Tuesday 26,Nov,2024 {HMC}   Former director of the Somali National Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin Haji Dahir, has supported the federal government’s decision to deploy troops to Raskambooni in the Lower Juba region to secure the country’s border with Kenya.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Fahad Yasin congratulated the Somali National Army (SNA) for their efforts to protect the country’s borders and urged Kenya to engage directly with Somalia on matters of security and economic collaboration.

“I congratulate the Somali National Army for fulfilling their national duty of protecting the country’s borders and taking over the security of the borders of both countries, Somalia and Kenya,” Yasin wrote.

The deployment of troops to Raskambooni on Monday marks a significant step in Somalia’s military operation against al-Shabab and its preparations to assume security responsibilities currently managed by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Iraqi, commander of the SNA’s 18th Battalion of Special Forces, stated that the mission is focused on securing areas vacated by ATMIS, particularly those previously controlled by Kenyan forces.

“The forces are tasked with taking over all areas vacated by ATMIS. We have a responsibility to ensure security across the country and must expel al-Shabab,” he said on state media.

The troop deployment aligns with Somalia’s national strategy to transition to the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace ATMIS starting January 1, 2025.

Source Hiiraan online

Somali federal government has firmly rejected Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe’s re-election as Jubbaland President for a third term, declaring the process unconstitutional and alleging violations of electoral agreements.

At the Council of Ministers meeting in Mogadishu on Monday night, government officials questioned the legitimacy of the parliamentary process that led to Madobe’s re-election. Citing Article 70 of the Jubbaland Constitution, which limits presidents to two terms, the federal Cabinet stated that Madobe was ineligible to seek re-election.

The government further criticized the selection of Jubbaland’s parliament members and leadership, labelling the process inconsistent with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s rules and prior political agreements.

Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre accused Madobe of prioritizing personal ambitions over Somalia’s unity, underscoring that the election in Kismayo violated a May 2023 National Consultative Council agreement in Mogadishu. The agreement, signed by federal and regional leaders including Jubbaland, mandated a transition to a “one person, one vote” electoral system.

The Somali Attorney General has been instructed to pursue legal action against Madobe for breaching electoral rules and political accords.

Madobe secured his third term on Monday, winning 55 votes from Jubbaland lawmakers, while his closest challenger, Faisal Mohamed Mataan, received 16 votes. The third candidate, Abubakar Abdi Hassan, garnered just four votes.

The dispute adds to the already strained relationship between the federal government and Jubbaland, as Somalia faces growing challenges in reconciling internal political divisions while combating security threats.

Source Hiiraan online

Somali government deployed troops to Raskambooni in the Lower Juba region on Monday as part of its ongoing military operation against al-Shabab and preparations to assume security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

The commander of the Somali National Army’s (SNA) 18th Battalion of Special Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Iraqi, stated that the deployment aims to secure areas previously held by ATMIS forces, particularly Kenyan contingents.

“The forces are tasked with taking over all areas vacated by ATMIS. We have a responsibility to ensure security across the country and must expel al-Shabab,” Iraqi told state media.

The deployment aligns with Somalia’s national strategic efforts to transition to a third peace support mission. The African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is scheduled to replace ATMIS on January 1, 2025, continuing efforts to stabilize the country.

The troop arrival in Raskambooni coincided with the re-election of Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe as Jubbaland President for a third term, which has exacerbated political tensions between the federal government and Madobe. The federal government has openly criticized Madobe’s re-election, labelling it unconstitutional, as it advocates for unified national elections and governance.

Source Hiiraan online

Tuesday 26,Nov,2024 {HMC}  The United Nations in Somalia on Monday called on authorities to ramp up investment in the fight against gender-based violence in the country.

James Swan, acting special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, also called for the adoption of legislation to criminalize gender-based violence in compliance with international human rights obligations to which Somalia has already subscribed.

“This will ensure that persons who commit crimes are held accountable and survivors have access to justice,” Swan said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, at the start of the annual global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The global theme for this year’s campaign is “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.”

The campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.

Addressing gender-based violence requires financial and material resources with a particular focus on protecting women, children, persons with disabilities, and minorities who are the most vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, Swan said.

Throughout the 16 days, Swan said, the UN in Somalia will work with the government and civil society to highlight the need to end gender-based violence with an emphasis on the need to speed up the legislative process for enacting laws to protect women and girls.

The campaign aims to increase awareness, stimulate advocacy efforts and share knowledge to end violence against women.