Day: February 13, 2023

Mogadishu, The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, H. E Hamza Abdi Barre, recently presided over a meeting of officials from the Banadir region, ministers, and security leaders to discuss the capital city’s security.

The Prime Minister highlighted the need for increased security awareness in the face of the fight against extremist groups, and he made it clear that accountability for security issues has been increased.

Every district was urged to strengthen the cooperation between the administration, security forces and the public to prevent further criminal acts and bloodshed.

PM Hamza also directed the regional and district-level authorities to take immediate action against anyone who threatens the security of the city and to enhance the maintenance and beauty Banadir.

Source: Somali National News Agenc

Mogadishu, Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hamze Aden Hadow has on Monday welcomed Chen Wendi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Mogadishu.

The two officials discussed ways to further strengthen the already long-standing relationship between the two countries, as well as collaboration in economic and technological fields.

Mr. Hadow expressed his gratitude to the Chinese authorities for their support in international forums, and shared Somalia’s efforts to lift the arms embargo which hinders the country’s reconstruction of security forces.

In turn, Mr. Chen emphasized the significance of Somalia and Africa in general to China, and expressed his commitment to reinforcing the relationship between the two countries.

Both parties concluded their meeting with a strong commitment to continue their cooperation and build a stronger bond in the future.

Source: Somali National News Agency

Mogadishu, The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, on Monday chaired a meeting on Justice and Independent Judiciary and bringing justice services and re-establishing trust in the government to areas liberated from the terrorist group of Al-Shabaab.

The Ministry of Justice and Constitution, in collaboration with experts from the Prime Minister’s Office, presented a plan to stabilize the areas and restore people’s faith in the government’s rule of law.

The Ministry of Women and Human Rights also submitted a report on the human rights violations committed by the militants in these regions. In response, Prime Minister Hamse emphasized his government’s commitment to protect the lives, dignity, and property of the Somali people. He noted that a reliable and trustworthy justice system is essential to achieving this, one that is based on the principles of fairness and justice.

Hamza further mentioned that the government is working to implement a justice system throughout the country, and is especially focusing on the areas recently liberated from Al-Shabaab’s control. He stressed that their priority is to ensure the justice system is fair and serves the public.

Source: Somali National News Agency

A Somali journalist said he had been freed from jail Monday just hours after a court handed down a two-month sentence on security charges, a case widely criticized by rights campaigners and media advocacy groups.

Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was arrested in October last year after the government announced a crackdown on media outlets that publish what it deems propaganda for the Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

The court sentenced Mumin to two months in prison but in a surprise move he was released shortly after the ruling, having already spent around five months in jail.

“When I was taken to Mogadishu central prison, officers refused to jail me granting my immediate freedom,” he said on Twitter.

“I went straight to my office to conduct my daily routine. I will continue to be on the forefront of defending press freedom and human rights in Somalia,” he added.

Mumin is the secretary-general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), which had vowed to appeal the ruling, calling it “a pure travesty of justice.”

In a text message sent to AFP, SJS president Mohamed Ibrahim said: “This afternoon Abdalle has been released by the prison chief, saying that he has already served this sentence despite the verdict.”

Ahead of the sentencing, rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Press Institute had called for the charges to be dropped, saying Mumin faced ongoing threats and persecution by Somali authorities for advocating the right to freedom of expression.

“Continuing his prosecution not only casts a chilling effect on media freedom and journalism, but it also significantly contributes to the closing civic space in the country,” they said in a joint letter to Somalia’s attorney general in December.

The SJS and four other media advocacy groups had protested the government’s security directive, warning it clamped down on free speech.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, ranks Somalia 140th out of 180 countries on its global list of press freedom, with more than 50 journalists killed in the country since 2010.

The nation of 17 million people is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa, according to RSF.

The main threat is from al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab fighters who are trying to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu, though Somali authorities are also accused of numerous violations.

Source: Voice of America