By Paul Blume
Friday November 3, 2023

It is a first in what Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara hopes is a “long line of many.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara recently promoted Abdirahman Ali to the rank of Commander, overseeing the Internal Affairs division. Ali became the very first Somali-American officer to reach the rank of Commander at the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The department also believes his climb up the command staff likely makes him the highest-ranking Somali-American police official in the entire country.

“We are slowly regaining the public trust, and we are doing that one call at a time,” Commander Ali explained to FOX 9’s Paul Blume during a recent interview at Minneapolis City Hall. “I am overwhelmed and grateful for the opportunity.”

Ali did not arrive in the United States until he was eight years old, and now, nearly three decades later, he is a Minneapolis Police Commander. He currently reports directly to Deputy Chief of Community Trust and Engagement, Christopher Gaiters, with oversight of three units: Candidate Investigations, Force Investigations, and Internal Complaint Investigations.

Ali said he was inspired to pursue a career in law enforcement because of the positive interactions he had with MPD community liaison officers while growing up in the city.

His decade-plus career has taken Ali all across Minneapolis and throughout the department, from beat cop assignments on the north and south sides, to bike patrol and community engagement, all the while, building bridges and establishing trust with Minneapolis’ East African immigrant population.

In 2016, while wearing the badge, he traveled back to Somalia to work with law enforcement in his native land.

“Being a kid, not remembering anything from back home and then having an opportunity as a police officer to go back there and train some of the officers there, it was tremendous for me, and the community here,” Ali said.

“So, the residents of this city need to know this is the type of police officer that you have today,” added O’Hara.

O’Hara just made it official recently, promoting Ali to the rank of Commander in a major shakeup of department leadership and structure. While O’Hara said he cares about milestones and what a promotion might mean for a community that has had strained relations with the police department over the years; the chief insists his main focus is remaking MPD by making sure the right leaders are in place in the wake of George Floyd’s murder more than three years ago.

“I think in order for us to move on, I think we need people to come into these positions new and fresh with a new outlook and saying, ‘okay, it is time for us to get back to our purpose. It is time for us to remember why we took these jobs in the first place. And it is time for us as a department to move on together,'” O’Hara said.

“One of the reasons why I stayed in this department is because of the fact that I believe in this community, I believe in this department,” explained Ali. “And I think in order for you to be part of the transformation, you have to be willing to stand up and take leadership.”

Ali admitted he thought long and hard about whether he still wanted to do the job after the unrest of 2020. He says now, he is thrilled with his decision to keep his badge, adding he feels a lot of responsibility as the first Somali-American to earn this promotion to Commander.

He reports the department currently has 11 Somali-American officers on the force.

Mogadishu, 3 November 2023 {HMC}– The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has intensified its joint military offensives with Somali Security Forces, continuing the robust fight against Al-Shabaab.

The ATMIS Force Commander, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, at a press briefing on Wednesday said that following the technical pause in the phase two drawdown, ATMIS has reorganized its troops. He shared that ATMIS forces from the two Forward Operating Bases that were handed over, Biyo Cadale and Raga Ceel, remain actively engaged in Somalia. They now form an agile mobile unit undertaking joint offensives against Al-Shabaab. This is alongside the ongoing efforts of troops safeguarding major supply routes, population centers, and conducting routine patrols.

“Since the 90-day technical pause in the Phase two drawdown, our operations with Somali Security Forces have significantly intensified. Notably, we’ve successfully taken control of the Cali Fool-dheere Forest in the Middle Shabelle region, a critical Al-Shabaab stronghold,” said Lt. Gen. Okiding.

He acknowledged that the onset of rains has slightly delayed plans for further liberation efforts in joint offensives. Despite these natural challenges, ATMIS, in collaboration with its partners, had established a Taskforce to prepare for El-Nino and its aftermath. The rains have impacted some of ATMIS’s Forward Operating Bases, leading to flooding and operational delays.

“I was in Jowhar on Tuesday to meet with our troops and boost their morale for the upcoming joint offensives,” he said, affirming ATMIS’s dedication to maintaining security and stability in Somalia and building on the successes of its predecessor mission, AMISOM.

“Since starting on April 1, 2022, ATMIS has upheld AMISOM’s territorial gains. This includes supporting Somali Security forces in safeguarding land, air, and sea borders, as well as protecting population centers and key government installations in Mogadishu and the Federal Member States,” he noted.

The Force Commander expressed gratitude to the President of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for his leadership and prioritisation of the offensives against Al-Shabaab. “The President’s leadership has been exemplary in this regard,” he concluded.

Jowhar, 3 November 2023 {HMC}– The Force Commander of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, visited Jowhar this week to assess the combat readiness of ATMIS troops in the ongoing joint offensive against Al-Shabaab.

Accompanied by the ATMIS Police Commissioner, CP Hillary Sao Kanu, and Sector One Commander, Brig. Gen. Peter Omola, Lt. Gen Okiding was received by the Sector Five Commander, Brig. Gen Jean Claude Niyiburana.

Highlighting the achievements of the ATMIS Burundi and Uganda Forces from Sector Five and Sector One, the Force Commander commended their successful efforts in pushing Al-Shabaab out of the Cali Fool-dhere Forest.

“Your dedication and results are commendable. Let’s keep up this momentum as we plan for our future operations,” he remarked.

Lt. Gen Okiding emphasized that his Jowhar visit is part of a series of strategic visits to areas where ATMIS is preparing to bolster joint operations with the Somali National Army (SNA) to further degrade Al Shabaab.

UNESCO
Friday November 3, 2023

Audrey Azulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has condemned the killing of Abdifatah Moallim Nur in Somalia on 16 October 2023.

“I condemn the killing of Abdifatah Moallim Nur. The authorities must take immediate measures to ensure that such an act of violence against a journalist is fully investigated,” UNESCO Director-General
Audrey Azulay.

Abdifatah Moallim Nur was a well-known journalist and the Director of Somali Cable TV. He was killed in an explosion at a restaurant in Mogadishu.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

By JAMES ANYANZWA
Friday November 3, 2023

Somalia has been granted relief and an additional $100 million financing under a three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after Mogadishu committed to further economic reforms.

The financing, which is still subject to the fund’s executive board approval, follows the considerable progress that Somalia has made in rebuilding its economy and institutions under the current ECF-supported programme since 2020.

“Somalia has maintained strong implementation of wide-ranging reforms to help strengthen key economic and financial policy institutions,” IMF team leader, Ms Laura Jaramillo said in a statement last week.

“This progress is paving the way for Somalia to reach the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Completion Point in December 2023 at which point Somalia is expected to receive debt relief and move towards fully normalizing relations with its key creditors.”

IMF’s assessment of Somalia comes after a month-long (October) tour of several African states including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Senegal, Mozambique, Gambia, Comoro and Zimbabwe, where the team held discussions with authorities on key economic, financial, social and governances reform programmes critical in unlocking millions of dollars towards budgetary support and strengthening of international reserves.
The IMF team that conducted discussions with Somali authorities in Nairobi (Kenya) during September 11- 22 and October 22-24 however noted that despite the progress achieved Somalia still faces significant challenges ahead including those stemming from economic, social, security, and climate risks.

Last year (2022) an estimated 54 percent of the population was living on less than $2.06 per day.

Growth is currently insufficient to reduce widespread poverty, address large social needs and create sufficient jobs for the youth.

Somalia is highly vulnerable to climate shocks that hurt growth and hinder poverty reduction efforts.

As a result, Somalia authorities have requested a new 3-year IMF-supported programme under the ECF to help the country further strengthen key economic institutions and promote macroeconomic stability and growth.

According to IMF Somalia’s post-HIPC policy priorities will be to maintain fiscal sustainability, increase domestic revenues and strengthen public financial management, promote financial deepening and financial inclusion, improve business environment and governance and enhance statistics.

In DRC, the IMF staff and the Congolese authorities reached a staff level agreement on economic policies to complete the fifth review of the three-year ECF supported programme which is expected to make available SDR152.3 million ((about $200.39 million) by mid- December to build up international reserves.

An IMF team led by Calixte Ahokpossi held meetings with the Congolese authorities from October 18 to 31 to discuss progress on reforms and the authorities’ policies in the context of the fifth review of the DRC’s three-year arrangement under the ECF which was approved on July 15, 2021, for a total disbursement of SDR 1.06 billion (about $1.52 billion)

In Rwanda, the IMF team reached a staff level agreement with the Rwandan authorities on policies needed to complete the second reviews of Rwanda’s Policy Coordination instrument and programme under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility.

An agreement was also reached on a new 14-month Stand-by-Credit Facility with total access of 125 percent of quota (SDR 200.25 million) or about $262 million to help mitigate the balance of payment pressures arising from the climate-related shocks.

An IMF team led by Reuben Atoyan visited Kigali during October 17-31 to discuss the authorities’ policy priorities and progress on reforms within the context of the second reviews of Rwanda’s PCI and RSF.

In Mozambique, the IMF staff discussed with the Mozambican authorities about performance and policies underpinning the third review of the program under the ECF arrangement. Discussions were fruitful and will continue in the coming weeks aiming to reach Staff Level Agreement.

An IMF team, led by Mr Pablo Lopez Murphy, conducted discussions with the Mozambican authorities during October 18 to October 31, 2023, on the Third Review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.

In Gambia, the IMF Staff and the Gambian Authorities reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new 3-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) with requested access of SDR74.64 million (around $100 million)

The ECF-supported programme aims to strengthen economic recovery, tackle inflation, address debt vulnerabilities, advance structural reforms and foster strong and inclusive growth.

The IMF team led by Mr Ivohasina Fizara Razafimahefa, Mission Chief for The Gambia visited Banjul, The Gambia during October 19-November 1, 2023, to discuss with The Gambian authorities economic and financial policies under a new 36-month ECF arrangement.

The staff-level agreement which is subject to approval by the IMF Management and Executive Board which will make available about $10.9 million.

In Comoros, the IMF staff also reached an agreement with the Comorian authorities on economic policies and reforms under the 4-year ECF-supported programme.

The review once formally completed by the IMF Executive Board would release about $4.7 million in financing, bringing total disbursement under the arrangement to $9.5 million.

An IMF team led by Ms Suchanan Tambunlertchai visited Moroni during October 18-31 to discuss economic and financial policies in the context of the first review of the programme supported by the ECF arrangement.

Friday November 3, 2023

King Charles and Queen Camilla on Thursday watched UK-trained Kenyan marines stage a mock beach landing on the third day of their official visit to the former British colony.

After two days in the capital Nairobi, Charles and Camilla travelled to the port city of Mombasa, the original capital of British East Africa.

The training exercise, which saw the marines mount the beach toward the royal entourage as red smoke grenades swirled overhead, was meant to highlight Britain’s close defense cooperation with Kenya.

Charles’ first visit to a former colony since ascending to the throne in September last year has been marked by questions about abuses during Britain’s nearly seven decades of rule there.

Charles expressed his “deepest regret” at a state banquet for violence endured during Kenya’s independence struggle, but some victims and their descendants said he fell well short of their demands for a full apology and reparations.

During the 1952-1960 Mau Mau revolt in central Kenya, some 90,000 Kenyans were killed or maimed and 160,000 detained, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has estimated.

The British military has also faced scrutiny around Charles’ visit. On Monday, Kenyan police blocked a news conference intended to air allegations of abuses by a British army training unit based in central Kenya.

Residents have accused British soldiers of causing a wildfire in 2021 that destroyed much of a nature reserve, leaving behind ordnance that injured local people, and being involved in the 2012 murder of a woman last seen with British soldiers.

British authorities have promised in the past to investigate the allegations against members of the training unit.

Kenya is a close military ally of Western nations and has deployed troops to regional hotspots like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Reporting by Hereward Holland; Editing by Aaron Ross and Angus MacSwan