By Goth Mohamed Goth
Hargeisa – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Somaliland concluded a two-day policy dialogue and validation workshop (July 16-17) at Hargeisa’s Ali Jirde Hotel, dedicated to finalizing Somaliland’s National Diaspora Policy Development.
Organized by the Ministry’s Diaspora Department, the event convened academics primarily from Somaliland communities abroad. Participants included diaspora returnees (business people, community leaders, activists youth, women, and professionals), officials from Somaliland ministries and agencies, representatives of Somaliland missions, civil society members, academics, researchers, and other stakeholders.
The Foreign Minister Mr. Abdirahman Daahir Aden Bakaal opened the meeting and highlighted significance of the event. Remarks were also delivered by the Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan, Minister of Resettlement & Rehabilitation, Mr. Hassan Mohamed Ducaale, Deputy Ambassador of Somaliland to the UK, Mr. Mohamed Hassan Waes.
During the working sessions, the Diaspora Department presented draft document for the policy, and discussions focused on: Strengthening Engagement: Optimizing diaspora participation in national development and state-building, addressing Challenges: investment barriers, taxation system, land ownership, access to information, reintegration support, facilitating the homecoming of the diaspora-born children, essential services provision upon return, formalising incentives to the diaspora and formulation of required regulatory frameworks, among other topics.
Key insights highlighted:
Somaliland possesses a significant diaspora with substantial financial and intellectual resources currently underutilized.
Structured engagement could unlock vital economic investment, innovation, and modern expertise.
The diaspora encouraged to collaborate on major projects and investments, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), supported by enabling legislation and enhanced trust-building.
Participants recommended increasing consultative meetings and knowledge-sharing forums between the diaspora, the Government institutiond and all stakeholders.
Director of the diaspora Department, Ms. Ugbaad Nasir Omar closed the workshop, thanking attendees and announcing registration for the upcoming ,”Somaliland Diaspora Week Conference” (August 2-5, 2025, Serene Servor Hotel, Hargeisa).
Policy Significance:
The National Diaspora Policy i finalization is a priority for the Foreign Ministry, aligned with the Unity & Action Government Agenda and the 3rd National Development Plan. Once ratified, this long-awaited policy will produce strategic frameworks, actionable programs, and impactful projects to elevate diaspora participation and service delivery, marking a significant step in leveraging this vital national asset.
MoFAIC Concludes Two Days National Diaspora Policy Validation Workshop.
Taiwan and Somaliland Unveil “Taiwan Avenue” in Hargeisa, enhancing their bilateral relationship.
By Goth Mohamed Goth
In a significant step for Taiwan-Somaliland relations, “Taiwan Avenue,” a newly upgraded roadway in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, was officially inaugurated.
The ceremony featured Taiwan’s Ambassador Hon. Allen C. Leu, Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Hon. Abdirahman Dahir, Hargeisa Mayor Mr. Abdikarim A. Mooge, Somaliland Taiwan Envoy Hon. Mohamoud Jama Aden Galaal, and numerous officials and guests, reflecting the growing partnership between the two nations amid Taiwan’s limited international presence.
This infrastructure project, financed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the local government, aims to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activity in Hargeisa’s bustling areas. The road’s rehabilitation is anticipated to reduce traffic congestion and foster national development, illustrating Taiwan’s commitment to development aid partnerships.
This initiative aligns with Taiwan’s broader diplomatic efforts in Africa, where it seeks to extend its influence while countering China’s “One China” policy.
The Republic of Somaliland, having declared independence from Somalia in 1991 yet remaining unrecognized globally, has cultivated a unique relationship with Taiwan, including establishing representative offices in each other’s capitals.
The inauguration of “Taiwan Avenue” not only marks infrastructural advancement but also signifies a strengthening of bilateral ties, highlighting Taiwan’s support for Somaliland’s recognition and development goals.
As both nations navigate complex geopolitical landscapes, this collaboration exemplifies their shared commitment to mutual benefit and international engagement.
Somaliland Investment Ministry Receives Arab-Africa Economic Council Delegation
By Goth Mohamed Goth
Hargeisa – Ms. Hibaaq Ali Abdi, Director of the Investment Department at Somaliland’s Ministry of Investment and Industry, welcomed a high-level delegation from the Arab-Africa High-Level Economic Council upon their arrival at Hargeisa International Airport.
The delegation, headquartered in Saudi Arabia and led by Ms. Hani Abu Zeid, was received by a welcoming party including senior ministry officials, business leaders, community representatives, and religious scholars.
Director Hibaaq stated the delegation’s visit is an *exploratory mission. Its primary objectives include meeting with various institutions and assessing specific investment opportunities within Somaliland. Key sectors highlighted for potential investment were livestock, fisheries, mining, and broader trade and industry, with the possibility of establishing operational hubs in the country.
Director Hibaaq further emphasized that the growing international investor interest in Somaliland is directly resulting from the recent overseas diplomatic visits undertaken by H.E. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilaahi Irro.
The Nile Equation: Trump, Egypt, and Ethiopia in the Crosscurrents of Power and Water
He who controls water controls life. But he who politicizes the flow may one day drown in the current of his own ambition.” – Ancient Nile Proverb (Reimagined)
By Mohamud A. Ahmed – Cagaweyne
In the unforgiving geometry of global politics, few variables carry as much symbolic, strategic, and existential weight as water. And no river embodies that burden more than the Nile, a 6,650-kilometer lifeline stretching across eleven African nations, yet historically treated as the sovereign reserve of one:
As East Africa redefines its voice, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, widely known as GERD, has emerged not just as an engineering feat but as a monument to Ethiopia’s unyielding aspiration. GERD is not simply a dam; it is Ethiopia’s declaration of energy sovereignty and regional pride. Its foundation is cemented not only in concrete but also in a century’s worth of frustration over exclusion from colonial-era water-sharing agreements.
For Egypt, however, the image is starkly different. GERD represents uncertainty. To Cairo, the dam embodies a looming threat to an already fragile dependency on the Nile, upon which more than 97 percent of Egypt’s population relies for freshwater. In Egyptian eyes, GERD is a geopolitical earthquake on their northern doorstep.
With President Donald J. Trump now serving a second term in office, the global tone toward this dispute has shifted once again. His recent comment, “If I were Egypt, I’d want the Nile waters,” stripped of diplomatic tact and filled with implicit alignment, rekindled memories of his earlier tenure, which was markedly unsympathetic to Ethiopia’s position. Trump’s previous endorsement of Egypt’s right to consider military strikes against the dam signaled a provocative disregard for multilateral engagement.
Trump’s first term offered little support to Ethiopia in its quest for development through the Nile. Instead, Washington’s role was often viewed as unbalanced, favoring Egypt’s claims rooted in outdated treaties. His second term, despite the world’s evolved understanding of African agency, seems to echo that same unsettling rhythm. His recent remarks are not only diplomatically clumsy but strategically dangerous, emboldening extremist voices while undermining decades of regional negotiation.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, located near Ethiopia’s border with Sudan, is Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility. With a reservoir capable of holding 74 billion cubic meters of water and an expected output of over 6,000 megawatts, GERD is a critical infrastructure project meant to power regional development. Yet its political charge far outweighs its engineering blueprint.
Ethiopia insists that the dam is a non-consumptive, run-of-the-river project, passing water downstream after generating power. There is no intention to deprive Egypt or Sudan of their rightful share. What Addis Ababa demands is equitable access, not dominance but fairness. Ethiopia contributes more than 85 percent of the Nile’s flow, yet until recently had little say in how it was managed.
This fundamental imbalance underlines a deeper truth. The Nile is not a colonial inheritance but a shared African asset. As one African hydrologist observed, “Africa cannot rise by denying one nation’s sunrise for the sake of another’s sunset.” GERD, in that light, should be seen not as a threat but as a triumph, a symbol of what Africa can achieve when unshackled from historical asymmetries.
Trump’s tendency to weaponize rhetoric rather than wield it diplomatically puts the entire basin at risk. Statements that imply support for military action against a peaceful development project are not only irresponsible, they are incendiary. When great rivers become bargaining chips, diplomacy becomes a game of levees and leverage.
Historically, Egypt’s control over the Nile was enshrined in the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and reaffirmed in 1959, which granted Egypt and Sudan exclusive rights to the river’s flow. Ethiopia, the source of the Blue Nile, was not party to these agreements. Such colonial arithmetic has long been contested by Addis Ababa and other upstream countries who see no legitimacy in deals made without their consent.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi captured this sentiment best: “No one can stop Ethiopia from using the Nile. It is ours as much as theirs.”
The GERD now represents a broader African renaissance, an attempt to recalibrate history through infrastructure, sovereignty, and science. But it also reflects the precarious politics of perception. Egypt views Ethiopia’s technical reassurances with suspicion. Trump’s vocal alignment with Cairo only amplifies that distrust.
Consider the Nile not merely as a river, but as a geopolitical equation:
N = f(R, P, T)
Here, N represents the stability of the Nile Basin. R stands for regional trust, P for the distribution of power, and T for the timing of dam operations. Under Trump’s lens, the variables shift dangerously. By rhetorically empowering Egypt, he distorts the equilibrium, reducing regional trust and threatening the delicate timing agreements Ethiopia has promised to uphold.
Despite these tensions, the African Union continues to advocate for dialogue. Ethiopia has filled parts of the reservoir while inviting negotiations over the long-term timetable. But if political actors like Trump continue to fuel division, the space for compromise will narrow.
The stakes extend far beyond water. As one geopolitical strategist warned, if water is the new oil, then the Nile is the Middle East of Africa. Mishandling this dispute could trigger a chain reaction that destabilizes not only the Horn but North Africa as well.
President Trump may believe that the Nile issue is a matter of simple negotiation. But the Nile is not a contract. It is a civilizational current, a river of history, blood, and belief. Reducing it to a transactional dispute is both shortsighted and dangerous.
Ethiopia’s vision is not conquest but cooperation. It is not the weaponization of water but the democratization of development. GERD should stand as a beacon of continental pride, not a flashpoint for continental discord.
Let it be remembered that true statesmanship builds consensus, not conflict. The Nile will continue to flow. But history will record who tried to redirect its course with force rather than fairness. And even the Pharaohs, if they were alive today, might agree.
Mohamud A. Ahmed – Cagaweyne is a Columnist, Political and Security Analyst, and Researcher, Greenlight Advisors Group, Somali Region of Ethiopia. He can be reached at +251900644648
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: PUNTLAND GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS CONSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY AND CALLS FOR UNITY
Puntland Government of Somalia
Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Democratization
July 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
The Puntland Government welcomed the decision of the Dhulbahante clan elders issued in Las Anod city on February 6, 2023, and played a pivotal role in the struggle to reclaim Las Anod city and the broader Sool region on August 25, 2023. The Puntland Government also declared its readiness to host consultations with Dhulbahante clan elders and traditional leaders, followed by a general conference for all Puntland stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the regions inhabited by the Dhulbahante clan. However, the planned consultations to determine the legal future of the clan’s territories and their status within the Puntland governance framework have not yet commenced.
Declaration
The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Democratization of the Puntland Government hereby declares:
- In full accordance with Article 7 (Sections 1 & 2) and Article 138 (Sections 1 & 2) of the Puntland Constitution, the Sool and Cayn regions (inhabited by the Dhulbahante) and all resident communities fully pledged allegiance to the Puntland State Administration in 1998.
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Any territory or clan seeking autonomous administration within the Puntland Government must first undergo a legal process and engage in comprehensive consultations with the clans that established the Puntland State in 1998.
Therefore, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Democratization of the Puntland Government, acknowledging the Dhulbahante clan’s desire for autonomous administration, resolves the following:
- Until a legal status is achieved through broad consultation among all Puntland stakeholders, the Sool and Cayn regions and their resident communities remain fully subject to the Puntland Constitution, laws, and governance framework.
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The Puntland Ministry of Interior condemns the overt hostility of the Federal Government of Somalia toward the security and stability of the Puntland Government, which seeks to undermine Puntland’s security and statehood and sabotage the joint efforts of the Puntland Government, international partners, and global allies against the international terrorism of Daesh and Al-Shabaab.
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The Puntland Government urges the people of Puntland to strengthen their unity and safeguard Puntland’s security and statehood.
…END…
Somaliland Cabinet Approves National Education Policy, Reviews Security & Economy
By Goth Mohamed Goth
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Somaliland, chaired by H.E. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro) and attended by H.E. Vice President Mohamed Ali Aw Adbi, convened its 27th session today at the Presidential Palace.
Key outcomes and discussions included:
1. National Security Assessment
Minister of Interior and National Security, Mr. Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed (Magaalo), briefed the Council on recent incidents in Dhahar District. He affirmed overall national stability, characterizing reported events as routine criminal activity and traffic accidents posing no systemic threat.
2. Economic Growth Strategy Unveiled
Minister of Finance and National Development, Mr. Abdullahi Hassan Aden, and Deputy Minister Mr. Ismail Mawlid Abdullahi presented a comprehensive strategy to accelerate Somaliland’s economy. The plan prioritizes boosting domestic production through investment promotion, industrial support, income enhancement, and policy reforms, targeting key sectors including livestock, fisheries, agriculture, textiles, dairy, and mining.
3. Public Health Risks Highlighted
Minister of Health Development, Dr. Hussein Bashir Hirsi, warned of significant public health risks from unregulated pharmacies and private healthcare facilities. He stressed the urgent need for continuous monitoring, strict enforcement of licensing requirements, and protecting citizens from untrained providers and unsafe medications.
4. Unanimous Approval of National Education Policy
Following extensive deliberation on the long-pending policy, Ministers emphasized the critical need to modernize the education system and elevate quality standards. Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Ismail Ducaale Yusuf, committed to implementing a contemporary curriculum aligned with global benchmarks and national goals.
President Irro formally tabled the policy for approval, securing its unanimous endorsement by the Council with no objections or abstentions.
Somaliland President Hosts Swiss Ambassador for Bilateral Talks
By Goth Mohamed Goth
Hargeisa – The President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), today held a meeting with Ambassador Mirko Giulietti, the Swiss Ambassador accredited to both Somaliland and Somalia, at the Presidential Palace. Ambassador Giulietti and his delegation are currently on an official visit to the Republic of Somaliland.
The discussions centered on enhancing peace and stability within the region.
President Cirro expressed gratitude to the Ambassador and his delegation for their visit to Somaliland. He briefed them on the significant progress made by the new administration, particularly in strengthening peace and social cohesion among communities in Somaliland’s eastern regions. The President highlighted the government’s efforts in professionalizing the National Armed Forces and securing their vehicles, emphasizing that Somaliland achieved this independently without external assistance.
Furthermore, the President reaffirmed Somaliland’s firm commitment to bolstering security and stability in the Horn of Africa region. He underscored Somaliland’s dedication to good governance, adherence to democratic principles, and the conduct of free and fair elections.
Ambassador Giulietti commended the peace, stability, and democratic system prevailing in Somaliland, especially given its location in a conflict-prone region. He expressed Switzerland’s readiness to support ongoing peace-building efforts. The Ambassador indicated he would present recommendations to his government on how Switzerland could assist Somaliland in these endeavors. He also welcomed the prospect of dialogue to resolve existing differences.
Somaliland Minister of Foreign affairs opens the National Diaspora Policy Validation Workshop
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somaliland, Hon. Abdirahman Daahir Aadan Bakaal, and the Director-General of the Ministry, Hon. Mohamed Abdirahman, today opened a working validation workshop to finalize the Somaliland National Diaspora Policy. This policy falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC).
The two days event organized and coordinated by the Diaspora Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the workshop was attended by all stakeholders in Somaliland’s diaspora affairs.
These stakeholders played a significant role in enabling Somaliland to develop a comprehensive and well-rounded policy addressing multifaceted aspects of diaspora engagement.
The speech delivered today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somaliland, Hon. Abdirahman Daahir Aadan Bakaal, at the opening of the workshop to finalize and validate the Somaliland National Diaspora Policy (a policy under the mandate of the MFAIC), emphasized the Ministry’s role as the national authority responsible for Diaspora Affairs.
Somaliland Launches National Initiative for Climate-Resilient Education
Ministry Integrates Climate Adaptation into Schools and Curriculum
By Goth Mohamed Goth
Hargeisa – The Somaliland Ministry of Education and Science, under Minister Prof. Ismail Ducale Yusuf, today launched the Smart Climate Change Education Initiative.
The groundbreaking program will develop climate-resilient school infrastructure and embed climate change education into the national curriculum. This aims to increase public awareness and prepare future generations for environmental challenges.
Minister Yusuf cited the Daallo Mountain disaster as a catalyst, stressing the initiative’s role in building national resilience. The launch event saw participation from key ministries, the National Disaster Agency, and Save the Children.
This proactive move aligns Somaliland’s education system with global sustainable development goals, positioning it as a regional leader in climate-responsive education.
Somaliland and World Bank Review Progress on Electricity Sector Recovery Project (SESRP) in Nairobi
A high-level Somaliland delegation, led by Dr. Shucayb Osman Mahmoud, Director General of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, and Mohamed Mahmoud Abdi (Malow), Director General of the Somaliland Energy Commission, has wrapped up 10 days of meetings in Nairobi with the World Bank. The meetings focused on reviewing the mid-term progress of the Somaliland Electricity Sector Recovery Project (SESRP).
Discussions centered on assessing project implementation, reviewing initial objectives, addressing challenges, and planning the completion of remaining components. Participants examined achievements from the past six months and established strategies for the final half of 2025.
The SESRP Implementation Unit presented detailed reports on the project’s four key components. Concurrently, the Energy Sector Working Group (ESWG) highlighted progress in stakeholder coordination and alignment with Somaliland’s 2025 national energy goals.
The Ministry of Energy and Minerals showcased significant progress in developing Somaliland’s energy policy, a 10-year strategic plan, and the Somaliland Energy Law. These initiatives aim to provide affordable, reliable, and safe electricity to communities across Somaliland, utilizing diverse energy resources.
Dr. Shucayb Osman Mahmoud emphasized the importance of the collaboration: “This partnership with the World Bank is a critical step toward transforming Somaliland’s energy sector to ensure sustainable and accessible electricity for all citizens.”
Supported by a $20 million World Bank investment, the SESRP includes key projects such as the Berbera electricity expansion launched in March 2025 and the ongoing tender process for Borama’s electricity expansion, demonstrating Somaliland’s commitment to improving nationwide energy access.
The meeting marks a pivotal moment in Somaliland’s efforts to strengthen its energy infrastructure, with both parties expressing optimism about achieving the project’s goals by the end of 2025.