That Freedom Shall not Perish
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Agence France Presse, March 13, 2001
Ethiopian Airlines to start flights to Somaliland
The announcement on follows an appeal by the head of the region, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, when he visited Addis Ababa in November, asking Ethiopian authorities to introduce flights to Hargeisa and the port city of Berbera.
Since the beginning of the war with Eritrea, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti and -- to a lesser extent -- Berbera for conducting external trade.
Somaliland remains unrecognised by the international community 10 years after it split from the rest of Somalia after the fall of president Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.
The region's authorities continue to deny the legitimacy of the head of Somalia's national government of transition Abdoulkassim Salat Hassan -- elected in August.
The move also follows an agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland to open a subsidiary of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Hargeisa and an office of the Ethiopian national sea carrier in the self-proclaimed independent state.
The EAL flights will be twice weekly, the company announced.
Agence France Presse, March 13, 2001
UN's Somalia envoy fails in peace bid with breakaway Somaliland
Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, self-styled president of Somaliland, and some of his ministers met with Stephen for more than an hour in the territory's main city Hargeisa but insisted that that it is "not part of Somalia," the UN envoy told reporters after the talks.
A new peace process begun in Arta, in neighboring Djibouti, is backed by the international community and led last August to the formation of a national transition government and the election of a transition president, Abdoulkassim Salat Hassan.
Stephen, special envoy of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said the Arta process "must be completed."
He said discussions would continue with Somaliland officials, but that the international community favored unity for the Horn of Africa country, which has not had a central government since the 1991 ouster of the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
Stephen said Egal opposed the peace process and did not change his position, instead demanding recognition for Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia 10 years ago.
The Somaliland press has branded the UN envoy as persona non grata and President Egal early this month asked Annan to recall him.
Stephen said that some "misunderstandings have been cleared up and I am very happy to be here."
The special envoy will head for Djibouti and for Mogadishu, where he will meet President Salat and possibly faction leaders who will have returned to the Somali capital from Addis Ababa where they are trying to forge a united front towards the transition government.
The UN Security Council met on January 11 during which it backed the Arta process and urged further consultations to resolve 10 years of inter-clan warfare.
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/ Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Egal allows David Stephen to come to Somaliland
On May 2000 a conference inspired by Djibouti dictator Ismail Omer Gelleh, the UN, Italian government and a number of Arab governments, was held in Arta, Djibouti, ostensibly to resolve the conflict in "Somalia". David Stephen was among the prominent architects of the Arta conference, which ended in August with the endorsement of Siyad Barre's minister for life Abdi-Qassim to become president of the former Somalia. This has been one of the rare cases when in the most recent arena the international community was fooled to bring personalities suspected of committing extensive war crimes against their own people, back to power. According to information obtained by this paper, David Stephen has been bribed by the Italian Ambassador to Mogadishu, Senior Scortino, in order to conduct a disinformation campaign in favour of the Italian government. However prominent Italian nationals working for aid agencies operating in the former Somalia are known to have rejected similar offers from officials of their own government.
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/ Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Somaliland heroine Amina Malko dies (1962-2001)
Amina Malko died after a long fight with cancer. Somalilanders all over the world mourned her death and paid tribute. She is remembered as a strongly dedicated advocate not only for the cause of Somaliland but also for the rights of immigrants and refugees in Canada. She was the spokeswoman for the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) where she was considered as a " role model with intense commitment to improve the conditions for immigrants and refugees".
Amina Malko also cared about the future of the free press in Somaliland. During her last days, she was involved in a fund-raising campaign to assist Jamhuuriyaand the Republican newspapers, the only two independent publications in Somaliland, overcome their financial distress. Amina is survived by a 19 years old daughter, Haifa.
Kent has cautiously warned international organizations, operating in Somaliland not to ignore the jurisdiction of the Arta faction over fiscal and legal matters in all over the former Somalia. The plan requiring employees of international organisations to pay income tax has been part of an over-all effort by the Somaliland government to raise money to compensate for over 10 million US Dollars in revenues expected to be lost during this fiscal year as result of the ban imposed on Somaliland livestock exports to Gulf countries. Since the ban began on last Sept, Somaliland Ministry of finance has taken measures to curb expenditure and rationalize financial management within government departments.
Meanwhile, UN secretary [General] Kofi Anan is expected to send a UN "Mission of peace building" to Mogadishu to help bolster the Arta faction which has so far failed to establish its authority outside the few blocks it controls in Mogadishu. The "UN peace mission", expected to establish a quasi-military, political and financial presence in Mogadishu will only recognize the authority and legitimacy of Abdi Qassim Salat's Arta faction, reports reaching Hargeisa have indicated.
The so-called UN peace-building mission is seen by many observers as a reinvention of the UNISOM intervention which ended disastrously in 1995. These observers believe that the new UN mission is more likely to raise the current tension in Mogadishu much higher rather than contributing to the restoration of peace. The mission is also seen with eyes of suspicion in peaceful areas in the former Somalia such as Somaliland, Puntland and Rehanwein settlements. In Somaliland, there is a deep worry that the new UN move, might slacken Somaliland's growing momentum toward democratization
Among the prominent speakers on the occasion were Edna Adan and Shukri Haji Ismail. Four women members of the were also present during the celebration at the University of Hargeisa. Apparently it was the first time that these women have physically met. They lived abroad for at least the last 15 years and it was explosively emotional scene to watch for those who never left home, when the four Diaspora women hugged each other for the first time. Qania Ismail Adan later gave a speech on behalf of the Forum. She spoke about the 's background but drove the audience to tears when she mentioned the death of Amino-Malko, the Chairperson of the , Amina passed away on March 2, 2001 in Canada.
Excerpts from speech given by Edna Adan on international women's day:
As a woman, I am proud to point out the responsible role the women of Somaliland have always taken, specially during the harsh years that our people were struggling to rid themselves of the troops of Mohamed Siyad Barre, and from his yoke of oppression. Have we already forgotten how our women took care of the young and the old, the weak and the strong, the sick and the healthy? Do we need to be reminded of how our women took care of the brave as well as caring for the occasional coward?
It was mostly women who took care of supplies, who took care of rations and who also took care of other precious logistics that needed to be guarded by individuals who are reliable and who are responsible. Women contributed their money and their jewellery for the cause of the nation, and many a man is alive today because when there were no bandages, luckily there was a woman who selflessly tore up her clothes to dress his wounds. Perhaps some men will come forward to tell us about how women carried them from the battlefront to the safety that gave them the chance to live and to heal in order to fight another day.
In the case of our own country, how can we overlook the national goal and dream that every Somalilander has had for the past ten years, which is the International recognition of Somaliland as a Sovereign State? Perhaps this is the cause that should bring us together and remind us that the joint efforts and contributions of all men and women of this country are needed now more than ever. This is a national cause that is as important as the armed liberation struggle of the last decade. To achieve this national goal, every man and every woman in Somaliland should be allowed to exercise his or her Democratic Rights in decision-making without bias, prejudice or discrimination as clearly stated in our constitution. Every man and every woman has a wealth of experience and energy to give and both should be allowed to share in decision making since the consequences of failure would affect us all. When we speak of decision-making, it does not imply that women take over the decision-making organs of the nation.
Every citizen is required to make a contribution, and it is unfair and unwise to assume that the one half of the population of Somaliland who are women are all useless morons who have nothing to contribute and therefore, cannot take part in any decision making. If this is the case, then how is it that while men are chewing away the resources of their families, women have now become the breadwinners in over 60% of the households?
This situation exists in towns as well as in the countryside because men are steadily ignoring their traditional responsibilities. What the women of Somaliland are strongly appealing for is that their Government also stand firm to defend the Rights of its women and include them in decision-making, whether at the grassroots level, in the civil service, in Governments, and up to every other level where responsible men and women of integrity should be chosen on their individual merit and not simply on the basis of their gender.
Col. Abdirizak Mulis was operation officer of Puntland's police force. Recently he was given an special assignment to combat human trafficking operations from Bosaso to Yemen. The situation in Bosaso has been reported tense after the killing.
Short list: London Beauty Salon for their beautiful cake designs.
Last year's winner was: Horn pictures. This year's prize: A fax machine donated by STC. Short list: The de-mining organizations for their continued contribution to the security of Somaliland's children and the return of land to productive use.
London Beauty Salon for their continued diversification of services from external catering, and hairdressing. The Horn Business Consultants who, with the assistance of MAPPS, have put together a new and much needed service to help Somaliland's business community to grow. Ministry of Water and Natural Resources, for their promotion of the Gem stone sector, and their initiative as the only ministry to participate in this Trade Fair
Winner: The winner is the Ministry of Water and Natural resources, this is not only a prize for the ministry but also all the Gem stone associations who have been so prominent at this trade fair.
Last year's winner was: Asli Mills. This year's prize: One return ticket to Dubai donated by Star Airlines. This was the most difficult prize to award and shows that the business community both at the top level and micro level are showing increased imagination.
Short list: Soap and Knitting products produced by some of the Women's groups present at the trade fair. Many of the cosmetic products produced by both Asli Mills and Safi Cosmetics, both of these companies have showed incredible drive and a high standard of professionalism and presentation. Danish Refugee Council's low cost construction materials, after food, construction materials are Somaliland's second largest import; the growth of this industry will do much to help the national economy. The fuel-efficient stoves, whose introduction has the possibility to reduce the consumption of charcoal massively and therefore, prevent the continued destruction of trees in Somaliland; TOWFIIQ women's organization from Togdheer, for their reintroduction of traditional weaving.
Winner: The winner was TOWFIIQ for their introduction of weaving products. This product has the potential of reducing cloth imports, production of high quality cloth and creating many jobs.
Last year's winner was: Hodan Wabere. This year's prize: A computer donated by BTEC. Short list: Danish Refugee Council, for the time and effort that they placed in the construction of their stand; NOW Women's organization for the construction and presentation of their Aqal.
Winner: NOW for all the time and effort that they have undertaken in preparation for this trade fair.
The Awarding committed would like to introduce a new prize for next year's show. This prize will open a new category and be given to the best traditional product.
And after the Arta conference culminated in August last year, as had been rightly predicted by most Somalilanders, with the proclamation of a unity and centralized government for the former Somalia, Stephen has gone publicly to vow bringing Somaliland to its knees within a short time.
Stephen has since antagonized most of people in the former Somalia that he has been claiming to save from themselves. His record of vicious lies about Somaliland and other peaceful areas in Somalia need not be searched in another place than in his reports to Kofi Annan. In fact in his most recent situational report to the Security Council on Somalia, Kofi Annan has shocked all Somalilanders when he falsely claimed that the killing of Col. Osman Farah Mohamed, commander of Somaliland's Presidential guards, by a disgruntled security guard in mid last year, was politically motivated. According to Annan's interpretation, the late officer was killed allegedly "for opposing the forcible deportation of Majerten leaders who wished to travel to Arta". This dreadful lie has of course been fabricated with the intention of prompting Col Osman Farah Mohamed's clan to take a violent retaliatory action. Therefore the recent resolution by the Somaliland House of Representatives, banning president Egal's Administration from making any contacts with Stephen, has come in the right direction.
This dignified step has actually interpreted the true feelings held by most Somalilanders. It will be a disgrace for all Somaliland if Stephen were allowed to set foot on Somaliland soil. We hope that president Egal should bear in mind that he would be committing treason if he permits Stephen to come to this Land.
The OAU has its led Sahel Sahara organization is making noises and causing discord in the OAU. Sudan and Djibouti are members of the Sahel Sahara organization. They are also members of the OAU. Members of the Sahel Sahara, along with other countries, are putting pressure on OAU. Egypt is one of these countries. It will soon be admitted as a full member to the organization at its meeting in Khartoum. Together with others, it is exerting pressure on the secretary-general of the OAU to give recognition to the Arta faction and to convince African states to do the same. No one has accorded it recognition yet as the decision to make Somalia's seat vacant in the OAU as a result of its becoming without government was given by the council of Ministers and this same organ must decide on accepting this faction. The secretary-general is being urged to write a letter to communicate this fact to each member state. Ethiopia, in this regard, is, in a reserved manner, making it clear events that are worrying it. Countries like Nigeria and South Africa have adopted a cautious approach concerning the issue and view Ethiopia's position with understanding.
Second, half of the Arta faction are followers of the Alisila fundamentalist group. The other half is composed of Siad Barre's generals and followers of his defunct regime. The manner in which the problems of Somalia is being solved is totally undemocratic. It is proceeding in the mainframe of the old Somalia. Instead of adopting a realistic solution, it is concentrating on force and a confrontational approach. This, therefore, has given rise to the fear that the region will be engulfed in turmoil. In this connection, if the Arta faction doesn't include or try to include peaceful areas in the peace process and destabilize these areas, it will eventually destabilize Ethiopia also. This is very dangerous to Ethiopia's security. If the [Arta] faction causes Somalia's problems to worsen, returns Somalia to instability, it will ruin the relative peace Ethiopia has gained.
The other point which can be raised in this respect is the errors observed in the approach employed by the Djibouti leadership. It favored those groups sharing similar interests with Djibouti and failed to take into account Ethiopia's national interests. These groups have connections with "Islamists". They don't care much for democratic solutions. The path which they usually take doesn't address Ethiopia's security concerns. Based on this consideration, Ethiopia wants the scope of the peace process to widen so that it is inclusive of others including the peaceful areas of Somalia and the Arta faction now ensconced in Mogadishu and to see a peaceful settlement of Somalia's problems. However, it cannot bury its head in the sand [if its] security is threatened. It may even be forced to take measures to avert such a problem.
Puntland and Somaliland have refused to give recognition to the national transitional government of Somalia which is the outcome of the Arta conference. They consider the president just as a representative of the Hawiya faction (tribe). Somaliland has declared that it will not participate in any government unless an independent one is formed in southern Somalia. Puntland also didn't participate in the Arta conference. It's got its own territory. There are major regional setups which include all clans though they didn't take part in the conference. Public opinion in Somaliland is against the Arta faction. In Puntland 90% of the population more or less is constituted of a certain sub-cland apart from Isse Mohamud, others don't have much support there. The leaders in the Sasah and the South-west have been divided. Those in Digl and Mirif, near Baidoa, also oppose the Arta faction. If the faction has any support, it is people around Hawiya who do so. There is even division among the Hawiya themselves. The president is claiming he represents Somalia as a government while holed up in the Ramadan Hotel. He doesn't control any other ground.
Djibouti has not given due consideration to Ethiopia's security needs. As a consequence of the character and stand of its leadership Djibouti was instrumental in creating the government in Mogadishu without taking into consideration Ethiopia's security as well as a lasting solution to the Somali conflict. The government, however, doesn't have the support of the Somali people as such.
Djibouti helps the new government in Mogadishu for the sake of its own interests. Together with the businessmen of Mogadishu, Djibouti, with the diplomatic encouragement of organizations like the Arab League, OIC and the Sahel Sahara organization, is calling upon the new government to be recognized.
Ethiopia and Djibouti had an excellent relationship until recently. However, things have changed and their relations have been strained.
Before the establishment of the transitional government, Ethiopia was, at times, forced to intervene militarily in Somalia. How do you view this?
This can be considered from two perspectives. When Ethiopia was at war with Eritrea, anti-Ethiopia elements supported by Aideed caused a security threat near its border with Somalia. But, they were crushed after a military intervention. The thinking and policy of the current government in Somalia, however, poses a big threat to Ethiopia though it lacks the basic capacity to do so.
We hear that apart from political and security interests, there are also economic interests which should impel good relationship between Ethiopia and Djibouti. This fact seems to be neglected by the leadership in Djibouti.
The two countries had a strong tie in terms of politics, security and economy. This is long-standing and it should be long lasting as well. But the current administration in Djibouti seems to have lost its way. There is no administration with coherent and well defined vision and agenda regarding security in the region. That should be the main concern for Ethiopia. Djibouti cannot afford to indulge itself in a row with Ethiopia. The current administration has, however, gotten off on the wrong foot. It follows the direction set by Arab countries. It has failed to give full credit and recognition to the security and economic benefits it gets from Ethiopia. When we examine the recent incident pertaining to the port, for example, that government looks like a tool for Arab countries.
Djibouti's policy is designed in consideration of the status of Somaliland. Considering the historical animosity with Isa tribes, an independent Somaliland will be inimical to Djibouti as it will became a strong state. The policy is a result of wrong considerations and assessments by the current government. Whether Djibouti is protected by France or helped by Arabs, it wouldn't fully satisfy its economic interests without having friendly relationship with Ethiopia.
From what we are looking, the Somali government doesn't seem to hold its breath for the prospect of establishing good relationship with Ethiopia.
That is right. They have lost their hope. They seem to be attracted by the prospect of getting financial aid from Arab countries and diplomatic recognition from different countries. They are waging an anti-Ethiopia campaign not because Ethiopia is hurting them. What Ethiopia is doing is to closely scrutinize and evaluate the situation. The campaign was started to entrench an anti-Ethiopian sentiment in the fabric of Somalis.
We are, at the moment, witnessing a very disturbing relationship between Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. There are some problems with Sudan as well. We also know what happened between Ethiopia and Kenya near Borena. Don't you think all these troubles put Ethiopia in a great danger? What is the solution?
Ethiopia should use its forces fully. Ethiopia has a military might. It knows its role in the region. Of course, the problems is its poverty. We haven't fully defeated Eritria because of our economic problems.
There are two choices here. The first is that Ethiopia should use its forces to safeguard its national security. But it can also solve problems peacefully and responsibly. The problem with kenya, for instance, can be solved with mutual understanding. There is no problem with the Kenyan government.
Ethiopia should clearly tell Djibouti that though it has a problem of port, it can't negotiate its national security. With Eritrea, the problem will be enduring. Although UN peacekeepers have started deploying, the problem will last long. On one hand, the Eritrean government doesn't want us to get aid from donors. It doesn't want the world to think that peace has finally reigned. On the other hand, it will try to wreak havoc to show to the Eritrean people that it hasn't lost the war. The relationship with Sudan is a good start. It should develop into the military, strategic, and economic front as well.
Tell us about the fate of Puntland amidst such a situation.
Puntland is very strong. It supports Ethiopia's position. There is a cause for worrying though. Puntland may follow a wrong road in fear of Djibouti. But so far it has not shown any sign of hatred to wards Ethiopia.
Britain and Italy, the two former colonizers, claim that they should have some say over Somalia. Do you support Ethiopia's position?
Definitely. The building block approach followed by IGAD is the brain-child of Ethiopia. Both the US and EU support this approach. Britain and Italy have also lent their support. The problem is that there is a new government and they are saying that it should be given a chance.
There has been considerable speculation in Somaliland about the date of the referendum and general elections, after a second
deadline was passed in February by the present administration. "Once the referendum is over, and the constitution is approved, then
the rest is a matter of routine," Egal said. General elections would then follow for local government, which would inaugurate the
multiparty system, Egal said. The government would authorise the registration of political organisations before political parties were
officially introduced. Egal told IRIN that Somaliland would "borrow from the Nigeria experience" in that any political organisation that
won a minimum of 20 percent of the vote in at least four of the six regions in the country would qualify as a legitimate political party.
"These will be the parties that will stand in the general elections for parliament towards the end of 2001. Then, in 2002, there will be
the presidential elections," he said in an interview with IRIN in Hargeysa.
In an interview in Hargeisa, he told IRIN that the Somaliland government had been forced to use all its resources to maintain the
public sector, and that development projects needed support by international agencies. Livestock is Somaliland's main foreign
exchange earner.
He said international recognition for Somaliland would help, but "we are not in a hurry". (For full interview, see IRIN interview with
Mohamed Said Mohamed "Gees")
The visit to Somalia by a team of veterinarians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which took place last week is considered a step
forward in attempts to reopen the livestock market following a Rift Valley Fever ban imposed last September by the Gulf States.
A mission report by Paul Rossiter for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said that given the fact that there had been no
reported cases of RVF outbreak anywhere in the Horn of Africa recently, the chance of "an animal infected with RVF virus entering
the human food chain in the abattoirs in Somalia must be practically insignificant at present." Rossiter, who accompanied the
mission, told IRIN that the trip was "extremely successful". "This is a step in the right direction to open up the markets," he added.
The aim of the visit was to look at the health situation of livestock and the condition of processed meat in Somalia. The team also
wanted to ascertain whether Somali livestock were free from RVF. The alleged presence of the disease has led to a
crippling ban on livestock imports from the Horn of Africa by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, imposed in September 2000.
The team visited Burao in the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, northwest Somalia; Galkayo in the self-declared
autonomous region of Puntland, northeast Somalia, and the capital, Mogadishu, where they inspected abattoirs. "The abattoirs in
Galkayo and Mogadishu are currently at a standard that could supply export meat if markets are available", said the report.
Andrea Tamagnini, Senior Deputy Residence Representative, UNDP, Somalia, said the mission "was one of many steps in efforts on
lifting the livestock ban and addressing the RVF issue". Promoting chilled meat was a way of coping with the livestock ban, and also
added value to the livestock, he told IRIN.
HARGEISA--Edna Adan Ismail has spent 40 years fighting for the rights of Somali women, and at the age of 60-something shows no signs of
giving up the struggle as she builds the first maternity hospital in the northwestern district of Somaliland.
"It's inhuman, condemned by Islam, painful, harmful to health and a human rights violation," Ismail said of a practice undergone by
some 95 percent of women in Somalia.
Ismail was born into a well-to-do family and in 1961 became the first woman from her country to qualify as a midwife in Britain and
the first in Somaliland -- which unilaterally broke away from rump Somalia in 1991 -- to gain a driver's licence.
She was once married to Somalia's former prime minister Mohamed Ibrahim Egal -- who now serves as president of the
self-declared Republic of Somaliland -- but divorced him to marry twice more.
Ismail has served as director of the Somali health ministry and has been to jail three times.
Having quit her post as representative of the World Health Organisation in Djibouti three years ago, she describes herself as retired
even as, decked out in elegant traditional garb, she coordinates the bustling activity at the building site that will soon become the
maternity hospital.
Ismail is also concerned about the negative effects female genital mutilation has on pregnancy in a country with the highest infant
mortality rate in the world.
In Somaliland, one child in eight dies before its first birthday, one in five before its fifth. Every year, almost 4,000 women die during
childbirth, Ismail said.
An office in the ward is given over to female genital mutilation where women will be able to have consultations and read pretty much
everything that has been written on the subject.
"My family hardly appreciates what I am doing," said Ismail, who is planning an international symposium on the practice.
She herself put up half of the 620,000 dollars invested in the ward. The rest came from international donations.
"Others take retirement by buying a yacht or travelling. I sold what I had, my jewels ... to build this hospital which will be a reference
for the Horn of Africa. ... My only revenue now comes from renting the family's house in Hargeisa to the European Union," she said.
About 40 young women are already taking a course in nursing in parts of the building that are finished. There is still work to be done
on the lobby, operating theatres, wards and laboratories, as well as the rooms in which Ismail herself will live.
"What we need is specialists. There is not a single gynaecologist-obsetrician in Somaliland (home to two million people) and we will
need an anaesthetist and a paediatrician," she explained.
Around the building, women work with spades and build bricks. "If men don't like it, we will also find male masons."
At one point Ismail introduced her "finance minister," a young woman who pays the demobilised factional fighters working on the
building site.
Ismail is a staunch supporter of an independent Somaliland. One of her remaining possessions is a videotape shot in May 1991 in a
Hargeisa ruined by the forces of Somali former president Mohamed Siad Barre, whose interior minister at the time, Abdulkassim
Salat Hassan, now serves as Somalia's transitional president.
Shukri is one of a growing band of Somaliland entrepreneurs seeking to add value to local products and market them to the world.
"Henna is so natural, its got anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties - people in Europe and America are just discovering these things
and it's great that The Body Shop has picked up our henna," she told IRIN. In 2000 the Asli Mills Company exported 6,700 kg of
henna. This year, it is aiming for 10,000 kg.
The four Somali henna-based products were launched in London (UK) to 49 markets worldwide. The Body Shop deal was facilitated
by Progressive Interventions, an Irish NGO specialising in marketing assistance and product promotion in developing economies.
It is people like Shukri - who combine local expertise and raw materials with finance from the Somali Diaspora - who may hold the
key to economic development in this desperately poor region of the Horn of Africa. After the ravages of the war waged by Mohamed
Siyad Barre's regime up to 1991, and later inter-clan fighting, Somaliland now enjoys peace and stability. But, ten years after
declaring independence, it has yet to get the international recognition it feels it deserves.
Now, the fragile economy of the region has been dealt another major blow. In October 2000 Gulf States banned livestock imports
from the Horn of Africa because of the first outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Saudia Arabia and Yemen. Livestock is Somaliland's main
foreign exchange earner. Finance Minister Mohamed Gees has estimated that the present ban will cost Somaliland between US
$150-200 million per annum in lost foreign exchange receipts.
One of the effects of the ban has been to highlight the lack of diversification in the economy, and the need for the business
community to find new products and new markets. Many of these attempts were showcased for the first time 3-6 March at the
Somaliland Trade Fair. The event was organised by the local Chamber of Commerce and supported by the European Commission
(EC) and UNDP.
"It's about increasing awareness of locally available products and encouraging investment," Gerry McCarthy, Programme Director of
Progressive Interventions told IRIN. Nearly 100 businesses, many brand-new, set up shop in the wind-swept compound in the centre
of Hargeisa, determined to show the world that the Somaliland economy has a future. "Nobody knows about us and about the special
things we are making," a stallholder shouted. Small-scale gem dealers try to usher people closer to their stalls, and women wearing
traditional head scarves gaze shyly at foreign visitors as they run up brightly coloured clothing on knitting machines. Many want to
emulate Shukri's success and generate foreign interest in their products.
Although many of the products on display at the four-day fair have only local appeal, some have international potential. Amina Rodol
is a local business woman who worked in Saudi Arabia. She has put her life savings into a new range of beauty products using
frankincense gum - the ancient base for all perfumes. She makes the cream locally and chats with potential buyers at her stall.
Amina told IRIN she was confident that her exotic-smelling range of creams could be successfully marketed in wealthy countries. "I
want to make money, but its much more than that," she insisted. She told IRIN that thousands of poor people collect the
frankincense, which currently gets exported to the Gulf States in its raw form. "If we can turn it into local products, we will all
benefit," she said. Already, the Asli Mills company has proved that new markets translate into new jobs. It now provides work for at
least 400 pastoralist women who collect henna leaves to sell directly to the mill.
Somaliland gem stones have also attracted interest. Situated at the top of the Mozambique Belt - from which two-thirds of Africa's
gems are mined - Somaliland already supports 5,000 livelihoods in the sector. Emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet and aquamarine are
all mined locally. But lack of mining techniques and poor gem-recognition skills have led to exploitation. A locally-mined stone was
recently bought in Hargeisa for US $2,000; yet, after it had been cut in Thailand, it was sold for US $250,000, Progressive
Interventions points out. The NGO has been providing Somaliland miners with training to enable them to mine more efficiently and
recognise the value of what they produce. "Inevitably, a lot of miners get cheated by unscrupulous dealers, but what is needed is a
local jewellery and stone-cutting business," Sarah Jones of Progressive Interventions told IRIN.
This pioneering trade fair is only the second to be held anywhere in Somalia since the fall of Barre a decade ago. It represents a
small but significant beginning. Most visitors managed to see all the exhibits within an hour. And all involved acknowledged that these
are still early days. "There is a lot of international interest, but buyers and investors want to see bigger quantities of goods and
materials before they consider investing," Alrizak Mohed, a local business educator told IRIN. "No million dollar deals were struck this
weekend - but maybe next year," he added.
In the meanwhile, reports contradicting Egal's statement to the EU diplomat have however emerged. At least by one account, President Egal told a British diplomat on last year that he will consider entering into a dialogue with leaders of the Arta faction to discuss "re-unification" or a "federal state in Somalia". The Republican has learned that the British diplomat is Phil Batson who visited Hargiasa on October last year. Batson who works in the East Africa desk in the "Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Office" held a long discussion during his last visit with Egal. Reliable sources told The Republican that Egal did most of the talking during which he never raised the question of recognition.
In a report to his superiors, Batson remarked that he felt surprised at Egal's lack of interest in the recognition issue. Our sister paper Jamhuuriyahas in its last Wednesday issue published a long feature article headed " Has Egal ever asked the British to recognise Somaliland?" On Wednesday evening the presidency issued a statement on the talks that Egal have had earlier during the day with EU officials. It has not been clear yet whether Jamhuuriyas story had prompted Egal to mention Somaliland's need to be granted international diplomatic recognition to the EU diplomats.
Despite the enormous destruction that Siyad Barre troops had inflicted on most of urban and rural centres in the country during the eighties, Somaliland has since its liberation 10 year ago been witnessing a rapid reconstruction effort and a steady economic growth without external help. The objective of the Somaliland Fair is to raise people's awareness about products and create marketing opportunities for producers. The grassroots level peace and reconciliation achieved, has had a positive impact on all aspects of life here. "The political and socio-economic progress that we have made in the last ten years have already surpassed what we have seen in 10 years under the post-independence civilian governments (1960-1969) and 20 years under southern dictatorship (1969-1991)", said a prominent businessman from Hargeisa who after losing all his wealth to Siyad Barre's soldiers in 1988 had to start from scratch again.
In May 1988, the rebels of the Somali National Movement (SNM) made two suicidal attacks on Buroa and Hargeisa. In retaliation, Barre's government forces razed both cities to the ground and killed tens of thousands of Civilians. British-made Hawker Hunter bomber Jet planes given by the United Arab Emirates to Siyad Barre were also used in the saturation aerial bombardment of the Civilian population. Barre's pilots were not trained on this type of aircraft, so White South African pilots were hired by the dictator. The slaughtering continued through out the second half of 1988 and until early 1989 when the SNM started bringing down Barre's fighters with the help of shoulder-launched heat-seeking SAM missiles.
In the meanwhile, Djibouti denied Thursday a statement that the London-based Arab daily Al-hayat had attributed to President Gelleh during a visit to Asmara, Eritirea, last week. The paper quoted Gelleh saying; "the pressure that we exerted on the Ethiopians paid off as they are now pulling their troops out of Somalia". An official statement released through the Djiboutian radio on Thursday said the President was misquoted by Al-Hayat.
Most of the income will come from government custom duties mainly on imports. Finance officials attributed the increase in estimated budget revenues this year to substantial improvements made to revenue collection and financial management system. The ministry is understood to have taken also austerity measures to make for the income it will lose due to the ban imposed on last September on Somaliland exports to Saudi Arabia.
The House is expected to pass the budget later this week. Among recipients of government budget funds this year will be a number of privately owned organizations such as Gandhi Library and Hargeisa TV. Over 100 million Shillings have also been allocated to the women organisation NOW. When asked why NOW has been chosen among the many other women organizations in the country to receive government fund, Gees replied that he was just following a practice that has been followed long before he became a minister. A representative from Hargeisa called Faysal Mohamed then asked the minister why the government didn't consider allocating some funds for Jamhuuriyanewspaper to which Gees responded "first, Jamhuuriyais an independent paper. Whether the government likes it or not, we have to admit that this is the country's only national paper. I once asked them jokingly whether they will accept government funds and they said no"
Ali Salad was transferred last year from the UNDP Office in Nairobi in the face of protests from Somaliland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs which charged that he was biased against Somaliland. However after an intervention on his behalf by David Stephen, the controversial UN Secretary General Representative in Somalia, Ali has been reinstated in his old job in the office of the UNDP Rep. for Somalia in Nairobi. The Somaliland House of Representatives has recently passed a legislation banning the Egal Administration from making any contacts with Stephen who is unpopular here due to, as many Somalilanders believe, his anti-Somaliland political views. Stephen has never set foot on Somaliland soil since the UN sponsored Arta conference installed a transitory government headed by Siyad Barre's cronies on August last year.
Another Salad brother with the name of Abdi works for IRIN, a news agency that is the mouthpiece of the UNDP. Since the Arta process was unleashed by end of 1999, IRIN has been propagating a lot of distorting or highly inaccurate information promoting in the beginning, the government of Djibouti, and later on, the Arta faction. Almost 90% of IRIN'S news coverage deals with the activities of Abdul Qassim Salad's faction.
Yusuf Garad the editor of the Somali service of the BBC is also a close relative of Qassim. The Somali Service is now the centre of many jokes in popular Somali circles for its lack of impartiality and integrity in reporting on events in the former Somalia. The BBC has been turned by Garad to a propaganda machine promoting the Arta faction. Last month, Garad stayed in Djibouti for 2 weeks. Since assuming his current position one year ago, the Editor of the Somali Service has spent more work-days in Djibouti than in the rest of all the former Somalia.
The council has been formed with the purpose of deepening reconciliation between the people of Buroa and consolidation of peace in the region of Togdheer and beyond, the statement said. The council will also work as a pressure group in order to advance the interests of the region. The statement also said the council will work with other communities in Somaliland with the objective of promoting inter-community collaboration in tackling all domestic issues confronting the people of Somaliland.
Congratulatory messages from Buroa natives living in other parts of Somaliland have kept arriving in the new council premises without interruption throughout the last few days. A number of traditional leaders from Hargeisa have also sent messages of support. However there has been no comment yet by the government. The Habar-je'lo and Habar younis are the two largest communities that inhabit Burao.
Despite the world's defiance to come to terms with Somaliland's proclamation of independence on May 18, 1991, we believe that Egal since assuming power in mid 1993 could have done much more to win friends for Somaliland among the international community of nations. The frequently contradictory messages conveyed by Egal to his foreign interlocutors on the question of Somaliland's independence, has in fact been responsible for weakening the cause of Somaliland's quest for international recognition.
Instead of seeking international recognition, Egal has on numerous occasions in the past expressed a desire to open talks with the so-called Transitional National Government of Somalia (the Arta faction) on "reunification" or the possibility of establishing a "federal state in Somalia". At least this is the impression that Egal made on a British diplomat who visited him in October last year.
In fact president Egal has no mandate to deviate in the slightest from the pro-independence position that the overwhelming majority of Somalilanders have been continuing to maintain though against tremendous odds. There is no doubt that Somaliland and Somalia will have to start talking with each other sometime in the future. But then it will be on the entirely different subject of the war crimes committed against the people of Somaliland by the regime of dictator Siyad Barre in which many members of the Arta faction, including Qassim Salad and Ali K Galaydh, had held senior positions. Southern politicians however are mistaken to believe that Egal will eventually be able to manage taking independent Somaliland in to the state of Somalia as he did on June 26, 1960. For Somalilanders have paid a very high price this time for successfully regaining their sovereignty.
The freedom being currently enjoyed in Somaliland cost its people the loss of tens of thousands of their sons and daughters and the total destruction of their towns and villages. So President Egal should better forget about his "villa Somalia" in Mogadishu and instead start concentrating on how to obtain a diplomatic recognition for Hargeisa.
Hargeisa -- The first phase of the government supported Electrification of Hargeysa City Project has been completed.
When completed the project will supply electricity to over 10,000 homes plus business establishments and small industries
and will create more than 200 jobs for the local community. The project is completely financed by the Somaliland
government through the Somaliland Electric Agency which spent over $100,000 U.S Dollars in the initial phase.
A Civic Education programme was held in Garowe from 3 - 15 February and received participation from Somalis from different regions and Djibouti. This was greatly affected by the Puntland administration's decision not to send participants to attend workshops in Somaliland. However, the Somaliland government, in a press release stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had requested the Police Immigration department of Somaliland not to ask for entry permission or visa for Somali nationals.
In Garowe, from 13 January to 14 February a teacher education course was held for teachers of Nugal Region to upgrade teachers and social workers up to Grade 8 level. Another course was held 17 to 24 February on training in leadership was held for Community Education Committee members to promote community ownership of schools.
In the southern and central regions, 107 primary school head teachers from the Baidoa district received training on the use of new education kits. Community leaders and authorities participated in the opening ceremonies.
The construction of the basketball playground in Jowhar by Farjano had been completed. Another basketball playground and football pitch was rehabilitated in Baidoa. (UNCT Somalia Monitor - 1-29 February 2000)
Livestock exports, the main source of income for Somalia, have suffered since the UAE and other countries in the Arabian peninsula
banned imports of Somali meat in 1998 following an announcement by the World Health Organization that Rift Valley fever had
broken out in neighboring Kenya.
Accompanied by representatives of the U.N. Development Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization as well as by members
of the interim government's livestock ministry, the UAE officials also visited slaughterhouses in Hargeisa, Berbera and Burao in the
breakaway republic of Somaliland as well as in the central town of Galcaio.
Abdulkadir Mohamud Nur Fatul, whose Som-Meat company still exports goats to Saudi Arabia, said he hoped this week's mission
would grant a clean bill of health to Somali meat exports so business can resume with the UAE.
The existence of Rift Valley fever in Somalia has been a contentious issue. For nearly a decade since former president Mohamed
Siad Barre was ouseted in January 1991, there was no central government in Somalia and thus no national health or veterinary
institutions to test for evidence of the animal disease.
Prior to the ban, Somalia exported hundreds of thousands of head of goats, sheep, cattle and camels to the UAE.
Somalia's second trade fair since the overthrow of Siad Barre a decade ago will be held in Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared state
of Somaliland, northwest Somalia, this coming weekend. "Its a very exciting development", Jerry McCarthy of Progressive
Interventions, an NGO promoting the trade fair, told IRIN.
"The aim of the fair is to stimulate economic diversification in a region overly reliant on traditional trade channels"' he added. The
event will serve as a showcase for Somaliland businesses and enterprises and potential buyers and investors have been invited.
"There's a lot happening economically in Somaliland and we want to present a different face to the world through this fair", McCarthy
said. Body Shop International has recently launched a new range of four Somali henna-based products. Enterprises dealing in
frankincense, the base for all perfumes, bee products, gem mining and micro-financing will be amongst those represented at the fair.
Livestock exports, the main source of income for Somalia, have suffered since the UAE and other countries in the Arabian peninsula
banned imports of Somali meat in 1998 following an announcement by the World Health Organization that Rift Valley fever had
broken out in neighboring Kenya.
Accompanied by representatives of the U.N. Development Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization as well as by members
of the interim government's livestock ministry, the UAE officials also visited slaughterhouses in Hargeisa, Berbera and Burao in the
breakaway republic of Somaliland as well as in the central town of Galcaio.
Abdulkadir Mohamud Nur Fatul, whose Som-Meat company still exports goats to Saudi Arabia, said he hoped this week's mission
would grant a clean bill of health to Somali meat exports so business can resume with the UAE.
The existence of Rift Valley fever in Somalia has been a contentious issue. For nearly a decade since former president Mohamed
Siad Barre was ouseted in January 1991, there was no central government in Somalia and thus no national health or veterinary
institutions to test for evidence of the animal disease.
Prior to the ban, Somalia exported hundreds of thousands of head of goats, sheep, cattle and camels to the UAE.
Security: The zone was calm this month. Two men, who had killed a man in Burao last month and
escaped to 'Puntland' were extradited by 'Puntland' authorities in the reporting period. They are now in
Burao prison awaiting trial.
In another event, 'Somaliland' coastal guards seized 15 boats and arrested 144 Yemeni fishermen on
board for illegal fishing in the self-declared Republic's territorial waters. The fishermen were later freed,
but had to leave behind their fish catch, estimated at more than 10,000 tonnes.
Political developments: The 'Somaliland' Foreign Minister, Mohamoud Salah 'Fagadhe' denied
press reports that the government had banned the head of the UN office for Somalia, David Stephen,
from 'Somaliland.' He said that 'Somaliland' had only requested the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan,
to remove Stephen. He told a press conference in his office that the Parliament council's suggestion
that the government withdraw its cooperation with Stephen was not a resolution compelling the
government to act, but a reflection of the Parliament's disatisfaction with the views and behaviour of
. Stephen towards 'Somaliland'.
The President of 'Somaliland,' Ibrahim Egal, told a joint session of the two houses of Parliament in
Hargeisa that 'Somaliland' will never again unite with Somalia. He said further that talks between him
and President Abdikassim Salad of the Transitional National Government (TNG), will only take place if
the latter renounces his claims to 'Somaliland.'
Egal also talked about his administration's plans for petroleum exploration with the support of
China, Romania, South Korea and Taiwan. His administration is establishing offices to register the
Somali National Movement (SNM) war veterans, he said.
The two-day joint session of Parliament was held following a request by the administration. It extended
the term of the interim national constitution for six months. This is the second time the period of the
interim national constitution has been extended since the third reconciliation meeting held in Hargeisa
1997. The latest extension started on January 17, 2001. The aim of this new period extension was to give
the administration a chance to hold a referendum on the constitution. Following this, the Parliament
approved an independent committee whose responsibility will be the registration of political parties to
be established in the country.
This month, President Egal, for the first time, publicly declared that he wants to be re-elected for
another term in office. He made this announcement in a speech to 'Somaliland' armed forces on the
seventh anniversary of their formation.
The Defense Minister, Omer Nimaleh, resigned from President Egal's cabinet this month. Mohamed
Osman Fadal, who was the Director of Somali Centre for Peace and Development (SCPD) in 'Somaliland',
joined the cabinet as the Minister of Planning and coordination of humanitarian assistance.
A mission led by the UNDP Somalia Representative, Dr Randolph Kent, who is also in charge of the
coordination of humanitarian assistance, and the FAO Representative for Somalia, Dr Daniel Gustafson,
visited Burao in the review period to assess the impact of the livestock export ban on Togdheer region,
the repatriation status of the refugees returning to the region, and the security situation. The mission
met with the regional governor and the Mayor of Burao, and informed them that the UN had made great
efforts to convince Arab countries that 'Somaliland' livestock was free from Rift Valley disease, but they
(Arab countries) resisted. During its presence in Burao, the mission visited a meat and leather factory
being constructed in Burao.
A Norwegian delegation led by . Hans Jacob, a senior diplomat of the Foreign Ministry for Peace
and Reconciliation of Africa, visited Hargeisa on a fact-finding mission.
The Swiss Ambassador to Kenya, Josef Bucher, also visited Hargeisa in the review period. Bucher
told a press conference that the aim of his mission was to renew ties established with 'Somaliland' a year
and a half ago. The Ambassador met with President Egal and other top officials.
Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Salah, visited Italy at the invitation of the Italian government. "The move
behind the invitation was that Italy wanted to get 'Somaliland', 'Puntland' and the Arta-formed
government (TNG) together to discuss the Somali cause and then participate in a meeting being
organised by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),' the Minister said on his
return.
Economy: The cabinet council of 'Somaliland' this month endorsed the government budget for 2001
which amounts to 115,474,610,000 Somaliland Shillings - equivalent to US$ 37,000,000, a 4.5 per cent
increase over last year's budget. Sixty-nine per cent of the 2001 budget will go to the armed forces, the
central government staff, local municipalities and the port staff.
Newly printed fake Somali currency notes recently delivered to Mogadishu have severely affected the
eastern regions of 'Somaliland' (Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag), where the Somali shilling is still in use.
Several hundred businesspeople and moneychangers turned out in the streets of Burao and Erigavo in
protest. However, the exchange rate of the 'Somaliland' Shilling was stable this month at a rate of 5,000
to 1 USD.
Health and Nutrition: A two-day health and nutrition co-ordination meeting was conducted on
February 17th and 18th, 2001 to review the year 2000 health programme, and chart a course for the
future. The meeting bought together all international organisations working in the health sector in
'Somaliland'.
Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI): Immunisation campaigns on tetanus toxoid and measles
for children under five years of age were launched in Erigavo and Berbera towns of Sanaag and Sahil
regions. The campaigns were implemented in collaboration with the respective regional health offices.
Nutrition: In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Labour, UNICEF conducted training for
sixty teachers from 21 primary schools and three family life programme schools of Hargeisa on
micro-nutrients deficiencies. The purpose of the training was to educate the teachers on the importance
of nutrition, and the relationship between education and nutrition. The teachers will be used later as
key change agents to undertake nutrition education activities at their schools. The teachers will be able
to distribute iron/folic acid supplements to the school children.
In conjunction with EPI campaign in Erigavo town, mass distribution of iron/folic acid for pregnant
women was conducted. The purpose of this activity was to screen children and women affected by
anaemia and provide treatment and supplementation to the pregnant women.
Water and Environmental Sanitation: A pump and generator were installed at Laanqaciye borewell,
while the three dug wells with hand pumps of the Haahi Water Project were completed.
Education: An estimated 360 children will now attend school this year, following the completion of
three schools financed by UNICEF. The construction of Adarosh and Ali Aden community schools, as
well as the rehabilitation of Galooley Community school was completed in the review period.
The construction of two sports fields, Iftin basketball court and Gabilay football ground, was finalised
during this period. This is part of UNICEF's initiative to create recreational opportunities for the youth
and children in the zone.
For more information on UNICEF Somalia, you can access our website at the following address:
http://www.unicef.org/somalia/
Should you have further queries on the UNICEF Somalia Review contact:
Patrick Mwangi,
Assistant Communication Officer, UNICEF Somalia:
E-mail: pmwangi@unicef.org
Special thanks to UNICEF field staff and Communication Section colleagues in Programme
Communication, Information and Monitoring and Evaluation in Somalia who help compile input for the
UNICEF Somalia Review.
For more information on UNICEF, visit its website at http://www.unicef.org
The team will visit Hargeisa, in the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, northwest Somalia, Bosaso, in the self-declared
autonomous region of Puntland, northeast Somalia, and Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
"We are prepared to intervene at the highest level concerning this issue", the release quotes UNDP Senior Deputy Resident
Representative, Andrea Tamagnini as saying. According to Tamagnini, the livestock mission is one part of UNDP's efforts to "find out
what technically has to be done to facilitate the reopening of this market".
The Arab Gulf States imposed a ban on imports of livestock from Horn of Africa countries in September 2000 following an outbreak
of Rift Valley Fever in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Some 70 percent of Somalia's GDP depends on livestock production and trade. Since
the ban "serious concerns have developed for the food security and livelihood of poor households in northern and central Somalia,"
said the UNDP release.
TotalFinaElf has secured rights to conduct preliminary exploration work offshore southern Somalia. A spokesman told African Energy
the company signed a technical evaluation agreement in Mogadishu in late January with officials from the ministry of water and
mineral resources.
The agreement - valid for up to 12 months - allows the company to conduct 2D seismic work in the Jorre region off the southern
coast. TotalFinaElf said that work would commence shortly and that the agreement could "evolve towards a concession" should the
seismic studies prove fruitful.
Minister of water and mineral resources Hassan Abshir Farah said the company had agreed to open a liaison office in Mogadishu.
For Mogadishu's transitional government, which has said it is eager to attract foreign investment, the arrival of TotalFinaElf comes as
something of a blessing. Other companies such as Sweden's Lundin Oil, which has two onshore concessions, have been forced to
declare force majeure and are not treating their properties as a high priority. But TotalFinaElf maintains that its work offshore will be
free from interference. "We are an oil company so we don't want to get involved in any political aspect," the spokesman said.
Officials in the breakaway republic of Somaliland meanwhile have said that the deal with Mogadishu has no bearing in the north-west
where it claims the most prospective hydrocarbon targets are located.
TotalFinaElf has maintained a presence in Somaliland in recent years with the rehabilitation and operational management of the oil
terminal at Berbera port, as well as providing aviation fuel services at the airports in Berbera and the breakaway capital Hargeisa.
The French firm told African Energy that it had no immediate plans to pursue exploration in Somaliland. The Somaliland oil and water
ministry has said in the local press that no E&P companies have visited the country and that no negotiations are under way with any
companies to open up the upstream oil and gas sector.
The batch of trainees graduated on last Tuesday. The source added that all the group members were drawn from the Ayr Habr-Gidir subclan militiamen in Mogadishu and Bali-Doogle airport, about 90km southwest to Mogadishu. The leader of the Arta faction, Qassim Salad, also belongs to the Ayr of the Habar-Gidir sub-clan.
Two other batches of similar background were also given military training in Djibouti in the past 6 months. The training objective was to equip the participants with high military skills needed for conduction of special operations, the source added. Travellers reaching Somaliland from Djibouti in mid last week however said the training program was designed and implemented by a group of elite officers from the French army in Djibouti. There were no reliable sources to confirm this allegation.
Over the last 100 years, France has been maintaining an almost uninterrupted military presence in Djibouti. Despite gaining independence from France in 1977, Djibouti has ever since remained reliant on international aid, particularly from France, for its survival as a state. In April 1999, Ismail Omer Gelleh, a former corporal in the French colonial army, succeeded Hasan Guleed Abtidoon to become the second president of the port-city state.
In the meanwhile, the Afar apposition organisation FRUD declared last week its withdrawal from a cease-fire agreement reached with the government of Ismail Omer Gelleh last year. FRUD accused the Gelleh regime of failing to respect the terms of the agreement.
It's three weeks now since Djibouti's Afar-born prime minister, Barkhad Gurad Hamadu, has resigned his post due to ill health. So far, President Gelleh, an Issa Mamaasan, has not to nominated Gurad's replacement. According to reliable sources, . Gelleh has deliberately delayed the nomination of a prime minister (certainly to be an Afar according to the French sponsored yet unwritten Djibouti's Independence Convention) for the simple reason of sparking a power struggle among the Afar population of Djibouti so as to gain time. So far the Afars have avoided to scramble for the rubber stamp post of prime minister.
Shortly after arriving in Maansoor Hotel from Hargeisa airport, Bucher told editors of The Republican and Jamhuuriyathat he has come back to renew the relations that have been established since his last visit to Hargeisa one year and a half ago. Asked whether his government would consider enhancing its aid for Somaliland in the light of the successful Swiss program on ground, the ambassador responded by saying "The best known Swiss supported projects in Somaliland have been implemented by Swiss Group. And Ute Westphal is here to care of them. Since they have established a good reputation over the years up here, there is no reason why we shouldn't support them to continue their good job".
As he came down from the airport to Maansoor Hotel, the Swiss diplomat was sharply attentive to notice the changes that have occurred to urban Hargeisa since his last visit. "I thought I saw then more buildings which were half-finished. Now it seems more of those buildings have been completely reconstructed", [he said].
Since early 1995, numerous successful, projects have been directly implemented in Somaliland with Swiss assistance, mainly through Swiss-Group, an NGO from Switzerland, funded by a consortium of independent Swiss development organizations and the Swiss government. One of the most successful programs that Swiss-Group has funded and co-managed with a partner in Somaliland is SOOYAAL'S Hargeisa Vocational Training Centre. The VTC has been an important vehicle not only for the reintegration of over 2000 demobilized combatants into the civilian society but also for the over-all promotion of the cause of peace, disarmament and adoption of productive alternatives to military life. Swiss-Group has also been supporting projects which include credit Schemes for Women, Water programs, literacy education and Democracy.
The Swiss NGO is run by Ute Westphal, a German national. During their 2-day visit to Somaliland, the Swiss diplomats met with president Egal, the Deputy Speaker of Somaliland House of Representatives, Sommaliland Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Saleh Nur "Fagadhe" and other officials.
Dictionaries, English language courses and management books in particular are selling like hot cakes. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary priced at $5 is currently the bestseller in Hargeisa. The bookshop stocks the latest editions supplied by leading international publishers including Oxford University Press, Pearson Education, Macmillan and Cambridge University Press.
This latest UN corruption scandal in Nairobi brings to one's mind the cruel and immoral nature of this mammoth organization when it comes to dealing with people in the failed state of Somalia. During the seventies and eighties, the UN was responsible for running a large aid program in the former Somalia estimated at billions of US dollars in order to sustain the lives of hundred of thousands of artificial refugees, from eastern Ethiopia, on Somaliland soil. While this huge assistance was being given, UN officials have known that the influx of people from Ethiopia was actually instigated by dictator Siyad Bare who promised them a better livelihood through UNHCR support. After arming them to the teeth, Barre however used those "refugees" to terrorise the population or join his government's fight against the SNM rebels. The "refugees" did so in great numbers and of course this has considerably contributed to the prolongation of the war of resistance and the suffering of the civilian population in Somaliland. It has also eventually led to the uprooting or flight of 2.5 million Somalilanders from their homeland to escape Barre's genocide.
Disgustingly enough, the UN chose, then, not to tell the world about how international humanitarian aid was being utilized by a dictator pursuing ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses. Few courageous UN voices disclosing the truth about what was happening could have sav[ed] thousands of Somalilanders from death.
It is with great irony that the UN is once again found repeating its political cowardice in relation to Somaliland affairs. This time the UN is heinously trying to internationally portray the new Arta faction (made up mainly of the remnants of the defeated Siyad Bare regime) as a government representative of both the peoples of Somaliland and Somalia and hence well positioned to rule all the former Somalia.
We believe that dissatisfaction with the UN performance is not a feeling only confined to peoples living in this part of the world. There is worldwide frustration with the failure of UN leaders to rid the international organisation of inefficiency and corruptive practices. We therefore believe that the international community should give an urgent consideration to bringing drastic reforms to the UN body in order to eliminate the political, administrative and financial corruption found so rampant within its system. Recalling the fierce resistance shown by UN oligarchs in the past to previous attempts to reform the organisation, it will be necessary to entrust this task to an internationally selected body independent of the UN system. However, if the existing waste within the UN system were to be eliminated, there would be a need for the international community to stop its double standards as to what should be done in order to restore the over-all credibility of the organisation. In this connection, it is our opinion that the current concept emphasising the improvement of financial accountability alone, will get nowhere, unless coupled with equally serious measures aimed at cleaning and safeguarding the organisation of the politically-based corruption now practiced with impunity by many ranking UN officials.
The preparatory committee of the UDUB party consists of a dozen of cabinet ministers in addition to the director of the Civil Services Commission, one of Egal's closest cronies.
The nomination of the committee members was announced in a secret presidential decree, copy of which has been obtained by The Republican. Senior officials in the Administration were observed last week competing as to who spends the largest amount of funds for financing the president's campaign for re-election. The spending spree has infuriated most of Somalilanders whose livelihood has been seriously affected by the loss of family income-support as a result of the ban on Somaliland livestock exports to Saudi Arabia.
"Egal is shattering the vision of a Somaliland where citizens can decide who should lead their country through free and uncoerced elections" said a joint statement by the SNM and UBSL party. The two opposition organisations also pointed out that "it was unprecedented to see a transitory government to proclaim, while still in power, its own political party".
In the Meanwhile, reliable sources told The Republican that President Egal has stashed away several million dollars to be spent in the final stage of his re-election bid. The source added that Egal doesn't believe that direct elections can be held in Somaliland for selecting the next government. Egal was said to be interested in a "shir beeleed", meaning an Electoral College meeting whose attendants will be traditional clan Elders. The SNM and UBSL however appealed on Thursday to all Somaliland traditional leaders to refrain from siding with any of the political contenders.
Norway is a member of the UN Security Council and an influential member of the steering committee for donor countries working with IGAD on Somali affairs. Several thousand Somalilanders also live in Norway, a country that has been showing a considerable interest in the resolution of conflicts in third world countries.
Throughout the years since the creation of the Somali Republic, all successive Italian governments have followed a policy of granting huge lucrative contracts to Italian companies to do "development" work in Somalia (mostly in the South where the Italians had considerable cultural influence).
The Italian aid program for Somalia was estimated to cost several hundred million dollars per year. Around this Italian assistance however, grew an equally large corruption business that netted handsome incomes for many Italian politicians and businesspersons. Of course most of the projects were either never implemented or had drastically failed to benefit the Somali people.
The Muri Brothers construction company was one of the firms that the Italian government used to grant contracts to execute projects in Somalia. The current Italian ambassador to "Somalia", . Sciortino, is married to a daughter of Muri.
The Italian political establishment was opposed to the armed struggle waged by the SNM during the eighties against the dictatorial regime of Siyad Barre. The Italians supported Barre till the end because they felt that a SNM victory would threaten their interests in Mogadishu, mainly in the form of illegal income generated by the aid program and trafficking in arms. When Barre razed Hargiesa and Buroa to the ground in 1988, Italy was the only country in Western Europe that failed to condemn the genocide.
"Italy is definitely responsible for the tribal warefare and the genocide in Somalia," said Francesco Rutelli, a congressman for the Italian Green Party, in 1993. The Italian politicians never forgave the SNM for crushing Siyad Barre's Army and eventually causing the collapse of Barre's regime. The Italian political establishment also received the proclamation of Somaliland's independence in May 1991 with deep contempt.
Italian politicians believe that without Somaliland remaining part of a united Somalia, the former Italian colony to the south cannot be recovered from it present disintegration. Thus the hostility harboured by successive Italian governments toward Somaliland.
Italian officials fail to recognize that it was their selfishness and blind policies, which sparked the civil war between the Hawiye of Mogadishu. By trying to install Ali Mahdi as President of Somalia in early 1991, ambassador Mario Sico, Sciortino's predecessor, takes much of the blame for the bloody power struggle that ensued between rival armed groups in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the South.
The Italian role in igniting the in fighting that Somaliland had witnessed in 1992 and again in 1994-1996 cannot be discounted. The Republican has learned that Italian officials had successfully bribed Abdirahman Tur and other political figures from Somaliland now in the Arta faction's government to publicly disclaim their country's independence. According to a reliable source Italian diplomats have offered recently a prominent Somaliland political leader an amount of $10 million dollars in return for his acceptance of re-unification. The offer was however declined.
The anti-Somaliland stance of Italian officials continues unabated. Italian diplomats who visited Hargeisa last year had even issued thinly disguised threats to Somaliland leaders, warning them that if they do not accept participation in the Arta conference, Italy would take drastic actions against Somaliland. For a detailed background on the Italian interventionist and corruptive role in the former Somalia, see the article on page two.
In a speech before the Parliament last month, President Egal pledged to hold a popular referendum on the constitution by next March. The Hargeisa national conference held on Oct. 1996 --Feb. 1997, adopted the current constitution document.
A conference resolution stipulated that the constitution be approved in a public referendum within 3 years. The government of President Egal was mandated to carryout the referendum. It however failed to meet the first deadline, which had fallen due on Feb. 2000. As a result the Parliament allowed the Administration an extra time of one year for the conduction of the referendum. The Administration however failed again to meet the Feb. 2001 deadline.
Couleur e printed the Post-card. Dallo airlines has been contracted to distribute copies of the post-card in Hargeisa, Berbera and Borama as well as in Jeddah and Dubai. Karton said he needs distribution agents in North America and Western Europe. Somalilanders in the Diaspora are most likely to seize the opportunity.
Oblik Karton has also finished writing a book on Somaliland. The first edition is expected to appear in late March this year. The book, entitled "Somaliland-a promising country" provides a general profile on this country's background and the struggle of its people in the period of peace making and nation building.Pictures will also illustrate the text of the book. It will appear in both French and English. For those interested in the distribution of the Post-card, Oblik Karton can be reached through this E-mail address: Couleurloc@intnet.dj or P.O.Box 3500 Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti.
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
UNDP Rep questions Somaliland's Jurisdiction over tax collection and titles to property
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
International Women's day observed in Somaliland
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Two Officers Assassinated in Bosaso
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Somaliland Trade Fair 2001 Prizes for best new products and services
1. Prize for the best new food products :
Last year's winner was: Raaxo gardens.
This year's prize: 200 USD donated by the Trade Fair Organizing Committee.
Dalmar milling industry for their wide range of milled products.
Seha Soft drinks: for their new range of soft drinks in plastic cups.
Raaxo garden: for their continued development of new products.
Winners: 2 winners were chosen for this prize.
1. Setta soft drinks were awarded 100 USD and a certificate.
2. Dalmar mills were awarded 100 USD in cash and a plaque.
The reasons: Both these products reduce Somaliland's dependency on imported products, thus helping the economy to grow and diversify.
2. prize for best new service.
3.prize for the best new product.
4. prize for best new stand.
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Laalays watered by a COOPI supported project
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
EDITORIAL: David Stephen is Unwanted in Somaliland
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 10 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 10 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
"The thinking and policy of the Arta Faction Poses threat to Ethiopia", interview
Q. You have been doing research work about the Horn of Africa. Could you tell us in brief what the state of things is in the region?
A. The region has not witnessed any improvement in conflicts and disagreements from the past years. There has been division in the regional organization IGAD itself. At the moment, member countries do not have healthy outlooks for each other. After the end of the Ethio-Eritrea war the diplomatic map has been changed and there still exist differences in positions between these nations concerning borders, ethnicism and the Somali issue. They lack the institution or vision which holds them together. Relations among them is bad. At best they eye each other with suspicion. They used to have a similar position regarding Somalia. However, the situation there has further worsened. The conditions for diplomatic row are becoming rife. In short, this is the picture of the region.
Q. Are you saying that the situation in East Africa is deteriorating?
A. Yes it is. And particularly in Somalia. The Arta faction has become known as a transitional government in some areas since it has been recognized in some corners. Giving unconditional recognition to a faction which wards countries of the region Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda is leading to further division. IGAD has not been able to function as an institution and can, in fact, be considered as being practically non-existent.
Q. What is the main development worrying Ethiopia?
A. There are many things that are of concern to Ethiopia. First, the Arta conference was intend to include Somali civil society and countries which were not involved in the peace process. Later on, however, the process was derailed where by a few persons were selected to lead the conference and hence became undemocratic. It failed to include all Somali factions... permanent peace can not be achieved in such a state of things.
Q. Were there any factions which complained of being excluded from the Arta conference?
A. Yes, there were. For example, the RRA at first participated in the conference to a certain extent in the hope that it would be successful. But, the faction withdrew from the conference because it didn't like the way it was proceeding - the old Somalia way. Most Somalis believe that it is possible to reconstitute a federal democratic Somalia which includes all races and the main tribes and clans-a decentralized Somalia. It is impossible to bring back the old Somalia. RRA withdrew from the Arta conference because it objected to the return of the oppression, problems, division the old Somalia went through and wanted a change of approach.
Q. What bonds the leaders of Djibouti and Somalia together?
A. Guelleh became one of the affluent persons in Djibouti as a result of the civil war in Somalia. The person behind the setting up of the new government in Somalia, who financially and otherwise managed to get Abdulqasim Salat elected, is Abdularahman Bore, a business agent. Gulleh and Bore have business ties with Abdulqasim Salat's government and a network with the twelve major businessmen in Mogadishu.
Q. Why did Djibouti's attitude towards Ethiopia change?
A. Djibouti took the mandate in facilitating the Somali peace process with Ethiopia's knowledge as Ethiopia had turned all its efforts and attention towards the war with Eritrea and there arose, consequently, a need for another party to follow up the process. Its leaders were temporarily entrusted with keeping the peace process going on at a time when Ethiopia was engaged in the war. However, they changed the course of the process because they began to think above themselves and mistakenly felt confident that with Ethiopia distracted by Eritrea they could do any thing they wanted to. Since the advent of Guelleh to power, Djibouti has clearly changed it foreign policy.
Q. If there is such a thinking on the side of the Somali government, what prevents it from carrying it out?
A. There exists such a thinking. The problem lies with the resurrection of Siad Barre's old fashioned ideology that Ethiopia is anti-Somalia and wishes the division of Somalia as if it has not tried hard to resolve the Somali crisis, is not friendly to the Somali people and has not hosted numerous Somali refugees. This propaganda is itself a source of conflict. With the aid of foreign elements, some militias are being armed and causing a threat to Ethiopia's security.
Q. Can we say that Ethiopia's policy towards Somalia and Djibouti remains completely unsuccessful?
A. We cannot say that it is completely unsuccessful. To some extent Ethiopia is getting what it wants. If Ethiopia had accepted the legitimacy of the government of Somalia, we could have said that its policies had failed. But the truth is that Ethiopia is using different fro[m] including the OAU and taking alternative means to voice its concern about Somalia's problem. It is insisting that the problem of Somalia is far from being resolved. Whoever is interfering in Somalia, the ultimate say belongs to Ethiopia.
Q. Does the populace understand Ethiopia's effort?
A. I think so. Many people in Somalia need the support of Ethiopia. They have established a good relationship with Ethiopia in the last decade.
Q. What is the position of Aideed?
A. Up to now, it had the support of Eritrea and Uganda. Since Eritrea has unexpectedly recognized the new government, Aideed has either to join the government or to rebel against it. Adeed has lost much of his forces at Baidowa.
Q. Is there a chance of Ethiopia marching into Somalia?
A. If the Arta faction continues to beat its anti-Ethiopian drums and its support to extremist and terrorist groups, in the interest of national security, Ethiopia may go into Somalia.
Q. Do you think that this gradual anti-Ethiopia movement will affect Ethiopia's interest on the Djibouti port?
A. I believe so. I don't think there is responsible leadership in Djibouti. The hike in the Port fee is the result of the alliance which has developed between Djibouti's tycoons and Gulf states.
Q. What about our relationship with Somaliland?
A. That has been expressed in Khartoum during the IGAD summit meeting. According to the Khartoum resolution, the international community will give support to the new government in Somalia and to some regions in Somalia which are called safe havens. Pursuant to that resolution, Ethiopia can strengthen its friendship with Somaliland. Apart from a government-to-government relationship, it can also help the development of a people-to-people relationship. Somaliland is a state. It even has a traffic police. So we have to strengthen our relationship with a country which is stable and strong.
Q. Countries like Yemen and Egypt had tried to send armies to Somalia. Was that right?
A. The Arabs cannot send their troops to Somalia. A central government is not in place. Even if they send their army, they can't stay long. Even Americans have failed to do that. What they can do is give financial support. The story was fabricated to send a warning signal to Ethiopia. I don't think that the troops of Yemen, Libya and Egypt will go into Somalia.
Africa News,
March 9, 2001/Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network
Egal Says Referendum Planned for May
Africa News,/Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network
March 8, 2001
Africa News,Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network
March 8, 2001
Somalia;
Irin Interview With Mohamed Said Mohamed "Gees"
Q: Hargeisa Has Grown Enormously Over the Last Few Years. What Is the Basis of the Economy?
ANSWER: Well, I would say the basis is peace. When there is peace, people invest. They rehabilitate their houses, they establish
private companies, there is open trade between different parts of Somaliland and its neighbours, including Ethiopia, Djibouti, and
Yemen. So, I would say it is the establishment of peace and the Somaliland administration. It has encouraged many Somalilanders
from the Diaspora to come back, establish businesses, telephone companies, airlines... there are factories underway. I think people
are optimistic about the future.
Q: How does the government finance itself?
A: Apart from licences and regulations... we don't interfere with people's business as long as they abide by the laws of the country,
and as long as they pay taxes. For the first time, they are going to pay profit taxes, before they only used to pay custom duties at the
port of entry, like Berbera. Now, they will pay inland revenue and regulation fees - proper income tax, profit tax, and service tax. Our
budget, since 1994, has gone up...
Q: But there is still a strong dependence on remittances from the Diaspora?
A: Yes, it is very important, especially in periods like this, while we go through the livestock ban. Then, remittance becomes very
important. But in normal circumstances it doesn't amount to so much because we are exporting livestock. Last year we exported
something like 1.5 million heads of sheep and livestock; in 1999 we exported about 2 million heads, in 1998 there was also a ban...
Most of our success comes from livestock export.
Q: So how do you plan to make up the shortfall this year?
A: Well, from government revenue we are loosing something like US $11 million a year... for the shortfall we will raise the taxes to
cover the deficit. Today I go to parliament to present my budget, it is balanced - we balance every year.
Q: But if you raise taxes, doesn't that mean people suffer more under the livestock ban?
A: No, it's not like that. We are not really raising the taxes. What we do is to subsidise our imports - not directly, but indirectly. We
use different exchange rates for the dollar. For example, I think the rate is 5,000 Somaliland shillings for US $1. But when we are
taxing at the port (Berbera) we value the dollar at 1,500... The value of the dollar is the tax base.
Q: You recently appealed to international organisations to help with development projects that had been abandoned by the
government because of the effects of the livestock ban.
A: We have an ordinary budget, there is not a development budget because we have no development tax. So, in a year we used to
collect something like US $0.5 - 1 million for development purposes and build schools, hospitals, water wells, and rehabilitate roads.
But this year, after the ban, we switched and used that for other purposes. This year we are not embarking on any development
projects, and the affected area is mainly the regions (outside Hargeisa) where international agencies do not go... we are afraid it
may cause problems for the regions.
Q: Was there any response to the plea?
A: I didn't really get any response. I was not as optimistic as Ali Khalif Galayr (prime minister of Mogadishu-based Transitional
National Government) who appealed to the international community for US $300 million; I just asked for US $500,000. It shows how
tight-fisted Western donors are nowadays.
Q: So you feel that despite successes here, the fact that Somaliland doesn't have international recognition still affects the economy?
A: With our budget, we employ something like 26,000 people, so something like 70 percent of our revenue goes to salaries. Actually,
we are ploughing back our revenue to society. As to the problem of recognition: well, as far as we are concerned we are not in a
hurry. We don't demand recognition. But we must have access to international finance and international finance institutions... but
they are not very interested in aid per se. What we are really interested in is investment. We would like people to invest in
Somaliland. We have had very interested parties so far... if you go to Berbera you will see the (petroleum) company Total, which has
facilities in Berbera. We have had international delegations... people are very interested in making business in Somaliland. The
problem we have, is with banking facilities. We need facilities where you can take loans, and which investors can use. Now, with
assistance from UNDP we have drafted the Somaliland Investment Act... to invite investors to Somaliland, you must have the laws in
place.
Q: Who is your main trading partner?
A: Ethiopia. With Ethiopia, our borders are very peaceful. You can drive from here to Addis Ababa - it's very normal, with no check
points. People can take their own cars from Berbera, to Addis Ababa, to Djibouti, and back to Somaliland. We do all kinds of trade
with the southeastern part of Ethiopia... which is really influenced by Somaliland. Various traders come from near Harar
(southeastern Ethiopia) to Hargeisa... their main port is Berbera. If you go to Jijiga and Dire Dawa (southeastern Ethiopia), all those
small towns there, you see you are still in parts of Somaliland... So our main trading partner is Ethiopia and we are now trying to
harmonise our customs, our custom duties and develop the official trade between the two countries. We are trying to rehabilitate the
roads. The European Union pledged to us to widen the roads and do something about Hargeisa airport. I think the Ethiopians are very
interested to extend the road from Jijiga all the way to Berbera. Unlike those from Arta (the Mogadishu-based Transitional National
Government), we have good relations with the Ethiopians.
Q: Is there much trade with the south?
A: There is not much trade... the only thing that comes from the south is bananas and papayas, and qat (a mild narcotic leaf), so
there is not much trade between us and Somalia.
Q: If the economy improved in the south, would it be considered a good thing?
A: Well, we believe if there is improvement in any part, it would be a blessing, because all we get now from the south is refugees. If
you go to the streets of Hargeisa, the beggars at the traffic lights are from the south, not Somaliland... We don't want to be a
receptacle for the problems in Mogadishu and stretch our limited resources. Any Somali can come here and establish themselves
peacefully, but we don't want the generals from the south to run our fate again.
Africa News, March 7, 2001
Somalia;
Mission Report On Rift Valley Fever
Agence France Presse,
March 7, 2001
Somali woman's activist shows true grit
Female genital mutilation tops her hate list.
Africa News,
March 6, 2001/Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network
Trade Fair Helps Somalilanders Seek Foreign Markets
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Somaliland meets criteria for recognition, Egal told EU diplomats
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Somaliland Trade Fair to open today
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Expulsion and demotion of Djiboutian Police Officers
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
House debates government budget for 2001
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Salad Brothers gainfully employed at UNDP Somalia
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Joint council established by Burao's communities
BBC Monitoring Service - Mar 03 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 03 Mar 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
EDITORIAL: Egal and recognition for Somaliland
HARGEYSA ELECTRIFICATION IN PROGRESS
UNICEF PRESS RELEASE
1 MARCH, 2001
EDUCATION
Associated Press,
March 1, 2001
UN, UAE fact-finding mission checks Somali meat export conditions
Africa News, March 1, 2001
Somalia;
Second Trade Fair In A Decade
Associated Press, March 1, 2001
Somalia-Meat Exports UN, UAE fact-finding mission checks Somali meat export conditions
Source: UNICEF, 28 Feb 2001
UNICEF Somalia Review Feb 2001
General Situation
OR
Julia Spry-Leverton,
Communication Officer,
UNICEF Somalia,
TEL: 254-2-/623958/623950/623862/623959/350410
FAX: 254-2-520640/623965
Africa News, February 27, 2001/Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network
Somalia;
UAE Team To Assess Health Of Livestock
Financial Times, Energy Newsletters - African Energy
February 26, 2001
Oil
SOMALIA - TotalFinaElf to explore offshore
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Military Personnel of Arta faction receives training in Djibouti
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Yusuf and Salad want Swiss assistance in formulation of own constitutions
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
The first commercial bookshop opens in Hargeisa
The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
EDITORIAL:Decades of corruption within the UN system
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Taxpayer's money spent on Egal's re-election campaign
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Interview with Norwegian diplomat, Hans Jacob Frydenlund
Q. Can you elaborate on the purpose of your visit to Somaliland?
A: Norway is a member of the UN Security Council and we are here on a fact-finding mission meaning to gather first hand information about what is going on in different conflicts in the area before discussing them in the Council. That is the reason why we have come here. We are going to different parts of Somalia to have meetings in Hargeisa, Mogadishu and with representatives of Puntland.
Q: As you are aware Somaliland considers itself an independent state and that the Arta conference didn't concern her. After so many failed attempts by the Security Council and the International Community to resolve the problems of former Somalia, what is the stance of the Norwegian government with regard to the outcome of the Arta conference?
A: The Arta conference has been an important element for achieving peace in the country [Somalia] and the question is how to take this forward.
Q: The Security Council passed a resolution declaring the unity of the former Somalia as inviolable. How do you see this decision in terms of its contradiction with the universal declaration of people's rights to self-determination?
A: First, I would say that there has been war and instability in Somalia for so long. We have however seen very positive developments here in Somaliland and also in Puntland. And in my capacity as an official responsible for peace and reconciliation affairs in Africa, I would say that this is an example that we will bring along with us further on. Actually this is an approach, which can be utilized not only within the Somali context but also at the African level. So it is important that while we have this experience in mind, we go back and discuss how to achieve the kind of peace and stability you have in the whole of Somalia.
Q: A lot of people in the former Somalia view the TNG as a mere new faction. Isn't it wrong for the UN to side with one faction?
A: The UN is not siding with one faction. The TNG emerged as a result of a wide Somali process. And that is a fact we have to relate to.
Q: Why the UN and the International Community shouldn't take into consideration the fact that Somaliland has not taken part in the Arta conference?
A: What is important is to maintain the peace and stability that you have here and achieve peace in other areas in Somalia that are still unstable. It is also important to ensure that any solution should be a one, which brings peace to the whole of Somalia.
Q: Despite the embargo imposed by the UN Security Council on arms to Somalia, yet arm shipments to the Arta faction were reported arriving in Balli-doogle's airport, near Mogadishu. Why the UN shouldn't take steps to ensure international adherence to this embargo?
A: As mentioned in the January Security Council statement, the arms embargo on Somalia should be reinforced, as it is important for peace prospects in Somalia.
Q: A substantial part of international aid given to this area is consumed in high overhead costs incurred in places like Nairobi. Do you agree that it would be much wiser to take measures that will ensure delivering the aid directly to those in need?
A: When you say high overheads, I would rather like to discuss that in a case-by-case basis but not in a general term. Norway maintains quite an extensive assistance program for Somalia within an annual range of 20-50 million Kroner of which a 1/3 goes to Somaliland, through the UN system and NGOs. We are however very adamant that aid should be handled with efficiency in close cooperation with [indigenous] organisations that are ly based and have experience. A good example that can be cited in this case is the excellent cooperation between the Norwegian Red Cross and Somaliland's Red Crescent Society. We believe that that is how things should be done in this aspect.
Q: The UN Secretary General and to certain extent the Security Council solely rely on David Stephen for information on the situation in the former Somalia. Isn't it unfair for the international community to give a monopoly over information to a single person who has been accused by the majority of Somalis of conveying distorted and false information to his superiors?
A: Well I'm here now. Though I'm not going to comment on what you have said about Stephen having a monopoly over reporting information, but we are here now and we have been following this. I'm not able to blame him but any way I think it's very important to have a good relationship between the authorities here and the UN representative. So it is important to work out such kind of a relationship.
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Why the Italian Political establishment hates Somaliland
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Somaliland interim constitution valid for another 6 months
BBC Monitoring Service - Feb 24 2001/
Source: The Republican Newspaper, Hargeisa, 24 Feb 2001/BBC Monitoring/(C) BBC.
Somaliland Post-card by Oblik Karton