Tuesday 3, Dec,2024 {HMC} The head of the United Nations children’s agency said Monday that children make up about half of all armed gang members in Haiti and called for their enhanced protection.

“We estimate that children account for up to 50% of armed group members, while the total number of children recruited by armed groups has jumped by 70% over the past year,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell told a U.N. meeting on the situation of children in Haiti. “They are being used as informants, cooks and sex slaves, and they are being forced to perpetrate violence themselves.”

She said that gangs regularly kill and maim children, and that reported incidents of sexual violence against minors has skyrocketed this year by 1,000%.

Haiti has been rocked by instability since 2021, when President Jovenel Moise was assassinated. Heavily armed gangs have sought to fill the vacuum, seizing up to 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and expanding their violent grip to some areas beyond it.

The violence has caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 700,000 people — of whom the U.N. says about half are children. A record 5.4 million Haitians are facing acute hunger. The World Food Program says faminelike conditions are present, particularly in shelters for the displaced in Port-au-Prince. Children are particularly vulnerable, and at least 125,000 are estimated to be acutely malnourished.

“Why is it easier for a young person to get a gun than it is to get food? That is the defining question of the moment,” said Inga King, ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, speaking on behalf of Caricom, the bloc of Caribbean countries.

“The protection of children must not be an option; it must be an absolute priority,” said Jean Jean Roosevelt, a Haitian musician and UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Roosevelt, who works to prevent youth from being recruited by gangs, performed a song called “Watch Out Children” at the U.N. Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae emphasized the importance of stabilizing the country.

“If you don’t have security, you don’t have other things that are required to get us to peace, development and human rights,” Rae said.

In June, a multinational security support mission, or MSS as it is known, began its first deployment of about 400 police from Kenya, which is also leading the mission. Jamaica and Belize have also sent some police to assist the embattled Haitian National Police in subduing the gangs. The mission has been beset with delays and financial and equipment shortages, and despite its presence, violence has recently dramatically escalated.

Rae said, without giving specifics on numbers or timing, that more police and equipment would be coming to the MSS.

In the meantime, Haiti’s transitional government has asked the United Nations Security Council to consider turning the non-U.N. force into a U.N. peacekeeping mission, an option U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been clear should be one of last resort.

To transform the mission would take months and need the 15-nation Security Council’s authorization. The United States and Ecuador are working on a draft council resolution that would ask Guterres to begin looking at preparing a peacekeeping operation.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Monday that the negotiations were continuing and that “they are not easy,” because some council members were not on board with the idea.

“But this is what the Haitian people have asked for,” she told reporters.

Tuesday 3, Dec,2024 {HMC} A thorough process and commitment to the Federal Government of Somalia have successfully resulted in the passage of laws essential for implementing universal suffrage in the country by the Federal Parliament.

This initiative is anticipated to alter Somalia’s future significantly and make the vision of establishing a framework for direct elections in 2025 a reality. The upcoming national elections will be the first of their kind in 56 years, that is more than half a century! The elections will be held at local, regional and municipal levels in June 2025. Candidates for Members of Parliament and Presidents of Federal States will face the ballot in September the same year.

For over 50 years, Somalia has experienced different political systems, including a military regime and indirect elections used by administrations established after the military’s collapse, all while seeking solutions to the country’s challenges.

In the indirect elections’ formula, only a handful of people within the political elite would determine the fate of the whole nation. The ordinary citizen was denied their right to choose their own leader creating a feeling of discontent and lack of a sense of ownership of the country’s affairs and development.

Indirect elections were first adopted in the year 2000 during the Somalia National Peace Conference, also known as the Djibouti Conference, which brought together clan elders, intellectuals, religious leaders and businesspersons among other notable figures in the city of Arta, Djibouti. During this conference, a clan-based power-sharing formula was agreed upon and has been responsible for six successive governments since. Under this system, 275 members of Somalia’s Parliament known as The House of the People are chosen by delegates representing different clans who are selected by regional state officials. The country also has an Upper House made up of 54 members chosen by the parliaments of the Federal States. It is these 329 members who then vote for the President who leads the Federal Government of Somalia.

This system, despite its challenges, has worked efficiently as a placeholder but the desire has always been to give Somali citizens a say in the running of their own country. To give the people a voice and a stake in the political, social and economic fortunes of their motherland.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre have clearly and decisively declared that the era of indirect elections is over, and the country must now prepare to empower its citizens to fully exercise their democratic rights.

The passage of new election laws that established an Election Committee was the first and key step towards national elections by universal suffrage in 2025. The 18-member Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)which was approved by Parliament on 27th November will oversee crucial processes in the leadup to the elections, as well as the vote itself at all levels of government. On 2 December, the body elected Mr. Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan as its chair and he said the commission’s priority will include to oversee the establishment of operational protocols, manage voter registration and secure elections in areas threatened by the Kharijites Al Shabab.

The new electoral laws were passed following wide consultations with key stakeholders at all of levels of government under the umbrella of the National Consultative Council led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. During the NCC meetings, the need for free, fair and transparent elections was emphasized. Leaders urged for systems and processes that will yield elections and outcomes that reflect the aspirations and true will of the people of Somalia.

These changes are amongst wide-ranging reforms under the leadership of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The 2022 indirect elections which saw President Mohamud elected for a second term, left many Somalis feeling disenfrancised and denied a opportunity to elect their own representatives. This simply cannot continue. It is time for Somalia to step into the 21st Century. A time for the people to have a sense of power and ownership over their own development, security and shared livelihoods. An opportunity for the majority to have their way and for the minority to have their say. The destinies of more than eighteen million Somalis cannot continue to be left in the hands of a few political elites. It is time for a change. It is time for Somalia to take its place on the global stage as signalled by its admission to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member and integration into the East African Community.

Direct elections mean that the people, even the marginalized can not only choose their leaders, but can also hold them accountable. This high level of accountability boosts governance and ensures peace and stability. Proper governance ensures equitable distribution of resources, stimulating development down to the grassroots. In turn, this improves the socio-economic livelihoods of the people and the nation as a whole. A boost in governance and political and economic structures would also provide much needed support in efforts to combat the Al Shabaab militia and usher in a new era of stability.

But now, as expected, those who have benefitted from indirect elections and its inequalities for decades are up in arms. They say that it cannot work – because they do not want it to work. How can they know that it will not work if they do not try it? Why not put national interests and democracy above sense of self? Where is the patriotism? Where is their passion for the land they call home? It is in the interest of every Somali citizen to see the country rise out of the ashes of turmoil, lawlessness and strife and enter a new era of peace, prosperity and democracy.

I call on every Somali citizen – at home and abroad – to join hands in making this dream of elections by universal suffrage a reality. It will be a challenging road ahead, but no roadblaock is insurmountable for a united people, a nation unbowed and determined to shape a new course for its future. Citizens of Somalia should vehemently oppose any selfish attempts to maintain the status quo. It is all systems go, full steam ahead for 2025 one-person, one-vote elections. There is no turning back. The people shall have their say in 2025 and in 2026. Let us all work together to make this vision a reality.

Source sonna.

Tuesday 3, Dec,2024 {HMC} Authorities in Thailand and Malaysia are on high alert for more intense rainfall after days of monsoon rains triggered devastating floods that killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands.

Officials in both countries said on Tuesday they were setting up shelters and preparing evacuation plans in anticipation of further downpours in the days ahead.

In southern Thailand, at least 25 people died in floods and more than 300,000 households were affected over the past week, according to the country’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. As of Monday, the country’s Ministry of Public Health said, 34,354 evacuees remained at 491 government shelters.

Among the hardest hit provinces were Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Yala, where the government has deployed rescue teams and designated 50 million baht ($1.45m) in relief per province. The Thai cabinet has also signed off a 9,000 baht ($260) payment per affected family.

Although water levels have receded in several provinces, Thailand expects more heavy rains through Thursday, putting the areas further at risk of flash floods. Authorities prepared shelter, water pumps, evacuation trucks and boats, and put rescue workers on standby to prepare for more downpours.

Rescue workers deliver food rations to people staying in flooded houses in Sateng Nok, Yala province, Thailand, November 30, 2024 [Poh Teck Tung Foundation via Reuters]
In Malaysia, five days of ferocious rainfall last week hammered its eastern coast, killing six people and wrecking homes and roads in the northeastern state of Kelantan and neighbouring Terengganu.

Some 91,000 people are still out of their homes, according to the National Disaster Command Center, and the damage is estimated to be worth $224m.

While rain eased over the weekend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government braced for heavy rains on Tuesday, followed by another monsoon surge projected for Sunday.

The floods have affected tourism, with Malaysian officials urging citizens to defer travel plans to southern Thailand, a popular holiday destination.

While the two Southeast Asian countries experience annual monsoon rains, scientists say climate change is causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more likely.

Tuesday 3, Dec,2024 {HMC} Israel has continued to pound Gaza, killing dozens and issuing new evacuation orders. The Israeli military launched strikes overnight that killed at least 14 people in the north of the enclave, according to reports on Tuesday. Meanwhile, new evacuation orders were issued, calling on people to leave areas in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Medics reported that eight people were killed in a series of overnight strikes in Beit Lahiya, while four others were killed in Gaza City. A further two people were killed in attacks in Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps in the northern part of the Strip.

Later, the Israeli army ordered residents in the districts of Khan Younis to flee, prompting a westward exodus in the early morning hours.

“For your own safety, you must evacuate the area immediately and move to the humanitarian zone,” the army said a statement on X, citing rocket launches by Palestinian groups.

Research states that there are no “humanitarian zones” in which people can find safety, and that evacuation orders do not help those fleeing to find safety or shelter from harm.

The use of these terms by Israel is aimed at bestowing legitimacy on forced displacement and creating the illusion of adherence to humanitarian law, the Action For Humanity nongovernment organisation stated.

Palestinian and United Nations officials also say that there are no safe areas in the enclave. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been internally displaced, some as many as 10 times since the war began last year.

Palestinian groups have accused Israel’s army of trying to drive people from the northern edge of Gaza with forced evacuations and bombardments to create a buffer zone. The army denies this and says it has returned there to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping in an area it had previously cleared.

The Palestinian Civil Defence said its operations in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon have been halted for nearly four weeks due to Israeli attacks on their teams and fuel shortages.

On Tuesday, it said that 88 of its members had been killed, 304 wounded, and 21 detained by Israel since the war started, while 13 of 27 vehicles in the central and southern Gaza Strip were out of operation due to fuel shortages.

Tuesday 3, Dec,2024 {HMC} Somalia’s Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur has warned the Jubbaland administration that it would be held accountable for any armed clashes involving federal forces in the contested Lower Jubba region.

The statement comes as Mogadishu escalates its campaign against Al-Shabaab with a deployment of 1,000 ground troops to the strategic Raaskambooni area.

During a press conference in Mogadishu, Minister Nur stressed the federal government’s resolve to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s grip on southern Somalia. He dismissed allegations that the troop deployment threatens Jubbaland’s autonomy, describing such claims as “misguided and politically motivated.”

“These troops are fulfilling their constitutional duty to protect Somalia from terrorism,” Nur stated. “Attempts to misrepresent their mission as an assault on Jubbaland are baseless and counterproductive. Any group that confronts them with hostility will bear the consequences.”

The deployment has heightened tensions in a region already fraught with disputes over governance and security. Jubbaland’s leadership has accused the federal government of undermining its authority, a charge Mogadishu vehemently denies. The defence minister criticized Jubbaland officials for politicizing the federal presence, warning that such actions jeopardize the national effort against Al-Shabaab.

“This narrative undermines our shared fight against Al-Shabaab, a group that has terrorized our nation for too long,” Nur added, pointing to recent successes in Bulo Haaji, where federal forces inflicted heavy losses on the militant group.

The defence minister’s comments follow a wave of defections from Jubbaland state forces to federal troops in Raskamboni. According to video footage obtained from the Somali National Army (SNA) on Monday, 110 Jubbaland soldiers arrived on skiffs emblazoned with the Jubbaland Police emblem and surrendered to federal forces. A senior SNA officer welcomed the defectors, saying, “You came in peace, and we welcome you as part of our own. Your salaries will be ensured. You are home, not guests.”

The defectors reportedly cited grievances over unpaid wages and expressed disillusionment with their role, saying they joined the military to combat Al-Shabaab, not to fight fellow Somali troops. Their defection follows a similar incident last week when another group of Jubbaland forces who joined up with SNA forces were airlifted to Mogadishu for training and administrative processing.

On Sunday, Jubbaland state officials dismissed claims that their forces had joined federal Somali National Army (SNA) troops in Raaskambooni.

The strategic importance of Raskamboni, located near the Kenyan border, makes it a critical battleground in the ongoing conflict. Federal officials view the operation as a decisive step toward weakening Al-Shabaab’s operational base, while Jubbaland sees it as a potential threat to its autonomy.

Correction Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the 1,000 troops deployed to Raskamboni as Danab forces. The troops are ground forces from the Somali National Army, not the elite Danab unit. The article has been updated to reflect this clarification.

Source Hiiraan Online

Tuesday 3, Dec,2024 {HMC} The deputy commissioner for social affairs of Mogadishu’s Darussalam district, Gure Mohamed Hirsi, was injured in a shooting attack at a gym in the city’s Hiliwa district on Monday.

The assailants also killed the gym’s owner during the attack, eyewitnesses reported.

The incident adds to mounting concerns among residents over deteriorating security in the Banadir region as the al-Shabab militant group escalates attacks in the Somali capital.

Security forces responded to the scene but did not report any arrests. Authorities have stated that an investigation into the attack is underway.
Last month, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) apprehended two suspects linked to the murders of two businessmen, Hilowle Ibrahim and Ahmed Samatar Ali, in Darussalam district.

Source Hiiraan online