to me like what would I do if he decided to push me, or something even worse than that? After pointing to him my friend told me they have my back, and they started staring at him with such contempt and saying things that the student obviously got scared, turned around and walked off. I hung out with them until I felt safe enough to go home. That white supremacist student never bothered me again, thanks to my Somalian hook-up. If this unfortunate travel ban was in effect back then, and my Somalian friends which I call my brothers were not there, my story might have been different with a series of frightening threats of harassment! I pray today that the good that these brothers did, not only for me but for the civil rights movements they participated in, will be recognised and people begin to lobby today that Somalia is taken off the travel ban list. My brothers are Muslim who helped me, a Christian, to escape the bad will of a white supremacist. The good Samaritan in the Bible didn’t ask what religion but in essence, what can I do to help, and went into action…We can start here.

ONLF Press Release Ogaden Oil and Gas June 28, 2018 For immediate Release The Ethiopian government today held a celebratory meeting in Ogaden, whereby it declared that the Gas and Oil production will commence soon. Subsequently the new Ethiopian Prime Minister, in Ethiopian TV that the Ogaden Fossil Fuel production will bring employment and economic boom for Ethiopia, while the Ogaden are still in economic and aid blockade and many languishing in detention centre. However, what is missing from this picture is the Ogaden people, whose territory is being exploited and whose wealth is planned to be blundered without their consent or participation. Therefore, ONLF will not allow the exploitation of Ogaden Natural Resources without a comprehensive just political settlement of the Ogaden conflict that is acceptable to the Somali people in Ogaden through the exercise of free, genuine self-determination without any preconditions. The Ogaden has been a conflict zone for almost a century where the Somali people continuously resisted Ethiopia’s forceful occupation of their territory and subsequent marginalization of its people. Ethiopia successive regimes, instead of finding a viable political settlement with the Somali people, opted to use force and deny the rights of self-determination. This led to three major wars since 1963, which involved Ogaden Somali liberation fronts, Somalia and Ethiopia and international actors from the superpowers. Both Ethiopia and the international community continue to ignore the severity and the complexity of the Ogaden conflict that seriously affects the security and peace of the whole Horn of Africa at their own peril. The Ogaden National Liberation Front is closely following recent developments in the muddled politics of the Ethiopian regime. The Ethiopian Prime Minter’s pronouncements so far seemed to be moving in a positive direction. However, ONLF believes that such initiative would be meaningful and bring peace only if it could lead to a more fundamental and practical change in the traditional culture of Ethiopian regime politics of tyrannical rule whereby the ruling group usurped the will of the peoples and denied their genuine self-determination through the use of force and unilateral decisions from the centre. The unilateral Exploitation of Ogaden Fossil fuel without addressing the Ogaden conflict could be counter-productive and could defeat any attempt to find a peaceful settlement in Ogaden. Issued by ONLF June 28, 2018

Qalbi-dhagax Cabdikariim Sheekh Muuse (Qalbi-dhagax) oo ahaa sarkaal ka tirsan ONLF oo bishii Agoosto ee sanadkii hore dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya u gacan galisay Itoobiya ayaa maanta la sii daayay. Sii daynta Qalbi-dhagax ayaa waxaa xaqiijyay Suldaan Fawsi Maxamed Cali oo kamid ah eheladiisa, oo wareysi siiyay laanta afka Soomaaliga VOA. Suldaan Fawsi ayaa sheegay in saaka labo saac magaalada Addis Ababa la sii daayay Qalbi-dhagax, wuxuuna xusay in sii deynta ay ka qeyb qaadatay dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya. Dhiibistii Qalbi-dhagax oo sababtay qalalaase siyaasadeed kadib markii golaha wasiirada Soomaaliya sheegeen in dhiibistiisu ahayd mid sharci ah oo waafaqsan heshiisyo dhexmaray labada dowladood, iyagoona ku eedeeyay in uu xariir la lahaa Al-shabaab. Halka baarlamaanka Soomaaliya iyo Madaxweyne Farmaajo ay iyagu ku tilmaameeb dhiibistaas mid sharci daro ah. Sii deynta Qalbi-dhagax ayaa hadda la aamin san yahay in ay ka dameyso is bedelka siyaasadeed ee ka dhacay dalka Itoobiya, iyadoo ra’iisul wasaare Abiy intii uu joogay uu xasbiga ka sii daayay dad badan oo u xirnaa arimo siyaasadeed. Qalbi-dhagax ayaa mudadii uu xirnaa noqdey shaqsigii loogu hadal heyn badnaa baraha bulshada iyo qalabka warbaahinta. PUNTLAND POST The post Qalbi-dhagax oo la xaqiijiyay in la sii daayay appeared first on Puntland Post.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has begun hearing a lawsuit by Qatar against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), over a now year-long blockade against the Gulf nation. On Wednesday, lawyers for Qatar presented their case in front of the ICJ, while representatives of the UAE will present their arguments on Thursday. “Qatar is accusing the UAE of discrimination against Qatar and its citizens and for violating the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination of which the UAE is a signatory,” Al Jazeera’s Neave Barker said from The Hague. “It’s the main reason why only the UAE is the only one of the four countries that imposed the blockade on Qatar to be appearing here,” Barker said. The blockade started on June 5, 2017, when the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Doha and expelled Qatari citizens. Mohammed Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, one of Qatar’s representatives at the hearing, said that there were no other channels for Qatari citizens to seek out justice. “The UAE has fostered such an environment of hate against Qataris … Individuals in the UAE are afraid of even speaking to family members living in Qatar,” al-Khulaifi said. The other blockading countries, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, are not signatories to this treaty. “The case itself will focus on some of the key issues in this fierce debate,” Barker said. The case will focus mostly on the UAE decision to expel Qatari nationals from the country and the closing of UAE airspace to Qatari air traffic. Other arguments revolve around the UAE preventing its citizens from travelling to Qatarand to not let Qatari nationals travel go to or travel through the UAE. “Qatar also argues that companies and individuals were denied access to property and assets and medical access,” Barker said. Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee estimated the blockade has affected about 13,000 people. The committee recorded 4,105 cases of human rights violations in the last year, including 646 family reunification violations. Saudi Arabia closed Qatar’s only land border and – together with the UAE and Bahrain – shuttered its airspace to Qatar Airways. Qatar, which has denied all the blockading countries’ allegations vehemently, is saying it is being punished for having an independent foreign policy. Source: aljazeera

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online)-Sida ay baahiyeen Wargeysyada kasoo baxa dalka Sacuudiga, Dowlada Qadar ayaa dhawaan dacwad heer caalami ah ka gudbisay dowlada Imaaraadka carabta taa oo iminka ka furmatay Maxkamada ICJ ee Magaalada Hague. Maxkamada ICJ ee Magaalada Hague oo dacwadaani la hordhigay ayaa iminka furay, waxaana Maxkamada ku sugan mas’uuliyiin kala mataleysa labada dal. Dacwada ay Qadar u gudbisay Maxkamada ICJ ayaa ku saleysneed in Dowlada Imaaraadka carabta ay ku xadgudubtay dhinaca xuquuqda aadanaha iyo takoor gaar ah oo ay ku sameysay muwaaddiniinta Qadar ee ku sugan caasimada iyo Gobolada dalka Imaaraadka. Dowlada Qadar ayaa Maxkamada ICJ horgeysay in Imaaraadka carabta ay gaf ku talo gal ah u geysatay Muwaadiniintooda ku sugan dalkaasi kuwaa oo cadadka qiyaasta kor u dhaafaya 13,000 oo shacab Qadar u dhashay ah. Dacwada Qadar ayaa ah in dowlada Imaaraadka carabta ay dalkeeda ka erisay 13,000 muwaadin, halka tirro kale ay boob Hantiyadeed kula dhaqaaqen inta lagu guda jiray bilowga xiisada labada dal. Dacwada Qadar ayaa waxaa sidoo kale kamid ah in dowlada Imaaraadka ay hawadeeda ka mamnuucday diyaaradda Qatar Airways iyo qodobo kale. Wakiillada Dalka Qatar ayaa shalay oo Arbaca ahayd waxaa ay Maxkamadda ka hor jeediyeen dacwadda ay u qabaan Imaaraadka. Sidoo kale, maanta oo khamiis aheyd ayaa waxaa Maxkamada hortagaayay wakiillada Imaaraadka oo iyaguna fal celintooda ka jeedinaayay Maxkamadda horteeda. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, kiiska ugu badan ayaa dusha laga saaray Dowlada Imaaraadka oo iyadu si ay ku jirto cadaawad kula dhaqantay Qadar. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com

A group of Muslim American opinion leaders visiting Turkey expressed satisfaction at the results of Sunday’s presidential and parliamentarian elections. Under the auspices of Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, a group of Muslim American opinion leaders and reverends paid a week-long visit to Turkey, starting on Sunday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won an absolute majority in the presidential election with 52.5 percent of the vote, while his closest rival lagged behind at 30.6 percent “I believe that him [Erdogan] and his party coming to the power again will bring a better future for Turkey,” Naiim Baig, director of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Virginia, told Anadolu Agency. Naig praised Erdogan’s “courage” for adopting a leading stance on Muslim issues. “There are, unfortunately, not many Muslim leaders who have the courage to take a stand for global Muslims and their issues,” he added. Horsed Noah from Ohio state said he danced and even shed tears of joy when the results were announced. “The election was so important for us because Turkish government is the voice of the voiceless,” Noah said, praising Turkey’s humanitarian support for the Muslim world. Noah, who is originally from Somalia, emphasized the Somalia’s “emotional attachment” to Turkey, citing its support to the country in security and infrastructure, as well as in the fight against terrorists. “And that is why the most common female name in Somalia is Istanbul,” Noha said. ‘People’s opinion honoured’ Ieasha Prime, executive director of Barakah Inc. in Washington D.C., was happy to see “a cheerful spirit” on the capital’s streets on the night of elections. “I am just happy to see that Turks are united under the banner of progressing, under the banner of making sure that people are heard,” Prime said. “Very happy to see that the people’s opinion was honoured,” she added. The turnout in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections was almost 90 percent. Abdel Hafid Djemil, head of the Meclis-i Shura of a New York Islamic Leadership Council of several masjids in New York, also joined the world leaders in congratulating Erdogan and Turkish people for the “successful elections”. “This election showed that Turkish people are mature and are at the level of responsibility, at the level of being civilized to conduct an election with no incidents, that is one of the greatest things,” Djemil said. He added that Turkey is an example among the Muslim countries in its support to the oppressed across the world. Source: – Anadolu Agency

A team from the UN and African Union missions in Somalia ended a three-day visit to southern Somalia on Thursday to assess ongoing preparations for transfer of security responsibilities to the government. Francisco Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, and Lisa Filipetto, head of the UN Support Office in Somalia, visited Kismayo and Baidoa to gain a better understanding of challenges facing AMISOM’s activities in the various sectors. “For us, the more immediate concern is to see how our forces are operating, are faring, how our police forces are doing and also what challenges they are facing and how we can address them together,” Madeira said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. He said preparations are part of a multifaceted plan to increase the involvement of federal and state governments in the affairs of the country as part of the UN Security Council which authorized condition-based transfer of security responsibilities to Somali national security forces. The AU envoy said the trip was aimed at preparing staff in Mogadishu and in the sectors for the transition which commenced in December 2017 with the reduction of 1,000 AMISOM soldiers. “We are in transition, we have to prepare ourselves for the transition and I came here to see what we already have in place for the process, the needs, the possible challenges we might face and the priorities that we need to put in place in preparation for the transition,” Madeira said. Both Madeira and Filipetto assessed various AMISOM activities in the field to get firsthand information on the challenges faced by the staff. AMISOM has developed a conditions-based transition plan to transfer the national security responsibility from the AU troops to the Somali security forces guided by the rule of law and respect for human rights. “We can hear a lot when we are in the headquarters but it is important that we come on the ground and see the challenges faced,” Filipetto said. She said the two missions will work closely with AMISOM to improve coordination and service delivery to enable the former deliver its mandate as per the UN requirements. The visit comes at a time when the peacekeeping force is expected to further reduce its forces in the country in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution. The AU mission, Somalia AMISOM and development partners have agreed on a transition plan, which was the topic of discussion at a high-level meeting in Brussels in May. In 2017, the UN Security Council authorized a gradual troop reduction amid transition of security responsibility to Somali National Security Forces. Source: – Xinhua

At least 15 people are feared dead and more than 60 injured after a night fire, once again, gutted a section of Gikomba in the capital Nairobi on Thursday morning. Witnesses told the Nation that they counted at least six unidentified bodies that had been burnt beyond recognition. 9 MISSING Some of the victims burned while others choked after inhaling poisonous fumes as they battled to save and salvage their property. According to the Nairobi Regional Commissioner Kang’ethe Thuku, nine bodies have not yet been recovered from the scene of the fire. Emergency service provider, St John’s Ambulance, said 70 others, mainly traders, were taken to Kenyatta and other city hospitals with burns. Others were evacuated and treated by emergency service providers on the scene. “At least 40 casualties evacuated by St John Ambulance following huge fire that gutted part of residential and market sections of Gikomba,” the emergency service provider said in a tweet. The flames broke out at around 1am at Kwa Mbao area, according to the Kenya Red Cross, before spreading to other parts of the informal market. The blaze that consumed timber yards and bales of used clothes intensified at around 2.30am Thursday and by 7.30am, firefighters from Nairobi City County Fire Brigade were still battling to put it out. Mr Thuku, the regional commissioner, said the fire originated from a timber yard in the market but investigations are under way to establish its cause. The inferno, which spread fast to residential houses neighbouring the timber yards, caused “extensive damage to property”, the Red Cross said. At least 15 residential apartments and several shanties affected, according to St John’s Ambulance. The regional commissioner said they had set up a multi-agency to search for bodies and survivors. ELECTRICTY The team draws its membership from Kenya Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance, the National Disaster Operation Centre, the National Disaster Management Unit and a disaster rescue unit from the Kenya Defense Forces. The team has disconnected power lines in that area to prevent further damage and danger to the recuse teams. Mr Thuku said buildings in the area that contain explosive materials such as gas cylinders are also being cleared. He urged the families of those affected by the fire to converge at a tent set up at the site to report what and whoever is missing. Located in Majengo area of Kamukunji Constituency, Gikomba market, which is popular among second-hand-cloth buyers, has been experiencing fires every year since 2015. Last year, President Kenyatta ordered investigations after two fire incidents rocked the market in a span of nine months. Source: Daily Nation

HARGEISA– Somaliland’s minister of interior, Hon. Mohamed Kahin Ahmed flanked by ministry of home affairs officials met with a delegation from International Centre of Excellence to Counter Extremism (ICECE) headed by its Director General. Hon. Mark Chishty, the DG is accompanied by Gerry Campbell, a director of Operations and Hon. Mohamed Yusuf Ali, a director for Africa. The two sides have discussed ways to foster the cooperation between the ministry of interior of Somaliland and ICECE.