Wednesday 25,Dec,2024 {HMC} The Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission convened a consultation meeting with Somali women in Mogadishu, emphasizing the pivotal role women can play in raising awareness for the upcoming direct one-person, one-vote elections.

During the meeting, members of the Commission engaged in meaningful dialogue, attentively listening to suggestions presented by the participants. They acknowledged the vital contributions of Somali women to the democratic process and assured their commitment to incorporating these insights.

The Commission pledged to hold similar consultations regularly, reinforcing its dedication to engaging women in shaping free and fair elections. By fostering collaboration with Somali women, the Commission aims to ensure inclusivity and strengthen the democratic foundation of the nation.

Source SONNA

Wednesday 25,Dec,2024 {HMC} Somalia’s federal government has suspended flights to Kismayo after a Halla Airlines plane was forcibly commandeered and flown to an unauthorized destination, escalating tensions with the Jubbaland administration and stranding passengers. The suspension, announced Thursday, marks the latest flashpoint in the long-running feud between Mogadishu and Jubbaland over political autonomy and territorial control.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) detailed the incident in a statement, claiming that the aircraft, en route from Mogadishu to Kismayo, had its communication systems disabled before being redirected to Doolow in the Gedo region.

“This unauthorized seizure endangered the safety of the aircraft and its passengers,” the SCAA said. “As a precaution, flights to Kismayo have been suspended to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.”

The move effectively isolates Kismayo, disrupting travel and trade in a city that serves as Jubbaland’s economic and political hub.

Halla Airlines confirmed the incident, with CEO Ismail Barwa describing it as a gross violation of aviation safety protocols. Barwa stated that the crew was coerced into transporting a delegation from Kismayo to Doolow without prior approval.

“Our crew was forced to deviate from their planned route, jeopardizing the safety of everyone on board,” Barwa said during a press briefing in Mogadishu. “We strongly condemn this act and demand accountability.”

Jubbaland officials denounced the federal government’s decision, accusing Mogadishu of exploiting the incident to exert political pressure on the region.

“This suspension is a reckless and punitive measure that hurts ordinary citizens,” said Jubbaland’s Minister of Information, Abdifitah Mohamed Mukhtar. “It’s a repeat of failed strategies that undermine regional stability and trust.”

Mukhtar added that the decision had left travellers stranded, including those seeking urgent medical care and others with critical personal obligations.

At Kismayo airport, dozens of passengers waited in vain for flights, unaware that the suspension had taken effect.

The suspension highlights the deepening rift between Somalia’s federal government and Jubbaland, one of the country’s semi-autonomous states. Disputes over territorial control, resource management, and political representation have frequently brought the two sides into conflict.

In recent years, the federal government has sought to assert greater control over regions like Jubbaland, while local leaders accuse Mogadishu of undermining their autonomy.

This is not the first time political disputes have disrupted travel in Somalia. In previous incidents, flight restrictions have stranded thousands, disproportionately affecting civilians.

The SCAA announced that it would investigate the incident in collaboration with airlines and aviation stakeholders. Officials pledged to restore normal operations once security measures are reinforced.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of all flights and passengers,” the SCAA stated. “We are working closely with partners to address this issue and prevent future occurrences.”

Jubbaland has hinted at possible countermeasures, with Mukhtar stating that the regional administration “will issue its own decisions” in response to the flight suspension.

For stranded travellers, the situation underscores the broader human cost of Somalia’s political rivalries. Among those affected are patients travelling for urgent medical treatment, businesspeople reliant on regular flights, and families separated by the sudden halt in travel.

Wednesday 25,Dec,2024 {HMC} Jubbaland regional state leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe has appointed his first and second vice presidents, according to a decree released on Tuesday night.

Mahmoud Sayid Aden has been reappointed as the first vice president, while Abdukhadir Haji Mahmoud was named as the second vice president. The appointments come at a time of heightened tensions between Jubbaland’s administration and the federal government of Somalia.

Mahmoud Sayid Aden’s reappointment is significant, as he hails from the Gedo region, which is currently under federal government control. The Somali federal Minister of Security, Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag, is actively working in Gedo to organize against the Jubbaland administration.

The federal government has long disputed Ahmed Madobe’s leadership, rejecting his re-election for a third term as Jubbaland president, citing constitutional violations. Federal officials argue that the election process was unconstitutional and breached electoral agreements.

Citing Article 70 of the Jubbaland Constitution, which limits presidents to two terms, the federal Cabinet declared Madobe ineligible to seek re-election. Despite this, Madobe has continued to assert his leadership, deepening the rift between Jubbaland and Somalia’s federal government.

Wednesday 25,Dec,2024 {HMC}  Somalia and Ethiopia are working to salvage a fragile peace after a deadly clash in Somalia’s border town of Doolow threatened to derail commitments made under the Ankara Declaration earlier this month.

Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, and Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Omar, met in Addis Ababa on Tuesday to reaffirm their nations’ dedication to the Ankara agreements. The discussions, which came just a day after Ethiopian troops allegedly attacked Somali forces in Doolow, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and maintaining stability in the volatile Horn of Africa.

The Somali government has accused Ethiopian forces operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) of attacking military bases in Doolow on Monday morning. According to Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the attack targeted the army, police, and intelligence outposts, causing multiple casualties.

Jubaland officials offered a different account, claiming Ethiopian troops intervened to protect local politicians after Somali federal forces attempted to shoot down a plane carrying members of the state government.

“The incident escalated into a firefight, resulting in injuries and disarmament of federal forces,” Jubaland Security Minister Yusuf Hussein Osman said at a press conference. Witnesses in Doolow described intense clashes that spread through the town before Somali forces were overpowered.

The Doolow clash has cast a shadow over the Ankara Declaration, signed on Dec. 12 and brokered by Turkey, which sought to resolve long-standing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia. The agreement emphasized mutual respect for sovereignty, economic collaboration, and coordinated security efforts.

Despite these tensions, both nations appear determined to preserve the progress made in Ankara. “The interdependence of our nations makes collaboration imperative,” Ambassador Mesganu said during Tuesday’s meeting. Omar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Somalia’s commitment to fulfilling the agreements.

The clash highlights the enduring fragility of Somalia-Ethiopia relations, strained by territorial disputes and diverging regional interests. Earlier this year, Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland to lease the Berbera port reignited tensions, as Mogadishu viewed the deal as a breach of its sovereignty.

Turkey’s mediation in Ankara marked a turning point, aiming to foster cooperation and provide Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, with access to Somali ports. The Doolow clash, however, underscores the complexities of implementing such agreements in a region rife with mistrust and competing allegiances.

Observers warn that addressing the root causes of conflict and ensuring accountability will be critical to sustaining the Ankara Declaration. Both governments have pledged to continue dialogue, with Ethiopia reaffirming its commitment to “revitalizing and deepening fraternal relations” in the spirit of Ankara.

Wednesday 25,Dec,2024 {HMC} Ethiopian military forces have closed the border with the Somaliland breakaway region following intense clashes between Somali regional troops and armed militias in the Harshin district in Somali region.

The fighting erupted in the rural area of Dacawaley on Tuesday morning. Security agencies have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid harbouring militia members.

Preliminary reports indicate casualties on both sides, though official figures have not yet been released.

The conflict reportedly began after the killing of Yocole district’s security chief and two of his bodyguards in a rural area between Dacawaley and Duudbaydale. A delegation dispatched to address the incident was subsequently attacked by gunmen, according to a statement from the Somali Regional State Security Office.

Source Hiiraan online