Somaliland
Dualeh Was Always Ready For Call From Somaliland
January 1, 2012 · 31 Comments
Hussein Abdi Dualeh’s determination and passion for the oil industry led to homecoming as a government minister
LONDON — HUSSEIN Abdi Dualeh is Minister of Mining, Energy & Water Resources for the breakaway Republic of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, a territory exactly the same as the former British Protectorate of Somaliland, but which remains unrecognised by the international community.
Dualeh was born under a tree in the Saraar region of central Somaliland, and was only five when his father upped sticks and moved the family to Aden in what was then South Yemen in the Arabian peninsula.
After returning for secondary education at the reputable SOS Sheikh International School, Dualeh himself got itchy feet and set off alone for Abu Dhabi, where he got a job selling lubricants and gasoline to bulk buyers for the state-owned oil company Adnoc.
It was here that his passion for the oil business grew, doing with a determination to prepare himself for a serious role in the industry.
This idea drove him in 1979 to the University of Oklahoma, where he completed a petroleum engineering degree, with a view to building a career back in the Middle East.
However, prompt job offers from several majors upon graduation persuaded him to stay on in the US and he ended up employed by Chevron in Los Angeles.
He pushed water out of old mature oilfields in California and later moved to work offshore by the late 1980s.
“And all this time I was toiling pro bono for successive governments back home, advising Hargeisa (the capital of Somaliland) on oil and gas affairs, scrutinising contracts and purchase agreements and encouraging companies to invest in Somaliland.”
During that time, Dualeh was getting deeply involved in the turbulent politics of his homeland, a once free state with a stable polity, which asserts sovereign independence from the rump of the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.
He joined the opposition Kulmiye Party — Kulmiye means the one who brings the people together — and he rose to become chairman of the party’s North American chapter, catching the eye of the party’s leader, now President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo.
By this time in 1990 Dualeh had married and was holding down a top downstream job as operations manager with California’s Metropolitan Transport Authority, ensuring compressed natural gas supplies for the fleets and developing new business.
His Somali wife and three children were happy and thriving in the golden state.
“Then while visiting Hargeisa in July 2010 I met Silanyo face to face and he told me he had other plans for me and that I should come home. I had always dreamed of coming back to Somaliland and now, look, I’m sitting here as minister.”
His children are in their midteens and visit Hargeisa frequently.
“They’re proud of my decision to return and improve conditions in the country. They encourage me and they’re also longing to be part of the adventure… I must say, their reaction was the turning point in my story.”
He is optimistic about his life and the future. “It’s all about waking up in the morning and wanting to make things happen.”
He has little patience for majors claiming force majeure and even less for briefcase outfits showing no obvious commitment — he wants action.
“I’ve just been to China to discuss Hong Kong-based PetroTrans installing a gas pipeline from Ethiopia to our port at Berbera, along with liquefied natural gas export trains, and I think it’s a very good idea.
“We have a peaceful country, an open door policy and demand contract sanctity just as we offer contract security.”
Commenting on overtures from New York-based financier and equity venture company Jarch Capital, run by Philippe Heilberg — the company specialising in energy deals with nonsovereigns, which won sweeping exploration and production rights to the entirety of nearby South Sudan — Dualeh says they are still knocking on the door.
“Heilberg tried to do a deal but it didn’t go well. He was offered a huge slice but wanted the whole country, so we just parted ways without agreement.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Dualeh says “a lot of oddball ‘Joe Blow’ companies pass through Hargeisa, but I don’t pay them any attention — we’re looking for serious technical and financial competence to get real exploration restarted”
By Barry Morgan
Upstream Online
Email this story
By Hassan Ali
Tags: Energy, Hussein Abdi Dualeh, Mining, Oil, Somaliland, Water Resources
Readers Comments (31)
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Dualeh is a blessing for Somaliland and he is definitely the right man for that portfolio. I now believe the accusations against him were false. The man was on a six figure salary, why would he steal mere $50k? He made that in few months in LA, the city of angels.
He moved from Hollywood to Hargeisa for the love of his country leaving behind his top job, wife, friends and children. He was pushing a Benz and now pushes a donkey cart.
Thank you Mr Dualeh we love a real patriot like you.
I just wonder Joe, against this promising scenario of this highly profiled Min. of Mining, Energy and
Water, how then the failed accusations of the FM could simply get away with such criminal defamations
and condemnations without justice punishing the FM to face resignation or sacking him and even
if necessary charging him to court case. What about the other cases against the FM? How far the
Attorney General has reached to reveal.
Cheers.
Mohamed Cheers, Mohamed Hashi is really a good sincere man and he means good but he's lil acentric waan u dulqadanaynaa xD
Bro that's not enough, he's not what many think of him. Read Mr. Tani precise description.
Quote from Tani..Narcissistic, unscrupulous and ostentatious man!. He's that and more.
If Ina Hashi is a good and sincere man, everybody else is either Prophet or Saint.
Sorry but my mind have seen enough of this selfish and mean character. The sooner he goes
the better. If President wants to keep him for whatever reason, that;s the President's discretion.
But really he's no good for the Maaliyada Job.
Cheers.
You are supporting him because of not his credibility but he belongs to your sub-sub-clan. He is thief and must resign then let him go back to 711 job in California with his engineering degree.
If he can make money in California what is he doing in the dirty country.
This is bias article. Mr. Barry Morgan, Please try not to interfere Somaliland's campaing. We can simply imagine that you are part of the corruption.
There's no need to thwart your curses against MR. Barry Morgan. He just stated facts without
prejudice on what he knows about Minister Dualeh. I just can't see what makes you nervous and so upset.
Cheers.
He is upset because he feels an educated Somalilander with a six figure salary is a threat to their little dream in the south. You don't see whats fueling their personal attacks against people they know nothing about?
We have educated men running our nation while warlords and foreign troops run theirs. I would be upset too please be sympathetic.
Why you use foreign infidel names to promote you corrupted cabinet everytime there are issue or concerns the credibility of this kulmiye government. The whole article makes no sense and it's full of lie. The guy was 711 3rd shift cashier. Let him resign and go back to California.
Barry Morgan's article makes no sense. He is trying to promote for us someone we knew his reliability and credibility too. He was attempting to steel public money. He is corrupted and must resign the go back to his 711 job in California with his engineering degree.
Makes no sense to illiterate fgash like you who skipped all his education due to conflict and starvation. Dont be alarmed, Turkey is happy to take 50 year old like you. Keep your head up adeero.
My budy it's $500K not $50K and it's a criminal law case, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; This is a forgery case written article, if anyperson try search in internet, it's non-existance at all.
Who is suspicious minds named himself Joe, mohamed cheers, MsSomaliland and posted comments in lesser than one hour.
Dualeh Was Always Ready For Call From Somaliland
http://www.upstreamonline.com/hardcopy/head_to_he…
Bull sheet , he looted the money and whole government is corrupted. He must resign and go back to his 711 night shift job.
His bio is fake let him resign and go. We are not willing to watch his crocodile cry all the time. He did enough damages and caused to much pain and anger to us.
Joe,
Barry Morgan wrote a very intresting article here about Dualeh who is really qualified men for the job of Minister of Mining, Energy & Water Resources given his education and experience. We should all thank you both for your insightful input and intimate knowledge of Somaliland affairs although you are foreigners. ;)
Happy new year to all and peace on earth.
Cheers
Hussein Abdi Dualeh for President
What a bias article? Somaliland doesn't need corrupt people like Duale. He should return to California. He failed the people of Somaliland miserably. Not only did he make a deal with Ophir but to other unknown companies with no assets whatsoever. Other then sellling shares in FTSE which I assume means shares to be sold on FTSE that can easily be floated at very low price. I am ashamed of this as a Somalilander.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/market…
Somalilandpress are you trying to please Duale after you published damning articles about him. A free media should never be scared. The fact is his department should have never insisted that the money come to its account. It’s the treasure that deals with the budget of the country and the explanation of the anticorruption agency: the money was spent by him appropriately — are they going to announce the projects he spend them on . Maybe they (anticorruption agency) should be sacked as they yet to find anyone guilty of any corruption since this department was established and we all know corruption is vast in Somaliland
What the UK telegraph has to do with anything. Neither Mr. Dualeh nor Somaliland is mentioned here. Guys, you need to stop fueling the fire. The issue is done and dealt with by the President and both Ministers doing their. Tribal affiliation attacks on each other will not serve anybody. Let the men do their work and find something interesting to send your time and enregy with.
Fake Kayse
There is nothing wrong with Mr Duale becoming a President, its a matter of choice of the people of Somaliland.
Mr Dualeh did very well for himself, family and from what I read he has undeniable passion for his homeland. This is the sort of Somalilanders I respect and its normal for us to disagree, attack and when necessary praise each others.
Yesterday Mr Duale was getting negative remarks from me due to the addressed subject and the way I received the news—I just didn't want anyone misdirecting natural resources. For someone who worked in the industry for that long, I know he knows exactly what to do for Somaliland and this sector. He has my support.
We should always get behind educated leaders and send warlords and greedy ones to Mogadishu, no room for them in Somaliland society.
What was your tribe of origin before you converted to reer sheikh isxaaaq? You sound inferior and you over react all the time.
Ever heard of WikiQabyaladLeaks? Mine is there go to page 25663 on their site. Best of luck my cyber fan.
I think the auditor general and the president of the central bank had their say in the false allegation case against Mr. Dualeh and there is no need to defend him from defaming supporters of ina Haashi. All I have to say is the ball is now in Mr. Haashi's court. If he has a drop of dignity and respect in his blood he will either resign or apologize. He simply did what is not expected from a respectable man, he defamed a respectful colleague of his, which is the last thing a dignified human being would like to do. To all those dirt throwing and cheap snipers, I would like to say; unlike you Mr. Dualeh is a Somaliland patriot and that is the reason he left his high-paying job in CA.
If Mr. Dualeh is what the author said, he should prove it now, while holding this portfolio of special significance to our country. I seem him snobbish individual, who forget how he rose to the what he is today. Patriot and honest Somaliland should not behave like the way he behaves.
To be naturalized American who use to get 6 digit salary does not mean you are better than others in Somaliland. There are thousands who get similar salary or more, but humble and forthcoming to their country and people.
Any one who makes negative comment about this article and Mr. Duale, were those who hate anything Somaliland. Please, stop writing your nonsense comments on this website.
The history about Duale's love for Somaliland is not new, it's a well-known fact that he left a well paid job in State and moved to his Country of origin to help as much as he can.
I for one, thanks Mr. Duale for the services he provided and continue providing to his country.
where is the money– where did it go — for the allegation to be false, we need to re-cover the money — saying it used appropriately is not enough— if it was used where are the projects it was used for —
The Auditor General's statement regarding the funds in question was inaccurate and unprofessional and contradicted all the accounting procedures laid down by the government. Now he has been asked to explain himself and justify his statement in front of the parliament's budgetary committee that is entrusted with oversight of the government funds.Mohamed Hashi is within his rights to demand that all funds received by all ministries be deposited in the government treasury and should be managed by the ministry of finance.
Hey Guys can we have some sanity and restraint here. Let us be rational and look at the case against Mr Duale carefully. First of all I think Mr. Duale is one of those pompous Ministers who endlessly prag about their 5 or 6 figure salaries and I don’t think he did any favours to himself and to his supporters by putting the money in the account of his ministry, in the first place, but I think he has been cleared now (wrongly or rightly) by the Auditor General and that should be the end of the story unless he does it again, which is in my opinion highly likely, given his sly and slippery character, in which case I think the President should sack him. In the case of Mohamed Hashi I think he has not done any favours for himself either, because he slandered a felow minister in public and that alone says a lot about his snoppish and arrogant character which looks down upon other people and I think his confrontational approach does not serve the government at all and I suggest that President Silanyo show him the door by bringing the government into disrepute.