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Lawrence Solomon: Capitalist haven
May 25, 2012 · 79 Comments
OPINION | MAY 25, 2012
Lawrence Solomon
British traditions boost the de facto state of Somaliland
Second in a series. Next: Cutting Greater Somalia down to size
It’s the only African country that doesn’t rely on foreign aid from the world’s rich governments. It’s a Muslim country in Africa that has had a functioning democracy for two decades. It’s an oasis of relative peace in one of the most vicious regions of the world, with a growing free-market economy, low inflation and a currency that has been appreciating against the U.S. dollar.
This anomaly of a country, Somaliland, is unrecognized by any other country in the world, even though the World Bank’s chief economist for Africa touts it as a “success story” and the World Bank itself doesn’t formally recognize it. Somaliland’s story is all the more astonishing given that it is officially part of Somalia, a failed state best known for its piracy at sea and al-Shabaab terrorists on land, and given that it declared independence in 1991 after surviving a brutal repression by Somalia’s Marxist dictator that dispersed much of its population to the U.K., Canada and other safe havens.
While much of Somalia descended into an ungovernable anarchy over the past two decades, Somaliland miraculously found its feet. The miracle lay largely in the country’s good fortune to have been in British hands over most of the previous century, and in its good fortune to be deprived of foreign aid. Without foreign aid lavished on leaders in the central government and with a decentralized British colonial parliament, Somaliland’s local governments exercised meaningful rule, citizens were accustomed to local rule, and citizens had no choice but to be self-reliant.
In the rest of Somalia, where foreign aid propped up a corrupt central government without benefiting the populace at large, self-reliance meant banditry on the roads and piracy at sea. In foreign-aid-bereft Somaliland, such lawlessness would have killed the country’s best hope for survival — exports from the deep-sea port of Berbera that the British left behind, coupled with roads able to carry to port local goods as well as goods from neighbouring landlocked Ethiopia.
The local clan-based governments calculated they would earn less by plundering the few merchants willing to risk the trip to port than by ensuring safe passage along the road system and sharing in growing port revenues. It was an enlightened business decision. Livestock exports of goats, sheep, cattle and camels, which account for some 60% of Somaliland’s total exports and GDP, has soared, almost tripling in the last five years alone, while Ethiopia — the dominant economy in the region — increasingly ships through Somaliland. The once-underutilized port has already undergone a major upgrade and, to keep up with the needs of its burgeoning trade, Somaliland has announced it will privatize the port.
Because Somaliland is unrecognized, credit has been hard to come by, the country has largely needed to rely on cash transactions, and foreign investment has been all but non-existent. Until now.
Although most of the world’s governments, fearful of encouraging other secessionist movements, are in solidarity with the central government of Somalia against Somaliland, the world’s capitalists are taking a second look. Somaliland may not have the official imprimatur of the United Nations or the backing of a major central bank, some investors reason, but it looks a lot more secure than a Greece, an Egypt, or many other countries blessed by officialdom.
This week, Coca-Cola opened a US$15-million bottling plant in Somaliland, the country’s first major industrial investment since independence. Others, including Toyota and foreign airlines, have announced plans to invest. And oil companies, too, are expressing interest — prior to the civil war, several oil majors were exploring in Somaliland.
But the biggest breakthrough for Somaliland may come from a sympathetic Britain, its former colonial master and present home to the world’s largest Somali Diaspora community. In a 21st-century twist on its colonial trading corporations such as the Hudson’s Bay Co. and the East India Co., the British parliament this year established the Somaliland Development Corp. as an end-run around countries that deny Somaliland the recognition, and investment, it deserves.
“The point of the corporation is to facilitate international investment in Somaliland and economic interaction for the benefit of the Somaliland people,” explained British MP Alun Michael in the House of Parliament. “As an unrecognized state, it is isolated. Despite its extraordinary achievements in stability and democracy, international donors cannot deal directly with its government, and foreign investors face uncertainty about whether contracts — the basis of secure business — can be enforced. The point of the corporation is to establish an entity to circumvent that problem.”
The Somaliland Development Corp. will be, in effect, an outsourced Somaliland ministry that will allow foreign investors to help Somaliland develop under the laws of the U.K. Fittingly, the U.K. is helping to advance the development of its former colony into a viable democratic state. The rest of what is official Somalia — a region that was Italian Somaliland, including the autonomous Puntland region, has had no such luck, not least because it lacked the British tradition of democracy. But the Somalis in the former Italian Somaliland also have a path to peace, as we shall see next week.
Financial Post
Lawrence Solomon
LawrenceSolomon@nextcity.com
Lawrence Solomon is executive director of Energy Probe and a founder of Probe International.
For some historical background on the Somaliland success story, click here. For economic and trade data from the Somaliland Ministry of National Planning and Development, click here.
May 25, 2012
Follow @somalilandpressBy Hassan Ali
Tags: Britain, capitalism, Coca Cola, Investment, Somalia, Somaliland news, Toyota
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This ignorant man wants to be the "Lawrence of west Hargeisa". He has nothing interesting to say, just shows he wants to divide Somalis same way Lawrence of Arabia divided the Arabs but Somalis are too smart.
"Solomon Lawrence of west Hargeisa"; what will you write next in your series of articles designed to spread hate among the Somali populous?
Looks like the Council in west Hargeisa has a new backpacker.
Are you trying to sow the seeds of division between the great Isaaq nation just for a nap on your anti-Isaaq masters eh Kayse
Pigs are more likely to fly to the moon than Somaliland reuniting with Zoo-malia
Is**q it’s not nation put a tribe which live nothern somalia mr jackaroo.
All the lies and innuendo you were building suddenly crushed on you. Beeni Raad Maleh.
Observation to be corrected…Somaliland from the offset of de jure Independence in the 1960s
was ever never a de facto. Ironically the hidden obstacles facing the recognition of Somaliland
can best be addressed as being political embargo for certain unexplained interests. Otherwise
Britain who ruled Somaliland Protectorate 84 years and gave a de jure Independence in 1960 would
have no problems to lead the recognition conquest. To be serious, the suffering of Somaliland in this
regard is in the UK Govt hands. Dfid/other support aid are okay but why not lead the recognition if the UK
Govt really cares much about the Somaliland wellbeing to become a full member of the World Body?
Perhaps it's high time the UK Govt gives more consideration to the legit issue.
Cheer
yea, de jure 1960 not relevant to anyone including international community.
Please explain why not 1960 not relevant to anyone including IC?
Cheers.
I do wish Somalilandpress can filter who comes in and at most stops them from using existing names.
Typo: Cheers not Cheer.
Cheers.
loool get over yourself cheer+cheers layne .. plus airnt tired of promoting this division among somali people..
The author claims that Somaliland was very fortunate that it had been deprived of foreign aid. How does Mr. Solomon explain that Somaliland received close to US$100million in the physical year of 2009 alone from the United Nations? see United Nations in Somaliland http://bit.ly/K8jcF6
A Somali proverb says "if you are telling a lie, tell one that resembles truth". Can anything else that was simply dictated to this man be relied upon as a balanced report. Mr. Solomon, do your homework before you write a propaganda piece whose sole purpose is to divide Somalia and its people.
@Allemagan.
Most of This fund directly -indirectly will end up private Accounts.with no Accountability poverty keeps circling.
Allemagan it is you that needs to get the facts right and not jump to conclusions, the author is right when he states Somaliland which means the 'Somaliland Government' does not receive aid, the guy explains how direct aid to the government of Somalia has led to corruption and because Somaliland does not get the same it has escaped that fate. It is all there Mr Allemagan in black and white you just have to READ, because you hate Somaliland does not mean everything positive written about it is false, why be so blindly biased, if you are so inclined, you may hate Somaliland, but hey "gaal dil gartiisana sii"
allemag why didn’t you tell ALIAN kayse that. Somaliland government doesn’t receive any foreign aid directly. these agencies spend whatever they have on their own through the offices they have in Hargeisa. Somaliland gov relay on it own revenue from taxes raised locally. No other foreign aid entity supplement its budget. Besides I don’t see any benefit of these aid monies contribute to the somaliland economy except few rental in the form of real estate and trucks. This 90 million you talking about is probably spent on plane tickets, house rentals, trucks and huge salaries for UN officials. The local economy is propelled by the Somalilanders citizens and not aid money,not to mention investment from Somaliland entrepreneurs. Even this Coke factory is built and financed by Somali people.
Aid doesn't develop anything, we all know the Somali proverb nin gacantisa wax ku cuna ayya darga. InshAllah we will come out of foreign reliance aid and invest in our economy. Our people need jobs more than anything.
Unlike the chaotic Somalia, Somaliland is more interested in investment not food aide. This Horn of African country is more stable than most African countries and international investors should not miss the opportunity of investing in Somaliland's vast natural resources and must not forget that Somaliland is the gateway to landlocked Ethiopia and Southern Sudan.
Sure MR Joe, but Southern Sudan doesn't share borders with Somaliland and is having deep crisis
with Northern Sudan. Kindly keep the Southern Sudan issues out of the Somaliland for the timebeing and
until the Somaliland recognition conquest becomes sorted out and becomes a reality.
Cheers.
The enemies of Somaliland are so envy of Somaliland success story, they have started to attack a neutral observer of the fact. The author is not a Somalilander or African for that matter, but someone who is express the fact. But, the enemies of Somaliland will sharpen their knives to anyone who dare to write the truth and what they are trying to do to this writer is no difference.
Some of this enemies of Somaliland the like of so-called Allamegan, are trying to make some people believe, the statistic that was prepared by UN employee for their own self-interest were some how the fact, but what Mr.Lawrence wrote was a fiction.
Late me explain one thing to enemies of Somaliland. Somaliland is a fact, it will be here today , it will be here tomorrow and it will be here forever. You can write or say any trash that you think of however, the truth will always be the victor.
May Allah, bless Somaliland and its people, where ever they are! Amin!
The answer to the question you [Allamagen] have raised is simple and straightforward: Like Somaliland, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea, to name but a few, all of them receive aid from the UN and other Western and Arab quangos. However, unlike these countries, Somaliland does NOT receive direct financial (or bilateral) aid from the so-called rich countries – the difference the author is referring to.
I am afraid, once again, you are well off the mark – your question and comments are not only irrelevant, but also pathetic.
Allemagan,
The $100m mostly went to Silaanyo and his family. This people only clap for him because in their eyes an Issak is never capable of corruption and thats because 90% of them have not went back since 1988.
When they go back, the first word they will hear will be "Keen Ducaadi"…hortaa haa so arkaan they live in an imaginary world where people told them "ohh we used to live in mansions till fa9ash came and looted our high quality products such as roofs, taps, beds, tiles, windows and doors because they never seen a city"…
I used to believe them till I went to Hargeisa and I was like "lakin now there isn't any fa9ash, why do you have so much trash…maaye waxad ii xayasiin jirteen I used to think you were reer magaal tagaay".
Wa iska sheeko caruureed. I grew out of that now.
I used to believe them till I went to Hargeisa and I was like "lakin now there isn't any fa9ash, why do you have so much trash…maaye waxad ii xayasiin jirteen I used to think you were reer magaal tagaay".
Wa iska sheeko caruureed. I grew out of that now.
You Sound like a little Girl..
I suggest that you all visit Somalia. You will become enlightened trust me. Qabil is only big in the diaspora. In Hargeisa no one cares about Somaliland they all after their bread like all human beings on this planet.
They wake up every morning, some go to schools, some go hit the suuq to get bread or qat, women hit the "Sariibado"—see I even picked up their lingo. It did me great and I cant wait to see Mogadishu…eeboow muufo lee radiina nooh ani wax iga ma galin Lawrence Solomon iyo warka…
I suggest you guys stop breathing qabyaalaad and go visit your motherland. Everyone is in Hargeisa same way they are in Borama, Mogadishu, Bosasso—they will laugh at you if you say I support Somaliland because I'm Issak.
Somaliland is diaspora project just like the other tribal mini states like Pirateland, Horseland, Gaalland, etc…
Waxaa iska ilawa in this world everyone is only worried about the roof over their head and bread.
waxaan maqli jirey Illahow runn iyo been meel ha naggaga yedhsiin. this alian calooshaa soconaysa. Maybe he delirious. He is contradicting himself quite a lot.Doesn’t he keep track of what he is saying in rantings. You are giving the concept of opposing something a bad name.
looooooooooooooooooooooool @ eeboow muufo lee radiina nooh..
u should also learn reer Bari accent… ari bayo hilib maanta ma jidho lool
kayse.
very good Advice visiting your homeland find real story & how people live day to day instead following what been told. if people with delusion will lisen could be good chance for Them getting rehab quicker.
Mr Kayse
i see that you are against your own clansmen and reject Somaliland but let me ask you why you want to return to Somalia the land of our known enemies who failed to realise the injustices they carried out on us e.g. 1988. I see you are trying to import tribal politics into Somaliland from the devil's haven but let me assure you Hargeisa or any other city will never become like Hamar or Baghdad
the land of our known enemies?
what did poor somali people in bosaaso gaalkacyo dhuusamereeb and muqdisho done to you that they are your enemy? why should a hawiye person take a responsibilty for barre crimes more than isaaq person? or even daarrod person for that matter
you are full of hate and cuqdad. nobody right now in somalia is responsible for actions of siyad barre he was a dictator
simple he attacked bari nugaal w/galbeed and he attacked cabudwaaq to source soldiers.
I have said it all along that, if we cannot achieve international recognision by the diplomatic lobbying route, its my belief that by our progress through the economic field will we no longer be ignored. If the ministry of finance can start thinking outside the box, we can build the berbera corridor on our own without any need for world bank loans and thus make berbera what it should have always have been the gateway to east africa.
well i don’t how you guys are Thinking good economy which you don’t have currently does not give you a ticket for recognition.Tawain has one of The best economy in ASIA put no one is recognizing.
Hey, but Taiwan is FREE from tyrant china. It trades and lives in peace. Somaliland won’t mind being like Taiwan just keep away the evil of Somalia. You can have all the western and arab aid to yourself. Just contain your evil in boarders.l
China has second largest economy in The world & prediction more growth infact 70% tawain trade rely on china.
Tawain population 23 million GDP $466,832 per capital 20,100 tawain has good manufacturing sector,well s/land region population very small no resources no manufacturing industry no manpower Accept dust flying around.to get The fake recognition your craving need to Afford rest of The world something That is solid “zero nil”.
I forgot to add that the governments focus should be fully on building the Berbera-Wajaale road, this is the key to Somalilands prosperity and future. The government should look at innovative ways of raising finance for this project to which i have various proposals that i need not elaborate on here, but only to emphasise to somaliland people the importance of this road link.
Weel said, Madar. We should focus more on economical development and prioritize.
We shouldn't also be looking for loans but rather investors. I believe this is a greate opportunity for countries like EU, US, China, India… to invest in SL. This will be a win win situation for all. SL government has made it clear that they will help every invester who is interested.
This article makes me think of the successes of Taiwan. Obviously it is a stretch for us; a small African country to expect to reach the level of Taiwan. However, I genuinely believe that what Madar said is true. That namely we should focus on building and solidifying our economic and financial pursuits which will give us a better global image and chance for diplomatic recognition. As the saying goes "business talks" and for the world to take us seriously we have to show that our economy is truly burgeoning and then we can move forwards with recognition.
Its also crucial as touched upon for Somaliland to build infrastructure such as roads and to bring development to the eastern and western regions not just 2 main cities.
Regards
excellent round up.
Cheers.
Allemagan, As most of the regular commenters have already pointed out it's obvious you have missed the moral of the story by miles. everything the author said was based on a broad spectrum of analysis not conducted by him but he rather compiled a range of valid data done by other independent experts. You may want refer to the 2 clickable links the author included at the end of this posting for further validation purposes.
Its self-evident that Somaliland has achieved significant progresses over the last 2 decades, one prime example is that Somaliland had flawlessly managed 2 consecutive free and fair presidential elections, it's doesn't occur in the 3rd world more often. If you look at the foreign policies Somaliland enjoys friendly relationship with it's all neighboring countries based on mutual respect and common interests, this type of relationship is rare in the 3rd world as well.
In the private sector, ordinary citizens embarked on very challenging ventures with a lot of initial uncertainties, we did not only turn them into profitable business projects but we're also able to pitch in for nation's building initiatives of constructing bridges, roads, and land marks in our cities on our own hard earned money, that's gutsy as well as unselfishness.
Allemagan, In summary, even the pre and during European colonization in Africa, Somalilanders were known for pursuit of self-reliance. Our forefathers used to get on merchant European ships, they did an intensive labor tasks at Liverpool, Cardiff and Copenhagen ports to earn money a better future for their families without a word of English, they voluntarily jointed the French forces and British navy through Djibouti and Aden respectively for the similar purposes.
Our forefathers ingrained unforgettable values in our society of which the baseline always is hard work determination and honesty shall eliminate a lot of obstacles in life. So, all of those advancement in our major cities you're trying so hard to discredit them but the rest of world is acknowledging are not happening by accident, we inherited though generations after generations.
Osman Qaal
I just wonder whether the wailers could understand the rich sophistication generations after generations
inherited kingship legit humanbeings universial standards. Sadly wailers don't think deeper.
Cheers.
maybe i should encourge my clan to build TAALO in Taleex to remember in 1920 when British air forces bombed Taleex just to keep the history alive like Reer Hargaisa oh wait they moved on lool
khaatumo citizen,
Before you dream about building a statue in Taleex, try to convince your kinfolks to be constructive in contributing something positive to their own nation..
Osman Qaal
thier nation right?? and who are their nation again?? i think things going well as planned in taleex conference at least now they focusing on building their own regions..
besides when u guys stop celebrating May 18th which is tribal day and start celebrating june 26 instead and bring back our blue and white flag which made in north then there maybe something we can discuss untill then u just tribe trying to run away rest of somalia because of Said Barre did..
khaatumo citizen,
It isn't healthy to live in the past, Somaliland liberation wasn't intended for only major cities of Somaliland it was for the whole country corner to corner. Thank to God it became a successful mission.
Osman Qaal
Osman inabti SNM mission werent to divide Somalia but to get rid of Siad barre ragime just like people in Mogadishu and Puntland, they also faught against, plus SNM never reached sool, sanag or southern parts of togdher (cayn)
and whos living in the past if u claiming former British Somaliland thier national independence day is june 26, personally I didnt even know may 18th was exist until 2010
khaatumo citizen,
Inabti, All the regions you mentioned above are the main arteries of Somaliland. Some of own family members scarified their precious life to keep them within our borders.
I'M not sure where you have got the false notion of that May 18th was constituted in 2010. No, please allow me to correct you, it fact, we just celebrated on 21st of our nation's birthday last week. where were you on last Friday? I'd be a bit disappointed if you din't celebrate.
Hope you get ready for a big celebration again in under 12 months when Somaliland will be internationally recognized as a sovereign nation..
Osman Qaal
looool Osman5 dream on i personally believe Sland wont recognition without us..
no i didnt go, i was properly busy cleaning..lool
It seems that the link I provided for the UN funding for Somaliland has generated unwarranted controversy and a lot of hand wringing. Many of the comments here are claiming that the US$100 million is not direct funding. To repudiate this false claim, I decided to give one example of direct funding to the two-council administration in Hargeisa. Folks, curb your enthusiasm, calm your anger and see strengthening the UK's relationship with Somaliland here http://bit.ly/ybxmzF
Like Kayse, I visited Hargeisa in 2009. Given the unsubstantiated hype that you read in Somali media, I expected to see the transformation that took place in Somaliland while I was away overseas. It was raining when arrived at Berbera airport. The bus that shuttled us from Berbera to Hargeisa was bogged down on the road by overflowing flush rivers such as Lafa Ruug and Wehaan. I have the pictures in my camera although the experience has left a bitter after taste in me. I have never seen so much precious water go to waste in a world where thirst kills many people and animals every year. Next morning in Hargeisa, I had to pay $35 dollars for a tanker of water. Most people cannot afford to buy a tanker of water and thus rely on donkeys for their daily supply of water. I was furious and disappointed that there was no reliable running water or electricity in Hargeisa. In the next day, as I explored the city, I was greeted with piles of refuse and goats feeding on them in every street. Most of the roads which were actually the same ones left by the last government of Somalia were swallowed by sand. For our ordinary folks, it is very difficult to fend for their lives and make a decent living in this environment. I did not see any public infrastructure that will support the million inhabitants of this city. However, I will admit that I saw few tall buildings that are mostly owned by Dahashiil and Horumud Telesom that were impressive. I will also admit that I saw few locals with SUVs who work for the government who managed to build their own big houses; Together with their countless NGO friends, these folks are enjoying the good life – but for the majority of ordinary folks life was tough as a nail as the day Margret Lawrence wrote “The Tree of Poverty.
As I dig for information of how much foreign funding actually goes into the pockets of the bureaucracy in Hargeisa, I am becoming angrier about how much of this lavish funding and foreign funding does no reach to the intended poor recipients.
wow that is deep bro i hope live will be easier for those folks insha allah
african are corrupt very corrupt indeed
from muqdisho
@allemagan.
good small Atrical corrupt officails all They interested is stealing money selling land 2x etc much worest in s/land region no Accountability at all.
Mr. Allamegan,
Your written opinion, sounded to me as this is your first ever visit to African Country or for that matter any third world country the like of was Somaliland.
The poverty and the desperate you describe between haves and the have not is not something new to any country in Africa. Have you ever been to Nairobi, Addis Abeba, Djibouti or Kampala? If you haven't I have, and everything you mentioned about Hargeisa is worse in those cities than Hargeisa. One thing you forget to mention, Somaliland is yet unrecognized Country where every small improvement is done by its hard working citizen without outside assistant. Where by unlike Somaliland those cities I mentioned as an example were cities which has never encountered any military destruction like Somaliland and where the government of those Country enjoy full benefits of International goodies. So please, appreciate was you saw in Somaliland and give credit were the credit due. That is what this writer is trying to explain nothing less.
What I have observed now for some many years was that, these people who love to bash Somaliland were themselves the least productive groups of people in our society.
I'm trying so hard to see your point through but all I can only see that you're consistently down playing Somaliland's apparent transformations in a very uncivilized way ..
Has ever occurred to you there're different classes of sections in NYC, Paris and London as well? Mhhh? maybe there're no homeless people or panhandlers in those cities either. If that's is the case,
I think you're out of touch with reality…
Osman Qaal
That's for Allemagan's last comment.
Just Ctrl F the page/link you [Allamagan] have kindly provided and see if you can find the word "direct" – I can't. You have certainly refuted only yourself.
As for the rest of your comment, the red herring fallacy comes to mind.
Allemagan,
Even though I do prefer not to click on attachments, I, however, opened your last link but I did not see any significance about it, besides Mr. Hague's remarks prior to the London conference back in Feb/12..
I've read all about it before, probably most of readers also have. I believe your attachments are intended for other purposes.
To Readers, please be beware of Allemagan's attachments..
Osman Qaal
Osman5
It is cheap tactics to direct people away from the truth and to frighten them away from clicking on my links. Don’t click on my link Osman. Just visit Foreign & Commonwealth Office of United Kingdom and search “Strengthening the UK's relationship with Somaliland”. You can hide but you cannot bury plane facts.
plain that is..
I did say in my previous post what happens to foreign aid. Corruption is abundant in that field. There is even one agency that get funds from some international agency to collect trash and refuse from the city. But with the meager resources mr. Somaliland did an excellent job to bring to order this huge city that quadrupled in size within the past 10 years. Bro, like you are doing research for how much foreign aid Somaliland got from Britain why don’t you research how much it cost to build a water supply system that covers the city and have reserve for future uses. At least you should be grateful and recognize the fact that you got water when you wanted regardless of the cost which I think is peanuts for a whole tanker of water. why you don’t see the fact you got into somaliland and had transportation waiting for you at the airport ready to take you to your destination. How a running wadi is different from the little snow that paralyzed Uk and most the European cities this winter. Doesn’t that count as water brother going to waste. Suddenly goat crab is disgusting because you spent few years in another country. Isn’t that what we all grew up with? Did you forgot who you are?and who you trying to convince. Somalis are in the business of animal husbandry and every man and women know raising livestock is in their Somali blood. Do you know brother it cost almost $ 100 to get a load of goat crab for manure.
even Xaartumo will tell you that.
Did anyone notice where Somalis in Nairobi? Allemagu should see Esliegh where Somalis Invested heavily. I want to know how it is compared to Hargeisa?
Allemagan,
I wasn't not attempting to scare away the bloggers but your references were a bit contradictory.
you wrote “Strengthening the UK's relationship with Somaliland”
My understanding this constitutes a step forward to the direction we're heading to anyway,
Taking under consideration, this actually is coming from a hard-core critic like you it's quite remarkable.
By way, I checked into the that website as you instructed what posted is nothing out of the ordinary.
Osman Qaal
Osman5,
He[Allamagan] was trying to tell us: here is the proof that Somaliland receives direct aid from the West.. Clearly the link/webpage does not show anything that states aid money goes directly to our government's coffers.
You were right, there could be malicious intent on his part. Don't worry, if tries, some of us will trace him down easily.
I Suspect Allemagan is no more than a thick head antiSomaliland dhuolzzzzz.
Cheers.
Much ado about nothing.
Aid, per se, is not the evil it's made out to be by its skeptics. The issue is how that source of revenue is managed or more likely mismanaged by the powers that be. America gives Israel foreign aid to the tune of $5 billion a year, conservative estimate I may add. They manage it well because their survival is at stake. In contrast, where does the aid given to Egypt and Jordan go?
Note: I am merely pointing an economic fact and not a political ax to grind. I understand full well how aid received by Israel is used against suppressing dissent and aspiration of a whole nation, namely the Palestinians.
Hi Troll Hunter Kayse can't hide. Hunt him down and bring him to justice.
Cheers.
I am on his case !
Hargeisawi-In-London,
Granted, but is it obvious though? only a handful of nations don't get direct donations in this world.
As Allamagan posted his comment and he was passionate about it that people should check into,
I thought, wait a minute, perhaps he found out new allegation of corruptions in Somaliland particularly in foreign aides. I just didn't quite draw the parallel between the article and Mr.Allamagan's attached references, that's all.
Osman Qaal
Allemagan,
We got to give credit where credit is due and to be frank the problem in Somaliland region is not the people nor the private industry, the problem is that there is no government at all.
The private industry is actually thriving and is better than what I thought it was when I was in the Diaspora. I was surprised the people how much capitalist they are.
Everyone in Hargeisa is chasing money and you see a lot of people with wheelbarrows of money and remember $1 = 6,000Shilling, they probably carrying several thousand dollars.
The city center has a dozen highrises and at least 10 under construction when I left including Dahabshiil's biggest building yet and SomCable.
The houses are quiet impressive but there is huge gab between the okay and the dirt poor.
The electricity is actually good and more reliable than Addis Ababa. While I was there I experienced blackout probably twice and I was there over two months…it did not last more than 10 minutes.
Hotels and other big centers have their own backup generators.
What lets down Hargeisa is the so called government which is nonexistent. There is no government but the public is doing quiet well for themselves.
No government means no roads, no urban planning, no cleaning, no proper water infrastructure…and this is where Hargeisa sucks.
No government in Somaliland, its a region within Somalia run by people. I like the houses in Hargeisa specially Idaacada.
Hargeisa looks pretty ok from three corners which means the new—Idaacada, Jigjiga yar, and New Hargeisa/Hodan Hills, where you got Shiraaqle, Hamdi hotel…on your way to Haleeya.
kayse. i was There eight month’s ago Acually The citizen are more productive Than This corrupt council.all They do is collect taxes from These poor mother’s trying to survive harsh world probably put in Their pocket,no one collects any garbage from The streets or suburbs straight cats & dogs every where, very bad hygienic should be report to WHO before disease breaks out.
Hargeisa is tiny, its the size of one suburb. I mean if you land on Egal airport and you take that idaacada road….all you pass is Ambassador hotel, one check point, few houses in Idaacada, Qaasabada/Sabaxareed/Qudhaac dheer and basically your in the city center from Telesom tower and that old bridge…where SPi is located.
the other corners are even smaller.
I personally love Hargeisa and I cant wait to go back. This time around I am going with my own trash bin though, gonna show them how to clean up. They live in trashwood for real and they say jinn lives in the trashes. Dadkani qashinkayba dugsadan.
And thats because there is no government. The most useless person in waqooyi has to be the so called Mayor, personally I would shoot the useless sub-human. He is the most corrupted, ignorant, bila leexjeeclo person I have ever met. Dont worry I did meet him and I didnt shake his hand.
He comes around the neighbours looking for bribe money. If you buy a land and someone else claims it too, he will come or send his cousin, I dont want to say his name here; they will take money from x and then go to y and take even more and say "the land is now Y because he/she paid us more".
After that you have to go to court and he is there waiting for more bribe money, then the families and warring tribes meet, he is there for shaah. Then they invite each others for lunch, he will get his cut from the sariibaad…
Only people that know Hargeisa know what I'm talking about.
Hussein Jiir has to go. Ninku waba bila dhiig, wa iska dameer, I think qaat killed him. No drive what so ever, no voice or energy————-he is like zombie.
I got mad passion for Hargeisa dont worry.
Finally I just like to add that Lawrence of west Hargeisa did not witness the New Hargeisa Genocide nor the one in Kalshaale. No one can divide Somalis, not Lawrence nor Meles.
Kayse,
you're so naive and immature of expecting very government official to be perfect. Let's face, the government of Somaliland encompasses individual human beings as such their minor missteps were factored in before they even appointed or elected for their roles. I'd be wiser you could think outside the box and put things in practical sense. You can't see it but we see a silver lining in each and every government official at any level of our government.
Somaliland in general is doing great, so, keep your bigoted sentiment towards certain Somalilander officials to yourself.
Osman Qaal
@Osman5.
are you able to debate like well debater or you just come here to promote your little one way blindfolded misleading vision need to grow up from your cage.i been coming on & off This forum for a while never seen you criticize s/land addm at any point or level.on The other hand we got mr kayse Allemagan & hassan always analyze scrutinize any Artical That makes sense.
s/land,
Criticizing with constructive feedback is acceptable on any debate but name calling isn't. Anyone who uses tribal matters or persona issues during debates is not a fair debater but he/she puts a load of dirty laundry out to the public, that's where things go in slippery slope.
Osman Qaal
Mr. Kayse, can you tell us your full name? Don't get scared, because you have the right to criticize your government, even though you have gone too far. Be brave enough and state your name. Come out of the camouflage. Our people are born to be democratic and we cherish it.
What is The point asking his full name,This is one of The reasons somalis no matter what part come from never leave tribe Issue behind.tribesim runs & embeded into Their vien,may be you want to know his sub clan not relevant That or could be little blind Threat people have right to express Their view.from now on This man is protected AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL we know what is happening in hargeisa,pls don’t say we have democracy so forth & so on becuase no democratly elected regional addministration kills it’s own people.
Not to worry about Kayse..sooner or later he will be caught up with to face the music and smell a good coffee
after his sojourn oblivion subdued enchantments of disarray of emotional sentiments in such despicable
latitude of dimensional disgrace to undermine the reputable democractic Govt of Somaliland Republic..
Cheers.
Omer
Forget about Kayse-nacas! I understand that he was a unstable kid from New Hargeisa and a close relative of Ali M. warancaqdde who subsequently lost in the wild west. Based on his previous comments and statements, in which he was regularly posting on SLPress, even long before the unfortunate incident that occurred recently in New Hargeisa, indicates that Kayse had always been a contradictory and disturbed individual. So, the only thing we should worry about is his current mental status. That is all.
lol omg y'all starting to creep me out.. let the guy live, who's fool enough to share thier name on slpress, so many angery sectionists
Fadal Ahmed,
hahahahaha walaal these people think we have something against them we just don't want them to be heart broken because what they hear is not what is there. They havent been there.
The Council of Hargeisa led by Hussein Jiir is the most corrupted mooryaan in Somalia. You seen how all those people live in unhygienic environment, trash, wild dogs, water, wastage…
When they go there they will understand us, for now they live in the Diaspora and are too busy clapping for some foreign living high in the social ladder who has nothing to do but publish meaningless articles.
Xasiidnimo! Xasiidnimo! Did you idiots not learn anything from si yyaa d? He didnt want any good for others and you dumb dumbs still follow in his footsteps! He who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it! Instead of hating Somaliland how about you try living with your neighbors in peace and fairness!
Hate only folds in on itself, and creates evil for the person that it grows in. You are not taking anything away from us by crying or lying only making your lot worse! Dig a hole for someone else to fall in and it will be you who falls in it.
Xasiidnimo is a disease remember that and get on with your lives in Somalia because Somaliland has had enough of you.