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Somaliland and South Sudan – The challenging road ahead

March 28, 2011   ·   2128322 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsomaliland-and-south-sudan-%25e2%2580%2593-the-challenging-road-ahead-21283Somaliland+and+South+Sudan+%E2%80%93+The+challenging+road+ahead2011-03-28+07%3A05%3A07Qalinle+Husseinhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D21283

When freedom and international recognition finally comes there will be considerable reason for rejoicing and a degree of trepidation. Both Somaliland and South Sudan have already had to learn some hard lessons about international politics. The patience of the peoples in these two nations-to-be has been remarkable and what strikes most seasoned observers is the lack of bitterness towards those who have impeded their progress toward self-determination and liberty. Naturally, the lion share of the energy being expended at present is connected with gaining sovereign nation status, but it is clear that the peoples of both lands must also prepare for further challenges ahead, which if not anticipated and planned for now could easily jeopardise their peace and development.

Whilst the circumstances and dynamics of both countries are very different there are also a remarkable number of similarities that mean they will make for fascinating case studies. The forward planning and preparation done now may well help smooth the period of transition and ensure survival and prosperity. Somaliland has already gained its liberty once and in recent years has endeavoured to plough its own furrow, something it has done relatively successfully. The peoples of South Sudan have had to wrest their freedom from a regime in Khartoum that has done all its power to thwart their wishes and aspirations, but now recognizes that change is inevitable. In order to establish solid foundations on which to construct democratic and economically viable states both countries will be required to address certain fundamentals which many nations in the region and internationally have utterly failed to do. As part of their planning the following could well prove crucial to the ultimate success of each country.

An excellent starting point would be the Millennium Development Goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve material health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Global partnership for development (Source: www.undp.org/mdp)

 

These eight laudable aims need to be at the forefront of all planning. It is only when policy makers actually start to commit them to memory that they realise just how few key decisions can be made without reference to them. It is essential that at this stage contacts are made with the MDP Africa Steering Group whose objectives are to:

1. Strengthen international mechanisms for implementation in the five areas of health, education, agriculture and food security, infrastructure and statistical systems;
2. Improve aid predictability; and
3. Enhance coordination at the country level (Source: www.mdgafrica.org)

The near symbiotic relationship between these goals demands that all who care for the future of the region must redouble their efforts if more is to be achieved. Targets are of little use unless there is a concerted effort to achieve them at every level.

Any society that is serious about making significant headway has to focus on creating a business friendly environment, one that minimises the cancer that is corruption and one that to be a true and mature democracy allows and encourages an independent and responsible media. If these yardsticks are employed the current situation is further elucidated and it becomes clear just what a mountain Somaliland and South Sudan have to climb when one examines the parlous situation in some of their regional neighbours or the states from they themselves will emerge.

Countries	Corruption PerceptionIndex  ranking 2010 Source: www.transparency.org	Ease of doing business ranking 2010Source: www.doingbusiness.org	Press Freedom Index 2010Source: www.rsf.org
Djibouti	91st out of 178	158th out of 183	110th out of 178
Eritrea	123rd out of 178	180th out of 183	178th out of 178
Ethiopia	116th out of 178	104th out of 183	139th out of 178
Kenya	154th out of 178	98th out of 183	70th out of 178
Somalia	178th out of 178	Insufficient reliable data	161st out of 178
Sudan	172nd out of 178	154th out of 183	172nd out of 178
Uganda	127th out if 178	122nd out of 183	96th out of 178

Even allowing for a margin of error of ten places either way, these figures are a significant wake-up call. For some countries things are clearly so bad they cannot go any lower.

So what direction should Somaliland and South Sudan each take? Now is certainly time to take stock.

There are four main areas for concern:

• Aid Dependency – In common with a number of other with developing nations there is the danger that their economies will become skewed by over reliance on overseas aid. This in itself stifles innovation and becomes a disincentive for successive governments to tackle underlying economic weaknesses with zeal.

• Nepotism and Corruption – Has become an insidious feature of some aspects of society that is greeted with a degree of resignation by many people in the region. This further impedes economic development and trust.

• Excessive bureaucracy – Whilst East Africa and the Horn of Africa has managed to attract some foreign investment the climate for enterprise and entrepreneurship is still hampered by unnecessary red tape and the lack of proper judicial safeguards.

• Threats to Press Freedom – Democracy and transparency are put under serious threat by those clearly intent on gagging the press or even prepared to engage in threats, intimidation and violence. The recent case in Somaliland of the three year sentenced handed out to Mohamud Abdi Jamu, the Editor of Waheen (an independent newspaper) for supposed defamation of a regional Police Chief raises serious questions about the Judiciary’s understanding of the constructive role an independent and responsible media can play in society.

The rule of Law has a pivotal role to play in any society. Governments have a duty to ensure that systems are in place to protect all citizens and to support openness and transparency. All too often legal processes are costly, unwieldy and extremely time consuming. For an economy to thrive it is therefore essential that every effort is made to ensure that business law is firm and fair and operating as efficiently as possible. If this is not the case potential foreign investors will locate to more business friendly countries and economic benefits will be lost. Policy makers need also to give thought to how they assist local entrepreneurs as they can often be a key means of stimulating economic growth and providing employment. Whilst there is some data to suggest that limited progress has been made to create an environment conducive to enterprise and investment, it is still insufficient to generate the sort of confidence required to stimulate and attract sustained investment.

Education is going to play a pivotal role in development. Both new nations can learn from the mistakes made elsewhere. Tanzania’s economic development has been hampered by a shortage of high quality mathematics teachers and the lack of a coherent strategy to tackle poor levels of numeracy right across every level of education. Somaliland and South Sudan must ensure that sufficient emphasis and investment is placed on primary, secondary and tertiary education. External associations such as the Commonwealth will be invaluable in this regard, as the Commonwealth has always championed education as a means to development and prosperity.

When anyone surveys the nations of the Horn and Sub-Saharan Africa in general it is evident that they have all taken quite different journeys over the last forty years. Such have been the vicissitudes of the global economy in recent times that external factors have often undermined laudable aims, whilst internal flaws have impeded implementation and reform. Added to this is the fact that recent events have elucidated some of the serious weaknesses in Western Capitalism. Whilst unfettered capitalism has created fabulous wealth for some, its rapacious appetite has taken parts of the world economy to the brink of economic famine. Developing nations have been further left on the margins, whilst those on the economic top table engage in a period of angst and straw clutching.

No one must underestimate the problems that face Somaliland and South Sudan when they are finally welcomed officially into the international family of nations. Each face challenges over water, food production and basic infrastructure. The spectre of clan and tribal divisions is ever present as is the threat from neighbours who may well wish to sabotage progress. South Sudan’s economy will have to adapt and recalibrate if it is prosper following years of manipulation designed to suit Khartoum rather than the region as a whole. Neither emergent nation will have an easy time of it. Expectations will be high, and once the euphoria and jubilation dies down the harsh realities of nation building will begin. Somaliland already knows much of what this entails and those of us who care for the region must use our good offices to ensure that we proffer appropriate assistance, guidance and practical support.

By Mark T Jones

London based freelance writer and international advisor on African Affairs.

 

Somalilandpress | 28 March 2011

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Africa, corruption, Democracy, Development, Somaliland, South Sudan