Saturday 9, Nov, 2024 {HMC} Somali Foreign Minister Ambassador Ahmed Moalim Fiqi met with Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed El-Baz on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu to discuss deepening bilateral relations between Somalia and Egypt.

During their discussion, the two diplomats explored avenues to bolster the longstanding partnership across sectors and exchanged views on current regional and international issues.

Minister Fiqi sincerely appreciated Egypt’s unwavering support, highlighting the historical and strategic ties between the two nations. Ties between Egypt and Somalia have grown this year over their shared mistrust of Ethiopia, prompting Cairo to send several planeloads of arms to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, after the countries signed a joint security pact in August.

Tensions have recently risen due to Ethiopia’s Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, signed in early 2024, which grants Ethiopia sea access in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland—an agreement Somalia has rejected as an infringement on its sovereignty.

Ethiopia currently maintains around 3,000 troops in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and has an additional 5,000 to 7,000 soldiers in other regions through a bilateral pact.

Somalia has insisted on withdrawing Ethiopian forces by the end of the year unless Addis Ababa cancels the Somaliland deal, describing it as an affront to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Source Hiiraan Online

Saturday 9,Nov 2024 {HMC} Somalia on Wednesday urged Germany against the “forced” deportation of Somalis.

Visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Wednesday to discuss cooperation on the deportation of migrants from the East African nation.

Somali government spokesman Farhan Mohamed Jimale posted on X that Mohamud told Olaf Scholz that there is no need for forced repatriation of Somalis living in Germany.

Mohamud said doors are open for Somali individuals who no longer hold the right to asylum, and have exhausted all their options and wish to return to Somalia voluntarily.

“They are welcome back to their homeland, reunite with their families, and reintegrate into their communities, where they can contribute to the country’s development and be part of Somalia’s collective progress,” the Somali president said.

A statement by the Somali presidency said they also discussed strengthening relations between Somalia and Germany, revitalizing vocational training, bolstering security, and expanding cooperation.

During his stay in Germany, Mohamud is also expected to address the Germany-Africa Investment Summit to advance Somalia’s growth and development.

A total of 65,000 Somalis live in Germany.

SOURCE

Saturday 9, Nov, 2024 {HMC} Over 30 members of Somalia’s federal parliament convened in Kismayo for an anti-federal government consultation meeting called by Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe to discuss the country’s political climate.

The meeting, initially scheduled for Friday, has been postponed allowing for the arrival of additional MPs currently outside Somalia.

The attending lawmakers strongly supported Jubbaland’s stance on national political issues, criticizing the Federal Government of Somalia for what they termed a “tribal conflict” targeting both Jubbaland and Puntland. They accused the government of pursuing divisive tactics that undermined the stability of these regions.

Jubbaland and Puntland officials have both rejected the proposed framework for the 2026 elections from the National Consultative Council meeting, accusing Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of maneuvering for a term extension that could destabilize the country.

Tensions escalated further when Madobe walked out of a recent National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu, calling for the inclusion of Puntland and SSC Khatumo in the discussions—a request that followed Puntland’s boycott of NCC meetings amid its own rift with the federal government.

Source Hiiraan online 

Saturday 9, Nov, 2024 {HMC} Somalia on Wednesday urged Germany against the “forced” deportation of Somalis.

Visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Wednesday to discuss cooperation on the deportation of migrants from the East African nation.

Somali government spokesman Farhan Mohamed Jimale posted on X that Mohamud told Olaf Scholz that there is no need for forced repatriation of Somalis living in Germany.

Mohamud said doors are open for Somali individuals who no longer hold the right to asylum, and have exhausted all their options and wish to return to Somalia voluntarily.

“They are welcome back to their homeland, reunite with their families, and reintegrate into their communities, where they can contribute to the country’s development and be part of Somalia’s collective progress,” the Somali president said.

A statement by the Somali presidency said they also discussed strengthening relations between Somalia and Germany, revitalizing vocational training, bolstering security, and expanding cooperation.

During his stay in Germany, Mohamud is also expected to address the Germany-Africa Investment Summit to advance Somalia’s growth and development.

A total of 65,000 Somalis live in Germany.

Source Hiiraan Online

Saturday 9,Nov 2024 {HMC} The IPI global network strongly condemns the killing of award-winning Somali-Swedish journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, who was murdered on October 18 by two gunmen with reported ties to the insurgent group Al-Shabab. This is the second journalist to be killed in Somalia this year, including Somali National Television journalist Abdikarin Ahmed Bulhan, killed on March 13 by a security guard. We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into her killing and to hold all perpetrators accountable for this heinous crime.

Reports indicate that there is no known motive for the shooting. However, the area where she was killed has a history of attacks by Al-Shabab. According to reports, Somali authorities have initiated an investigation into her murder. However, at the time of this publication, police have not made any arrests or provided updates on the investigation’s status.

Mohamed was a prominent journalist known for exposing extremism and the activities of Al-Shabab through her investigative reporting. After seeking asylum in Sweden in 1992, Mohamed worked for Radio Sweden’s Somali language department, where she reported on Al-Shabab’s recruitment efforts and highlighted extremist activities in the suburbs of Stockholm. Later, she resettled in Abdula Biroole, a small village in the Afgoye district, located 40 km southwest of the capital of Mogadishu.

“We are deeply saddened by the killing of journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed and demand a thorough and independent investigation and also the prosecution of the perpetrators,” Nompilo Simanje, IPI Advocacy and Partnership Lead, said. “ Failure to finalize the investigation and prosecute the perpetrators creates a dangerous environment for media freedom in the country and a culture of impunity.”

Before returning to Somalia, Mohamed’s 2009 investigation revealed Al-Shabab’s recruitment of young people from Stockholm. Her independent journalism drew national attention, along with threats and hostility from her community. Nevertheless, her fearless commitment to truth and her exposés of extremism earned her public recognition, including the Publicist Club’s Freedom of Speech Award and a nomination for Sweden’s prestigious Guldspaden journalism award in 2010.

Concerns over press freedom remain high, as impunity for crimes against journalists grows. Numerous journalists have been killed in Somalia due to their work, and many others face threats, physical assaults, and illegal arrests as a result of their independent journalism and criticism of authorities.

According to the local press defense group, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), between 2009 and 2024, at least five journalists have been killed in the Lower Shabelle region, considered to be the most affected region by the Al-Shabab group, including the case of Mohamed, with little progress e to bring those accountable to justice.

Recently, IPI reiterated its call for authorities to put an end to the harassment, threats, and violence faced by journalists from both the Somali government and Al-Shabab, amid various other threats to press freedom.

SOURCE