Somalia Roundup: Kenyan relations, cholera efforts, emergency battlefield care

Kenyan relations

President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to strengthen its relationship with Somalia following the visit of counterpart Somalia President Hassan Mohamud’s visit to Nairobi. According to Ruto, the two countries are working together to ensure greater peace and stability in the East African region. “Our collaboration with the government of the Republic of Somalia is bearing fruit. The region is witnessing greater peace and stability. We commit to grow this relationship,” President Ruto said. Their discussions also focused on joint initiatives to combat terrorism and insecurity, Kenyan media The Star reports.

UN to increase cholera efforts

The UN is increasing efforts to address a cholera outbreak in Somalia, with 120 deaths reported since January.  Over 10,000 new cases have been reported in seven states, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed on May 19. The situation is expected to worsen due to heavy rains, according to OCHA. The outbreak is attributed to a lack of access to safe water and sanitation, Xinhua reported.

Training on emergency battlefield care

Somali Security Forces and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) completed emergency battlefield care training facilitated by UNSOS and the Kenya Red Cross Training Institute. The three-day training aims to enhance medical personnel's capacity to provide pre-hospital medical support during joint military operations and benefit local communities, according to ATMIS. “This training is important in reducing the risk of losing our brave soldiers due to improper management of injuries sustained on the frontline,” said the Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef.

AU mission discharges 439 IEDS since 2017

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has discharged 439 IEDs since 2017, preventing an estimated 1,756 potential casualties, according to the Chief of United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Justin Smith. He disclosed this at a recent training aimed to enhance the operational efficiency of the Somali Security Forces in dealing with IED risks. The UN-backed program covered various aspects of IED detection, disposal, and post-blast investigation techniques. “In 2023 alone, ATMIS Search and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams found and cleared 74% of devices assessed as targeting ATMIS troops, preventing a potential 150 ATMIS casualties,” said Smith.

Somali filmmaker to premiere debut film at Cannes Film Festival

Somali filmmaker Mo Harawe is set to premiere his debut film "The Village Next to Paradise" at Cannes, the first feature from Somalia to screen at the festival on May 21. The film focuses on a single father and his family in a Somali fishing village, navigating life amid civil war and the threat of drone strikes.