Broadcasted over 200 FM stations across the United States, East Africa and the Middle East, the programme focuses on business, technology and stories that are making news. In addition World Update presents in-depth information and analysis of international issues by speaking to experts and ordinary people to hear first hand accounts.

Dan and Mary were joined by their Somali colleagues, BBC Somali correspondent (Hargeisa), Mr. Ahmed Said Egeh and Mr. Abdulrisak Hajji Mohamed Sirad as well as students from UoH.

The programme was broadcasted live from Hargeisa’s FM radio waves on Thursday from 1 PM to 2 PM and drew large audience across the country as well as internationally which saw many Somali expatriates have their say. Here in Hargeisa, those who took part included the CEO of Dahabshiil Company, the largest remittance company in Africa, Mr. Abdulrashid Mohamed Said Duale and four students.

Muna Mohamed, a bio-chemistry student from UoH, told Mr. Damon that there was a hope for her to find a career in Somaliland in the medical industry once she graduates. Other students also expressed optimism while others indicated they would go abroad to further their education.

Mr. Damon and the BBC team explored and traveled around Hargeisa by foot without any armed escorts and later met with President Ahmed Silanyo for an interview. While in downtown, he took pictures and talked to money exchangers often stacking piles of cash in wheelbarrows. At one point he asked: “Are you not worried someone will steal it?” “Not here, we trust everyone,” the money exchanger replied.

You can listen to part of the programme below.

Photo: World Update are in Somaliland – and their presenter Dan Damon present World Have Your Say at a university in Hargeisa.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Saturday, January 28, 2012

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The 29-year old journalist, who worked for the independent radio station for three years left behind a wife and three children. His lifeless body was taken to Madina hospital.

Attacks against journalists and the press are all too common in Somalia’s war-torn capital Mogdishu. In December, Abdulsalam Sheikh Hussein “Hiis” of Horn Cable TV was shot in the head in Hamar Jajab district by a man wearing Somali government uniform.

Somali reporters fleeing prosecution often fled to Somaliland but that reputation was recently damaged with the government in Hargeisa launching massive crackdown against independent journalists. Just two weeks ago, the government of President Silanyo arrested over 25 reporters with four still believed to be in custody without being charged. The ruling Kulmiye Party also shut down and suspended a number of independent TV stations – a far cry from their post-election campaign promises in mid-2010.

A statement from the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said his recent extensive reporting on government corruption might be a motive.

International media watchdogs have ranked Somalia the world’s most dangerous country for reporters.

Classified as a failed state, Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between various militias and the ever increasing list of mini-states.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Hussein Haji Ahmed, Somalia’s Deputy Ambassador to Yemen, said the bodies of eleven Somali immigrants were recovered near Yemen’s border with the oil rich kingdom. He insisted scores of others were reportedly missing. Mr. Ahmed also informed local media that hundreds of Somali immigrants caught slipping into Saudi Arabia were systematically abused with many either killed, tortured or kidnapped by Saudi and Yemeni forces and sometimes by rebel groups.

The ambassador added women fleeing the conflict in Somalia were often sexually abused as they tried to cross the border. He said he discussed the matter with both Saudi and Yemeni security personnel. He claimed that the two countries pointed fingers, each claiming the other was responsible for the abuse.

Mr Ahmed declared that Arab security forces were behind the killings of the Somali immigrants. The ambassador also criticized Somaliland and Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland accusing them of refusing to accept southern-Somali refugees returning from Yemen.

Finally he called on international right groups to investigate the abuses and bring those responsible to justice.

Thousands of Somalis fleeing drought, famine and violence flood into Yemen every month despite its own humanitarian crisis. In total, the United Nations estimates around 200,000 Somali refugees are now in Yemen with many using the historical migratory route to else where to seek a better life.

Classified as a failed state, Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between various militias and the ever increasing list of mini-states.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Saturday, January 27, 2012

Five soldiers from the Somaliland army were among the victims of the Buhoodle incident, which lies near the Somaliland-Ethiopian border.

The violence there flared up after a tribal separatist militia held a meeting in the historical town of Taleeh, once the base of Sayid Abdullah Hassan, a religious fanatic and the late 19th century version of Osama bin Ladden, in which they declared the formation of a semi-autonomous state. President Ahmed Silanyo said his government would not tolerate the disintegration of Somaliland during an emergency meeting of both Houses of parliament. An army unit was dispatched to the nearby town of Buhoodle and the conference in Taleeh came to an end.

Reports from Buhoodle indicate the militia lost around 35 fighters and as many as 40 were wounded with half taken to neighboring Somalia’s central town of Galkayo for treatment. The reports add the injured people include a senior figure of the newly announced Khaatumo State but its leader Ali Khalif Galayr is no where to be found.

Somaliland forces said 25 soldiers were also injured in the incident and were transferred to Burao and Hargeisa for medical care. A spokesman for the army said they sustained most of the injuries when the militia loyal to Ali Khalif ambushed one of their cargo trucks.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Friday, January 27, 2012

OPINION | JANUARY 26, 2012

By Yusuf Dirir Ali, MD

I am in favor of attending the London conference on Somalia in February because I believe Somaliland sovereignty will not be adversely affected in any way, shape or form. We will achieve more by attending this conference – thanks to Her Majesty’s government for offering this generous grant to Somaliland. This opportunity will spare us both time and money for hiring multinational posh lobby firms to argue on our behalf.

This is a life time opening. For the first time in more than two decades, we will be able to present our case to the leaders of more than 40 countries; these include among others, our immediate neighbors and friendly members of the Security Council. This is an Allah (God) sent blessed opportunity for Somaliland.

We have nothing to fear, because we have to tell the story of Somaliland history and democracy that can not be claimed, denied or opposed by our opponents. Remember, our opponents consist of sea pirates, warlords and former Al-shabaab allies; they must have all the reasons of fearing us not the inverse, because they have no rational case to present against our cause. This is the right time to trounce them with the power of logic and irrefutable facts.

We will present our case and state that our well-merited sovereignty is not negotiable. We can ask the international community to recognize our sovereignty right away and if not to arrange for internationally monitored referendum. I have no worries what so ever regarding the international community forcing us into the abhorred union with Somalia. In the worst case scenario, Somaliland will get easy on the pocket, unprecedented and long-awaited international exposure and I think this is a chance that merits being highlighted, grasped and not wasted.

The downside of not attending the conference includes; maintaining the status quo of talking to our selves about our aspirations, but not to the international community. Risking losing whatever sympathy and support we get from the international community. Furthermore, wasting this opportunity will mount to a political disaster for Somaliland government. We can’t afford to cowardly cover ourselves with a blanket and talk to ourselves about recognition. We have to be bolder than that, no one; I say no one can take away what we have today.

Attending this London conference will tip the scale to our side; therefore, we must all be in favor of attending this conference. Yet still, we can ask for protocol alterations here and there, for instance, we can ask the host country to grant us a conference protocol status equal to other attending states, because apart from Djibouti, we will be the only Somali entity with a democratically elected, functioning government and with a real constituency. We can also ask for the schedule before hand and then decide which sessions to attend and which not to attend.

We must start preparing and rehearsing for our presentation from today. This conference will decide our destiny and we must present our case in the most eloquent and powerful fashion. How about getting Raqiya Omaar involved in this process or may be asking her to do the presentation on behalf Somaliland government? A good presentation of our case will get us all the support that we need from the international community and a bad presentation will make us lose our case, so we must pay a great attention to the presentation of the infinitesimal details of our case.

The anarchic TFG and its allies have lethal forces and evil ideas to destroy their country and the lives of their people, but Somaliland has noble ideas and democracy for building its country and the lives of its people, so let us face them and let the international community be the witness.

Dr Yusuf Dirir

OPINION | JANUARY 26, 2012

By Ali Dhimbil “Burao”

In politics anything could happen, I think already pressure is mounting on Somaliland these days regarding how to unify the whole country as one entity. Considering a major conference is going to take place in London, on mid February. Both Europe and the United States are sending high level delegations to Hargeisa, in order to persuade Somaliland to join the talks in a more positive manner, instead of being politically-isolated. So, I think anything could happen, and there may be possibilities that Somaliland may join Somalia after all. When we analyze the whole situation I think the agenda coming from Europe, the US and the UN is as follows:

1. They want to see a unified government in Somalia where both Somalia and Somaliland will have a fair share of a newly-formed central government.

2. Possibly Somaliland will be given the lead role to form the new government, in order to make them happy.

3. They might propose a new constitution which will pave the way for Somaliland to go its own separate way should it be displeased with the union, provided they should go through referendum.

4. Possibly within ten-to-twenty years time-frame, if the marriage of Somalia and Somaliland doesn’t work out, Somaliland will have the option of leaving the union.

5. The international community would provide billions of loans and grants to rebuild the new unified government, which hopefully will create a viable new state which will benefit all Somalis concerned.

5. Terrorist elements like Al Shabab and maritime pirates should be eradicated by the new unified government with the help of international community as soon as possible.

I think these will be the main options that are already presented to both Somalia and Somaliland government. Already Somaliland government is discussing this scenario. Personally speaking, if these are what international government presenting to the Somaliland, I don’t really see it negative after all, rather may we should take, and give it a chance for a lasting peace in Somalia and Somaliland. After all, there’s no need to be so rigid about Somaliland, if you have a better deal.

Ali Dhimbil
ali.dh@hotmail.co.uk

Tribal militia loyal to neighboring Somalia’s former Prime Minister, Ali Khalif Galayr, attacked Somaliland forces in the village of Sool-Jogto, less than 10-km east of Buhoodle city, around 3:30 PM on Thursday. The war lasted several hours well into the night. Eyewitnesses in Buhoodle said at least 35 fighters were killed from the tribal militia and the injuries ran well over twenty in their deadliest day yet.

A spokesman for the Somaliland army said his men lost three soldiers and six others were wounded. Speaking from the village of Saleban Oday, he added they were pursuing the militia and they will not tolerate them. He insisted that Somaliland security was the highest priority and the wounded soldiers were receiving medical care in Qori-Lugud.

The general Secretary of Somaliland’s Ministry of Information, Faisal Ali Sheikh Mohamed blamed the violence on Ali Khalif Galayr and his G9 group. He said the group wants to cause much destruction and eventually destabilize the entire region.

Residents of Buhoodle city, a town near the Ethiopian border, said Ali Khalif arrived in the town on Thursday but he has since fled to an unknown location with his main followers.

Somaliland authority said it will maintain its territorial integrity and flush out any separatists, terrorists, pirates and extremist elements.

Recently a tribal separatist militia held a meeting in the historical town of Taleeh, once the base of Sayid Abdullah Hassan, a religious fanatic and the late 19th century version of Osama bin Ladden, in which they declared the formation of a semi-autonomous state. The President Ahmed Silanyo said his government will not tolerate the disintegration of Somaliland during an emergency meeting of both Houses of parliament. An army unit was sent to the nearby town of Buhoodle and the conference in Taleeh came to an end.

The president reaffirmed his commitment to stability, development and peace and for the second time offered amnesty to the SSC militia and urged them to join hands in the struggle to move forward. The leader of the group, Suleiman Essa Ahmed (Hagal Tosiye) of Columbus, Ohio, told the BBC Somali-Services on Thursday that he welcomes President Silanyo’s proposal for peace talks. He also admitted that the Taleeh conference was hijacked by opportunist groups and that it no longer served the interest of the Dhulbahante clan. He pointed his fingers at the former Somali Prime Minister, Ali Khalif Galayr and his so called G9 group. He also expressed his strong dislike for the chosen name for the ‘new semi-autonomous state’ namely Khaatumo State. The residents in the region have adopted to call the state instead ‘Khaatumo Seeg’.

It later became clear some of the participants of the conference were in favor of SSC state while others wanted Darwiishland. After a deep disagreement some of the participants fled back to Garowe, the capital of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland while others left the country.

Somaliland is a former British protectorate that gained its independence in June 1960 but voluntarily unified with its southern neighbor few days later to form what was known as the Somali Republic. After years of armed struggle with Somalia that left more than 50, 000 civilians dead, it reinstated its independence in 1991 but has since failed to gain international recognition.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Thursday, January 26, 2012

American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, of Denmark, humanitarian aid workers for a Danish demining group, were rescued three months after they were kidnapped on October 25 in the town of Galkayo in the semi-autonomous Galmudug region of the Horn of Africa country.

“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice,” Obama said in a statement.

The rescue was carried out by forces that included members of the same elite Navy SEAL unit that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last year in a raid on his compound in Pakistan, a U.S. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Other U.S. military services formed part of the assault team, and it was not clear that any of the same SEALs were involved in both the Somalia and bin Laden raids even if they came from the same unit, known as SEAL Team Six.

Members of the unit parachuted into a location near the town of Gadaado in central Somalia and then hiked to the encampment where the two foreign hostages were being held by their nine abductors, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.

The raiding party arrived prepared to detain the kidnappers but was not able to do that and all nine were killed, Pentagon officials said. The kidnappers were heavily armed and had explosives nearby, they said. None of the U.S. forces were hurt.

Obama authorized the raid on Monday and military commanders gave the final go-ahead on Tuesday, Pentagon officials said.

They said a confluence of factors, from the health of the hostages to the available intelligence and operational conditions, gave Obama a window of opportunity to act and prompted Washington to move ahead with the raid.

Buchanan was suffering from a possible kidney infection, according to people involved with the hostages. New evidence obtained last week suggested her health was deteriorating, said Pentagon officials, who would not elaborate on her condition.

“We’re confident that there was enough of a sense of urgency, there was enough actionable intelligence to take the action that we did, for the president to make the decision that he did,” said Navy Captain John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman.

Buchanan and Thisted were flown to neighboring Djibouti, home to the only U.S. military base in Africa and France’s largest base on the continent, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. They were under the care of U.S. military doctors, officials said.

Obama was overheard congratulating Panetta on the success of the operation as the president entered the U.S. House of Representatives chamber on Tuesday for his annual State of the Union speech.

Panetta had been at the White House before the speech and had been monitoring the progress of the operation. The raid was still being wrapped up when the president spoke to him.

“Leon. Good job tonight. Good job tonight,” Obama said.

The Pentagon said there were no known links between the kidnappers and Islamic militant groups in the region. Kirby said the U.S. military had no evidence to connect them to piracy.

But Obama called them “criminals and pirates” in his statement, as did local officials.

“About 12 U.S. helicopters are now at Galkayo. We thank the United States. Pirates have spoilt the whole region’s peace and ethics. They are mafia,” Mohamed Ahmed Alim, leader of the Galmudug region, told Reuters.

He was speaking from Hobyo, a pirate base north of Haradheere, where he said he was negotiating the release of an American journalist seized on Saturday, also from Galkayo.

Somali pirate gangs typically seize ships in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden and hold the crews until they receive a ransom. The kidnapping of the aid workers in Galkayo would be an unusual case of a pirate gang being behind a seizure on land.

U.S. and French forces have intervened to rescue pirate hostages at sea, but attacks on pirate bases are rare.

Pirates and local elders say the American journalist and a number of sailors from India, South Korea, the Philippines and Denmark are being held by pirate gangs.

A British tourist kidnapped from Kenya on September 11, 2011 is also still held captive in Somalia.

Somalia’s government applauded the mission and said it welcomed any operation against pirates.

U.S. special forces killed senior al Qaeda militant Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in a raid in southern Somalia in 2009. Several other al Qaeda or al Shabaab officials have been killed in U.S. drone strikes in Somalia over the past few years.

Panetta visited U.S. troops in Djibouti last month on his way to Afghanistan and Iraq, in a stopover that reflected Obama’s growing focus on the militant and piracy threats from Yemen and the eastern edge of Africa.

In Djibouti, the United States has a platform to monitor al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen and Somalia’s al Shabaab, a hardline rebel group with links to al Qaeda.

(Additional reporting by Mohamed Ahmed in Mogadishu, John Acher and Mette Fraende in Copenhagen, David Clarke in Nairobi, Phil Stewart and David Alexander in Washington; Writing by Richard Lough and David Clarke; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Eric Walsh)

Reuters

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012

OPINION | TUESDAY, 24 January 2012

The upcoming London Conference on Somalia, and the UK’s urging of the Somaliland Government to attend, has understandably generated a lot of debate and comment within the Somaliland community, both within and outside the country. One of the stated objectives of the conference, according to Matt Baugh, Senior Representative for Somalia, is to “…reinforce the relative stability in areas of Somalia, such as Somaliland and Puntland and in the south…” This statement has, again understandably, aroused the ire of the people of Somaliland since they recovered their sovereignty from the erstwhile Republic of Somalia in 1991, and have steadfastly maintained their distance from the anarchy, state collapse and war that have engulfed Somalia ever since, despite repeated attempts (often involving violence, e.g. Al-Shabaab’s attacks in Hargeisa and upon expatriates in Somaliland) to drag them into this unending maelstrom.

Somaliland and its people expected more from their former colonial protector, and it is either a reflection of the insensitivity of the current Foreign & Colonial Office to the aspirations of the people of Somaliland, or simply of their lack of knowledge of the politics of the Horn of Africa, that they refer to Somaliland as a region of Somalia, as Puntland is. The interpretation that many hard line, anti-Somaliland politicians within Somalia have given this British insensitivity or ignorance, is that the British have coerced the Somaliland Government to attend the conference as a regional authority, just like Puntland, Galmudug etc. Whatever the explanation for this impolitic language and it is likely to be a combination of all three outlined herein, the fact is that the British Government has put the Silanyo administration in a very difficult spot indeed. If they attend the conference, as they have stated they will, then they will reap the wrath of the vast majority of their people; if they don’t, and they may yet be forced to a volte face, then they will look weak and will reap the wrath of Albion through curtailment of aid and a downgrade of bilateral ties.

Leaving aside the issue of Somaliland’s attendance for the moment, it is instructive to consider what this latest conference on Somalia is meant to achieve and the likelihood of it achieving its stated objectives, which have been set out as follows:

• Security: sustainable funding for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and support for Somali security and justice sectors
• Political Process: agreement to what should succeed the transitional institutions in Mogadishu in August 2012 and the establishment of a Joint Financial Management Board
• Local Stability: a coordinated international package of support to Somalia’s regions
• Counter-terrorism: renewed commitment to tackle collectively the terrorist threat emanating from Somalia
• Piracy: breaking the piracy business model
• Humanitarian: renewed commitment to tackling Somalia’s humanitarian crisis
• International coordination: agreement on improved international handling of Somalia issues

This is quite a challenge and it is clear that no single conference can be expected to achieve these gargantuan goals, so we must question what the British Government actually hopes to achieve at this conference. According to Chris Allen, UK Deputy Ambassador to Ethiopia, more than 40 senior government officials and multilateral organizations, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, are expected to attend the conference. Clearly, Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague have invested considerable political capital and much personal credibility in this conference.

The fact is that there have been some 17 or 18 conferences (depending upon one’s criteria on what constitutes a conference) held to effect reconciliation and establish a credible, effective government for Somalia since 1991, including the latest one earlier this month in Garowe. All of these conferences can be said to have failed miserably since Somalia remains the very definition of a failed state with no central state authority in control of the country. Yet, the British Government has raised expectations internationally and within East Africa by hosting this conference and prevailing upon heads of state and government, the foreign donor community and the current Somali leadership, such as it is, to attend. On the face of it, given the near debacle of abject failure at the recent Garowe conference, which was only avoided by the UN acceding to the opposing demands of the two camps into which the participants divided regarding the basis upon which a future government of Somalia would be formed, the prospects for success seem rather dim.

So what do the British have up their sleeve, as it were, that leads them to believe that this conference will bear the sweet fruit of success where all the others have failed? Firstly, they have been dangling the enticing carrot of increased international aid for ‘peaceful’ regions, which has resulted in a sudden proliferation of regional states announced by aspirant Diaspora would-be ‘leaders’ seeking their fleeting fifteen minutes of fame (or perhaps infamy might be a more apt term) on the world stage, or in this case, the London stage and a briefcase of money – courtesy of the foreign donors. This opportunistic gold rush of regional statehood has even infected the peaceful parts of the erstwhile Somali Republic, i.e. Somaliland and Puntland, with the recent moves to legitimise the dangerous, Diaspora-driven, political mischief-making disguised as Awdal State and Khaatumo 2. Thus, while the direct responsibility for the recent deaths of security personnel and civilians in Buhoodle in Somaliland can be laid at the door of the naked ambition and greed of the Somali Diaspora carpetbaggers seeking a place at the London conference, the British Government must accept its indirect, if unintentional, culpability. To quote a much misused political axiom of our times, actions have consequences.

Secondly, with the support of the US and UN Security Council (UNSC), the British hope to revisit the agreement reached at Garowe wherein all things were promised to all parties. At Garowe, a further interim period of four years was agreed, during which Somalia would be ‘governed’ by a new interim government formed on the basis of the 4.5 clan model upon which the present TFG was formed. Thereafter, in 2016, a permanent government for Somalia will be formed based upon regional representation and not the 4.5 clan structure. The foreign donor community had intended that the Garowe conference would form the permanent government that has been pushed back four years, although any rational observer with knowledge of Somali history and politics, particularly during the period since the collapse of the Siyad Barre dictatorship, would have seen the chasm between these intentions and the hard reality on the ground. What, in effect, the foreign donors were attempting to effect was to construct the edifice of a permanent government upon quicksand, since the basis upon which a new Somali state was to be formed had not even been addressed.

The London Conference seeks to revisit the political agreement on the formation of a permanent government for Somalia, because the issue was ducked at Garowe, and the prospect of another four years of anarchy and political stasis under yet another interim government is unpalatable to the foreign donors. However, since the core issues underlying the collapse of the Somali state have not been addressed and are not tabled to be addressed at the conference, it is destined to fail. These issues revolve around the rationale for the existence of the state itself, i.e. what is the underlying basis for political consent in Somalia? The rationale for the creation of the erstwhile Republic was the irredentist dream of Greater Somalia, and this dream has been consigned to the dustbin of history for a whole host of reasons, both internal and external, which are beyond the scope of this paper to delve into. However, despite the lingering passion of some Somalis for this mirage of the past, and the false, in-name-only adherence of some regional powers seeking to advance their own self interested, political calculations, this discredited and empty irredentism can no longer further the political aspirations and hopes for a better future of a new generation of Somalis.

Succeeding generations of young Somalis, which have been robbed of any and all opportunity for betterment while observing both their own misery and the changing world around them are no longer inspired by dreams of Greater Somalia. The call to their political loyalty is to their sub-clan and the call to their faith is to a medieval nihilism masquerading as Islam. They demand a life and the chance for betterment now and a faith that connects them to humanity and human progress, not one that not only denies it, but cuts them off from it in the name of piety. The lucky few that can muster the necessary payments, vote with their feet and join the millions of illegal migrants that are preyed upon by human traffickers each year, while the unlucky are forced to choose between death, beggary and fighting for one side or the other in the interminable war that has come to define Somalia. This conference will, as did all of its predecessors, focus upon the symptoms of Somalia’s malaise, i.e. the anarchy, lack of governance, corruption of the self-serving and self-appointed leadership, the nihilist menace of Al-Shabaab and maritime piracy, without ever addressing the root cause of the disease.

Addressing the root cause of the disease requires asking the question: In the absence of the irredentist dream, what is the basis for the existence of a Somali state, and on what terms will the people of Somalia, particularly the young, accord to such a state their political consent? This question cannot be sensibly or productively debated and concluded in a couple days at a swank conference hall in London by unelected and unrepresentative Somali ‘politicians’ in the pay of the UN, senior representatives of the foreign donors (however well intentioned), and senior members of the international aid nomenclature. These questions can only be sensibly and productively debated and concluded by the people of Somalia through their genuine, indigenous socio-political and cultural leadership. Such a genuine, grass-root, Somali-owned process does not lend itself readily to Western notions and perceptions of structured political debate and negotiation. Rather, it harks back to traditional Somali culture of clan meetings, dispute settlement and peacemaking under the galool tree that has endured for hundreds of years. These meetings and discussions are open to all, although respect and deference is afforded to the elders, however to quote a Somali adage pertaining to such meetings, participants are urged to “daa’ ha raadininee, dunta raadiya”, or seek and follow wisdom, not longevity.

To return to the issue of Somaliland’s attendance of the London conference, it is accepted wisdom among most Somalilanders, that attendance should be rebuffed. This is largely an emotional, knee-jerk reaction to the arrogance/ignorance of Britain in referring to the country as a region of Somalia and then exerting strong pressure for attendance upon the Silanyo regime, which it has successfully inveigled into attending previous meetings for Somalia to Silanyo’s domestic political cost. The overwhelming majority of Somaliland citizens, and especially the young who have much less attachment to Britain and no fond memories of the relatively benign colonial protectorate administration, would like their government to cock a snoot at Albion’s perfidy and shun attendance. However, this would be a mistake since an emotional response to another’s slight (intentional or otherwise), while often satisfying, is rarely wise and almost never in one’s long term self interest.

Instead, the Silanyo administration should attend the conference with the aim of telling truth to power and challenging the international community to honestly address why the Somali state collapsed in the aftermath of the Siyad Barre dictatorship and in doing so return ownership of the process of reconciliation and establishment of a new, 21st century rationale for the state to the people of Somalia. Somaliland has unique experience of this type of genuine, grass-root, democratic peace making and reconciliation rooted in local culture, traditions and religious faith. The Borama Conference of 1992, which laid the foundations for the re-emergence of Somaliland as a peaceful, democratic and free republic lasted for over four months, was rooted in local culture and history, ensured that all sections and groups within society, including those historically not accorded a voice, were represented and were heard. In addition, this conference called upon the skills, experience and knowledge of those from the Diaspora as equal citizens and not as fortune or position-seeking carpetbaggers. The representatives/participants at this conference included clan elders and leaders, traditional Sultans, intellectuals and poets, business people, professionals, e.g. doctors and lawyers, politicians and civil society leaders.

The conference had no formal agenda, but everyone knew that the central topic of discussion was the terms upon which the people of this country were prepared to live together in peace and fraternity in a post-dictatorship, post-irredentist future. The first item that was agreed, which set the tone and stage for the subsequent reconciliation and agreement to form a representative government, was that all previous political and clan disputes between the peoples and clans of Somaliland, whether rooted in the defunct dictatorship or in the subsequent liberation war, were null and void, were consigned to history and that it was ‘xaraam’, i.e. a sin, to ever raise them again. The people of Somaliland have a lot to offer in assisting the international community in developing a workable road map for genuine reconciliation in Somalia, and they are prepared put this experience, expertise and their good offices as an honest broker between the warring parties on the table.

However, the international community has to come to the realisation that the continued failures of its efforts towards re-establishing a viable Somali state over the last two decades are neither accidental nor due to any bad luck or lack of effort. Rather, they have been doomed to failure because they have sought to paper over the cracks of a political edifice that cannot be resurrected because its very foundation has disappeared. Somaliland’s willingness to play the role of peace broker, impartial adjudicator and host of the reconciliation process for its brothers to the south is genuine and heartfelt. Equally, its commitment to its sovereignty and independence is unconditional and also genuine and is not subject to question or debate by others. Somaliland won back its independence and freedom at the barrel of a gun, after a long war, and with the precious blood and treasure of its people. Somaliland’s freedom and recovery of its sovereignty was neither negotiated at a conference table nor granted by fiat, and it will not be surrendered on any terms. International recognition may not come today, or this year, and the powers represented at the conference may choose to ignore the will of the people of Somaliland for as long as they wish, but this will neither deter them from their chosen destiny nor dismay them from their choice.

It does not often come to pass that a leader is presented by history with a chance to represent the wishes of his people and the justice of their cause to the international community by issuing a challenge, so honest, so heartfelt and so rooted in the basic humanity shared by all peoples, that it marks a turning point in international diplomacy and modern history. Such a moment was presented to Emperor Haile Selassie at the League of Nations in 1936 and the challenge he issued to a world community dominated by European colonial powers on behalf of the Ethiopian people suffering under a brutal onslaught by fascist Italy, brought a destitute, backward and impoverished African country into the League as a charter member and changed the course of history. In 1974, Yasser Arafat went to the UN and said “today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter’s gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand”, and the world never saw the struggle for Palestinian rights and the creation of a Palestinian state through the same prism again.

President Silanyo has such an opportunity at the London conference. He must challenge the world to deny the self evident will of the people of Somaliland and their unique achievement of creating a democratic, post-irredentist Somali state, imperfect as it may be, adjacent to the longest-running failed state in modern history. He must point out that the denial of Somaliland’s rights and the continued consignment of the people of Somalia to a never-ending nightmare of anarchy, terrorism and war are two sides of the same coin. The Somali people have the ingenuity and the will to solve their seemingly intractable problems if provided by the international community with the means. The missing ingredient is the imagination and creativity to step back and let the Somalis do it for themselves. Somaliland’s message to the London conference is simple: if the definition of madness is repeating the same action again and again yet expecting a different result each time, then we are your sanity pill; ignore us at your peril.

The world may ignore Somaliland’s right to recover its sovereignty, but we have the solution to our brothers’ troubles, and we stand ready with an open hand to offer it, if you will let us. The prolonged misery of Somalia and Somaliland’s continued prodigality are linked and both the result of the lack of imagination and creativity on the part of the international community, which has for too long consigned the ‘Somali issue’ to the back burner. If the world is now serious about finding a solution for the problems of the Somali people of the Horn of Africa, then it should open not only its heart, but also its mind and its ears, because Somaliland has been shouting the solution for years with to deaf ears. Somaliland’s attendance of the London Conference must challenge the status quo not only with respect to its own situation, but also with respect to the situation in Somalia. Somaliland, as the first post-irredentist Somali nation-state, must deliver this message and deliver it emphatically. Who knows, forcing the world to properly address the ‘Somali Issue’ may just save the conference and save the credibility of Albion.

Ahmed M.I. Egal

The Ministry of Interior released the official provisional results of the first round of regional and communal voting in the tiny Red Sea nation on Friday evening.

Below are the turnout and votes cast for lists competing in the three municipalities of the capital and interior regions.

Ras Dika (Djibouti city)

Total Registered 2892
Total Votes Cast 1978
Turnout 47.65%
116 spoiled ballots
1262 votes cast
LIST UMP 1262 votes (91.58%)

The list UMP won all the seats: 9

Boulaos (Djibouti city) – no winner

Total enrollment 57,694
22,065 total voters
Turnout 38.2%
Bulletins Draws 1200
20,865 votes cast
LIST UMP 12,687 to 60.8%
LIST RADD 8178 -39.2%

The sulfur treatment obtained by the list first (UMP), although it has an absolute majority of votes cast correspond to 21.99% of registered voters. There will be a second round. Turnout was also below the required benchmark.

Balbala (Djibouti city) – no clear winner.

Total enrollment: 43,904
Total voters: 17,534
Turnout: 40%
909 spoiled ballots
16,625 votes cast
LIST UMP 9093 votes (54.69%)
LIST RADD 7522 votes (45.31%)
LIST UMP 9093 votes (54.69%)
LIST RADD 7522 votes (45.31%)

The figures obtained on the UMP list in mind is 20.71% of registered voters. So there will be a second round. Turnout was also below the required benchmark.

Results of the Regions:

Regions of Ali Sabieh

Total enrollment: 11,877
Total Votes Cast: 4820
Turnout: 40.58%
76 spoiled ballots
4744 votes cast
LIST UMP 3441 votes (72.53%)
LIST RDR 1303 votes (27.47%)

Total seats 12 seats

After calculating the UMP list gets 11 seats and the independent Rally for Regional Development (RDR) won back one seat.

Region of Arta

Total registered 6476
Total Votes Cast 4529
Turnout 69.93%
206 spoiled ballots
4323 votes (66.75%)
LIST UMP 3933 votes (90.98%)
LIST RADD 390 votes (9.02%)
Total seats 9 seats

The list UMP won all nine seats.

Dikhil of Region

Total enrollment: 16,240
12,553 total voters
Turnout 77.30%
212 spoiled ballots
12,553 votes cast
LIST 11.151voix UMP (90.36%)
LIST RADD 1190 votes (9.64%)

The UMP won all the 16 seats.

Region of Obock

Total registered voters: 8584
Total Votes Cast: 6831
Turnout: 79.58%
134 spoiled ballots
6597 votes (78.02%)

The list UMP filled all 9 seats.

Region of Tadjourah

Total registered 15,078
12,629 total voters
Turnout 83.79%
227 spoiled ballots
12,402 votes (82.25%)
LIST UMP 12,402

UMP won all 14 seats.

President Geulleh’s People’s Rally for Progress and its sister-party UMP have dominated all aspects of Djibouti politics with all seat held by them in parliament and all regional legislatures across the country. Some of their opponents have accused the party (UMP) of foul play during this weekend’s regional vote and complained of strong restrictions on access to TV and radio but it has rejected the allegations. The former French asset is regarded as one party state since the system requires that parties need to win a majority vote or 25% threshold and currently there are no opposition members in the National Assembly. Djibouti is divided into five interior regions, one city and eleven districts.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Monday, Jan 23, 2012

The protests, which coincided with the visit of a British diplomat who invited Somaliland leaders to attend an international conference on Somalia next month in London, follow days of skirmishes in eastern parts of the country.

In the capital Hargeisa, the rally was staged in Freedom Park where thousands gathered including senior government officials, MPs, speakers of Legislative Assembly, opposition groups, students and policy makers. They all offered their commitment and united front in support of Somaliland’s right to defend its territorial integrity if any threat is posed against the country.
“Any threat to our interests or security will force us to use all available options to defend our interests, and national and regional security,” Muse Bihi, the Chairman of the ruling Kulmiye party, told the crowd. Directing his comments at a tribal militia that has been gathering in Taleeh, in Sool region, Mr. Bihi added Somaliland will not be afraid to use force if they tried to spoil its stability.

Faisal Ali Warabe, the opposition leader of UCID Party, called on the residents of Las Anod, the provincial capital of the disputed Sool, to be vigilant and to choose peace and harmony over devastation and conflict. He warned the government that it must struck a balance between justice and fairness for all communities and not isolate a certain group.

The Speaker of the 82-member House of Representatives, Abdulrahman Mohamed Abdullahi, emphasized that the small group in Taleeh possessed no immediate threat to Somaliland’s territorial integrity. However, he called for maximum restraint and dialogue.

Vice President Abdulrahman Abdullahi Ismail, who was also present, said his government remains unwavering in their commitment to protect its citizens and provide justice to all.

In Somaliland’s second largest town of Burao, hundreds of thousands who staged unprecedented rally sang patriotic songs and chanted slogans in support of Somaliland’s self-determination and its unity. It was the biggest gathering in the town in recent years and it included senior government ministers, MPs, tribal elders, community and regional leaders, businesses, defense forces and students.

The protesters main message was that Somaliland can maintain its territorial integrity against its own domestic, regional and international foes.

Recently a tribal separatist militia held a meeting in the historical town of Taleeh, once the base of Sayid Abdullah Hassan, a religious fanatic and the late 19th century version of Osama bin Ladden, in which they declared the formation of a semi-autonomous state. The President Ahmed Silanyo said his government will not tolerate the disintegration of Somaliland during an emergency meeting of both Houses of parliament. An army unit was sent to the nearby town of Buhoodle and the conference in Taleeh came to an end.

The president reaffirmed his commitment to stability, development and peace and for the second time offered amnesty to the SSC militia and urged them to join hands in the struggle to move forward. The leader of the group, Suleiman Essa Ahmed (Hagal Tosiye) of Columbus, Ohio, told the BBC Somali-Services on Thursday that he welcomes President Silanyo’s proposal for peace talks. He also admitted that the Taleeh conference was hijacked by opportunist groups and that it no longer served the interest of the Dhulbahante clan. He pointed his fingers at the former Somali Prime Minister, Ali Khalif Galayr and his so called G9 group. He also expressed his strong dislike for the chosen name for the ‘new semi-autonomous state’ namely Khaatumo State. The residents in the region have adopted to call the state instead ‘Khaatumo Seeg’. It later became clear some of the participants of the conference were in favor of SSC state while others wanted Darwiishland. After a deep disagreement some of the participants fled back to Garowe, the capital of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland while others left the country.

Somaliland is a former British protectorate that gained its independence in June 1960 but voluntarily unified with its southern neighbor few days later to form what was known as the Somali Republic. After years of armed struggle with Somalia that left more than 50, 000 civilians dead, it reinstated its independence in 1991 but has since failed to gain international recognition.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012

Besides the minister, the ceremony was attended by the representative of FAO in Djibouti, Ms. Ndeye Ticker Ndiaye, the UNHCR representative in Djibouti, Marie Antoinette Okimba, representatives of agencies of the United Nations United, as well as officials and staff of the Department of Agriculture.

The vital donation was part of the FAO’s agriculture sector support program in Djibouti to help vulnerable populations affected by drought in the interior regions of the country.

Items donated included two double cabin pick-up, some fifty bike pump, various agricultural seeds, 125 hoses, two batches of veterinary products, wheelbarrows, office supplies and computer equipment. The assistance will also support animal health, the creation of small-scale agro-pastoral, the availabilities of seeds and the provision of veterinary products, agricultural tools, equipment of irrigation.

Making the presentation, Mr. Awaleh, in his speech lauded the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency for the generous donation, which he said will help to strengthen the capacity of his department to help farmers and ranchers affected by recent droughts in the tiny Red Sea nation.

“The gift’s main objective is to provide emergency material assistance and logistical resources to build capacity to better support farmers and ranchers suffering from the adverse effects of chronic drought afflicting the Horn of Africa,” he emphasized.

Ms. Ndeye Ticker Ndiaye, the representative of FAO in Djibouti, reaffirmed its organizations commitment to battling drought in the region. She said the donation from FAO with the support of the European Union, IFAD, OCHA, Belgium and of France, is part of their assistance to the population affected by drought in the former French colony.

Ndiaye said that FAO has finally stepped up its interventions in the areas of rural water, livestock, agriculture, mapping data for the classification of food security and institutional strengthening.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Saturday, Jan 21, 2012

OPINION | Thursday, January 20, 2012

Somaliland as a state has witnessed profound changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle over the past two decades due to conflict, urbanization, economic conditions and droughts. For the most part these changes have had positive impact but that’s not to say the changes have not adversely affected the wellbeing of the community in health-wise. Even though no actual data is available, it is not hard for one to notice Somaliland’s rapid urbanization in the last twenty years. Major cities in Somaliland went under dramatic changes due to influx of refugees returning to the country after the war and the influx of refugees from neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia — as well as pastoral communities displaced by climate change. Population growth has outpaced municipal capacity to build essential infrastructure that make lifestyle in cities safe and healthy. There were also constraints imposed by the lack of international recognition which means the government does not often have the resources needed to improve urban living conditions.

Before this intense period of transition there was a distinctly different assortment of lifestyle choices between urban dwellers and pastoral nomads. For centuries, the Somali pastoral nomads and herders have successfully maintained a sustainable, mobile and active lifestyle, traveling from winter to spring pasture lands and summer to autumn pasture lands – becoming experts in the shifts of wind patterns. In the typical day, a Somali male nomad would get up early to rear his domestic livestock so as to milk, eat and vend or to cultivate his land so as to produce food was among the main tasks of the common household. Women did not use to sit back and be idle. On the contrary, as they were having the adroitness to craft all the elements of their traditional housing, they were doing their tasks of milking, home arrangements and embroidery were common duties.

Moreover, they were walking miles and miles in search of water and pasture. They often had to Face the endless obstacles from the harsh semi-arid environment in the Horn of Africa which suffers from low rainfall, wind erosion, recurrent droughts and sometimes sweeping floods. Having dealt with all these tyrant circumstances, yet they did not suffer from medical conditions that are evident in major urban towns in recent years.

It became to norm to hear that your friend or family member was diagnosed from hypertension, diabetes or even heart disease. Maybe stroke and many other similar conditions had caused one of your lovely one’s life to be cut short. To have a better understanding of the underlying of what is generating household horror stories, one must ask himself: What is causing this? Why such diseases are becoming familiar to the society? Is there any correlation of those diseases and how we live?

Knowing that effective research is the trade mark of medical profession, when confronted with great responsibility of understanding and treating human beings, we need as much scientific evidences as possible to render our decision making valid, credible and justifiable. But due to unavailable medical data in our country, this article will mainly focus on the modifiable risk factors that are associated in these diseases which recently become more pronounced and deeply felt. They are as follows:

1.Sedentary lifestyle, most of our time we take sitting, early in the morning we go to our workplace by cars and we go back to this cars. In afternoon we are sitting for chewing Kat or friend meeting in a cafeteria or studding in class. As body is designed for physical activities and movements, sedentary lifestyle increases the likelihood of certain diseases. Making time for physical activity is a vital link to enhancing our chances of staying healthy. Setting exercise program will help prevent most of the chronic diseases as many studies have depicted. A good exercise program will strengthen the heart muscle and help to reduce the resting heart rate and lower blood pressure and blood fats, while raising HDL cholesterol, thus lessening arteriosclerosis risk. Therefore regular exercise is part of healthy lifestyle.

2. High cholesterol diet is one of the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance that the body needs to function normally, present in cell walls or membranes of the body everywhere. The body uses cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids to help the digestion of fat. It small amount of cholesterol is needed to meet these needs. The extra is deposited in arteries, including the coronary arteries of heart, carotid arteries of the brain, they cause narrowing and latter blockage of arteries. In our society, for having good feasting and inviting friends for special occasions it turns to be unsatisfactory if not fatty camel hump, lamb and mutton is served. And we can guess the consequences.

3. Poor nutrition. Eating healthy is part of healthy lifestyle. I am not insisting to recommend the consumption of the stuffs beyond the purchasing power of our people; certainly we do have nutritious food. Unfortunately we do not see them important. A healthy diet can be basically about consuming appropriate amounts of all essential nutrients and water. Nutrients can be obtained from many different foods, so there are numerous diets that may be considered healthy. Literally, healthy diet needs to have a balance of macro-nutrients (fats, proteins, and carbohydrates), calories to support energy needs, and micro-nutrients to meet the needs for human nutrition without inducing toxicity or excessive weight gain from consuming excessive amounts. We need a balanced diet instead of consuming excessive carbohydrates, like pasta, in all our routine diet. This is why a great majority of our people gain a weight in asymmetrical way which is mainly distributed in the central abdomen or buttocks.

4. Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of lung cancer, chronic pulmonary lung disease and heart disease, and cause more death worldwide, it is estimated 30 percent of cancers are either directly or indirectly related to smoking. All tobacco products are included in this risk factor, not only cigarette. There are 4000 chemicals in cigarette; hundreds are toxic. Nicotine reaches the brain; carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin preventing from carrying full oxygen, also cancer causing agents (carcinogens) cause mutation of genes. The number of smokers in the Somali communities is on the rise and many of them are paying the price.

Finally, it is very imperative for us to try our best to develop a low risk lifestyle that can be defined as not smoking, maintaining a body mass index of less than 25, exercise duration of 30min/day. High intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains and fish are highly recommended. Making physical exercises is very significant which should not be supposed as a secondary need.

Abdulrahman Ali A. Ji’iir, Medical Student.

University of Hargeisa, Somaliland

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Somalilandpress

In today’s modern world, governments and countries are beginning to employ branding and marketing techniques to sell their regions and countries to the rest of the world, in order to increase their international profile, attract foreign direct investments and make the places ideal destinations for tourism and trade. Somaliland has been seeking international recognition for the last two decades, it is now believed it has failed to distinct itself from the failed state of Somalia. Perhaps its time it reinvented itself and developed a strong brand name. The international community is clearly confused when it comes to Somaliland and Somalia. It’s time for dramatic image makeover if Somaliland wants to standout and over come the perception around the world that Somaliland is part of Somalia or Somaliland is Somalia.

In a completely unscientific survey I recently surveyed twenty people in London at random and asked them to name the first three things they thought of when they heard the name ‘Somaliland’. The results made rather predictable reading, but shed some light on the challenges faced by Somaliland in both its quest for re-recognition and to change preconceived ideas:

Piracy (13), Corruption (10), Drought/Famine (7), Camels (5), Civil War (5), Extremism/Terrorism (5), Black Hawk Down (3), Tribes (2), Deserts (1), and Female Genital Mutilation (1).

What is immediately clear from this survey is the fact that Somaliland has yet to forge a distinct identify separate from its troubled southern neighbour, furthermore it would appear that many of the negative connotations are seen as synonymous with the region. Reactionaries will instantly dismiss such findings as irrelevant and claim they speak volumes of Western ignorance or the corrosive effect of media stereotypes, but whilst indignation is understandable, it is important to be rational about factors which for good or ill shape international conduct and attitudes to Somaliland and its neighbours.

Is anyone familiar with this symbol?

Whether we like it or not Somalia’s shadow looms large over Somaliland. A sizeable number of Somaliland’s Government at some time or other were happy to serve their apprenticeship and profit from the Mohamed Siad Barre regime. There are still individuals who are lukewarm in embracing Somaliland as a sovereign entity, and merely pay lip service to the notion of a free and democratic Somaliland. If Landers themselves have mixed ideas, is it any wonder that the world beyond becomes confused or indifferent. With elections looming Somaliland sees politicians peddling false promises and ‘buying’ votes, few have any vision, many seem obsessed with the quest for power, hardly any talk of service or responsibility. The old guard in various parties cling on to power and are reluctant to champion talent and youth. Old enmities soon suffice and clan loyalties are rigorously reinforced no matter how mediocre the candidate is. Whilst clan can bind people together, it also divides and creates a land of ‘Us and Them’, a country where people occupy posts not on merit but on who they know or are related to. Nepotism is rife, yet goes unmentioned by those eager to enjoy the fruits of high office. The vast majority of candidates hold passports of convenience that mean they have an escape route if all goes horribly wrong. Is it any wonder there is something of an identity crisis about Somaliland?

In an increasingly competitive world, nations compete to develop a clear brand identity preferably one that radiates positivity or at least wholesome values. London prides itself on being the most multi-ethnic place on the planet (a city where over 300 different languages are spoken), Ethiopia has recently begun marketing itself as ‘the water tower of Africa’, whilst neighbouring Uganda cherishes its reputation as ‘the Pearl of Africa’. Somaliland at present is seen by many as a “damaged brand”, one tainted by conflict, corruption and clan. To others the country fails to register at all. It is time for a concerted effort to rescue, revive and if necessary rebrand Somaliland for currently it is deeply misunderstood even at the very highest levels. Names are deeply personal and are charged with associations. One of the greatest summations of what a name means is given by the character Iago in William Shakespeare’s play Othello:

“Good name in man and woman, dear my Lord
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; tis something, nothing;
‘Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been a slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.”
Othello Act 3, scene 3, 155–161

Somaliland is stigmatised at present and suffers from constant reference or confusion with its’ southern neighbour. Some might advocate radical solutions. At the very least these should be considered. Whether they are for Somaliland, well only Landers can decide, but a little creative thinking can do wonders when trying to wrestle with who we are and what we are about. As traditionally pastoralist and semi-pastoralist people Somaliland can take inspiration from the camel, an animal that is widely misunderstood and yet to those that know them remarkable and in the eyes of many worthy of poetry. In an unforgiving sun-seared landscape such as Somaliland few creatures are as revered as the camel. So integral has been to the lives of the people of the region that the creature has been written and spoke of as one might of a wife, mother, sister or daughter. Whilst essentially a beast of burden and a means of transport down the ages during times of peace and war, the camel has been viewed as a blessing – a veritable gift from Allah the Munificent. The Qu’ran invokes the camel as an invitation to contemplate the wonders of the universe: Do they not look at the camels? How were they formed? (Sura 88, Aya 17) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave a special status to the camel. He chose to deliver his valedictory sermon from the back of a camel. His favourite camel was called Al-Khaswa – She of the cut-ear-tips – the Mosque at Qoba’ covers the exact spot where it knelt when the Prophet (pbuh) first arrived in Medina after leaving Mecca.

Britain’s World war II prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill described Uganda as the “Pearl of Africa” during his visit in 1907.

The fact that Somalis have had to be a nomadic people for so long has imbued them with a spirit of independence and self sufficiency. In the incredibly rich legacy of Somali oral traditions the camel has become symbolic of the people’s tenacity and strength, but also their determination not to be subjugated by colonial powers. Much of Somaliland is an arid, near semi-desert environment, one in which only the very hardiest survive – is it any wonder then that pastoralists revere and eulogise the camel. It is said that there are some 46 words for camel in Somali.

What Somaliland and its complex culture might understand the world beyond misunderstands, and it for this reason that maybe the country should consider its options, even radical ones such as changing its name or relocating its capital city. Somalis are survivors and are not beyond adapting when circumstances have demanded it. Somaliland – the Land of the Fragrant Word might benefit from fresh ideas, ones that challenges and confront the status quo. To think French Somaliland in 1967 became the Territory of the Afars and the Issas and then in 1977 was renamed Djibouti. Other lands have endured countless changes; the Congo Free State in 1884 became the Belgian Congo in 1908, then the Republic of the Congo (1960), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1964), Zaire (1971) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997).

South Sudan, Africa’s newest nation is seriously considering moving its capital from Juba to Ramciel, so anything is indeed possible. Tanzania functions perfectly amicably by having Dodoma as the location for its Parliament, so why should Somaliland not be permitted the luxury of exploring new avenues of thought. Maybe the capital could be moved from Hargeisa to Sheikh, which is situated between Berbera (strategic port), Hargeisa (commercial city) and Burao (industrial city). South Africa, Africa’s richest nation, manages to divide power and responsibility between Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative) and Pretoria (executive). A strong case could even be made for the country’s name to be changed and even a new flag chosen.

Some historians might even make the case for the country to draw on its heritage, how about the country being named Macrobia (Makroobiya – Somali). The Macrobians were an ancient people and kingdom positioned on the Somali peninsula during the 1st millennium BC. They are mentioned by Herodotus as being a nation of people that had mastered longevity with the average Macrobian living till the age of 120. They were said to be the “Tallest and Handsomest of all men”. The Persian Emperor Cambyses II upon conquering Ancient Egypt sent ambassadors to Macrobia bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission, but instead the Macrobian ruler replied with a challenge for the Persian ruler in the form of an unstrung bow, that if the Persians could manage to string, they would have the right to invade his country, but until then they should give thanks that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire.

If Macrobia is not a choice for Somaliland perhaps it feels more comfortable with its historical and traditional name, Maandeeq. The Somaliland renowned poet Abdullahi Suldaan Tima Adde often referred Somaliland as “Maandeeq” which means “she-camel” in the Somali language. Like Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), it is also said to be the name of his favourite camel. In 1960s Abdullahi Suldaan Tima Adde composed the poem called Maandeeq in which he portrayed the Somaliland State as a she-camel that ‘satisfies the mind through her milk’.

The less than charitable will dismiss Somaliland’s achievements and seek to denigrate the progress that has been made. Landers know that if they are to forge a purposeful and prosperous future they must draw upon their deep and sincere faith and love of poetry to create something that enables them to recapture that inner belief and that intrinsic spirit of independence that has ensured that they humble themselves before no one but Allah the Munificent.

Mark T Jones

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Take the poll below: We also welcome feedback, articles in respond for or against. Let’s start the big debate Somalilanders.

During a colorful ceremony held in the central town of Galkayo, in Mudug, Suldan Jama Shire Gesod, a prominent clan leader, said their new federal state will be named West Puntland State. He claimed that communities in western parts of Puntland have became dissatisfied with the Garowe regime of Abdirahman Farole and decided to go their own separate way. The ceremony was guarded by security forces loyal to Yusuf Mohamed Abdulrahman who was declared the president of the new region. Furthermore they said they will soon hoist a new flag, name ministers and MPs.

Leaders from Galmudug State, another semi-autonomous region which claims Galkayo as its administrative capital, were also present for the occasion. Tribal Chief Hassan Sheekh Ahmed said as Galmudug State they welcome the new semi-autonomous region which represents tribes in western parts of Puntland region. Other attendees included business leaders, religious figures, prominent clan leaders, former government officials and civilians.

The idea to create West Puntland State was proposed by the Leelkase clan who felt marginalized under Garowe which is dominated by Majerteen clan. It is not the first time a region within the Majerteen dominated Puntland declared independence from Garowe. In April of 2011 members of Somalia’s Bari region consisting of civil servants and clan elders announced the formation of Rasa-Asayr State — it comprises of towns and villages near the old historical-coastal town of Bargal in the mountainous eastern Bari region.

Puntland’s Police Commissioner, General Warsame Jama, said the intention of the new state was not clear but admitted Puntland state has disintegrated into three mini states after 13 years. He said Puntland was formed in 1998 by three communities but today they all went their own separate ways referring to Garowe or Majerteen clan, Galkayo (West Puntland State or Leelkase clan) and a new state declared in the disputed Sool region by Dhulbahante clan elders in Taleeh. Sool is disputed by Puntland region of Somalia and Somaliland and recently a new group calling itself G6 claimed it wants nothing to do with Puntland or Somaliland.

Somaliland responded by saying it will not allow separatist groups such as G6 and SSC to destabilize its eastern states namely Sool and parts of Sanaag.

Meanwhile Galmudug State has accused the weak transitional federal government (TFG) of interference in its internal affairs. Galmudug leader Mohamed Ahmed Alin claimed that President Sheikh Sharif was hosting a conference in Villa Somalia in Mogadishu designed to form a new semi-autonomous state within Galmudug. He said the interim leader wanted to break the historical port town of Hobyo from his administration. Hobyo is already a disputed town between Mareeg State, Himan and Heeb and Galmudug State.

Since Somaliland withdraw a union with Somalia, the east African nation has been disintegrating into mini-tribal states which evidently today further disintegrating into even smaller administrations. This proofs that there is too much disharmony and trust among all Somali clans and each wants to rule his tiny town.

Classified as a failed state, Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between various militias and mini-states.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Thursday, Jan 19, 2012

“I would like to stress that I am pleased with my visit to Somaliland. Today I met with senior government officials and we deliberated on matters relating to the international conference on the issue of Somalia scheduled to be held in London. I presented them with the agenda of the meeting,” he said.

Mr. Allan also stressed talks will focus on core regional problems such as maritime piracy and terrorism that need regional cooperation.

“The scheduled meeting will address the issues of development and Britain’s humanitarian aid for Somaliland and Somalia as well as socio-economic and political development,” he stated. Mr. Allan added that Britain was Somaliland’s largest supporter and its biggest donor and reaffirmed the strong and long-standing friendship and historical ties between the two. With more than 40 senior government officials and multilateral organizations expected to attend, the British Ambassador said the meeting presented a golden opportunity and venue for Somaliland to present its case to the international community.

He further added, he was notifying the Somaliland authority and its people about the upcoming forum on behave of the British Prime Minister David Cameron and Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague. He said both officials were keen on President Ahmed Silanyo to lead the Somaliland delegation to London. “The Prime Minister will soon send an official letter of invitation to President Silanyo while the Foreign Secretary is expected to have a telephone conversation with President Silanyo to discuss the matter further,” he told local media.

Insisting the conference could strengthen Somaliland’s quest for international recognition Mr. Allan said: “I believe the best way Somaliland could further its goal is for President Silanyo to attend the meeting and make a case for his nation.”
Finally Mr. Allan revealed that the meeting will bring together over senior 40 government representatives and multilateral organizations including the president of France Nicolas Sarkozy, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, major international donors and foreign ministers.

Somaliland is a former British protectorate that gained its independence in June 1960 but voluntarily unified with its southern neighbor few days later to form what was known as the Somali Republic. After years of armed struggle with Somalia that left more than 50, 000 killed, it reinstated its independence in 1991 but has since failed to gain international recognition. Somaliland has in the past expressed skepticism and in most parts rejected participating in any conference on “Somalia”. However, the country is expected to endorse this British-sponsored meeting since Hargeisa trusts London and the British government is aware of Somaliland’s case. The timetable of the conference is not yet clear but the British Prime Minister said he will host the meeting in London in next month.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Thursday, Jan 19, 2012

——
Note: Unfortunately Somalilandpress was down today for several hours due to an explosion that caused an outage. The explosion caused rebar to
destroy an electrical box under the ground containing, among other
things, 580 strands of fibre cable. We apologize for any inconvenience and our IT team are investigating the matter further.

OPINION | Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Somaliland constitution confers on all Somalilanders, whether in the Diaspora or living inside the country, equal rights to hold elective and appointive offices as well as to engage in private business. This official welcome does encourage some of the Diaspora people to end their long self-exiles and return to their country of origin. But unfortunately on some occasions, some prominent members of the Diaspora are subjected to negative rumors, innuendos and open criticisms in order to smear their reputations

People who return home have different reasons for doing so. There are those who are of old age and would like to spend their last years at home. There are also those who have accumulated wealth and would like to invest their funds there; and there are those ambitious individuals who after earning degrees and working as professionals overseas decide to utilize their knowledge and skills to make a difference for their people.

However, some local elites apparently believe that they alone are straight (way toosanyihii) and that Diaspora people are crooked (way qaloocanyihiin). They try to find faults with them, question the source of money they bring into the country and do not even spare women from those attacks.

This is not an easy statement to make but it is one validated by our recent experience.

Skilled Diaspora Somalilanders who assimilated the liberal traditions and the institutional basis of the industrialized world are needed to transfer the skills they possess to move the country forward. We need eminent engineers, scientists, doctors, agriculturalists, economists, businesspeople, writers, lawyers etc. We cannot afford to fish for faults and attack those skilled Diaspora Somalilanders. We need a culture that receive those people with open arms and accord them the respect they deserve. Diaspora people are needed not only to remit the money that sustains the lives of our people but also to transfer the skills they possess.

When I heard the recent attacks against the Somaliland Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Hussein Abdi Duale, I told myself: alas it is déjà vu all over again. Why this reaction? Because Hussein Abdi Duale is not the first, nor will he be the last former Diaspora Somalilander, who is subjected to a smear campaign. Multiple people before him, men and women, were subjected to similar attacks. It is needless to identify here individuals who were unfairly subjected to such treatment before. Everybody who happens to read this piece knows a man or a woman from the Diaspora who was subjected to similar attacks.

Hussein A. Duale came to Los Angeles around 1984 from Oklahoma and stayed here till 2010 when he was appointed a cabinet minister in Somaliland. During his long stay here in Los Angeles with us he established a solid reputation among our community as charismatic and articulate. He is very skilled petroleum engineer. He also became a competent manager through his long experience in the private and public sectors.

Hussein worked closely with the late Saeed Maygag Samatar in promoting the interest of Somaliland. In the early 1990’s, for example, they collected and shipped relief supplies to the people displaced by the war. Hussein also was one of the founding members of SOPRI. If Saeed Meygag Samatar spent countless hours of his precious time and his own financial resources for Somaliland cause, Hussein Duale, driven by the same spirit of patriotism as that of Saeed, walked away from a high paying government job in Los Angeles in order to serve his people. The fact is some people are not satisfied with the affluence they achieve in the rich countries and aspire to help their fellow Somalilanders at home to improve their lives. Such was Saeed Meygag and such is Hussein Duale.

Speaking at a farewell luncheon held in his honor a year and half ago shortly after being appointed as cabinet minister, Hussein told the Somaliland community in southern California that he would be a workaholic in Hargeisa. He joked that the folks over there may think that he had no other life than work. True to his promise, he has worked very hard for the people since assuming his new responsibilities. He brought in new companies to explore oil and gas. He was also involved in reaching an agreement with Ethiopia to ship oil and gas from Ethiopia through the port of Berbera. His ministry is busy drilling water wells and building reservoirs. If the goals he is pursuing are achieved, he may end up having a potentially trans-formative and consequential impact in the country. Because of his engineering and managerial skills as wells as his ethics of hard work, Hussein is the right person to lead the effort to explore what lies underneath the soil in Somaliland.

One wonders why the media is not reporting the positive things this hard working minister is doing for the country. Good news is newsworthy too.

Recently, Hussein told the press of his dream should oil and gas be found and exploited in Somaliland. He stated the country would follow the example of Norway. Norway, you may recall, is famous for transparently putting the proceeds from its oil for the benefit of the people. This vision can only be articulated by someone who is patriotic and honest.

Finally many of the Diaspora people who return home bring jobs and skills and expertise to the country. They are not a threat to anybody; rather they are a major asset to the country. There is no justification for any tension or animus by one group against another. The country demands that they all respect each other, and work together to move the country forward and create better future for our children.

Adan H. Iman is Diaspora Somalilander who hails from Awdal Region and is currently a resident in California, USA.

Email: ahiman2@aol.com

15 January, 2012 Hargeisa, Somaliland

I. Introduction

On Sunday 15th January, the ISG members met at the SORADI office to discuss the prevalent situation in the country and debate the most significant issues. The meeting was sponsored by the Social Research and Development Institute (SORADI). It was moderated by its Deputy-Director, Haroon Ahmed Yusuf. The Somaliland Independent Scholar’s Group (ISG) members are all long-term participants of Somaliland rebuilding and democratization process, who are considered to be highly competent to provide an objective analysis and strategy to address the issues at hand. The ISG members are: Abdi-shakur Sh Ali-Jowhar (Psychiatrist and political analyst: warkamaanta.com), Nafisa Yusuf (Executive Director of NAGAAD), Abdilkadir H. Ismail Jirde (Ex-Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament), Shukri H. Ismail (Former National Electoral Commissioner and Member of African Democracy Forum and Chair of Candle Light), Ibrahim Jama Ali –Raite (Member of Parliament and Lawyer), Fawsi Sh. Yonis (Somaliland Lawyer’s Association), Bobe Y. Duale (Deputy Executive Director, APD), Haroon H. Ahmed Qulumbe (SORADI), Jafar Mohamed Gadaweyne (SONSAF), Suad Ibrahim Abdi (country representative, progressio); Wais Muse (Executive Director of Samatalis Coalition of Human Rights), Dr. Mohamed Fadal (Director of SORADI), Hodan Elmi (governance theme leader, Care International; Dean Academic Affairs), Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud (Executive director SONASF), Hinda Mohamed Jama (an Associate of Burao University) and Dr. Aden Abokor (National Doctors Association)

II. Somaliland’s current context:

The New Year has ushered in new challenges, as well as, opportunities for Somaliland. Some of the most significant challenges include the preparation and holding of the overdue Local Council elections, the unpredictable outcome of the Taleeh clan conference, renewed concerns about Seemaal and worsening relationship between the independent media and the government.

There are also opportunities for more international business investment, improved relations with the Arab countries, the possibilities of donors accepting a country led development process and the establishment of the Somaliland fund…

However, Somaliland is not insulated from the events in the sub-region (or the wider world for that matter) and its relationship with the neighboring countries can bring both cooperation and hostility which require careful analyses and response. The new scenarios that are emerging out of Somalia continue to pose both diplomatic and security threats to Somaliland. An Al-Shabaab defeat or success can have its risks; the border dispute with Puntland and the separatist movement of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) are two good examples of both internal and external threats. The Taleeh clan conference, which is an obvious manifestation of the UN condoned trend for the formation of micro-political-entities in Somalia, signifies a clear and present danger for Somaliland.

A. The Taleeh Clan Conference:

From the Somaliland government’s perspective the Taleeh Conference is a traditional ‘non-political’ clan conference just like those regularly held by any clan in their territory. These types of Conferences general sort out internal clan issues address their relationship with neighboring clans and agree on a future ‘socio-political’ strategy for the clan. These types of conferences are also generally led by the traditional leaders and are considered as politically benign.

The Somaliland government has reportedly accepted the holding of the conference in order to maintain and probably improve relationship between the central government and the people and leadership of the Sool region. One of the long term objectives of the various Somaliland governments has always been to extend governance structures and services that are inclusive and satisfactory to the people of Sool and their legitimate leadership, but that effort has not always been successful due to various reasons that include the division among the Sool region politicians and lack of effective strategy by the Somaliland authorities.

In this sense, some of the people of the region felt marginalized and their grievances ignored. This sentiment is regularly exploited by the divided and opportunistic local leaders particularly, clan politicians from the Diaspora.

The Taleeh conference which started on 26 December 2011 appears to have been hijacked by extremist or opportunist politicians from the Diaspora, whose main intention is to organize their own political platforms by taking advantage of the Somalia wide trend of sub-state enclaves in order to gain legitimacy to play a part in the scramble for the plunder of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) positions and the international resources it receives. The year 2012 appears to present gainful prospects for all types of Somali opportunist politicians, these includes the expected reconfiguration of the TGF and the London conference.

The instability that can result from negative outcomes of the Taleeh clan Conference shall primarily affect the security and livelihood of the local people in the area. It shall also escalate the already fragile relationship between Somaliland and Puntland and ultimately destabilize the sub-region.

Most of the estimated 350 conference delegates shall leave for the Diaspora soon after the conclusion of the conference and the local population shall suffer the consequences.

Recommendations:

• The Somaliland government should continue the famous path of peaceful conflict resolution, negotiations and consensus building without compromising on the country’s sovereignty. The government should show tolerance, mend fences and open negotiations with any willing and legitimate politicians from Sool region.

• The Somaliland government is responsible for the security and well-being of its people, which includes the people of Sool region. Thus the government should address their grievances and listen to their demands for good governance and the provision of services.

• Somaliland’s steady advancement and achievements in the last twenty years has endowed it with the strength and confidence to try new bold ideas and paths for the future, which the country should not shy from.

A. Local Council Elections:

Somaliland is presently in the process and preparation for holding the much delayed local council elections which is currently scheduled to take place in April, 2012.

In January, 2012, the Committee for registration of new political parties and Licensing granted temporary Certificates to Fifteen newly established political organizations that qualified for contesting the forthcoming Local Council elections. This makes a total of 18 contestants, after adding the existing official three political parties.

The national electoral commission (NEC) has also held a series of consultations with the political associations and parties, government, the Houses of Parliament, traditional elders and civil society organizations on the challenges of holding the election. One of the main issues identified as a significant challenge is “the technical complications of the open list system”. In other words, the open list system of voting, which was included in the recently amended ‘law 14’ (which guides the local council elections), prompts the construction of a ballot paper with the photos, logo and names of each candidate, which can exceed hundreds (in some localities) given the current number of political contestants.

According to NEC, there are questions as to whether the voters can find and select their preferred candidates in the long list of candidates. How long would it take each voter to select his candidate? Is the 12-hour voting day period enough to allow all voters their rights? Would long queues cause conflicts in polling stations? And many related issues.

Recommendations

- The Committee for registration of new political parties needs to understand and assume its mandate and role in order to reduce the number of contestants through the legal requirement process.

- The civil society organizations need to provide support to the Committee for registration of new political parties

- There is also a need to recruit a specialized consultant for the Committee

3. Media

There appears to be an increased confrontation between the government and the independent media. The media in Somaliland have enjoyed a relatively free space in which to operate. Freedom was the founding pillar on Somaliland was created and this needs to be maintained.

The arrest of 20 journalists some of them girls and the closing of an international renowned television stations on Saturday was a shocking action that sent vibration across Somaliland. In addition this action was done without the issue of a warrant which is unconstitutional and teeters on the illegal.

Recommendations:

- Government should respect media freedoms and apply the law when taking action against any wrong doing.

- The government should initiate a policy of dialogue with the media and refrain from such rash actions and to maintain the dignified path of democracy.

- The media should respect the laws of the land.

- The media should be encouraged to come up with their own version of rules of conduct.

OPINION | January 18, 2012

In this article I will address some of the major events that took place in Somaliland in 2011 and at the same time rise some of the challenges facing Somaliland in the light of globalization.

One of the most important event in Somaliland for the year 2011 was the opening for a multi-party system. A fundamental right in a democracy is the right to form an association or party.

Somaliland Parliament passed a law in August 2011 which allows anybody to form a political party. The decision of the parliament is an historical moment for Somaliland democracy and an important step taken towards full functioning democracy, and is in accordance with Somaliland people’s desire.

Another event that needs to be addressed is the slowly dissolution of the existing political parties. A setback for democracy was the way UCID party internal conflict solved (the third largest party). A democratic society requires political parties who have active members and political vision about a nation building. It is clear that the political parties in Somaliland are in a transformation period. Somaliland needs strong political parties that can contribute to a better society and nationhood.

Somaliland is seen in many ways as an good example for many African countries. Professor Iqbal D Jhazbhay wrote in his book “Somaliland An African struggle for nationhood and international recognition” as follows; “The Republic of Somaliland has been described as an “inspiring story of resilience and reconstruction, and a truly African Renaissance, that has many lessons to teach the rest of Africa and the international community”. The approval of the multiparty system is a welcome initiatives of Somaliland President and the parliament and is in a line with Somaliland democratic tradition which has been recognized internationally.

An important news in 2011 that delighted many was the opening for international companies to submit their interest regarding oil exploration in Somaliland.

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS) completed 2007 processing and interpretation of two new multi-client programs in Somaliland. Acquired in partnership with the Somaliland Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources (Ministry), the programs include 5,300 kilometers of marine 2D seismic, gravity, and magnetic data, plus approximately 34,000 kilometers of high resolution aeromagnetic data covering onshore areas. The survey show that Somaliland has a large potential for oil and gas both on shore and off-shore. I am exciting about the hydrocarbon exploration in Somaliland.

The challenges ahead in a globalized world

What are the Challenges facing Somaliland

A major problem globally is unemployment and poverty. To reduce unemployment and poverty we need to investment in production and service. Business community should work hand in hand with the government in this regard. Foreign investment is important for Somaliland’s economic development. One obstacle to foreign investment is the lack of recognition which makes difficult to be part of the international banking system. But Somaliland people are entrepreneurs and found other payment systems that is faster and reliable. My vision for Somaliland is a land for knowledge and innovation. Therefore we need to start a process of engaging the whole nation in building a modern Somaliland which can compete with other nations. Somaliland have to think globally but act locally.

I believe we need to discuss following issues which are vital for reduction of unemployment and poverty. In November 21 , 2011, i participated as speaker a conference about “win or lose, the global struggle for competence”. arranged by Global Forum Sweden in cooperation with Swedish International Development Agency. The topic of my speech was innovative solution for reduction of poverty. One of the issues I raised at the conference was, so called “brain gain”. The Diasporas’ knowledge, know-how and entrepreneurship should be used in the development of Africa. The Swedish International Development Agency is planning 2012 to start a project designed for Somali organizations so that they can participate in rebuilding and development. This is a good opportunity towards accelerating the transfer of knowledge back to Africa.

Following issues are vital for Somaliland in order to become a modern and viable state that attracts capital from investors:

• New laws and rules regarding registration of different types of business (corporate laws), establishment of Company Registration Office), new accounting laws incorporated according to Somaliland laws, tax system for the corporations.

• Furthermore, it is important to build up Financial Institutions Authority that can control and follow up the banks and other financial institutions so they follow banking laws and other laws regarding protection of the customers savings.

• it is important that the education system must be improved so that the focus should be on technical subjects, vocational training, science, entrepreneurship and research . Today, the education is mainly focused on social sciences.

• Somaliland is a small country that needs contact with the outside world. Therefore it is important to make it easier for visiting foreigners to come Somaliland. The interest to visit Somaliland is increasing therefore I suggest that visa should be granted when the visitor has arrived at the border. This procedure is common in countries surrounding Somaliland.

The government alone can´t implement all the above mentioned suggestions thus we need to engage the diaspora, business community, Somaliland Chamber of Commerce & Trade, donors, the World Bank and the United nations.

I therefore take the initiative to arrange 2012 workshops about development of entrepreneurship, business laws and education (especially engineering) in Sweden, UK and Somaliland together with Organizations, Somaliland Chamber of Commerce and others.

We need a flying start to make Somaliland a country considered as one of the best countries in Africa in 2020.

Eidarus Sh Adan

Somaliland Representative Sweden

MBA in Business & Finance

Expert in Financial Institutions.