Mohamed Olad Hassan
Sunday December 17, 2023

Somalia on Friday formally signed on as the newest member of the East African Community trade bloc at the presidential residence in Kampala, Uganda.

With fellow dignitaries in attendance, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the treaty at a brief ceremony presided over by South Sudan President Salva Kirr, current EAC chairman. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also witnessed the signing — which signifies Somalia’s accession as the bloc’s eighth official member — on behalf of fellow EAC heads of state.

Somalia’s formalized membership within the bloc comes two days after the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank approved $4.5 billion in debt forgiveness for Somalia after the Horn of Africa nation completed years of financial reforms under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, or HIPC. The move comes as Mogadishu aims to boost the country’s war-ravaged economy by expanding free trade across the region.

Somalia’s accession follows on the heels of other major developments. The United Nations Security Council on December 1 voted unanimously to remove the final restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia’s government and its security forces, more than 30 years after an arms embargo was first imposed on the country.

Meanwhile, the Somalia Government Aid Agency and Germany’s KfW Development Bank agreed Friday to a nearly $20 million project to boost capacity of Somali banks and develop agriculture, livestock, fishing, education, health and tourism.

The EAC common market, comprising Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, was founded in 2010. Somalia’s accession expands its market and gives the bloc an additional new coastline stretching over more than 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) that holds potential for offshore resources like oil and gas.

Sunday December 17, 2023

In a passionate appeal echoing borders, businessman and human rights activist Nazir Jinnah has urged Kenya to step up and play a role in alleviating the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

According to global reports, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, as the Israel-Hamas war intensifies.

Thousands have been killed in both sides with majority of casualties being from Gaza.

But what role can Kenya play in alleviating the suffering of the affected and more so thousands of stranded Palestianians?

Jinnah’s call goes beyond political conflicts, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize human lives and positions Kenya as a beacon of hope for those seeking refuge.

“Kenya can extend her compassionate arm and provide sanctuary for the suffering children and their families,” the human rights defender said in an interview.

Thousands of families are bearing the brunt of the relentless conflict that has spared no one, including young babies, women and journalists.

Jinnah’s plea underscores the moral imperative to protect the lives of the innocent, aligning with Kenya’s historical commitment to humanitarian causes.

“Recognizing Kenya’s rich history of hosting refugees and promoting a diverse, multicultural society, I see an opportunity for Kenya to make a significant impact by offering a safe haven for those affected,” he said.

Kenya is home to several refugee camps including the largest in the world, hosting thousands of people from war torn countries like Somalia and DRC.

“Such a move not only resonates with Kenya’s ethos of compassion and empathy but also has the potential to build a stronger economic base through international support,” he said.

Jinnah said Kenya can tap billions of dollars as donations from countries like the United States, United Kingdom and Germany- if it chooses to pursue this “noble initiative.”

An average of 280 Palestinians are dying in Gaza daily, according to Palestinian authorities.
Since the war started, more than 17,000 Palestinians have been killed, while Israel has lost more than 2,000 lives.

Jinnah’s call encourages a reevaluation of preconceived notions, urging innovative solutions to address the pressing needs of displaced families.

“Kenya, with its rich history and capacity for resilience, could become a beacon of hope for those seeking safety and a right to life,” he said.

Nazir Jinnah’s vision transcends geopolitics, emphasizing the shared responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

The dire situation in Gaza and Israel necessitates a collective response, and Jinnah’s appeal to Kenya opens up new possibilities for solidarity and international cooperation.

By taking a leading role in alleviating the suffering of affected families, he said Kenya has the opportunity to showcase its commitment to humanity and set an example for other nations facing similar challenges.

In the eyes of Nazir Jinnah, Kenya is considered to be the cradle of humanity, even its wildlife animals having a unique right to life.

He poses a crucial question: why not extend this right to our international brothers and sisters?

Kenya has traditionally advocated for a two state solution to end the perennial conflict between Israel and Palestine.

“We believe Palestine should be a free state and we stand for a two-state as a means of resolving the conflict,” President William Ruto said during a recent meeting of African leaders in Saudi Arabia.

According to the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, the continued hostilities in Gaza and Israel, “ have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

The UN boss on Saturday said that the “ international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis.”

Sunday December 17, 2023

NEW DELHI — The Indian Navy said Saturday that it is shadowing a bulk carrier that was boarded by unknown attackers — likely Somali pirates — in the Arabian Sea.

The Maltese-flagged MV Ruen, with a crew of 18, had sent a Mayday message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal on Thursday indicating that six unknown people had boarded the vessel, the Indian Navy said in its statement.

The navy responded to the distress call by sending its anti-piracy patrol warship and maritime patrol aircraft to locate and assist the vessel, it added.

The aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel early Friday and has since been continuously monitoring the movement of the vessel, which the Indian Navy said was headed toward the coast of Somalia. It added that its warship, which was deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy patrols, also intercepted the carrier early on Saturday.

The Ruen, which is managed by Bulgarian shipping company Navibulgar, was off the Yemeni island of Socotra when it was boarded on Thursday, the private intelligence firm Ambrey and the UKMTO said. Bulgarian authorities said the ship’s crew were nationals of Angola, Bulgaria and Myanmar.

“The necessary steps have been taken to pass the information on to all foreign partners and institutions that we will count on to provide assistance,” Bulgarian Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel told reporters Friday.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. However, suspicion immediately fell on pirates from Somalia. Their activity has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it would resume amid the political uncertainty in the country and wider chaos in the region that has included attacks on shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

On Friday, the UKMTO issued a warning to shippers saying the security manager for the Ruen “believes the crew no longer has control of the vessel.” The European Union’s anti-piracy force in the region said the Spanish frigate Victoria was on its way to intercept the “alleged pirate-hijacked vessel.”