Somaliland
National Cleaning Day in Somaliland
September 8, 2010 · 11 Comments
HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) – A national cleaning campaign was implemented throughout Somaliland regions. This cleaning campaign came after the president Ahmed Mohamed (Siilaanyo) announced it on last Friday in a press conference. The president told that there will be a national cleaning campaign throughout the country once every 45 days.
The people of Hargeisa came out early in the morning to participate in this cleaning campaign. A lot of garbage and waste that usually people dumped in public area in Hargeisa. The president of Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed (Siilaanyo) with the vice president Abdirahman (Saylici) and number of cabinet members participated in the cleaning campaign. The ministers were divided among the five districts of the capital city of Hargeisa where each minister and his staff were assigned to a district.
This cleaning campaign was well organized and most of new government official participated in the cleaning efforts. Number of private companies, police and the military also took part. “Those who are on sidelines, it is also your country” and “Keep your city clean” were the mottos of the cleaning campaign.
When the cleaning campaign finished, the president held a press conference in the presidential palace. He told in the press conference how the cleaning campaign happened. “Today, I am very glad to participate the national cleaning campaign that we planned to do it once in every 45 days.” the president started his speech in the press conference. He added
“I droved across the districts of Hargeisa city to see how the cleaning campaign was going on and I am absolutely happy the way the people came out. I am also extending my thanks to the municipality of Hargeisa, the private companies, NGOs and my ministers who have saved no effort in clean our city”.
Also the president thanked the people of Somaliland who participated the cleaning campaign.
Also, the vice president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Ismail (Saylice) with the interior minister Dr.Mohamed Abdi Gabose and the governor of Maroodi Jeh region Ahmed Omar Abdilahi (Hamarje) participated in the cleaning campaign in the Daami village in Hargeisa.
Ahmed Omar Abdilahi, the governor of Marodi Jeh region told that the vice president started the cleaning campaign from Daami River in Hargeisa. “Today is the national cleaning day of the country that the president and vice president announced it on Friday last week. The vice president started the cleaning campaign from Xisbiga to Daami village” the governor says. 
The vice president, Abdirahman (Saylice) talked to the people who were cleaning Daami village. He told them that it is a national duty to clean our cities. “Today is the day that we have assigned to be the national cleaning day of the country. We have come out to clean our cities. This will enhance our health and the beauty of our city. That is why we created a national cleaning campaign once in every 45 days”
He added “We have to wait for municipalities to clean our city. We should dispose our waste properly. For example, we should not throw away plastic bags and we should reuse it or put it in dustbin, this will reduce the number of plastic bags flying in the city and chocking our environment.”
The vice president also told that the national cleaning campaign started throughout the regions and main cities of Somaliland.
Most if new government ministers participated in the cleaning. The Interior Minister who participated the cleaning campaign in Hargeisa city expressed his feelings to Somalilandpress’ reporter, Abdiwani Baynah,
The president, the vice president, the ministers, private companies, and NGOs are all participating in this cleaning campaign. This will create strong bond among the Somaliland society. It brings people together. You see there is lot of things that we need to work on and we need to start doing that. Look at this place; there is a bad smelling coming from here. And we are doing something about it, by cleaning it. Our people will understand the importance of keeping our city clean.
The Minister of Education, Mrs. Samsam Abdi Aadan participated in the cleaning campaign of Ga’an Libah district. She said that told that her ministry participated in the cleaning campaign in different parts of the country. “The cleaning campaign is going on throughout the country. My ministry took part in each city. For example, the students and teacher of schools in each city and village in the country are cleaning up their schools. My staff and I are participating the cleaning campaign of Ga’an Libah district. We started the cleaning campaign at 7:00am. I am feeling proud to clean my country. This will be ongoing campaign to renew our country.”
The minister of defence also told that the army of the country participated the national cleaning campaign. 
It was Friday of last week when the president of Somaliland, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Siilaanyo) announced a national cleaning campaign that will be once in every 45 days throughout the country and this is the first one that has been held.
This cleaning campaign comes after Kulmiya Party took the presidential seat from previous administration after wining the election as the candidate of change and accountability. Many analysts say that mass public efforts like the cleaning camping is fulfillment of campaign promises made by the president to be accessible and visible.
Reported by Abdiqani Baynah and edited by Isahaq Hashi
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Readers Comments (11)
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Losing all extra weight is also very important, because vats is very harmful and incubates a significant number of chronic illnesess. vats stems from tha fact that we consume more then we need of solid foods and drinks. Fat people move less and usually avoid exercising. I would encourage president AMM to pay due attention to his weight and get rid of that big belly he carries around, while millions of Somalilanders suffer from mal-nutrition and always look so skiny that one can count their ribs even when covered by shirts. Stay healthy Mr president. Somaliland can not afford to go to an early election.
This is fantastic the country needed to tackle the problem of waste dumbing in the country. Know all he needs is to tackle the ills of qaad consumption which if one things about it contributes to significant amount of waste on all spheres of our society. This would greatly enhance his legacy.
I would further add that these sorts of events improves the morale of the people and builds in them spirit of self sufficiency and pride in their country. I think specifically that hargeisa being the capital should lead by example to other regions to follow, you cannot have the capital looking dirty its the first place foreigners go to when they visit somaliland. Clean capital would greatly enhance the reputation of somaliland in the world stage.
I remember when I first came to Hargeisa, one of my first impressions was a feeling of joy but shocked at how dirty and unkept the city was. There were places where all the garbage was dumped, bags and litter all over the souq. It was a mess to say the least.
This is a brilliant idea from the president, the benefits of such a clean up campaign is immense. The improved sanitation, public awareness, beautification of our beloved city. I tip my hat to the people of somaliland for this powerful initiative.
P.S. In Rwanda they have a national clean-up day where everybody comes out to clean up their area and around. This has gotten Rwanda the recognition of being the cleanest country in Africa.
Inshallah we can achieve cleanliness,
Asalamu Alaikum
Absolutely, the first impression when your embark on a country is its infrastructure and its cleanness. I too was shocked when saw how destructed and dirty was my hometown was returning to it after a long years and littered to a point of turn-off, especially dooxa Hargeisa. People even relieve themselves there, flies everywhere attacking you and your food. Plastic bags everywhere and flying around all the way to the outskirts of Hargeisa and in nomadic area as well. This is bad for the environment and unhealthy to livestock's grazing as well as human being. Can you imagine that some people even carry milk and gee for sale. That is a pure poisoning.
Volunteering a noble cause and it is good for the country in particular and citizens in general. That is why the Western countries are more advanced than the developing country. Its citizens contribute a great deal in every field.
This is a good example for others to emulate the government officials and to volunteer for their country. As President JJFK of the USA once said: "It is not what your can do for you, but what you can do for your country." We normally, expect more from our country without contributing a lot.
Dearest Sister Absolutely, the first impression when your embark on a country its infrastructure and its cleanness, me too I was really shocked when I saw how the capital and main city of my country destructed and dirty that was some time 3 years after the liberation, when I ask some of the people what is wrong with them why don't they at least clean their surroundings, they said my dear you don't what was our former life down remote areas, we where in tents with out toilets and any other facilities, then we came back home we appreciate Allah Al-mighty for this while we came back safely to where we belongs, all what we are scaring from is mines planted by Said military in every where. Then I returned back in 2002 I have recognized that they are improving gradually the only thing I have noticed was the people were struggling to survive.
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All what they were requiring was rule and regulation because the government was inactive the only active dept was the CID and the Security Service all the rest were failures, then I returned back in 2009, I was really impressed they way they were surviving and how they reconstructed their buildings, can you belief I saw a guy who is building his own house by him self and the members of his family he was the mason, carpenter and the labor indeed, I was been watching almost 30 minutes. then I came to the guy and ask how long this will take to accomplish this construction, he said no matter how it take me to complete the main thing is find a shelters from hot sun and wind of the "Xagaa" I was really impressed with that situation, on my way to the town I saw couple of western guys then solute them and ask them what they are doing, they answered calmly they NGO they came here to help you guys.
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I said well and good how about if I take for a minute and show you something impressed my soul if you don't mind? they said we don't mind, then I took them the same place, they saw his wife mixing the concrete and the kids supplying the concrete to their father who plastering the walls, they took a moving camera and took a complete film, then ask the father if he can go with then to their office he said I don't mind but I will be please if you kindly give a rid back so that I can complete my work while the concrete is wet. Voluntarily I said I will take and give a rid back as soon as possible, we went to their office fortunately the release 45 Aluminum corrugated sheet, 40 ea plywood and 35 sags of cement and 400 dollar to feed his family, then they promised him to return back to this office when he accomplish the construction, so what I mean is these people were in survival they were struggling without a help of any body.
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The current steps of the new president Haji Ahmed Mohammad Mohamoud is very admirable steps, such as selecting the positions for the appropriate people specially the Diaspora where he has recognized to make a use of the long experience of Somaliland Diaspora.
For that sake it is the appropriate to mobilize our selves and try to help our people our country and our faith indeed, this newly selected government is ours.
Instead of organising a mass clean ups it would be better to employ more street cleaners and install street dust bins and fine those who litter. Educate the masses to dispose of their rubbish correctly and arrange for waste collection every week from street properties. This is a basic government function.
Asalmu alikum brothers, sisters and gust. It's a good job to have a national cleaning day, however we need organisation and managment. What Abdisamad suggested is what I would recommand the people with. Salam