REVIEW www.amisom-au.org
Issue 24 | April – June 2018
The Transition,
The Progress Made A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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Message from
the SRCC Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira
Somalia is at its best, in over a decade; and so, it is critical that we all work together and build on these gains” - Ambassador Madeira
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his Issue, the second this year, captures the eventful activities surrounding the Transition Planning for AMISOM, in expectation of the renewal of its mandate by the UN Security Council, at the end of July. While we continue with the implementation of the Plan, which significantly changes the delivery of security in the country, we eagerly await the outcome of an evaluation made by a joint AU-UN assessment team which visited Somalia in May. We remain cautiously optimistic that, even as we embark on the process of handing over the security responsibility to the Somali National Security Forces, outstanding issues highlighted during the AU-UN review will be resolved, to enable a more effective, better managed transition. AMISOM has key tasks to accomplish, among them a new phase of military operations to capture territory that remains under Al Shabaab control. As variously stated, our forces are in urgent need of support to enable them undertake these crucial operations. The Somalia Partnership Forum held in Brussels in mid July ended on a very positive note, with partners committing to support Somalia’s progress. The high-level gathering of officials from 58-countries and six international organizations committed to work with the African Union and other partners to enhance the country’s growth in several areas. I will dwell more elaborately on the forum in the next issue of the magazine. We are hopeful, that the UN Security Council and our partners will consider measures that will ensure predictable support to AMISOM in the future. I look forward to an even more vibrant third quarter of the year with heightened political activity, following the recent launch of the constitutional review process, that effectively starts the countdown to the 2020/2021 elections. Somalia is at its best, in over a decade; and so, it is critical that we all work together to build on these gains. AMISOM remains committed to continue supporting the significant gains in the socio-economic, political and security fronts. We have made an undertaking to work alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and other partners, to obtain positive results from the Transition Plan – while at the same time, sustaining our efforts against our common enemy – Al Shabaab. Enjoy your reading!
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Table of
CONTENTS
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Message from the SRCC
4
In The News
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The Transition, The Course
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Somalia’s Constitutional Review Agenda
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AU Spearheads Boundaries Delimitation
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AMISOM Scores Quick Wins with Community Projects
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A Focus On Our Troops
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The African Union Turns 55
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AMISOM In Pictures
28
Shining The Spotlight On Sexual Violence
29
Making Children Count
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Securing Somalia’s University Entry Exams
32
Poultry Farming in Somalia
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The World Cup Fever
Revelers enjoy an outing at Liido Beach, in Mogadishu’s Abdul-Aziz district, on 22 June 2018. The beach and the surrounding seaside hotels and restaurants are popular places for leisure activities for residents and visitors. AMISOM Photo/IIyas Ahmed
Design & Layout: Noel Lumbama (Noel Creative Media Limited) Photography: AU-UN IST Newsroom | thenewsroom@auunist.org Email: amisommediacentre@gmail.com P.O. Box 20182 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Phone: +254 202 713 755 /56 /58 Fax: +254 202 713 766 Publisher: AMISOM Public Information Unit
A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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IN THE
NEWS
2018
APRIL
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op officials from key ministries of the Federal Government of Somalia, the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), and the federal member states meet in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, to discuss electoral boundary delimitation, in a meeting organized by the Political Affairs Department of the African Union Commission and facilitated by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The meeting brainstormed on the legal and institutional framework for electoral boundary delimitation, use of technology and impact of government and electoral systems, on the delimitation.
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nternational partners and Somali authorities, meet in Mogadishu to discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS), as part of the efforts to advance Somalia’s progress on security. The CAS executive group meeting was attended by representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and international partners, and chaired by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
2018 MAY
13
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omalia hosted a high-level meeting attended by the AU-UN joint review team, international partners; and AMISOM Troop and Police Contributing Countries. Somalia has assured the team reviewing AMISOM’s tenure in Somalia of its commitment to assume security responsibilities as stipulated in the Transition Plan. “The Transition Plan represents a significant change in the planning and delivery of security in Somalia. It’s not business as usual. For many years, Somalia has been grateful for the strong support of our international partners which has allowed the country to make progress” - National Security Advisor of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdisaid Musse Ali.
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AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
2018 MAY
13
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omalia launches its constitutional review process at a national convention held in Mogadishu and attended by Members of Parliament, religious leaders, civil society and international partners. The three-day
gathering on the new constitution ended on 15 May, with an assurance from the country’s leader, President Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Farmaajo,’ that the Horn of Africa country will have a new constitution ahead of schedule
– before the end of next year. Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who led the nation in launching the process, pledged financial and political support to the process to ensure the country meets its constitution review targets.
2018 MAY
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housands of students sat university entry examinations, in at least 120 secondary schools across south central Somalia. AMISOM Police partnered with the Somali Police Force in the capital Mogadishu and in Baidoa, the administrative capital of South West state, to secure the examination centres,
2018 MAY
during the weeklong exams that were delayed in Hiiraan region due to excessive flooding.
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frica Day is marked across the continent, the African Union paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity, its precursor. In Somalia, the day was marked in the capital Mogadishu, where the chief guest, the Secretary of the Federal Parliament’s Defence Committee, Mr. Sadiq Hirsi Warfa reiterated Somalia’s commitment to fighting corruption, in response to the continental body’s efforts to rid the continent of the vice.
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A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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2018
JUNE
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delegation from the African Union visits Somalia to evaluate Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) implemented by the AU Mission in the country. The projects, funded by the Crisis Management, Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development Division of the African Union Commission, are implemented in recovered areas by the African Union Mission in Somalia, (AMISOM).
2018
JUNE
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enior officials of the African Union Mission in Somalia and partners, are meeting in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to reflect on the Mission’s Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), aimed at improving the quality of life of communities in recovered areas. The three-day meeting is expected to take stock of the QIPs, their success in contributing to peace and recovery in Somalia, challenges faced and lessons learned in their implementation.
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2018
JUNE
19
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omalia marked the International Day of the African Child with a commitment to work closely with development partners to ensure access to quality education for its youthful population.
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
2018
JUNE
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delegation from the Addis Ababa based African Union Peace Support Operations Division (AUPSOD) holds deliberations with senior AMISOM and UN officials on the nature of logistical support given to the AU Mission by its partners. The team’s recommendations, it is hoped, will support proposals to boost the Mission’s logistical capacity.
2018
JUNE
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2018 JULY
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he AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Josè Madeira and Head of UNSOS, Ms. Lisa Filipetto, conclude a three-day visit to Kismayo and Baidoa, where they assessed ongoing preparations for transfer of security responsibilities to the Federal Government of Somalia. The preparations are part of a complex plan to increase the involvement of the Federal and state governments in the affairs of the country as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2372 (2017), which authorized condition-based transfer of security responsibilities to Somali national security forces.
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fficials from 58-countries and six international organizations converge in Brussels for the Somalia Partnership Forum, a recurring international forum to promote peace and development processes in the Horn of Africa country. It provides a platform to highlight the advances the country has made; as well as set objectives in the areas of policy, security, economic recovery and humanitarian issues.
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Senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia, United Nations, African Union and other international partners at a joint AU-UN review meeting on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The Transition,
“All the things that are showing up now, in this transition plan, were already at the centre of AMISOM’s action plan.”
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his statement by the Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira on May 13, at a crucial highlevel meeting attended by the AUUN joint review team, international partners, Somali government officials and representatives of Troop and Police Contributing Countries to AMISOM, reinforced the AU Mission’s unequivocal support to the Transition Plan. The Somali government also, expressed commitment to the Plan that provides for a transition methodology of the security responsibilities from the AU troops, to the Somali security forces. The National Security Advisor of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdisaid Musse Ali, who led the government team to the mid-May meeting, promised emphatic action by the government to ensure the success of the transition. “The Transition Plan represents a significant change in the planning and delivery of security in Somalia. It’s not business as usual. For many years, Somalia has been grateful for the strong support of our international partners which has allowed the country to make progress,” he said. The Advisor noted that the Transition Plan, whose objective is to further Somalia’s security, through the implementation of the country’s Security Architecture had the full backing of the government’s senior leadership. The AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, assured the AU-UN review meeting that an exit strategy for the AU troops was in place, adding that AMISOM fully identified itself with the Transition Plan, which was developed by
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AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
Maj. Gen. Francis Okello, Head of the AU Delegation speaks during the African Union-United Nations joint review on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia, United Nations, African Union and other international partners.
The Course Ambassador Francisco Madeira (center), the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, speaks at the meeting.
Walid Musa Abdelkarim, the Head of the UN delegation makes his contribution at the meeting.
Lisa Filipetto, Head of the United Nations Support Office for Somalia, addressing the meeting.
Senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia, United Nations, African Union and other international partners follow the proceedings.
the Federal Government of Somalia, with the help of development partners. “All the things that are showing up now, in this transition plan, were already at the centre of AMISOM’s action plan,” Madeira reiterated, adding; “We need to build a state and building a state meant that Somalis needed to take responsibility,0 not only of the military, but also of the administration of the country.” In his remarks, the Head of the United Nations Delegation to the Joint AU-UN Review of AMISOM, Mr. Walid Musa Abdelkarim, acknowledged that there had been significant political progress in Somalia.
“We now are convinced that the geopolitical position or status of Somalia is rising, increasing every day because of global events and therefore, this time we will have a more serious tone in what we do,” he said. “We want this plan to succeed. And we’re sure that it will succeed because of the level of commitment,” added the Head of the African Union delegation to the Joint AU-UN Review of AMISOM MajGen Francis Okello. Okello’s remarks were echoed by the Ugandan Ambassador to Somalia, Prof. Sam Turyamuhika, who spoke on behalf of Troop Contributing Countries.
“We are here to help you (succeed). We have been doing it and those of you who have worked with us know that this is the spirit in which we came here,” Prof. Turyamuhika stated. The Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Ms. Lisa Filipetto, underscored the importance of the Transition Plan, saying it offers a practical shift from the way things have been done. “There are a number of significant dates going forward. There’s this joint review. Already being mentioned is the Somali Partnership Forum in late June. So, this review will feed into Security Council considerations,” she stated. A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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AU Keen on Resolving Logistical Challenges Facing AMISOM
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delegation from the Addis Ababa based African Union Peace Support Operations Division (AUPSOD), was in Somalia in June to assess the nature of logistical support given to the AU Mission by its partners. The team held deliberations with key groups on June 21 – 22, in the capital Mogadishu, to flesh out issues regarding logistics support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The deliberations also proposed recommendations, aimed at boosting the Mission’s activities in the Horn of Africa country. “We want to look into key challenges and key issues and clearly indicate what stakeholders need to do to help enhance the support package
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Lisa Filipetto, Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, speaks during a logistics support workshop for AMISOM in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 21 June 2018.
to AMISOM,” said Col. (Rtd) Mor Mbow, the Chief of Mission Support at the African Union Commission,
and leader of the visiting delegation. Mbor emphasized that the deliberations would come
up with practical ways of enhancing logistical support to AMISOM, to enable the Mission better secure Somalia. “This support to AMISOM is not only an UNSOS responsibility. Troop Contributing Countries have responsibilities; the contingents that have been deployed have responsibilities. AU as strategic headquarters have responsibilities and the UN of course, being a major partner has responsibilities,” Col. Mbow stated. The two-day high-level consultative talks was to culminate in the drawing up of recommendations to address the critical logistical support issues in the short, medium and long term. “The primary objective of this workshop is to identify AMISOM mission support
Participants from the AMISOM Troop and Police Contributing Countries, United Nations and international partners pose for a group photograph during a logistic support workshop for AMISOM.
Participants from the AMISOM Troop and Police Contributing Countries, United Nations and international partners attend a logistic support workshop for AMISOM.
challenges across the strategic, operational and tactical levels,” explained
Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, the AU Special Representative
for Somalia and Head of AMISOM. The meeting, Madeira noted, also focused on the harmonization and enhancement of the AU and UN joint planning, improvement on provision and delivery of logistics and generation of service support to AMISOM. “UNSOS welcomes this review. We believe that this is such an important partnership that we need to get it right. We won’t get it perfect, but continuous improvement is always very important,” observed Ms. Lisa Filipetto, the Head of UNSOS. UNSOS is mandated by the UN Security Council to provide logistical support to AMISOM and to the Somali security forces during joint operations with AMISOM. A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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Somalia’s Constitutional Review Agenda
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Ambassador Francisco Madeira (left), the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, addresses participants during the launch.
The Speaker of the House of the People of Somalia’s Federal Parliament, Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman addresses participants.
The Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow) speaks at the launch of the national constitutional convention.
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omalia launched its constitutional review process at a national convention held in the capital of Mogadishu on May 13, effectively kick-starting activities towards the 2020 elections. Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who led the nation in launching the process, pledged financial and political support to the process to ensure the country gets a new Constitution by the end of next year. Mr. Khaire emphasized the need to finalize the constitutional process to unify the country, promote economic growth and above all deliver a new constitution for posterity. “I hereby confirm that my government has pledged $3million for the constitution process to be finalized. However, this pledge should produce a Somaliaowned document, Somali thinking, Somali economy, Somali advice and new Somali unity that rebuilds the Somali nation we lost,” said the Prime Minister. Somalia is currently governed by a Provisional Constitution, adopted on August 1, 2012. The Federal Government and Federal Member States have a target to deliver a new constitution to Somalia before the envisaged one-person one-
vote elections scheduled for 2020/2021. “An inclusive constitution should be the foundation of rebuilding the government of Somalia,” said the Speaker, adding; “a federal constitution should clearly define the essential elements that are pillars of rebuilding the country and implementing the federal system of government,” said the Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, during his address to the three-day national convention attended by members of parliament, religious leaders, civil society representatives and international partners.
From right to left: The Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Ali Khaire, the Speaker of the House of the People of the Somalia’s Federal Parliament, Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman with other officials at the launch.
Senior officials of the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States, UN representatives and members of civil society organizations attend the launch of the national constitutional convention.
A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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AU Spearheads Boundaries Delimitation
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s the country kickstarts activities leading to the 2020 elections, Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) embarked on the electoral boundary delimitation exercise, with an
intensive training in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, facilitated by the African Union Commission and AMISOM. The workshop, held in April, brought together 24 participants drawn from the NIEC, various government
ministries, the Office of the President and the Office of the Prime Minister. Halima said while they had planned to start the process in 2020, they realized after their training that the exercise was urgent and
ተሳታፊዎች የሶስት ቀን ስብሰባ ላይ ስልጠና ሲወስዱ አቶ አሊ መሐመድ ከፍተኛ የፖሊስ አማካሪ መዝግያው ላይ ለተሳታፊዎች ንግግር አደረጉ
A participant speaks during a three-day training.
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required a lot of work, hence their decision to immediately embark on the process. “We thought that it was a simple thing, the delimitation
of boundaries for elections, and we were planning to do it around 2019, but before
we start, we need to take (various) steps, you need a lot of principles to follow, you must have a legal framework, whether it’s from parliament or from the NIEC, we have found that we are in a real critical situation,” remarked the NIEC Chairperson, Halima Ismail Ibrahim. During the training, which was carried out by electoral experts from several African countries and the African Union Commission, the Somali electoral commission officials received briefings on boundary delimitation experiences from Kenya, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tunisia among others. “The most important thing that opened our eyes was DRC, how they did it (even though) the territory was complicated, the country divided, infrastructure destroyed and how there was interference from foreign countries and their
Halima Ismail Ibrahim, the Chairperson of Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) speaks at a three-day training.
military. When we studied all that we said if DRC did this, Somalia’s will be very easy to do. And we are confident we can do it,” Halima said. Participants deliberated on the legal and institutional framework for electoral boundary delimitation, impact of system of government and electoral systems on the delimitation, the use of technology in boundary delimitation among others. Ali Mohamed Mohamud, a senior Policy Adviser with the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Government of Somalia, said the team had gained plenty of insights in the way democratic and
Former Kenyan Independent Electoral and Bounderies Commission chairman Ahmed Isaack (left) presents a certificate of participation to Haji Ssebirumbi at the end of a three-day training on electoral boundary delimitation held in Nairobi.
independent elections are held in normal and postconflict countries in Africa. “We gained a lot of inside information especially when we compared different countries, how they did it, regular, normal countries that didn’t have any problems and also post-conflict countries. So that helped us to prepare ourselves for the coming 2020 elections,” conceded Mohamud. The acting Head of the Democracy and Electoral Unit at the African Union Commission, Guy Cyrille Tapoko, promised the participants that the continental body would continue to support Somalia’s electoral process. He said the countries picked as case studies were carefully selected. “All these contexts were selected with the view of giving all the dynamics to the members of the electoral commission of Somalia and also other stakeholders to understand what is really about electoral and boundaries delimitation for them to (also) understand the dynamics, the criteria, the principles that they may need to consider when they think about their own electoral boundaries delimitation,” said the African Union Commission official. The NIEC has been carrying out training to build the capacity of its officials ahead of the 2020 general election, during which Somalia will revert to universal suffrage. A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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AMISOM Scores Quick Wins
with Community Projects C ommunity projects implemented by AMISOM in recovered areas have become a lifeline to many households in Somalia, in regions where basic facilities are still non-existent. Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), as they are popularly known, are small scale, low cost programmes that are planned and implemented within a short period of time and have a rapid positive impact on targeted communities. In Somalia’s case, AMISOM implements the QIPs through its Civil Affairs unit, with interventions from the military, civilian and police components of the Mission. Projects implemented by AMISOM within communities vary, and include the most essential ones, such as water, health, education and security, which are critical in helping stabilize liberated areas. In early June, a delegation from the African Union visited Somalia to evaluate the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), funded by the Crisis Management, Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development Division of the African Union Commission.
An evaluation team from the African Union Commission, who are in Mogadishu, Somalia in a group photograph with a local community during an inspection of the Quick Impact Projects implemented by AMISOM.
The team of experts was keen on the processes used and procedures followed in the implementation of the community projects. Six projects implemented in 2017 with funding from the African Union were evaluated to ensure they followed the procedures of the African Union Quick
A young boy from Goobweyn Village carries food distributed by the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The Deputy Hiraan Governor, Mohamed Ibrahim (left) receives medical supplies from Col. Jama Hassan (right), the contingent commander of the Djibouti troops serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) during a hand over ceremony.
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Impact and Peace Strengthening Projects (QIPS/PSPs). “What are the success stories that we can enhance, for future implementation, design or monitoring; and what are the challenges that have been encountered on the ground?”, posed Mr. Mike Bugason, the leader of the delegation, during a meeting with senior AMISOM officials, in the capital Mogadishu. The projects evaluated in June include a school project in Ceel Jaale, the refurbished police station in Kismayo, the port city of Jubbaland state;
and a rehabilitated Mother and Child Hospital in Marka. The AU team also evaluated support provided by AMISOM to the local administration in Afgoye district, in Lower Shabelle region. AMISOM had implemented 107 Quick Impact Projects by June, including 23, whose implementation is ongoing. The delegation also toured a clean water project constructed in May 2017, for the out-patient department of the AMISOM Hospital community in Mogadishu, which benefits 76-households.
Military officers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Ethiopian contingent hand over medical supplies donated by AMISOM to the Baidoa Regional Hospital to control a diarrhea outbreak in Baidoa.
A group photo of a section of participants from the African Union Commission, AMISOM and other stakeholders, during the closing ceremony of a workshop held to strengthen the process of implementation of Quick Impact Projects, held at the Hilton Hotel, in Nairobi, Kenya on 13 June 2018.
Improving Quality of Life with Quick Impact Projects
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enior officials of the African Union Mission in Somalia and partners, extended the discussion on Quick Impact Projects to a stock-taking meeting in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, in the same month, where they recommended increased involvement of local Somali communities in the selection and execution of the said community projects. The “Lessons Learned” meeting held mid June discussed the impact of the Quick Impact Projects on the beneficiaries; but also deliberated on the challenges facing the implementation of the projects. “On conceptualizing this workshop we looked at how we can be able to strengthen the process of implementing projects that are helpful to
the people of Somalia in terms of helping Somalia
The Interim South West Administration (ISWA) Police officers receive an assortment of office equipment donated by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police component.
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia (in the blue suit) and Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Jimaale, the Chief of Somalia Defence Forces “(second from left)” during a ceremony handing over equipment to the Somalia National Army.
to stabilize,” explained Dr. Opiyo Ododa, the Senior Civil Affairs Officer in charge of Stabilization and Early Recovery, at AMISOM. The workshop also reviewed the financial management and audit of projects and funding for Early Recovery. Issues driving the discussions included the coordination leading to the delivery of QIPs, how to strengthen community engagements to ensure the projects benefit the Somali communities; and ways of ensuring sustainable funding.
The workshop, officially opened by Ambassador Purity Muhindi of Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also attended by Simon Mulongo, the deputy head of AMISOM, and Adong Oder, the representative of the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “The social services-related activities have helped to instill in the recovery areas a sense of statehood. AMISOM enables such communities enjoy the benefits of being liberated from Al-Shabaab,” Mr. Mulongo noted. A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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A Focus on Our TROOPS UGANDA:
Uganda Sends Food Assistance to Flood Affected Families
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n June 1, the Ugandan government donated foodstuff to floodaffected families in Golwayn, in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. The lorry-loads of assorted foodstuff such as rice, wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil and milk, was delivered to elders of Golwayn, through the Ugandan contingent in Somalia and flagged off by Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha. “Uganda is not here to do the security part only. We feel sympathetic with the people and we join the wider international community in bringing rescue to the displaced communities of Golwayn who have been displaced by the enemy into IDPs (camps); but now have been displaced again by the flooding River Shabelle,” Maj. Gen. Mugisha said, while handing over the donation to Golwayn elders. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the flooding affected more
than 750,000 people with more than 229,000 displaced. Communities most affected by the flooding live along the Shabelle and Jubba rivers. The flooding, caused by the unusually heavy Gu rains, also led to fatalities and damage to infrastructure. Brig. Paul Lokech, the AMISOM Uganda contingent
Ugandan soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), load onto a waiting truck, bags of rice, wheat flour, and sugar donated by the Ugandan AMISOM contingent to residents of flood-hit areas of Lower Shabelle region.
commander noted that the flooding had also adversely impacted on agriculture and movement of persons. He said some of the displaced families had sought shelter and safety near the AMISOM
Sultan Warsame Aliyow Ibrow (left) a traditional Somali elder from Lower Shabelle region, Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha (middle), Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia and Brig. Gen. Paul Lokech (right), the commander of the Ugandan contingent under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) during a ceremony to hand over food items donated by the Uganda AMISOM contingent to residents of flood-hit areas of Lower Shabelle region.
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military defences. “The areas where the people should be farming is all flooded. There is no productive activity taking place,” explained Brig. Lokech. Sultan Warsame Alio Ibrow, an elder and chief of Golwayn who received the food donation thanked the Ugandan government and AMISOM for the assistance and called for more humanitarian interventions to assist affected families. “There is no area that has not been affected by the floods in areas with close proximity to River Jubba and River Shabelle. Some people who have fled from villages in Lower Shabelle including Gaburow, Bulla Sheikh, Madulow up to Janaale areas, are now squatting in Golwayn, as internally displaced,” Sultan said. The elder estimated that at least 750 displaced families from other regions, had moved to Golwayn in search of food and shelter.
Joint Operations Against Al-Shabaab
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n an effort to strengthen security and deter AlShabaab militia from terrorizing civilians, the Somali National Army supported by AMISOM troops from the Uganda contingent intensified their operations against Al -Shabaab in all its Forward Operation Bases. The joint operations
included conducting patrols in Arbiska FOB, especially in Hawahabid, Lafoole, Afgoye, Albao and Lantabur. “We need to deny the enemy the opportunity to disrupt the normal lives of the civilians; and stop them from planting explosives along the main supply routes,” said Col. Jackson
Kayanja, the Commander of Battle Group XXIV. He thanked the local community for cooperating with AMISOM and for supporting the National Army, the local administration and the Somali Police Force in their cause for peace. “Timely and accurate information is a powerful asset in managing security,” he emphasized.
Joint foot patrols were also conducted in townships such as Afgoye, Arbiska and Barwako. The troops combed bushy areas in search of the enemy. Other joint operations were conducted in Kilometre 50 and Kilometre 67, where the teams recovered an unexploded 50-kilogram pressure plate IED.
Ugandan troops feted by AMISOM
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contingent of Ugandan soldiers was feted by AMISOM in April, at a medal award ceremony held in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu. The soldiers, from Battle Group 21 of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, had completed a year’s tour of duty in Somalia. The group secured Mogadishu and neighbouring regions. The AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support and Logistics, Maj. Gen. Salvator Harushimana, while commending the outgoing troops for their diligence to duty, reiterated the commitment of the African Union towards ensuring a safer and stable Somalia. He lauded the troops for performing their duties with diligence. “During their stay, they performed their duties with dedication and a high level of professionalism. They did not only represent Uganda well but also made the African Continent proud,” noted Maj. Gen. Salvat Harushimana. The Deputy Force Commander said the battle group participated in many operations, ranging from conducting combat operations against Al-Shabaab to securing the Main Supply Routes, by conducting regular patrols and escorting vehicles carrying humanitarian relief aid. “You have shown the international world that Africa can make it possible. When we were coming here in 2007, we were told by the Western media that this mission would fail on arrival; but today, it’s 10 years and we are still moving forward, carrying the flag of the African mission, and carrying the flag of Uganda,” Brig. Gen. Paul Lokech told the outgoing troops.
Major General Salvatore Harushimana, the Deputy Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), pins a medal on an AMISOM military officer during a medal award ceremony.
Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha, Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, hands over certificates to AMISOM military officers who completed their one year tour of duty under AMISOM.
A MI SOM MAG A Z IN E
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A Focus on Our TROOPS BURUNDI:
Sharing is Caring
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n June 13, 2018, on the eve of Eid el-Fitri, hours before the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Burundi troops serving under
AMISOM donated 6-tons of food to Somalis living in the vicinity of their Forward Operating Bases of Jowhar Air Field, Maslah, Mahaday and
the former Military Academy. The kind gesture from the troops was well received by Somalis in the regions where they operate. These assorted foodstuff consisted of beans, rice, flour, sugar and palm oil. Most of it came from soldiers who went without food once a week, to share with the needy Somalis. More than 500 Somalis
benefited from the food donation distributed from the four Forward Operating Bases. In September 2017, during Eid-al-Adha - “Feast of Sacrifice” - the Muslim community in Middle Shabelle region gifted the Burundi troops with 10 cows, in appreciation of the sacrifices they are making to keep the region secure.
DJIBOUTI:
Djibouti Troops Out-On-A-Limb
O
n May 1, a team comprising of AMISOM troops and the Somali National Security Forces evacuated more than 10,000 people marooned by floods in Belet Weyne, in Hiiraan region. The rescue mission, which saw affected families relocated to safer grounds in Eel Jaale, was led by the Col. Abdourahman Rayale Hareed, the Commander of Djibouti’s Hiil 5 Battalion. According to the Federal Government of Somalia, more than 175,000 people were
displaced in the region and over 400,000 affected by the floods in different parts of the country, following heavy May rainfall. The flooding was compounded by the overflowing of the Shabelle River. “The military and police vehicles together have helped rescue people from the flooded villages. Only the AMISOM trucks could access the villages,” confirmed the Commander of Belet Weyne Police Station, Mr. Mohamed Maow Halane.
Djiboutian troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) recue flood victims in Beletweyne on April 27, 2018. Beletweyne is currently experiencing its worst flooding and many civilians have been displaced.
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Djiboutian troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) recue flood victims in Beletweyne on April 27, 2018.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in Somalia had cautioned that the heavy rains would worsen conditions in Internally Displaced Peoples
(IDP) settlements and displace more people along riverine areas. The settlements have limited access to hygiene facilities, thus heightening the risk of communicable diseases.
Djiboutian soldiers under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) recue flood victims in Beletweyne on April 27, 2018.
Djibouti Independence Day
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jiboutian troops serving under AMISOM held a colourful ceremony on June 27, to mark their country’s 41st independence anniversary. The ceremony held in Belet Weyne, the administrative centre of Hiiraan region, and presided over by Col. Osman Dubad, the Military Attaché
at the Djiboutian Embassy in Somalia was attended by embassy officials, Somali National Army officers, local Somali leaders and a section of civil society, among others. “It is an important day for the people of Djibouti. It is the night when the people of Djibouti gained their liberation from the colonial Zakariye Sheikh Ismail, Djiboutian Force Commander inspects a guard of honor during a ceremony marking the 41st anniversary of Djibouti’s Independence Day.
Djiboutian soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) perform during a ceremony to mark the 41st anniversary of Djibouti’s Independence Day.
masters. It is a night that deserves to be remembered,” Mr. Dubad stated, as he paid tribute to the heroes who lost their lives in the struggle for independence. Djibouti, one of France’s last colonies in Africa, gained independence on June 27, 1977. It changed its name to Djibouti, after its biggest city and it became known as the Republic of Djibouti.
Djibouti is one of the five Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to AMISOM along with Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Burundi. It deployed its soldiers to Somalia in 2011, making it the third country to join the AU Mission. The contingent is based in Belet Weyne, the headquarters of AMISOM’s Sector four, which covers Hiiraan region.
ETHIOPIA:
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n the quarter, on April 7, AMISOM Ethiopian troops delivered a security briefing on the capability assessment of the AU and Somali troops to the UN, AMISOM POLICE and international humanitarian aid staff.
Boots on the ground - AMISOM-ENDF conducted daily patrols in Sector 3 during the holy month of Ramadan and during celebrations to mark the end of the month-long fasting period.
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A Focus on Our TROOPS
In order to open the Main Supply Routes, the AMISOM-ENDF and their Somali counterparts held joint operations along the main highways and escorted convoys of vehicles through some of the most dangerous routes; Baidoa - Buurhakaba – Leego.
Ethiopian troops work with experts in drilling a water borehole in Baidoa, in June.
A mine is safely exploded in Luuq-Habare in Bay region
KENYA:
A
MISOM Troops from the Kenya Defence Forces have been steadfast in pacifying sector 2, whose headquarters are located at Dhobley. The troops are deployed in three subsectors; North, Central and South, as well as jointly with Djibouti and Burundi in sector Kismayo. The Kenyan Contingent is continuously involved in activities that seek to support the stabilization of Somalia, as well as securing its Area of Responsibility, as mandated by AMISOM. In the spirit of Ramadhan, and in the build up to Eid Ul Fitr, AMISOM KDF troops distributed food to local communities in various Forwards Operating Bases (FOBs). The food items included dry food supplies such as rice, beans, four and cooking oil. The rainy season that kicked off in the month of March adversely affected local
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KDF troops sharing with locals in celebration of Eid
communities, with many households suffering from an outbreak of waterborne diseases. The KDF troops are the main providers of medical care in almost all areas under their jurisdiction, and were able to provide life-saving medical support to the communities living near their Forward Operating Bases. Severe flooding was experienced in Afmadhow, where the KDF
troops organized regular out-ofcamp medical charities. The Level II health facility at Dhobley, has become a community hospital with locals entirely depending on the facility to receive basic and advanced medical support. The facility has the ability to handle normal and not-so-complex medical cases, involving women and children who frequent the hospital.
Interaction between locals and the AMISOM KDF troops has been key in enhancing the relationships with the communities. Occasionally, the troops organize football tournaments to further enhance the relationship between the troops and the locals. Military activities in their Area of Responsibility during the quarter included carrying out route clearance patrols to rid them of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Al Shabaab. These IEDs are a threat to both the troops as well as locals who often use these routes. Clearance of these routes has enhanced business and the movement of people in these areas. AMISOM troops continue to partner with the Somalia National Army (SNA) and the Jubbaland Security Forces (JSF) through joint operations to ensure the area is free from enemy activity.
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African Union
A group of Somali singers and dancers perform at an Africa Day celebration held by the African Union Mission in Somalia at their headquarters in Mogadishu.
T
he African Union paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union, on the occasion of Africa Day, marked on May 25. In Somalia, the day was marked in the capital Mogadishu, where the chief guest, the Secretary of the Federal Parliament’s Defence Committee, Mr. Sadiq Hirsi Warfa reiterated Somalia’s commitment to fighting corruption, in response to the continental body’s efforts to rid the continent of the vice. The African Union Assembly
declared 2018 as the ‘African Anti-Corruption Year’ under the theme - “Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”. “Somalia is putting in place a mechanism to fight corruption,” Warfa said adding, “we are really in the process of debt relief and Somalia can once again reestablish its currency because we believe that corruption is the root cause of all the problems”. The AU Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Mr. Simon Mulongo read the African Union Commission
A group of Ghanian singers and dancers perform at an Africa Day celebration.
A group of Nigerian singers and dancers perform at an Africa Day celebration.
Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, speaks at an Africa Day celebration.
Chairperson H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat’s speech,
in which he enumerates achievements made by the
A group of Kenyan singers and dancers perform at an Africa Day celebration.
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A group of Burundi singers and dancers perform at an Africa Day celebration
The Kenyan Ambassador to Somalia, Major General (Rtd) Lucas Kyonze Tumbo, speaks at an Africa Day celebration.
The Italian Ambassador to Somalia, Carlo Campanile, speaks at an Africa Day celebration.
Deputy UN Special Envoy for Somalia, Peter de Clercq, speaks at an Africa Day celebration held by the African Union Mission in Somalia at their headquarters in Mogadishu.
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The Chinese Ambassador to Somalia, Qin Jian, speaks at an Africa Day celebration.
African Union in improving the quality of life in member countries. In his speech, Mahamat cautions against pervasive corruption and challenges African leaders to demonstrate deliberate action against the vice. “Corruption destroys lives of ordinary people and undermines their trust in their leaders and public institutions. Resources that are needed for development and delivery of services such as electricity, education, healthcare, sanitation, clean water are diverted by few thus depriving the majority of people from access to these critical services,” said the AU Commission Chairperson. Mr. Mulongo stated that AMISOM had already started transitioning the security responsibility to the Somali security forces, adding that the AU Mission was currently preparing Somalis to take up the security responsibilities. “We are in the advanced stages of crafting an implementation plan and this implementation plan is going to ensure that we not only hand over the responsibilities, but we prepare and make ready those security institutions and individuals to be able to effectively and efficiently undertake those responsibilities that are currently handled and managed by AMISOM,” Mulongo remarked. The Kenyan ambassador to Somalia, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo speaking on behalf of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to AMISOM, expressed the commitment of the TCCs to restore full stability to Somalia. “Kenya aspires to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Somalia. Kenya has therefore been steadfast in supporting efforts towards this end since the year 2004 and will continue to do so together with other TCCs and countries of goodwill,” he said. Also present at the celebrations, was the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia and UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter de Clercq, who paid tribute to AMISOM for the work the Mission has accomplished in Somalia. “We have come a long way in Somalia and we owe it to those that have given their lives in their ultimate efforts to bring us to where we are today to ensure that AMISOM continues to receive support for the successful completion of this Mission to help Somalia towards peace, stability and prosperity,” de Clercq said. AU Day is marked annually to commemorate the creation of the Organization of African Unity – the precursor of the African Union, 55 years ago.
AMISOM in Pictures The Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, awards medals of recognition to two senior European Union officers for their distinguished service in Somalia.
Seventeen police officers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are awarded medals for distinguished service. Of the 17, seven officers are from Kenya, six from Sierra Leone, three from Uganda and one from Zambia. Other Police Contributing Countries (PCCs) include Nigeria and Ghana.
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AMISOM in Pictures
21 staff officers are honoured with medals at a ceremony presided over by the AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira, in Mogadishu. The officers had completed their tour of duty in the Horn of Africa country.
Four senior medical officials of AMISOM receive medals and certificates in recognition of their exemplary work. The AU Mission lauded the medics, Col. Dr. Atanasias Odhiambo, Lieut. Col. Dr. Francis Xavier Bakehena, Lieut. Col. Hailu Endashaw Atomsa and Col. Dr. Athanase Bizimana, on their professionalism and dedicated service, on the completion of a successful two-year tour of duty in Somalia.
The Head of UNSOS, Ms. Lisa Filipetto and the AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira tour projects of mutual interest in Baidoa on June 25, 2018. Ms. Filipetto and Ambassador Madeira observed groundwater exploration works undertaken by an UNSOS team in Baidoa, among others. 26
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AMISOM in Pictures የእንግሊዝ ኮማንደር በሶማሊያ ኮ/ል ርቻርድ ማዉንዴሬል 30 የማታ መነፅር እና 600 የመከላከያ መነፅር ለከፍተኛ በሶማሊያ የአፈሪካ ሕብረት የሠላም አስከባሪ ሠራዊትባለስልጣናት አስተላለፈ ለማታ ሰራዎች እንድጠቀሙ ይረዳቸዋል፡፡ በስጦታው የተቀበሉት የከፍተኛ ምክትል ተልዕኮ አቶ ስሞን ሙሎንጎ እና የዋና አዛዥ ምክትል ሜ/ር ጄ/ል ቻንለስ ታር ግቱርል መነፅሩም ከዋናው ነተላለፊያ መንገድ መፅዳት እና ግንባሩ በመሰረቱ በማጠናከር እና ማሳደግ
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Shining the Spotlight on Sexual Violence
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n the second quarter of the year, AMISOM Police stepped up training and mentorship programmes with their counterparts in the Somali Police Force. The Mission is taking concrete steps to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the country, with plans for more elaborate training of additional Somali police officers to help fight increased cases of sexual violence against women. According to the Reforms, Restructuring and Development Coordinator with AMISOM, Mr. Maxwell Chikunguru, the Mission is also encouraging gender mainstreaming in all government structures. “Stand up tall as AMISOM ambassadors in seeing that gender is effectively and efficiently mainstreamed in all government structures and systems in Somalia,” said Chikunguru, who addressed a group of gender officers at the close of a threeday workshop on Sexual violence, held in Mogadishu in June, to review the SGBV response framework. The workshop discussed the Sexual Offences Bill, and AMISOM’s role in eliminating sexual violence.
“In the conf lict countries, SGBV is used as a weapon of war. They (criminals) take advantage of women,” said Inspector Rachel Malambo, AMISOM Police Gender Coordinator, who noted that defilement cases were still rampant in Somalia, because the country was recovering from conf lict. A participant at the workshop, Ahmadou Kanneh, a police officer from Sierra Leone who is based in Baidoa, the
Police officers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) attend a training session on the prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based violence.
administrative capital of South West State, explained how they encourage their Somali counterparts to refer cases of sexual violence to the legal courts, instead of using the traditional justice system, which passes lenient sentences on sexual offenders. “We usually advise SPF that there are certain cases which are very serious like SGBV; those are cases of human rights violations. We
Police officers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in a group photo at the end of a training workshop on the prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
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tell them that when such cases come to them, they should not compromise them,” Kanneh said. Similar training was held in the port city of Kismayo in the same month, where twenty-five police officers from Jubbaland state participated in a Sexual and Gender Based Violence basic course. The training was organized by AMISOM Police at Jubbaland Police Training school.
Making Children Count
S
omalia marked the International Day of the African Child with a commitment to improve access to education. Government officials committed to work closely with development partners to ensure access to quality education for its youthful population. “We hope the new (education) curriculum will make a positive input in the education of the Somali
Fartun Abdisalam Haji Adan, Executive Director of Elman Peace Centre speaks during the ceremony to mark the International Day of the African Child.
children. The curriculum will be adopted for use in schools across the country, whether they are private schools or public schools,” Hassan Mohamed Ali, the Director General of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education said, referring to the country’s first ever post war, unified curriculum for primary schools.
The new curriculum is expected to be implemented in the new academic year, which commences in August. Ali, who spoke in the capital Mogadishu, during celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child, described education as the cornerstone of Somalia’s development, and urged ministries and government
Children attend a ceremony to mark the International Day of the African Child in Mogadishu, Somalia on June 18, 2018.
Hassan Mohamed Ali, the Director General of Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education speaks during the ceremony.
institutions to work together to improve the level of education in the country. The International Day of the African Child is marked every year on June 16. This year’s theme is ‘leave no child behind for Africa’s development’ and is aimed at creating awareness on the importance of protecting the rights of children and ensuring both boys and girls have equal opportunities.
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Securing Somalia’s University Entry Exams
T
he Unified National Examinations for university entry ended successfully in most schools across Somalia, with a record 27-thousand students registered for the exams.
The number represents an increase by 4-thousand, the number of students who will have sat for this year’s centralized examinations, which were re-introduced in 2015, after a 25-year interval,
due to the protracted civil war. Secondary students in Galmudug, South West, Hirshabelle, Jubbaland and Banadir regions were examined in more than 120 designated
centers across the country, in examinations that started last Saturday, with the exception of Hiiraan region, where massive flooding has caused displacements and resulted in a humanitarian crisis.
Police officers under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), take part in securing the national examination centres in Mogadishu.
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AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
Secondary students take their national examinations in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 22 May 2018. Over 27,000 secondary school students in Somalia began national examinations
The police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) partnered with the Somali Police Force in the capital Mogadishu and in Baidoa, the administrative capital of South West state, to secure the exams. “We were requested by the Somali Police Force to assist in providing security in the examination centers. We have been working closely with the SPF in securing this area (examination center). So, we are deployed inside and outside of this area,” SP Philip Mukasa, the AMISOM Police Public Information Officer explained. Security support from AMISOM, aimed to protect the integrity of the examinations and secure candidates from unwanted disruptions by militant groups. Tresphord Kasale, the AMISOM Police Coordinating Officer for Southwest state said partnership between
AMISOM Police and their Somali counterparts was part of the mentorship programme, provided for by the Mission’s mandate. “We are here to ensure that we mentor and advise them on how to go about this (securing exam centers),
when providing such security to students who are writing exams” Kasale said. The existing peace and stability brought about by the presence of the African Union forces, has brought back normalcy to the Horn of Africa country and
enabled the strengthening of institutions, which broke down during the civil war. The AU Mission in Somalia is committed to securing the country, until the complete transition of the security responsibility to the local forces.
Police officers under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), take part in securing the national examination centres in Baidoa.
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FEATURE
Poultry Farming Gains
F
or the past four years, Ahmed Hassan Ali has woken up at the crackof-dawn to tend to his flock of chicken in an expansive farmhouse in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district. A typical day at Ahmed’s farm starts with the cleaning of the chicken coops, feeding the chicks and collecting freshly laid eggs, which are neatly packed into boxes and delivered to customers across the city. “Our products need to get to the market on the same day, otherwise they will not sell. Customers don’t care whether there were transport challenges or not,” explains Ahmed who uses his fleet of 11 vehicles to deliver the eggs. “We have networks of restaurants and shops that buy our products”. Ahmed started his poultry business in 2014 with modest
savings, which he used to buy 5-thousand layer chicks. He set up the business on a rented piece of land in the capital. Four years later, his business has grown exponentially, providing
A group of workers at the poultry farm, prepare to tend to the chickens
employment to at least one-hundred youths. The poultry farm currently rears some 25,000 chicks, which lay 18,000 eggs on a daily
A worker at the Somali Poultry Farm in Mogadishu, Somalia, fills up a trough with feed in one of the farm’s chicken coops on 15 April 2018. The poultry farm, one of the first of its kind in Mogadishu, has over 30,000 chickens.
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basis, earning the business approximately USD2,880 every day. The 45-year old businessman says he saw an
Popularity in Somalia opportunity for a poultry business after realizing that there was a huge untapped market in Somalia. Despite the poor infrastructure, fragile security situation, and the preference for red meat by most Somalis, Ahmed was determined to excel in the business. “Chicken meat and eggs is a new diet to city residents, although my customers are beginning to get used to the habit of eating eggs and chicken,” remarks Ahmed, who also propagates healthier dietary choices. Like most communities, food is central to Somalia’s culture. And while the Somali diet is largely meat driven, Ahmed sensitizes his customers on the benefits of eating lean white meats such as chicken and fish, as a healthy alternative to red meat.
The middle aged farmer has invested heavily in technology and modern equipment to run his farm.
The poultry farm currently rears some 25,000 chicks, which lay 18,000 eggs on a daily basis, earning the business approximately USD2,880 every day.
An automated feeding machine, egg collection and manure removal equipment, are just some of the modern equipment found on his farm. Ahmed hopes to increase the number of layer chicks from the current 25,000 to 100,000 chicks by the end of 2019, as he explores an expansion strategy beyond Mogadishu. Other than eggs and chicken, Ahmed is seriously considering venturing into fish exports. “We have achieved some success and we aspire to reach the rest of the country and satisfy the demand in other regions and eventually export to neighboring countries,” he states. Widely known for its un-tapped fish resources, Somalia, which suffered over two decades of war and an insurgency by al-Qaeda
affiliated Al-Shabaab militants, still lacks vital infrastructure to support exports of fresh meats. Ahmed underscores the importance of reviving these essential services to resuscitate the fishing industry in the Horn of Africa country. “The services were rendered inactive as a result of the civil war. But, our mission now, is to revive them.” With the intervention of the African Union peacekeepers eleven years ago, the country is on a steady path to full recovery, thanks to the existing peace and stability, there is an environment which has supported growth in many sectors. The African Union is working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia to ensure a secure environment for businesses to thrive.
A worker at the Somali Poultry Farm in Mogadishu, Somalia, collects recently laid eggs in one of the farm’s chicken coops on 15 April 2018. The poultry farm, one of the first of its kind in Mogadishu, has over 30,000 chickens and is capable of producing up to 12,000 eggs a day.
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©Getty images
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World Cup
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
fever grips Somalia Soccer enthusiasts across Somalia watched the Russia World Cup tournament. Young people across the country stayed up late into the night, to watch the World Cup teams tussle it out for the trophy. The Somalia national team was eliminated in the World Cup Africa qualifying rounds in 2015.
W
ith football being the most popular sport in Somalia, the just concluded FIFA World Cup hosted in Russia, was followed keenly by football enthusiasts in the Horn of Africa country. World Cup enthusiasts across the country gathered in homes, public places, hotels and restaurants to watch the games, a testament of the improved security situation in the country, which has enabled Somalis, especially the youth to enjoy leisure activities such as sports. Like billions of football fans around the world, Somalis watched the tournament live through satellite TV - many enjoying the football commentary on the Arab channels. The FIFA World Cup is hosted once every four years. A total of 32 teams drawn from the continents of Africa,
Asia, America and Europe, compete for the trophy. In the build up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Somalia participated in the African qualification rounds that were played in 2015. However, the national team was eliminated in the African preliminary qualification stages, after they lost to Niger in the first round. Eventually, there were five teams that represented Africa to compete for the trophy, namely Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia. However, this time round unlike previous appearances, the African teams’ performance was deemed dismal. No African team went past the group stages to the disappointment of many fans. France beat Croatia 4: 2 in a thrilling final game to claim their second World Cup trophy since 1998.
World Cup Predictions: “World Cup is an extraordinary and important match that is held once in every four years, it promotes the integration between many countries from different continents. How the countries compete for its hosting is an illustration of the importance of the tournament. I predict France to proceed to the finals of the World Cup. I also predict France to lift the world trophy” - Aden Mohamed Yusuf, soccer enthusiast from Kismayo. “It is really difficult to predict the winning team because the teams have professional players that can display an amazing game. I predict that France will go to the final of the tournament. I also hope that the winner of the match between Croatia and England, wins the World Cup” - Najib Abdikafi Sahal, soccer enthusiast from Belet Weyne.
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