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A Concept Note: Propping-up the Social Contract by Abdirizak A. Hassan

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  A Concept Note: Propping-up the Social Contract: The Case for the Restoration of Social Accountability in Somalia. Nairobi, January, 2024. Introduction:   Social accountability  is about involving citizens in the decision-making processes of government and making those who hold power over the people answerable.  It  is a fundamental principle of democracy and a powerful ally of the social contract between citizens and the state. Moreover, it improves governance, service delivery and social empowerment.  A government’s observance to the social contract is a tester and an enabler of the social accountability activism of its citizens.  Through the redresses of social accountability, it is the duty of the government to account for its actions and accept responsibility for them. The purpose of this concept note is to put forward the aptness of initiating social accountability mechanisms and tools in Somalia now; and how that would empower the civic space and render the government accounta

Somalia is Ready to License Fishing Vessels After Becoming Signatory to IOTC

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President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signed several bill into law at the end of last month. Among the bills the has signed was the Somali Fisheries Development and Management law. Today, the Fisheries minister, Ahmed Adan Hassan, has posted a tweet on his account announcing the signing of a robust and comprehensive regulation inline with IOTC requirements. Following the parliament endorsement of Somali Fisheries Law, I signed today robust & comprehensive regulations inline with IOTC requirements, will be used licensing of vessels operating beyond 24nm, both foreign & nationally owned including joint ventures. — Ahmed Hassan Aden (@Mr_ahmedaden) April 6, 2023 What is IOTC? The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) requires all vessels that fish for tuna in the Indian Ocean to be licensed. The IOTC is an international organization that manages tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean. The IOTC's licensing requirements are designed to ensure that tuna fisheries

10 points for Dan Qaran government to stay in power!

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The current ruling party of the Federal Government of Somalia, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has done a remarkable job for the past 10 months it has been in power. The war against the terror group Al-Shabaab has become the focal point of this administration.  However, to stay in power for the years to come and to win the hearts and minds of the people, the administration need to achieve these 10 points: Build a strong military and security forces.  The government must be able to protect its citizens and territory from threats, both internal and external. This includes defeating al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups, as well as preventing clan violence. Improve the economy.  The government must create jobs and opportunities for its citizens, and improve the standard of living. This will help to reduce poverty and instability, and make people more supportive of the government. Provide basic services.  The government must provide its citizens with essential servic

Ancient Somali History dates back to the Paleolithic Period!

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  The ancient Somali history is a long and rich one. The Somali people have been living in the Horn of Africa for thousands of years, and their history is closely intertwined with the history of the region. The earliest evidence of human habitation in Somalia dates back to the Paleolithic period. The Paleolithic period is a fascinating time in human history. It is the time when humans first began to use tools and to develop complex societies. It is also the time when humans first began to explore the world around them. During this time, the Somali people were hunter-gatherers who lived in small groups. They were later joined by farmers and herders, who began to settle in permanent communities In the early centuries AD, the Somali people came into contact with the Roman Empire. The Romans were interested in the Somali coast for its strategic location and its valuable resources, such as frankincense and myrrh. The Romans established a number of trading posts along the Somali coast, and t

Somali Sultanates And Islam

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  Somali Sultanates And Islam During the Middle Ages, Somalia’s territory witnessed the emergence and decline of several powerful sultanates that dominated the regional trade. At no point was the region centralized as one state, and the development of all the sultanates was linked to the central role that Islam played in the area since the 7th century. Islam was introduced to the northern Somali coast from the Arabian Peninsula early on, shortly after the hijra (also hegira), or the journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib, later renamed Medina, in 622 CE. The oldest mosque in the city of Zeila, a major port/trading center, dates to the 7th century. In the late 9th century, Muslims were living along the northern Somali seaboard, and evidence suggests that Zeila was already the headquarters of a Muslim sultanate in the 9th or 10th century. According to I.M. Lewis, the polity was governed by local dynasties consisting of Somalized Arabs or Arabized

Another Step in the Right Direction for The FGS to Reduce Trade Barriers!

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            Today, The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with The Somali Bureau of Standards unveiled the bid opening ceremony for Pre-shipment Verification of Conformity(PVoC). This is part of the consignment-based conformity assessment (CBCA) which is the standard for international shipping and trade. It is a step in the right direction to ensure that Somalia is able to play a vital role in international trade and while reducing trade barriers.           Consignment-based conformity assessment (CBCA) is a process used to ensure that goods shipped to a country comply with that country's regulations. In CBCA, the exporter submits a package of documents to the importer, which includes information about the goods being shipped, the standards they must meet, and the results of any testing that has been done. The importer then reviews the package and, if satisfied, issues a certificate of conformity. This certificate allows the exporter to ship the goods without further

Changes at the US Embassy in Mogadishu, Amb. André is out, replaced by Amb. Riley!

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Richard H. Riley, IV, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Somalia           Richard H. Riley, IV is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. He currently serves as Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada.  Previously, Riley was the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan.         He has also served in senior leadership assignments such as Charge d’Affaires, ad interim, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, and Senior Civilian Representative (Team Leader) at the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan.            Earlier, he was Deputy Director of the Office of Egypt and Levant Affairs at the Department of State, Senior Coordinator for Democracy and Human Right

Somali's Application to The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

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          The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States trade act that was passed in 2000. The act provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market for over 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program.           AGOA was designed to promote economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing trade between the United States and the region. The program has been successful in increasing trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, the United States exported over $29 billion worth of goods to sub-Saharan Africa under AGOA, and the region exported over $32 billion worth of goods to the United States.           The AGOA has also had a positive impact on economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. A study by the World Bank found that the AGOA has helped to create over 2 million jobs in the regio

Crab Mentality and Tall Poppy Syndrome!

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Crab Mentality           Crab mentality is a metaphor for the way people react negatively to the success of others. It is named after the behavior of crabs in a bucket, who will try to pull down any crab that tries to escape. The metaphor is often used to describe people who are jealous of others' success and who try to sabotage their progress.           This type of mentality can be a destructive force in relationships and in the workplace. It can lead to envy, jealousy, and resentment. It can also lead to people trying to undermine each other's success. People who exhibit crab mentality often feel threatened by the success of others. They may feel like they need to put others down in order to make themselves look better.            There are a number of things that can contribute to crab mentality. One factor is the feeling of competition. When people feel like they are competing with others, they may be more likely to try to pull others down in order to improve their own ch