The project activities will help migrants from Somaliland, who have become stranded in African countries to return home voluntarily and reintegrate into their communities

HARGEISA, Somaliland, April 27, 2018/APO Group/ —

The European Union (EU) funded “Reintegration Facility” project was kicked off on Tuesday (24/04) in an event hosted by the Somaliland Government, EU and IOM, the UN Migration Agency. The project activities will help migrants from Somaliland, who have become stranded in African countries to return home voluntarily and reintegrate into their communities. It will also assist Ethiopians in Somaliland return home and provide them with reintegration support.

Representatives from the Government, Civil Society and the United Nations (UN) attended the event, coordinated with the National Displacement and Refugee Agency (NDRA).

“Somaliland’s new administration has established NDRA to respond to returning migrants. IOM through the EU is supporting us to help reintegrate returning migrants into their communities. We are happy

The University of Amoud, Borama, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
, and with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has launched a first of its kind Master Programme in Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, with thirty students from (RW) – Somaliland, Puntland, Jubaland, Galmudug, South West, Hirshabelle, and Mogadishu awarded full and part time sponsorships by UNDP and Amoud University to study in the programme.

It is expected the year and half long postgraduate degree will train a cadre of young professional environmental experts to address issues such as scarcity of water and land degradation, which in turn can help build resilience to drought, flooding, and other climate change related events. It is aimed that the young professionals can then take positions in environmental and government institutions, contributing increased knowledge to the area of environmental sustainability and resource management. In bringing together young people from Somaliland, Puntland, Jubaland, Galmudug, South West, Hirshabelle, and Mogadishu, the Programme aims to also contribute to cohesion and dialogue on environmental issues, supported by technical expertise from UNDP and other United Nations Agencies.

The Director General of the Ministry of the Environment and Rural Development, Dr. Abdirizak Jama, speaking at the opening ceremony, thanked UNDP and the Global Environment Facility for their support, and highlighted the contribution the students will make in evaluating environmental impact and sustainability. “The challenges arising from climate change need to be understood, particularly in our context, and we need to find proper ways to address them through adaptation and mitigation,” he said.

The President of Amoud University, Professor Suleiman Ahmed Guled, underscored the importance of knowledge in addressing climate change. “Knowledge is a commodity – there are lot of challenges in the world and climate change is one of the largest. The students starting here today will be pioneers, and we will ensure that the programme is sustainable,” he said.

Ms. Ilaria Carpen, Head of Hargeisa Area Office, United Nations Development Programme, reiterated that the students attending the Master programme are leading the way. “Climate change is a reality. We rely on you, we are full of hope, that from this programme you will provide the technical expertise to address issues relating to climate change. UNDP is investing in youth because we know that young people like you can come up with new inventions and new ways to address issues affecting the environment,” she said.

The students attending the Master Programme are expected to graduate in September/October 2019.

Finally, Kulmiye is too clever for their own detriment.  For the last eight years this party has bet on the gullibility of the public to shamelesly lie to their face, telling them what the people wish to hear. For instance, on their visits to Somaliland, western ambassadors to Somalia are casualy introduced to the public as the representative of the country in Somaliland and Somalia.

But this time, they have gone too far. Today, one thing is obvious and that is the government is lying about the nature of supposedly UAE delegation the president has received yesterday.

The government’s narrative is that a high level delegation consisting of 12 persons met the president and apologized for remarks made by UAE minister last week. Allegedly, the delegation also promised to lift ban on Somaliland livestock exports, train and equip Somaliland forces and facilitate free movement of people and goods between the two countries.

All this is good news, but many citizen are not having any of it.  That is mainly due to the secrecy surrounding the identity and the ranks of the delegation. Apart from being twelve persons and of high-level, the government failed to release any more details. There were no joint press conference after the meeting. Journalists were not provided photographs of the delegation along with the press release.

All we know about the envoy comes from the spokesperson of the president in a video posted on his facebook page. The ministry of foreign affairs reiterated spokesperson remarks today.

This is remarkably different than how usually Somaliland receives dignitaries and how they are presented. Normaly, journalists are invited to the reception or photos of the event are posted online.

There is also the matter of inconsistency in the press releases of the president’s spokesperson and the press release of ministry of foreign affairs. While the presidency mentions the establishment of kidney hospital, and public servants  training provided by UAE, Ministry of Foreign Affais does not.

On top of that disgusting cherry, the UAE side is yet to make statement regarding the alleged delegation.

The final blow then came from an online tabloid newspaper, Qarannews, which reported that the delegation is not political at all, but consists of junior officials in DP World and the Djiboutian businessman Abdirahman Boore.

At this juncture, one might wonder, what would compel the government to so blatanly lie to its people. A little background information explains it all. Last week, the UAE state foreign minister told BBC Arabic that Berbera military base and port deals came to being thanks to understanding with the Federal Government of Somalia, and that UAE did not have any communication with Somaliland. This embarrassed the Kulmiye who for long played the card of patriotism against the opposition. Suddenly, Kulmiye became a suspect of relinquishing the sovereignity of the country.

Uncharacteristically, Waddani party has not let the chance go by. Abdirahman Irro called for the resignation of Muse Bihi and the trial of ex president Ahmed Silanyo  for high treason immediately after the revelation.

That must have thrown the government of tracks. In a desperate attempt to safe face Muse Bihi have grossly underestimated the intelligence of the people and orchesterated this sham. This time, I am glad to say, people know better. People are  mocking the ill prepared and executed sham on social media.  There are jokes and buns about the invisibility of the delegation, stolen photographs of the event that mirrors the theft of the constitution of Somalia that was revealed recently. Some people are even wondering the existence of a ghost country which is also called UAE that sent a ghost envoy to Somaliland.

This time the lie did not pass. I am happy for that, but what is keeping me awake tonight is the question of what else, of higher consequences, is this government lying about? I can’t be the only one wondering that.

Abdillahi Hassan Jama

Journalist based in Hargeisa, Somaliland

Abdiplastaro@gmal.com

Press Statement                       April 27, 2018

Centre for Policy Analysis (CPA) demands Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum (SONSAF) to clarify its position towards the safety and work of the human rights defenders of Somaliland. Having considered a written complaint submitted by a human rights defender, and after analyzing the comments he complained about, we are deeply concerned about the unacceptable and dangerous statements publicly made by a senior staff of SONSAFwho openly attacked through the social media the human rights defenders and made allegations that can put their lives at risk. The allegations also harshly tarnished the concept of human rights itself. We acknowledge that this is not the first time the officer in question made in a public place a similar statement that undermines the human rights while claiming representation of SONSAF.

Recognized that the human rights defenders are already working in a tough environment in a selfless manner, it is unacceptable a senior staff of SONSAF to lead a smearing campaign against them.

It is beyond doubt that the work of human rights organizations in Somaliland is not any way contrary to the sacred religion of Islam. Any claim to the contrary to smear the human rights is wrong and perilous. Human rights are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland which is based on the religion of Islam as stipulated in article five of the Constitution.

We urge SONSAF to distance itself from that statement, take an appropriate action against the senior staff in question and make a public apology to the human rights defenders and refrain such unacceptable and dangerous attacks to the human rights defenders and to the human rights principles.

Lastly, CPA commends the work of the human rights defenders in Somaliland and urges them to continue their efforts.

For More information please contact with us at cpa.hornofafrica@gmail.com.

Events of potential strife inflicting impacts on the public always happen in everywhere. An old woman complaining against the price of bread may stire up street anger that might cause public uprise, which might in turn cause human casualty. The arrests of some prominent opposing politicians could prompt massive demonstrations and cause huge damage to public properties.

The cost of human lost sometimes causes the downfall of democratically elected governments. For democratic governments are accountable to the people. The fact is, reacting after social, economic anf political events — the manner in which they are handled and remedied — is what measures the scale of government conviction for the care of human life.

As history is our guide, we encounter with occurrences that are even worse than conlicts and clashes between opposing forces and experience overt all-out wars between tribes, nations and countries.

Somaliland is no exception.

Every country, rich or poor, has problems. For the most part, some governments are able to quickly solve problems without much trouble. Such governments either come up with a quick solution or use a strategy that worked well in the past.

Problems become more difficult when there is no obvious solution and strategies that were tried in the past but didn’t and don’t work. These types of problems cause a great deal of stress and anxiety and require new and different strategies.

The execptionality lies in how responsibly, wisely and willingly governments solve and deal with their problems.

There is no shame if there are many problems in Somaliland that cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. The shame is when we neither have quick solution nor strategy that worked in the past.

What sickens most of us is the way in which Somaliland government always reacts and responds to problems which inflict unafforfable economic burdens on Somaliland citizens.

The regular imports of contaminated energy by Somaliland petroluem companies which usually cause serious mechnical damage to a cinsiderable number of public and private vehicles is the case in point.

To import commodity that causes human health hazards and huge damage to most of our transportation means poses the questions ” Why do we need government? And what purpose does it serve in the public?”

The most basic purpose of government is protection. Protection is defined as the “state of being free from danger or threat”, which basically means the care of human life.

To explain the care of human life in detail, government is to protect:–

1. An individual from another individual.
2. An individual from a group.
3. A group from another group.
(Protect people from one another)

In addition to above, government must also:–

a) Establish Justice
b) Ensure domestic tranquility
c) Provide for the common defense
d) Promote the general Welfare
e) Protect public properties

Since above conditions are the basic social contract between the governments and the people, why Somaliland current administration fails to do anything about the problems causing pains in a responsible way? Where does the resource of our government negligence come from? Does it come from the lack of ability? Or is it that arrogance and inconsideration come from the leadership’s side?

There are problems that can only be remedied by material resources and mentality, that we know. But what about the problems that require just actions and implementation through rules and regulations?

Doesn’t this mean that our government acts contrary to the general welfare of the people? Or are there individuals within the government that dominate the entire country for their own ends? Are we not fully aware that there are ills in public services that could be improved when rules and regulations are enforced and observed in letter and spirit?

Everyone knows, as the old gag puts it, that half of the time in goverment is wasted, but no one knows which half. The best thermometer to good government is its treatment of its people.

The welfare of the people is the most telling measure of our nation’s success – and their potential is the most promising element of its future. It is up to us – all of us – to safeguard that future.

Great leaders always come up with solutions to problems everybody can understand. The point is where to find that leader at this time and age.

Government is a system, an institution connecting different ideas in a fantastic aspect of creativity, that is a form of recognizing the reality that connectivity of heart and mind, if applied, is wonderful solution to the problems of human life,.

The fragmentation of government awareness mostly triggers dizzying vertigo in the chaos of the peoples’ living standard. The thing is, government can reform peoples’ life and protect the rights of both the poor and the rich.

The scale of the damaged vehicles caused by the contaminated fuel is so huge, but the government did not take the proper action against those companies that imported this filthy fuel. The proper action which our government has not as of yet come up with is to enforce hard and fast rules and impose heavy fines on the petroleum companies and hold them responsible for the damages and compel them to compensate all those citizens whose vehicles were damaged.

Impressing the rich and ignoring the poor is not a good government’s function and vision. A good governnment is that which protects the rights of all citizens; government that distances itself from favoring certain group against another.

When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

Good government is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruits in its season, and its leaves do not wither.

The question is ” What one can expect from a government headed by a president who is elected by ignorant people that tribalism teared them into clans.”

In the 30-plus years I’ve been in the publishing business, I’ve seen my share of “new countries.”

Some are scams, such as the Dominion of Melchizedek, which I exposed as a fraud nearly two decades ago. But most new countries are never fully realized simply because their promoters suffer from the delusion that their claims of sovereignty will magically be recognized, without anyone putting together a clear plan for getting there.

There are two almost insurmountable obstacles:

• Getting anyone to take you seriously (diplomatic recognition, etc.)

• Defending your territory from incursions by more powerful neighbors

A great example of a claim that hasn’t been taken seriously is the Principality of Sealand, a “country” founded on an abandoned World War II gun platform in the North Sea off the English coast. In 1967, Roy and Joan Bates took up residence there. “Prince Roy” proclaimed a Sealand constitution and introduced a national flag and national anthem and began selling passports.

Now that Prince Roy and Princess Joan have died, their son, Prince Michael, is Sealand’s caretaker. Sealand passports are not formally recognized, and in 1997, 150,000 were revoked. But you can still buy one for only €244.99 and even become a Lord, Lady, Baron, Baroness, Count, or Countess of Sealand. Just don’t try using your Sealand passport to cross an actual international border.

Still, viable efforts to establish new countries that could actually be taken seriously are everywhere. Separatist groups in Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain want to create their own independent states, to name just a few movements across Europe. The most advanced efforts are in Catalonia, which in October voted overwhelmingly to separate from Spain. But its efforts to b>ecome independent were put down by force by the Spanish government.

But perhaps the most successful new country is one that you may have never heard about. It’s called Somaliland, and it’s carved out of the territory of the war-torn nation of Somalia.

You’ve no doubt read quite a lot about Somalia, which claims sovereignty over Somaliland, in recent years. The government that the international community recognizes is riddled with corruption and effectively controls only a small portion of its official territory. When Islamist militants seized Somalia’s capital Mogadishu in 2006, a coalition of African countries intervened to restore the so-called “legitimate” government.

Unfortunately for citizens of Somalia, the government hasn’t been able to restore the rule of law. Just a few weeks ago, Mogadishu experienced the worst terror attack in Somalia’s history. More than 300 people were killed.

To put it mildly, it’s not a place you’d want to invest in or visit. Yet, this is the Somalia the world recognizes as a sovereign state.

However, the northern region of the country – Somaliland – is very different. Crime is low, terrorism is almost non-existent, and the standard of living is higher. A series of peaceful elections has reinforced democratic rule for more than 25 years. While nearly all the residents of Somaliland are Muslim, disputes are settled under a traditional tribal system called Xeer. Like the common law that America inherited from England, Xeer is based on legal precedent and local customs.

While the world continues to acknowledge the corrupt government of Somalia, Somaliland has quietly prospered, despite lack of international recognition. It has its own currency and issues its own passports, which enjoy (limited) recognition.

That’s not all Somaliland has going for it. It claims a territory of 68,000 square miles and has a population that exceeds 3.5 million people. And crucially, it has the ability to defend its territory, with more than 35,000 soldiers.

Somaliland’s economy recently got a huge boost when one of the world’s largest seaport management companies, DP World, agreed to develop a new port there.

Part of the agreement provides for DP World to create a free trade zone in Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. It will be modeled on Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone, currently the largest free trade zone in the Middle East.

The fact that a major company like DP World is willing to make a big bet on Somaliland represents a pivotal vote of confidence for the country. It just might be the ingredient needed to compel the international community to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign nation. That’s especially true as conditions in “official” Somalia continue to deteriorate.

Certainly, Somaliland will continue to face challenges in the months and years ahead. But the fact that its government is looking to the example of Dubai, one of the world’s most prosperous regions, is a bellwether for the future. And it just might be a model for other new countries to follow. Not to mention a terrific investment opportunity for those brave enough to get in on the ground floor.

Reprinted with permission from Nestmann.com.

Hargeisa—Somaliland said that it will invest in 1,500 hectares of land for agriculture in Wajaale town.

The UK government has acknowledged that her embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia is powerless and cannot initiate work in Somaliland. This has forced the British government to rethink her strategic interest hence will open a new consular office in Hargeisa.

According to reports from reliable sources informed Somaliland News Agency (SOLNA) that a member of parliament from the British House of Commons Hon. Stephen Doughty on Thursday at the House floor asked the state minister of foreign affairs Mrs. Harriet Baldwin when Somaliland consulate will open.

“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed the British embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia cannot handle the bulk of work in Somaliland in this respect we are planning to review our policy and see if we could open a new consulate in Hargeisa.” Mrs. Baldwin stated.

Hon. Steven Doughty was amongst a British parliamentary group that recently toured Somaliland on a fact-finding mission. He also champions for Somaliland recognition by the international community

By John Fox

When I tell people that I am off to Somalia or Somaliland in the morning they usually offer some kind of commiseration. But they needn’t. A trip there is never boring, especially when you know that you will be catching a plane back in a few days’ time. Anyway, I enjoy a little shot of adrenaline now and again.

Mind you, they are right to be solicitous about the time you have to get up to get to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson for the flight out — the worst time of day, which is the middle of the night. And is it some kind of punishment for being such unruly neighbours that all planes to Somalia or Somaliland take off at such an ungodly hour?

Last week I was scheduled to fly to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, via Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. But when we got to Mogadishu we were told to get off the plane and wait in transit for four or five hours — that turned out to be six hours. They told us, as they usually do, that the problem was a technical one.

There were three of us thus stranded. But our shared irritation was dissipated somewhat when the Airways ground staff somehow managed to wangle us into the VIP lounge, where we could settle on comfy chairs and help ourselves to coffee, cakes and the internet.

Looking around, I was surprised to see how egalitarian the VIP lounge was. The few VIP-looking men in suits and ties were well outnumbered by guys in open-necked shirts — some even sporting baseball caps. I guess this is in tune with the fiercely democratic spirit of Somalis – a spirit strongly asserted in a poem by the popular poet, Yam Yam:

No-one who breathes oppresses me. Because I believe in equality no-one is placed above me. When you come to visit mesee no half-hearted hospitality. I AM SOMALI

Meanwhile, my Somali colleague was on the long and rough road from Garowe, the capital of Puntland, to meet up with me at the Maan-Soor Hotel in Hargeisa. His passport had run out, so he couldn’t fly — not that there are many flights between Garowe and Hargeisa.

When I told him in an email that I had never done that safari and I fancied the idea of joining him, he wrote back: “My friend John, you continue to surprise me. No mzungu has done that road trip for at least 25 years”. By that I assumed he was telling me that it wasn’t a good idea. When I reflected on the tensions that occasionally flare up about the disputed border between Puntland and Somaliland I had to agree with him.

Eventually, the three of us ensconced in the VIP lounge were told we could board the plane again. (By then we had found out that the real reason for our delay was that some proper VIPs — a group of MPs — had finished with their conference in Garowe and needed to be transported back to Mogadishu. So “our” plane had been diverted to do that.)

NOT THE WORST OF OUR TROUBLES

However, that wasn’t the worst of our troubles that day. Over Hargeisa there was a rain storm; the clouds were low and dark. The pilot began his descent, but he was obviously having difficulty finding the runway. Three times he circled, and three times he overflew the runway. In another of my lives I was a pilot, and that was no comfort.

I’m glad I didn’t understand the message I’m told that our pilot gave out to passengers — telling us that he didn’t have enough fuel to return to Mogadishu and assuring us he would be able to land. Anyway, despite the clouds and the pouring rain, he did make the landing.

Meanwhile, my colleague from Garowe was stranded by a flash flood only 30 kilometres from Hargeisa. I made the Maan-Soor Hotel for a late afternoon tea; he made it for a very late supper. The Maan-Soor is a lively and cheerful hotel. It is a place where you can meet old friends — and that I did, even as I was checking in.

When we found free time from our daily rounds of interviews and group discussions, we took a taxi drive around the city. It has grown and prospered since I was first there in the mid-1990s.

When I landed then, they were still clearing mines alongside the runway. Now, there are office blocks and supermarkets rising above the clutter of dukas and tea shops.

In the middle of the city there is a monument, a reminder of a painful history. It is a MIG 17 fighter-bomber mounted on a plinth — one of the planes that dropped bombs on the city in 1988 during the civil war.

It must be a memory that is still sharp for those Somalilanders who are so determined to maintain their county’s independence.

The chairman of the opposition National Party (Wadani) Mr. Abdirahman Mohammed Abdillahi (Irro) has called for the senate chairman Hon. Suleiman Mohamud Adam to retire. He then recommended  Sheikh Adam Mohamud Hirey (Adan Siiro) to be chosen to become the new Upper House, Parliament speaker so that transparency and accountability can thrive again.

Hon. Irro was speaking to the press in Burao town where he had gone yesterday evening. The opposition chief also talked about the imprisonment of traditional chieftain King Osman Aw Mohamud Burmadow revealing that his incarceration is politically motivated.

Here are his words “Hon.Suleiman, the Guurti speaker, has worked for this nation for a while and now the time has come for him to retire and hand the mantle of the Upper House of Representative to another person who shall take from where he left. It‘s my opinion and suggestion that the fire brand mullah cum politician Sheikh Adam Mohamud Hirey (Adam Siiro)  should be elected to become the next Guurti chairman so that transparency and accountability could become the norm again.

Pertaining the jailing of traditional elder King Osman Aw Mohamud Burmadow Hon.Irro said “I don’t agree with the hasty imprisonment of a traditional leader of King Osman caliber to be treated the way he was treated. He wasn’t given time to defend himself, furthermore his incarceration is politically motivated. The King was not jailed because he attended a traditional coronation ceremony in Puntland. The powers that be locked him because of his outspokenness concerning the chairmanship of the ruling party Kulmiye. King Osman wanted President Musa Bihi to hand over the party baton of leadership to his clan.”

Somaliland’s chief diplomat comes to London.

Somaliland Roads Development Authority (RDA) has today launched an up scaling and reform initiative to be implemented by RDA with the collaboration of University of Hargeisa (UoH) and other civil society organizations.

The launch event which was held at University of Hargeisa saw participation of high level governmental officials including Minister of Transport and Roads Development Abdillahi Abokor Osman and Director of Roads Development Authority Osman Sheikh Abdi Sheikh Mohamed along with other various stakeholders including community based roads development associations, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious leaders, media groups as well as engineers and academicians from University of Hargeisa.

RDA Director Osman Sheikh Abdi who addressed the event emphasized importance of roads development for economic improvement and social integration across Somaliland regions.

“We are launching this initiative today to make reforms in the roads development approaches, ensure that our programmes are led by researches and upscale implementation of ongoing projects. We would also strengthen the coordination mechanisms among stakeholders involved in the development of roads and related infrastructures” Director Osman Shekh Abdi said.

Mr. Abdi added that RDA initiatives are inline with President’s vision and the wider national development plan of the country. He urged diaspora associations, private sector actors and civil society organizations to take part the development and maintenance of Somaliland’s key roads.

The President of University of Hargeisa Prof. Mohamed Yousuf praised RDA for holding this important meeting at University of Hargeisa and creating collaboration and working relationship between the two organizations.

“University of Hargeisa welcomes any working relationship between RDA and UoH. We would provide support in researches and contribute to technical aspects of projects that RDA implements” Prof. Mohamed Yousuf said.

Abdiaziz Hersi Warsame from Somaliland Y-PEER, who also provided speech at the event, commended RDA for this coordination and up scaling initiative. He said Y-PEER is already a partner of RDA and is willing to take part in this new endeavor as well.

Finally, the Minister of Transport and Roads Development Abdillahi Abokor officially launched the program.

“We gathered here today to listen to you, to consult with you and to work with you on the development of Somaliland roads which are vital for the wider economic growth of the country” Minister Abokor said.

He went on to say “I particularly very much thank to the leaders of the community based roads associations who on their own initiatives began constructing new roads. This encourages us and shows that people of Somaliland understand importance of roads. We stand ready to give you any support you may need from our side.”

Finally, Minister Abokor told participants that President Muse Bihi encouraged all governmental institutions to utilize research and development units of Somaliland universities.

Optimism is the thing that drives you forward.”—John Bielenberg, Founder, Future Partners.

Risk comes from when you not knowing what you’re doing” Warren Buffett. In Somaliland, there is an information and research gaps, which is important for the National Development in order to ensure that we made the best decisions in the use of our limited resources, for instance, if the government have been given to a 100 million aid for the improvement of the health of its society but the government didn’t know what diseases it’s people are dying most, then the government can’t made the right decisions and can’t scientifically defend decisions that it has made.

What matters most to mention is that now we don’t know any information about exactly what we die mostly if its non communicable diseases or if it’s communicable diseases, we don’t know exact figures and information about the demographics of the health care services consumers and service users.

In Somaliland currently the situation is more or less similar as above and though there is significant number of people who are dying for Non communicable diseases and its complications such as heart attacks and stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Thus far there aren’t significant ongoing health projects with the focus of addressing these diseases, including healthy life style education and awareness raising on this reducing risk factors of these diseases, for the reason being that there are no figures, researches, and evident based data to support the decision of putting in our limited funds to address this diseases.

Recently, there has been the launching of Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey which is the first ever of its kind, the objective of this survey is generating accurate and reliable Demographic, Health and Socio-economic Indicators to fill the existing data gap and come up baseline for HSSP2, NPP and SDGs.

The Somaliland Health and Demographic survey (SHDS) will help the Somaliland National  Statistical offices and Ministry of Health produce valid, reliable, and representative national and sub-national data on infant and child mortality, adult mortality, fertility, and birth spacing, maternal and child health indicators and gender based violence.

The main objective of the SHDS is to bridge important gap in the Somaliland statistical systems, by providing baseline health and demographic indicators for the development and monitoring of Somaliland development plan and framework which are based on the globally aimed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The magnitude of this data for the development of sound national and sub-national evidence based policy, for the effective planning of service delivery to our limited resources, while above all this is important to the monitoring and evaluation of performance by services provides and development projects and programs.

The UNFPA Somaliland office with the financial support of UKAID has supported the Ministry of Health and Planningthe implementation of Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey which will provide us the necessary data for decision making, with a sample size of 3600 households in Somaliland.

Somaliland has been suffering decades for poor health care services, but I believe the new government of President Muse has recruited the right people in the leadership of the Ministry of Health Development, who are lucky enough to show up their potentialities of improving the nation’s health sector and on the contrary they are unlucky to have the road to change which is a long way to take is waiting them ahead.

As per the Somaliland National Health Policy, 2^nd edition, 2011, “Health Sector Reform is a sustained process of fundamental change in policies and institutional arrangements of the health sector, usually guided by the government. Any meaningful reform process ought to be based on evidence and information about the current state of affairs, and potential effect of alternative policy choices” and based on that any meaningful policy and institutional arrangements reform process ought to be based on evidence and proof is why the Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Hassan Ismail Yusuf, director of planning and research of MoHD Dr. Hamud, Dr. Osman from Office of Statistics of Ministry of Planning and Head of UNFPA Somaliland Dr. Adam Haybe has provided a huge input for this survey to be successfully implemented.

This survey has been also named Somali Health Demographic Survey and was covered throughout the 3 Somali zonal government administrations.

If used efficiently to the developmental programs and projects in the data produced by the survey report at the end of this survey, then a one step forward was taken to the evidence based decision making of the national developmental programs and projects, the development of national evidence-based policy, effective planning and service delivery, monitoring and evaluation of performance by service providers and development projects and programs.

The government of Somaliland as well has in place to a national development plan which is based and in line with the globally aimed sustainable development goals SDGs. Somaliland, with its limited resources is aiming to tackle down the figures of disease burden from its people, with the help of the international community, and I believe that Somaliland has a bright future a head.

Somaliland is yet unrecognized and poor but is able and willing to use its resources and attract foreign international investment so as to tackle the level of poor health, poverty and unemployment among its societies. Above all I would like to conclude that the way forward isn’t to try to stop the unstoppable (Somaliland) but the way forward is to look and search win-win solutions.

An opinion of Ahmed Suleiman Omer

ahmedsuleimanomer@hotmail.com

+252 63 4352658

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo appointed Bashe Yusuf Ahmed as chairman of the Supreme Court, as he overhauls the Horn of Africa nation’s judiciary.

Ahmed replaces Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, who was fired after a public outcry over several judicial decisions and allegations of corruption in the judiciary, according to a presidential decree broadcast Sunday on state radio in the capital, Mogadishu.

Farmajo asked lawmakers to expedite the nomination of a new judicial services commission, to replace one that was dissolved by former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed before presidential elections in 2017, it said.

Somalia’s government is rebuilding its institutions amid an insurgency by the al-Shabaab militant group that’s been fighting to enforce its version of Islamic law since 2006.

A week ago, the Awdal and Sahil Regions had a huge problem with the Cyclone storm and wind. I watched the media and I saw many people in both regions’ lives effected. As we know Hurricanes are massive storm systems that start over the water and go towards land, mainly in the region of Awdal Coast. Storm threats included high winds, heavy rainfall coastal and mountains flooding, heavy currents in many areas in Awdal Region.

This problem is not common and local people did not expect this to happen, but it’s happened and many areas were destroyed badly including livestock, buildings, farms, etc.

Cyclone storm was by no means an ordinary hurricane. After a short amount of time that few foresaw, the storm hit above regions, and the storm devastated many areas with chaos and destruction. It caused many deaths and injuries, and many people who were living in inundation zones were forced to evacuate.

Moreover, the storm caused numerous homes to be lost, as well as loss of power/electricity, local hospitals, education, and transportation; it will take millions of dollars and much time to repair the extensive damage it’s an immediate necessity. This catastrophic tragedy is important to study and remember because it left many people in poor living conditions and economically damaged many areas, which was extensive and long-lasting. The importance of natural disasters and the impact of their devastating events that Somaliland society needs to remember will remind people that destruction is very real, and we as a society need to stand together and not easily forget the importance of helping others who suffer under these unavoidable conditions.
The effects of physical damage to buildings were incredibly bad. The underground roads were filled with rocks and water after the flood. Many buildings were damaged, particularly Lughaya (City of Hope) and some did collapse. According to “Somaliland media.”
The effects of the storm on the people of Awdal was dreadful. This tragic event caused a reported “37” deaths and the majority of them occurred in Lughaya District. As I have mentioned, the homes that families had tended to over generations were destroyed, and many other people lost their properties. The power outage affected the functioning of transportation and telecommunications, among other crucial functions.

The effects of this tragedy on the environment and economy caused Awdal Region to lose millions of dollars.

However, I believe this it’s time to build unity with a future plan in order to protect our people. The Somaliland government particularly Somaliland President and vice president did a great job! They both visited the tragic areas and met local communities. Mr. President and Mr. Vice President you have to make a national plan for natural disasters in order to minimize the risk for our people in the future. Many organizations including Amoud foundation responded to this catastrophic event and many local people played a tremendous role to help.

Ali A. Hori, M.Ed.

San Diego, CA.

Ahori1@gmail.com

LONG-time campaigner for national self-determination, Kidderminster MEP James Carver took part in Somaliland’s 27th anniversary of independence this week.

He travelled to the small African nation’s capital, Hargeisa, as a guest of vice president Abdirahman Saylici where he attended a celebratory parade and had informal talks with government leaders.

Mr Carver, Kidderminster-based UKIP MEP for the West Midlands, who has visited Somaliland on three previous occasions, is a staunch supporter of its bid to be internationally recognised as an independent country again.

He said: “All peoples have the right to self-determination. Given the historical injustices suffered by Somalilanders, the preservation of this right is all the more important.

“I have long been a supporter of Somaliland re-recognition. The massive loss of life suffered during the civil war within Somalia means that no Somalilander could ever contemplate placing the lives of his family, friends and countrymen in the hands of a potentially hostile neighbour.

“For Somaliland to prosper, both economically and politically, it is imperative that the international community recognise Somaliland’s sovereignty.

“It is my hope that in turn, this would lead to even greater prosperity and freedom across the Horn of Africa.”

Though not internationally recognised, Somaliland has a working political system, government institutions, a police force and its own currency.

Source: kidderminstershuttle

On the dawn of May 15 and 24, 2018, the armed forces of Federal Somalia waged unexpected attacks on Somaliland Republic armed forces based at Tuka-raq, which is 65 Km within Somaliland border. Somalia’s forces attacked through the front of Puntland Administration of Federal Somalia whilst the Somaliland Republic was busy celebrating its 27th anniversary of regaining its independence from Somalia achieved on June 26, 1960. Somaliland forces repelled both attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the invading enemy forces.

The land of Harti People in Sool and Eastern Sanaag is located within Somaliland British colonial borders. It is integral and inseparable part of independent Somaliland. Thus, there is no “disputed land or territories” in Somaliland as some may claim preposterously. Somaliland does not accept the idea of “disputed land in Somaliland” as any other African country would not accept to call part of its territory “disputed land”.

Puntland Administration of Federal Somalia dreams to reunite Harti people, sub-clan of Darod, of Somaliland, Somalia, and Ethiopia to create Harti country in the Horn of Africa. Would the United Nations or Africa accept to create Fulani country by reuniting the Fulanis of Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon or Tuareg country by reuniting the Tuaregs of Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, and Niger? The answer is: No. likewise, Africa would never accept that the Puntland Administration of Federal Somalia reunites Hartis of Somaliland, Somalia, and Ethiopia to create a tribal crisis in the Horn of Africa. There is no country in Africa or in any other continent whose population is based on single clan or lineage as Puntland Administration of Somalia claims blindly.

If the United Nations or Organization of African Union do not respect and recognize Somaliland borders, emerging from colonial borders as any other African country, then the territorial integrity of each African country would be questionable and would be at risk of dispute and continental disintegration through endless clan wars.

The political map of Africa that shows its independent countries had not been made by United Nations, by African Union, or by African nations. It is the result of the European Colonial Occupation that invaded African Continent at the end of the 19th century and divided it up into territories with colonial borders for their own political sphere of influence.  When leaving Africa, mainly in the 1960s, the Europeans based the independence and diplomatic recognition of all African emerging countries including Somaliland on their colonial borders inherited from the colonial powers. The borders of African independent states had been drawn by the colonial powers of Europe at the end of the 19th century, mainly during The Partition of Africa held in Berlin in 1884. Likewise, all the current borders of Asia and South America also emerged from colonial borders drawn mainly by Britain, France, and Spain and were all recognized too on their colonial borders.

Somaliland is located in the Horn of Africa. It lies between the 08°00′ – 11°30′ parallel North of the Equator and between 42°30′ – 49°00′ Meridian East of Greenwich. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the North, Djibouti to the West, Ethiopia to the South, and Somalia to the East. Somaliland has a coastline with the majority lying along the Gulf of Aden (Red Sea). The country is slightly larger than England, with an area of 137, 600 km² (53,100 sq. miles) and with a population around 4 million.

According to the unique history of the continent of Africa, an African country is recognized as an independent nation when it meets or fulfills the following four (4) requirements:

1. That it is colonized separately
   2. That it has its own colonial borders
   3. That it had an official proclamation of independence granted by the colonizing power on specific date
2. That it Fulfills the Montevideo Convention Requirements on the Rights and Duties of States held on December 26, 1933, which stated that the state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications:

. a permanent population.
. a defined country
. a government
. a capacity to enter into relations with the other states.

Somaliland has perfectly fulfilled the four required conditions to be recognized as an independent country and that is why it was recognized on June 26, 1960, by the United Nations and many countries of the international community

The borders of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti or any other Africa country have the same international status and legitimacy because they all had been drawn by European Colonial powers. Anyone who opposes the legitimacy of Somaliland borders, its statehood, its independence, and its diplomatic recognition is challenging the borders and sovereignty of all African independent states (54 states) whose borders also rose from their colonial borders.
African borders are based on land only and not on lineage or clans. There are no clan borders or clan states in Africa or anywhere else in this world. There are only national land-based borders in Africa whose nations consist of many tribes or clans that share common borders and sovereignty.

The following African clans clearly show of how same African clans are distributed over different countries. The inhabitance or residence of some African clans is as follows:

Fulani Clan: This clan inhabits in Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon etc.
Tuareg Clan: This clan has inhabitance in Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Niger etc.
Lunda Clan: This clan inhabits in Congo, Zambia, and Angola.
Yoruba Clan: This clan has inhabitance in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
Maasai Clan: This clan resides in Kenya, and Tanzania.
Afar Clan: This clan inhabits in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti
Gabooye Clan: This clan inhabits in Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia
Berber Clan: This clan has inhabitance in Morroco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria.
Isaaq Clan: This clan inhabits in Somaliland, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti
Samaroon Clan: This tribe inhabits in Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
Hawiye Clan: This clan inhabits in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Darood Clan: This clan inhabits in Somalia, Somaliland, Kenya, Ethiopia
Rahanwein Clan: This clan has inhabitance in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Essa Clan: This clan inhabits in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somaliland.

The internal security, stability, and peace of Africa rest on respecting, recognizing, and implementing its current borders that rose from colonial borders. If an African country would claim the clan and its land located in another African country, the continent would fall to endless devastating, bloody clan wars, violence, and anarchy. The African continent would not exist as we know it today. The peace and stability of African states depend on respecting and recognizing colonial borders. United Nations and African Union should not allow any country like Somalia or any other country to redraw African colonial borders to avoid the danger of plunging the continent into endless clan wars and anarchy.

African Union and African leaders claim that if Somaliland is recognized, it will shift or change the borders of current African independent states inherited from colonial powers leading to instability and political unrest in Africa. If that claim were true, why did not the recognition of South Sudan and Eritrea change the borders of Africa and cause instability and political unrest in African continent? Senegal and Gambia founded federation or union in February 1982 calling it

Senegambia. That union was dissolved in September 1989 after a disagreement and each country regained its original independence and diplomatic recognition without changing the borders of Africa. So, why denying Somaliland of regaining that independence and recognition it had before the union with Somalia? Somaliland diplomatic recognition does not need any approval from Somalia as any other African country did not need the approval of its independence and diplomatic recognition from any other African country.

Somaliland is not a secessionist or breakaway region from Somalia but Somaliland just withdrew from the union with Somalia after Somalia grossly violated the union and committed injustices and atrocities in Somaliland between 1960-1991. If Nyanza Province of Kenya, or Arusha Region of Tanzania, or Puntland province of Somalia break away from their own respective countries, that

would be secessionists, separatists, or breakaways and that would change or shift the colonial borders of Africa inherited from colonial powers and that would create instability and political unrest in the continent of Africa because these provinces share a history and colonial borders with their own countries.

The declaration of Organization of African Unity (O.A.U) in 1964 on African Borders was the formal acceptance of the existing colonial borders inherited from colonial powers on which independence and recognition of each African country were based including Somaliland. That declaration had nothing to do with unification, federations, and unions between two or more African countries like the failed union between Somaliland and Somalia formed unthoughtfully and hastily in 1960. A union or federation could be dissolved anytime if the sides disagree each restoring and retaining its original independence and borders. That declaration reinforces the rightful claim of Somaliland to be recognized as an independent nation based on its colonial borders. That declaration does not prevent Somaliland from withdrawing from the union with Somalia and restoring its independence and diplomatic recognition achieved on June 26, 1960. If Uganda and Kenya share union today and after some time they disagree and dissolve that union, each would still be independent, recognized nation on its own colonial borders

Somaliland and Somalia are not the first two countries in this world whose union dissolved or ceased to exist. The Soviet Union that had 15 Socialist Republics created by the Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin in 1917 broke up after social upheavals and political discontent ended its existence peacefully in 1989 with new countries emerging from it such as Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia etc. They are all recognized by the UN and the international community on the basis of their original borders existing before the union. The Federation of former Republic of Yugoslavia that had 8 countries broke up too after bloody civil wars between 1991-1995 and new countries such as Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo etc. emerged from its ashes. All these countries are also recognized diplomatically too for their original borders existing before the federation. This shows that the unity among countries that share a union is not sacred anymore if they have a disagreement. So, Somaliland Republic deserves international diplomatic recognition based on its British colonial borders.

The United Nations and Africa Union must condemn the aggression of Federal Somalia against the Somaliland Republic on May 15, 2018, to assure the stability and peace of Africa.

Federal Somalia is sternly warned that peace and good neighborly relations between the Somaliland Republic and Federal Somalia will only depend on respecting and recognizing the border between Somaliland and Somalia.

The widespread criticism of the United Nations’ organizations mainly focuses on the absence of the standard of conduct and mandatory integrity of their activities. Critics argue that the UN Organizations’ presences in volatile Africa, Asia and Latin America invent a new form of destabilization within the social structure of those societies.

Another explanation explores that such misconduct results in an uncertainty of stock market failures, devaluation of currency rates and ruins the balances of economic trade between states. This is because the intergovernmental organisations’ standards of conduct and integrity are faultily managed.

For example, the derived standard of conducts and manuals of the integrity of UN principles are not met, and the reason is a mystery of human error. Article 101, paragraph 3 of the UN Charter states the 5.1 of the UN Staff codes of conduct and organisational ethics of integrity. The values of the reassuring demeanours administer these codes set out in the United Nations Staff Member Regulations and other clerical issuances.

The current UN and INGOs establishments disenfranchised and turned into a blind eye to the developments of Somaliland – regarding democracy, freedoms of speech, relative stability and the governance systems. I personally interpret this as the twofold phenomenon. Firstly, the lack of skills and educational shortages of Somaliland Civil Servants allowed the misconduct of the UN liaison office operations. Secondly, the failure of UN staff members to conform with onuses under the Charter of the United Nations as shown in the administrative issuances and articles of global civil servant administered by UNV Conditions of Service standard of conducts are in complete turmoil.

The lack of proficiency, educational abilities and the shortage of skills of Somaliland bureaucrats will let the UN and other INGOs to manipulate the foreign policy of Somaliland. These organizations have never reported Somaliland’s proud tradition of engagement with the international community. As I have mentioned several times, United Nations Organizations singling out Somaliland by exaggerating minor incidents and/or creating fabrications for the sake of enlarging their interest oriented humanitarian projects.

Currently, the UN reports prevent the global member states of the world to address both Somaliland’s problems and successes. For instance, the devastations of the Cyclone Sagar that killed more than 50 people, destroyed hundreds of shelters and displaced hundreds of thousands of people has not yet well reported. In a ways that is different from Cyclone Sagar the UN organizations politicized and exaggerated the four hours war of Tukaraq in their reports.

The United Nations fact-finding missions inadequately investigated the aftermath of Sool regions. The UN reported that 150,000 people were displaced because of the four hours fighting with the 14km uninhabited land. On the contrary, the Population Estimation Survey in 2014 conducted by UNFPA stated that Sool’s total population estimate in urban areas is only 120, 993. Tukaraq is an urban area in the explanation of UNFPA Population Survey.

This shows how contradictory UN reports are; while at the same time such stories lack logic shreds of evidence to support the accusations. And yet UN remains silent about atrocities in Galkayo, Kismayo, Mogadishu, Baidabo, Hiiraan and other war zone regions of Somalia. While, on the other hand, UN reports completely overlooked the democratic success of Somaliland – the peaceful power transfers, the certain freedoms of speech unlike other countries of Africa and the needs of economic development assistance.

Nevertheless, my country, Somaliland informs the 193 member states of the United Nations that Somaliland is guided by the reality of self-determination of its people as an independent sovereign state. The people of Somaliland overwhelmingly decided to end the voluntary union with Somalia in 1991, which began in 1960 soon after when Somaliland gained its independence from Great Britain. Once again, the decision was endorsed enormously in a referendum by the people of Somaliland in 2001 in a percentage of 97.7%.

Therefore, the governments and people of Somaliland are ready to make Somaliland the heart of regional peace, development and democracy. Again, the fundamental basis of Somaliland is peace, democracy, freedom, the rule of law and self-liberty, and we preach to all nations of the world that Somaliland will stand for those values and principles. Due to the dynamic nature of the international system and the foreign relations of the different countries of the world, we are welcoming a real newfangled collaboration between Somaliland and the international community to be further developed, bringing our higher priority of securing international recognition for Somaliland at the heart of our foreign policy.

Mohamed Hagi Mohamoud

Political Analyst and Socio-economic Researcher on International Development and Security Studies