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Somaliland: A Note of Advice to the National Advisory Commitee for the formation of new government

July 4, 2010   ·   169507 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsomaliland-a-note-of-advice-to-the-national-advisory-commitee-for-the-formation-of-new-government-16950Somaliland%3A+A+Note+of+Advice+to+the+National+Advisory+Commitee+for+the+formation+of+new+government2010-07-05+01%3A57%3A44Qalinle+Husseinhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D16950

Since 1991, after the Burao peace and reconciliation conference that declared the proclamation of the state of Somaliland, there was only one unwritten policy adopted for the formation of the state institutions that was “peace, security, reconciliation, demobilization and disarmament”. As result, we build bottom heavy state machinery with one objective in mind and that was accommodation of all clans and sub-clan’s representation.

Therefore, for a period of close to 2 decade, the subsequent governments of Somaliland maintained the same policy and practices. Indeed, the best opportunity to embark from that policy was during the first presidential election when the people of Somaliland clearly elected a fully mandated head of state.

Today, we the people of Somaliland have once again demonstrated in un-precedent democratic fashion in the region (horn of Africa) or even in the continent a well organized and mature state whereby history of “free & fair election” was held and change of authority has been made by the announcement of the most credible electoral commission for Somaliland.

Your Excellency Mr. President elect, you have obviously campaigned during the election period with a written “manifesto” of your party “Kulmiye”. My note of advice to team you nominated to advise you in the course of the government formation are to carefully study the contents and environment on which they will be basing on their decision.

A classic example is, Kulmiye campaign manifesto has to be the foundation for any decision to be made by the national advisory committee (NAC). However, the outgoing government was not operating on a vacuum; there are several programmes in place that has been a platform for planning activities. As you know better than as senior economist and a veteran politician, the state of Somaliland does not have or had ever officially formulated a “national development programme/plan” for the short, medium and long term for the past 2 decades (1991 to 2010).

At the present time, there is an interim development framework that has been agreed with the international development partners called “reconstruction & development programme (RDP)” which has been operational since 2007 for five year period. The plan was to streamline the overseas development assistance by formulating policies such as aid management and delivery policy (almost completed), institutional development & public sector reform policy, macro-economic policy, social development policy, management information policy, gender budgeting policy and finally fiscal monetary policy.
In summary, my strong advice to the national advisory committee is to see how to translate the Kulmiye manifesto into national development plan and then evaluate their thinking based on such plans how to achieve and in order to do that what it requires namely:

1. Appropriate institutions with the right structure-departments (central government ministries, commissionaires and autonomous agencies). Unlike the present 26 ministries, 4 commissionaires and 12 autonomous agencies with more than 70 cabinet ministries and 20 heads
2. How does it going to work with regional/district-local governments
3. How to continue without disrupting on-going programmes with international development partners
4. How does it going to work with local, regional and international private sector (business and investors)
5. How does it going to create an enabling environment for an effective regional and international political and development organizations.

In my opinion, your Excellency Mr. President elect, you need to really engage more technical people to further provide scientific and cost-effective methods of forming a new state given the fact this new concept of Kulmiye government should be budget and programme driven administration.

I pray for you and hopefully your new cabinet team for the enormous task and responsibilities that are in the horizon. A consultative process is way forward for any successful administration operating anywhere in this globe.
Remember a government for the people, by the people and of the people was your logo motto.

Prepared by: Mr. Ahmed Dalal Farah | OPINIONS | 4 July 2010

Institutional Development & Public Sector Reform Expert
Macro-Economic Management Office (MEMO)
Ministry of National Planning, Coordination & Relations with International Organizations (MNPCRIO)

HARGEISA, Somaliland

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Commission, Committee, elect, President, Somaliland