“We African environ journalists want to unite the reporting of the right of all people to make their voices heard and participate fully in public life though the human rights violations in Africa is still on the frontline news as Human rights Watch reported the deaths of four Sudanese student protesters and the disappearance of two others”said the Secretary General of the African Federation of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ) from Mogadishu while he was attending a UN and European Union celebration event on the human rights day in Mogadishu, Somalia.

“Boosting the voice from the voiceless is a fundamental human right and the basis
of a free and democratic society. We stand ready to support the
African society and human rights actors  in their tireless efforts to protect this fundamental right and to address the culture of impunity” Mr. Daud added

AFEJ Background Information:

The African Federation of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ) is a network and regional association founded in April 15, 2011, dedicated to promoting education understanding and awareness of the environment through the honest and accurate reporting of local, regional and international environmental and development issues. It acted as the head of national environmental journalist forums or media organizations of 42 countries in African region.

The Secretary General of SOMESHA honorable Daud Abdi Daud arrived from
Nairobi,kenya to Mogadishu,Somalia on Friday October 19th , 2012 in
order to meet Somali journalists and media practiciners nationwide and
discuss the way they can boost agricultural coverage in the media
industry as its a new phenominoun in Somali media industry in which
always interested articulating political issues.

SOMESHA is aiming to organize ethical dailogues for agricultural
reporting through the media stations staff and Plenary themes will
cover; creating effective alliances via public-private partnerships;
the challenges of sustainable urbanisation with an ever-increasing
population, and the latest advances in technology and innovation.

This moveforward comes at a time when there is unprecedented
international momentum to cover food security and climate change
issues. Across the globe there is action to reduce the social,
economic and environmental impacts of catastrophes brought on by
climate change.

It was on November last when Somali media leaders united to expand
media coverage of climate change as the Somali Media for Environment,
Science, Health and Agriculture (SOMESHA) organized one day national
media conference for expanding media coverage on climate change.
http://somesha.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/somali-media-leaders-united-to-expand-media-coverage-for-climate-change/

The below listed business men threatened Daud to be killed in Kenya as he survived from Somalia last year in a same murder attempt and believed that these guys been involved. The men are familiar and from Mr. Daud’s close family in ethnicity but are blood and hunger profiteers and predators who are rich and been involved weapon
smuggling, charcoal cutting terrorism fundraising and human business.

Daud worked very closely to the United Nations agencies who are investigating money laundering and terrorist financing and human trafficking since last year as well as the AU and UN information support team as outworker domestically.

1.       Mohamed Abdulahi Haji
2.       Mohamed Dahir Caday
3.       Said Nur Garish
4.       Jabril Hassan Qarey
5.       Abdulkadir Hashi Dhigif

Mohamed Abdulahi Haji who runs unknown and unregistered office in Kenya but formally named Jubba Express Bank in which doing money laundering and terrorist financing and not part of the Kenyan based Somali Hawala council called Daud after they informally refused to work AU and UN investigators very unbiased and repeated threats and warned to withdraw from the media field completely.

Jubba Express Bank is doing a cover up activities on helping terrorist actors in various places in Africa Asia and Europe particularly South-Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Kenya and Nigeria as well as many European countries and United Arab Emirates.

Few men of the group were acknowledged be involved journalists and Humanitarian workers abductions and killings and are a close relative also Mohamed Salad Farey also known as “Ahmed nur” who was the killer of two MSF staff in Mogadishu, Somalia on late December last year. The killer was formerly worked MSF as logistics officer but was discharged from the MSF office the day before the attack following a financial
dispute.

SOMESHA calls the intimidators to stop their awful crime against Daud and if anything happen to him will take the responsibility and face justice.

For more details or interview you can be reached with Daud on +254 722
762 281 or write to him daauud27@yahoo.com

A late journalist Mohamed was based in Nairobi for the sake of fear of reprisal from Shabab for almost 4yrs and travelled to Puntland yesterday July 20, 2012 along with Somalia’s prominent female singer Sado Ali Warsame but he died in an accident after their four-wheel drive Landcruser from Galkayo town rear-ended with a heavy lorry from Galkayo near near Kalabayr village 60 Km South of Garowe and female singer got normal injury although reported that another journalist named Jama Mohamed Nur (Jelo) also died later in Garowe hospital due to bad injury from the cars crash.

The Secretary General of SOMEHA alongwith the entire SOMESHA members are sending deep-seated condolence to his family. In addition to that the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) issued moan statement over the death of the journalist.  http://nusoj.org.so/alerts/2012/July2012/journalist_dies_in_car_accident_in_northeastern_Somalia.htm

SOMESHA promotes a follow up observance over his children’s surveillance and do also advocacy for his children’s third country’s relocation in order to meet better future and education.

Somali Online Media and Journalists Association (SOMJA), becomes full associate member of African Federation of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ).

Main Office

SOMJA Headquarters
Nasteho Street, Madina.
Wadajir Disrict, Mogaidshu, Somalia
Telephone: +25261-5870730/25262-5870730
Email: info@somja.org / kaydkasoma@gmail.com

Other Contacts 

The General Sectretary of  SOMJA

Mr. Mohamed Ali Abdi

Mobile: +46764491913
Stockholm, Sweden
info@somja.org

kaydkasomja@gmail.com  

Cette action d’incivisme a fait perdre à la République Démocratique du Congo et au monde près de 14 Okapis et rendu veuves 6 femmes, jetant ainsi un désespoir de vie aux nombreux enfants et qui vivaient dans une symbiose avec la nature du fait du travail de sauvegarde de l’environnement que réalisaient leurs défunts pères.

Sans déranger qui que ce soit, des vaillants gardes commis au service de l’humanité, retrouvés en plein service de la nation sont tombés armes à la main voulant défendre l’intérêt général et protéger ce que la RDC donne comme prestige au monde. Ces gardes tués, qu’ont –ils fait contre Morgan et ses hommes? Quel crime ont-ils commis pour mériter ce lâche sort ?

Face à cette action de Morgan et ses hommes, nous exigeons :

1 .Que justice soit rapidement rendue aux familles qui se retrouvent sans repères du fait des ambitions démesurées et injustifiées de Morgan ;

2. Que le Gouvernement mette fin sans délais aux activités dévastatrices de Morgan et ses hommes dans cet espace du territoire congolais sans autre forme de procès et que le fugitif soit mis hors d’état de nuire dans l’urgence ;

3. Que la surveillance et la protection des Okapis actuellement effectuées par l’Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature « ICCN » reçoivent un appui immédiat des casques Bleu de l’ONU pour assurer la protection de la RFO en cette période rendue trouble par la seule volonté d’un homme à la recherche on ne sait pas trop de quoi ;

4. Que la justice internationale lance un mandat d’arrêt international en l’encontre  de Morgan et ses complices pour crime contre l’humanité doublée  de destruction méchante d’un patrimoine mondiale de l’humanité ;

5. Que les aires protégées de l’EST de  la RDC soient mises hors des combats et considérées comme espace de paix et non bastion des insurrections ou cachettes des groupes armés et que les éco-gardes soient considérés comme « Casques Verts » et ainsi épargnés des actes des guerres.

Tout en condamnant avec la dernière énergie l’action de Morgan et ses hommes dans la réserve de faune à Okapi du 23 juin 2012,nous considérons impardonnable les effets de celle-ci et exigeons réparation immédiate des pertes subis par la République du fait des esprits tendant à une déviation des priorités du Gouvernement pour un positionnement des acteurs nocturnes réalisant un plan ourdi de l’extérieur afin de freiner le développement de nos milieux.

Restons cependant convaincus que les minerais issues des espaces de la foret de l’Ituri qui en première vue serait l’image apparente de l’action de Morgan seront frappés sur le marché internationale de  « minerais  du sang ».

Nous présentons ainsi nos condoléances sincères aux familles des gardes tués et à l’ICCN et encourageons le travail de protection et surveillance que rendent ces hommes et femmes dévoués à une cause juste de l’humanité dans cette partie de la nation congolaise et réaffirmons notre soutien totale aux bonnes œuvres tendant à rendre aux riverains des gains issues de la présence des Okapis dans leurs milieux à travers l’approche participative de l’ICCN en cours dans cette réserve.

Souhaitons qu’un hommage digne sera rendu aux gardes tombés et les Okapis encore présent au Zoo d’Epulu seront hors danger dans diverses interventions attendues pour remettre la paix trouble dans cette partie de la République.

Fait à Goma le 26 Juin 2012

Lors d’un forum organisé par le gouvernement togolais au profit des paysans en 2010, l’un des participants, s’adressant publiquement au chef de l’Etat, est formel : ce sont les ancêtres qui, fâchés, empêchent la régularité des pluies dans le pays. Et pour lui, le gouvernement doit faire des sacrifices aux mannes des ancêtres pour implorer la grâce de ces derniers au profit du monde paysan. Malheureusement, les changements climatiques n’sont pas juste ça. Dans les champs, dans le ventre, dans la poche, et même dans la tête, les répercussions des changements climatiques sont omniprésentes dans l’Ouest de l’Afrique.

Les pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest sont exposés à de graves crises alimentaires. Le cas de certains pays du Sahel comme le Niger peut surprendre peu, vu la fréquence de la famine dans ce pays, l’un des plus pauvres de la sous-région. Mais voilà le phénomène s’élargit et risque de ne plus épargner les autres pays. D’année en année, des déficits de production sont enregistrés dans beaucoup de pays de la zone. Huit Chefs d’Etat et de gouvernements des pays membres de l’Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA) se sont inquiétés lors d’un sommet en début de mois de juin à Lomé « de l’incidence de la forte baisse des récoltes de la campagne agricole 2011-2012 sur la sécurité alimentaire des populations, notamment dans les pays de l’hinterland ».

En effet, les cultures vivrières sont particulièrement touchées et un an la production a chuté de 17% dans la zone, de 2011 en 2012 ; ce qui non seulement affecte les capacités financières des paysans producteurs mais surtout rend vulnérable la situation alimentaire dans la zone. Et pour cette nouvelle campagne 2012-2013, les perspectives ne sont pas forcément encourageantes. En conséquence, les acteurs ne cachent plus leurs appréhensions. « Vu les prévisions, cette année il y aura crise dans les pays du Sahel, parce qu’il n’a pas plu», avertit Arthur Zogan, ingénieur agroéconomiste, Chargé des programmes à la Coordination Togolaise des Organisations paysannes et de Producteurs agricoles (CTOP).

Lors d’une réunion de haut niveau sur la crise alimentaire et nutritionnelle des Etats membres de la CEDEAO du début du mois de juin 2012 qui a regroupé les ministres en charge du secteur dans les pays membres et quelques hauts fonctionnaires, un rapport est présenté sur la situation. « En Mars 2012, environ 6 millions de personnes étaient en insécurité alimentaire sévère et la situation risque de se détériorer davantage pour d’autres millions de personnes », ont estimé les experts.  Parmi les principaux facteurs à l’origine de l’insécurité alimentaire dans la sous-région, les participants ont placé les changements climatiques en tête.

M. Zogan explique comment les producteurs vivent la situation : « Les pluies n’arrivent pas à temps et quand il y a pluie, il pleut abondamment et le producteur ne sait pas quand semer ; des fois des gens sèment et la pluie s’arrêtent de façon brusque. Cette instabilité fait que même les structures d’appui conseil n’arrivent plus a aider les paysans».

Tout en déplorant le sort des producteurs de son pays, l’agronome plaint particulièrement les Sahéliens qui subissent plus les caprices de la nature : « On a un peu de chance qu’au Togo au moins on arrive à produire, il y a des pays dans la sous-région où il n’y a même pas de pluie ; l’année passé, j’étais à Dakar (Sénégal) toute l’année il n’a plu plus de quatorze jours», témoigne-t-il. Malheureusement, en Afrique de l’Ouest, la production agricole est presque totalement dépendante de l’environnement à un taux évalué à plus de 95%. C’est donc une frange importante de l’économie de la sous-région qui semble être très hypothétique du fait de l’instabilité climatique qui secoue la région.

En plus d’être économique, le phénomène est aussi social puisqu’ayant une répercussion directe sur la sécurité alimentaire et même sur la paix social au sein des différents pays. Pour l’instant le constat est là, le changement climatique menace sérieusement les pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Mais pas grande chose ne semble être encore possible pour limiter considérablement les dégâts, en dehors de quelques initiatives prises çà et là  et d’envergure d’ailleurs très réduites. « On n’est pas prêt à faire face à ce phénomène et ça s’accentue de jour en jour », s’alarme un paysan.

Now on, Istanbul Conference on Somalia which takes place from 31 may-June 2, 2012, provided the international with a unique opportunity to adopt common positions on the future of Somalia and aimed to chart immediate concrete actions in the political, security and economic spheres that will enable a smooth end of transition and establishment of an inclusive and broad-based political dispensation in Somalia after August 2012.

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told the conference that Somalia doesn’t have a national army and needs military training. “We need to have a realistic state structure,” he said. “These things are not easy at all because we are facing major problems, and especially the terrorists continue with their activities, and the clashes from tensions have hindered our efforts during the transition period.”

Somalia is aiming to be a formal nation on 2015 via developing its natural resources and do agribusiness production which can beat the repeated famine and violence.

                                                                                                          Date: 1^st May 2012

The President

His Excellency, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma

State House

C/O Mr. Osho Coker

Secretary to the President

State House

Dear Sir,

RE-ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS FROM THE LANDS AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTER,

PAT-SOWE AND CALL FOR URGENT ACTIONS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Mr. President, on behalf of the Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association, I write to formally inform you and extend our deepest regret towards the current Minister of Lands Country Planning and the Environment, Hon. Pat Sowe for his defiant attitude and action towards orders given to him by the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E Abubakarr Sidikie Samuel Sumana to demolish makeshift structures at Sugar Loaf within the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve (WAPFOR).

Sir, before I delve into the issue in question, I must first on behalf of the Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association thank the government of Sierra Leone in protecting the Sierra Leonean environment. Strives such as making the Gola Forest becomes a National Park and empowering the Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone to name a few are worth commending.  This is why Madam Jatou Jallow, the head of the Environment Protection Agency–Sierra Leone, reported in a natural resources gathering in New York last week that “political commitment at the highest level of government to transparency and good governance of natural resources was essential to the progress made by Sierra Leone.” But this seems not working in the presence of Pat Sowe at the Ministry of Lands Country Planning and the Environment.

The Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve, which is about to be enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage list, is presently facing threats of encroachment and deforestation. Other activities against the conservation of the reserve are also visible within this reserve. The Vice President after observing that the reserve is facing these threats, on the 11^th of April 2012, quickly summoned a meeting at his office which was attended by Energy, Lands and Forestry Ministers, the Director of Forestry, CSP Suluku representing the Police, WAPFOR Project Head, ENFORAC Representative and myself on behalf of the Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association (SLEJA). I made a presentation to the Vice President and members present on the deplorable situation of the Reserve. Such presentation is available on your request sir.

Your Excellency Sir, due to the presentation, the three stakeholder Ministers and the Vice President all discussed the importance of the Peninsular Forest such as its encroachment  and the urgent action the government of Sierra Leone should take in other to address the situation. The Vice President, considering the importance of the Reserve to the people of Sierra Leone especially those in the city, ordered and instructed the Sierra Leone Police and the Lands and Forestry Ministers to “destroy with immediate effects all makeshifts structures within the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve”.

This welcomed decisive decision by the Vice President did not go down well with the Ministry of Lands Country Planning and the Environment who is alleged to have apportioned all the lands within the Peninsular Forest at Sugar Loaf for his close supporters and family friends, while ignoring the forestry laws and regulations and the national interest of the country which we as Sierra Leoneans should be championing including the Ministers.

Mr. President Sir, as a result of the stern, strong and welcomed pronouncement and order by the Vice President, the Minister of Lands Country Planning and the Environment, Minister Pat Sowe defied such order and said “no demolition of those makeshifts structures at Sugar Loaf for now. Let us put it on hold until I consult and discuss with my staff at the Ministry”. The Sierra Leone Police is ready to execute the orders of the VP.

It may surprise you Mr. President as the Farther of the Nation that since the Environment Minister; Pat Sowe made such pronouncement on that date in the presence of attendees; he is yet to consult with his staff and execute the orders of the Vice President. The Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association (SLEJA) has confirmed it from the Forestry department of the Ministry of Agriculture that no action is yet to be taken in relation to the matter.

The place in question where the Vice President made specific reference to is at Sugar Loaf in Regent the host of the Babadori Reservoir. The dam has significantly lost its brim over the years as a result of the encroachment for settlement and the like. This reservoir in the past was serving the people of Hill Station, Wilberforce and Lumley Communities accordingly. However, it is no longer serving the people any useful purpose these days.

Mr. President, the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve as you may be aware is presently receiving a five year funding (2009-2013) of €3.2M from the European Union (EU) and the German Welthungerhilfe (WHH) for the forest conservation and its watershed. The project has achieved tremendous success in protecting the Reserve over the past years by providing livelihood for the communities co-habiting along the reserve.

Some have been provided with bakeries, honey bee keeping, animal husbandry, Okada motor bikes, Vocational skills trainings to name a few. It now seems as if all these efforts have not been yielded any dividend by the communities aided by the Ministry of Lands under Minister Pat Sowe. Environmentalists have opined that if the government of Sierra Leone does not take urgent actions to remedy the situation, the funders will reconsider their funding commitment of the project after the first phase ends in 2013. We do not want donor partners to withhold funds and shift their focus from this sector now considering its significance to the people of the city.

In this regard, as the President of Sierra Leone who puts premium on environmental issues especially in capacitating the Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association (SLEJA) is kindly requesting the Office of the President to address the followings;

1. 1.   In other to help reduce the massive encroachment within the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve, the Office of the President or the Government of Sierra Leone should come out with a position paper indicating its stance and actions for the protection of the Peninsular Forest Reserve;
2. 2.   The Office of the President should instruct the Minister of Lands Country Planning and the Environment to explain to the people of Sierra Leone why he defied the orders of the Vice President in demolishing the makeshifts structures at the Sugar Loaf;
3. 3.   That the government of Sierra Leone implements the orders of the Vice President especially when such orders are towards ensuring the protection of the Sierra Leonean Environment and the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve and its catchment;
4. 4.   The Sugar Loaf area hosts the Babadori Dam that supplies water to the communities in Lumley. This dam is presently exposed barely due to large scale encroachment. In this regard, SLEJA calls on the Office of the President to pass an Executive Order instructing the Lands Ministry and its officials to stop all its land dealings with people within and around the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve;
5. 5.   The present rate of collaboration in protecting the Sierra Leonean environment is not visible within the Ministry responsible for Lands and the Environment and that of Forestry. The Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association therefore called on  the stakeholder Ministries to work closely with each other to ensure the protection and conservation of the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve which is about to be enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is protected.

Sir, the Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association is a registered Environmental Journalists Association in Sierra Leone. Our aims and objectives includes but not limited to;

1)     Create and promote a greater awareness of Environmental issues in Sierra Leone;

2)     Organize dialogue with stakeholders with a view to giving out greater emphasis to environmental issues;

3)     Campaign for the careful use of Sierra Leone’s sustainable natural resources;

4)     Help promote sustainable environmental development in Sierra Leone;

5)     Encourage greater exchange of ideas and information on environmental issues in Sierra Leone;

6)     Encourage institutions to support a system of awards for excellence in the promotion of environmental awareness;

7)     Provide public and journalists with information/resources in order to encourage them to promote international corporation between professionals of the media;

8)     Conduct research on Sierra Leone’s environmental problems and publish, air or broadcast about them;

9)     Provide a data base about environmental development in Sierra Leone through publication of journals, etc

We believe that with whatever contribution you may assist, it will improve on caring for the environment for which the Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association stands.

As the government of Sierra Leone put more premiums on environmental and conservation issues, we believe you can amicably address the situation and the issues we have raised in this letter.

Thanks in appreciation,

Yours faithfully,

Ishmael Kindama Dumbuya

Director, Sierra Leone Environmental Journalists Association (SLEJA)

Cc

1. Vice President

His Excellency Alhaji Abubakarr Sidikie Samuel Sumana

Tower Hill Freetown

2. Chief of Staff

Mr. Kelfala Marah

State House

Freetown

3. Executive Chairperson

Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone

3^rd Floor Youyi Building

Freetown

4. Project Coordinator

Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve project (WAPFOR)

Jochen Moninger

Congo Cross

Freetown

5. Head

Environmental Forum for Action (ENFORAC)

Brook Street

Freetown

6. European Union

Leicester Peak

Freetown

7. The Minister

Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security

Youyi Building

Freetown

8. Minister Pat Sowe

Ministry of Lands country Planning and the Environment

Youyi Building

Freetown

9. The Minister of Energy and Water Resources

Siaka Stevens Street (Electricity House)

Freetown

10. The Minister of Information and Communication

Youyi Building

Freetown

11. The Head

Office of National Security

Tower Hill

Freetown

12. The Director of  Forestry 

Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security

Youyi Building

Freetown

13. The President

Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ)

56 Campbell Street

Freetown

14. The Press

15. SLEJA’s File