That Freedom Shall not Perish
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BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. February 23, 1999
Paper says Somaliland's Egal criticized for new position on secession
Reports from Hargeisa say tension is high in the town after [Mohamed Ibrahim] Egal [Somaliland president] gave a sensitive interview to London-based Al -Hayat newspaper in which he discussed unity of Somalia. Egal said there was need to preserve unity of Somalia in order to ease enormous economic burden facing Somaliland.
Egal's statement angered some members of Consultative Council, members of Somaliland parliament, and SNM [Somali National Movement, main political organization in Somaliland], which fought for liberation of Somaliland. Hasan Isa Jama, the chairman of the SNM, said statement issued by Mohamed Ibrahim Egal contradicted the general position, which was that Somaliland would maintain its secessionist stance against the rest of Somalia.
SNM and Consultative Council members have opposed Egal's scheduled visit to some Arab countries. During visit he was to discuss the lifting of ban on exports of Somaliland livestock with officials of countries he had intended to visit.
Many Arab countries have demanded that Somaliland respect Somali unity as condition for receiving of assistance. This demand has forced Egal to change his stance on the issue of Somali unity.
Somaliland's Egal criticized for Suggesting new position
Acording to the Somali Service of BBC today, several politicians and political organisations have denounced firmly Egal's answers to Al Hayat (Feb. 6, 1999).
People who have shown their protests were among the new central committee of the SNM, led by Hassan Ise Jama, Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Ali Sh. Madar and the former vice president, Abdirahman Aw Ali Farah.
The BBC Somali Service correspondent in Hargeisa, Ahmed Said Eghe, added that SNM central committee made the press release regarding their disapproval to Egal's responses on Somaliland's declaration of independence. The press release says that,"We were not expecting such answers from president we elected to respect and obey decisions of Somaliland population". The statement added that Egal was about to leave for tour to foreign countries against Somaliland Independence."The people of Somaliland will not accept such words or anything similar to those Egal told to Al Hayat , and we will tell him that when he comes back," it said.
On other side, there were two members of the Parliament who also issued a press release defending Egal. They said that president was free to respond as he wished politically, and that they understood his responses to Al Hayat differently: that he was defending Somaliland and making barrier to avoiding future problems coming from other sources.
No response from government yet.
Egal's response during Al -Hayat 's interveiw qouted in the press release is as follows:
"We are advocates of unity and do not seek partition. The declaration of the Somaliland was part of our unity programme. We succeeded in restoring security, peace and stability in our country. We are still working to develop our institutions, which were destroyed by former regime. We succeeded to large extent in doing this while South was getting deeper into wars with all the destruction that this entails. But while doing our work, we continued to wait, and have been waiting for nine years, for our brothers in the South to form the strong central government with which we can negotiate a new bases for unity."
Many thanks to Dr. Ibrahim Warsame,Uppsala, Sweden, for translating this piece.
MENA News Agency, Cairo, 15 Feb 99.
Somaliland Foreign Minister Discusses Somalia Unity in Cairo
Talks will dwell on means of maintaining the unity of Somalia and efforts exerted to forge North, which announced independence in 1991, with the South. Late in 1997 the Southern factions signed Cairo agreement which is being implemented. Nur's visit is to pave way for the visit of Somaliland's President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal to Egypt. The Somali official is due to hold talks with Foreign Minister Amr. Musa in the framework of Egypt's role in resolving the Horn of Africa country's crisis.
Nour's visit falls within framework of Egypt's efforts to realize the national reconciliation among the various factions in Somalia and put an end to the Somali crisis.
Recent contacts have proven that Somaliland understands the stances of Egypt and the Arab League on the need to maintain Somalia's sovereignty and unity as an Arab and Islamic state of strategic importance in the the Horn of Africa the region.
Somaliland President Egal will visit Cairo soon to unite efforts to realize the national reconciliation in Somalia and endeavour to end break between Somaliland and the Arab world.
Middle East News Agency
.
BBC. Feb 10, 1999
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Egal:No arms traffic via Berbera"Before conflict erupted last May, the the Ethiopians asked about available facilities for using Berbera Port," he said in interview published in the London-based Arabic daily Al -Hayat on 6 February. "We told them that we had no objection to them using it for their trade, like other ports that provide similar facilities for many sides, whether states or private economic establishments. "We also explained to them that port was small and needed repairs and development because of neglect and past wars. "But we heard nothing from them and we did not make any proposals. We sought to reconcile the two sides after their border dispute broke out. "In this context, we will not allow any side to use Berbera Port for bringing in military equipment," Egal said. The conflict with Eritrea has cut off Ethiopia's access to Red Sea ports of Massawa and Asseb. |
BBC. Feb 10, 1999
Egal:Somaliland faces famine threat
Egal said thousands of people had emigrated to cities, which were already suffering from water shortages, and hundreds of cattle were dying because of the shortage of fodder and water.
Egal said part of current problem was caused by some Arab countries' decision not to buy cattle from Somaliland, thus causing country to lose around 40% of its foreign currency revenues.
He described their refusal to import cattle from Somaliland as "political," and urged them to resume cattle imports.
Agence France Presse.February 11, 1999
Somaliland will not allow importation of weapons: press
The ban also officially applies to Eritrea, engaged in border war with Ethiopia, but Eritrea does not have border with Somaliland, and has its own Red Sea ports, while Ethiopia is landlocked.
The Qaran and Xog-ogal newspapers in Mogadishu said Somaliland "president" Mohamed Egal had sent both countries a message that "Berbera may not be used for military purposes."
Analysts said that if the current border fighting escalates, Eritrea might attack road linking Ethiopia with Djibouti, its lifeline link with Red Sea.
Djibouti borders both Ethiopia and Eritrea.
the Ethiopian businessmen currently use Berbera and nearby Northeastern Somali port of Bossasso.
Both are controlled by Somali factions with friendly links with Ethiopia.
Source: The Indian Ocean Newsletter. October 21, 1995
BBC World News Summary. ` Al-Hayat , London, in Arabic, 6 Feb 99
Interview: SL Leader Denies Claims Of Impeding Reconciliation Efforts
Mohamed Egal, president of the Somaliland, has stressed that Ethiopia does not use port of Berbera to bring in military equipment. He said that there is political decision behind some Arab countries' undeclared economic boycott of his "country" because of his refusal to participate in the reconciliation conferences sponsored by these countries, which he did not identity.
Speaking from his headquarters in Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland, in telephone contact that ` Al-Hayat made with him yesterday, he said: " We are coming under pressure from some Arab countries that are accusing us of impeding reconciliation conferences for our brothers in Somalia where the civil war is continuing, because we refused to participate in conferences and meetings held in Cairo, Yemen and elsewhere."
He added: "We do not need reconciliation or accord to join conferences that our brothers in South have been planning to hold for nine years. Somaliland is 100% safe and stable and has its own institutions and public and private installations that are operating normally like any other country. But we can help Southern leaders in their endeavours to attain accord on basis of our experience in this field. I did in fact invite more than 500 figures, including Wa'iyan tribal leaders and heads of organizations, to come to Somaliland and hold their conference in an atmosphere of peace. I asserted to them our complete readiness to put all our resources and expertise at their disposal so that they can achieve accord between them. But organizations' leaders rejected this."
Asked whether this meant insistence on secession of Northern Somalia, which was unilaterally declared in 1991 and given the name of Somaliland, he said: "We are advocates of unity and do not seek partition. The declaration of the Somaliland was part of our unity programme. We succeeded in restoring security, peace and stability in our country. We are still working to develop our institutions which were destroyed by former regime. We succeeded to large extent in doing this while South was getting deeper into wars with all destruction that this entails. But while doing our work, we continued to wait, and have been waiting for nine years, for our brothers in South to form strong central government with which we can negotiate new bases for unity.".
Asked whether the Ethiopian government is using the strategic Berbera Port on Gulf of Aden, especially after the Ethiopian-Eritrean border dispute erupted and after Addis Ababa's loss of the sea outlet, Egal said: "Before conflict erupted last May, the the Ethiopians asked about available facilities for using Berbera Port. We told them that we had no objection to them using it for their trade like other ports that provide similar facilities for many sides, whether states or private economic establishments. We also explained to them that port was small and needed repairs and development because of neglect and past wars. But we heard nothing from them and we did not make any proposals. We sought to reconcile two sides after their border dispute broke out. In this context, we will not allow any side to use Berbera Port for bringing in military equipment."
Egal warned of a possible famine in Somaliland if the international national community, particularly Arab world, continues to ignore his recent appeals to help rural population whose areas are suffering from droughts because rains did not fall last year. He said that this caused thousands of people to emigrate to the cities, which are already suffering from water shortages. He said that hundreds of cattle are dying now because of shortage of fodder and water. He noted that part of current problem was caused by some Arab countries' decision not to buy cattle from Somaliland, thus causing country to lose around 40% of its foreign currency revenues. He expressed his belief that these countries' refusal to import cattle was political one. He said he hopes that they will review this decision and resume import of cattle from Somaliland.
NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT
January 25, 1999
Somali REFUGEES MAY NOT GET FINNISH ASYLUM
BBC World Service
January 21, 1999
Somaliland fines illegal Yemeni fishermen
Radio Hargeisa said men were fined a total of twenty-one thousand dollars.
They were seized on Monday by Somaliland navy boats.
BBC World Service. January 18, 1999
40 Yemeni fishermen arrested by Somaliland
The Somaliland authorities said the Yemenis were picked up during military operation off the North coast of country The Yemeni fishermen were taken to city of Berbera to await trial.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. January 9, 1999
Somaliland axis studied
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. January 2, 1999
Recycling to Somaliland
BBC World Service. December 1, 1998
international national delegation in Somaliland
Representatives of regional organization IGAD, supported by European Union and United Nations, are taking part in the mission --which is biggest of its kind for four years.
The BBC East Africa correspondent says it's been given impetus by new warnings that three-hundred thousand Somalis face food crisis in the coming year.
The delegation is expected to try to find ways of involving more of the local community in peace initiatives -- including religious and women's organizations and village elders.
1999 Government Budget Approved
The deputy minister of finance of Somaliland, Ahmad Farah Dhodi, today presented government budget for 1999, approved by the government during its last sitting.
Dhodi said the government had allocated 33bn shillings to be paid as regular salaries and allowances to civil servants and army. A special budget amounting to 2,900m had been allocated and 4bn had been set aside for various ministries. The special budget for various institutions had been increased. Accordingly, the government budget for 1999 amounts to more than 40bn. [figures as heard]. The deputy minister said budget was formulated on basis of current situation of sanctions on livestock exports. The Ministry of Finance plans to formulate the supplementary budget [last two words in English] when sanctions are lifted.
The Ministry of Finance also plans to revamp the revenue collection system and restructure government's immovable assets. The deputy minister asked people to support the government's revenue and tax collection efforts. He said government cannot function without taxing its people.
(c) BBC Monitoring international national Reports.
Refugees international national, November 12, 1998
Refugee Repatriation Threatens Stability In Somaliland
The most mature of these administrations is the Somaliland in semi-desert of Northwest, which declared unilateral independence in May 1991 by reclaiming the colonial boundaries of British Somaliland. This fledgling, unrecognized state enjoys relative peace and security based on a mix of Western-style democracy and traditional, clan-based institutions. Somaliland has a population estimated at over 1 million, of which about 250,000 reside in capital of Hargeisa.
The rehabilitation process of Somaliland overseen by President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal is the singular achievement when held up against confusion that prevails elsewhere in Somalia, but it faces challenge of large repatriation of refugees from Ethiopia just when there is downturn in the economy. Somaliland receives only short-term emergency funding because it does not meet most donors' very stringent criteria for allocating development funds. However, increased donor financial commitment to sustainable development projects will be crucial to underpinning gains that have been made so far. Without international national development assistance, Somaliland's commendable transition from war to peace may disintegrate. This is particularly the case if significant numbers of refugees return to conditions which do not permit the basic living standards.
The Somaliland situation illuminates the gap between relief and development so often found in repatriation situations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has supported refugees for many years in Ethiopia, feels under pressure to return refugees to what is relatively peaceful situation. While attempting to provide some transitional support, UNHCR and other emergency and relief agencies have neither a mandate nor the funding to provide for real development assistance. The UNDP has rehabilitation projects underway and has others on shelf which it would like to implement but for which it lacks funding. The international national community needs to insist on less aggressive repatriation schedule and to adopt a pro-active stance on reconstruction in order to bring these two factors into harmony.
Despite these problems, UNHCR has embarked on an ambitious program to close seven refugee camps in eastern Ethiopia by the year 2000. These refugee camps lie along Somaliland's border and were created to accommodate nearly 250,000 people, most of whom fled Somaliland during 1988-1991 civil war and subsequent disturbances in 1994-1995.
UNHCR carried out the pilot repatriation of 10,000 returnees in 1997. A target of 70,000 returns was set for 1998. Repatriations are projected at 80,000 for the year 1999 and 88,000 for year 2000. By late October, the official figure for returns in 1998 was 40,000, of whom just over 60 percent went to Hargeisa. Even though the city is still in the initial stages of rehabilitation, it will be a destination for about 60 percent of total number of returnees.
UNHCR acknowledges that these official figures cannot be taken as true picture. It is probable, according to UNHCR, that genuine returnees may be as few as one-half above stated repatriation numbers. However, even with such lower projections, economic and potential political impact of accepting a number of returnees equal to some 10 percent of the total population will be severe on Somaliland, especially in city of the Hargeisa.
The challenge for repatriation lies in creating continuum of relief to Development for those coming home that will provide basis for lifestyle that is of higher quality than that the life in camps. However, discussions, regarding providing basic services of water, health, and education are still in early stages at three proposed Hargeisa settlement sites. These open expanses of windswept ground are already scattered with returnees' makeshift huts. At Sheikh Nur, existing settlement site, water is scarce and school is finally under construction but there is no dispensary for the estimated 10-25,000 people. Egal's administration is so alarmed by prospect of sprawling urban ghettos that at one point the president ordered a halt to repatriation program, although this was later rescinded.
It is vital for the well-being of the returnees for UNHCR to reevaluate its repatriation schedule and closely collaborate with other UN agencies to identify minimum infrastructure requirements. Once this picture is in focus, the budget must be drawn up and necessary funding secured. UNHCR has proposed a conference for the first quarter of 1999 to discuss repatriation program. This must be genuine interagency consultative process that can provide linkage between short-term repatriation projects and sustainable development projects and thoughtful urban planning required for reintegration of returnees. Collaboration for tangible the results is essential.
It is extremely important that long-term infrastructure projects necessary to create conditions suitable for continued repatriation be started now. To extent that funding is available, UNDP should undertake these projects. If, however, UNDP funding is inadequate, bilateral donors and European Community should step forward to fill gap.
The international national community must not allow the past to become prologue to another cycle of refugees in flight to Ethiopia because they cannot survive at home. The UNHCR camps should be closed as soon as possible. However, this should not be done until the assistance package is in place to receive returnees --especially in city of Hargeisa which will receive most of returnees. The donors are right to wish to return the refugees home, but must invest in Somaliland before they do so.
Refugees international national therefore recommends that:
- UNHCR reformulate its repatriation strategy in such an way that planned repatriations to Hargeisa are delayed until at least mid-1999 to allow time for repatriation sites to be provided with minimum services such as water, health, and education.
- The international national donor community, including UN agencies, assess Somaliland separately from Somalia and create mechanisms to facilitate and increase commitment of development assistance to Somaliland.
- UNDP be provided adequate funding to address the needed longer-term development projects in current transitional stage with projected repatriation schedule in mind.
- Regional or bilateral donors fill gaps directly for which UNDP lacks funding or otherwise does not address.
- UNHCR and other UN agencies, such as UNDP and UNICEF, as well as NGOs and bilateral development agencies, collaborate fully in planning and implementation of development projects that will provide reasonably secure base for the reintegration of returnees from refugee camps in Ethiopia.
- Income generating projects be included in such planning and, to extent that these do not provide adequate solutions for returning refugees, UNHCR should ensure that interim care and maintenance is available.
Contact: Mary Anne Fitzgerald Email: refintl@iconnect.co.ke
Refugees international national --2639 Conn. Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20008,
Phone: 202-828-0110 Fax: 202-828-0819 www: http://www.refintl.org
BBC World Service. November 27, 1998
Somaliland introduces Islamic law
The minister of religious affairs, Ahmad Mohamed Ahmad, said girls and boys would now go to separate schools, and men and women would be treated separately in hospitals.
He said the measures would be introduced as soon as was practical.
Ahmad told BBC women would also be expected to dress in what he called a modest fashion --though he said there were no plans to force foreign women working in Somaliland to wear Islamic dress.
Job vacancy: HIV/AIDS advisers -Somaliland
From: "Maureen O'Sullivan" .maureen@ciir.org
Fri, 13 Nov 1998
international national Co-operation for Development are seeking to recruit two HIV/AIDS Advisers to play a strategic role in Somaliland in identifying and drawing attention of main international national HIV/AIDS organisa- tions/actors to HIV/AIDS situation there.
Currently within Somaliland there is little general awareness about ei- ther causes of HIV infection or practices, both medical and social which can contribute to its prevention or spread. We are looking for two advisers for six months both with experience in HIV/AIDS pro- grammes to work together jointly and with Ministry of Health and Labour to gather information relating to HIV/AIDS and help define priorities for action. The first adviser will need a background in medicine/public health, and a second adviser will need a background in community health/social services/social research.
A fuller job description and brief is available to send to any inter- ested candidates who can contact me on:
Tel: +44-171-354-0883.
mailto:jobs@ciir.org
Closing late November/early December.
Although we have advertised and networked these posts the nationally we have yet to attract response of sufficient calibre and I am writing to you to see if you might suggest any international national networks, bulletins or other organisations and individuals that I might usefully contact in this respect. Thank you in advance for any assistance/advice that you may have to offer on this.
Maureen O'Sullivan
Recruitment & Selection Officer
Catholic Institute for international national Relations
mailto:maureen@ciir.org
Journal of Commerce, October 27, 1998,
UN group campaigns to rebuild Somali ports destroyed by war
the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development has embarked on project to revitalize Northern Somali ports of Berbera and Bossaso, which were destroyed by years of civil war, the Kenyan newspaper The East African reported Monday. Capt Edward Johns, the project manager, told newspaper that two ports had huge potential for maritime trade that Unctad wanted to develop. Dubai has emerged as Somali's main trading partner.
""Business is beginning to move, and the entry point of that business is Dubai. We are trying to sensitize people to get more involved in regional trade,'' Johns said. Somalia has little manufacturing industry, which means the local administration can only derive revenue from trade, levies and taxes, he said. Unctad has been providing maritime training to Somali the nationals and services to the country's ports in cooperation with international national Maritime Organization to strengthen the industry. Training conducted in past 10 years has concentrated on middle management, producing mechanics, cargo handlers and statistical clerks. An Unctad assessment in 1992 found that Berbera and Bossaso ports had administrative apparatus in place but were desperately in need of equipment. Investments made in Berbera recently have the resulted in sharp increase in cargo volume.
Africa News. October 13, 1998
Amnesty visits Somaliland to run human rights workshop
The workshop participants will be drawn from NGOs, activists and officials in Somaliland who have expressed interest in promoting and defending human rights in various ways. The workshop has been designed to respond to local requests for human rights training. It has been prepared by Amnesty international national with logistical support from Hargeisa office of international national Cooperation for Development (ICD).
This will be organization's first visit to Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991 and sought international national recognition. Formerly the North-west the region of Somalia, the territory had been the scene of massive human rights violations throughout the 1980s by the Mogadishu-based government of Major-General Siad Barrethe long-time dictator. The military employed "scorched earth" measures in counter-insurgency operations, and thousands of civilians were imprisoned, tortured or extrajudicially executed.
Former prisoners of conscience are represented in current government and in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) now working for development and human rights in Somaliland.
Issued October 9, 1998.
For further information, contact Amnesty international national, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ,
TEl.+44-71-413-5500 ,+44-71-956-1157.
Email: amnesty@amnesty.org.
Web: http://www.amnesty.org/.
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty international national and this footer remain intact.
The Republican , Sep 19-25, 1998
Islamic Bank Delegation Visits Somaliland
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. September 8, 1998
Egal criticizes role of UN agencies
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of the government of Somaliland, has criticized the role of UN relief agencies in areas under his administration. While briefing journalists in his office in Hargeisa, Egal said some agencies have behaved in an imperialist manner. He, however, asked his people to tolerate such behaviour, "because the day will come when we will take revenge", he said.
Agence France Presse. September 08, 1998
Police detain newspaper editor detained in Somaliland
Hassan Said Yousuf was detained by heavily armed Criminal Investigation Department (CID) policemen minutes after midnight, although they did not have arrest warrants, the journalists said.
"One of the policemen told us about the article published in Jamhuuriya on August 25 on the arrest of members of armed Al-Itihad Al-Islam Moslem group that is critical of neighbouring Ethiopia," the journalists said.
In same issue, the paper had also published the Al-Itihad Al-Islam statement accusing the Somaliland government of violating human rights, by arresting their men.
Al-Itihad Al-Islam, which operates in the Somali-inhabited Ogaden the region of eastern Ethiopia, have been banned from entering Somaliland from Ethiopia, because of special security arrangements between Hargeisa and Addis Ababa.
The two also have an extradition treaty.
Agence France Presse. July 30, 1998
UN workers barred for behaving like "colonial officers"
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Nairobi confirmed Thursday that its chief Somalia representative, Dominik Langenbacher, had been declared persona non grata and would no longer be able to visit Northwestern Somalia the region, and that UNDP field worker Paul Enright had been expelled and would fly to Nairobi later in day.
A letter from President Mohamed Egal to his "Interior minister", which was faxed to AFP's Nairobi bureau, said two men "forgot that they were international national civil servants charged with the task of aiding and assisting process of economic, social and humanitarian development. They have instead conducted themselves like colonial officers ruling subject people."
In letter, written on Wednesday, Egal ordered "Interior minister" Omar Mohamed Nim'ala to put Enright under police surveillance in his house and have him escorted aboard first available plane. Egal accused two men of persistent efforts to "subvert and sabotage" humanitarian aid. UNDP spokeswoman Maria Frauenrath told AFP that Langenbacher was currently in Djibouti.
Xinhua News Agency. JULY 29, 1998
1,900 Somali refugees return home from ethiopia
Xinhua News Agency. JULY 29, 1998
UN officials ordered to leave Somaliland
A number of armed policemen have been placed around the residence of Knight to safeguard him while he was waiting for the nearest flight to Nairobi, the seat of the UNDP-Somalia office headquarters. letter which imposed persona non-grata on swiss national, dominik lagenbacher said that the administration doesn't mean to create animosity with UN officials operating in Hargeisa or elsewhered, but move is directed on only two employees who, as letter put, have forgotten their responsibilities. The letter had also accused UN officials of sabotaging smooth flow of humanitarian relief by world communities into Somaliland. the issuance of this letter followed serious debate by the Somaliland parliament over status and operations of the un officials there. "Somaliland" is the safest place over all Somalia at time being where rule of law is in place following the historic peace agreement between Egal's administration and the rebel fighters last year. this persona non grata declaration may leave some stains on forth-going political achievements as well as humanitarian developments in Somaliland.
Ethiopia Imposes New Border Taxes; Somaliland Affected
On 22nd July the Ethiopian government has imposed taxes on goods and livestock coming from or going to Somalia, particularly the Somaliland. To implement collection of taxes, the Ethiopian government has opened customs offices in Togwajaale, Ow Barre and Dabayl Weyne [all in western Somaliland].
24 Jul 1998
From: Amoud University Somalia
Openning Day of Amoud University
Donations from all Somalis around world made this dream come true and glad to say that education is only think that unites all Somalis regradless of the region they came from.
The United Nation (UNESCO) delegates visited us and promised to provide financial assistance. Similarly delegates from USA, UK and several Arab countries promised to help.
The UK city which had the relationship with Boram, Awdal also provided some assistance. But most of financial assistance came from local community, Somali community of the Middle east Canada.
We are also expecting to receive more than 6000 new college text book from two book donor in USA. This university welcome every Somali student regardless of the region they come from.
Your comments, suggestion, nad assistance are more than welcome.
May Allah make this University university where every Somali can study peacefully and use the knowledge to rebuild their country and Muslim world. We are almost completing a Amoud University WEB page which will contain all necessary information about university.
Amoud University will have three colleges:
1. College of Education
2. College of Agriculture
3. College of Medicine
The textbooks we colleced so far are related with academic courses related these three colleges. US donors have pledged so far 6000 new college level textbooks.
If you want to help either financially or by buying educational materials such as textbooks, note books etc. here is where you can send it:
For people who live in Canada send your donation to:
. Mohamed Hussien Hadi, Somali Resource and Heritage Center, 1719 Bank St., Suite 301C, Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 7Z4
Tel: (613)733-1463, Fax: (613)733-3956, E-Mail: alamagan@magmacom.com
For people who live in USA send your donation to:
Amoud University Fund, P.O. Box 150104, Tulsa, OK 74115-0104,E-Mail: amoud@hotmail.com
For people who live in Europe and Middle East send your donation to:
Abdisalan Ahmed Nur, Tehran, Saudi Arabia
Tel: 966-558-240-25, fax: 966-3-857-8780
We will let you know when we official release a new web site of the university. If you need further information please do not hestitate to ask.
Signed By
Organizing Committee,Borama, Awdal.
Somaliland'S BANK FINDS ITS VAULTS ARE NEARLY EMPTY
Rohit Jaggi on the animal pest that is hitting the break-away country hard.
When the governor of Somaliland's central bank wants to find out how his currency is faring against the US dollar he walks out on to streets of Hargeisa, the capital of the East African, and trades a few hundred dollars with money changers who sit in the dust. "If we see the rate rising, we collect traders and bring them to bank," says Abdul Rahman Dualeh Mohamoud. "Each time we put $30,000 to $80,000 into market to withdraw shillings."
Maintaining the street value of Somaliland shilling against the widely used dollar is part of Mohamoud's tricky task in shepherding the currency introduced less than four years ago, which has yet to gain international national recognition.
"The governor comes to deal on the street maybe once a month," says Abdul Hakim, 29, from behind his little wooden box laden with teetering towers of Somaliland shilling notes. "I have dealt with him often." Hakim and other money changers are still enjoying the fact that they can set out their cash without fear of armed robbery. Not long ago it would have been unthinkable. The government of Somaliland has bought peace in this war-ravaged country by paying freelance militias to stay in camps, preventing them from turning their AK-47s, artillery and T55 tanks on each other and civilian population.
This has been achieved since 1991, when the North-west of Somalia took advantage of chaos surrounding overthrow of General Mohammed Siad Barre to declare its secession from the the rest of country. While Southern and eastern Somalia descended into heavily armed inter-clan rivalry, 68,000 square miles of Somaliland started to build administration and prepare for repatriation of the estimated 900,000 refugees who had fled to neighbouring Ethiopia. It has not been straightforward. In 1994 factional fighting interrupted the rebuilding of Hargeisa, which Gen Siad Barre's forces had razed, but by 1996 the outlook was looking brighter.
Yet now Mohamoud is facing a different sort of battle. The Bank of Somaliland is responsible for looking after government revenues and expenditure -but income has virtually dried up.
A ban imposed by Saudi Arabia in February on imports of livestock from the region because of fears of Rift Valley Fever, which affects both animals and humans, has been "devastating", says Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, minister of finance.
Exports through Gulf of Aden port of Berbera of sheep, goats, camels and cattle raised by 50%-plus of 2m population who are dependent on nomadic pastoralism were worth $93m at producer prices last year, and represented 80% of total exports. Almost all the animals went to Saudi Arabia.
"More than 75-80% of revenues also come from livestock trade through export levy. Now that's gone, it's mess," says Silanyo. RVF, carried by mosquitos, is "endemic to this the region", according to Dominik Langenbacher, humanitarian co-ordinator for the U.N. in Somalia. But Langenbacher said in March flood-borne outbreak was over. In spite of this, the Saudis have not lifted ban.
President Mohammed Ibrahim Egal says he has "no option" but to suspend all further repatriation of refugees to Somaliland. His call for $1m month in aid to replace the revenue lost to Saudi ban will be discussed at meeting of aid agencies and donors in Hargeisa next week.
But for Mohamoud even that is cutting it fine. The government says that in just over a month bank's vaults will be empty.
UNDP News Flash, July 9, 1998
UNDP SUPPORTING WAR CRIMES COMMITTEE IN Somaliland
Please share with staff, media and NGOs. Send submissions for FLASH! on newsworthy projects and events to Sid Kane at the DPA. For information phone (212) 906-5324; fax: (212) 906-5364. Internet: http://www.undp.org.
Egal to Proceed to UK From Libya
Excerpts from report entitled: "Egal to proceed to UK from Libya" published by Somali newspaper `Mogadishu Times' on 6th July.
Reports from Hargeisa say that Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, who left yesterday for Libya, will later proceed to UK... This will be first time that Mohamed Ibrahim Egal has visited UK since he was re-elected president of the Somaliland. Lately, he has been looking for recognition of his administration.
Egal Hold Talks with Visiting British Ambassador
Excerpt from report by Somali newspaper ` Xog-Ogaal on 2nd July Reports from Hargeisa say the president of Somaliland, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, has held talks with the British ambassador to Ethiopia. Egal told the ambassador that the export ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on livestock from Somaliland had seriously affected economy of the country.
On his part, British ambassador said he had come to Somaliland to discuss the Ethiopian-Eritrean armed conflict with president and to also find ways of undertaking development projects in the country. He said EU would urge Saudi government to lift livestock ban.
Over 1,600 Somali Refugees Return Home from Ethiopia
Ethiopia's Somali the region Refugee and Returnee Coordination Office said in report that office, in
collaboration with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has managed to repatriated
1,633 of 6,000 Somali refugees voluntarily registered to return to their country, the Ethiopian News Agency
reported Friday.
More than 225,000 Somali refugees are sheltering at eight refugee camps in eastern Ethiopia and over 18,000 Somali refugees had returned North Somali from Ethiopia by the end of March, this year, according to UNHCR.
Meanwhile, report reaching here Friday said that hundreds of farmers in Southwestern Somalia are moving to town of Baidoa in search of food due to crop failures triggered by drought.
The report said that recent factional fighting in and out of Baidoa has also caused displacement in the area.
Somaliland to benefit Ethio-Eritrea conflict
Jun 25, 1998
By Matthew Bigg
ADDIS ABABA, June 25 (Reuters) -An ill wind is blowing the fallout from Ethiopia's conflict with Eritrea beyond boundaries of two states.
Diplomats and analysts say that it could pollute diplomatic relations throughout the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Until May 6 when conflict began, the bond between Ethiopia and Eritrea served to stabilise the region that in words of one senior Western diplomat is ``prone to conflict and disaster.''
They held common position on civil war in Sudan and helped to facilitate peace talks between Khartoum government and Southern rebels. In Somalia, the state without central government, Eritrea supported Ethiopia's peace initiative.
``What we are seeing here is the end of the last firm friendship in the region,'' said Medhane Tadesse, the Ethiopian historian and conflict analyst.
Hundreds have been killed since the simmering border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea degenerated into conflict.
All countries surrounding two former allies have been forced to take position on rift:
--Djibouti: Shortly after the conflict began Ethiopia announced it would stop using Eritrean ports of Massawa and Assab. Djibouti was direct beneficiary and its port is now bustling.
Eritrea nearly came to blows with Djibouti in 1995, in part over ethnic Afar people who straddle the three states. Since then relations have improved and Djibouti President Hassan Gouled Aptidon has tried to mediate in conflict.
--Somalia: Since 1991 the country has fractured into clan-based fiefdoms.Analysts say Ethiopia has backed Somali factions opposed to militant Islamic groups such as Al-Itihad. Ethiopia denies providing such backing.
Eritrea supported Ethiopia in its Sodere peace process, which came under mantle of regional grouping of states, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Last December's Cairo peace accord and apparent resistance to Sodere by Somali faction leader Mohamed Hussein Aideed weakened Sodere process. Further the Ethiopian attempts to mediate will be conducted without Eritrean support.
--Sudan: Last week renewed clashes were reported by Sudanese radio at the frontier town of Kassala between Eritrean troops and Sudanese government.
Eritrea and Sudan have no diplomatic ties and Eritrea plays host to the National Democratic Alliance, umbrella for groups fighting Khartoum government.
Both Ethiopia and Eritrea support the Sudan People's Liberation Army, which has remained silent on conflict. the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told Reuters this week relations with Sudan remained ``strained.''
Bad feeling generated by attempted assassination in Addis Ababa in June 1995 of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak --Ethiopia says Sudan sponsored attack --is one reason. Ethiopia accuses Sudan of trying to export Islam to its multi-faith society, Meles said.
The next round of Sudan peace talks, due to take place in Addis Ababa in August,were threatened by conflict, Medhane said.
--Somaliland: Diplomats say this area could benefit from the conflict. Ethiopia's Minister for Transport and Communications Abdul Majid told Reuters that the landlocked Ethiopia would step up its use of port of Berbera.
``We have very good relations with Somaliland short of recognition,'' Majid said. Djibouti separates Somaliland and Eritrea.
Other countries are also affected. Ethiopia says it would consider using the Kenyan port at Mombassa for exports. Kenya retains warm relations with both states.
Eritrea and Ethiopia have been careful to explain their positions to Egypt, to Gulf states and to North African countries.
Eritrea, closer in culture to Arab world, is nevertheless in dispute with its neighbour Yemen over Hanish islands.
The dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea also tests resolve of Organisation of African Unity and IGAD -- both based in the region --whose officials held up Ethiopia and Eritrea as examples of economic and political cooperation.
Weak conflict prevention mechanisms in the OAU and IGAD were exposed by the conflict on their doorstep, Medhane and African diplomat said.
Finally, U.S. support under the Greater the Horn of Africa Initiative has seen $10 billion poured into the region this decade, mainly in emergency relief.
That policy promoted support for Ethiopia and Eritrea as stable partners in the region.
The conflict could serve to dampen enthusiasm for assisting the region, the senior Western diplomat said.
``It ( conflict) tends to wear people down. It tends to wear people down in trying to help,'' he said.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter.May 23, 1998
France/Somaliland: Total talks to Egal
These latter had already met Somaliland foreign minister Mohamed Salah Fagadeh in Paris in December 1997 (ION N. 791), and at beginning of this year had met Mohamed Egal during his visit to French capital (ION N. 799).
The discussion seems always about the same: Total would like to revive distribution network it owned in Somaliland many years ago, whilst president Mohamed Egal would like to interest French company in petroleum exploration.
On this last point Total's opinion is without appeal: there are probably no real possibilities of discovering petroleum in Somaliland.
Reuters Newswire. April 11, 1998
Somaliland signs energy deals with foreign firms
HARGEISA, Somaliland -The Somaliland government has signed an agreement with international national companies to rehabilitate and reconstruct power stations in country.
The agreement, first by the with foreign company, was signed on Friday with U.S.-based Collins Engineering Co and British-American Energy by president Mohamed Egal.
The companies will rehabilitate the 25 megawatt power station in the capital Hargeisa at cost of $23 million before beginning work on electrification of other areas.
``These companies are investing millions of dollars in Somaliland. This is more than political recognition,'' Egal said in a speech at the ceremony to mark signing of agreement.
``They have put their trust in us because they believe that we deserve it. We are not only grateful to them, but we have to prove to them and to international national community that we are really worth their trust,'' Egal said.
The Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 after fall of dictator Siad Barre left the country without central government.
Somaliland has been more peaceful than Somalia since then, but has failed to gain international national recognition as a separate state.
This year Egal changed policy on demands for formal recognition, arguing instead that his country deserved aid and trade for the stability it had achieved.
Egal said on Friday that after rehabilitating the Hergeisa power station, companies would begin work on the electrification of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden across from Yemen.
``The rehabilitation of Hergeisa power station will be followed by that of Berbera and will be extended to other regions,'' Egal said.
``Electrification is essential to modern development in this country,'' he added.
Rehabilitation of the Hargeisa plant is expected to begin within the next few months.
Oxfam at work in Somaliland
From OXFAM UK&I, featured on the OneWorld News Service. 25 February 1998
Oxfam and other international national agencies are increasingly regarding Somalia as three separate blocks -Somaliland, North East and Southern Somalia, although donors and the UN still refer to Somaliland as North West Somalia. The quest for sovereignty is a major preoccupation for the new government, and it is pursuing this at every opportunity with international national community. There is an underlying worry that peace in the the rest of Somalia could have destabilising effect on Somaliland because they may try and restore Somalia to being a unified country.
There is feeling of peace and calm around most areas of Somaliland now and it is gradually becoming possible to embark on longer term development programmes after war. Despite the ravages of Siad Barre the war and clan fighting, the indefatigable resourcefulness of the Somali people is very much in evidence. A vibrant new economy is shooting up through commercial sector, the latest satellite communication technology has been installed and streets are lined with male and female traders selling everything from traditional produce and essentials to piles of currency and video equipment.
Undeniably there are huge rehabilitation needs to be met in Somaliland and authorities have huge task ahead of them. Drought prone areas in eastern Somaliland give rise to seasonal concern and longer term initiatives are needed there. However, Somaliland can no longer be considered to be in emergency phase and there is widespread recognition that momentum for rebuilding the country has to come from within as foreign assistance and donor interest are limited.
Oxfam's programme
Oxfam has worked in three out of the five regions in Somaliland since 1991, initially addressing the immediate emergency of returning refugees from Ethiopia. From July 1994 Oxfam focused on the rehabilitation of domestic water sources for rural communities in West Galbeed, where many returnees were settling.
Oxfam's Somaliland programme was reviewed in May/June 1996, and as the result of this programme direction has been reshaped. As stability has been established and rehabilitation commenced, it has become more appropriate for Oxfam to support communities to seek solutions to their own problems, and radically reformulated Rural Water Rehabilitation and Public Health Programme has started.
Oxfam has decided to build up skills and capacity of current water programme staff through series of workshops and practical training in community development, public health, data collection and Participatory Action Research (PRA). Plans are also being made for Oxfam to carry out emergency preparedness assessment in drought prone areas of eastern Somaliland. It is hoped that resourcefulness of communities coping in this post-conflict period, and introduction of community based approach can make contribution to lasting peace.
June 1, 1998
Call for reform in Somaliland
Gal, former foreign minister who stood against President Egal for election two years ago, said it was time for conference of Somaliland's communities to review the political situation.
Correspondents say his remarks come as Somaliland is experiencing severe economic difficulties due to continuing Saudi ban on Somali livestock imports.
Eight years after breaking away from the the rest of Somalia, the government has failed to win international national recognition.
From newsroom of BBC World Service
The international national Freedom Of Expression Exchange.May 28, 1998
Editor arrested in Somaliland
The journalist is detained at the Hargiesa central prison. Hassan Said Yousuf was first briefly detained on 23 May in morning and was later arrested in afternoon. He was granted bail at that time, but was arrested again two days later.
Hassan Said Yousuf's arrest is believed to be related to several articles published in June, July and September 1997, and on 2 February, 1 and 31 March 1998. Those articles included discussions of bad terms that exist between the army brigades and the government; reports on the presence of the Rift Valley disease that was later denied; the amputations of 33 people ordered by the Islamic court in the town of Burao; and insults towards Prosecutor General and members of the justice system in Somaliland.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to authorities: -without commenting on the facts of these cases, reminding them that United Nations Commission on Human Rights considers that "detention, as punishment for the peaceful expression of opinion, is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin silence and, as a consequence, grave violation of human rights" -- asking them to do everything in their power to ensure the release of Hassan Said Yousuf
APPEALS TO:
Mohamed Egal
President of Somaliland
State House of Somaliland
Fax: +252 213 3414
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
28 May 1998. Reporters sans frontieres (RSF), Paris
For further information, contact Tony Simonneau or Isabelle Haymann at RSF, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: afrique@rsf.fr, Internet: http://www.rsf.fr
Distributed by The international national Freedom Of Expression Exchange Clearing House, 489 College St. #403, Toronto, Ontario M6G 1A5 CANADA, tel: +1 416 515 9622, fax: +1 416 515 7879, e-mail: ifex@ifex.org, Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
BBC.Monday, May 18, 1998
Somaliland celebrates eight years of non-independence
Several thousand members of the armed forces took part in the military parade dressed in new uniforms.
In address to the nation to mark the occasion, President Egal said that the world would respect Somaliland for its persistence in trying to win international national recognition --and that it was prepared to wait for as long as necessary.
President Egal also said that the attempted assassination of country's finance minister last month was part of wider plot to destabilize Somaliland.
From newsroom of BBC World Service
Somaliland Sacks Minister
They said no replacements had yet been made for deposed Commerce Minister Mohamed Qasim and assistant foreign minister Mohamed Awale Fariid. No reason was given for the sackings.
Mohamed Egal also accepted resignation of Mohamed Ahmed Samatar,the Interior minister for the last six months, and appointed former police colonel Omer Mohamoud Nimale in his place.
Asked to comment on his resignation, Samatar said: ``It is personal.''
Nimale is third man to hold the post of Interior minister since Egal was nominated in February last year for new five-year term as president.
Somaliland declared itself independent and broke away from the rest of Somalia in January 1991. It covers the area of the former British Somaliland, which merged with Italian Somalia in 1960 to form independent Somalia.
Somaliland's declaration of independence has not been recognised international nationally.
EGAL OFF IN ADDIS
Somaliland president Mohamed Egal was on the official visit to Addis Ababa last week. the Ethiopian authorities indicated their willingness to cooperate with his country but without at this stage granting it diplomatic recognition. No country has done so yet and in fact Egal has been advised to tone down his calls for international national recognition. Concretely, cooperation in banking sector is envisaged (opening bank branches in each of countries) and specific talks will be held later with specialist officials. Egal took advantage of his stay in Addis Ababa to ask Popular China's ambassador there to send delegation to Hargeisa to study rehabilitation of drinking water system that China had installed in 1970s. Somaliland's big problem today is financial and is closely linked to embargo imposed by Saudi Arabia on the export of Somaliland's livestock (ION N 807). Without financial aid, Egal will have great difficulties paying civil servants and the armed forces.
Somaliland chief praises Ethiopia ties
Mohamed Egal, speaking on Saturday on his return to Hargeisa from five-day visit to Ethiopia, said: ``We reached agreement with the leaders there to co-operate in every field short of diplomatic recognition.''
Ethiopia, he said, had advised Somaliland not to press the recognition issue at this time.
Somaliland, he said, wanted to open branch of its own bank in Ethiopia, and Ethiopia had agreed that banking officials from both countries should discuss the matter further.
Egal said he had met the Chinese ambassador in Addis Ababa and they had agreed that Chinese team should visit Hargeisa to study the rehabilitation of water supply system installed there by China in 1970's.
Somaliland covers the area of former British Somaliland, which joined with Italian Somalia in 1960 to form independent Somali.
Somaliland broke away and declared itself independent when Somali president Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. It is not international nationally recognised.
Somaliland appeals for outside aid
Foreign Minister Mohamed Salah Nur told reporters in Addis Ababa that the ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on livestock exports from Somaliland had created the economic disaster in his the Horn of Africa state.
Saudi Arabia banned livestock exports on February 27 from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya because of fears the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Kenya could spread.
``Somaliland exported annually between 2.5 to 3 million livestock to Saudi Arabia and ban imposed on export which is country's main source of government revenue has created economic disaster,'' he said.
Nur said there had been no outbreak of Rift Valley Fever, the haemorrhagic disease which can be fatal to humans, in Somaliland.
``Unless world community comes urgently to help Somaliland overcome its economic problems, government would not be able to pay salaries of civil servants, police and militia,'' he said.
``We fear the economic catastrophe would destabilise Somaliland which had been oasis of peace in the region,'' he added.
The broke away from Somalia in 1991 after the fall of dictator Siad Barre left the country without central government.
Somaliland has been more peaceful than Somalia since then but has failed to gain international national recognition as separate nation.
Nur was in the Ethiopian capital as the member of President Mohamed Egal's delegation on four-day visit to Ethiopia.
He said the Somaliland delegation had held talks with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other government ministers.
``We were here at the invitation of the Ethiopian government and we would like to say we are going back home completely satisfied,'' he said. He declined to give details of talks.
Nur said his delegation had also met ambassadors from the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and seven East African states comprising the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is trying to resolve civil strife in Somalia.
Nur said his government has also reached agreement with France's Total oil company to open fuel distribution centre.
Last month, Somaliland also signed agreements with U.S.-based Collins Engineering Co and British-American Energy to rehabilitate and reconstruct power stations in the country -- first signed by with foreign companies.
Agence France Presse. May 26, 1998
Editor arrested in Somaliland
Hassan Said Yousuf was arrested on Monday and is expected to be charged with "insulting important personalities, circulating false information and criticising the leaders of", newspaper said.
Yousuf was first arrested on Saturday but released on bail on Sunday and rearrested on Monday.
The offence was committed on April 26, according to prosecutor general Jamal Jama Hashi.
Somaliland newspaper editors has denounced Yousuf's arrest calling it abuse of freedom of press and expression.
Agence France Presse.May 06, 1998
Somaliland president visits Ethiopia
Egal, president of the part of Somalia which lies to Northeast of Ethiopia and which has not been international nationally recognised, arrived in Addis Ababa on Tuesday with his aides to meet " highest officials," source added.
Both sides were reportedly expected to try to coordinate efforts towards achieving "lasting peace throughout the region".
Somalia, former Italian colony apart from Somaliland, which was under British rule, has been wracked by clan strife and without central government since ouster in 1991 of dictator Mohamed Siad Barrethe long-time dictator.
Egal's visit to Addis Ababa coincided with the start of meeting in Cairo of Arab League nations at ambassadorial level, where Somali issue was raised.
Four Somali factions from eight regions on Tuesday issued a statement calling for Arab League summit in Cairo to "examine the situation across the whole of Somalia", AFP was told.
Ethiopia, which has been mandated by the East African region's Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to mediate the Somali settlement, has on several occasions challenged parallel initiatives by Egypt, acting for the league.
An Arab League official, reached by telephone by AFP, said grouping had no "prejudged position" or special interest in the nature of Somali settlement.
A foreign observer told AFP that Egal's visit to Ethiopia was likely to be preparatory to the planned Somali national reconciliation forum slated for May 15. The Somaliland leader was due to remain in Ethiopia until Saturday.
Agence France Presse. May 19, 1998
Somaliland criticises world for ignoring 'independence'
In speech on Monday commemorating seventh anniversary of Somaliland's secession in 1991, Egal pledged that his country had no intention of abandoning its declared independence, despite delayed recognition by international national community, the radio said.
Speaking after taking the salute from the march-past by military and police contingents, all wearing new uniforms, Egal also accused unspecified groups in Somaliland of sabotaging his government's effort to maintain peace in Somalia's former Northwest the region.
"There are attempts to destabilise our country. I was informed by security agency of attempt to bring chaos to Somaliland," Jamhuuriya daily paper quoted Egal as saying.
Somaliland, former British colony, gained independence on 26 June 1960, and united five days later with Italian-ruled Somalia in the South to form Somalia.
But Northwest the region declared itself independent in May 1991, five months after dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown and fled abroad, a move which plunged the rest of country into factional chaos.
On Monday, Egal reiterated that he had no intention whatsoever to re-unite with Somalia, hence his earlier refusal to attend conferences convened to reconcile warring Somali clan factions.
Egal also paid tribute to his country's armed forces, saying that while their counterparts in Somalia were causing havoc there, those of Somaliland were helping his regime maintain peace.
Somaliland has remained relatively peaceful since 1996 after Egal decided to negotiate with his Issak clan opponents, who predominate in Somaliland.
But two sub-clan factions -- Dulbahanti and Warsangali of the major Darod clan --have expressed willingness to rejoin Somalia, although some of their members are currently serving in Egal's government.
Key among those agitating for the return to Somalia is Abdurahman Ahmed Ali "Tur", the first president of Somaliland from 1991 until he was voted out by Somaliland's House of Elders in 1993.
He has since joined the South Mogadishu warlord Hussein Mohamed Aidid as his vice-resident.
(AFP, May 6; Government of Somaliland appeal, May 4; The Monitor, May 12, 1998)
Somaliland delegation visits Addis Ababa, asks donors for assistance;
Agence France Presse.March 03, 1998
Somaliland newspaper attacks government over new press laws
In letter sent to AFP here Tuesday by the Jamhuuriya editorial board, paper accused Somaliland's attorney-general Hassan Hirsi of trying to prevent press from criticising Somaliland's political leadership.
"The new development is aimed at silencing the press and protecting the interests of Hirsi's superiors," the paper charged.
The editorial was reacting to the recent letter to Jamhuuriya and Maandeeq newspapers and government-owned radio station in which Hirsi warned them against criticising government.
The letter particularly warned Jamhuuriya , which it accused of persistently insulting the national leadership and discrediting Somaliland's image through criticism and insults.
"We support freedom of expression and that is why we have licenced Jamhuuriya , but it has incredibly been insulting Somaliland's leaders without any apparent reason," Hirsi also said in letter faxed to AFP here on Tuesday.
Jamhuuriya is the only daily newspaper in Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland, which declared itself independent from the rest of Somalia five months after the overthrow of Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1991, but has yet to be recognised by the outside world. There are also few weeklies.
"Somaliland cannot tolerate the regular press abuses by Jamhuuriya. We will review press laws to bring paper back to line," Hirsi said, citing several articles Jamhuuriya had published which he claimed "insulted leadership."
But Jamhuuriya accused Hirsi of "undermining democracy."
Jamhuuriya editor Hassan Said charged: "Hirsi is silencing papers here in order to protect his superiors, but Somaliland people are behind our coverage and will stand by truth," adding: "The attorney-general is undermining democracy in Somaliland, but no one will accept new dictatorship here."
Somaliland, as former British colony, enjoyed freedom of the press and independent judiciary similar to that of Britain.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. April 21, 1998
Denmark apologizes to Somaliland over forced refugee expulsions
Danish police now admit it was a mistake to fly two Somali women and child to Somaliland capital of Hargeisa last week, accompanied by five Danish police officers, without prior agreement, the national news agency Ritzau reported.
The government of the break-away East African province had protested to Copenhagen over incident.
The two countries have signed a controversial agreement under which Somaliland had agreed to accept return of small number of its asylum-seeking citizens in exchange for Danish development aid.
Denmark currently shelters around 10,000 Somaliland refugees, most of whom do not meet requirements for asylum status in this country. The left-centre minority government has been under pressure from rightwing opposition parties to reduce the number of refugees staying in the country.
Interior Minister Thorkild Simonsen asked the national police chief Ivar Boye to head delegation to Somaliland to give the authorities there an explanation and to convey government's regret over incident, the national radio reported.
But politicians of right and left in the Folketing, parliament, oppose idea, saying police should not play the role of Issary for Denmark's foreign affairs.
(UN IRIN, March 31 and other sources
The Somaliland President criticises IGAD
(AFP, March 3, 1998)
Somaliland newspaper Jamhuuriya attacks government
Somaliland--Cabinet Approves 1998 Budget
From Hargeysa Radio
Mohamed Egal, the president of Somaliland, today chaired ordinary session of the Council of Ministers during which government budget for 1998, amounting to 60.026 billion Somaliland shillings was approved. [passage omitted]
The budget will be submitted to House of Representatives and will udergo four stages before approval. Fifty-nine per cent of it will cover security and politics, meaning the expenses of the ministeries of defense, internal affairs, justice and foreign affairs, as well as the presidency.
Somaliland police arrest two editors
A senior police officer said Hassan Said, editor of Jamahiriya, was under arrest in connection with an editorial in the Somali-language daily allegedly defaming attorney-general Hassan Hirso Ali. Further charges relating to other articles were under consideration, he said.
Charges against Yassin Mohamed Ismail, editor of an English-language weekly an, were not specified, but attorney-general told Reuters paper was not legally registered. He said he had given instructions that any offences committed by local publications be investigated.
The publisher of both papers, Mohamed Abdi Shida, has already received a suspended six-month prison sentence for printing the government revenue receipts without authority.
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 after the overthrow of military dictator Siad Barre in the Horn of Africa country, but no state has recognised it.
The Republican Newspaper Faces New Closure
(SL Cyber news. March 7, 1998)
The news filtering out of Hargeisa indicate that the new English-speaking newspaper, The Republican , which is being published by the national Printing Press, the parent company of Jamhuuriya , was given warning by Attorney General's office to close down or face unspecified legal actions.This continuing harrassment of the free press by government officials puts the nascent, national free press on jeopardy.
According to Abdirahman Ismail, resident of Kuwait, the following information is what's available from The Republican s troubles:
-
"I have contacted Mohamud Abdi Shide, the publisher of Jamhuuriya & The
an
and have gathered following information:-
1.The editors of both Jamhuuriya and The Republican have been imprisoned on 4th March. Their names are Hassan Siad and Yassin Ismail, respectively.
2.The weekly English newspaper, The Republican n has been banned by the Prosecuter General (Xeer Ilaaliyaha).Hassan Hersi Ali, without any formal notification, but by merely announcing it over the Radio Hargeisa.
The publisher told me that he will be going ahead with The Republican publication on Saturday, 7th March, and that he will be going to fight this ban through the judiciary system as of tomorrow, even though he conceded that they play a lot of delay tactics. He also informed me that various meetings and consultations are going on among citizens and their outcomes will be known in few days time.
In related development, Shide has been interviewed earlier in the day by London-based anti-censorship organization, Article 19 group."
The publisher and The Republican owner of NPP, Mohamud Abdi Shide, who had spent a week in jail last September, following the closure of NPP offices by government, is said to be so frustrated by these actions that he's thinking of giving up his business. Reportedly, during during the last three months he had lost four key reporters and three printing technicians, who were said to have been bribed by some government officials into leaving their jobs with NPP, with some of them given jobs in Maandeeq , the government's newspaper.
Admittedly, lacking some of the details of the different situations on the ground is, of course, a problem we have in fully understanding the current events in home. However, most of us are aware of the existence of a pattern of harrassment and intimidation that has been going on since at least last April.
the Republican comes out on Saturdays and this week's edition did come out, but there're concerns in the literary circles that this edition may be the last one until the conflict gets resolved in the courts.
The conflict is not, I understand, over The Republican per se, but it's carryover from the NPP's earlier problems with the Mayor, Ali Asad, his CID chief, elements at the Interior Ministry, and now with some folks at Justice Ministry, where the Attorney General can be found.
Since last April, certain individuals ensconsed in positions of power were being bent in forcing the NPP to close down its operations, and they have been using different tactics, some legal, some not, as a pretext to achieve their intentions. Without being conversant of all the details over these matters, it's apparent that the NPP is struggling against all odds to remain open both as a privately-owned business and a major media outlet for thousands of readers found all over world.
It's important to stress that it has become accepted international nationally that any attempt by the government in power to enjoin silence is considered to be one of gravest violations of human rights. As only English-speaking newspaper, its closure through the government intervention poses a grave threat to the development of free press, which is essential in the democratic development.
Brief Profile: Somaliland/American Relief Project, Boston
I would like to pass along some information that has helped us here in Boston and could benefit our country. We have established Somaliland/American Relief Project in Boston, and we're currently collecting many items from local hospitals, schools and other establishments, who are willing to help us. These items are surplus goods that were meant to be either thrown out or put in warehouses. We solicited some of these places and we're getting encouraging the results.
In mean-time, information provided below is about US governmental agencies that hold many auctions that could benefit our humanitarian goals in many ways. This information is especially helpful to those who reside in U.S. This list describes thousands of information sources in government. Imagine, if you will, what if we could get 10,000 chairs for $125 dollars, amphibious war vehicles for $88 dollars to strengthen our police force and many agricultural goods for $3 each. Ghana has just paid $365 for 900 khaki police uniforms. Don't you think this was a bargain?
This is what many so-called 'Third World" countries do in order to stretch their dollars. I choose to call these countries 'developing countries' for psychological reasons, because I don't believe we are 'third' to anyone. But that is another story. Please, try to write to some of these places.
The Congressional Yellow book is a directory of the members of Congress, their committees and key aides. Shall we not lobby them? Information is free!!
The Congressional Yellow Book,Washington Monitor, Inc.,the National Press Building, 529 14th St.. NW, Washington, D.C. 20045
The U.S. Customs Service, The Public Info. Division, U.S. Custom Services, Dept. of Treasury,1301 Constitutional Ave NW, Washington, DC 20229
The UNIDO is free newsletter published in Arabic, English, French and Russian. It contains information on works of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization and talks about industrial opportunities, technologies available FOR 'developing' countries. If they get enough signatures, they will help in alerting some of developed countries to help them.
UNIDO Newsletter, Room C114 UNIDO, P.O.Box 707, A-1011, Vienna, Austria
May Allah bless Somaliland
Mohamed Abdirahman Ali 'Baranbaro', Boston, Mass.Email:[8704mali@quik.com]
If you'd like see your Somaliland community's activities featured here, please send profile here.Ed.
March 3, 1998
Somali monkeys beaten after tackling soccer team
HARGEISA, Somalia, March 2 (Reuters) -A troop of monkeys invaded schoolboy soccer match in Somalia, forcing players and spectators to seek shelter in nearby houses.
Witnesses said monkeys invaded pitch in Burao town and attacked players, biting and scratching youngsters on legs.
Police tried to disperse primates by firing into air, but had to take tougher action when monkeys turned on them, finally shooting the apparent ringleader before monkeys fled.
Burao is home to substantial numbers of monkeys who invaded town at height of Somalia's civil war. Many have taken over houses in the town and are considered a nuisance.
WHO Tests for the Rift Valley Fever
Radio Hargeisa 23 Feb 98
The WHO has clarified that blood samples collected from patients have tested negative for Rift Valley fever. A report by the agency submitted to Ministry of Health of Somaliland said these tests were carried out on patients in Ceerigaabo Hospital [Northeastern Somaliland] and investigations proved that the fever did not exist there. Last month, false reports appeared claiming that there was outbreak of disease in Ceerigaabo. However, investigations inside and outside country proved that disease did not exist in Somaliland.
BBC MONITORING SERVICE: AFRICA 25/02/98
Minister Caynab Briefs the House of Elders
Radio Hargeisa 22 Feb 98
The House of Elders of Somaliland was today briefed by Yusuf Ali Aynab Museh, the minister of defence, on the operations and plans for Ministry. The minister told house that in 1997 his Ministry undertook the army census, rehabilitated military training centres and opened new ones, such as Darar Weyne, Shidis and Gurya Awl, which he said would improve the quality and skills of army. He said overall number of the army is 12,840 men, adding that 1,726 men are reservists...
BBC MONITORING SERVICE: AFRICA 25/02/98
Pres. Egal Recieves an American Delegation
Radio Hargeisa 21 Feb 98
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of the Somaliland, today received an American delegation which paid him a courtesy call. The delegation, made up of diplomats from American embassies in Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Djibouti, was led by Michael Barry [as heard] of [US] State Department responsible for the refugees and the immigration affairs. Michael informed the president that the aim of their visit was to assess refugee situation in Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somaliland, where they had witnessed the return of 1,300 Somaliland refugees. President Egal briefed the delegation on the situation in the country and said that he was happy to note that the delegation had witnessed for themselves return of some Somaliland refugees. He requested delegation to forward his appeal to the American government and donor countries to assist the returnees to stand on their own two feet again so that they would in turn become productive in society...
In response, Michael told the president that after seeing real situation in country, the delegation thought Somaliland deserved assistance. He pledged that President Egal's request for assistance would be forwarded to the US department in charge of African refugee affairs, adding that he was sure assistance would be forthcoming...
(c) BBC Monitoring Summary of World Broadcasts.
President Egal's Diplomatic Trip
(SL cyberspace News)
President Egal of Somaliland concluded his European and the Horn of Africa diplomatic trip early this week. This official trip took him to Italy, France and Ethiopia, where he met with key officials in ministeries of foreign affairs, international national trade and others.
Key achievements of trip includes Italy's expressed willingness to push for European Community proposal for "semi-diplomatic" recognition status of Somaliland and freeing some of millions of dollars of European Community aid tied in Lome Convention Program for relief and reconstruction aid for Somaliland. Meanwhile, in Paris, France, President Egal received award from the Paris the region council for furthering the prospects of peaceful reconciliations in the Horn of Africa.
For further details, consider the following story:
-
President Mohamed Egal's tour of Ethiopia, France and Italy has
confirmed trend to grant de facto diplomatic recognition to
state that proclaimed itself independent in 1991. In Ethiopia, on top of
exchange of consuls (agreed three months ago and now coming into
force, ION No 791), prime minister Meles Zenawi agreed to listen to
complaints by Somaliland's foreign minister, Mahmoud Salah Fagadeh Nur,
about the national reconciliation process in Somalia under Sodere
and Cairo Agreements. Ethiopia backs the Sodere agreement but is alert
to argument that "Peace of Hawiye tribes" is not only unlikely to
be generalized but also presents the big danger that it could escalate
into counter-alliance of various Darod clans in South (Harti,
Marehan, Mejertien, Ogaden) against Troika (warlords Hussein Mohamed
Aideed, Ali Mahdi Mohamed, and Osman Ali aka Atto) in Mogadiscio. In
exchange for Ethiopia dropping support for the Sodere plan, Somaliland
has offered to get round the warlord problem by holding the conference of
five hundred Somali civilians in Hargeisa to negotiate peace agreement
without the military men.
The same reasoning was put forward in Rome where, however, Italian foreign minister Rino Serri was the embarrassed witness of nasty argument between Somaliland delegates and the Italian ambassador in Mogadiscio Giuseppe Cassini, who wanted to win the delegates over to Cairo and Sodere Agreements (which Fagadeh is against). Unexpectedly, verbal battle turned things to Fagadeh's favour: dumped by his minister, Cassini is expected to be rapidly transferred from Mogadiscio to Beirut. Foreign Ministry officials clearly fed up with perpetual quarrelling between Southern factions in Somalia told Somaliland delegation Italy would be willing to back proposal with European Union for "semi-diplomatic recognition", which would give Somaliland status of "international national existence" and allow it access to bilateral and multilateral financial assistance. EU is sitting on US$120 million worth of funds earmarked under Lome IV Convention for Somalia which it has never been able to release. President Egal said he would be willing to accept intermediate status of this type, leaving question of full diplomatic recognition until later.
In Paris, Egal's delegation was received at foreign Ministry by Jean Didier Roisin, head of Africa and Malagasy Desk, and ministerial adviser Georges Serre. Delegates renewed trade contacts (notably with French oil major Total ) begun in December 1997 during Fagadeh's earlier visit, and other meetings were planned with fishery industry officials. On political scene, there were meetings with French politicians (right-wingers such as ex-ministers Bernard Debr,, Robert Pandraud, and Charles Pasqua, and with left-wingers in Socialist party). Egal received award from Paris the region general council.
(The Indian Ocean Newsletter no799 -14/02/98)
Agence France Presse. February 12, 1998
Somaliland seeks international national recognition
It was on this basis that Somaliland and Eritrea would shortly be exchanging diplomatic representatives, Egal added,
"We still want full international national recognition but we will be content provisionally with recognised autonomy similar to Palestinian Authority," he said.
Egal arrived in Paris Monday from Italy, where he saw junior foreign minister Rino Serri, and has met senior officials of the French foreign Ministry and opposition politicians.
In Ethiopia earlier he had meetings with the ambassadors of Egypt, Eritrea, Italy and United States as well as the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
Somaliland, which forms Northern part of Somalia, declared independence following the overthrow of dictator Mohammad Siad Barre in 1991 and the collapse of country into anarchy.
It has been recognised by no foreign state.
Agence France Presse. February 05, 1998
Somaliland rejects participation in Baidoa conference
Spokesman Abdi Idris Du'ale told AFP that attempt by Arab League to persuade Somaliland to take part in conference beginning in the Southern Somali town of Baidoa on February 15 was counter-productive.
Somaliland has no intention of interfering in affairs of "neighboring Somalia," he said.
This Northwestern the region of Somalia, formerly ruled by Britain, broke away from the the rest of Somalia, once under Italian rule, after overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. It has not been recognised by any outside country.
The Baidoa conference, which follows six-week peace conference in Cairo last November and December, is aimed at setting up the federal Somali state and transitional government.
"If Egypt were discussing its internal affairs, it would be to everybody's surprise if it invited Libya to join," said Du'ale. "That is exactly the case with Somalia and Somaliland."
In interview published Wednesday in Dubai's Khaleej Times, Arab League Arab affairs secretary Ahmed Bin Hali said the league did not recognise Somaliland as sovereign state and urged its leader Mohamed Egal to attend Baidoa conference. "Egal should join Somali peace meeting as leader of Northern Somalia," he said.
But Egal's spokesman charged that Bin Hali was adopting Egyptian policy of non-recognition on behalf of Arab League.
"The regional countries which are more knowledgeable about the region than Egyptians told Somali factions to sort out their problems and talk to Somaliland later, to avoid more political contradictions," Du'ale said.
"We dont need Egyptian recognition, but non-interference in our internal affairs."
Over 1,000 Refugees Return To Somaliland From Ethiopia
One thousand and seventy-eight refugees, or 248 families, were today repatriated to their home villages in Gabiley District in Somaliland. The refugees were transported in 42 vehicles from Hartishek and [word indistinct] refugee camps in Ethiopia.
Our reporter said that today's arrival was part of the second phase of repatriation program, at end of which 1,329 families, or 7,465 persons, will have been repatriated.
Somaliland Health Team Says No Rift Valley Fever in Sanaag
The fact-finding mission sent to Sanaag the region to investigate alleged existence of Rift Valley fever there has said it did not see any evidence of the disease.
A statement by Dr. Abdi aw Dahir, the minister of health for Somaliland, said the team, which left for Ceerigaabo on 25 January, returned to Hargeysa yesterday.
The health team clarified in their meeting today at the Ministry of Health that the disease does not exist in Sanaag the area. Also present at meeting were Dr. Abdi aw Dahir, senior officials from the Health Ministry, and representatives from WHO and UNICEF in Hargeysa. The team had investigated Ceerigaabo, and eight villages and districts in the region where the disease was alleged [words indistinct].
Somaliland President Egal Leaves For Italy, Ethiopia
Mohamed Egal, president of the Somaliland, left country today for Ethiopia and Italy. Before departure, the president attended 'Id al-Fitr prayers at large Hargeysa mosque, where he took opportunity to greet the people of Somaliland and world Muslims on occasion of end of Ramadan. [passage omitted]
Speaking about his visit to Ethiopia, the president said the purpose of his visit to Ethiopia is to hold talks with that country's leaders on ways of further cementing the already good relations between two countries.
On his visit to Italy, the president said Italy had been misinformed about our decision to declare independence, the resulting in our hatred for that country. He said the Arabs have also been misinformed that we have relations with Jewish state. He said the Italian special envoy who visited Somaliland recently had been told that there was no truth in what his country believed about Somaliland, given that Somaliland and Somalia are two different countries, and that bilateral relations with Italy would be on that basis. He said the Italian envoy brought the letter from Italian foreign minister, which caused [words indistinct]. The president said while in Italy he would try to hold talks with those leaders he could meet. [passage omitted]
WORLD CAMPAIGN FOR Somali ANDS RECOGNITION
On May 17, 1991, people of Somaliland declared the formation of independent Somaliland; and while the world's focus was on Somalia at that time and since, the people of Somaliland managed, through unique and democratic process, to establish peace and stability in their country. Unfortunately, instead of supporting the achievements of people of Somaliland, UN and the international national community has not yet recognized Somaliland, and continue to hold it hostage to conflict between warring warlords in the neighboring Somalia.
The people of Somaliland urge all the UN's member states to grant international national recognition to the Somaliland , and request UN to accept it as full-fledged member of that body. Such the step by UN and its members is long overdue, and would be the proper course of action for following reasons:
- Somaliland has a history of existing as a state. First, when it was The British Somaliland Protectorate (1880-1960); and second time, during brief period between its independence on June 26, 1960 and its union with Somalia on July 1, 1960. During latter period, it was known as The Somaliland State.
- The union between Somaliland and Somalia in 1960 was unfair and lacked
proper legal foundation.
- During ill-fated union (1960-1991), the Mogadishu-based government of Mohammed Siyad Barre engaged in torture, aerial bombardment, and artillery shelling of Somaliland's civilian population, which the resulted in death of 60,000 people, and the destruction of Somaliland's cities, towns, and villages. These were not isolated acts, but part of systematic and well-documented policy of genocide on the part of Somalia toward people of Somaliland, and it went on for years.
- Somaliland meets international national requirements for recognizing new states. It is de facto state which controls the definite territory, and has international nationally recognizable borders (these borders coincide with those of former British Protectorate of Somaliland). It also has elected government, free press, parliament, and has engaged in international national relations with other states for last seven years.
In reference to upcoming (Feb.15) conference in Baidoa, the people of Somaliland are not against the peaceful settlement of conflict in neighboring Somalia, but would like to make it clear that government of Somaliland did not participate in Cairo conference of Dec. 1997, and will not be party to the Baidoa meeting. Furthermore, the Somaliland government has neither signed nor endorsed the agreements the resulting from Cairo conference. Therefore, Somaliland is not legally bound by decisions or agreements reached in Cairo conference, or any decisions or agreements that might be reached in Baidoa.
The people of Somaliland call on UN, its member states, and international national organizations, to assist them in de-mining their roads and rebuilding schools, hospitals, and housing that were destroyed by Mogadishu-based former military regime.
The people of Somaliland draw the attention of UN to discovery of of over 650 skulls in mass-graves in June 16, 1997. These graves date back to era of the the Mogadishu-based regime of Mohamed Siyad Barre, and were confirmed by UN and forensic pathologists from the independent Physicians for Human Rights. We request the UN, and its member countries, to take the necessary legal steps for the apprehension and trial of those who are responsible for these massacres. We also hereby inform the UN, its members, and international national organizations, that the perpetrators of these atrocities are among those who are expected to take part in Baidoa conference.
The people of Somaliland call on the Egyptian government to respect sovereignty of the Somaliland, and to cease its hostile and unwarranted activities against it.
The Somaliland has proven its determination for and ability to build sovereign and democratic state and contribute towards peace, stability and development in the Horn of Africa. The people of Somaliland are urging UN and its member-states to grant it international national recognition and accept it as full-fledged member of UN.
Farah Hersi,
Nura Hagi Nur
Toronto, Canada
Clash Between Egypt and Somaliland
Africa News Service
Addis Ababa (Addis Tribune, February 6, 1998)
Last week, Egyptian press published the official statement by Egyptian Foreign office, saying that Egyptian government would be willing to organise, arm, and actively assist military action against Somaliland, if the planned Baydhaba reconciliation between the factions is successful.
The president of Somaliland, Mohammed Ibrahim Egal said that Egypt seems to have hijacked the task of reconciling factions of Somalia. An unscheduled initiative to reconcile Somalis was mounted in Cairo; this amounted to hijacking of Somali reconciliation from OAU, IGAT regional group and from Somali people.
In response to the Cairo initiative, and to the statements published by the Egyptian Press, President of Somaliland says, "We must react to the statement of Egyptian Foreign Office for sake of safety and security of Somaliland....We see Egyptian statements as declaration of war against Somaliland, and we resolve to defend ourselves in every way and by all means."
Somaliland authorities seize arms destined to Somalia
HARGEISA, Feb 4 (AFP) -Authorities in Somaliland have seized cache of heavy weapons destined for Somalia, the territory's police chief Colonel Ilmi Kabal announced on Wednesday.
Kabal told reporters in the capital Hargeisa that his officers had detained at least 12 Somaliland nationals involved in ferrying of illegal arms, which included heavy machine guns, anti aircraft rockets, 106mm recoiless rifles and ammunitions.
The weapons, put in sacks, were discovered hidden in big commercial trucks that were travelling from Somaliland to Somalia. The police chief displayed to press at least 11 heavy machine-guns, three other heavy anti-tank weapons and mortar pieces, but did not indicate from which country they had come.
Somaliland, former British colony, broke away from the rest of Somalia, once under Italian rule, soon after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, and has since refused overtures to join ongoing Somali peace efforts.
Last week, Somaliland President Mohamed Egal accused Egypt of sowing seeds of discord in Somalia by arming factions allied to Hussein Mohamed Aidid, one of the three main warlords in Mogadishu, in order to rule Somalia by force, accusations strongly denied by Egypt.
Egypt Terms Eritrean President Visit Important
CAIRO (Feb. 2) Xinhua -Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa
Monday termed upcoming visit of Eritrean President Asaias Afworki to
Egypt as "important and required for the good of the Horn of Africa and
Middle East." Afworki will start the official three-day visit to Egypt on
Tuesday and is to meet with President Hosni Mubarak, the Middle
East News Agency
reported.
Moussa told reporters that the talks between the two leaders will cover bilateral ties as well as Somali issue and means of assisting Somalis to move into re-constructing their state. "There are strong relations binding presidents Mubarak and Afworki and thus important issues are expected to be discussed," Moussa said.
Eritrea, Northernmost country in eastern Africa, has been active in mediating end to the six-year civil war in Somalia. Cairo managed to broker an agreement among warring Somali factions on December 22 to end hostilities and form a federal government in country.
Mubarak and Afworki will also discuss means of stepping up bilateral cooperation and coordination vis--vis regional and international national issues. The two African leaders will discuss issue of the Egyptian fishermen detained in Eritrea on charges of respassing territorial water of Eritrea.
Somaliland leader to press Italy for recognition
HARGEISA, Somalia, Jan 29 (CNN) -The leader of Somaliland said on Wednesday he would visit Italy soon to press for international national recognition of his country.
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal told the gathering of Somaliland's parliament and assembly he would also visit neighbouring Ethiopia to try to advance peace efforts in Somalia.
He gave no dates for either visit. "Somaliland has been striving hard for last few years to achieve real peace and security in country," Egal said. "The time is ripe to go abroad and forward our case to international national community."
Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991 as Somalia was carved up by clan-based factions following overthrow of military dictator Siad Barrethe long-time dictator.
It constitutes the former British Somaliland which merged with Southern Italian Somaliland to form Somalia in 1960.
Although not recognised by any country, Somaliland has enjoyed relative peace since 1991, while Somalia still frequently erupts into fighting.
Egal accused Egypt of interfering in Somali affairs. Last month Cairo government hosted conference of warring Somali factions and later issued communique saying ultimate aim for the region should be reunited Somalia.
"This statement was tantamount to a declaration of war on Somaliland," Egal said. "Somaliland is not recognised so far but this will not stop nor hinder its government and people from defending their sovereignty and human rights."
Egal said peaceful conditions in Somaliland had recently enabled army to demobilise 2,000 troops.
Rural African Women's Food Fuel and Feed On Line Network
New OnLine Newsletter: RAWFFFOL
An Internet newsletter of practical suggestions for rural African women to improve their lives. Written for rural women and those who support them such as Peace Corp workers, Missionaries, NGOs, women in development groups, etc.
African women are carrying burden of rural development in Africa on their backs. While we can do little to change the social structures that burden African women, or modify African Society, we can help lighten their burdens. There are new appropriate technologies, marketing outlets, and support systems designed to help women. But how to get that information to woman in bush.
This newsletter is designed to pull together caring women into RAWFFFOL Sharing groups to create information flow from those who have knowhow to women who need it. You can be conduit of such information by becoming RAWFFFOL Information Transfer Volunteer.
There is no cost. Just be willing to share yourself with African women through wide variety of channels from Peace Corp to mission of many churches.
We invite you and any African women or women of African descent to participate in this network through RAWFFFOL by sharing ideas. We are especially interested in how the Internet can support this mission.
If you are interested in sharing in developing this information conduit for rural African women, please send an email to eaftdc@seark.net and >say Subscribe RAWFFFOL
Sharing and caring,
Dr. Carol
Volume 1, Number 1 October 1, 1996,
Editor and Publisher, Dr. Carol Cross
RAWFFFOL is an internet newsletter focused on providing support and information technology to African village rural women. RAWFFFOL is being presented just like any printed magazine or newsletter. You can contribute articles, ask questions and assist these hardworking women in providing food for their families, fuel so they do not have to cut trees for firewood, and livestock feed for their small herds. This newsletter is available at no cost to you. This newsletter is for you if you are presently working with programs to assist African rural women or are woman in village in Africa.
ISSUE # 1 Tentative articles scheduled
- Reviving YUM -How Cameroonian women used to work together and how it can be redeveloped
- Food drying systems for rainy weather -building food dryers from
bamboo and local materials
- Giza sorghum for firewood production
- Small scale production of kenaf in cut and carry program
*SPECIAL REQUEST -African women are needed as country coordinators for this newsletter. If you are originally from an African country, please contact Dr. Carol Cross eaftdc@seark.net for more information.
Carol Cross, Ph.D. EcoAgroForestry Founder, Phone & FAX: 501-367-8736. 2801 Olive, #35A, Suite 113, PO Box 5208, Pine Bluff, AR 71611.
For Free Western Hemisphere Export Trade Newsletter send email saying SUBSCRIBE WESHEMOL. Together we Can Create A Sustainable World Through EcoAgroForestry (Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Forestry and Rural AgroIndustrial Development) by growing Kenaf, utilizing AgroResidues, forming consortiums, & developing Rural AgroIndustrial Centers (RAICs) or EcoAgroForestry Village Business Incubators(VBI). Free Kenaf Newsletter - Just Say SUBSCRIBE KENAFOL. Join us.
"You must be change you wish to see in world." (Gandhi)
EGAL ON TOUR
The president of Somaliland, Mohamed Egal, whose recent offer to resign from his post had been refused by parliament in Hargeisa (ION No 792), was due to commence this week diplomatic tour by the visit to Addis Ababa, on January 29 and 30. He has been invited there by prime minister Meles Zenawi who, after the upset in his attempts at mediation in view of the national reconciliation in Somalia, has accepted the idea of receiving representative of state of Somaliland.
Then president Egal will go to Rome, on February 1 and 2, at the invitation of the Italian government which is going to try to get him to rally to the process of the national reconciliation in Somalia begun by the recent agreements in Cairo. Italy supports totally these agreements which give best share to the Hawiye and has tried, but vainly, to officialize them by inviting signatories to Rome, last week, on occasion of meeting of member-states and " Friends of IGAD " group of countries with InterGovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
After Italy, Egal will go to France where the high official of the foreign Ministry in Paris will receive him. This will be first meeting at this level between French officials and the president of Somaliland. The latter will depart to Eritrea where he is expected, on February 7, at the invitation of head of state Issayas Afeworki. This invitation was hooked by the Somaliland foreign minister, Mahmoud Salah Fagadeh Nur, during his visit to Asmara at the beginning of month of December -1997. Mahmoud Fagadeh is friend of long-standing with president Afeworki whom he had received on many occasions in Mogadiscio when Eritrean leader was still only the leader of Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), then at war against the the Ethiopian regime of ex-president Mengistu Haile Mariam. The Somali regime of the late president Siad Barre offered them, among other things, diplomatic passports and residential facilities to officials of EPLF.
BBC News
Somaliland president slams Egypt
The President of the Somaliland, Mohammed Ibrahim Egal, has accused Egypt of interfering in the internal affairs of Somalia by hijacking country's peace process.
Addressing gathering of country's assembly, Egal said Egypt wanted to set up puppet government in Somalia to wage war against Somaliland.
Correspondents say Egal was referring to peace conference hosted by Egypt last month.
Egal has expressed his opposition to peace accord signed at conference by some faction leaders.
A communique issued in Cairo spoke of eventual reunification of Somalia to include Somaliland.
Egal declared Somaliland independent from the rest of Somalia in 1991, but country is not international nationally recognised.
From newsroom of the BBC World Service
Egal Accuses Egypt of Interferences
The president of former British-ruled Somaliland, which has declared international nationally unrecognised independence from the rest of once Italian-run Somalia, said Egypt was interfering in internal affairs of east African countries.
"Egypt is making the Horn of Africa ungovernable and is in the process of setting up puppet government in Somalia to wage war against Somaliland and other faction leaders in Somalia," Egal alleged, according to the radio. "I urge the Horn of Africa leaders to battle against the hostile Egyptian policy," Egal said, shortly before he left Hargeisa for visits to Ethiopia and Italy.
Egal said that while factions in Somalia had agreed to hold reconciliation talks as of last November, the process had been sabotaged by Egypt and planned conference is still in the state of confusion.
"I will talk to the Ethiopian leaders and persuade them to help us battle Egypt," Egal said, pledging to host Somali national reconciliation conference himself.
His remarks came alongside the claim on Thursday by one Somali group, Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA), that town slated for the talks, Baidoa, had become scene of heavy fighting between RRA forces and militias loyal to one of powerful warlords, Hussein Mohamed Aidid.
The RRA stated that there was no reason that Baidoa, 250 kilometres (about 150 miles) west of the capital Mogadishu, should be the venue for planned talks on February 15, since Aidid's men had failed to abide by demands from other Somali factions to withdraw from town.
"We can host the conference of 500 Somali faction leaders if they wanted to resolve their problems here, as Somaliland did in 1993," Egal said, referring to the Northeastern area's own five-month peace conference in Borama, which has since brought relative peace in Somaliland. "If Egypt is not out of the the Horn of Africa's regional politics, the zone will be battleground that will never subside," Egal warned.
Egal pledged that Somaliland government was ready to be most honest peacebroker in Somalia, but stressed nevertheless that his country was no longer part of Somalia since declaring its independence in 1991.
His declaration poured cold water on hopes by Aidid that he would persuade Somaliland leader to attend the Baidoa conference in attempt to reunify two Somali as, which were under the separate colonial administrations before independence in 1960.
A Scholastic Breakdown:Somalia's education system has been abandoned inside and out.
UNESCO Sources; April 1997
Little girls, nomadic children and inhabitants of rural areas, urban poor ... you may as well say near totality of Somali ans aged from 6 to 11, have no chance whatsoever of going to school. According to recent study undertaken by Mudiappasamy Devadoss, an Indian education specialist for UNESCO's Emergency Education and Reconstruction Programme, primary enrolment rate in Somalia barely reaches 9%, and this is optimistic estimate. Entire school districts, even regions are completely lacking in educational infrastructure. Everywhere, schools are closing or already shut down.
A NEEDED TRANSFUSION
Only those managed by international national or local NGOs, religious organizations or private groups are still functioning, most of them in cities which house under quarter of the population. In private schools, enrolment fees of between $.70 and $2.80 are prohibitive for majority of families. "By contrast, owing to continued donor support, Somali refugee camps in Kenya, Djibouti and Yemen are served in many respects better than several places in Somalia and are able to maintain acceptable educational standards," reported Devadoss.
This disaster is due primarily to the "premature withdrawal" of humanitarian aid agencies which had succeeded in improving part of school system before end of war and to maintain it under kind of permanent transfusion. "Education was one of four priorities set by UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) and, starting in 1993, several UN agencies, international national NGOs and Somali counterparts sought to revive it with the assistance of the donor community."
School buildings were built and rehabilitated, teachers were trained, food rations were distributed to children and teachers. School supplies -notebooks, blackboards, chalk -were distributed. Textbooks were revised and printed in quantity.
But in 1994-95, many NGOs decided to withdraw in wake of UNOSOM's departure. The World Food Programme, which stayed behind, had more and more trouble obtaining and distributing food to schools, which previously served as the strong incentive for attendance. Even if certain organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF continue their work, many funding sources and NGOs no longer consider education priority.
This outlook is, in fact, shared by the Somalis -illiterate in their vast majority who think that the state should assume full responsibility for schooling. In the absence, however, of the central or even regional government, no resources are invested in this sector. Devadoss added that tribute paid to militias -in form of taxes levied along highways or in ports but also by "ransoming" population -and money collected by religious leaders, serve to consolidate power of war chiefs and reinforce the reign of law handed down by Islamic courts of justice.
Rebuilding the education system promises to be an uphill struggle, not least because the system actually began disintegrating before war broke out in 1990. In the 1980s, while defence and security budgets skyrocketed, public expenditure for education fell drastically, school maintenance was neglected, and under-paid teachers deserted profession. The crisis facing education today is all more tragic since, up until 1980s, Somali system was considered to be among most developed in Africa.
By SOPHIE BOUKHARI
UNESCO Sources, Apr97 Issue 89, p22, 2/3p
Somaliland Leader Not To Attend Baidoa Talks
Addis Ababa ETV Television Network
Somaliland officials have refuted statement made on
participation of President Egal at a conference in Baidoa, which,
according to sources close to conference, was as the result of
error of interpretations from Somali to English. However, sources
said statement was not based on statement by Ibrahim Egal.
The sources further said there has been no contact with Egal, and
he has not made any statement to that effect. ENA quoted sources as
saying that the general understanding which prevails at present is
that once the transitional government is formed in Somalia, dialogue
would begin with Somaliland.
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Bringing Water to Hargeisa
Based on "Evaluation of Hargeisa Town Water Supply",
A report to UNICEF Somalia, by Petros Gebeto, Consultant
October 1997
In drought-prone desert country where water is scarce and expensive, supplies that are reliable and cheap can make big difference to family incomes and prospects. In the region where water-borne disease is major cause of child deaths, ensuring good clean supplies of water is crucial to improving health. In the devastated city where lack of water is hampering reconstruction and is potential source of conflict, guaranteed flow close to homes has a multiple role: it improves small-scale agriculture and livestock production, supports business activity, allows women more time for their families and themselves, and assists social, political and economic security. In North-west Somalia, Hargeisa is slowly recovering from enormous destruction during its bombing by then government's airforce in 1988 and the subsequent civil war until 1991, which forced city's entire population of 600,000 people to leave. The city's water system was almost totally destroyed.
The only remaining source of water for 300,000 people who returned was Tug river -which is also used for washing and watering animals, and is contaminated by sewage -as well as 170 shallow wells dug alongside the river. With grant of US$1 million from the US Agency for international national Development, Somali commercial contractors, supported by UN Children's Fund, began rehabilitating city's water system in 1991. With total of US$1.4 million already spent, work continues in 1994, but the programme already claims significant success, providing clean and reliable water supplies for many thousands of people. If maintained and developed, programme will demonstrate what can be achieved even in the immediate aftermath of war by concentrating on basic services to meet people's priority needs.
Water is pumped from wells in the area called Ged Deble, about 25kms North-east of Hargeisa, and sold through five water points at the flat-rate of Somali shillings, 2,150 per 200-litre barrel. The revenue would be insufficient to repay the capital invested, had it been commercial loan, but it does pay for 159 administrative, technical, financial and security staff, as well as other operating costs and maintenance work, leaving small surplus.
The newly-created Hargeisa Water Agency is attached to city mayor's office and operates under Municipality of Hargeisa, with board of directors comprising Mayor, heads of council departments and agency's chairman. This parastatal-style structure, where real control lies with agency's manager, was created in December 1992 after two failed attempts to hand over programme management to Ministry of Minerals and Water Resources of would-be-independent Somaliland. Clan disputes and corruption were blamed for interruptions in supply, but water flow has been reliable since the agency took control.
The original water system was installed by Chinese government engineers in 1970s and 1980s at cost then of around US$80 million. At Ged Deble, 12 wells, each capable of producing average of 60 cubic metres of water hour, fed reservoir, from where water was pumped to half-way reservoir at Biyo Kahadar, 12kms from Hargeisa, and then pumped to city. The pumping stations were damaged or destroyed in war. Six wells and both reservoirs have been rehabilitated, new pumps and turbines installed, and system produces 1,0001,500 cubic metres of water day. This is distributed through five water points or kiosks on North-South line through city, where it is sold directly to consumers and bought by businesses operating tanks and donkey carts for retailing water to more distant customers. Half of Hargeisa's population now has access to potable water, and some water is distributed free to institutions, such as hospitals and orphanages. The water is chemically and biologically pure, and survey of 176 water users representing all ages and both sexes found 77% felt better with new supply, while 75% reported positive impact on the health of children.
The kiosks meant 38% had increased their use of water, and 58% were spending less time collecting it. One-third used the extra time on business, another third to look after their families, and almost one-fifth for leisure, mainly chewing common Somali narcotic plant "chat". Although third of water users surveyed lived within 500 metres of water point and almost half now had supply closer to their homes than before just five kiosks in Hargeisa's 170 sq. km meant 40% lived between 2km and 4km from kiosk and a quarter had to travel over 4km to get water. Extension of pipes and building further 20 kiosks has begun and is expected to cost another $300,000, bringing clean supplies within reasonable reach of entire population. Apart from more kiosks to improve convenience, users wanted cheaper water. At present prices, 28% spend less than 800 Somali shillings (around US$0.25) day on water and another 23% spend 900-1,200 shillings; most said they would double their consumption if prices were halved. Of those surveyed, just over half were buying less than 10 litres day, and 85% bought less than 15 litres, well below World Health Organisation -recommended 20 litre--day minimum. If the system's peak output of 804 cubic metres of water day was divided among all 300,000 people, it would give each one less than three litres day.
Older Hargeisa residents say that the city has suffered chronic water shortages since it was founded 120 years ago. Apart from the river and privately owned shallow wells, the other main source of supply is rain water, which usually falls during five months of year, and is collected by most families in cement block tanks and barrels. Hargeisa Water Authority sales fell by about third during rains in April, May and June 1993. For many families in the city or in surrounding villages, water sellers using tankers and barrels on donkey carts have long been the main "retail" suppliers. Today, a barrel bought by a tanker driver can be resold for 7,000-9,000 shillings, depending on demand and distance. Making up to four trips a day, tanker drivers can make up to 50,000 shillings (US$13) day, one of the region's most consistently profitable businesses. Donkey carts, carrying water in two barrels welded together, make four to seven trips day. Despite complaints of interruptions in supply and the cost of spares and fuel, 160 tankers and 500 donkey carts are operating in city. During one month of peak output in August 1993, tankers bought 44% of water and together earned 257-363 million shillings net, depending on their retail prices; donkey carts took 26% and make 152-215 million shillings; total private sale of 409-578 million shillings, against Hargeisa Water Authority's income for month of 259 million shillings.
While more water points will cut the income of such retailers and their families - affecting 5,000 people directly -it will reduce the costs to almost everyone in city, raise usage, and greatly increase water-authority turnover. Increasing production will not only mean more capital investment, but also improving Somali management of the expanded programme and many more staff, including security. Early in project, illegal tapping of supplies and intimidation by armed militias forced water authority to spend 55 million shillings to hire 300 additional security staff for four months, until situation improved. There are other potential costs, in broader environmental terms, since the aquifer supplying the water is also expected to be tapped by more water users given licences by the region's Ministry of agriculture, the policy which conflicts with the long-term sustainability of source, as originally planned by the Ministry of water. Irrigation and other uses could shorten overall life of aquifer and lower the water table. Since programme was, at its start, capital rather than labour intensive and involved outside contrac-tors, there is acknowledged need to improve community participation. Elders interviewed during the programme's initial evaluation welcomed new water system but all were keen to see more water points and lower prices.
Women's involvement is crucial, with suggestions that they should have role in choosing kiosk sites and designing a system, which could cut vandalism and reduce inevitable land ownership disputes over water point construction. Water is a key part of sustainable development of North-western Somalia, where the economy is thriving, despite the lack of any official banking system, international nationally recognised government or major overseas aid. Livestock exports and cash from Somalis working overseas has meant stable exchange rate, food in markets from expanding agriculture, and thriving informal sector employing many women who are de facto heads of household. Many problems remain, including amore than 200,000 refugees from the area living in Ethiopia and hundreds of thousands still vulnerable to drought or renewed conflict. But the one million people of Somaliland have created community councils and regional-development committees in effort to solve their own problems. In Hargeisa, demonstrating social sustainabilitiy of programmes that meet most basic needs, the kiosks work from dawn to dusk, people fill their jerry cans in safety, and donkey carts and tankers more freely around city delivering a clean water supplies that are the vital part of recovery from disaster.
Somaliland: A Brief summary of curent conditions
November 1997
At distance, it can be easy to forget that "Somalia" is at least two countries. The pre-independence split between North-western section, that was a British protectorate from 1886 until 1960, and the rest that was Italian, has returned in the form of the territory that has even readopted the name Somaliland.
A declaration of independence in 1991 does not stop disputes about how much of the territory new administration can claim as accepting any form of national authority. Nor does it stop disagreements about whether Somaliland should be independent or in federated state, and it cannot prevent its one million people suffering occasional upsurges in clan-related violence.
Although Somaliland was an early starting point for much of the resistance to Siad Barre which made it the target of military action and political repression well before the wars of the 1990s, it has pulled together, from very low base, the range of national and local structures, held the national congress about its future, and made efforts in governance, security and development.
Unfortunately for the people of Somaliland, creating some sort of state, measure of peace and little prosperity, has brought absolutely no international national recognition, very little aid except through NGOs, and almost no attention, as most eyes media, donors, diplomats, aid staff watch Mogadishu.
Recognized or not, Somaliland has a police force, army, courts, taxes, a range of busy local NGOs, and plenty of even busier businesses, many of which have links with the continuing economic success story of Berbera port and its massive livestock exports.
Berbera benefits from Cold War heritage of Somalia, with both Russian-and American-built warehouses and docks. Despite problems of limited water and electricity supplies which European Community is tackling and need to improve veterinary checks and vaccination to avoid animals being returned, Berbera is booming.
Its 1995 (and partial 1996) figures show exports to Gulf states and beyond of 22,000 (38,000) camels, 75,000 (59,000) cattle, 2,684,000 (2,134,000) sheep or goats and 461,000 (170,000) hides. Part-year 1996 figures show imports of: sugar 62,900 tonnes; rice 95,400 tonnes; wheat 21,500 tonnes; cooking oil 4,400 tonnes; diesel oil 6,200 tonnes; and 3,345 vehicles.
This success means hard currency for government, jobs for port workers, opportunities for truckers and herders, and profits for traders. The animals come from all over the region, including Ethiopia and Somalia, grazing as they go, and making their way through hundreds of miles that many outsiders would assume were still at war.
Providing it is not overtaxed by administration with few income sources, Berbera Port Authority has good prospects. Its nearest rival, Bosasso, in almost equally-peaceful Bari the region in North-east, takes smaller ships and faces silting problems, while only other Somali deep-water port, in Mogadishu, has been battled over by factions.
But revived livestock sector, low-tax trade and prosperity of some is no guarantee that vulnerability is really being reduced. Indeed, aid observers see many of same elites from 1960s now in positions of power, widening gap between rich and poor, especially in rural areas, and economy dominated by half dozen wealthy businessmen.
The president and ministers in capital Hargeisa worry about independence and money, which leads to problems with aid agencies, only entities from donor nations: threats of expulsion, demands for international national recognition, and accusations of double standards, given founding of new states in Europe.
Despite these difficulties not present in government-free Somalia the comparative peace and stability of Somaliland mean that children can be immunized and go to school, health services can be rehabilitated, water supplies improved, land-mines cleared, and malnutrition and hunger tackled.
Meanwhile, there is instability of very soft new national currency more problems for poor, with little access to dollars or the hard Somali shilling and long-term issues of land tenure and privatization in country facing the usual conflicts between nomadic pastoralists and settled farmers.
Somali-inhabited "Territory"
Hargeisa. Somalia: The "President" of Somaliland called on saturday on the United States,France,Saudi Arabia and South Africa to set up a state of Somali-inhabited territories in the the Horn of Africa. Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, who leads the Northwestern the region of Somalia, said in statement that the international national community had made several gallant efforts to rescue Somalia, but failed.
"Even experienced antropologists that were called in to help were unable to diagnose accurately the cause of the Somalia dilemma," Egal said. He declared in a statement that clan fighting would "immediately evaporate " as soon as the four countries announced their intention to go ahead with the formation of Somali territory, but he did not specify why he selected those countries.
"We abjectly beg these governments to pity the agony of this tortured nation and to do the right thing at long last." Egal said. His appeal followed an agreement by Somali warlords in Cairo on Dec.22 to meet in the Southern Somali town of Baidao from Feb.14 to set up transitional government and the federal state. Those factions declared they would bring Egal to future Somali peace conferences, but he rejected such an overture, saying he was opposed to reunification and "will not think of it in my life-time."
If United States, France, Saudi Arabia and South Africa were not able to set up the terrotory, they should recognise Somaliland's independance. Egal said.
Egal did not specify what he meant by "Somali-inhabited territories." but ethnic Somalis live in Somalia,Somaliland,Ethiopia,Djibouti and Kenya, and five-pointed star on the Somali flag was long regarded by its neighbours as declaration of aggressive intent.
Somali regimes invaded Ethiopia in 1964 and 1977, but were repulsed both times.
Egal said countries which rejected the concept of ""Greater Somalia"" in 1960s were now talking in the "confused" and ambivalent way about Somalia's territorial integrity. -AFP
Outgoing Somali Mayor Attacks Police Station
HARGEISA. The outgoing mayor of small town and his supporters attacked a police station, shooting to death a woman and wounding man, police in the Somaliland. Mohamed Farah Qabile, voted out as mayor of Sheikh in the remote highlands of Northern Somalia, went on the rampage Monday, a day he was supposed to hand over office to his successor, the Somaliland's assistant police commissioner Abdilqadir Muse said. ``I can't say what prompted him to commit such a crime,'' said Muse. ``I am shocked to hear of this unique incident in which a mayor attacks his own police station.'' The attackers shot dead a woman and seriously wounded a man before fleeing into the countryside. Police arrested nine people but Qabile and his brother had escaped.
Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991 after breakdown of central government in Somalia and following overthrow of dictator Siad Barrethe long-time dictator. It has remained relatively peaceful compared to the rest of Somalia,but has not been recognized international nationally.
Agence France Presse. January 03, 1998
Somaliland calls for state of Somali-inhabited territories
Mohamed Egal, who leads the Northwestern the region of Somalia, said in statement that international national community had made several gallant efforts to rescue Somalia, but failed.
"Even experienced anthropologists that were called in to help were unable to diagnose accurately cause of the Somali dilemma," Egal said.
Somalia has been ruled by warlords since the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991 after bloody civil war.
Egal's the region seceded in 1991, but has received no outside recognition.
He declared in a statement that clan fighting would "immediately evaporate" as soon as four countries announced their intention to go ahead with formation of Somali territory, but he did not specify why he selected those countries.
"We abjectly beg these governments to pity agony of this tortured nation and to do the right thing at long last," Egal said.
His appeal followed agreement by Somali warlords in Cairo on December 22 to meet in the Southern Somali town of Baidoa from February 14 to set up a transitional government and federal state.
Those factions declared they would bring Egal to future Somali peace conferences, but he rejected overture, saying he was opposed to reunification and "will not think of it in my lifetime,"
If the United States, France, Saudi Arabia and South Africa were not able to set up territory, they should recognise Somaliland's independence, Egal said.
Egal did not specify what he meant by "Somali -inhabited territories," but ethnic Somalis live in Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Dibouti, and Kenya, and five-pointed star on Somali flag was long regarded by its neighbours as declaration of aggressive intent.
Somali regimes invaded Ethiopia in 1964 and 1977, but were repulsed both times.
Egal said countries which rejected concept of ""Greater Somalia"" in 1960s were now talking in "confused" and ambivalent way about Somalia's territorial integrity.
In 1960 British Somaliland protectorate (now Somaliland) and Italian trusteeship of Somalia united to form Somali , Egal was prime minister of in 1969 when Siad Barre staged his coup.
Agence France Presse. December 21, 1997
Egal:Somaliland will not rejoin the rest of Somalia
Somaliland President Mohamed Egal has reiterated that he will not accept formation of unified Somali government to include his former Northwest Somali the region, radio Hargeisa reported on Sunday."I dont appreciate unity of Somalia, please trust me. The unification of Somalia was against my wish and I will not think of it in my lifetime," radio quoted Egal as telling the two chambers of Somaliland parliament in capital, Hargeisa, on Saturday.
"I refused to accept the surrender of Somaliland independence in 1960, but politicians were harassed by emotional people who sympathised with unity of Somalia," Egal said in first address to legislature since it turned down his resignation.
The vote, rejecting the resignation was taken by both chambers of parliament under tense atmosphere in city in the absence of at least 23 members.
On his resignation, Egal said: "I took decision of resigning when I saw how the independence of Somaliland was challenged by few of its people. I am astonished to see how our country has been put in a miserable political situation."
The 70-year-old Egal informed his legislators that the meeting of Somali factions in Cairo proposed to offer Somaliland 90 delegates to participate in planned meeting in South-central Somali town of Baidoa, 250 kilometers (150 miles) Southwest of Mogadishu, on date yet to be set.
"Such kind of under-estimation signalled eagerness by some Somalilanders to have even federal state with Somalia," Egal added.
Egal submitted his resignation to parliament on Wednesday, saying he was tired of carrying the burden of government alone and that he felt lonely after associates failed to fully perform their assigned duties.
But critics dismissed resignation threat as tricky manoeuvre to gain more political clout to carry out his autonomy declaration and to deal firmly with other warring factions in Somalia.
Two opposing sides of warring factions are now in Egyptian capital Cairo, trying to finalise plans for proposed peace meeting in Baidoa.
A former British colony, Somaliland became independent in 1960 and unified same year with Italian-run Southern Somalia, forming Somalia.
But Northwest Somali the region declared itself independent only five months after the overthrow of late Somali dictator Siad Barre in January 1991.
In his Saturday address, Egal also lashed out at the local press for misrepresenting the truth by circulating "wild rumours."
"I am fed-up of these liars, they promote non-existent street idle talks that endanger unity of people," Egal charged.
Agence France Presse.December 11, 1997
Italian envoy ends two-day visit to Somaliland
His visit followed the similar three-day tour of Somalia's former Northwest the region by US government delegation, Somaliland government spokesman said Thursday.
"I cannot represent the whole of Europe, but I represent one of the 15 member states of European Union (EU). These days there is no competition whatsoever between EU and US in Africa," Cassini told journalists in Hargeisa before flying out of Somaliland capital.
He added that his visit was in no way connected with that of US delegation.
Cassini pledged that Italy will contribute 10 billion lira (6 million dollars) to EU funds for Somalia.
"We shall also help flood victims," he said.
During his visit Cassini held talks with Somaliland President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal with whom relations have been strained since last October when Egal accused Italy of "interfering in Somaliland's internal affairs.
Egal also accused Cassini of "discouraging" other countries from recognising Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence from the rest of Somalia in May 1991.
Cassini was appointed as special envoy to Somalia in January and has since been playing major role in Somalia's reconciliation efforts.
Somaliland, the former British colony before it became independent in 1960 and then united with Italian-trust territory in South to form Somalia, has yet to receive international national recognition.
Agence France Presse. October 13, 1997
Somaliland government to pay legislators
The legislators received their first pay cheques of equivalent of 150 dollars month at end of September after Gurti (senate) passed bill calling on government to assume responsibility for salaries.
Somaliland, in Northwest of the Horn of Africa country, declared itself independent from the rest of Somalia few months after overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, but is yet to receive international national recognition.
Meanwhile, Somaliland's army was put on high alert after President Mohamed Egal said insurgency was looming in the eastern Sol the region.
Agence France Presse. October 06, 1997
Religious affairs "minister" quits in Somaliland
"Many people like and enjoy ministerial posts, but I don't, and if sharia law is not being properly implemented here, I can't see any reason to remain as minister of religion affairs," said Hassan Ibrahim Fartag.
He said he had handed in his resignation to President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal on Thursday.
Egal and his associates had enacted secular laws, Fartag said, adding: "I am out of politics for good."
Fartag's departure follows Egal's sacking over past two weeks of his "Interior minister" and chief of staff of armed forces.
Somaliland became independent in 1960 from Great Britain and united with Somalia, to South, which gained independence at same time from Italy.
the region seceded in May 1991, five months after overthrow of dictator Siad Barre but its secession remains unrecognised by outside world.
Agence France Presse. October 05, 1997 center>
Somaliland president appoints new Interior minister
The president of Somaliland has appointed Mohamed Ahmed Samatar as its new Interior minister, the region's official radio reported Sunday.The radio said President Mohamed Egal appointed Samatar after sacking his predecessor Mohamed Abdi Gabose.
But, Gabose, former cabinet minister in government of late dictator Siad Barre said he had resigned after disagreement with Egal.
Gabose was also Barre's personal doctor.
He said he would quit politics to concentrate on medical practice.
Agence France Presse. September 29, 1997
the Ethiopian group accuses Somaliland of expelling "refugees"
The Solidarity Committee for the Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SCEPP), in statement faxed to AFP's Nairobi bureau from Germany, said authorities in Hargeisa have since August expelled at least thousand the Ethiopians who were employed as unskilled labouRers.
The SCEPP claimed that those expelled were registered as refugees and accused the Ethiopian government of colluding with Somaliland authorities to violate rights of "refugees".
It said government in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, had claimed that it did not have resources to care for refugees.
"Police rounded up the refugees in Hargeisa, Berbera and Borama," SCEPP said.
"This brutal expulsion of the registered refugees is not first of its kind and is the result of agreement struck between Somaliland and Ethiopia," it added.
The SCEPP said deportees were not allowed to collect their belongings before being forced into into government trucks and driven to border town of Tog Wachiale.
The SCEPP also accused the Ethiopian government of handing to authorities in Djibouti seven ethnic Afar rebels.
It criticised the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees for allegedly "turning blind eye" to suffering of the Ethiopian refugees in Somaliland.
Somaliland, Somalia's Northwestern the region which seceded from the rest of Somalia few months after overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, shares the long border with eastern Ethiopia, which is inhabited mainly by ethnic Somalis.
Ethiopia has not formally recognized Somaliland as independent state, but Addis Ababa has friendly relations with authorities in Hargeisa and both countries have in recent past exchanged dissidents.
First Birth in Britain of rare Somali Wild Ass
Berber which means"Native of Africa"
One of rarest animals in the world has been successfully bred at Marwell - Somali Wild Ass.
Exact numbers of this endangered species in wild are uncertain because of political turmoil in Somalia where animal occupies small ranges of desert territory. Hunting and competition with domesticated animals for water means that the numbers continue to fall. Even in zoological parks there only 62 in 17 collections around world.
One of Marwell's major specialities is wild equids to which category Somali Wild Ass belongs. It is intended to build up the herd of these animals at Marwell and further unrelated animals will be brought in from semi-captive populations in Middle East to increase the genetic capability of world's zoo population.
John Knowles, Director of Marwell said "My belief is that this is first foal ever born in this country. Ours are the only three animals of this species held in UK".
The foal, born on 16th July, is to be called "Berber" which means "Native of Africa". The parents are Possa who was born in 1989 and came to Marwell from Oberwil, Switzerland as did father Rodolpho, born in 1991. Somali Wild Ass have a pregnancy lasting some twelve months.
The animals are grey elegant creatures with zebroid stripes on their legs. The baby is the perfect small replica of the adult animal. In the wild these animals can survive for two to three days without water and can run at speeds of up to 30 m.p.h.
AGREED MINUTES BETWEEN THE AUTHORITIES IN Somaliland AND THE DANISH IMMIGRATION SERVICE ON THE RETURN OF REJECTED ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM Somaliland IN DENMARK.
Principles
- The authorities in Somaliland recognize the principle of welcoming home rejected asylum seekers from Somaliland in Denmark, and will extend their cooperation hereto. <<
- The Danish Immigration Service underline that the principle of continued stay of people from Somaliland with permanent residence permits in Denmark is beyond question.
- All parties agree that the general awareness be raised as to need to reconstruct and rehabilitate Somaliland and constructive role the returnees can contribute hereto.
- The authorities in Somaliland agree to actual cooperation towards the early return in safety and dignity of rejected asylum seekers from Somaliland in Denmark (facilitation, collaboration, documentation, etc.).
- The Danish Immigration Service agree to the provision of necessary funds towards transportation (from Denmark to town/village/the area of origin).
- The authorities in Somaliland will together with Danish Immigration Service actively promote the voluntary return of rejected asylum seekers from Somaliland in Denmark, whilst recognizing the principle of return as mentioned under 1.
- Return and readmission under this arrangement will take place gradually and continuously with full respect for human rights.
- The arrangement shall take effect on 1 August 1997. After period of three years the arrangement may be renegotiated at request of one of parties.
- The present document shall only serve the above mentioned practical arrangements between the parties, and shall have no legal implications in relation to third parties.
Director General, Ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.
Mohamed Omer Arteh
The Danish Immigration Service
Head of Division
Frank Johansen
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE Somaliland/DANISH RETURN PROGRAMME
- The Danish authorities will submit names and details to authorities in Somaliland (Ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction). An answer will be faxed earliest but within three weeks at latest. If no answer has been received it will be assumed that green light has been given.
- The authorities in Somaliland will provide proper documents enabling travel from Denmark to Somaliland and will send these documents to Danish authorities by DHL or like. In appropriate cases Danish authorities will issue Euro-LPs for travel purposes which will be accepted by authorities in Somaliland, and returned at their wery earliest convenience.
- The authorities and/or the common agent who will be assigned by authorities in Somaliland in coordination with the Danish authorities will obtain necessary permission for transit purposes and will be responsible for actual transportation (assuring tickets, seats on appropriate planes, etc).
- Within 72 hours upon confirmation of the actual arrival of individual from Denmark to Somaliland Danish authorities will transfer the amount to be agreed upon to cover costs of travel documents and DHL. (Danish Immigration Service)
Tar: 5 July 1997 To: M.E. Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
Prime Minister Kingdom of Denmark, Copenhagen
Subject: Returning of returned asylum seekers from Denmark to Somaliland
On July 3rd, I, together with several Ministers of my cabinet, had construtive and pleasent dialogue with the delegation of Government officials from Denmark on the issue of refugees and status of rejected asylum seekers in Denmark.
I have the pleasure in confirming herewith the principal of welcoming home rejected asylum seekers from Somaliland presently residing in Denmark.
I herewith attach the details of the arrangements reached and I fully express our appreciation of common interest in voluntary return of persons concerned.
In this respect I welcome invitation to send special envoy to
Denmark for sake of explaining present situation in my
country as well as principal and the arrangements reached on
return of the group concerned. I duly note that same 10,000
Somalis have applied for asylum in Denmark, of which not more
than 2,000 are from Somaliland, and that all those with
permanent residence permit will be allowed to stay. I take note
of fact that according to present information these
arrangements concern the group which are not more than
approximately 50 individuals.
Yours Sincerely
Mahamed Ibrahim Egal
President
Somaliland president says resigned for new mandate
The president of Somaliland said on Monday he offered to resign last week to secure new mandate for ``drastic measures'' to secure country's recognition.
The two houses of Somaliland's parliament last Thursday rejected president Mohamed Ibrahim Egal's offer to resign, giving him near unanimous majority vote.
Egal had explained in letter last Tuesday he wanted to resign on health grounds and because he had lost zeal to lead.
``I wanted to renew my mandate from people and that is why I surrendered mandate from the people, that is why I submitted my resignation to two chambers,'' Egal said in telephone interview.
``But all is well because mandate was given to me,'' Egal said. Egal has dominated Somaliland politics since his election in May 1993, two years after the Horn of Africa state broke away from Somalia when factions ousted dictator Siad Barre triggering that country's collapse as state.
Egal was re-elected for further four years in February, leading analysts to argue that he offered to resign to secure increased constitutional power.
``We have to take some drastic measures,'' in the next six months to achieve recognition, Egal said to explain timing of his threat to resign. But he declined to elaborate on measures.
``Seven years is too long for us to wait. We have before us now some very momentous decisions,'' he said, stressing that he had faith in the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Somaliland, dominated by Isaaq ethnic group, has enjoyed relative stability since 1991, but has failed to cross first hurdle of its existence as nation --recognition.
Neither the U.N. nor Organisation of African Unity (OAU) recognises Somaliland, latter because it would violate its guiding principle of the territorial integrity of African states.
As the result foreign governments have shunned Somaliland, though it has gradually won support from businessmen and some aid agencies who view it as haven compared to the rest of Somalia.
``We have been waiting seven years in limbo and we have to emerge from that limbo, to do or die,'' he said.
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), group of seven states mainly from the Horn of Africa, is due to meet early next year on the Somaliland question, Egal said.
Comment. The Media and Egal's Resignation
For some more analysis on this episode, read on the following account by Indian Ocean Newsletter, which continues these speculations. Readers should always exercise prudence and due care when reading anything, especially highly speculative materials, where there is a dearth of facts due to the nature of state affairs:
- "The president of Somaliland, Mohamed Egal, informed the Guurti
(parliament) in Hargeisa on December 16 of his decision to step down from the post he has held
since 1993. In explaining his reasons, he said in substance that he had been elected "not to be
king but to be president of the democratic state", and that he could no longer put up with
"obstructiveness" he encountered in this task. To render this offer to resign more believable,
Egal, who has been weakened by heart problems, outlined to the Guurti constitutional
channels for his successor. Egal said alternatives were for presidency of Somaliland to go
to present deputy president, Daher Riyal, or for country to vote, as soon as possible,
in the presidential election. The Guurti is expected to announce its reply about the end of this week.
I.O.N. -The "resignation" strongly resembles political blackmail by Egal, who has been bitterly criticized for his governing of country since he was elected, especially over affairs of corruption. But the president is apparently tired of criticism. He had already made one attempt to muzzle daily opposition publication Jumhuuriyya few months ago (ION N 778), and had another go about two weeks ago when he attempted to bribe workers at the newspaper's print works; it ceased publication for several days before again appearing on streets. In addition, Somali national Movement, guerrilla organization which had headed struggle, in North-western part of country, against regime of the late President Siad Barre during civil war of 1981-1991, has sprung to life again recently as the civil opposition movement to Egal's regime. Although opposition members who are ministers (Mahmoud Salah Fagadeh at foreign affairs and Ahmed Silanyo at finance) have remained loyal to Egal, president knows that he does not really have free hand in civil society which is increasingly rebuilding its bridges and where public opinion has growing role. But Egal also realizes that if he were really to resign, the opposition would not be able to pick and back single opposition candidate for president and it therefore fears the political storms which could break around the empty presidential chair. Like another country's president before him, Egal seems ready to stake all on theme of "After me, the deluge". This blackmail is not the surefire winner, for the goodly part of Somaliland's political class and public opinion see accusations of corruption levelled at Egal as heaviest political burden for Somaliland's future. (THE Indian Ocean Newsletter n 792 -20/12/97)
Somaliland President Defends His Resignation Bid
HARGEISA. Dec 21 (Reuters) -Somaliland president Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, whose offer of resignation was rejected by his country's parliament last week, said at the weekend that his aim had been to show world that he was not power hungry.
Egal, addressing the joint session on Saturday of the House of Representatives and Council of Elders, reiterated Somaliland's determination to break from the rest of Somalia following the collapse of Somalia's government in 1991.
Somaliland's secession has not been international nationally recognised, but Egal told meeting that outside world had at last begun to listen to its point of view.
``We are waiting for factions in Somalia to solve their problems so that we can discuss things with them and make them accept our sovereignty,'' Egal said.
``Reuniting with Somalia would mean submitting to subjugation and oppression.
``Somaliland is democratic state and I am not power hungry warlord.
``Evil forces have said I have the intention of reunification with Mogadishu ( Somali capital). I opposed that union in 1960 and will never accept it,'' he added.
Egal was referring to 1960 creation of Somalia, uniting former British Somaliland and Italian Somalia in a independent state. Somaliland covers the area of former British Somaliland.
Egal reminded assembly members that in 1994, supporters of Mogadishu warlord Hussein Aideed had threatened to destroy Somaliland capital, Hargeisa.
``Today the country has to be defended from anyone trying to create chaos,'' he added, in apparent reference to Somalis supporting reunion with Mogadishu.
Egal tendered his resignation on Tuesday, stating in letter he had ``lost energy and zest required by the office of presidency...''
He has dominated Somaliland since he was elected on 18 May 1993, and last February was re-elected for further four-year term.
Both the U.N. and the Organisation of African Unity have refused to accept Somaliland as a separate state.
Somaliland will not rejoin the rest of Somalia
"I dont appreciate unity of Somalia, please trust me. The unification of Somalia was against my wish and I will not think of it in my lifetime," the radio quoted Egal as telling two chambers of Somaliland parliament in capital, Hargeisa, on Saturday.
"I refused to accept surrender of Somaliland independence in 1960, but politicians were harassed by emotional people who sympathised with unity of Somalia," Egal said in first address to the legislature since it turned down his resignation.
The vote, rejecting resignation was taken by both chambers of parliament under tense atmosphere in city in absence of at least 23 members.
On his resignation, Egal said: "I took decision of resigning when I saw how independence of Somaliland was challenged by few of its people. I am astonished to see how our country has been put in miserable political situation."
The 70-year-old Egal informed his legislators that meeting of Somali factions in Cairo proposed to offer Somaliland 90 delegates to participate in planned meeting in South-central Somali town of Baidoa, 250 kilometers (150 miles) Southwest of Mogadishu, on date yet to be set.
"Such kind of under-estimation signalled eagerness by some Somalilanders to have even federal state with Somalia," Egal added. Egal submitted his resignation to parliament on Wednesday, saying he was tired of carrying burden of government alone and that he felt lonely after associates failed to fully perform their assigned duties.
But critics dismissed resignation threat as tricky manoeuvre to gain more political clout to carry out his autonomy declaration and to deal firmly with other warring factions in Somalia.
Two opposing sides of warring factions are now in Egyptian capital Cairo, trying to finalise plans for proposed peace meeting in Baidoa.
A former British colony, Somaliland became independent in 1960 and unified same year with Italian-run Southern Somalia, forming Somalia.
But Northwest Somali the region declared itself independent only five months after overthrow of late Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1991.
In his Saturday address, Egal also lashed out at local press for misrepresenting truth by circulating "wild rumours." "I am fed-up of these liars, they promote non-existent street idle talks that endanger unity of people," Egal charged.
Somaliland's Independence Reaffirmed in Light of Egal's Resignation
HARGEISA, Somalia, Dec 20 (AFP) -Mohamed Egal, President of Somaliland, has no plans to join Somali reconciliation talks, his spokesman said Saturday.
Egal submitted his resignation to parliament last Wednesday, saying he was tired of bearing burden of government alone, but MPs rejected it by 124 votes to three.
Observers interpreted resignation bid as ploy to win vote of confidence.
One local journalist said he believed Egal wanted mandate to join reconciliation talks going on in Cairo between Somali faction leaders, even though he had previously been adamant in preserving independence of his unrecognised the region in Northwestern Somalia.
He refused earlier invitation to join Cairo talks, saying he did not wish to interfere in Somalia's "internal affairs." "Good luck to the Somali factions in overcoming their differences," Egal's spokesman told AFP. "Somaliland doesn't want to join them."
He declared that Egal's resignation letter stemmed from political frustration.
"Somalis live under five different sovereign regimes, and it is nonsense to think of uniting them," he said. "It would the result in great instability in the Horn of Africa, because Somalis are scattered in Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Somaliland and Somalia."
Egal, 70, came to power in May 1993 after the elders blocked re-election bid by his predecessor, Abdurahman Ahmed Ali "Tur," then re-elected Egal for second five-year term in February.
The former British Somaliland united with then Somalia, which had been Italian colony, following independence for two entities in 1960.
But Northwestern the region on Red Sea declared itself independent following overthrow of president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and Somalia's descent into clan warfare.
Somaliland president's resignation rejected
Parliament in Somaliland has rejected proposed resignation of President Egal.
The two chambers voted by overwhelming majority against move, and his Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Salah Nur, has told BBC that Egal has now changed his mind and decided to stay on as President.
He's expected to explain his position in address two chambers on Saturday.
Egal submitted his resignation on Tuesday, saying he didn't have support of his colleagues.
From newsroom of BBC World Service
President Egal Resigns for Health Reasons
- "The leader of the Somaliland has resigned because of
ill-health, government officials said on Tuesday.
They said Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, ``president'' since 1993, tendered his resignation to Somaliland's two houses of assembly, chief justice, high court and council of elders.
Egal was elected president of Somaliland on 18 May 1993 and re-elected for further four-year in February this year.
Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 in aftermath of collapse of central government in Somalia, following overthrow of president Siad Barrethe long-time dictator...
Sources close to Somaliland government said decision on Egal's resignation would be made on Wednesday. (Dec 16 (Reuters))
From BBC
Egal Resigns
In letter Egal said he was resigning because he did not have support of his colleagues, who have in the past accused him of being high-handed.
Both houses of Somali parliament are meeting to consider Egal's resignation offer.
Egal, who came to power in 1993, was re-elected for the second term last February.
Correspondents say his offer appears to be a ploy to secure his re-election with greater powers.
From newsroom of BBC World Service. Dec 17.
Update on Egal's Unexpected Resignation
...The parliament in Somaliland is reviewing decision of president Mohamed Ibrahim Egal to resign on health grounds.
Somaliland's House of Representatives held open emergency session on Wednesday, while separate House of Elders held closed session to discuss resignation.
The sessions would continue on Thursday.
Egal, ``president'' since 1993, tendered his resignation on Tuesday, stating in letter he had ``lost energy and zest required by office of presidency... I resign post of President of Somaliland.''
Egal has dominated Somaliland since he was elected on 18 May 1993. In February this year he was re-elected for further four-year term.
Egal's letter said task entrusted to him in February was so enormous no- one could fulfill it.
One senior analyst said on Wednesday he suspected Egal's resignation could be move to gain increased powers from the parliament.
``The real reason (for resignation) is he wants sweeping powers,'' he said adding resignation was totally unexpected.
Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 in aftermath of collapse of central government in Somalia following overthrow of president Siad Barre.
Since then Somaliland has enjoyed relative peace, while Somalia has been locked in bloody internecine power struggle between clan-based factions.
Somaliland covers the geographical area formely occupied by British Somaliland prior to it merging with Italian Somaliland to form Somalia in 1960. Dec 17 (Reuters)
President Egal Pardons 304 Prisoners
Egal said prisoners had been rehabilitated and were unlikely to commit same offences which sent them to jail. Those pardoned were allowed to go home on Saturday.
Inmates selected from prisons in four major towns benefitted from presidential amnesty, Somaliland's prisons administrator, Abdullahi Ahmed, said.
But he added that the country's jails were mainly occupied by prisoners on remand, who were not eligible to be released. "The amnesty will therefore not ease congestion," he said.
Somaliland announced its secession from the rest of Somalia following overthrow of government of president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, but has yet to attain international national recognition.
Italian envoy in Somaliland
BBC. December 11, 1997
An Italian envoy, Giuseppe Cassini, has paid two-day visit to the Somaliland, during which he had talks with President Egal.
Cassini, who was appointed Italy's special envoy to Somalia in January, told journalists in capital, Hargeisa, that Italy would contribute six million dollars to European Union funds for whole of Somalia.
He also said Italy would help victims of current flooding.
the Horn of Africa and Somaliland: Diplomatic Overtures
Recent international national tours by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamud Salah Fagadhe, and Minister of Finance, Ahmed Siilanyo, brought optimism in Hargeisa that Somaliland's current status of regional acceptance will in the near future transform itself into full-fledged international national recognition. the Ethiopian government reportedly reached security agreements with Somaliland (" which must be seen as implicit diplomatic recognition of Somaliland" ION.); in exchange, agreements allow Somaliland to open interest offices in Dire Dawa, Jijigga and Harar. Ethiopia's chewing of Itahad al Islami cud is, apparently, the key drive behind its reproachment with its neighbor to North. For example, consider these words:
-
"The recent international national tour by Somaliland's foreign minister, Mahmoud Salah Fagadeh Nour,
appears to have produced some positive effects. The minister went first to Asmara to meet his
old friend, head of state Issayas Afeworki, who acted as go-between with the Ethiopian prime
minister Meles Zenawi. The Hargeisa regime had several problems to be ironed out with
Ethiopia. First, fact that in its obsession with "security first" in face of fundamental
Islamics' terror attacks in Ethiopia, ruling the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
had delivered arms to some of Somaliland's Dolbahante sub-clans on pretext of combating
fundamentalists. Fagadeh, who is himself Dolbahante but one who believes in strong
government in Somaliland, convinced his the Ethiopian hosts to deal only with Somaliland
government and not with clans or clan fractions, as Ethiopia does in Southern Somalia (ION No
790).
Next, Fagadeh dealt with the Hargeisa government's desire to improve trade between Ethiopia and Somaliland port of Berbera, and also discussed the possibility of resurfacing the long highway from Dire Dawa, through Jijiga, Boroma and Hargeisa, to Berbera. The outcome of talks was cooperation and security agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland which provides for joint military operations against elements of the Al Ittihad fundamentalist movement still in Somaliland (on edge of Gadaboursi country), and for opening "liaison bureaux", virtually Somaliland consulates, in Dire Dawa and Jijiga, which must be seen as implicit diplomatic recognition of Somaliland. Fagadeh Nour then went on to Washington where he met with John Prendergast, head of the East Africa Desk of the national Security Council, with whom he discussed eventual diplomatic recognition. Returning via Paris, Fagadeh met with Ms. Bernadette Lefort, deputy head of East Africa Desk in French foreign Ministry, and with officials of French oil company Total Distribution, which hopes to be able to revive its network of service stations in Somaliland.
I.O.N. - The Hargeisa authorities have strong impression that Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti are all prepared to recognize Somaliland officially. They seem to be waiting little longer, doubtless by fear that such recognition might have no future if it were limited to few African countries, and by hope that the move to diplomatic recognition by major industrialized nation could have much bigger chance of sparking the chain reaction."
(The Indian Ocean Newsletter n 791 -13/12/97)
Foreign kidnap victims freed in Somaliland
Aid workers snatched in the Somaliland in North.
Five foreign aid workers kidnapped by gunmen on Friday in Sanaag the region of Somaliland have been freed.
the U.N. officials said five Britons, a Canadian, two Kenyans and and Indian, were released unharmed.
Reports say UN aid workers were caught up in local dispute in the eastern part of Somaliland where they were working to stop deforestation by loggers. No ransom demand was made and it is not clear if any concessions were made to secure their release.
Earlier, Somaliland's authorities condemned kidnapping but the Foreign Minister sent protest note to UN offices in Nairobi and Hargeisa and to EU office in Berbera complaining that the five had entered country illegally.
The British aid worker taken hostage, Dennis Cassidy, works for the European Union's Somalia unit. With Cassidy were two employees of UN Children's Fund, one from UN Habitat and one from the UN Office for Project Services, the UN source said.
They were working on the environmental project in eastern Somaliland attempting to stop deforestation by people engaged in the lucrative charcoal trade.
Mohammed Farah Mohammed, Somaliland's Interior Minister, said kidnappers were probably from one of two gangs vying for the bigger slice of charcoal market. It was also rumoured that the aid workers had $70,000 with them to fund the effort.
Somaliland, with the population of around one million, declared itself independent in 1991 when Somali government collapsed and the country was plunged into anarchy. It remains unrecognised by the rest of world.
Aid workers frequently have been target of factions that have been vying for control of Somalia, especially in the Southern and central regions.
Many countries have baulked at involvement in UN missions to Africa since 1993, when 18 US Rangers were killed in Somalia. US troops had been drawn into factional fighting at end of the successful mission to stop deaths from starvation, disease and civil war that killed 350,000 Somalis in 1991-92.
Ironically, aid workers have found Somaliland far safer than South.
international national Officials Kidnapped
BBC. November 22, 1997
Martin Dawes, From Nairobi
Gunmen have kidnapped five international national officials in eastern part of Somaliland. The five, who include European Union representative and four UN employees are said to have been taken on Friday afternoon, having flown into the area from Nairobi. It's from Kenyan capital that our East Africa correspondent, Martin Dawes, reports:
The five were working on environmental project in eastern Somaliland which is attempting to stop deforestation by people engaged in lucrative charcoal trade. It was rumoured that the team were bringing with them seventy thousand dollars to fund effort. Mohammed Farah Mohammed Ato, who acts as Interior minister in Somaliland, believes that theft may be the motive behind kidnapping. According to him, two gangs vie for control of charcoal trade, but the leaders have been persuaded to accept some compensation and stop the tree-felling. Somaliland covers what used to be the British protectorate. While the rest of the former Somalia became embroiled in fighting between clan-based factions, Somaliland has been largely at peace since 1991, but it remains unrecognized as state by outside world.
Hunt Continues for Kidnapped international national Workers
BBC.November 23, 1997 BBC Correspondent: Cathy Jenkins, From Nairobi
Diplomats say they are in process of following up kidnapping of five aid workers in self declared Somaliland on Saturday. The five were taken at gun point from boat moored off El Ayo in the North east corner of Somaliland. Aid workers have been frequent targets from malitia men in the rest of former Somalia. But since breaking away Somaliland has been relatively quiet and has been regarded as more stable place to work. From Nairobi our east Africa correspondent, Cathy Jenkins reports:
Efforts to secure release of the five aid workers began as soon as their kidnapping became known but so far officials have said little about what progress if any they have made. The Canadian high commission in Nairobi is saying only that it is in process of following up incident. The hostages are a Canadian, a Britain, two Kenyans and an Indian. They were kidnapped at gunpoint from boat moored off El Ayo in the North east corner of Somaliland. The five were working on environmental project to try to stop deforestation by people engaged in the lucrative charcoal trade. It was rumoured that the team was bringing with them seventy thousand dollars to fund effort and that theft could have been motive. The self declared Somaliland has not been recognised as a state by outside world. But unlike the rest of former Somali it has been largely at peace since 1991. Aid agencies consider it to be a relatively stable place to work At least eight UN agencies and the dozen none- governmental organisations work in its captial Hargeisa. In contrast aid workers in Southern and central Somalia have often been menaced by factions fighting for control of country which is without the central government. Earlier this year Portuguese doctor was shot dead by militia men at hospital in town of Baidoa.
Kidnapped UN aid workers in Somaliland said well
BBC. November 23, 1997 Local officials in Sanaag the region of Somaliland have said five foreign aid workers kidnapped there on Friday are in good condition and are being treated well, Somaliland's Hargeisa radio said on Sunday.
The situation in the town was also reported to be stable, radio said.
In another report, the same radio said Somaliland foreign minister sent protest note to UN offices in Nairobi and Hargeisa and to the EU office in Berbera complaining that five kidnapped people had entered country illegally.
The statement said it was not clear why UN aid workers were kidnapped, but the government condemned kidnapping irrespective of who the victims were, and wanted to see them released unharmed.
Kidnapped Aid Workers Released
BBC. November 24, 1997
Cathy Jenkins, From Nairobi
Five international national aid workers who were kidnapped in the Somaliland three days ago have been released. The five were European Union representative and four UN employees and were taken at gunpoint on Friday afternoon from El Ayo in Northeast of the Somaliland. From Nairobi our East Africa correspondent Cathy Jenkins reports:
The aid workers including Briton, Dennis Cassidy, were released unharmed after the weekend of negotiations between UN officials and local clan chiefs. The five were taken at gun point on Friday afternoon from boat moored off El Ayo in the Northeast of Somaliland.
They were in the area to work on environmental project to try to stop deforestation by people involved in lucrative charcoal trade. It appears the five had become pawns in a dispute between local sub-clans. But the UN officials said no ransome was demanded for their release.
The early release of five will be the relief to aid agencies. Unlike the rest of Somalia Somaliland is seen as relatively secure area in which to work.
Commentary and News: Jamhuuriya s Latest Row with Government
Dec. 5, 1997. Abdirahman Ismail reporting from Kuwait
"I just conversed with the Jamhuuriya publisher an hour ago in Hargeisa and following is a brief summary of what he had to tell:
Jamhuuriya was not being published for six days due to Governmental sabotage, which indirectly hijacked most important staff in the printing division by flooding them with lump-some amount of money and vague promises. They kept them out of sight until Jamhuuriya managed to trace some and filed cases against them, who were temporarily being arrested but released later. Regarding Government's paper, Maandeeq , it was published once and it never returned. Shide indicated that they are being continuously and tirelessly harassed in every way possible, but that they aren't giving up and with all their muscles we are hopeful to print Jamhuuriya again by Sunday. Since these spoiled staff can no longer be relied on, he is planning to recruit printing staff from abroad. According to him the public are confused with the situation and have lost sense of direction.
It seems that certain middle men with the Mogadishu Manifesto ideologies are practicing these boomerang exercises in country, and the population are lacking both the organisation and leadership. As I have commented earlier on subject, isn't it time to expose Somaliland expatriates' standpoint views about how state of affairs are being run including discouragement of free press?
Somaliland -Djibouti Relations on Mend
- "Somaliland's minister of culture and tourism, Ali Sheikh Ibrahim, has already seen
first dividends of his mid-November
trip to Djibouti (ION N 787). On November 27, the Interior minister Idriss Harbi Fara and industry
minister Ali Abdi Farah
handed Sheikh Ibrahim 60 million Djibouti francs in aid in the name of Djibouti head of state
Hassan Gouled Aptidon. In
addition, the Somaliland government received a number of vehicles (garbage and cold-store
trucks). Djibouti's gesture is all
more symbolic as a handover took place at Barisle, village lying between Zeila and
Loyada on Somaliland territory. In
return, Sheikh Ibrahim went on Djibouti radio and television to promise his government would
guard its frontier better in
order to guarantee the security of Djibouti. Good-neighbour relations between Djibouti and
Somaliland went a step further
with arrival in Djibouti Town on November 28 of Somaliland's new representative, Omar
Mohamoud. Earlier in his
career, he was a civil servant in Somalia's foreign Ministry and working in the United Arab
Emirates. His family is linked with
that of Abdi Kahin, an Issaq businessman in Djibouti.
Meanwhile, Somaliland's foreign minister
Mahamoud Salah Fagadhe
went to Paris at the beginning of December to meet French foreign Ministry officials and
representatives of French industry,
including oil major Total, before going on to London. On his way home, minister is expected
to stop off in Asmara and
Addis Ababa.
(THE Indian Ocean Newsletter n 790 -06/12/97)
UN investigates mass graves in Somalia
the U.N. says it is to investigate the existence of mass graves in Northwest Somalia.
The UN human rights expert on Somalia, Mona Rishmawi, said the story of massacres had to be told, to prevent them happening again.
Hundreds of civilians are believed to have been been massacred in late 1980s, and buried in mass graves just outside Hargeisa, in what is now the Somaliland.
The UN is to be helped in its investigations by experts from American agency, Physicians for Human Rights.
From newsroom of the BBC World Service
Somaliland Accuses Italy of Interfering
Spokesman Abdi Idiris Daule told AFP by telephone from Hargeisa, capital, that Italy was urging other countries not to recognise Somaliland.
Somaliland was under British rule until 1960, and broke away in 1991 from the rest of Somalia, which had been under Italian control before independence.
No country has recognised the the region.
President Mohamed Egal told the "cabinet" meeting Wednesday: "The Italian government is intermingling in the internal affairs of our country and also encouraging battle among our people; we have had information that Italy is encouraging a new round of violence in Somaliland," Daule said.
"Djibouti Recognizes the Somaliland", ION reports
In its November 8th edition, 1997, The Indian Ocean Newsletter reported that an Preliminary agreement was reached between Djibouti government and Somaliland on extending an official recognition to the Somaliland's statehood. This dramatic development followed weeks of intense negotiations between the two governments and their respective communities, both in Somaliland and in Djibouti.
Apparently, key members of the business community and the traditional leaders in both regions have participated in these delicate negotiations, as well as key members of Somaliland-origin leadership in Djibouti.
Following this diplomatic deal, the two countries will exchange the diplomatic missions, and actively engage in repatriation of refugees in others' territory.
Neither government confirmed the report yet.
Consider these words:
- "Djibouti has officialized its de facto recognition of Somaliland
following
recent mission to Hargeisa headed by Djama Mahamoud Haid, governor of the central
bank Banque nationale de Djibouti. A large delegation of Issaq from Djibouti headed by
Haid, himself Issaq, went to Somaliland and presented the president of Somaliland,
Mohamed Egal, with the the results of meetings previously held in Djibouti between
dignitaries of Issaq community and Issa representatives of the Mamassan sub-clan to
which head of state Hassan Gouled Aptidon belongs. Haid is a brother-in-law of Ismail
Omar Gelleh, chef de cabinet (and nephew) of Djibouti president. The meetings outlined
agreement by which the Djibouti government undertook to recognize officially state
of Somaliland and to grant certain advantages to Issaq living in Djibouti. These Issaq are
believed to have been promised two ministerial posts and five MPs seats in the Djibouti
general election due in December. In return, Somaliland undertook to collaborate in
repatriation of some 20,000 Issa refugees living in exile in the Djibouti townships of Ali
Adde, Assamo and Hol Hol.
After accepting deal, president Egal despatched Abdillahi Hussein Iman, the minister for rehabilitation, repatriation and reconstruction, to Djibouti to open Somaliland's first diplomatic mission abroad. The minister also attended the tripartite meeting in Djibouti Town last week with representatives of Djibouti government and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). At close of meeting, the three parties issued joint communique announcing the repatriation of Somaliland refugees.
I.O.N. -The Djibouti government seems particularly anxious to nip in bud any incipient Issa rebellion since it might try to use Somaliland territory as rear base (ION N. 783). But members of Gadaboursi community have protested against Issa refugees being settled on Somaliland territory lying along the frontier with Djibouti, and to quieten the protests, Issa dignitaries in Djibouti are believed to have promised to give the largest group of Gadaboursi (Mohamed Asse) Djibouti government ministerial post presently held by Gadaboursi belonging to the Makahil clan. The Gadaboursi dignitaries were still unhappy, however, and contacted vice president of Somaliland, who belongs to their tribe".
(The Indian Ocean Newsletter, No. 786, November 8, 1997)
Abdillahi Qarshe Dies
On October 28th, Abdillahi Qarshe died in London, family friends reported.. Qarshe, famous vocalist and composer and the father of Somali pop music, entertained generations of music-lovers with his power ballads. Reliable sources reported that Qarshe's funeral took place on November 4th in Hargeisa. It was attended by a large number of people, including President Egal, and most members of the Parliament. He was survived by a wife and three sons, who reside in Ethiopia. May his soul rest in peace.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Mohamed "Silanyo", Somaliland's Finance Minister, is currently on a visit in U.S. The minister's mission, it's been reported, includes explaining the country's political situation to American and international national diplomatic and business communities.
Somalis Press for Solution to Mass Deportation from Saudi Arabia
MOGADISHU (Oct. 18) Xinhua -The mass deportation of Somalis by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been felt in the Somali capital with strong reactions coming from various civil societies and local human rights organization.
In press statement, the local human rights organization, Ismail Jumale Human Rights Center, said it has been terrified and condemned Saudi Arabian security forces for what they called their inhumane and degrading acts committed against the Somalis in Saudi Arabia.
According to the center, the Saudi security forces have begun what they called a collective punishment by cutting off both electricity and water in areas where the Somalis live.
The center whose condemnation was prompted by Somalis who gathered outside their place in North Mogadishu Friday said women, children and elderly have been affected by a collective punishment imposed by Saudi Arabia on the Somalis when there's no government who would speak on behalf of them at this crucial moment.
Among the crowd that gathered outside the human rights center were victims of torture in Saudi prisons, malnourished people and others who caught different sickness in the Saudi jails.
The center said they have also received deported school children who were caught in the streets of Jeddah as they came back from school to their home and were deported straight to Somalia without the knowledge of their parents.
According to the human rights center, more than 3,200 deported people from Saudi Arabia have reached here in Somalia and the last deportee that arrived at Ballidogle Airport, 90 km Southwest of the capital, included a woman who died on the way inside the airplane.
The Saudi security personnel have also collected women who just gave birth at the hospitals for deportation, while their other children and husbands were left behind, the center noted.
The human rights center also expressed concern over the fate of thousands of Somalis who are now stranded in the desert in an attempt to escape the security forces and others who are still absconding.
The center has proposed that the Saudi authorities should come up with planes to cope with the crises regarding the Somalis and their human rights be respected.
It also called on the international national community, the Arab League, international national watch dog organizations and regional organizations to give the Somalis a special consideration when there isn't a government to represent their interests.
Some 30,000 Somali Refugees to Return To Somaliland
ADDIS ABABA (Sept. 22) Xinhua -Some 30,000 Somali refugees in Eastern Ethiopia have registered to return home until December, this year, according to the announcement made by the Administration for Refugees and Returnee Affairs of the Ethiopian government.
The administration, in collaboration with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently registered voluntary refugees at Teferi Ber, Deronaj and Hartesheik refuge camps in eastern Ethiopia.
Refugee camps in eastern Ethiopia host about 277,000 Somali refugees.
Some 10,000 refugees from the stated camps have been repatriated to North Somalia since this year.
Somaliland Puts Army on Alert on the Ethiopian Border
Troops, including mechanised units, had been moved from the Hargeisa and Burao garrisons, official added, and parliamentary delegation is to be sent to Sool the region on the border to investigate situation.
Government officials in Hargeisa, capital of the Somaliland, said 300 men had been trained in Ethiopia after being recruited some months ago in Sool. They appeared to be a threat to peace in the area, they said.
A ministerial delegation from Somaliland has visited Addis Ababa, and the two countries have agreed to set up a joint committee to deal with security and trade matters, it was announced. Its first meeting is scheduled for October 15.
Somaliland, covering the area of the former British Somaliland Protectorate which merged with adjoining Italian Somalia in 1960 to form Somalia, declared itself independent when Somali president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991 and the government collapsed.
Somaliland has failed to secure international national recognition, and president Mohamed Egal's government has refused to join meetings of rival Somali groups aimed at rebuilding a united Somalia.
The Southern half of the former Somalia has had no effective government since 1991, with rival factions controlling different areas.
Somali Faction Leader Returns to Mogadishu
The delegation, which according to the authority of the break-away Somaliland, have been deported today, consisted of six cabinet ministers of Hussein Aidid's unrecognized government.
Shortly after his arrival, Tur, who looked very tired, made brief statement at his residence in South Mogadishu, saying his tour in Northwestern regions of Somalia was completed as scheduled.
Tur, who smoked one cigarette after another, told Xinhua that his delegation have attended luncheon with more than 60 ministers (of the break-away Somaliland), intellectuals and traditional elders from Hargeisa and discussed with them about federal system for the first time.
They also talked about the security in the Northwestern regions.
Tur said delegation had planned to return to Mogadishu today, and Egal (president of break-away Somaliland) himself knew about departure plan.
"We were shocked by news broadcast by Radio Hargeisa telling my delegation to leave within 24 hours," said Tur, who admitted that he and his delegation were warmly received in Hargeisa, adding that "We were seen off warmly".
This move by Egal, according to Tur, is not any different from the earlier death sentence he made against me and Jama Mohamed Qalib, a foreign minister of Hussein Aidid's self-crowned government.
"The death sentence became impossible and so this will be," he said.
Asked about whether he will again go back to Somaliland, Tur said, "Of course this will not be my last visit and more visits will follow."
Moreover, Tur said the statement made by Egal last night will only mess security situation in those regions.
"We are working towards the pacification of our regions and Somalia in general" he stressed.
Minister Gaboose Resigns
On Oct 1, Dr Mohamed Abdi Gaboose, Minister of Interior, resigned his post after President Egal accepted his resignation, which he reportedly submitted on September 9th. In recent interviews, he described his departure from the Ministry, which he headed since April 23rd, as turbulent and eventful. His major complaint was constant interference from President Egal, especially in matters related to regional and local administration. Somaliland has five regional and 18 district aministrationsHis brief stay at the Interior was marred by series of high-profile problems, including the Burao shootings, Ceerigaabo fighting, and Jamhuuriya closure and the arrest of its owner.
On Oct. 5, his replacement, Mohammed A "Ildaab" was announced. Ildaab once worked in Ministry of Finance.
Dr Gaboose, a highly skilled neurosurgeon, said he will return to practicing medicine.
UNDP Report. October, 1997
Somaliland
The forthcoming November elections in Hargiesa (capital of Somaliland) has led to increased tension in Somaliland (North-west Somalia) throughout September and October. (UNDP Somalia, September Report)
The Somaliland Council of Elders (Guurti), working on arrangements for the up-coming national conference to decide on future of Somaliland have agreed on the budget to cover the cost of the meeting. The venue of peace and reconciliation conference and its participation, however, remain disputed by various clans. (UNDP Somalia, September Report)
The Somaliland Congress, postponed several times, was reopened and officially restarted work on 27 October. Congress has sanctioned extension of Egal's Administration until it's work has been concluded and new administration has been elected. (UN Ethiopia, October 1996)
Somaliland President Mohamed Egal has indicated that he holds Djibouti authorities
partly responsible for setback
of his campaign for international national recognition of Somaliland as state, citing an opposition of
Djibouti to Somaliland's stand
within OAU and the Arab League. Egal has also protested against Djiboutian President,
Hassan Gouled Aptidon's tolerance towards Issa militia units campaigning for the western part of
Somali and to be transferred
to Djibouti, and who periodically carry out cross border raids on convoys on Loyada-Zeila
road.
(Indian Ocean Newsletter, 5 October)
Source: U.N.Secretary-General. 16 Sep 1997
The Report of the Secretary-General on situation in Somalia
I. INTRODUCTION
1. In its presidential statement of 27 February 1997 (S/PRST/1997/8), the Security Council encouraged me to continue the consultations with THE Somali parties and regional States and organizations on role United Nations can play in supporting peace efforts, including on specific options contained in my report (S/1997/135). It also requested me to continue monitoring the situation in Somalia and to report to it in an appropriate manner on those consultations and on developments in situation generally. 2. As members of the Council are aware, I asked Ismat Kittani to visit the region as my Special Envoy
- (a) to assess situation on the ground;
- (b) to ascertain positions of the Somali factions and the regional governments and organizations concerned on matters related to the national reconciliation and the establishment of a broad-based government;
- (c) to assess extent to which recent regional and other peacemaking initiatives had advanced the Somali political process;
- (d) to review and explore role the U.N. might possibly play to support the regional peacemaking efforts, including options discussed in my report to Security Council; and
- (e) to make recommendations on any future peacemaking role of the U.N..
3. The present report summarizes the results of the Kittani's mission.
II. VISIT BY THE SPECIAL ENVOY TO the region
4. My Special Envoy visited the region from 6 to 20 August 1997 and held consultations with all major Somali groups. On 14 August, in Addis Ababa, he met with delegation of the Sodere group, led by the Current Chairman of the national Salvation Council (NSC), Col. Abdullahi Yusuf, and two of its five Co-Chairmen, Ali Mahdi and General Gabio. On 15 August, he met with Mohammad Sallah Nour, "Foreign Minister of Somaliland", in Djibouti. On 20 August, he met with nine-member delegation of the Aidid group in Nairobi, led by Hilowle Iman Omar, one of "Vice Presidents of the Transitional Government".
5. My Special Envoy also consulted with senior Government officials of regional States and leaders of regional and international national organizations engaged in efforts to help resolve the conflict in Somalia. On his way to the region, he conferred with Senator Rino Serri, Vice Foreign Minister of Italy, outside Rome on 6 August and with Amre Moussa, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, and his colleagues, as well as with Abdel Meguid, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, outside Cairo on 8 August. He held consultations in Addis Ababa with with Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister, and with Seyoum Mesfin, Foreign Minister, of Ethiopia as well as with Kinfe Abraham, Acting Executive-Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), on 13 August, and with Salim Salim, Secretary-General of Organization of African Unity (OAU), on 14 August. On 16 August, in Djibouti, he met with Barkat Gourad Hamadou, Prime Minister, with Mohamed Moussa Chehem, Foreign Minister and with Ismail Omar Guellah, Chef de Cabinet, of Djibouti. On 17 August, in Sana', he held consultations with with Ali Abdulla Saleh, President, and with Abdul Karim Al-Iryani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, of Yemen. In Nairobi, he met with with Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Foreign Minister of Kenya and General Lazarus Sumbeiywo, Adviser to President Moi, on 19 August, and with Mr.s. Sally Kosgei, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 20 August.
6. In Nairobi, he received briefings from head of the U.N. Political Office for
Somalia (UNPOS) and the heads
of the U.N. agencies operating in Somalia, all of whose temporary offices are located in
Nairobi. He was also briefed by
representatives of European Union and met with Acting Chairperson of the Somalia Aid
Coordinating Body.
III. THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND
REHABILITATION
ACTIVITIES
7. Thirteen the U.N. agencies continue to provide emergency humanitarian relief assistance to Somalia in collaboration with approximately 50 international national and 10 national non-governmental organizations. Humanitarian interventions comprise joint as well as individual the U.N. programmes and projects, focusing on the four priority areas of emergency, rehabilitation, reconstruction and governance assistance requirements. These programmes have been designed to take into account varying operational environments within country.
8. In December 1996, the U.N. agencies launched 1996-1997 the U.N. consolidated inter-agency appeal for Somalia, calling for $46.5 million for joint programmes in five major areas: emergencies, reintegration, rehabilitation, food security and governance. In addition, a further $54 million was requested by individual United Nations agencies for their own projects. In response to appeal, a total of $20,532,484 had been contributed as at 14 July 1997, meeting 20.4 per cent of appeal's revised requirements.
9. The overall humanitarian situation remains difficult. Somalia remains susceptible to three types
of emergency situations
requiring immediate international national response: natural disasters, such as floods, droughts and
pestilence; epidemics, particularly of
cholera and also those affecting livestock; and man-made disasters, typically war-related
casualties, population displacements
and famine.
IV. POSITIONS OF THE MAIN Somali GROUPS
Sodere group
10. The Sodere group welcomed the visit of my Special Envoy and expressed appreciation for it as manifestation of interest in situation in Somalia. They gave my Special Envoy a memorandum expressing their views on Somalia's political process.
11. They said that they had made substantial efforts to contact with Aidid and with Egal, not necessarily to ask them to join Sodere process, but to open dialogue with them for the sake of the national reconciliation. Immediately after NSC was formed, it assigned two of its Co-Chairmen, Ali Mahdi and Osman Atto, to hold dialogue with Aidid, which subsequently contributed to the agreement reached in Mogadishu last January, as well as Sana' and Cairo agreements. More recently, NSC sent a delegation to Mogadishu in vain for a dialogue with Aidid on all issues.
12. The NSC, in spite of Aidid's refusal so far, pledged to seek his agreement to participate in Bossaso Conference. The Sodere group/NSC hoped that he could be persuaded to engage in dialogue. Regarding Egal, the NSC expressed hope that it would be able to persuade him to participate in Bossaso Conference.
13. Having set 1 November as the opening date for the Bossaso Conference, it stressed that moment of truth had come for Somalia and that if Somalis had not been ready to put to good use the generous intervention of international national community earlier, they were now ready and determined to do so. From that standpoint, the NSC urged international national community not to turn its back on Somalia.
14. The NSC was grateful for the support of IGAD countries, especially Ethiopia, for their efforts and for endorsement by OAU of the IGAD position. It expressed hope that the U.N. would support these regional organizations and outcome of Bossaso Conference. It called for the establishment of the U.N. trust fund to support peace process as well as the reconstruction that would follow.
15. The NSC asserted that it represented the majority of Somalis and that only two groups, namely, part of the Habr Gedir and Isaak clan, were not members. It expressed its readiness to make every effort to persuade these groups to participate in the national reconciliation process; however, it felt that no individual or group should have veto over the national reconciliation process which was under way and that one or two intransigent individuals, who refused to participate in the national reconciliation process, should be sanctioned.
16. The NSC confirmed its intention to proceed with Bossaso Conference on 1 November, even without Aidid. At same time, it expressed its willingness to meet with him at any time and place and its readiness to discuss modalities for the national reconciliation conference, including timing and venue, provided that these discussions were not used by Aidid for derailing process.
17. Osman Atto said that he was solidly with Sodere group; however, he had disagreements with some of its members in that he believed that rushing to hold Bossaso Conference without adequate preparations, including securing participation of all concerned, would be a mistake. In his view, the system of leadership based on council rather than individual would be the only way to address the problems of individual ambitions, and, prior to convening the national reconciliation conference, reconciliation in individual conflict areas, including Mogadishu, should take priority. He also wished as much the U.N. involvement as possible.
The Aidid group
18. The nine-member delegation of the Aidid group gave my Special Envoy message from him. It claimed that there was no the region that was not represented in the Aidid's "Transitional Government", that it controlled 11 out of 18 regions of Somalia and that it enjoyed confidence of the people of Somalia. When it further claimed that since withdrawal of the United Nations Operation in Somalia II, stability and normal life had returned to Somalia under "Transitional Government" and that now the U.N. humanitarian activities enjoyed full security, my Special Envoy pointed out recent murder of M,decins sans frontiSres doctor in Baidoa and inquired about progress in its investigation. The delegation asserted that it was isolated event. Commenting on Sodere process, delegation insisted that majority of 26 factions and groups belonging to Sodere group were either non-existent or headed by chairmen who had been replaced. It accused Ethiopia of invasion, military occupation, violation of arms embargo and interference in Somalia's affairs and asserted that Ethiopia's policy was cause of instability in Somalia. It wanted the U.N. to address these issues. It expressed view that Somalia's problems should be left for Somalis to resolve.
19. The delegation asserted that the "Transitional Government" was not against the national reconciliation or the national reconciliation conference per se and that, in fact, it was involved in reconciliation efforts in Mogadishu and elsewhere. However, it expressed various objections to Bossaso Conference: the lack of general consensus among the Somalis on such conference; inadequate preparations; and lack of neutral facilitator. My Special Envoy conveyed to the delegation readiness of the NSC to be flexible with respect to the modalities of the the national reconciliation conference, including timing and venue, and requested that this be transmitted to Aidid.
The Egal group
20. The "Foreign Minister of Somaliland" stated that the primary reason for his travel to Djibouti was to ask my Special Envoy to convey to me that Somaliland wished to have, and it felt deserving of, more substantial the U.N. assistance to consolidate the fragile peace there, having achieved peace and tranquillity on its own. He gave my Special Envoy a message from his President.
21. In response to my Special Envoy's inquiry about his position on the peace process, he said that Somaliland would be ready for discussion only after its "Southern brothers" had resolved their differences. Regarding Bossaso Conference, he had major reservations about the representative credentials of some of the faction leaders who would be among the participants. He was not prepared to give the clear answer as to whether Somaliland would be willing to send an observer. Nevertheless, he said that Somaliland was willing to do anything to assist its "Southern brothers" to achieve peace and that if asked by IGAD, Somaliland would be willing to host the Bossaso Conference.
22. He expressed the view that the resolution of Somali conflict should be left to IGAD in order to insulate Somalia from external intervention with "hidden agendas". He did not consider the U.N. activities as such intervention.
V. VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS OF THE "EXTERNAL ACTORS"
23. Senator Serri felt that the combination of efforts by the Somalis and the "external actors" could maximize the chances of success.
24. The Foreign Minister of Egypt stressed the importance of supporting the efforts of IGAD, spearheaded by Ethiopia with the support of Kenya.
25. The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States briefed my Special Envoy on League's recent contacts with both the Sodere group and the Aidid group in Cairo. He said that the League would welcome United Nations assistance for coordination.
26. The Prime Minister of Ethiopia felt that the political weight of the U.N. could make difference. He said that with no government to ensure law and order, Somalia was becoming major source of instability, with "extremists" and "terrorists" operating from there, the scope of which transcended the region. For this reason, he said, Ethiopia was convinced that any government, however weak, would be better than none, as it could at least give neighbouring countries framework for improving situation. He expressed support for the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia.
27. The Acting Executive Secretary of IGAD said that IGAD and OAU were discussing dispatch of a joint delegation to Somalia to persuade Aidid to talk to the Sodere group and also to persuade Sodere group to be flexible.
28. The Secretary-General of OAU stressed that it was important for the U.N. to show increasing interest in situation in Somalia and to have greater presence, if not in Somalia itself, at least in the vicinity. He said that the national reconciliation conference should be supported. He briefed my Special Envoy on his most recent contacts with all Somali groups, in which he had encouraged. Aidid to talk with others.
29. Salim informed my Special Envoy that OAU and IGAD were considering possibility of dispatching joint mission to Somalia, preferably prior to the national reconciliation conference, to convey collective message of continent. He also said that OAU supported the establishment of the U.N. trust fund for Somalia.
30. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Djibouti felt that peace in Somalia was of vital interest for Djibouti. IGAD would support the result of the Bossaso Conference and asked the international national community to provide material support. They considered that Sodere process and Bossaso Conference were only, and most suitable, means to form legitimate transitional authority, which would allow people of Somalia to choose their leaders.
31. The President and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Yemen stressed that situation in Somalia was of direct concern to Yemen, which had accepted many refugees. Yemen had offered to help hold Bossaso Conference by assisting with providing security for delegates.
32. The Foreign Minister of Kenya stressed crucial importance of getting all factions on board. He felt that location of the national reconciliation conference was open to discussion.
33. The consultations my Special Envoy held with countries and organizations assisting in peacemaking process, indicate that they share belief that the Aidid group needs to be persuaded to join peace process and that there is consensus among them that the U.N. could help coordinate their efforts so that international national community could be seen as speaking with one voice to Somali groups, thus maximizing chances of success in peace process.
VI. OBSERVATIONS
34. Developments since Nairobi understanding and Sodere declarations, namely, agreement reached in Mogadishu and Sana' and Cairo agreements, have given rise to hope that Somali parties may have finally arrived at stage where they will engage in serious consultations for peace.
35. My Special Envoy's mission has shown that political process in Somalia is at another critical juncture. Having set 1 November 1997 as an opening date for the national reconciliation conference, Sodere group made clear its intention to proceed with that conference, even if efforts by Sodere group and "external actors" fail to persuade. Aidid to demonstrate readiness to engage in serious dialogue with Sodere group on issues concerning the national reconciliation. There appears to be substantial amount of sympathy for this position in the region. Meanwhile, Sodere group and all "external actors" have pledged to do all they can to persuade Aidid not to reject the national reconciliation process.
36. I have directed that following steps be taken as matter of priority in line with recommendations made by my Special Envoy:
() A meeting at ambassadorial level will be convened at Headquarters in September 1997, chaired by Under-Secretary-General of Department of Political Affairs, with participation of representatives of all countries my Special Envoy visited (Italy, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Yemen), together with those of IGAD, OAU, League of Arab States and Organization of Islamic Conference. Interested members of Security Council will be invited to participate. The purpose of this meeting would be to harmonize views on mechanisms and measures to maximize international national community's efforts to help Somalia achieve national reconciliation. These might include joint missions to convey agreed messages to all Somali factions. The meeting could also discuss such proposals as trust fund for Somalia and other measures to strengthen the U.N. supporting and coordinating role. The meeting could also develop into periodically held consultations at ambassadorial level for purpose of harmonizing efforts of international national community for Somalia;
(b) In view of contacts my Special Envoy had in the region, I have reviewed role of UNPOS, which currently consists of Director, one Professional assistant, and one secretary, and have concluded that its continuation and strengthening are essential in order to enable us to continue to extend assistance to those engaged in peacemaking efforts for Somalia. I have also accepted conclusion of my Special Envoy that personnel of UNPOS should undertake more visits to Somalia on regular basis, security conditions permitting. I have therefore decided to add another Professional staff member to Office. Unfortunately, with Mogadishu at phase V security status, it is still not possible to move UNPOS to Mogadishu at present time. However, I shall keep question of its relocation to Somalia under review. For planning and budgetary purposes, it is envisaged that UNPOS will continue to exist during biennium 1998-1999. The necessary financial resources would need to be authorized and allocated;
(c) Every effort will continue to be made to help Somali people in relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development fields, as circumstances permit;
(d) A general review of role of the U.N. in Somalia will be conducted in November/December 1997 in light of the results of the national reconciliation conference, if held, or of situation that obtains if it is not.
NPP'S Shide Released from Custody.
It has been reported that the Mohamoud Abdi Shide was released from custody on 4 PM September 15 [sorry for typo], 1997 as a the result of an order from the Apeals Court. His release from this illegal detention marks a small victory for the freedom of press and expression in JSL. More information on this violent attack on Jamhuuriya will be posted shortly.Update on NPP Conflict: Press Review
September 13.The national Printing Press (NPP) remains closed, and its founder, Mohamud Shide, and his four reporters are still in custody. Latest reports indicate that the issue is beyond the local conflict between Mayor of Hargeisa, Cali Asad, and Jamhuuriya newspaper, which is published by NPP.
- ....President Mohamed Egal has thus succeeded in silencing the daily newspaper whose independence of tone and criticism had displeased him for a long time. Last spring, the newspaper's founder had already been arrested after having denounced in the columns of Jamhuuriya a scandal implicating two Somaliland ministers, who had, for several months, pocketed taxes levied by Hargeisa on cigarette imports (ION N.764).(ION. September, 13, 1997)
Apparently, the relations between the government and NPP has been on rocks for some time.
NPP is being accused of maliciousness in its strident reporting on financial irregularities on the part of certain goverment officials, on alleged secret contacts between the warlords in Somalia and Somaliland's leaders around the Mansoor Hotel in Hargeisa, and a litany of other mundane issues. NPP feels its reporting is driven by the old journalistic mantra: serving public's right to know and protecting its basic rights to freedom of press.
Obviously, the struggle is between old, and brittle African statism and the new idealism, which is spurred by the collapse of tyranny of the old dictatorships and the proclamation of independence.
- Previously, Egal had written a letter to the journalist to ask him to calm down
and leave his ministers alone. But the latter had reacted by publishing Egal's letter in his
newspaper leading the president of Somaliland to have him arrested, at end of April.
However, the Hargeisa judge had ordered his release on the grounds of arbitrary arrest and Egal
had been obliged to choose another method to achieve his end: as premises of Jamhuuriya
printing works belong to the government, he had unilaterally terminated leasehold.
Nevertheless, the day that police arrived to expel Mahmoud Abdi Shide from these premises,
demonstrators prevented them from carrying out the operation. The government had given him
three months notice of the termination of his leasehold. Mahmoud Abdi Shide then bought some
land and prefabricated building to continue the publication of this publication which has daily
print-run of 2,500 copies
(ION No 765).(ION. September, 13, 1997)
Somaliland newspaper closed, publisher arrested
Police using ``technical'' battle wagons with mounted guns sealed the national Printing Press (NPP) which publishes AlJumhuria on Monday afternoon and arrested its chairman Mohamoud Abdi Shide.
As the result the paper failed to come out on Tuesday.
AlJumhuria's editor said: ``This is act against the freedom of press. The steps taken are against court ruling and against law.''
Police said they closed NPP without a search warrant to prevent incriminating documents from being destroyed, adding NPP had already burned documents including false receipts.
``We were afraid that further incriminating documents might be destroyed while waiting for warrant from court. Earlier we had requested for a search warrant of printing house for false documents,'' police commander said.
There were no details of the documents and receipts to which police referred.
Somaliland boasts two daily newspapers of which AlJumhuria, with circulation of around 10,000, is larger.
News Update
By Mahamoud Noor Hersi, Abu Dhabai, Aug 28, 19971) How is S/Land administration progressing toward Bari the region ( Burco and beyond)?.
The administration in Bari is progressing very well comparatively to what it was in past, their has been quite a lot of bureaucratic problems and some power struggle but I am proud to say that our people are really getting matured and it seems everybody is feed up with fighting , as several incidents could have led to out all war only few months back. But the instance the incident takes place the elders and the masses in general are very cautious and today I have seen that people do put blame in right places or even accept blame when faced with the truth. People have discovered the value of peace, police are respected to a great extent, What seems to be the problem is that most of those people who are given authority either do not understand their duties or are just to selfish and do not think of the poor people. Burco will need a lot of patience and understanding and what I have seen personally is very encouraging as these people of Burco are dieing to have law and order they are very enthusiastic for the Government to take effect. They had welcomed A Vice President whole heartedly as they were standing in sun waiting for his arrival for hours and his stay was without any hindrance, he had unguided tour of Europe. Everybody believes that if the people of Burco are given the chance by some of those politicians "af mishars" with evil ambitions who are always in the process of creating rift for whatever benefit of theirs.
The word in town during my last days was that some of the ministers who ( One in Particular) were involved in the peace-making and establishing Burco Administration has been withdrawn after being chased by the elders and public. In overall Burco is on the road to the healing process. The movement between Burco & Yerowe is very free without any control or fear. Life in Burco is much cheaper than Hargeisa (i.e. Lunch in Burco is JSL sh.3000 v.s. in HGA 5000/= normal htl) with exception of Qat which is same prices. Every other thing is cheaper in Burco. I have personally seen ex-Burco families moving back to Burco. There is a major problem of people occupying Government lands and that has been caused due to part of the town being full of mines. The construction of an airport is at full swing. Demining process is in place. Lets pray for Burco to gain its glory back.
One thing I will never ever forget is Burcawis made an Eriterian delegation cry (When I say cry I mean real tears visible even 100 yards away ), the welcoming reception was all the way from the outskirts of town to the city center, with dancing and singing. I don't think there was any able person in town who did not come out that day. Even the Qat dealers had to sell their product in the late afternoon. The delegation's leader in his interview said he could not believe what he had seen, as he was of the opinion that Burco was no-man's land, and said they were made to cry by genuinity in the eyes of people and how much these wonderful people were forgotten by the outside world.
2) What is impact of the Cerigabo crisis on the peace process?.
This incident came as major shock to everybody in the country, but issue was diffused immediately by the major clan elders, as the two major clans immediately referred it as two small sub-clan issue, and immediately every body that who could do anything rushed to Erigabo either by road or Air and Gov.. response was very fast, It did not create any rift or arguments in mefrish's ( some of people from this sub clans who were in HGA went together in same cars).
3) How is the Vice President received in Burco (are people listening to him or his government)?.
Although the government is very poor and I think there was not enough money taken to Burco, he has been welcomed very well and he has delegated authority very well. The system is in place and we at the NPP have seen the deputy mayor of Burco and other Departments printing their working materials. Taxes are being collected by the local government.
4) Is our government accountable to people yet or it is still one man show, especially on financial affairs?
Well, this is a One Million Dollar Question! I think the answer is yes&No. the people's feelings are that this is the first cabinet that is highly educated that Somaliland has ever had and yet one feels their is a vacuum somewhere. One thing that I was very proud of is when I went to different schools and had seen students in uniforms for first time in two years I had been frequenting SL. The corruption is not as rampant as it used to be although you can feel that apart from the Finance Ministry, foreign and few others who are struggling very hard to do their jobs , while others are looking for fast buck, but I believe this trend is changing. What annoys people is that those who have embezelled money and are now in big businesses's should have been brought to justice, mind you we have Ministers who were poor 2 or 4 years ago are either rich or extremely rich ( I know of one who has build himself mansion of 14 rooms & in middle of the road , architect alone costed him $70,000/ and also he has a personal zoo ). I think your answer in one sentence " ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALONG WAY FROM HOME " may be after total peace.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fagade is very dynamic guy who has achieved single-handedly to convince the Eriterian President to work with Somaliland and as the current chairman of IGAD at he has made JSL as member Observer, Afreweke used to stay with him im Hamar and they are personal Friends, Fagade goes to extent of using his own funds to achieve all these goals, and he believes that Somaliland is on brink of benign recognition, but what is missing is our combined effort. I had appraised him of dynamic Somalilanders in Europe and North America ( he had Invited me one day for lunch & qat ) without exposing this group as in doing That I do need consent of forum. He is willing to work with anybody and he believes that you can do lot to achieve what is required, he needs feedback and any ideas that my help in JSL achieving its rightful place in world map , to extent he is willing to go anywhere and meet those of us who have any constructive ideas or arrangement. For those who feel Its their duty and want to contact him or my want to send any message to him officially can do so through me at time being , and I can despatch information on daily basis through our offices in UAE. By Way their are airplanes ( cargo) going to JSL almost every day. He intends to go to Far East and sell Somaliland to leaders like Mahatiri Mohamed etc....
Arrests of Jamhuuriya Reporters in Hargeisa
Read the following Story for DetailsBy Mahmood Noor, Jamhuuriya , Abu Dhabai, Sep 3, 1997
Its unfortunate that I have to bring to you this disturbing new , before Even I had received my disquiets with the month long news that I wanted to Share with you.
Last night I received a call from Hargeisa that the chairman and four of Jamhuuriya staff were detained by the CID & police in Hargeisa (Shide Was released couple of hours later)
The Jamhuuriya issue of yesterday had exposed corruption which was Taking place for some time at the local government in Hargeisa, Situation of this corruption was prevailing during my vacation in HGA , and On many occasion the public had written about it and had requested Jamhuuriya to expose it , this couldn't happen according to the wish's of The Public, Jamhuuriya had to embark on investigating the pertaining issues in order to have some documented proof (once bitten, twice shy) on obtaining concert proof that they approached the mayor before publishing to get his comments and he is in return outlashed by trying to implicate the printing press of being irresponsible, Jamhuuriya. We requested a clarification and evidence from the mayor through the proper channel,when he couldn't eventually an article on corruption was published and subsequently the jailing of the four staff.
Brothers and sister, being a believer of freedom of speech, and a democratic Somaliland, and also a person whose mission is to help any institution that is coming up in Somaliland that will be of a benefit to my country. I will tomorrow present to you all that has been published in all Jamhuuriya for your judgment. I have also requested to receive the public opinions published in Jamhuuriya .
Not wanting to be biased, I will refrain from telling you about negotiations proposed by the mayor through some elders until after you have absorbed what was printed.
I think it is worthwhile to remember a reggae song " its a hard, hard way to Travel and rough, rough road to go" well this is Africa for you and probably newspaper business is a wrong trade to get involved in.
Somaliland Leader Turns down Cairo Invitation
Reuters. 01-SEP-97HARGEISA, Somalia, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The leader of Somaliland in Northwest Somalia on Monday turned down an official invitation to visit Egypt for talks.
``President'' Mohamed Egal received a five-man Egyptian delegation in the Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Monday but said he believed visit by him to Cairo would not achieve anything.
Egal has campaigned in vain for international national recognition since Somaliland proclaimed itself a separate state in 1991 and has refused to attend Somali peace talks in November called by 26 factions.
``We are not seeking recognition by force from anyone. We have existed without recognition and can do that for the next decade if it becomes imperative,'' Egal was quoted by spokesman as saying.
On Somali unity, Egal said: ``Egypt is campaigning for dream that died in 1960s.'' He said the Egyptian position at its talks with him amounted to the denial of Somaliland's existence.
Somalia has had no central government since the overthrow of late dictator and president Siad Barre in 1991. The country is divided between rival factions, which sporadically clash.
Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Marwan Badr, the delegation leader, told reporters that Egypt was not imposing unity on anyone but wanted the Somali people to discuss their future.
Hussein Aideed, the major faction leader based in South Mogadishu, has also refused to attend the November talks, arguing they amounted to interference in Somalia's affairs.
UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). 31 Aug 1997
Somalia Information Report, 1 Jul -31 Aug 1997
Hargeisa / Northwest Regions
Hargeisa, Boroma, Berbera, Yarowe, and Odweyne areas are all reported quiet. On 23 August, inter-clan fighting erupted between Habar Jaelo and Habar Yonis clans in Erigavo following a land dispute left behind 17 deaths and over 20 injuries. A WHO polio eradication officer, Rob Mooser, was robbed and briefly detained while travelling along Burao/Las Anod road on 30 July. In Sool the region, the road from Las Anod to Erigavo, in Sanaag the region is still reported to be unsafe and is still not recommended for use by international national organisations.
On 3 July, armed militia with two technical opened fire on unsuspecting groups of people at market in Burao, killing six persons and wounding 21 others. The incident created panic forcing people to close their business shops. The perpetrators reportedly crossed from the eastern side of the town, which was a flashpoint of inter-clan wars. A recent UN assessment mission to Burao recommended demining and demobilisation projects. The Egal administration sent senior officials to Burao to investigate and settle the potential inter-clan conflict. Meanwhile, the joint committee consisting of humanitarian agencies and Somaliland administration was recently appointed to draw up a plan of action on how agencies can contribute to rehabilitation of social service infrastructures in Burao.
An Eritrian delegation visited Hargeisa in Northwest early August reportedly for talks with Egal and his 'government' over peace Initiatives in the Horn of Africa the region. The delegation was led by Eritrean Ambassador to Ethiopia, Girma Asmereom. On other hand, Somaliland administration led by Mohamed H. Ibrahim Egal insisted that they will not participate in forthcoming Somali reconciliation conference scheduled for Bossaso on 1 November. Also, US government delegation visited Hargeisa from 17-20 August for talks on possible repatriation of Somali refugees in camps in Ethiopia to Northwest Somalia. During August, UN international national staff ground travels outside Las Anod, and particularly Hargeisa/Las Anod/Erigavo road, remained restricted.
Ten reported dead in Somaliland clan fighting
Fierce fighting broke out in and around Erigabo over weekend, reports Reuters.MOGADISHU, Aug 24, 1997
Ten people were killed in clan fighting in Somaliland over the weekend, residents said on Sunday.
They said fighting on Saturday with light weapons between rival clans in Erigabo, in eastern the region of Somaliland stemmed from a land dispute.
Local elders and religious leaders on Sunday tried to reconcile two groups and restore peace to the area by separating rivals.
Somaliland Fighting Kills at Least 10
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) Fighting between two sub-clans in Somaliland has killed at least 10 people, according to reports reaching Mogadishu on Monday.
Another 16 people were injured when the Habar Jelo and Habar Yoonis sub-clans of the Issak clan fought Saturday in Erigavo, 200 miles east of Somaliland capital of Hargeisa.
According to radio operators, the fighting appeared to stem from last month's killing of four Habar Yoonis clansmen by Habar Jelo gunmen. The sub-clans earlier had fought for control of the town.
Mohamed Egal, Somaliland's president, reportedly sent mediators to Erigavo on Sunday to try and end the fighting.
Somaliland, on the Gulf of Aden, broke away from Somalia in 1991. No government recognizes its sovereignty, but the West and the U.N. assist the region because it has been relatively peaceful.
Clan fighting erupts in Erigavo
The sources, said three-hour battle Saturday between rival Habr Yonis and Habr Jealo Somali tribes killed 11 people and wounded 25 others.
Continued shelling Sunday hit a house, killing six children and seriously wounding their mother, before other tribes in town intervened and stopped fighting.
Reasons for the outbreak of the fighting was not immediately known. The actual death toll could not be independently confirmed. The president of Somaliland, Mohamed Egal, immediately convened an emergency cabinet meeting to find ways of stopping fighting from escalating.
At end of the meeting, a brief statement was issued saying that the government delegation will fly to Erigavo on Monday where they will be joined by military commanders.
The delegation is to be led by the agriculture minister Yaxyo Ibrahim.
Somaliland declared itself independent from the rest of Somalia in 1991 after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, but has yet to get international national recognition.
An Armed Conflict Between Two Clans Broke out
An armed conflict broke out between two Isaaq subclans in the Ethiopian side of border, leading to 3 deaths and 14 wounded. A Somaliland delegation headed by Sultan Abdurahman Sheik Mohamed crossed over the border to village of Adaabley, 13 Km inside Ethiopia to affect negotiations between the warring sides, so reported the Somali section of BBC, July 14.
A joint Somaliland and the Ethiopian the region Five police contingent was set up to suppress fighting that took place July 11-14. Also, Somaliland police contingent was permitted to cross over the border into the Ethiopian side. Elmi Fure, Somaliland's police Chief, has indicated that this was the first time Somaliland and Somali regional state of the region five of Ethiopia had agreed to set up this joint police mission to help end an armed conflict between nomadic clans who graze their livestock on both sides of border.
Sh. Ibrahim Sh. Madar, the chairman of Guurti, told reporters that the area was calm, but that land conflict still remains to be sorted out. Meanwhile, Somaliland's police team was reported to have returned to the village of Alay Baday in Somaliland side of the border.
A Open Letter from Editor of Jamhuuriya
Dear Somalilanders,
" Today (July 15, 1997), the Minister of Interior, Gaboose had called for press conference of which its contents hopefully you will be reading at the same time you receive this message.
The issue in the press release was a major shock to the free press of Somaliland and the public at large, he had specifically attacked Jamhuuriya and his feelings were that we pretend to be international national newspaper, who have dented the chances of recognition of Somaliland and need to be curbed and controlled, and tht he is personally going to take care of that.
We at Jamhuuriya feel this is the beginning of lot of difficulties comming towards us as independent newspaper,which is not affilated to any particular party/organization, or are we biased, but are only interested in reporting the facts in safe guarding our soverignity, We have our responsibily to our country its people, this threats will not deter us from fulfilling our resposibilty. It is norms in many parts of Africa for editors and reporters to suffer, maimed, jailed on even sometimes eliminated, but this will not stop us from reporting the truth as it is presented.
Fellow readers, countrymen & women we need your support if you believe we are doing right thing and also your critisism when ever we are wrong, this will only help us and develop us.
If you feel that you may want to address this issue of censorship and curbing the freedom of speech, kindly address you views to concerned Minister and copy us through the fax nos, of either STC or SOTELCO ( Stc 00-252-213-4501. Sotelco -00-253-210-006) If this may not be great constraint to you financially, views of Somalilanders abroad are always highly valued , and it is high time that you took part in the re-structuring of our fragile nation.
We at Jamhuuriya have opened the channel for your easy access with advanced technology of today , but yet we have to see any article or opinion sent for publication , we would like very much to publish your views ( i.e. forum ) , but in doing so we need consent of the writer/person concerned.
We intend not to giving up our constitutional right at any given time or do we have the intention in destroying our hard earned freedom, we will work hand in hand with anybody for the betterment of Somaliland. We are sincerly looking forward to your supportive fax messages."
Well, brothers and sisters, the ball is our court, I think we should comply to this request and probably many more to come (either supportive or even critisism all are for the constructive aim). I suggest the fax's could either be addressed to the Minister concerned or to the Minister of State in President's office, the message will reach anyway , the copies could be addressed to either Jamhuuriya , Xuriyo or any other publication in country, it will reach them, as they do have agreement with Tel. Co. for delivering.
US Delegation Concludes a Visit to Somaliland on Refugees
The delegation, which comprised representatives from the US Congress, State Department, American Refugee Committee and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), held talks with Somaliland officials and international national aid agencies operating in the region, visited Hargeisa parliament and toured regions where the refugees were due to be settled.
At meeting in Hargeisa, Somaliland President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal told the delegation that he had embarked on programme of reconstruction and reconciliation among its people. "We, therefore, need and deserve help of the international national community," Egal stressed.
In reply, the representative of the US NGOs, Jana Mason, said her group had urged the US Congress and State Department "to remain in touch with the refugee situation in Somaliland and understand our effort here."
"The Somaliland refugees in eastern Ethiopia desperately need food, shelter, medical care and education for children, but here lot has already been done to reintegrate and repatriate refugees," Mason added.
Somaliland and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently reached an agreement to repatriate 30,000 refugees to Somaliland from camps in eastern Ethiopia before the end of year, process that was continuing smoothly due to relative peace in Somalia's Northwest the region.
State Department official Margaret McKelvey said she had found security situation in Somalia much better than when she last visited Somaliland in 1996.
"Our focus is on refugee matters, even though you have to focus much more on your dealing with the situation from war to peace," McKelvey earlier said in address to the Somaliland parliament.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. May 10, 1997 N. 764
President, judge and hack
Reuters. 04 Mar 1997
Somaliland demands recognition from aid agencies
HARGEISA, Somalia (Mar 4, 1997) -The Somaliland says aid agencies have three weeks to recognise it as an independent state or stop work and leave.
Somaliland President Mohamed Egal, re-elected on February 23 by the clan conference, gave ultimatum in the letter to the U.N. and non-the U.N. aid agencies dated Monday and released on Tuesday.
"We call upon all agencies to immediately upgrade their status in the Somaliland and appoint forthwith resident representative in Hargeisa who would be independent of his colleagues in Mogadishu," Egal said in letter.
"The above-mentioned resident representative should be prepared and empowered to enter into country agreement with government of the Somaliland," he added.
Somaliland, which has about one million people and covers Somaliland, declared itself independent from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but has failed to win international national recognition.
"Any agency which finds these decisions unacceptable is hereby respectfully invited to leave country within three weeks," said Egal, who added that he had already hinted at the recognition ultimatum to the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
"There will be no problem if any agency takes longer than three weeks to wind up its affairs but its activities must terminate in three weeks," said the president, who was first elected in 1993.
Aid agency officials said it was impossible for agencies to recognize Somaliland as a government as this was only done by states. They said they would meet and respond in due course.
Egal said agency resident representatives should be empowered to inform the government of what funds were provided for use in Somaliland and then consult on how they were used.
With widespread insecurity in the capital Mogadishu since 1991, many international national aid agencies operate in Somaliland but have had tense relations over the years with government.
Reports reaching Mogadishu by radio on Tuesday said at least eight people were killed and four were wounded in inter-clan fighting in Kurtun Warrey district, 90 miles Southwest of capital.
Residents of district said fighting on Monday pitting clansmen using bows and arrows against others armed with assault rifles broke out after two sub-clans quarrelled over land.
Egal, 67, was prime minister of Somalia before being jailed for 12 years by the late president Siad Barrethe long-time dictator. He is loud in criticism of international national community for refusing to recognize Somaliland.
Somaliland covers the same territory as the protectorate established by Britain over a largely arid Northwest in 1886. Britain granted it independence days before Somalia won self-government from Italy in June 1960. They both merged days later.
Voice of America (VOA).24 Jun 1997
Somali Refugees Are Beginning to Come Home
SCOTT STEARNS.
INTRO: AFTER ALMOST TEN YEARS, Somali REFUGEES ARE BEGINNING TO COME HOME FROM CAMPS IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA. V-O-A EAST AFRICA CORRESPONDENT SCOTT STEARNS VISITED A CAMP FOR THE RETURNING REFUGEES, AND REPORTS THEY ARE FINDING A NEW COUNTRY, STILL REBUILDING FROM YEARS OF CIVIL WAR.
ON A HILL OUTSIDE HARGEISA, FORMER REFUGEES LIVE IN WHAT THE Somali CALL DASO --STICK AND GRASS DOMED HOUSES COVERED WITH BLANKETS AND PLASTIC TARP. SOMETIMES THERE IS A PIECE OF SHEET METAL FOR A DOOR.
AMINA FADUMAH ABDULAI LIVES HERE. SHE LEFT HARGEISA WHEN SHE WAS 16, AND THE ARMY OF FORMER Somali LEADER Siad Barre WAS FIGHTING REBELS FROM THE Somali national MOVEMENT.
THE ARMY EVENTUALLY LOST CONTROL OF THIS CORNER OF NorthWESTERN Somalia WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY BRITISH Somaliland. BOMBING RAIDS KILLED AS MANY AS 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE AND SENT ANOTHER 400-THOUSAND, INCLUDING MS. ABDULAI, ACROSS THE BORDER INTO ETHIOPIA.
NOW SHE IS BACK IN HARGEISA, NINE YEARS LATER.
MS. ABDULAI SAYS SHE THOUGHT ABOUT COMING BACK WHEN Siad Barre WAS TOPPLED IN 1991, BUT THERE WAS STILL FACTIONAL FIGHTING IN THE NorthWEST. the U.N. TRIED TO REPATRIATE TEN-THOUSAND REFUGEES IN 1994. INSTEAD, VIOLENCE DROVE ANOTHER 90-THOUSAND PEOPLE INTO ETHIOPIA.
IN ALL, NEARLY ONE-MILLION PEOPLE FLED Somalia, TO KENYA, TO DJIOUBTI, AND TO YEMEN, BUT MOSTLY TO ETHIOPIA. SIX-HUNDRED-THOUSAND Somali S LIVED AT CAMPS IN TEFERI BER, DAROR, HARTISHEIK, AND DARWANAJI.
MS. ABDULAI GAVE BIRTH TO TWO CHILDREN AT DARWANAJI. FINALLY THE FIGHTING STOPPED. THE SON ON HER HIP WAS BORN HERE IN THE Somaliland.
NOW IN HIS SECOND TERM, PRESIDENT Mohamed Egal SAYS HE IS MOVING AWAY FROM DEFENSE SPENDING AND TRYING TO REBUILD SOCIAL SERVICES. THE NEEDS IN Somaliland ARE GREAT.. EGAL SAYS HIS NEW COUNTRY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE ADDED DEMANDS OF RETURNING REFUGEES.
WE ARE NOT YET STRONG ENOUGH, OUR ECONOMY IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH, AND THE COUNTRY IS NOT YET SAFE ENOUGH FOR THESE PEOPLE TO RETURN. WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW WILL the result IN A REFUGEE EXCHANGING THE NAME OF REFUGEE FOR A DISPLACED PERSON IN HIS LAND.
EGAL SAYS HE WANTS EVERYONE TO COME HOME, BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE. STILL LOOKING FOR international national RECOGNITION FOR Somaliland. EGAL WANTS WESTERN DONORS TO DO MORE TO HELP WITH THE REFUGEES. HE NEEDS THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF MANY RETURNING Somali S BUT LACKS THE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW IN THESE CAMPS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE IN EUROPE, WERE THE CREAM AND THE MIDDLE CLASS OF OUR SOCIETY. TODAY, THEY ARE PENNILESS. ALL THEIR PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN LOST. THEIR HOUSES AND BUILDINGS ARE IN RUINS. JUST TO DUMP THOSE PEOPLE INTO Somaliland AND SAY, "WE HAVE REPATRIATED THEM," I THINK IS ONE OF THE MOST CRUEL THINGS THE international national COMMUNITY CAN DO.
THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY HAS SPENT MORE THAN 14-MILLION DOLLARS IN Somaliland SINCE 1992, CLEARING LANDMINES AND REPAIRING SCHOOLS, WATER FACILITIES, AND HOSPITALS.
MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER SINCE FEBRUARY. THE U-N EXPECTS 30-THOUSAND BY THE END OF THE YEAR -- ALL WITH TRAVEL MONEY AND A NINE-MONTH FOOD RATION.
SPOKESMAN PETER KESSLER SAYS IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS SAYING IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO Somaliland; THEY ARE MAKING THE DECISION ON THEIR OWN.
Somaliland IS A WAR-RAVAGED SOCIETY, AND IT IS VISIBLE IN EVERY STREET, AND SCHOOL, AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT THE REFUGEES WHO ARE COMING FORWARD TO US ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO GO BACK. THEY ARE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION BACK HOME BECAUSE OF THE CAMPS' PROXIMITY TO THE NorthWEST Somalia the area. THEY SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE HEADED INTO AND THEY SEEM TO WANT TO GO BACK.
IN HARGEISA'S CENTRAL MARKET, ABDULHANI MUSA MOHAMED SELLS FIREWOOD. EACH MORNING HE LEAVES HIS HUT IN THE CAMP OUTSIDE TOWN AND WALKS INTO THE HILLS WITH A SMALL, RUSTY HAND AXE, DRAGGING BACK BRANCHES THAT HE TIES WITH ROPE FOR THE TRIP TO MARKET.
MOHAMED SAYS HE CAME BACK TO HARGEISA LAST SEPTEMBER. HE WANTS. EGAL TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT SO THERE WILL BE MORE JOBS IN HARGEISA.
MOHAMED HAS TO WORK HARD TO FEED HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN. BUT HE SAYS IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS HERE, HE SAYS, Somaliland IS OUR OWN COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
Community Aid Abroad. 19 Apr 1997
Somalia -peace and reconciliation
Since then few reports out of the capital, Mogadishu, have compounded idea of this country on the Horn of Africa as anarchic state, fought over by warlords whose heavily armed clans battle with rival clans for control of piles of rubble.
"There is no doubt that Mogadishu is conflict-torn and divided city," says Community Aid Abroads Bill Morton. "People are still dying because of power struggles. But the fact is, clan warfare is limited almost entirely to Mogadishu. Its not true of Somalia as whole."
Away from Mogadishu there is 'remarkable' commitment to peace and reconciliation, despite almost total lack of formal government. Community Aid Abroad is helping to support process in Sanaag the region of Somaliland, North-western part of Somalia which spli from the rest of the country when the civl war ended in 1991.
"The Somaliland Government here has very little jurisdiction," says Bill. "But anarchy doesnt reign; old clan system does. Traditional ways of resolving disputes and conflicts have filled vacuum: sophisticated systems of compensation and arbitration, mediated by elders, where issues get talked out."
Sometimes for months.The major regional peace conference in 1993 lasted half year and there are still regular reconciliation meetings. Anyone with the grievance can go along and the elders make sure that everyone has their say, either as clan representatives or individuals, on issues ranging from war damage to livestock, to reparations for death of loved one.
Following requests from elders, Community Aid Abroad is helping by paying for transport to and from current talks that aim to resolve questions of land ownership and restoring assets in Sanaag. At the end of the war victorious clans took over what they could of other clans property and possessions, including livestock, which are critical to familys or clans well-being. Now these assets have to be re-distributed to the original owners as fairly as possible. Some families have gone home and are picking up pieces of their lives, and Community Aid Abroad has helped them re-settle by paying for their transport.
So far the four main clans -two of whom were enemies in war -have worked out ways of living together. Its been long and complex process and isn't over yet. But if the people of Sanaag ever need to be reminded of alternative, they only have to look at whats happening in the streets of Mogadishu.
John Barraclough is journalist with Oxfam United Kingdom & Ireland, working with Community Aid Abroad for the year
UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). 02 May 1997
Somalia Information Report
This report has been prepared by office of the U.N. Development Programme and Resident Representative for Somalia
HIGHLIGHTS Hargeisa / Northwest Regions
Following the election which concluded in late February, Hargeisa has remained relatively quiet. On 3 March, Egal administration forwarded the letter to all UN Agencies and international national NGOs operating in Northwest requesting them to upgrade their representatives in the region or leave the area within three weeks. Following two visits of UN Resident Coordinator, Dominik Langenbacher, on 5-6 March and 26 March, the issue has been somewhat defused. The exact question of type of representation is still under discussion. Other issues discussed with Egal administration included reintegration of returnees from Ethiopia as well as an ongoing response to the drought and water development situation.
Egals 16-man committee mandated to recommend appropriate all clan inclusive cabinet/ group of ministers is proceeding well, and the expectation of new governance era is reportedly high. A 3-member team consisting of representatives from the Haber Jaelo, Haber Yunis, and Habar Awal families is currently designing a plan to restore peace in Burao and its environs. During first week of April, groups of elders from the Burao region were reported to have arrived in Hargeisa for further discussion on the settlement of Burao town.
The UN security officer for Northwest has traveled to Salahley the area and reported that situation there is appropriate to resume activities and field trips for the organisations to the area, pending prior clearance. Travel off tarmac road where land mines are reported will be prohibited, however. Fly-in travel to Erigavo, Las Anod, and their immediate environs is reported as safe. Roads from other regions to these towns in Sool and Sanaag have been reported to have number of check points, the resulting in banditry and looting incidents. Prior clearance by a security officer is therefore recommended before road travel in these regions.
The Somaliland shilling has stabilized at the average exchange rate of 2,145 shillings to US dollar.
UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). 15 January 1997
Somalia Bi-Monthly Information Report
Hargeisa, Borama and Berbera remain relatively calm. The "national congress" to elect the leader for Somaliland is proceeding in Hargeisa; no date has been specified for the end of the conference or beginning of elections, but they are expected in February. Guidelines to be followed for elections were agreed upon and new Somaliland flag was introduced and endorsed by congress during December, both of which have caused some political tensions. On other hand, some 200 militiamen from Muse Abdalla clan, a subclan of the Habar Yunis , were received by senior administration officials in Hargeisa during first half of December, where they are due to be reintegrated into a "national" army. On 14 December, 10 intellectuals were reported arrested in Borama town, causing some tension in the area. The same day, "Minister of Post and Telecommunication" was attacked by group of persons with the unknown motive. In first week of January, ambush of vehicle driving representatives of "Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs" on road between Sheik and Hargeisa was reported. One policeman was killed and two other persons were injured in incident.
The UN security officer for the area undertook an assessment of the Berbera, Burao, Yarowe area and reported that travel from Berbera to Yarowe is safe, but the Burao town remains insecure, and stopovers in Burao are not recommended.
During first half of December Somaliland shilling fluctuated between 5,335 and 5,600 to US dollar, but later in month currency appreciated to 4,500 to US dollar, with immediate affect on prices of essential commodities and fuel for residents.
Meeting Concludes in Sodere; 27 Faction Leaders sign agreement. The effort initiated by the Ethiopian government to bring together Somali faction leaders in Sodere, Ethiopia, ended on 3 January. Following eight weeks of negotiations, twenty seven representatives signed a communique outlining formation of the national Salvation Council (NSC) and plans for the national Reconciliation Conference to take place in Bosasso in the future to approve the charter of "Transitional Central Authority" or "Provisional Central Government." The NSC participation includes rotating five member cochairmanship, and 11 member Executive Committee, and the 41 member legislative group. Although spaces on Executive Committee of this council were reportedly "reserved" for the absent Hussein Aidid and President Egal of Somaliland it is yet unclear exactly how their involvement will be pursued.
Reuters World Service
October 13, 1996
Somaliland leader backs U.S. plan for peace force
In a statement faxed to Reuters from Hargeisa, Somaliland capital, Mohamed Egal expressed "astonishment" that South African President Nelson Mandela had opposed the US moves in discussions last week with Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
No other country recognises Somaliland.
Egal described the peace force proposal as "one of great hopes for Africa to solve its civil wars and arrest chaos and anarchy which is spreading like wildfire."
He added: "To cast a doubt on a need for such a force conveys, at least to me, abysmal ignorance of dilemma of continent of Africa."
Mandela said he could not support such force unless it was set up through the U.N..
Egal said President Mandela was wrong in suggesting that Egypt's Boutros-Ghali was the Organisation of Africa Unity's (OAU) choice for UN Secretary-General. "He was not compromise candidate," he added.
The Somaliland leader said his country had suffered "untold misery" as the result of the Secretary-General's "arrogant authoritarian decisions.
"History will judge Boutros-Ghali's record in Somalia, former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq as the darkest pages in history of this great international national organisation," he added.
"It will be disservice to international national community and to the UN which represents them to allow Ghali to continue his bungling during crucial years ahead of us.
"I call on the OAU and the African presidents to contradict President Mandela and affirm Africa's need for peace force, and to accept proposal of U.S. Government."
Somaliland covers the area of the former British Somaliland which joined with Italian Somalia in 1960 to form independent Somalia. It broke away from Southern half of country in 1991, after fall of president Siad Barre and declared itself independent.
Egal's government has frequently quarrelled with UN agencies who, he says, have ignored the needs of his people. 10:12 10-13-96
Reuters World Service
August 18, 1996
11 dead, 39 injured by storm, floods in Somalia
Mayor Isse Ahmed Nour said appeals had been made for international national aid. Charities formed the emergency committee to feed homeless families, some accommodated in local schools. Somaliland covers the area of the former British Somaliland which joined with Italian-administered Somalia to form independent Somalia in 1960. It broke away from the rest of Somalia after ousting of president Siad Barre in January 1991, but has yet to be recognised by other countries.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. October 5, 1996
Egal still dislikes Gouled
Egal's second grudge is that he holds Djibouti authorities partly responsible for the setback of his campaign for international national recognition of Somaliland as state. In both Organization of African Unity and Arab League, Djibouti holds out for maintaining united Somalia and therefore opposes idea of independent Somaliland.
October 13, 1996
Somaliland leader criticises Boutros-Ghali, Mandela
Reuters World Service
August 1, 1996
23 killed in Somaliland clan fight
Members of the Eidagalle and Abdalla Isahaq sub-clans of the Gar Hajis clan clashed earlier this week near Qoton, 40 km (25 miles) Southeast of the Somaliland capital Hargeisa, clan elders said.
A member of the Isahaq group told Reuters 12 clan members had been killed and over 20 wounded.
An Eidagalle elder said the violence was the bloodiest since hostilities began between the two clans in May.
"Eleven have died and 15 have been wounded from our side," he said.
Mediators were in Qoton trying to negotiate a ceasefire between the groups.
Somaliland, which covers the Northwestern part of Somalia, declared itself independent in 1991 after late Somali president Siad Barre was ousted in the civil war.
Somaliland has not received international national recognition and rebels opposed to its government have mounted frequent attacks.
The Xinhua News Agency. JULY 17, 1996
Four Russians sentenced to imprisonment by Somaliland's court
Reuters North American Wire
JULY 17, 1996
Somaliland votes for new flag
A national conference voted Monday for new flag of three horizontal stripes of green, white and red with black star in middle. "There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his prophet," appears in Arabic script on green stripe.
The new flag replaces one which was white with the green circle in the center with same Arabic script around it.
Somaliland with its capital in Hargeisa in Somaliland covers the area of the former British Somaliland, which joined with Italian-ruled Somalia in 1960 to form Somalia.
It broke away from Somalia at the start of the Somali civil war in 1991 but has failed to secure any foreign recognition.
Reuters World Service
July 7, 1996
Somaliland rebels attack village to loot livestock
An spokesman for the Interior Ministry in the not recognised by any other state said three villagers and four attackers were killed when the armed gang tried to loot livestock from the village. He described the attackers as "armed opposition forces."
Two wounded villagers were being treated in Hargeisa hospital, but the attackers carried their wounded away with them.
Somaliland, which occupies the Northern half of the former Somalia, declared itself independent in 1991, after Somali president Siad Barre was ousted in the civil war.
Egal's government, based in Hargeisa, is opposed by rebel groups operating in different parts of the Somaliland has not been formally recognised by any other state.
Diplomats say the rebels, who are frequently described as no more than bandits and tribal enemies of Egal, continue to defy his government.
Reuters World Service
June 17, 1996
Somaliland lobbies for recognition
Two high-level delegations left the Somaliland on Monday on tour of 23 African states to press for recognition as independent country.
A spokesman for President Mohamed Egal said the delegations, the first of their type since Somaliland declared independence in 1991, would brief African leaders on Somaliland's statehood.
The first delegation led by Foreign Minister Abdi Dhimbil will visit Eritrea, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Djibouti, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
Another delegation led by Minister of State Hassan Ali Awale visits Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
The Somaliland covers the area of former British Somaliland protectorate which joined former Italian-run Somalia in 1960 to form independent Somali.
Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991 when Southern half of Somalia broke up after late president Siad Barre was ousted in a coup.
Reuters World Service
June 12, 1996
Three killed, four wounded in aid convoy attack
The attack, which occured on Sunday, was the "randon act of banditry," and did not target agency, said Nairobi-based spokeswoman.
"We were up there trying to distribute food, and when the incident took place, we stopped mission," she added.
Local clan elders were meeting the attackers to try and prevent furthur violence, she said.
The attack took place near tiny village of Qoryalev, 40 km (25 miles) Southeast of Hargeisa.
The Somaliland covers the area of the former British Somaliland protectorate which joined former Italian-run Somalia in 1960 to form independent Somalia.
Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991 when the Southern half of Somalia broke up in fighting between rival warring factions after president Siad Barre was overthrown.
Agence France Presse.
Hostages freed in Somaliland
The two men, German Gunter Bischoff, food security officer, and Briton Richard Copsy, logistician, worked for German agency GTZ, Society for Technical Cooperation, which is arm of federal Ministry for economic cooperation and development.
The Somali aid worker was also freed, but remained in Somaliland.
Initial reports said that villagers in remote North-eastern village of Hared, which is not controlled by President Mohamed Egal in Hargeisa, confronted kidnappers and "rescued" three men shortly after they were abducted, with one of kidnappers being killed and another wounded.
It was unclear why villagers held three men for so long, but in the similar incident in March, five expatriates working for the U.N. were kidnapped at the Southern Somali airport of Ballidogle, then "rescued" by villagers who eventually freed them after confiscating their cash and personal possessions.
Somaliland, former British colony, broke away from Somalia, formerly ruled by Italy, when dictator Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. Since then, Somalia has been ruled by feuding warlords.
Reuters North American Wire
May 19, 1996
Somaliland marks five years of "independence"
Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, which has still to achieve international national recognition, marked five years of independence with military parade Sunday.
The ceremony was postponed from Saturday when the heavy downpour flooded capital, Hargeisa, in Northern Somalia.
"It is time for Somalis to return to their traditional ways of solving problems-and discard forever the alien culture of the bullet," said Somaliland President Mohamed Egal.
The Somaliland covers the area of former British Somaliland protectorate which joined with the former Italian-administered Somalia in 1960 to form independent Somalia.
Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991 when Southern half of Somalia broke up in fighting between rival warring factions after overthrow of president Siad Barrethe long-time dictator.
So far it has not been recognized by other countries. Egal, who watched a parade of men from the army and police in Hargeisa's Khayria Square, condemned armed conflict which he said had torn Somalia to pieces.
He condemned opposition groups who have launched a violent campaign to overthrow his government. "They have harmed our national development and have become obstacle to achieving international national recognition," he said.
But he warned that sedition, subversion and treason would not be tolerated.
Egal defended his government's policy of outlawing financial transactions in foreign currency and enforcing use of Somaliland shilling. This was aimed at ensuring a sound financial base, he added.
Western aid workers said Saturday that three aid workers--German, Briton and a Somali -were "under protection" of villagers in Somaliland after being kidnapped earlier by gunmen.
The exact status of three, staff of German aid agency GTZ, was not immediately clear but negotiations were being held between villagers and kidnappers to try to secure agreement for three men to leave.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. May 25, 1996
Somaliland celebrates fifth anniversary
The celebration started in provincial capital Hargeisa with the speech by President, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, and appearance by over 100 militiamen from Qassim clan, who joined May 25, 1996 "government" there this month.
Somaliland has not been recognized as independent by any foreign state, but it has nevertheless formed May 25, 1996 House of Representatives and the House of Chieftains which elected Egal as president, and has attended to matters of governance.
Because of factional fighting in Somalia, and the absence of any generally accepted a national government, Somaliland has more or less run itself unopposed since its secession in 1991.
It largely escaped twin horrors of civil war and famine that plagued Southern Somalia following overthrow of former Somali dictator Siad Barrethe long-time dictator.
But recently, faction leader Abdurahman Ahmed Ali Tur has led armed rebellion against Egal. Tur is aligned with powerful Mogadishu warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed, who does not like the idea of "independent Somaliland" and is pressing for its "reunification" with the rest of country.
Egal, for his part, on Monday called on the international national community to organize referendum to let people of Somaliland officially gain independence.
Egal, Somalia's first prime minister in 1967 before his government was overthrown by Barre in 1969, and estimated to be aged in his late 70s, said he will not stand for re-election when his term ends in four months.
The Associated Press. April 8, 1996
Somaliland's Veterans Turn Tanks Into Plowshares
A halo of sparks glows in Hamed Ahmed Abdi's welding mask as veteran of Somalia's 10-year civil war turns the ruins of enemy tank into a plow.
He is taking part in the program developed in Northern Somalia to keep former soldiers busy after war that toppled the nation's dictator in 1991.
Once the war ended, Northern the region declared independence, and new government didn't want angry -and hungry -former fighters roaming arid land, with its history of clan warfare.
"These men have been fighting for 10 years. They know how to kill, they learned how to loot, they learned how to rape," says Mohammed Ibrahim Egal, president of Somaliland.
"It is not very safe for him to be hungry on the street corners. While he is there, while he is hungry and jobless, he still constitutes danger."
With the help of aid agencies, the government launched huge demobilization program three years ago.
So far, 30,000 veterans have been persuaded to give up their guns, and 3,000 have traded them for tools.
"I'm happy that I can do something to help repair the country. We spent so many years destroying it," Abdi says.
The 35-year-old former artilleryman is making tools for farmers from the wreckage of war - rusting armored personnel carriers, tanks and anti-aircraft guns that clutter city streets and children's playgrounds.
The project is jointly sponsored by international national Rescue Committee and Sooyal, veteran's group.
Yusif Abdi Gabobe, the former soldier who heads Sooyal, says many veterans have trouble adjusting to civilian life, "so we give them counseling and try to help them to market themselves."
The program also helps farmers, who lack plows and other tools, says Steve Payne, regional director for the international national Rescue Committee.
The Xinhua News Agency. May 7, 1996
Rival Somaliland militiamen surrender to Egal
Agence France Presse. May 07, 1996
Armed militiamen surrender to Somaliland administration
The radio said those who surrendered were from Qassim sub-clan of Habar Yonis clan that supports Somaliland's first president Abdurahman Ahmed Ali Tur, currently deputy president in General Mohamed Farah Aidid's United Somali Congress/Somali national Alliance (USC/SNA) faction government in Mogadishu.
Observers said it was first time in Somalia's five-year civil struggle that armed militiamen had surrendered to their opponents and that it was major setback for Tur since his Habar Yonis clan loyalists embarked on struggle against Egal's Habar Awal clan militia.
Hundreds of Hargeisa residents, including President Egal himself and top government officials lined up streets of capital to welcome back the returning militiamen who went straight to Birjeh, former military centre for reintegration.
But Tur's top lieutenants in the Somali capital Mogadishu denied surrender report, saying that they were only militiamen from dozen families whom Egal had bought with money, and pledged that they would continue their struggle against Somaliland leader.
Tur's fighters have been battling Egal's militia from from Habar Awal clan, which dominates the administration, since 1994 when the former Somaliland president was outvoted by elders and replaced by Egal.
The surrendering militiamen had been carrying out their campaigns against administration in Hargeisa from mountains lying Southeast of Hargeisa in Northwest Somalia the region bordering Ethiopia.
Tur, who led Northern and Somaliland-based Somali national Movement (SNM), declared the region independent Somaliland in 1991 soon after overthrow of dictator General Siad Barrethe long-time dictator.
However, he renounced the secession of Somaliland after he was replaced by Egal in 1994 and joined also yet to be recognised South Mogadishu government of Genegal Aidid, formed after he was declared interim president of Somalia for three year by conference of his supporters on June 15, and which still hopes to reunify Somalia.
The Associated Press. April 28, 1996
Human Wreckage of War Washes Up in Somali Hospital
Chained to the floor of bleak hospital ward, a tall man wrapped in sarong stretches his tether to its limit trying to strike at anyone who comes within reach.
"Too many wars, wars, wars, wars, and I get mad, mad, mad, mad," he wails.
He is part of the wreckage of war - decade of fighting, Somali against Somali.
In 1991, the slaughter ended in North, and the survivors declared their parched plains Somaliland, with Hargeisa as its capital. Today it is a haven of relative calm on the edge of escalating conflict among warlords battling in the South.
But there is no peace for the 45 deeply disturbed patients at the war-damaged Hargeisa hospital psychiatric ward. There is little treatment because there is little money for medicine or staff, or even basics like food and beds.
Patients are chained to walls, floors and posts to keep them from beating each other or from fleeing.
The lucky are cared for by their families. One man dressed in clean clothes brought by his brother sips weak coffee from the battered metal plate.
The unlucky look like Mohammed, the 25-year-old bone-juttingly thin with only a scratchy, soiled blanket to hide his naked body. He is chained in his own cell, isolated from the other patients who fear his reputation as a killer.
The patients -most of them former soldiers -have been broken by war. Their problems worsened as they chewed leafy narcotic khat, evergreen shrub commonly abused in East Africa and Persian Gulf.
"Some suffer from war trauma. All have khat-related psychosis," said Faisal Ibrahim Odwa, the psychiatric nurse. "If you chew too much, you go crazy."
Initially, bitter-tasting stimulant causes lack of sleep. Prolonged abuse can lead to unpredictable behavior and psychological disorders.
Ibrahim, shriveled 46-year-old, says he began abusing khat during war to reduce tension and to help him think more clearly. Finally, he began to hear booming bombs where there were none and voices when he was alone.
"I am here now because they don't have a place for my mind," he says.
Sometimes he calls himself Abraham Lincoln, sometimes Mohammed prophet. Sometimes, he even remembers his real name.
Once the powerful official in Ministry of Agriculture, he now commands a one-yard patch of dirty concrete. Dressed in a tattered 1992 Barcelona Olympics T-Shirt and a red-quilted jacket, he uses it as podium to plead with the raspy voice for freedom from his chains.
Others patients are withdrawn and subdued -silent witnesses to the confusion and commotion that surround them.
A man with haunted eyes and soft black curls crouches beneath blue plastic tarpaulin.
A lone woman is oblivious to the flies crawling across her lips. She lost her family in war and her sanity in refugee camp in Ethiopia where she fled from bombs. Back home again, she found nothing -not her home, not relative, not reality her mind can endure.
Teetering on the crude plastic prosthesis, a patient who lost his leg in fighting is still in haze of war. "My country, my country, there is no peace," he says.
Reuters World Service. April 07, 1996
14 die from suspected cholera outbreak in Somaliland
"Our people in the area have not confirmed that it is cholera up to now. They have confirmed it is acute diarrhoea," said Ministry of health director, Ahmed Hashi.
However, laboratory tests would be carried out in Nairobi or Djibouti to determine whether disease was cholera outbreak, Hashi said.
He told Reuters that government had formed a national committee made up of officials from his Ministry and advisers from World Health Organisation (WHO) and the U.N. Childrens' Fund, UNICEF, to deal with disease.
Somaliland proclaimed its independence in 1991 after breaking away from mainland Somalia following overthrow of Somali president Siad Barre that year. But it has received no international national recognition.
The country covers the area of former British Somaliland Protectorate, which joined with former Italian-administered Somalia when country achieved independence in 1960. 06:42 03-19-96
AP Worldstream. April 07, 1996 BY: KARIN DAVIES
Spotlight on HARGEISA
What Somaliland a Liberia-sized patch of parched plains in Northern Somalia doesn't have is international national recognition.
President Mohammed Ibrahim Egal says that lack has cost his 5-year-old state badly needed aid and trade, and he fears it could jeopardize security and rebuilding prosperity of the region.
He keeps a wary eye on the South, where the U.N. peacekeepers pulled out year ago. The Southern warlords, who do not recognize Somaliland's independence, have been escalating combat in their struggle for power and Egal worries about violence spreading North.
''The international national community ... is refusing to give us credit for what we have done here,'' Egal said in interview.
''We have managed to extricate ourselves from the vicious cycle of violence destroying Somalia. We have established the rule of law, courts, police force ... but nobody is prepared to give us help.''
The claims Northern leg of Somalia in the the Horn of Africa, from Djibouti border east along Gulf of Aden for 350 miles (565 kms).
the region was known as British Somaliland until it became independent on June 26, 1960. Five days later, it united with Italian Somaliland as Somalia. But union faltered with failure of its dream of annexing land where ethnic Somalis live in bordering Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
In 1981, the North became the first region to rebel against dictator Mohammed Siad Barre touching off a national civil war that led to his downfall and Somaliland's declaration of independence decade later.
Somaliland paid a high price for its uprising. Barre's warplanes and tanks flattened the largest cities, causing an estimated 40,000 deaths and flight of about 400,000 refugees into Ethiopia.
''We ran away when the guns started firing chacka, chacka, chacka,'' said Muna Yusif, 25. ''Three years later, when we came back, only trees were standing. We had no homes, no schools, and our young men were killed. So many I cannot count.''
Today it is only major the region of Somalia with working, if fragile, government. The annual budget of 30 billion Somaliland shillings, about dlrs 30 million at black market rates, is split evenly between security forces and spending for social services and reconstruction.
Egal, who was prime minister of Somalia before Barre imprisoned him in 1969, said Somaliland has been able to fend for itself because British rule left clan and cultural traditions intact.
The Italians destroyed those systems in South, so when Barre fell in 1991, there was no cultural system to counterbalance Southern warlords who began fighting for power, Egal said.
The 1.2 million people of Somaliland are proud of the peace they have made.
They didn't wait for the government to solve their problems, either. They volunteered their resources and talents to revive trade-based economy, replant abandoned farms, clear rubble from streets and rebuild schools.
''Here we've never waited for government. We've taken care of ourselves,'' said Ali S. Gulaid, 39, who owns a restaurant, hotel and construction firm.
For the first time, it is possible to direct dial international national phone calls from Hargeisa because of the efforts of two private companies. Another group has strung power lines and is starting to sell electricity.
Two radio station and several newspapers spread good news and bad.
In Hargeisa, 15 percent of children go to primary schools and nearly 60 percent go to Muslim religious schools, where they have homemade lesson books and pens and their teachers have chalk.
According to recent survey by UNICEF, 57 percent of people in urban areas have safe drinking water and only 9 percent suffer from malnutrition healthy figures for African country recovering from civil war.
The port of Berbera is busy, exporting about dlrs 100 million worth of livestock to Persian Gulf states in past year 2.67 million sheep, goats, cattle and camels. Trucks take imported products and locally produced goods, including sugar and soap, as far as Ethiopia and Kenya.
''We started from zero, square one. Now we export more than before war,'' said Mohammed Abdillahi, deputy director of commerce Ministry.
Still, the problems are many.
Raging inflation has increased prices for some staple foods fivefold.
There is not enough money to repair bomb-scarred center of Hargeisa. Goats pick in the rubble of destroyed homes where families live nonetheless. The roof of the National Theater looks like ribs of beached whale.
About 280,000 Northern Somali refugees remain in eight camps in eastern Ethiopia, 20,000 in Djibouti and others in Yemen.
That's why the the region needs outside recognition and help, its leaders say.
''We have come together in peace, we have freedom of speech and freedom of enterprise,'' said Mohammed Abdi Shide, publisher of The newspaper. ''I think it is time for the world to take another look at us.''
Radio Hargeisa, 23 Feb. 1996
Somaliland Presidency Issues Emergency Appeal
The plea said "As the result of prolonged failure of rains, overgrazing, and overpopulation (in some areas), among other things, considerable number of human lives, livestock and wildlife population throughout Somaliland are seriously being threatened by severe drought."
"The areas that are the hardest hit include the regions of Sool, Sanaag, Adwal, and the entire range of Guban and Golis range (east and west of Berbera).
"It is worth noting that international national organizations in Somaliland have verified existence of drought." The official plea noted that livestock and some monkeys had begun dying.
"Therefore we would like to make ye another appeal to international community to respond to this emergency situation in order to avert human and livestock losses before it is too late."
The government promised a comprehensive report would be on the way.
Somaliland forces claim victory in day-long battle
Units of Somaliland army routed opposition militia after fierce day-long battle around Burao, 150 km (100 miles) east of Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, on Saturday, officials said on Sunday.
Somaliland defence minister Abdillahi Hussein Iman told Reuters rebel militia, from Gar Hajis clan, suffered heavy casualties. He said their commander, Omer Dakafinish, a senior officer in the former Somali government forces, died in action.
He said three government soldiers were killed and 33 wounded.
"It was day of victory for army. They captured tank, two armoured vehicles and many weapons," he said. Two of government's armoured "technicals" were destroyed in minefield, while another technical was captured by the rebels.
Local residents contacted by radio on Sunday said fighting began when government forces attacked rebel positions on outskirts of Burao. They said the area was quiet but tense on Sunday.
USA will recognize Somaliland only after OAU does so, says US official
An American delegation led by ambassador David Shinn, director of East African affairs in State Department, held talks with Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, the president of the Somaliland, at presidency this afternoon.
The president briefed the American fact-finding mission on economic situation, activities of international national agencies, false impression being created about Somaliland and the security situation in Burco town, which, he said, was under the control of government forces. The president said despite Aydid's interference in peace process, the Somaliland government had not tired of seeking peace settlement.
Speaking about the American assistance, Egal said Somaliland deserved Washington's aid. Responding to ambassador's statement that America would only grant diplomatic recognition to Somaliland after OAU had done so, president said OAU had not been established to take executive decisions. Egal cited an example in 1960 when the idea of "Greater Somalia" was rejected by the organization which had said colonial boundaries must not be violated. And now when we wanted to have our own territory within the old colonial boundaries no steps had been taken to recognize us. Therefore, we would not rely on OAU for diplomatic recognition...
For his part, Ambassador David Shinn expressed gratitude for the warm welcome accorded him. The ambassador said his government had nothing against Somaliland but its recognition would only come about after OAU decision...
Reuters World Service. February 18, 1996
FEATURE-Prison was spur for Somaliland's Egal
President Mohamed Egal of Somaliland says the dozen years in prison spurred him to help build state he heads in the Horn of Africa.
The short, overweight leader of Somaliland has transformed the Northwest into a relative model of good government compared with little central authority in the rest of Somalia.
"For almost three years, Somaliland has not only been left unrecognised by international national community but we are treated as if everything that we are doing here is a joke," says Egal.
"Recognition is very important. But we are not going to lie down and die. We are surviving despite that. We've done great deal since 1993 and we are going to keep doing what we can."
Even critics who complain Egal is headstrong and autocratic doubt that Somaliland could exist as separate state without him. They concede he has no rivals to presidency or political leadership of dominant Isaq clan in arid Northwest.
"I was 40 years old when I was sent to prison in 1969 and I was 52 when I came out," he told Reuters in a recent interview at presidential palace in Somaliland capital Hargeisa.
"And it was very profitable period for me. It gave me time to reflect, to re-evaluate my life, to chart out course and know myself, my shortcomings, what I can do and cannot do."
Aid officials credit him with heading a government that is working hard for law and order and Somaliland's 1.1 million people, half of them nomads. Diplomats have gained grudging respect for his tenacity and headlong crusade for recognition.
When 66-year-old president speaks in Somali or English, peppered with expressions largely out of use since 1940s, words tumble over one another, racing to catch up with him.
One of main ambitions Egal gave up in detention was apparently hope for the presidency of Somalia, which he served as minister since independence in 1960 and as premier from 1967 to 1969 until Siad Barre seized power in coup.
"I realised (in detention) we had no chance, Somaliland would have no chance while it was part of Somalia." says Egal, jailed by Barre with other government leaders without charge.
The president admits to being ashamed that he ignored British advice against the union and led " stampede" of Northern politicians to Mogadishu at independence after serving as Somaliland's leader of government business for six months.
But he still has special contempt for Britain, which set up protectorate over British Somaliland in 1886 as source of livestock for its garrison at Aden and governed it until 1960.
Egal, trader's only son educated at English schools, is incensed London refuses to recognise Somaliland and in his view by its silence discourages others from doing so.
"We had great hopes for the British but they did nothing... We are nothing to do with them, they are no friend of ours."
When angered, Egal sees plots and mysterious conspiracies in almost every major setback for Somaliland, uses what at best can be described as colourful language, and issues what are largely empty threats which diplomats say only weaken his case.
Abdulrahman Tur, his predecessor as president of Somaliland from 1991 to 1993, is "that vagabond who was here before me."
Tur's militiamen are gang of "young chaps toting guns and technicals" --four-wheel-drive battlewagons --who live "in cloud cuckoo land" for thinking they can seize Hargeisa again after being forced out of city in fierce battles in 1994.
"Egal gets an idea in his head and throws himself into it regardless," said diplomat. "He is stubborn. But I must add that he is ready to back down before plunging over the brink."
Egal says international national aid agencies are out to discredit his claim that he controls his own country and are sabotaging economy by opposing his plan for exchange rate for the Somaliland shilling at one-fifth of its international national value.
"They (aid agencies) are trying to make joke out of Somaliland. The impression created is that this is banana with tin pot dictator in it. I am not," he says.
"When they give an impression that what they are doing is difference between life and death, this is not true. Whatever they do, if they leave today we will not miss it."
But he says the withdrawal earlier this year of Britain's Save the Children Fund from Somaliland citing insecurity was "bolt from blue," as it had stayed on even when he fled abroad.
He admits the pullout was triggered by an attack on one of its women staff by what he calls "ruffians" in the Southeast.
The president, chosen by clan elders in 1993, plans a referendum on the constitution and census before elections. But he adds that if they are impossible to organise within eight months, he will seek new interim term from another clan conference.
Asked whether he ever plans to retire, Egal says that he will not let all his efforts for Somaliland go to waste and if he believes his achievements are endangered he will stay on.
No one in Somaliland expects him to give up his power soon.
Reuters World Service. February 25, 1996
Somaliland forces claim victory in day-long battle
Somaliland defence minister Abdillahi Hussein Iman told Reuters rebel militia, from Gar Hajis clan, suffered heavy casualties. He said their commander, Omer Dakafinish, a senior officer in the former Somali government forces, died in action.
He said three government soldiers were killed and 33 wounded.
"It was the day of victory for the army. They captured a tank, two armoured vehicles and many weapons," he said. Two of government's armoured "technicals" were destroyed in minefield, while another technical was captured by rebels.
Local residents contacted by radio on Sunday said fighting began when government forces attacked rebel positions on outskirts of Burao. They said the area was quiet but tense on Sunday.
Somaliland covers the area of the former British Somaliland which joined with the Italian Somali Protectorate to form Somalia in 1960. Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991, after collapse of president Siad Barrethe long-time dictator's government.
It has not been recognised by other countries, and has been under sporadic attack from rebel groups since it broke away from the rest of Somalia. 09:28 02-25-96
The Xinhua News Agency. Feb. 16, 1996
Somaliland court sentences Aideed's ministers to death
Reuters World Service. February 12, 1996
EC to help upgrade Somaliland's Berbera port
By Hussein Ali NurThe port of Berbera in the state of Somaliland is to be expanded and upgraded under EC-funded programme, officials said on Monday.
An agreement signed by Somaliland's President Ibrahim Egal and European Commission envoy to Somalia, Sigurd Illing, sealed project, which will cost between a million and $2 million.
"The project is aimed at raising the port's capacity, restoring facilities such as cargo handling, operations and security of port," Somaliland government official said.
An EC statement added: "On occasion of mission to Northwest Somalia, the EC special envoy to Somalia, Sigurd Illing, announced that EC will fund first phase of the rehabilitation of Berbera port."
There are no proper records on how much cargo port handles at moment but the last records in 1984 showed it handled up to 177,000 tonnes of imports, officials said.
They said port was capable of handling far more than that but general dilapidation and ruin after years of civil war considerably reduced capacity.
Shunned by foreign governments which have withheld any recognition since its founding in 1991, Somaliland's fledging administration is struggling to build stable state for its one million inhabitants.
Somaliland broke away from mainland Somalia after rebels overthrew late dictator Siad Barre in 1991. But rebel groups soon turned their guns on each other in fighting that laid waste to Somalia and ignited famine which killed 300,000 people.
Somaliland covers the area of former British Somaliland Protectorate which joined with former Italian-administered Somalia when whole country received independence in 1960.
Unlike the rest of the Horn of Africa territory, wracked by bloody inter-clan fighting, Somaliland's efforts to reconstruct have won it increasing foreign respect and attracted growing interest from aid agencies.
The EC initiative aims at encouraging participation of Somaliland contractors using local skilled and non-skilled workers, EC statement said.
The EC already supports several projects in Somaliland including rehabilitation of the Berbera water supply, two veterinary projects, soil erosion and land reclamation works and bridge renovations along the main Berbera-Hargeisa road.
Reuters North American Wire. February 14, 1996
Mixed reviews for Britain in Somaliland
Goats browse in the ballroom and library of the ruined residence of governor of British Somaliland. Hordes of refugees camp on its shady verandahs.
"This stone was laid by His Excellency Sir Gerald Reece on 15 August 1952, " reads inscription at doors to State House, Hargeisa. But the red-tiled roofs have collapsed, even gutters have been looted and the parquet floors are lifting.
The capital of British Somaliland has mixed reactions these hard days to its ruler for nearly three-quarters of century.
"I know history," says the teen-ager in English, returning to his home at State House from school. "It's on stone."
The memory of Sir Gerald is also preserved at the mayor's office on similar foundation stone and at British-built Hargeisa Hospital and city's main school, now under repair.
More refugees have found homes in spacious State House grounds amid stunted trees in huts covered with branches, sacks and plastic near driveway to the former palatial residence.
Britain established a protectorate over the largely arid North in 1886 mainly as source of livestock to feed its garrison at Aden on the sea route to India.
By doing so it thwarted French expansionism in the scramble for Africa, leaving France only Djibouti to Northwest, and also blocked Italy from thrusting North from its Somali colony.
Britain rushed to give up Somaliland on June 26, 1960, granting independence days before self-government for Somalia from Italy. They both merged as Somalia on July 1.
As the Somaliland struggles to revive from civil war from 1988 to 1991 and rebel raids since 1994, some residents are nostalgic for life under British rule.
"Are you British? I'm a Somali scout," shouts an old man, white whiskers quivering with anger on Hargeisa's sand-swept main street. "Where's my money? You owe me lot of money."
"I fought for British in World War Two. Now, if you would just take my photograph and publish it in the London papers, I am sure the generals will recognize me and pay up."
Others, including President Mohamed Egal, complain that Britain has continued its colonial policy of neglecting its former the Horn of Africa territory and by ignoring the state has discouraged any international national recognition.
"Everyone in the international national community defers to Britain before taking any decision on Somaliland...but they have done nothing, which is actually working against us more than if they had come out against us," said English-educated president.
Egal, 66, argues London has failed to curb Italy, Somalia's former colonial power, from strongly opposing Somaliland.
But he and other officials note British rule gave North still-distinctive British political culture in contrast to Italian colonial dominance over the rest of Somalia until 1960.
"Under British colonial system of indirect rule, they ruled their colonies through traditional leaders and that greatly enhanced traditional leaders' position," says Egal.
"Whereas in Somalia the first thing the Italians did was to dismantle the traditional clan organization. Because of direct rule, Italians associated a good deal with local people, intermarried and Italian became the lingua franca," he adds.
"We used to say before union we are same people, we speak same language, and practice same religion.
"But when we went to Mogadishu and dealt intimately with people we realised we were two different species of people-because of influence of two colonial regimes."
Egal spent 12 years in prison without charge after late Siad Barre seized power in military coup when Egal was Somalia's prime minister in 1969.
Educated first at the Somaliland school built by the British military administration in 1945 and later at public schools from Exeter to London, Egal enjoyed being in England for five years but says: "I don't know how much I benefitted from it."
He returned to London as young politician to negotiate independence for Somaliland in 1960 and served as " minister of her majesty" for six months as head of government business.
To amusement of passers-by, Sir Gerald's foundation shaded by purple bougainvillea at the mayor's office marks the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953.
Mayor Mohamed Hashi Elmi says British taxpayers paid for his office to be built so he sees no reason why London should have paid for it to be repaired from shell blast in 1988.
"Some people complain British are doing too little. But personally I say that we have a large number of refugees in Britain and by sending money back home here they are providing assistance-even though it is largely invisible assistance."
He praises what aid Somaliland receives from Britain and says London was only city where the rebel Somali national Movement could be formed in the 1980s by Somaliland exiles.
In contrast, Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdi Dhimbil says British aid amounts to virtually nothing and feels betrayed.
"The British were our grand colonial ancestors. They never colonised us, they protected us from foreign interference," he says. "But now they're like an friend who has abandoned us."
Reuters North American Wire. February 14, 1996
Somaliland court sentences three men to death
The three included minister in faction chief Mohamed Farah Aideed's government, formed last June after South Mogadishu leader was elected president of Somalia by supporters.
A fourth accused, Aideed's Demobilization Minister Ismail Mohamed Hurre, was sentenced to life imprisonment on same charges of treason and supporting armed uprising against Somaliland.
Like Somaliland in Somaliland, Aideed's government has received no international national recognition.
Jama Mohamed Ghalib, Aideed's foreign minister, heads IdEgalle sub-clan's militia, which has been fighting Somaliland President Mohamed Egal's forces since November 1994.
Ghalib was sentenced to death with two other members of IdEgalle sub-clan on charges of being behind attack on Gargar Hotel Nov. 19, 1994, in center of Somaliland capital, Hargeisa.
Four people were killed and four were wounded. The prosecution case was heard after Somaliland parliament temporarily suspended immunity of two of accused.
Somaliland was established in 1991 but Egal also faces rebellion by Habr Younis clan militiamen led by his predecessor as president, Abdulrahman Tur, who is now allied with Aideed.
Aideed's forces arrested 10 Somali electricians Wednesday for carrying out what they said was "unauthorized electrical work" in Southern Mogadishu, witnesses said.
Their boss, Elman Ali Ahmed, said his employees were innocent and called for their immediate release.
Elman, who manages local electrical distribution company, threatened to shut several power plants in city unless 10 men were released. The city has had no mains power since overthrow of late President Siad Barre in 1991.
FEATURE -Somaliland capital builds from ruins
Tucked into wide valley in Somaliland, capital of Somaliland is stirring back to life.
It is hardly a boom. But for the city of some 250,000 people blasted by artillery and warplanes for three months in 1988 until 40,000 residents were dead, the rest had fled and 80 percent of its buildings were destroyed, it is strong start.
Spear-carrying nomadic herdsmen back from driving camels from Interior to Somaliland's port of Berbera for shipment to Gulf pass newly opened shops on its sand-swept streets.
"Go home, Russians and Americans! We don't want you here! Go home!" shouts bearded man intercepting strangers at random on the busy road as children on their way to school watch and giggle.
Shopkeepers say he was administrator for British aid agency in eastern Ethiopia who returned home to Hargeisa in 1988 to find his whole family killed. He has been mentally disturbed ever since.
Two foreigners in bankers' suits watch him warily. They say they are in capital of the international nationally unrecognised state to pick up some new British-printed Somaliland shilling banknotes for collectors in New York and London.
Most Hargeisa residents started Moslem fasting month of Ramadan one day later than the rest of Moslem world.
"Somalis love to cheat, even Ramadan. We begin day late and will end day early," says U.S.-educated businessman.
Many Somaliland men, especially those whose faith has been weakened by living in West, secretly break their fast during day, sneaking off to illicit tea shops for cup and cigarette despite risk of being caught in police raid.
"I've got to look for ways to make money all time. Hustle, hustle. I can't afford to sleep late as it's Ramadan and then sit and chew qat after dark," says restaurant owner Ali Guiled.
Qat, bitter-tasting plant with mild amphetamine effect on users who chew its stems and leaves for hours, has left its mark on Hargeisa, where for most Somali men it is daily habit.
Much of city remains in ruins picked over by goats but littered with millions of green, pink and white plastic bags, snagging on coils of rusty barbed wire and branches of wizened trees.
The bags contain a $5 bundle of qat before being tossed away. An estimated $200,000 worth of qat, flown in each morning from neighbouring Ethiopia, is chewed in Somaliland each day.
In Hargeisa hospital, a newly reopened psychiatric unit is full with a total of 26 mentally disturbed patients. Each is chained by one foot to shackles in concrete floor to prevent attacks on other patients or staff, or escape attempts.
"They are all picked off streets," says director Dr Ahmad Abdulrahman. "Some suffer from war trauma. But most have qat-related psychosis. If you chew too much, you have problems.
"We keep them here and refuse to give them qat until they get better. Of course when they get back on the street most manage to get hold of qat and many end up back here again."
The director fears television images of a men chained to floor will tarnish Hargeisa's reputation. But elsewhere in Somalia, they would have no state care and might soon die.
Paul Simkin, World Food Programme (WFP) project officer in Hargeisa, says the U.N. agency turned down group of Hargeisa women who proposed traditional weaving in exchange for food.
"There's simply no demand for so many traditional mats and carpets. But we said we would give them food for work if they could weave something out of qat bags to get rid of them."
"A week later a women returned with garish handbag woven out of hundreds of bags, shredded and pulled tight," said Simkin. "So they got their food for work and are in business."
The bags, mats and carpets produced by women in a room on South side of Hargeisa will probably never catch on in fashion centres of West. They are hardly even local hit.
But they are fairly typical of Somaliland's four-year-old drive to make something out of virtually nothing.
Aid officials stress that despite opposition to President Mohamed Egal by two clan rebel groups, Somaliland is much safer to operate in than Somali capital Mogadishu, where extortion and kidnapping have driven most agencies out.
"We started from zero," says Hargeisa Mayor Mohamed Hashi Elmi, adding his first aim was to improve security after militiamen battled Egal's forces in city in 1994.
"We repaired 22 police stations and sub-stations. Our other priority was to collect city revenues from zero. They now stand at 20 million Somaliland shillings ($45,000) month," he adds.
The city council plans this year to complete building nearly 1,000 rooms in central market, 40 percent for civil war veterans.
"We are doing fine. We have no complaints. Hargeisa has come long way in last year," says Elmi, adding that land on eastern edge of city is earmarked for 2,000 refugees.
Other food-for-work projects sponsored by WFP include shoemaking for handicapped, typing school, beekeeping and maintaining Hargeisa's power plant, which last worked in 1988.
But in contrast to Mogadishu, Hargeisa's generators were not looted and may work --whenever fuel arrives. 00:29 02-14-96
Reuters Wire.Feb. 14, 1996
EU to fund rehabilitation of Somali port
"The project will improve existing port infrastructure, operations, security, cargo handling and storage facilituies," Sigurd Illing said in statement issued here.
A total of two million sheep and goats were exported through Berbera port last year, and volume of exports is expected to increase after modernisation of facility, statement added.
Other projects supported by EU in Somaliland include an ongoing rehabilitation of Berbera water supply, two private veterinary service projects and soil erosion control.
Associated Press. February 13, 1996
18 people Killed and 30 Wounded in Somaliland Fighting
Liman said government forces had repulsed attack by Monday, but rebel spokesman Ahmed Sheik Kosar denied the insurgents were defeated. Both spoke in Southern Mogadishu.
It was impossible to independently confirm the reports.
The insurgents support Egal's opponent, Abdulrahman Ahmed Tur, who, in turn, backs Gen. Mohammed Farrah Aidid. Aidid's strongholds include Southern Mogadishu.
Tur is one of five vice-presidents in Aidid's government and, like his boss, is opposed to Somaliland's secession.
Somaliland seceded in May 1991, months after dictator Mohammed Siad Barre was ousted by insurgents who, ironically, first sprang from Somaliland.
Egal originally supported secession but changed his mind in 1994, calling for unification of the Horn of Africa nation.
Egal and Aidid's rival in Northern Mogadishu, Ali Mahdi Mohammed, also claim presidency of country split into fiefdoms of warring clans. The three have failed to get international national recognition.
Somalia has been without a functioning government since Siad Barre ouster.
Reuters. Jan 25, 1996
UFO's Blamed on Somaliland Explosions--Official
Somaliland authorities, saying mysterious explosions over Northwest Somalia have made people fall ill and animals behave strangely, want world to investigate reports that Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are tracking state.
The government of the Somaliland says two explosions in sky from UFOs were heard in December in port city of Berbera on Gulf of Aden and Sol and Sanaag regions to the east and Southeast.
"We want international national community urgently to launch a comprehensive investigation into these explosions and what they are doing," government minister told Reuters on Wednesday.
A report from a mission sent to Southeast Somaliland by government, which has received no international national recognition since it was formed in 1991, said animals behaved strangely after the explosions last month and some residents fell sick.
the U.N. aid agency staff who visited two regions in Southeast Somaliland said from residents' accounts they had no doubt that explosions had taken place and were heard over wide the area.
But they said it was unclear what had caused them and they could find no evidence they harmed people, especially children.
Somaliland broke away from the rest of Somalia as it slid into famine, chaos and clan warfare after overthrow of late president Siad Barrethe long-time dictator.
Northwest Somalia, particularly Sol and Sanaag, is a vast barren, rocky desert with thorn trees as virtually the only vegetation. Half its population are nomads, usually on move with camels, cattle and goats searching for grazing and water.
In its report, the government team said " frightening thunder-like noise was heard in Sanaag, Berbera and Sol regions at 7 .m. on December 5 and 7 p.m. on December 7.
"A few days after explosions inhabitants of areas visited came down with various abnormal coughing, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties and headaches. The most affected group were children and several were reported to have died," it said.
"Animals in the area showed unusual behaviour of restlessness, irritability and weakness," report added.
It said the mission's investigation indicated health problems in humans and animals were related to explosions.
"A pronounced increase was noticed in deaths of children, particularly those under three years old," it added.
The team's preliminary report quoted several witnesses including Ahmed Yusuf Dualeh from the town of Ceel Afweyne. It said he was " very reliable person" and expert in explosives.
Dualeh said he saw aircraft at low altitude flying over town from Northwest on both dates in December and then heard deafening explosion that shook ground and his home.
" Dualeh...estimated explosion was equivalent to over 100 kg (220 lb) of TNT explosives, probably nuclear," said report, adding that one of blasts shattered windows of truck. The report made no other mention of possible nuclear blast.
The government is opposed by two sub-clan militias but the most technically-advanced large weapons they have are tanks dating from 1940s and 1950s and small anti-tank rockets.
Other witnesses said they saw the flying object with smoke trailing from it. The report said villagers in Adhiadye and Garadag reported sudden increase of disease after booms.
"After explosions, animals were noticed running wild and uncontrolled with some tearing at trees," report said.
The government mission offered some possible explanations for blasts including satellite re-entering the earth's atmosphere, meteorite or plane breaking sound barrier.
But it said most likely explanation was "detonation of missile booster" because no debris were seen falling from sky and gases were reported seen burning in various colours.
"No physical manifestation of fallen objects or fragments of exploded material was found in ground. No evidence of damage to ground structures, such as a creation of crater or soil disturbance, caused by foreign body was observed," said the team, adding its investigation was limited.
Asked whether he had seen any of the mysterious explosions, French the U.N. charter pilot, who flies over same the region weekly, smiled and said: "I never have. And I pray I never do."
Reuters Wire. Jan 26, 1996
In Somaliland, new state rises from ruins
The Somaliland and its 1 million people, struggling to build a state from chaos, are gaining foreign respect for their resurrection efforts.
Shunned by foreign governments which have withheld any recognition since its founding in 1991, Somaliland's fledgling government is gradually impressing international national aid agencies and businessmen as the rest of Somalia plunges deeper into anarchy.
"This is a hidden success story in the conundrum which is Somalia," said a foreign aid official in the capital, tucked into wide valley in the largely barren Northwest of the Horn of Africa.
"There is a government and it is trying to govern. There are policemen on the streets and even an army. They are trying to pull themselves up and slowly, everything is improving."
He was speaking in the walled aid agency compound in Hargeisa surrounded by the sea of destruction dating from 1988 when then president Siad Barre's warplanes and artillery pounded the city for three months, sending all its residents fleeing.
A city of more than 200,000 people was reduced to rubble for challenging Barre's rule, which ended in 1991. Well over half of Hargeisa remains empty ruins picked over only by goats.
Unlike other international nationally renowned battle zones such as Beirut and Somalia's capital Mogadishu where large parts escaped any war damage, hardly single building in Hargeisa was untouched.
Some areas of this dusty city which now function have only come back to life since refugees began trickling back in 1991.
But Hargeisa's troubles were not over. In November 1994 clan militiamen based at city's airport invaded, sending 80,000 residents fleeing second time. The gunmen were repulsed by government forces but their rebellion sputters on.
"For the whole country the major problem is lack of peace," said Resettlement and Reconstruction Minister Mohamed Barood Ali.
"All the people won't come back until there is peace."
the U.N. refugee agency estimates 600,000 refugees from Somaliland remain outside despite rapid increase in returnees in past year bringing total population to 1.1 million.
Ali, imprisoned by Barre's government for eight years, said negotiation is only way to end revolt by Habr Yunis and Aidagalla sub-clan militias which attack every few weeks but suffered heavy defeat this month in town of Burao.
"They know they cannot defeat the government militarily. What they are doing however is blackmailing us. As long as they are fighting we cannot have peace and Somalis who are scattered throughout world will not come back to help reconstruct."
Aid officials agree government is strong enough to survive largely because of revenues from livestock exports from Somaliland's port of Berbera, 100 miles Northeast of Hargeisa.
Unlike most ministers who bemoan the lack of recognition, Ali stressed Somalilanders must first recognize themselves and build nation and government must decentralize its power.
"international national recognition will come, once we get our own house in order," agreed Hargeisa Mayor Mohamed Hashi Elmi. "But we mustn't just wait for it. We have to help ourselves fast."
Dominating Somaliland is President Mohamed Egal, the 65-year-old former prime minister of Somalia elected by elders in 1993 to replace Abdul Rahman Tur, Habr Yunis leader who has sided with South Mogadishu faction chief Mohamed Farah Aideed.
Egal said the rebels will be crushed unless they negotiate peace.
The Associated Press. January 19, 1996
New Fighting Reported in Northwest Somalia
A spokesman for the government of President Mohamed Egal said by telephone Friday that Thursday's attack by supporters of Gen. Mohamed Farrah Aidid was repulsed, with the loss of four government soldiers and six rebels.
But in Mogadishu, the spokesman for the rebel force backed by Aidid said it had captured the airport. He declined to comment on casualties on either side.
Earlier this week, the two sides fought for control of the town of Burao, 150 miles east of Hargeisa. More than 50 died in that clash and it is still unknown who controls town.
Somaliland, which includes most of Northwest Somalia, declared itself independent in 1991, but has never been recognized by any other government.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. January 20, 1996
Somaliland: New currency law
Somalia Aid Coordination Body, Nairobi-based body which groups United Nations agencies, international national fund donors, and NGOs working in Somalia, expressed fears on January 12 over a draft foreign currency Bill being discussed in Somaliland which could have "severe negative repercussions on work of international national aid community in the region". The draft law, as published in Somaliland newspaper Horriya of December 27, lays down that the country's sole currency will be Somaliland shilling, and its exchange rate against foreign currencies will be fixed by Somaliland central bank in Hargeisa.
Two foreign currencies which will be tolerated in local transactions on basis of exchange rates set by Somaliland authorities will be the Djibouti francs and the Ethiopian birr. No local transactions will be allowed in Somali shillings or US dollars, and holders of these currencies will be obliged to exchange them immediately at Somaliland central bank for local shillings. Traders holding on to foreign currency longer than three days, and persons exchanging foreign currency at rates other than those fixed by Somaliland central bank, will be liable to prosecution and may have currency confiscated.
Traders selling at prices set in foreign currency (other than Djibouti and the Ethiopian national currencies) will be liable to the fine amounting to 25 percent of transaction concerned and will also lose their trading licence.
I.O.N. -The draft Bill adopted by council of ministers in Hargeisa has still to be voted into law by Somaliland's chamber of deputies and could theoretically still be amended. President Mohamed Egal's intention is crystal clear: to ban all transactions in US dollars. Egal had Somaliland shilling banknotes printed in Europe about year ago for cost believed to be US$ 2 million, but although notes have been in circulation long time, local traders often carried out export-import transactions in US dollars. The president recently had brush with traders, particularly Issak traders from Djibouti who had until then been supporting him. As they make purchases in Djibouti and pay in dollars, they want to receive payment in same currency when they sell in Somaliland and are strongly opposed to the draft Bill. Although new legislation is not on the statute books yet, several traders were arrested in Somaliland several months ago, and Ibrahim Kahin (aka Dherreh), the Djibouti-based businessman known to support Egal, was detained in Berbera two months ago for having completed transactions in US dollars on Somaliland territory.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. January 17, 1996
60 killing in fighting in Northwest Somalia
Some 130 people were injured in the clashes in the region, which broke off from the rest of the country in 1991 to form the Somaliland.
Residents were fleeing Burao, a town at the centre of fighting between supporters of international nationally unrecognized president of Somaliland Mohammed Egal, and his rival Abdurahman Ali Tur.
The warring groups are using anti-aircraft missiles, rocket launchers, artillery and heavy machine guns. Burao, second largest city in the region, has also been plundered by bandits who do not belong to either of rival camps.
Political observers fear the fighting could spread to the Somaliland capital Hargeisa.
Ali Tur is the founder of the state but he was later toppled by Egal. Now he opposes Somaliland's secession and supports self-appointed president of Somalia, General Mohammed Farah Aidid.
Xinhua News Agency. Jan. 16, 1996
Heavy fighting renews in Northwest Somalia
Pitched Battles in Somaliland
A pitched battle between loyalist and opposition forces in Somaliland Monday left at least 59 people dead and 130 wounded, according to reports coming in over field radios Tuesday.
The fighting in Burco, the second biggest city in the region, pitted supporters of President Mohamed Egal against militiamen backed by Somali warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid.
A pitched battle between loyalist and opposition forces in the Somaliland Monday left at least 59 people dead and 130 wounded, according to reports coming in over field radios.
The fighting in Burco, second biggest city in the region, pitted supporters of President Mohamed Egal against militiamen backed by Somali warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid.
Both sides withdrew after the fighting, and population fled, leaving the city to free-lance looters Tuesday, according to radio reports monitored by AFP in Somali capital.
Burco is some 170 kilometres (100 miles) east of Hargeisa, Somaliland "capital," and fears were growing Tuesday that fighting would spread there.
Somaliland, the former British colony, split off from the rest of Somalia, formerly Italian, when strongman Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, but it has received no international national recognition.
The militias attacking Egal's forces back Somaliland's first president, Abdurahman Ahmed Ali "Tur," who was deposed by elders in 1993 in favour of Egal.
Tur has since become a vice president in Somali "government" proclaimed by General Aidid last June and favours reunification.
Egal's forces acknowledged the loss of 15 combatants and 30 wounded; opposition militiamen acknowledged six dead in their ranks, and also 30 wounded, but field radio reports suggested that both sides were under-reporting their casualties.
Reuters World Service. January 20, 1996
Rebels attack government forces in Somaliland
They said clan rebels, opposed to Mohamed Egal, president of the Somaliland, attacked Hargeisa airport and fought with troops and police on Wednesday.
The rebels were repulsed after the fighting at the closed airport with anti-tank rockets, light mortar, machineguns and Kalashnikov assault rifles which lasted for about 20 minutes, they added.
Rebels also fought with the army on Wednesday at the town of Toon, some 30 km (19 miles) South of Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, for several hours, aid workers and residents said.
At least six people including four government soldiers were killed and 10 wounded, they said.
Aid officials and residents of Hargeisa largely dismissed the rebel threat to the city, saying rebel raids were fairly frequent but posed no real danger to Egal's administration or forces.
They said rebels suffered the heavy defeat from Egal's forces at town of Borao Northwest of Hargeisa last week when three rebel T-55 tanks were captured and one was destroyed.
Hargeisa airport closed at the start of fighting between rebels and Egal's army in November 1994. It was later seized by government and was now expected to reopen in few weeks, aid officials said.
Despite the campaign led by Egal, Somaliland has received no international national recognition but now hosts up to half the foreign aid workers in Somalia because insecurity elsewhere in country drove out several international national aid agencies last year.
Somaliland broke away from the rest of Somalia in 1991. It covers the area of former British Somaliland protectorate, established in 1896, which joined former Italian-administered Somalia when whole country received independence in 1960.
Somalia has had no government since the overthrow of late president Siad Barre in 1991. The last the U.N. peacekeeping troops left broken the Horn of Africa country 10 months ago. 1
Agence France Presse. January 16, 1996
Ten killed, 17 wounded in Somaliland fighting
According to field radios monitored here, fighting flared up when rebels forces attacked Somaliland's main airport, five kilometres (three miles), South of the capital Hargeisa on Thursday.
Government troops are deployed at the airport to defend it against attacks by rebel Somali National Movement (SNM), headed by Abdurahman Ahmed Ali Tur.
An SNM spokesman in Mogadishu claimed his fighters had captured Hargeisa airport. But there were no independent confirmation of allegation.
Fighting between the two sides on Monday left 59 people killed and 130 wounded, and Burco, the second biggest city in the region, devastated.
Somaliland, the former British colony, split off from the rest of Somalia, formerly Italian, when dictator Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, but it has received no international national recognition.
Tur was Somaliland's first president, but was ousted by elders in 1993 in favour of the current President Mohamed Egal.
Tur has since become a vice president in the Somali "government" proclaimed by Mogadishu warlord General Mohamed Farah Aidid last June and favours reunification.
The fighting is threatening to hamper the work of relief agencies still operating in the region.
Reuters World Service. January 13, 1996
Agencies warn over Northwest Somali currency law
Aid agencies working in troubled Northwest Somalia warned on Friday that if proposed currency law were passed it might be impossible for them to keep operating.
In another development, the World Food Programme (WFP) plane flying from Nairobi to airstrip near the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa returned with its two WFP passengers after they refused to pay $20 "entry fee."
The Somali Aid Coordination Body (SACB), grouping agencies operating in Somalia, said in the statement it was gravely concerned about " severe negative repercussions" of draft law.
The row is the result of steps taken by administration of president Mohamed Egal, but international nationally unrecognised, Somaliland to increase its revenues while it is locked in long war with clan rebels.
Under draft law, aid agencies would have to change all dollars into new Somaliland shillings at the rate of 80 shillings per dollar, one-sixth of current rate to Somali shilling.
"It would be most unfortunate to have this legislation which would mean with means available we could not continue our projects," Sigurd Illing, SACB chairman, told Reuters in Nairobi.
"This is not the political question. This is simply a question of funds and if you oblige someone to exchange money at one-sixth of its value we would have to increase our budgets," he added.
Aid officials said Egal had not yet signed the currency law but if he did in its present form many, and perhaps all, agencies could no longer afford to work in Northwest Somalia.
"The SACB draws the attention of the relevant authorities to fact that, should such measures be introduced in their present or similar form, they would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible for international national aid community to continue their operations in North West," SACB said.
the U.N. officials said WFP decided it would no longer pay "taxes" demanded by Somaliland authorities to bring in staff and cargo by air and flight on Friday to Kalabaydh airstrip was test case.
"It all came to the boiling point and now was the time," said the U.N. official. "Two WFP passengers were refused entry for not paying $20 fee...but there was no attempt to levy charge on cargo."
Asked whether this new position might lead to an end of aid agency work in Somaliland, Illing said the policy of non-payment for non-existent services was established some time ago but he did not want to over-dramatise problem, which would be discussed.
"I do not think you can give up project activities just because of the question of airport fees but you also cannot give up on your principles every time by arguing that you should pay because your work is advantage for population," he said.
A British aid agency pulled out of Somaliland on Thursday while Egal's authorities announced victory over rebels and clan fighting flared near the Southern Somali port of Kismayu.
Save the Children Fund (SCF) said its staff were leaving the Somaliland capital Hargeisa because of "operational and security problems inside country." Officials said the decision to pull out was taken before new currency problem arose.
The Somaliland government said on Thursday it had crushed the attack Southeast of Hargeisa by opposition forces wearing the same uniforms as faction leader Mohamed Farah Aideed's militia.
Egal has been fighting an intermittent rebellion by rival clan militiamen allied with Aideed since November 1994 but has failed to subdue it despite repeated public vows to do so.
Somaliland broke away from the the rest of Somalia in 1991.
It covers the area of the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which joined with former Italian-administered Somalia when whole country received independence in 1960.
Reuters Wire. January 12, 1996
Agency quits Northwest Somalia, fighting in South
A British aid agency pulled out of Somaliland Thursday as authorities announced victory over rebels there and fighting flared near Southern port of Kismayu.
Save the Children Fund (SCF) said its staff were leaving Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland, due to "operational and security problems inside country."
Sir Robert ffolkes, head of SCF's regional office in Nairobi, said growing security problems made operating the aid program involving lot of travel in Northwest insecure.
"Quite honestly this was not a very secure proposition. The security situation impeded on our operations," folkes told Reuters, adding SCF's four expatriate staff were already out of Somaliland.
The British agency has operated in Somaliland since 1991.
Somaliland, the territory once administered by Britain, broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has no international national recognition.
The Somaliland government said Thursday it had crushed an attack Southeast of Hargeisa by opposition forces wearing same uniforms as those of faction leader Mohamed Farah Aideed's militia.
Somaliland President Mohamed Egal has been fighting a rebellion by rival clan militiamen allied with Aideed since November 1994 but has failed to subdue it.
The territory covers the area of former British Somaliland Protectorate, which joined with former Italian-administered Somalia when whole country received independence in 1960.
Aid workers reported heavy fighting Thursday North of Southern Somali port of Kismayu between Aideed's forces and militiamen loyal to Gen. Mohamed Siad "Hersi" Morgan.
Morgan's forces control Kismayu, gateway to the fertile South, but residents have increasingly feared in recent months that Aideed's forces might try to seize port town in his drive to spread his authority across Somalia.
Meanwhile, the U.N. refugee agency in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, denied the aid agency report that 800,000 Somali nomads had migrated to land bordering Ethiopia because of drought.
The Djibouti-based the Horn of Africa Development Agency said Monday 800,000 nomads migrated from Sol and Sanaag regions of Northwest Somalia to land near the Ethiopian border.
Xinhua News Agency. Jan 12, 1996
British aid agency pulls out of Somalia
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. September 23, 1995
Somaliland: Berbera water project
I.O.N. -Coopi is the non-religious NGO headed by a priest, Rev. Vincenzo Barbieri, and directed by Michele Romano. It has been working in Somaliland since 1990 and has more than twenty volunteer workers. It runs 200-bed Berbera hospital and opened a surgical division there in 1992, and has plans for about dozen other projects (including one for the fishing industry) in Berbera the region. Coopi also runs a Erigavo hospital east of Berbera and health centre at Borama west of Hargeisa. Its founder, Paolo Giorgi, set up the NGO consortium called UNA in the Lombardy the region which comprises Coopi, Africa 70 (which is working at Bosaso, in North-eastern Somalia), GRT, CESVI and CAST.
FOREIGNERS HELD IN Somaliland FREED, FLY TO KENYA
NAIROBI -A Swedish diplomat, two Kenyan guards, Italian pilot and French co-pilot held in Somaliland for a week have been released and flown to the Kenyan capital, witnesses said.
The five landed in Nairobi on Tuesday night on a chartered plane from Hargeisa via a nearby Red Sea state of Djibouti.
Swedish diplomat Mikael Glas told reporters it felt great to be back after their embassies contacted Mohamed Egal, president of Somaliland, and cleared up misunderstandings that caused them to be detained on landing at Hargeisa airport.
Glas said the five appeared in court in Hargeisa and dates were set for another appearance before they were released. But they were very well treated during detention at the police station since August 21, he said.
Norwegian diplomat Oeyvind Nordgaren, police officer attached to his embassy in Kenya, was released last Saturday.
Italian pilot Guido Sgaravatto said six were detained on landing at Hargeisa airport while it was closed three hours after clashes there so police suspected they were involved in the violence.
Swedish Ambassador to Kenya Lars-Goran Engfeldt thanked everyone involved and said he was pleased all were back after misunderstandings were cleared up with Egal.
Sgaravatto said they had flown to Hargeisa to repatriate two Somalis expelled by Sweden. The Somalis remained in Hargeisa...
EGAL RECEIVES VISITING US DELEGATION
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of Somaliland, today received in his office the American delegation which arrived in country this morning.
The delegation includes officials from State Department, the US ambassador to Jibuti, head of USAID, new American representative to Somaliland and UNDP representative to Somaliland. The purpose of delegation's visit is to see for itself real situation in country, particularly regarding security, and for new American representative to familiarize himself with Somaliland.
President Egal briefed delegation on situation in country. He said government of Somaliland always strove to resolve things peacefully. The president, however, told delegation that Somaliland's independence could not be negotiated. He said Somaliland was a living country. The president also spoke about Somaliland's stance towards Somalia. He said recognition of Somaliland's sovereignty would help ease the problems afflicting the Horn of Africa.
The president told delegation, in particular head of USAID, that main problem currently facing country was inflation, hence need for food aid. For his part, head of USAID pledged that he would contact such agencies as Care international national to bring in cheap food. Abd al-Rahman Aw Ali Farah, a vice-president, also made a brief speech. Present at occasion was Abdullahi Mohamed Du'aleh, Minister of National Planning...
A LIMITED POWERS
President Mohamed Egal of still unrecognised Somaliland has run into trouble with his latest ministerial reshuffle, prolonged operation that began in early September. Involving about dozen ministers, it at first seemed to mark new peace initiative, with hardliners among those sacked, including Interior Minister Musa Bihi (from Egal's Issaq/ Habr Awal clan) and Defence Minister Abdurahman Aw Ali (Gadabursi), who remained Vice-President. But within week, Bihi was back at clan elders' request. Egal's failure to get his own clan's support fuelled doubts about his ability to reconcile with his opponents from Issa/ Gar Hajis sub-clans, Habr Younis and Eidegalla.
The reshuffle followed visit to Hargeisa by United States' State Department and senior aid officials, including Ambassador to Djibouti, Martin Chesches, who handles Somaliland (Washington handles the rest of Somalia from Nairobi). Egal was clearly told peace and security were needed for US assistance or international national recognition.
The government has been in conflict with Gar Hajis since October, when it pushed Gar Hajis militia out of Hargeisa airport. The clan blames Egal for ousting President Abdurahman Tour in 1993 and his Habr Awal for their defeat at Berbera in 1992. Despite heavy recruitment and arms-buying, plus negotiations, Egal has failed to get military or political solution.
Now he seems to be seeking not so much reconciliation as support from previously neutral clans. Fighting has been mainly between Garhajis and Habr Awal and Arab (both Issaq). New Fisheries Minister Mohamed Mahamoud Farah is Dolbahunta, as is Chief of Staff Colonel Abdi Ali Shire, cousin of clan garadf(sultan). Deputy Defence Minister Mohamed Ali Yussef is Warsengeli. Gadabursi appointments include Mohamed Abdi Dimbil `Galbeyti' (Foreign Affairs) and Yussef Sheikh Ibrahim `Gurab' (Posts, Telecommunicaitons and Public Works). Habr Jallo include Abdullahi Mohamed Dualeh (Presidency) and Solomon Adam Gaal (Finance), key Egal-advisor widely seen as anti-Gar Hajis. Signs of growing Arab unease with Egal may explain why Abdullahi Hussein Iman `Darawal' is Defence Minister and Jama Kheire Weis, Education.
There are Gar Hajis/ Habr Younis appointments, too: Ali Mohamed Waran-Adde (Health) and Mahamoud Mohamed Ismail (Livestock) but this will do little for reconciliation if Egal is powerless to remove figures such as Musa Bihi.
BERBERA WATER PROJECT
The Italian NGO Cooperazione Internazionale is to rehabilitate drinking water distribution network for port of Berbera, in eastern Somaliland, thanks to financing package from European Commission. The project aims to improve supplies to city of more than 35,000 inhabitants which represents country's most important port activities, with some 1.7 million heads of livestock exported annually. According to European Union's Nairobi-based representative, work under Coopi's responsibility includes cleaning and fencing city's water sources, building 9-km aqueduct to Berbera and two reservoirs to replace existing outdated installations. The project also covers completing wells drilled at Fara Dheero in1988 which are still not operational.
[ION editorial comment:]f_f Coopi is non-religious NGO headed by priest, Rev. Vincenzo Barbieri, and directed by Michele Romano. It has been working in Somaliland since 1990 and has more than twenty volunteer workers. It runs 200-bed Berbera hospital and opened surgical division there in 1992, and has plans for about dozen other projects (including one for fishing industry) in the Berbera the region. Coopi also runs Erigavo hospital east of Berbera and health centre at Borama west of Hargeisa. Its founder, Paola Giorgi, set up NGO consortium called UNA in Lombardy the region which comprises Coopi, Africa 70 (which is working at Bosaso, in North-eastern Somalia), GRT, CESVI and CAST.
PRESIDENT EGAL ANNOUNCES ACTION OVER CURRENCY IN BID TO CONTROL INFLATION
At extraordinary meeting under the chairmanship of Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of the Somaliland, the Council of Ministers heard a report from cabinet-appointed commission on problems created by inflation. After much discussion, Council of Ministers, taking into account the need to do something about commodity prices which have been rocketing due to inflation, decided that:
- The government will import rations [last word in English, meaning basic foodstuffs] and fuel immediately. The Ministry of Trade is charged with task of distributing these commodities.
- The Somaliland shilling is the only legal tender. No trader will be allowed to do business in country without using Somali shilling for buying and selling.
- Every importer is required to have the minimum of 10m Somali shillings in their bank accounts; and (b) every wholesaler should have minimum of 5m Somali shillings in their bank accounts.
- The illegal import of commodities has been banned. Import licences will be issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
- With exception of essential commodities, the import of (?luxury goods) has been banned and the Ministry of trade has been charged with the clarification and [the rest of sentence indistinct].
- Foreign organizations, non-governmental organizations and UN agencies in Somaliland are required to exchange their currencies only at Central Bank of Somaliland. The Foreign Ministry and the national Planning Ministry and the Central Bank will make sure that this regulation is adhered to.
- Somaliland traders will have three members on the Central Bank board of directors.
- In order to encourage the export of livestock, the council has resolved to establish ten companies which will be based in all regions of the Somaliland and which will be present at all livestock markets to ensure that the hard currency from livestock sales is brought back to country. The companies will exchange their hard currency at the market rates.
- The three councils [ Council of Ministers, the Council of Representatives and the Council of Elders] should make the joint appeal, as recommended by the Council of Representatives, to the world for emergency food aid:
- All these resolutions will be implemented at the presidential level.
Africa News. Sept. 11, 1995/Source:All Africa Press Service. August 31, 1995
Somalia Breakthrough As Americans Visit Somaliland
The delegation was led by senior officials from American Embassy in Djibouti. It included an official from the Somali Desk in Washington as well as USAID officials.
According to President Egal, the delegation was keen to learn problem his country faced since it broke away from Somalia in 1991. Egal said USAID had pledged food aid to his country, with a population of about 1 million people. He added that in future Somaliland's affairs "would be handled by American Embassy in Djibouti and not Nairobi where American Ambassador to Somalia resides."
President Egal expressed gratitude for the visit which he described as tentative sign of recognition of Somaliland by Washington and the rest of world. Since it was formed by series of elders' meetings in May 1991, Somaliland has attracted little attention from United States and the rest of world.
Observers believe American visit at this time is closely linked to threat by Somali factional leader Mohammed Farah Aideed to disarm Somaliland and other areas of Somalia by force within six months, if authorities in HargeIssa failed to do so. It was clear that Aideed was trying to assert his control over old "Greater Somalia" including Somaliland. The Americans are alarmed that Aideed is in process of reconstituting army. There are reports of Libya's involvement and funding for Aideed's new army.
Since its formation in 1991, Somaliland has been relatively peaceful until early 1994, when insurrection by former leader of country--before it joined a unified Somalia in 1960--began to cause instability in Somaliland.
Egal has blamed Aideed for the security problems including insurrection led by the Ahmed Tur.
Issa REBELS CLASH WITH Somaliland TROOPS
The Jibuti army has this morning been put on alert along country' s border with the Somaliland. The Jibuti authorities fear flare-up of clashes between the Somaliland army and Issa militias of United Somalia Front [untraced; in French: Front de la Somali e Unifiee]. Yesterday the militias attacked the locality of Barisle, less than five kilometres from border. According to Radio Hargeisa, two soldiers and nine militiamen were killed. The Issa rebels admit to five deaths from among their ranks and say that 31 soldiers were killed. Our reporter is Abdi Aden:
[Aden] Today the Somaliland soldiers and Issa rebels are facing each other at Tokhoshi, some 20 km from the Jibuti border, and fighting is likely to flare up anew.
The reason for fighting is to see who can win control of nine-square-kilometre the area claimed by Issa nomads, who are also demanding regional autonomy based on Boorama charter. The charter is supposed to regulate intertribal affairs in Somaliland. The government of Mohamed Ibrahim Egal does not see things that way, however. He wants to set up administration which, he says, will represent the three main tribes that live in this area bordering on Jibuti. The tribes in question are Issa, Gadaboursy and Issaq. The Somaliland Issas have categorically rejected this formula, which they suspect is ploy to manoeuvre them out of the Somaliland political arena.
Jibuti, for its part, has put its troops along the border with Somaliland on state of alert in order to prevent any fighting from spilling over border.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. July 22, 1995
Somaliland: A constitution for next year
Somaliland TROOPS ATTACK REBELS, GOVERNMENT RADIO
DJIBOUTI -Troops loyal to president of Somaliland attacked rebels in the region in the Southwest and broke through their lines, government radio said on Tuesday.
Radio Hargeisa said government troops launched massive attack on rebel positions in Southwestern Burao and immediately broke through rebel lines in fighting that lasted for several hours.
It was latest in series of confrontations since last month between President Mohamed Egal's forces and the rebels from Issaq clan, known as Somali National Movement.
A pro-government newsletter, Voice of Hargeisa, said on Tuesday rebels used mortars in weekend battle with Egal's troops at airport near Somaliland capital Hargeisa.
The newsletter said rebels were beaten back and suffered heavy losses in Saturday's battle with government troops.
It said up to 10 government soldiers were killed and 20 wounded at airport, where fighting pitting clan militiamen against president's forces in Hargeisa and the west began last November.
No comment was available from Egal, who said last November that he expected an insurrection to be put down within days...
Somaliland ARRESTS PLANE, SCANDINAVIAN DIPLOMATS
DJIBOUTI -Government troops in self-declared Somaliland have seized a light plane and its passengers, including two Scandinavian diplomats, Radio Hargeisa reported on Tuesday.
It said seven passengers and crew under arrest included diplomats Mikael Glas of Sweden and Oeyvind Nordgaren of Norway, both based in Nairobi...
Reports reaching Djibouti, quoting official Radio Hargeisa, said the King Air plane was seized by troops for "landing illegally" after it arrived from Nairobi on Monday.
The radio said the rebel militia in Somaliland, called Somali National Movement Alliance (SNMA), was forced out of positions in the Southern part of Hargeisa airport on Monday by troops loyal to President Mohamed Egal.
Without further explanation, the radio said the plane's arrest was linked to the SNM statement on Sunday night broadcast from Mogadishu, Somali capital. The radio said the statement claimed militia controlled 70 percent of Hargeisa...
Radio Hargeisa said in Monday's fighting at airport, pro-Egal forces captured the SNMA tank and destroyed one of its "technical" battle-wagons. It said three militiamen were captured while the rest fled.
One government soldier was killed and four were wounded, the radio said.
FREED NORWEGIAN SAYS FIVE STILL HELD IN Somalia
NAIROBI -A Norwegian diplomat freed in Somaliland said on Sunday five other foreigners were still held after flying in to repatriate three Somalis deported from Sweden.
Oeyvind Nordgaren, 42, a police officer with diplomatic status attached to Norway's embassy in Kenya, told reporters in Nairobi he was released on Saturday and flown to the Kenyan capital.
He said he was freed after telephone conversation between Norway's deputy foreign minister and Mohamed Egal, president of the break-away state of Somaliland, and felt sure that the talks had helped secure his release.
The foreign minister of Somaliland, which has received no international national recognition since it was set up in 1991, personally drove Nordgaren to the airport on the coast at Berbera from where he flew to Nairobi.
Nordgaren said he was held at the police compound in the Somaliland capital Hargeisa with Swedish diplomat Mikael Glas, two Kenyans and the French pilot and Italian co-pilot who flew them there last Monday.
He said they were arrested after landing in Somaliland without proper permission to repatriate three Somalis deported from Sweden. Nordgaren went on the trip because there was spare seat.
He said other five were still held and he found it hard to leave them but Sweden was conducting negotiations with representatives of Somaliland for the release of its diplomat.
Egal announced on Friday Nordgaren had been released. Asked by Norwegian television station by telephone about other detainees, he only said: "That is a different story altogether."...
"We were treated well and the food was okay," said Nordgaren, adding however they received no information and uncertainty about what was going to happen to them was worrying...
SENATORS IN the Ethiopian TOWN FOR PEACE CONFERENCE WITH OPPOSITION CLAN ELDERS
Preparations for peace conference in Harshin [in Ethiopia's the region Five] is proceeding well and without complications for Somaliland senate delegation led by the Shaykh Yusuf Shaykh Madar, Senate chairman. This was reported today by our conference correspondent, journalist Abdullahi Isma'il Fir. The Harshin peace conference is being attended by Somaliland senators and elders of the Salahley community. About 150 elders from Salahley and 25 Somaliland senators were warmly welcomed by Ali Aw Abdullahi, chairman of Harshin town, town council, Sultan Isma'il Muse, religious scholars, elders and people of Harshin...
The agenda of peace conference and manner of opening it will be discussed. The mood of Harshin people and of delegates is positive and full of optimism and hope for durable the results and understanding as keys to peace.
EGAL SAYS NEW CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN 12 MONTHS
Mohamed Egal, the president of Somaliland, said at the presidency today that process of drafting a constitution should be completed within 12 months. He said this after the session of the Somaliland parliament and meeting held by the national constitution drafting committee. The meeting was chaired by the president and discussed country's constitution. Egal said that he hoped the constitution would be wise and lasting one. He said everyone was required to express his views when asked. Foreign experts would also take part so that clear and understandable constitution would the result. He said that once constitution had been drafted, the public would be informed on the mass media and asked to comment. Thereafter the referendum would be held. The 10-man constitution drafting committee has reported on how it is carrying out its duties and what has been achieved so far.
EGAL MAKES HONOURABLE AMENDS
Somaliland's president Mohamed Egal went to Nairobi last week to meet with Kenyan-based European Union special envoy for Somalia, Sigurd Illing of Germany, who had been declared persona non grata in Somaliland one month earlier (ION No. 672). The outcome of June 15 meeting was brief communique from Egal saying that after "lengthy and constructive discussions" between president and envoy, "all outstanding differences were ironed out and mutually acceptable working relations were firmly established". It was understood that EU "intends to continue funding projects in Somaliland as long as circumstances allow" and communique added that "President Egal noted with satisfaction assurances given by Ambassador Illing that he will keep him informed about all project activities to undertaken by EU in Somaliland".
Egal said he would like to have another meeting with Illing, this time in Hargeisa, to "enhance cooperation between EU and Hargeisa Adminstration", term European Union prefers to Somaliland since it does not recognize Somaliland's sovereignty as independent state. Flights of European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) to three points in Somaliland which had been suspended were expected to resume this week. Moreover, EU technical representation office in Berbera would shortly be reopened and would then also cover the whole of Northern Somalia, including the Mejertein the region in Northeast. A similar EU office would be opened in Baidoa to cover the Southern part of Somalia...
TALKS HELD IN HARGEISA BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ETHIOPIA
Mohamed Egal, president of the Somaliland, has today received at Presidency in Hargeisa [Robin] Christopher, British ambassador to Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
The ambassador arrived in country yesterday [12th June] and the objective of his visit is to find out what they have done [unspecified] in Somaliland and to find out about the true situation in Somaliland and also to find out how we see problem of Somalia and about our organizational relations. Egal told ambassador about efforts being made by government and people of Somaliland towards tackling problems left by dictatorship era of Afweyne [former president in Somalia, Siyad Barreh]. Egal also talked about work being done to ensure security and efforts being made to settle differences peacefully...
EGAL LEAVES FOR CONFERENCE IN ZIMBABWE
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of Somaliland, has taken off from Hargeisa airport, capital, for working visit to Zimbabwe.
He was accompanied by Ail Garad Mahmud Ali, deputy minister for livestock, forestry and ranches, and they are due to attend conference to discuss ways in which governments in Africa can overcome future problems and their remedies. The conference is being attended by African heads of state and former officials. The president said he was attending the conference in official capacity and was invited by Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, and that he was required to report on affairs of Somaliland and Somalia and their problems and ways of resolving them given that the Organization of African Unity is to hold a meeting in Addis Ababa at the end of this month...
Somaliland VICE-PRESIDENT REJECTS AYDID'S ASSUMPTION OF PRESIDENCY
Abd al-Rahman Aw Ali Farah, vice-president of Somaliland, said today that self-styled president and five vice-presidents who have just been named in South Mogadishu by man called Aydid are of no concern to Somaliland.
The vice-president was briefing government press and independent journalists and clarified that this country had been independent, with its own government and assemblies, since May 1991, when our independence of 1960 was regained and declared. He said he [Aydid] was dreaming and said that it was up to the people of Somaliland to discuss their future and what action to take. He went on to say that those using name of Somaliland there [in Mogadishu] were criminals who had committed crimes against the people and the country. He described them as mercenary personalities who had been used...
CABINET APPROVES CENTRAL BANK AND GOVERNMENT BUDGET
Today's Council of Ministers' meeting approved budget of Somaliland's central bank for period between 1st April and 31st December 1995 totalling 107m [Somaliland shillings] for the five operative branches and other planned branches which have not yet opened, these latter being branches of Burco, Laascaanood, Ceerigaabo, Badhan, Saylac and Dumbuluq of Hargeisa.
The Council of Ministers in their meeting also accepted the general government budget for 1995 which totals 1,879,943,580 Somaliland shillings...
The meeting also resolved that official working hours in government offices would be [all times local] from 0700 to 1200 and 1400 to 1700 every day except Thursday, when the hours would be from 0700 to 1200. The working hours will be effective from 1st June 1995. The Council of Ministers called on officials and government workers to observe the official working hours.
DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE FIXED
The self-declared Somaliland has fixed exchange rates at US$1 to 80 Somaliland shillings. The authorities have threatened `swift action' against businessment and currency dealers who refuse to deal in Somaliland currency but continue to trade in US dollars.
The National SALVATION CONFERENCE ENDS
The Somaliland National Salvation conference, which had been taking place at parliament buildings, ended today. The conference, which lasted for more than one month, discussed many issues affecting interests and security of Somaliland's people and has come up with important resolutions which include a resolution supporting Somaliland's national pledge.
During its sessions the conference heard reports on work being carried out by the government, the Council of Elders and Council of Representatives. The conference was attended by both councils.
EGAL'S TERM EXTENDED
PEACE COMMITTEE
Somalia's former ambassador to Kenya, Hussein Ali Dualeh, who is close to Somaliland president Mohamed Egal, announced in Nairobi on May 9 creation of Peace Committee and said that peace conference would be held in Hargeisa, "probably during first week of July". The seventeen committee members include Mohamed Silanyo (Issaq, Habr Jaalo), former president of Somali National Movement who had been replaced in March 1990 by Abd-er-Rahman Ali (aka Tur), who is Issaq, Habr Yunis. The latter has come closer to general Mohamed Farah Aideed in Mogadiscio; he opposes idea of independence for Somaliland and supports rebel units fighting against president Egal.
In fighting on ground, Egal's opposition has not changed and although Somaliland goverment sources claim to control town of Burao, according to Ali Dualeh, rebel militia units are "only 15 km" from this town east of Hargeisa. Recent fighting around town is believed to have caused hundreds of casualties...
EGAL CALLS FOR PEACE
MOGADISHU -A militia leader in Somalia's Northwestern the region has called for ceasefire talks with his enemies, radio which backs him reported on Saturday.
Radio Hargeisa said Mohamed Egal, President of Somaliland, made call on Thursday that he would welcome any form of negotiations to end disputes which have beset the region since he took over from Adurahman Ahmed Ali in 1993.
Thousands turned out to hear Egal speak in the regional capital Hargeisa on fourth anniversary of Somaliland's secession from the rest of country, it said...
ANSWER FROM OPPOSITION
MOGADISHU -An opposition group in the state of Somaliland said on Sunday it would keep up its campaign to overthrow Mohamed Ebrahim Egal as president of the self-declared Somaliland.
General Jama Mohamed Ghalib, a lieutenant of Somali national Movement (SNM) leader Abdurahman Ahmed Ali Tur, rejected Egal's recent call for a ceasefire.
"Unless Egal steps down, fighting will continue," Ghalib said.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia and declared itself independent in 1991.
Ghalib said the SNM did not support the coming peace conference in Somaliland, adding that Egal controlled only a third of country's the area.
"We control Somaliland's second biggest town, Burao, and most of outskirts of capital, Hargeisa."
Ghalib said his group wanted Somaliland to rejoin the rest of Somalia because it had not achieved international national recognition as separate state.
The anti-Egal groups seized control of most of Hargeisa last November, but Egal later claimed they had been driven out.
EU ENVOY DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA
MOGADISHU -The president of the Somaliland has declared European Union's representative Sigurd Illing persona non grata and banned him from visiting Somaliland, Hargeisa radio, monitored in Mogadishu, said on Sunday.
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal was quoted as saying: "I regret that we must end our relations, however tenuous, with European Community because of conduct of their representative."
The radio said Egal had issued statement declaring Illing persona non grata and had banned him from entry.
Somali sources said Egal was angered by Illing's recent arrival in the port of Berbera without prior consultation to discuss with local leaders the European-funded plan to rehabilitate port...
ILLING SAYS "GET IT RIGHT"
The European Union's Nairobi-based representative in Somalia, Sigurd Illing of Germany, replied on May 17 to letter sent him three days earlier by five major NGOs (CARE, Handicap international national, Oxfam, Save the Children, Swiss Group) to protest against his decision to suspend all flights by the Echo agency to Berbera, Borama and Kalabayd in Somaliland. The step, which followed Somaliland president Ibrahim Mohamed Egal's action in breaking off relations with EU (ION No. 672), was judged irresponsible by the NGOs in view of the need for security of voluntary agency personnel blocked in Somaliland. To prove their determination to clear out abscess, they sent the copy of their letter to Illing to EU headquarters in Brussels, which promptly asked him to supply the explanation. Britain's minister for overseas development, Baroness Lynda Chalker, also protested about Illing's suspension of Echo flights to Somaliland during recent EU meeting.
Replying to the NGOs' missive, Sigurd Illing wrote of " considerable surprise if not consternation" that letter had provoked. He reminded them that aircraft wearing EU colours had been targetted over Hargeisa airport on May 2 by ground forces and termed suspension of Echo flights as the responsibility of " Hargeisa administration that had issued information about the `banning' of European Union". Describing NGO accusation of "irresponsibility" as "intolerable", he regretted that EU technical representation office in Berbera had been closed down and said he was "particularly concerned with inevitable disruption in rehabilitation programme that Egal's attitude towards the EU has caused".
In another letter, addressed to The Indian Ocean Newsletter on May 31, Sigurd Illing recalled that Richard McCall of USAID was currently the acting chairman of Somalia Aid Coordination Body and that he himself was chairman of SACB's standing and executive committees, the bodies with special responsibility for security matters. Illing said that the code of conduct for rehabilitation and development assistance in Somalia had been adopted "unanimously" by SACB members on February 26 and pointed out that "no member has so far denounced it publicly". Finally, he considered that "temporary" suspension of Echo flights into Somaliland would be "lifted" as soon as the Hargeisa administration had "provided an adequate security guarantee"...
PRESIDENT TELLS UN OFFICIAL AID AGENCIES DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of Somaliland, has received at the presidency in Hargeisa Earl Dyson [phonetic], the coordinator of UN humanitarian aid and UNDP [UN Development Programme] representative, who arrived in country today. Egal briefed him on manner in which Somaliland government wishes UN agencies and international national bodies to work together. The president drew attention to weaknesses of those operating in Somaliland, saying they habitually did whatever they pleased, hence behaving like Unosom [UN Operation in Somalia]. He said it was necessary for operations of agencies to benefit Somaliland, whereas at present what they were doing did more harm than good. Egal said any agency failing to observe the government's laws on coordinated action would have to leave. He said: We know what we want and this government is prepared to cooperate with any agency, but the agency must seek guidance from government on nature of help we need...
Dyson said agencies were prepared to cooperate with Somaliland government, which had right to be informed about budgets and projects of every agency. He said the government of Somaliland would be represented on the technical committee which would evaluate projects undertaken in Somaliland by UNDP and [word indistinct]. The government would thus gain access to information concerning benefits extended through projects undertaken by the agencies, and on costs incurred...
TREASON TRIAL OPENS IN HARGEISA
Official hearing of the cases against those accused of plotting against the state has opened at regional court in Hargeisa. Ahmad Hasan Asi was brought to court today and accused of being a member of SDA [Somali Democratic Alliance] and of attending so-called [Somali National Alliance] conference in Southern Mogadishu. Prosecution was carried out by the national attorney-general. The trials of Jama Mohamed Ghalib and others accused of treason will follow.
Agence France Presse. April 20, 1995
Somaliland president's two-year term extended
The radio said the decision was reached at the meeting in Hargeisa of members of Somaliland's House of Representatives and House of Senators, majority of whom voted to extend Egal's term.
According to radio, some senators had proposed that the term be extended for 22 months, while others called for only 12 months extension, but all later compromised on 18 months.
During meeting, the senators (chief clan elders) who support Egal said president's efforts were necessary for Somaliland, especially during this crucial period, a reference to a recent bloody fighting between Egal's supporters and militia supporting his predecessor Abdulrahman Ahmed Tur, currently residing in Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The Somaliland parliamentary speaker who chaired session, Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf Madar, said after vote that measure was taken to "safeguard the dignity and the integrity" of Somaliland, the mainly arid former Northern Somalia the region.
But Ismail Mohamed Hurre "Buubaa", the number two in Somali national Movement (SNM) led by Egal's predecessor Tur, now based in South Mogadishu, described Egal's re-election as "unworkable, undemocratic and irresponsible.
"The subterfuge meeting of Egal's ragtag elders had no legal basis as they don't represent any community in Somaliland," Buubaa charged.
Addressing newsmen here, Buubaa warned the elders and people of Somaliland to fully differentiate between social crises and the political process, and declared: "The political leadership is for the political factions in North, while the elders should only deal with social problems."
Buubaa, whose SNA faction is currently allied to South Mogadishu warlord General Mohamed Farah Aidid, reiterated that conference will soon be held to form administration for Somaliland, but did not specify venue and time it would be held.
"Egal's military campaign has failed as they have been driven out in Burao, they are encircled in the capital Hargeisa, people in Borma have taken up arms against them and they have no presence in the rest of Somaliland," Buubaa declared, adding that "our forces are fighting for the unity of Somalia".
Egal's opponent stressed that his faction in Mogadishu was actively engaged in efforts to narrow differences between factions in South Somalia in order to maintain unity of whole Somalia, view Egal has flatly rejected and said "Somaliland will never have anything to do with the rest of Somalia."
"We are talking heavily to General Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mohamed, who heads rival faction in North Mogadishu, and we are confident we will eliminate their differences to find key solution for Somalia's political debacle," Buubaa added.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK IN BERBERA DISTRICT PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY
Hasan Ali Diriyeh Henry, Berbera District administrator-general, who is also minister of state for foreign affairs, has said administrative operations in Berbera district are proceeding smoothly. He told Radio Hargeisa that administrative operations and social services were functioning normally, adding that work of various government departments in district was constantly supervised. Henry said collection of government taxes had officially been resumed, while police force in the area had been reorganized, trimmed and streamlined. He said of district's 440 police officers only 200 had been retained, because security in Berbera town had improved.
HOLDING ON IN Somaliland
After shaky period when fighting broke out last October, Somaliland's President Mohamed Egal is in charge again. He is now confidently talking of extending his two-year mandate, which runs out in May, fourth anniversary of Somaliland's and still unrecognised independence. A few months ago, Egal was protesting that he wouldn't want to stand for re-election; now he argues that his continued presence is needed to solve current political problems and bring fighting to end. Few of his countrymen agree.
This year, Egal finally mustered sufficient money and arms to go on offensive against rebel militia unit from Eidegalla sub-clan which had refused to join his national army. Having controlled Hargeisa airport for 18 months, extracting payment (usually US$20) from all those arriving and departing, militia had taken exception to being expelled from airport last October. A month later, after government forces had seized its 32 artillery pieces, the militia attacked central Hargeisa, sparking off nearly two months of spasmodic clashes. Tens of thousands of people fled capital, leaving its centre virtually empty, until Egal's army drove the intruders away.
The possibility of full-scale clan war loomed. Much of opposition to Egal since he took power in May 1993 has come from Eidegalla and their close allies, Habr Yunis. Both groups belong to Gar Hajis clan of Issaq clan family. The stakes were raised when political opponents of Egal appeared in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, last year, speaking out against Somaliland independence and calling for federal arrangement with the rest of Somalia. Particularly significant and vocal were Egal's predecessor as Somaliland President, Abdurahman `Tour' (Habr Yunis), and former Somalia police chief General Jama Ghelib (Eidegalla), Egal's opponent and critic for nearly forty years.
Gen. Mohamed Farah `Aydeed' exploited this dissent to advance his own political ambitions in South and quickly flew arms and ammunition up to small airfields outside Hargeisa. His main opponent in Mogadishu, Ali Mahdi Mohamed, in turn offered Egal political backing, though seemingly no arms. Like most Southern leaders, both Aydeed and Ali Mahdi say they want the united Somalia (AC Vol 35 No 11)--line oft repeated by the U.N.. Yet none have the will or the means to try to reunite country by force...
Meanwhile, Egal has been acquiring arms--mainly Kalashnikovs and ammunition, it seems. He says he bought these from Albania, which flew them in urgently. According to Egal, North Korea agreed to supply arms but refused to send them by air. The new weapons allowed him to go on offensive in January. He was able to increase his national army to over 3,000 men, composed of militias from his own Habr Awal and other groups, notably Gadabursi/Dir and Arab ( Issaq sub-group). The Eidegalla militia, although driven away from Hargeisa, is likely to continue guerrilla activity. Egal's opponents in Nairobi and Mogadishu say its numbers are increasing; government maintains it has only 300 or so men.
Nevertheless, government is finally managing to get negotiations going with some of dIssatisfied clans. In February, Rer Isahaaq, Habr Yunis sub-clan which had been involved in some of last year's fighting, was reconciled with government after 25-day meeting of elders. Significantly, its 360-strong militia, which had operated along main road from Hargeisa to port of Berbera, then agreed to serve in the national army which Egal has set up. Other Habr Yuniss elders from Burao (Tour's home town), where inter-clan tensions have been high, were also talking to Egal by mid-February, before end of Ramadan.
The government has consistently protrayed the conflict as a political confrontation between supporters of federalism and of independence. Clan power struggles are more convincing cause. There is no doubt that the vast majority of people in Somaliland want continued independence. Tour's advocacy of federalism and his support from Aydeed have not gone down well. However, rejection of the opposition's political arguments does not necessarily translate into support for Egal to continue as President.
Yet Egal's achievements are considerable. He has created functioning administration, including police, judiciary, army and civil service. A committee was set up in October to decide on civil service numbers for central government and for regional and district councils that are now being set up--2,500 is likely total. Crucially, Egal has managed to pay present staff of these institutions.
Government revenue comes from fast growing trade through Berbera, much of it destined for Ethiopia, and from taxes on lucrative trade in qat, the highly popular narcotic leaf. Two lorry loads and 12 jeeps full of qat arrive in Hargeisa daily; several qat planes supply Boroma, Berbera and other towns. The government also made big profits by changing the currency last year. New notes, printed abroad for some US$1.4 million, are now circulating well in Somaliland, at rate of one new Somaliland shilling to 100 old Somali shillings. The old notes were recalled by government but not destroyed. Instead, they were sold to merchants (upsetting some aspiring buyers as most went to members of Egal's own Habr Awal clan). The purchasers paid in dollars, thereby helping to finance the war, which Egal said had cost three million dollars by end of January. The merchants were, of course, able to use the cheaply acquired shillings, as they remain legal currency in Somalia and in Ethiopia's Somali the region, the region Five...
Although Egal's position is currently strong, the extension of his mandate would be controversial. He is currently ruling by decree under 1994 state of emergency. He has hinted that the 75-strong assembly of elders and the clan-appointed members of the lower house of parliament might renew this for six months or even longer. A short extension might be acceptable if unpopular. Another possibility is for the larger national Assembly of elders, the national Guurti, to meet again, as it did at Boroma in 1993 when Egal was chosen as president, and simply renew government for two more years. This would again be highly controversial. Several personalities from different clans might expect to be candidates, among them former Somali national Movement Chairman Ahmed Silanyo and Education Minister Suleiman Gaal, who is currently in charge in Burao (both Habr Jallo); Hussein Ali Duale `Awil', former Ambassador to Kenya and now in Nairobi or Osman Jama, former minister under President Siad Barre (both Habr Yunis); ex-Prime Minister Omar Arteh, who stood against Egal in 1993, or Ibrahim Meygag Samatar, leading SNM intellectual (both Habr Awal). There is widespread feeling that, if he persists in trying to stay on in power, he will put at risk everything he has achieved over last two years.
Issa MILITIAS IN CLASHES
DJIBOUTI -...Clansmen of the Issa attacked militias loyal to Mohamed Egal, President of the unrecognised Somaliland, at the hamlet of Barisle on Wednesday, said reports reaching neighbouring Djibouti.
Egal's militias repulsed the the Issa, but up to 10 men on both sides were killed...
Somaliland and Djibouti rely heavily on each other for their economic well-being. Somali businessmen use Djibouti money lenders and there is lucrative cross-border trade.
Somalis said that the conflict stems from Egal's attempts to assert his power in multi-ethnic Somaliland, in particular authority he has given for his followers to administer and collect levies in the region.
This meant that Issa clansmen were ousted from controlling taxation of trade in border areas near the town of Zeila.
ABOUT 60 KILLED IN FIGHTING IN BURAO
DJIBOUTI -An estimated 60 gunmen were killed in battles between rival clan militias on Tuesday in town in Northwestern Somalia, residents said on Thursday.
Speaking to Reuters in Djibouti by radio, the residents said 50 of the dead in Burao town were fighters of the Gar Hajis clan alliance and 10 were loyal to Mohamed Egal, leader of the Somaliland in the Northwest.
They said fighting broke out on Tuesday when Gar Hajis gunmen attacked Egal'