Somalia Roundup: Humanitarian aid, terrorists, development vision

Humanitarian aid

Somalia National Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) has provided humanitarian aid to thousands of families affected by ongoing floods in Middle Shabelle villages in Southern Somalia.  The agency has stepped up efforts to mitigate the impacts of the floods, providing relief supplies to 2150 families in the Bal’ad district, Northeast of the capital Mogadishu on November 26, local media Radio Dalsan reported. Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has called on aid agencies and international donors to help mitigate the crisis caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon. About 96 people have been killed as the floods continue to rise, Radio Dalsan reports.

Al-Shabaab terrorists

Six Al-Shabaab members have been executed in a military operation conducted in Central Somalia in the Eastern Galgadud region. The Somali National Army and the local forces secured the location of the terrorist members and confiscated their weapons following their execution, the Somalia National News Agency reports. Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in an announcement said that the fight against the terrorist group will continue in the Southwest region of the country.

Unveiling of development vision

Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has unveiled the East African nation’s Centennial Vision 2060 Development Process. The vision, which consists of three parts: near-term goals (2023-2025), mid-term goals (2025-2040), and long-term goals (2035-2060), focuses on stability, terrorism eradication, humanitarian issues, institutional capacity building, and good governance. “Today, we are starting a new journey, a journey that will lead our country to prosperity and progress. The Millennium Vision 2060 shows our commitment to overcome the current challenges, creating a solid foundation for the generations to come,” the President is quoted by the national news agency.

EAC membership

Somalia has joined the East African Community (EAC) as the bloc’s 8^th member state. A move categorised by the President of Somalia as a new chapter that signals the growth and prosperity of the East African nation. “The EAC Summit of Heads of State admits the Federal Republic of Somalia as the 8th Member of the EAC in accordance with Article 3 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC,” the EAC in a statement said.

Diplomacy with Kenya

Somali President Hassan Mohamud has appointed a new ambassador to neighbouring East African nation Kenya, in a move to strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two nations following the expulsion of Kenya’s envoy to Somalia under former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Somalia National News Agency reports. Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, the new ambassador is a former presidential candidate who assumes his role as the two nations jointly combat the terrorist aggression of Islamist militant groups such as Al-Shabab. Somali President Mohamud and President William Ruto of Kenya have held more than eight bilateral talks to strengthen diplomatic ties in the past year, Somalia National News Agency reported.