Monday 16, Dec,2024 {HMC} The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has handed over two newly constructed solar-powered water projects to the Somali Police Force in Jowhar and Baidoa.

The water projects are part of the ongoing ATMIS Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiative, which aims to improve access to clean potable water for Somali Police Force officers and local communities.

The handover ceremonies took place at separate events led by the ATMIS Police Commissioner, (AIGP) Hillary Sao Kanu, and her deputy (CP) Martin Amoru.

At the Jowhar Airfield Police Station in Hirshabelle State, AIGP Kanu emphasized the significance of the projects: “This water project is important because it will not only serve the police officers or security personnel in this area but also the nearby community, especially the IDP camp.”

CP Amoru echoed similar sentiments during the ceremony in Baidoa, stating, “These projects are beneficial for the Somali Police Force (SPF) officers as they will enable them perform their duties more efficiently. Water is life, and officers will have it available right where they are instead of having to go far to find it.”

At both events, local police officers also received modern office equipment to enhance service delivery in their areas.

AIGP Kanu and CP Amoru expressed gratitude to the government of Kazakhstan for sponsoring the water projects and to the government of Japan for funding the office furniture.

They noted that each water project, equipped with an elevated storage tank with a capacity of 10,000 liters, will strengthen cooperation between the SPF and local communities, who are the intended beneficiaries.

“We are appealing for more projects to be constructed in the nearby IDP camps and communities to help alleviate the suffering of the inhabitants,” said AIGP Kanu, urging the officers to take proper care and make good use of the office equipment.

ATMIS Civil Engineer Andrew Alele noted that the Baidoa water project intended to serve the local community, including the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the neighbouring Hannan and Towfiq camps, has met all necessary safety standards.

“The project has passed the water quality analysis test for biological, physical, and chemical parameters, conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of South West State, in accordance with World Health Organization safety standards,” said Engineer Alele.

The Director General (DG) of the Hirshabelle Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Mohamed Musa, described the project as a sustainable solution to the persistent water shortages experienced in the area.

“This project will address the community’s water needs, and we hope it will contribute significantly to our efforts in finding durable solutions. We are grateful to ATMIS and its donors for their unwavering support,” he said.

The Hirshabelle Traffic Police Commander, Lt. Col. Hassan Daud Mohamed, praised ATMIS for its timely support and commitment to stabilizing Somalia.

“We have received much-needed office equipment from ATMIS, and we appreciate the initiative from our brothers. We request ATMIS to continue supporting us with essential materials that are vital for the police’s functioning,” said Lt. Col. Hassan.

Similarly in Baidoa, the Bay Regional Police Commander, Colonel Amin Mohamed Osman, commended the strong relationship between SPF and ATMIS, expressing gratitude for the two handed-over projects.

“The office equipment and furniture will greatly assist the Somali Police Force in providing essential policing services to the community. We are grateful to ATMIS for always supporting the people of Somalia and the Somali Police Force,” he noted.

In August, ATMIS launched the construction of three solar-powered water projects in Baidoa, Kismayo, and Jowhar. The handover events in Baidoa and Jowhar were attended by senior ATMIS military and police officers, UN personnel, and top officials from Hirshabelle and South West State.

Source SONNA

Monday 16, Dec,2024 {HMC} Fighting erupted Saturday just outside Erigavo, a city at the heart of longstanding tensions in Somalia’s Sanaag region. Local sources report the clashes occurred 10 to 15 kilometres south of the town, marking the latest chapter in a protracted struggle over governance and autonomy.

Yesterday, police forces in Erigavo engaged with local youth aligned with the Khaatumo movement, a faction seeking to establish its own regional administration. The movement’s ambitions challenge Somaliland’s authority, which is rooted in agreements established decades ago to maintain territorial integrity.

By Saturday, parts of Erigavo had reportedly returned to calm, though uncertainty lingered. Social media videos showed military vehicles mounted with heavy weaponry navigating the city streets, fueling fears of escalation. Later footage suggested that normalcy was beginning to return.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” addressed the escalating tensions in his first cabinet meeting since appointing new ministers. Speaking on the security crisis in Sanaag, the president renewed his commitment to reconciliation.

“Once again, the president has called for peace,” said presidential spokesperson Hussein Aden Cige (Deyr). “The government is ready to engage in dialogue with all parties to foster unity and address grievances.”

Despite these calls, the situation remains fraught. Independent sources have yet to confirm casualty figures or the full scale of the clashes.

Erigavo has frequently been a flashpoint for violence. In August 2024, fighting broke out near the Goof settlement, about 40 kilometres from the city, leaving nine people dead. Residents attributed the clashes to an earlier revenge killing in Erigavo.

The broader region has seen even bloodier confrontations. In 2023, Las Anod erupted in violence following the assassination of Abdifatah Abdullahi Abdi (Hadraawi), a prominent local figure. The conflict spiralled into a months-long battle between Somaliland’s military and forces loyal to the Khaatumo administration. Hundreds were killed, thousands displaced, and Las Anod suffered widespread destruction.

Beyond its turbulent history, Erigavo stands out for its unique charm. Nestled in the Sanaag region, the city is known for its cool climate, with temperatures dropping as low as 4 degrees Celsius—uncommon in Somali territories.

The city’s fertile lands support vibrant agriculture, while its surrounding mountains, including the famed Deelo and Surad ranges, have inspired Somali poets and singers for generations. Sanaag is also renowned for producing frankincense, a prized commodity with deep cultural and economic significance.

• With files from the BBC Somali Service

Monday 16, Dec,2024 {HMC} Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Ethiopia and Somalia early next year after brokering a deal to end tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbors, he said on X Sunday.

“I will visit Ethiopia and Somalia in the first two months of the New Year,” he wrote in a message that referred to the deal between Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Ankara on December 11.

The pair agreed to end their nearly yearlong bitter dispute after hours of talks brokered by Erdogan, who hailed the breakthrough as “historic.”

The dispute began in January when landlocked Ethiopia struck a deal in with Somalia’s breakaway region Somaliland to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base.

In return, Somaliland — which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 in a move not recognized by Mogadishu — said Ethiopia would give it formal recognition, although this was never confirmed by Addis Ababa.

Somalia branded the deal a violation of its sovereignty, setting international alarm bells ringing over the risk of renewed conflict in the volatile Horn of Africa region.

Turkey stepped in to mediate in July, holding three previous rounds of talks — two in Ankara and one in New York — before last week’s breakthrough, which won praise from the African Union, Washington and Brussels.

Fresh from his latest diplomatic success, Erdogan on Friday telephoned Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and he offered “to step in to resolve the disputes between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates,” his office said.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been mired in a brutal conflict between army chief Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo who leads the RSF.

Sudan’s army-backed government has repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting the RSF — a claim which the UAE has consistently denied.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over 11 million more.