Somalia’s population, international partners must be energized to sustain country’s ‘upward trajectory,’ says senior UN official (23.05.2019)

The country had made significant progress on its economic and security sector reforms.

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 23, 2019 –  Despite Somalia’s persistent security threats, recurrent political crises, capacity constraints and the difficulties in navigating political obstacles to its reform agenda, the Horn of Africa country remains on a “positive trajectory,” the UN Security Council was told on Wednesday.

Briefing the Council, Raisedon Zenenga ,the Deputy Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), reported that the country had made significant progress on its economic and security sector reforms. There had also been progress on the inclusive politics agenda as well, including the constitutional review process and preparations for the universal suffrage elections.

“The Federal Government has decided to apply the same rigorous approach to bring accountability and transparency to the security sector,” he said, noting, among other recent steps, the completion in March of biometric registration of all Somali National Army soldiers. All 16,000 soldiers registered were now receiving their salaries directly into their bank accounts.

“This has cut out middle men, reduced corruption, and ensures regular payment of salaries to military personnel. It also paves the way for rightsizing the National Army,” said Mr. Zenenga.

In parallel with these security sector reforms, the Federal Governments had launched military operations in Lower Shabelle region to advance the Transition Plan, degrade Al Shabaab in strongholds that are contiguous to Mogadishu and thereby halt the recent increase in Al Shabaab attacks in the capital.

Yet, Somalia continued to grapple with significant challenges, he said, explaining that the Federal Government’s reform efforts have encountered “inevitable” resistance. The economic reforms and security sector reforms entail dismantling a war economy that had flourished for decades.

“There are many vested interests which pose obstacles to increased accountability. Taking on these vested interests requires not only the determination, which the Federal Government has shown, but an inclusive approach of building relationships with all stakeholders to demonstrate that the reforms will yield benefits for the whole nation,” Mr. Zenenga stressed.

He also noted that the dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland, which also has implications for the completion of the constitutional review process, remains stalled. “We are, however, encouraged by ‘Somaliland’ President Muse Bihi’s remarks on 18 May expressing his readiness to promote peace with Puntland, including through the exchange of prisoners, and to cooperate with Somalia on issues related to security, trade and education.”

Recalling that UNSOM began the new year facing a security crisis as a result of the mortar attack on the UN compound on 1 January, and a political crisis as a result of the expulsion of the Special representative of the Secretary-General Nicholas Haysom on the same day, Mr. Zenenga said the two incidents had severely disrupted the Mission’s engagement with the Federal Government of Somalia and had also elevated the security risk level for UN personnel and left our staff deeply demoralized.

While the Mission had immediately prioritized the safety and security of its staff while concentrating political efforts on mending relations with the Federal Government, Mr. Zenenga underscored that a lasting solution to the continuing security threat “will come from denying Al Shabaab the space and opportunities to prepare and launch attacks.”

Despite such challenges, he said Somalia has “immense opportunities” to make further progress in the coming months. He set out the following prescription for making headway:

  • The federal and sub-federal levels must agree to work together in a spirit of consensus.
  • Parliament must focus on passing priority legislation in a timely manner;
  • All national stakeholders need to collaborate effectively in responding to the imminent drought and avert a famine; and
  • Key relationships, including with national stakeholders, international partners and regional powers, both in the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf should be nurtured.

“The trajectory is upward, and we can all work together to energize Somalia’s population and their international partners towards reform and progress,” he concluded.

Somalia’s humanitarian situation ‘among the most protracted in the world’

Also briefing the Council, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller, said that ongoing armed conflict and violence, as well as recurrent climatic shocks continue to drive humanitarian needs in Somalia. Governance challenges and underdevelopment compound fragility and make it difficult for communities to develop robust coping mechanisms.

She said that the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan, launched in January, identified 4.2 million Somalis – one third of the population – in need of life-saving assistance and protection. This shows a decline in needs from 2017, when famine was averted, raising hope that resilience activities led by the Government and development partners could make further gains.

“However, current humanitarian indicators across the country are showing a deterioration,” said Ms. Mueller, spotlighting three areas of concern: the severe drought conditions that have spread from northern and central areas throughout the country following two failed rainy seasons; the situation of internally displaced persons; and protection concerns.

“We must act now to avert a major humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian partners stand ready to deliver aid to those most in need and are capable of rapidly scaling up response, as was proven during famine prevention efforts in 2017,” said, but cautioned that significant funding shortfalls are constraining response and leading to a reduction in assistance in critical areas, including health, nutrition, food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

“I believe I was invited to brief you today to draw attention to the elevated risk of a major humanitarian crisis unfolding on the horizon. The immediate scale up of humanitarian response is essential to mitigate the impact of the drought and to prevent further breaking up of communities that continue to be fragile from the drought in 2017,” she said.

She encouraged the international community to urgently increase support for life-saving drought response efforts and to protect gains made in 2018, and added that it was here hope that immediate resources will be received to help us prevent a dramatic crisis from escalating.

Brexit: Prime Minister Theresa May letter to Andrea Leadsom MP (22.05.2019)

Brexit: Andrea Leadsom MP Resignation Letter to Prime Minister Theresa May (22.05.2019)

Brexit: Prime Minister Theresa May letter to Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn (21.05.2019)

Opinion: Supplementary Waste to the State House!

We know President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is someone whose eating of the plate of the government, that is practically his job. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is praising this as a government tour, where they are even asking local pledges for the upkeep as they did in Moyo Town, where his scheduled later this week. This whole Manifesto Week and continued Tour is an extravagance the Republic cannot manage and was certainly not budget for. As the State House is now asking Parliament for more funds.

The President is asking for Ush. 17,5bn shillings or about $4,6 million USD for this enterprise, where his indulging himself and his comrades in every valley and creek of the Republic. Where the is known steps of typical NRM campaigning of voter tourism, as they pay participants, give them free t-shirts and offers small gifts to participate. Because, he cannot generate crowds out of popularity. They have to be paid and be ferried there.

Just take a look:

State House requested for additional supplementary request Shs 33,282,235,000, the breakdown is as follows: Shs 15,700,000,000 for classified expenditure . Shs 17,582,235,000 for H.E the President’s field operations including accommodation and feeding of the teams that accompanying the President; fuel and other logistical expenditure, by the President during the country wide tours” (ADDENDUM TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT ON SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE LES NO.1 AND NO.2 FOR 2018/19, May 2019).

That is what the state boils down to the MPs Cecilia Ogwal Atim and Muwanga Kivumbi are loyal subjects professing the pledges and the needs, even signing off on the report. They have no boundaries and no levels of pity. As the NRM and Museveni does to this to show strength and get “endorsed” everywhere.

Of the first part of the report, only 9 out 30 MPs in the Committee signed of to these arrangements, so certainly the popularity of paying these funds to the President wasn’t there. What is special also in the report for this funding, is that the MPs are reasoning out why he needs the funding for the Tour his doing, but none for the Classified, because that is not needed. He can spend that on IPOD Delegation or whatever, because who knows where that money goes. Since its all classified and doesn’t need any recommendation, not even from the lawmakers whose job is to verify and check the accuracy of the needs for this.

I will end with the funniest and most Point Blank statement from the report: “Failure for State House to ensure that the president operates within approved budgets sets a bad precedence”. Just let that sink in, as his most likely getting an added payday by default. Peace.

Nelson Moech MP letter to Speaker of Parliament: “Re: Proposal to Repeal the Credit Reference Regulation 2014” (21.05.2019)

Zimbabwe: ZERA – Re: Review of Fuel Prices Effective 21 May 2019 (21.05.2019)

Zimbabwe: ZERA – Notice to Fuel Operators (21.05.2019)

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe: Press Statement on the Payment Arrangements for Fuel through the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market and the Drawing Down of USD500 Million Offshore Line of Credit (20.05.2019)

The Sudan – Impact of Early Warning Early Action (20.05.2019)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is developing innovative early warning systems to anticipate risks and intervene at the right time.

ROME, Italy, May 20, 2019 –  Climate-driven hazards are increasing in intensity and frequency, with weather‑related crises now occurring nearly five times as often as 40 years ago. At the same time, needs are expanding and resources are limited. New tools and ways of thinking and acting are essential to reduce the impact of these disasters as effectively as possible.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is developing innovative early warning systems to anticipate risks and intervene at the right time. The right time is often early – before a crisis becomes a humanitarian disaster. FAO’s approach is shifting from a reactive mind-set to one focused on mitigation and prevention.

When the state of Kassala in eastern Sudan experienced a dry spell in 2017 and 2018, FAO took steps early to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable agropastoralists. This study analyses the outcomes of FAO’s Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) approach in the Sudan. They complement and reinforce earlier findings in EthiopiaKenya, and Somalia which demonstrated that early actions have a significant return on investment and are an effective way to address drought in Africa’s agropastoralist regions.