by Jama Abdillahi | Oct 13, 2019 | Okategoriserade
Beyond Counterterrorism: Defeating the Salafi-Jihadi Movement Source: The American Enterprise Institute published in October 2019 The American Enterprise Institute published in October 2019 a study titled “Beyond Counterterrorism: Defeating the Salafi-Jihadi Movement” by Katherine Zimmerman. This detailed study includes two especially useful maps on pages 47-48 that identify the global networks across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia of both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Labels: Africa, al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab, AQAP, AQIM, Boko...
by Jama Abdillahi | Oct 13, 2019 | Okategoriserade
Ethiopia’s peacemaking prime minister emerges as a Nobel favorite Source: Reuters, Thursday October 10, 2019 NAIROBI (Reuters) – During a high-level meeting at Ethiopia’s foreign ministry in July, officials were shocked by social media reports that their prime minister was visiting Eritrea. No one in the room had been informed of Abiy Ahmed’s trip, his second since clinching a peace deal last year that ended two decades of hostility between the neighbors. “The foreign office was not in the loop,” said a senior official who was present. “We learned of it from the Eritrean media, on Facebook and Twitter.” The surprise visit is typical of Abiy, who both fans and critics say often relies on bold personal initiatives and charisma to drive change instead of working through government institutions.Nebiat Getachew, the foreign ministry spokesman, said policy was well co-ordinated. He did not confirm if Abiy had made the July trip without informing the ministry. The deal with Eritrea won Abiy international plaudits. He is the bookmakers’ second favorite to win a Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, after climate activist Greta Thunberg. But Abiy’s unpredictable style annoys some Ethiopians. It is unclear how much of the fractious ruling coalition – some form of which has been in power since 1991 – backs his reforms, or how durable those reforms would be without his leadership. He has already survived one assassination attempt: a grenade thrown at a rally last year. Lasting change cannot be built through a “cult of personality”, said Comfort Ero, Africa program director at the International Crisis Group think tank. “None of Abiy’s promised transformational reforms are going...
by Jama Abdillahi | Oct 13, 2019 | Okategoriserade
Somaliland Ready To Welcome First Uganda Airlines Flight To Hargeisa East African Business Week Source: East African Business Week, Friday, October 11, 2019 Somaliland government is excited at the prospect of Uganda Airlines adding Hargeisa as parts of its new destinations. Uganda Airlines announced this week it will add three more regional routes to its schedule in the coming months to bring the number of destinations to seven. One of the destinations the Uganda national carrier is looking at is the Somaliland capital Hargeisa. “This is great news not only for Somaliland but also to the entire East African region. We cannot wait for the first Uganda Airlines flight to touch down in Hargeisa,” an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Somaliland stated.“It is bound to boost trade and interaction between Entebbe and Hargeisa and even beyond, and also open up Somaliland to Ugandans” the official added. Uganda will be the second national carrier from Africa to make direct flights to Hargeisa after Ethiopia Airlines which has two flights a day landing at the Mohammed Egal International Airport in Hargeisa. Kenya Airways has also been mulling over introducing direct flights to Hargeisa. A team of Kenya Airways technical staff has visited the national airport in Hargeisa but no official communication has come from the Kenya Airways management. Somaliland envoy to Kenya Bashe Omar has been on the forefront to have Kenya Airways introduce the flights to Hargeisa saying Nairobi stands to gain so much if that is done. “We have dozens of businessmen who operate between Hargeisa and Nairobi and have to connect through Addis Ababa in...
by Jama Abdillahi | Oct 13, 2019 | Okategoriserade
Norway proposes $359m bridging loan to clear Somalia’s WB debts Hiiraan Online Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday October 11, 2019 MOGADISHU (HOL) – Norway will provide a $359 million bridging loan to Somalia next year to clear the debt owed to the World Bank’s International Development Association signalizing a major step towards the country’s debt relief. The Norwegian government said in a statement Thursday it is proposing a short term loan of NOK 3.135 billion next year which will clear the arrears due to the World Bank. “Technically, this is a loan to Somalia, but the funds will be transferred to a World Bank account. The World Bank will then grant Somalia a new loan, which will be used immediately to repay the bridging loan from Norway,” the statement read in part. Somalia’s debt to Norway amounts to NOK 16 million but this amount, Norway said, will be cancelled if Somalia’s other debtors commit to write off their debts to Somalia. Somalia’s external debt amounts to approximately USD 4.7 billion and the country has been struggling to clear this debt through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative which grants debt relief to heavily indebted countries under a stringent framework. According to the statement, the UK is also committing to write off debts owed to the African Development Bank. This means that Somalia just needs one more donor country to cover its debt to the IMF, it added. “Debt relief is essential if Somalia is to continue its stabilisation and reform efforts. This bridging loan operation shows what we can achieve when donors and multilateral financial institutions work together,” Norway’s Minister...
by Jama Abdillahi | Oct 13, 2019 | Okategoriserade
Kenyan majority leader flies directly to Kismayu defying aviation directive a Source: Hiiraan Online, Saturday October 12, 2019 KISMAYU (HOL) – Kenyan majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale and a host of MPs flew directly to Kismayu Saturday defying a travel restriction by Somali authorities barely a day ago. The plane carrying Duale and his Kamukunji constituency counterpart Yusuf Hassan flew directly to Kismayu instead of a stop over at Mogadishu in line with a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) issued Friday by Somali Civil Aviation Authority.The NOTAM directed all planes from within Kenya and other locations internationally which intend to fly to Kismayu to stop first at Mogadishu but barely a day after the notice, a Kenyan aircraft was already making way to Kismayu directly. Jubbaland president elect Ahmed Madobe is expected to be inaugurated today to officially begin his second term as Jubbaland president. Several senior Somali politicians have already travelled to Kismayu among them former presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. The Federal Government has maintained it does not recognize Madobe’s election and has gone ahead to announce plans for new...
