‎Somaliland to Host National Road
‎Safety Conference 2025 Under the
‎Theme “Building A
‎Safer Future ”
‎
‎Hargeisa,Somaliland, November 24
‎th,2025 – The Ministry of Tran-
‎sport and Roads Development (
‎MoTRD) has announced the upc-
‎oming Somaliland National Road
‎Safety Conference 2025 , to be held
‎starting tomorrow November 25th to
‎26th in Hargeisa, under the theme “
‎Building A Safer Future. ”
‎
‎This landmark gathering will bring
‎together government leaders, tran-
‎sport authorities,development part-
‎ners, civil society, academia, emer-
‎gency responders, and the private sec-
‎tor to address one of Somaliland’s
‎most urgent challenges: preventable
‎road accidents.
‎
‎Despite national development prog-
‎ress, road traffic incidents remain a
‎major cause of avoidable injury and
‎loss of life across the country. The
‎conference aims to address this crisis
‎through adata-driven, policy-focused
‎and community-centered approach
‎emphasising awareness, safer driving,
‎effective enforcement, infrastructure,
‎and stronger emergency response sys-
‎tems.
‎
‎Conference Objectives
‎
‎● Strengthen collaboration
‎between government, civil
‎society, private sector, and
‎development partners.
‎● Develop research-based nati-
‎onal strategies to reduce traffic
‎accidents.
‎● Improve emergency response
‎capacity and victim support
‎systems.
‎● Promote responsible driving,
‎road safety awareness, and
‎public education.
‎● Invest in better road design,
‎safer transport systems, and
‎data infrastructure.
‎Participants
‎Through presentations, panels and
‎focus group discussion participants
‎from government ministries, Parli-
‎ament, police and emergency serv-
‎ices, schools, universities, youth gro-
‎ups, the transport and insurance indu-
‎stries, development partners and the
‎private sector, the conference will
‎serve as grounds for the Somaliland
‎Ministry of Transportation and Road
‎Development to build a strategy and
‎an action plan to tackle the issues/
‎challenges in road safety across the
‎country.
‎
‎According to the Ministry of Transport
‎and Roads Development :
‎“Every journey should begin and end
‎safely. This conference marks a
‎national commitment to saving lives
‎and building a safer future on
‎Somaliland ’s roads. ”
‎About the Conference
‎The Somaliland National Road
‎Safety Conference 2025 is a nati-
‎onal initiative aimed at strengthening
‎transport safety governance, redu-
‎cing preventable injuries and fatal-
‎ities, and promoting a safe, modern,
‎and efficient transport system that
‎benefits every citizen.
‎For Media Inquiries
‎Ministry of Transport & Roads
‎Development ( MoTRD)
‎Hargeisa, Republic of Somaliland
‎Email: roadsafertymotrd2025@gmail.
‎com
‎Phone: +252 63 4403797 or +252 63
‎484 5258

Manila – A delegation headed by Brigadier General Khadar Mohamed Essa ,the First  Commander of the Somaliland Coast Guard (SL-CG), and comprising senior officers from its headquarters, took part in the 3rd IORIS Steering Committee Policy Board and Working Groups Meeting in Manila, Philippines.

The proceedings of the conference featured a recognition of the Somaliland Coast Guard as the foremost and most significant agency utilizing the IORIS system.

Commander Khadar Mohamed Essa contributed to the discussions with a major speech, detailing the essential role the SL-CG plays in safeguarding maritime domains and fostering information exchange.

A major new policy paper from Israel’s influential Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) is urging the government to move quickly toward diplomatic recognition of the Republic of Somaliland, describing the self-declared Horn of Africa state as a potential “strategic breakthrough” for Israeli security in the Red Sea.

The report, titled “Tel Aviv Signals New Direction: Somaliland Recognition on the Table,” argues that escalating Houthi attacks on international shipping since late 2023, combined with Iran’s growing influence in the region, have made Somaliland’s strategic location and relative stability indispensable to Israel’s defense posture.

“Somaliland offers Israel a forward operating environment in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints,” the INSS assessment states. Its 850-kilometer Gulf of Aden coastline and the UAE-upgraded deep-water port at Berbera are seen as ideal platforms for intelligence collection, naval logistics, and drone operations aimed at countering Iranian arms smuggling to Yemen’s Houthis.

The document highlights Somaliland’s stark contrast with neighboring Somalia: regular democratic elections, a functioning central government, low crime. It notes that Somaliland has cooperated with the UAE and Western partners to dismantle al-Shabaab and ISIS cells, earning praise as a rare stable outlier in the region.

Rather than immediate full recognition, which could provoke sharp backlash from Somalia and the African Union, the INSS recommends a cautious, multi-stage approach modeled on Israel’s successful quiet partnerships with Azerbaijan and the UAE before the Abraham Accords.

The report also stresses the need to coordinate with Ethiopia, which signed a controversial January 2024 memorandum granting it access to Berbera in exchange for a pledge to recognize Somaliland—the first such commitment by an African state.

The paper argues that carefully managed engagement, backed by the United States and Gulf allies, could redefine Israel’s standing in Africa and secure vital trade routes that carry 12 percent of global commerce and roughly 30 percent of Israel’s own imports.

The INSS calls for an inter-ministerial task force to be formed by December 2025 to finalize a concrete roadmap. Sources familiar with the discussions say the paper has already been circulated at senior levels in the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry, and IDF Planning Directorate.

While no official government response has been issued, diplomatic observers note that quiet Israeli-Somaliland contacts have intensified since 2022, including reported visits by Israeli technical teams to Berbera airfield and growing coordination on counter-terrorism intelligence.

If implemented, recognition of Somaliland would mark Israel’s most significant diplomatic initiative in sub-Saharan Africa in decades and could accelerate a broader realignment of Red Sea security architecture involving the United States, UAE, Ethiopia, and potentially Kenya and Djibouti.

For now, the ball appears to be in Israel’s court—and the clock is ticking as Houthi drones and missiles continue to menace one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

By M.A. Egge

The prolonged and repeated drought sweeping across the country has worsened, putting the situation of both human and livestock in peril.

This has once again been asserted at the weekly cabinet meeting. It is worth noting that on Monday the VP H.E. Mohamed Abdi aw Ali made a strong statement to the nation explaining the dire situation while noting that the plight of both human and livestock were perilous.

The adoption of the national youth policy was voted for overwhelmingly at the session.

Impending famine and more issues put on focus at the 42^nd session of the council of cabinet ministers meeting included the national economic situation, internal security, priority national policy planning, livestock etc.

Chaired by the President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, the general agenda as per the presser by Presidential spokesman Hussein Deyr was  follows: –

1. National Security Briefing

The Minister of Interior and National Security, Hon. Abdalle Mohamed Arab, reported that the overall security situation across the country remains stable and calm, with no threats posing significant risk to the state.

2. Revenue and Economic Update

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Abdillahi Hassan Adan, informed the cabinet that national revenue collection from January to October is progressing in line with the 2025 budget projections.
He added that the 2026 national budget has been fully prepared and will soon be submitted to the cabinet for debate and approval.
The minister also highlighted productive meetings held in Dubai aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in economic infrastructure and improving national revenue systems.

3. National Drought Situation

The Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Sheikh Abdullahi-Bashe Dahir Jama—also a member of the National Drought Relief Committee—warned that drought conditions are worsening across all regions, calling for an urgent nationwide relief effort to support affected households.

4. Livestock Export Conditions

The Minister of Livestock and Rural Development, Dr. Omar Shu’ayb Mohamed, emphasized the need to modernize livestock export systems and infrastructure, describing livestock as the backbone of Somaliland’s economy.
He noted that the ongoing drought has negatively affected both the number and quality of livestock, urging the government to adopt a national plan to protect the remaining herds.

5. Public Health Situation

The Minister of Health Development, Dr. Hussein Bashir Hirsi, reported a slight decline in measles, whooping cough, and malaria cases, attributing the improvement to ongoing preventive campaigns.
He also notified the cabinet that an extremely fatal disease known as the Marburg Virus has been detected in the neighbouring country of Ethiopia, and the ministry has begun preparedness and monitoring efforts—particularly in border areas—to safeguard public health.

6. Upcoming High-Level Development Forum

The Minister of Planning and National Development, Hon. Kaltun Sheikh Hassan Abdi, announced that her ministry will host a High-Level Development Coordination Forum, where priority national development projects will be presented.
The event will bring together the Somaliland government, local institutions, development partners, donors, and international agencies to discuss investment, cooperation, and acceleration of key economic and social infrastructure projects.

7. New Procedures for Vehicle Plate Removal and Vehicle Modifications

The Minister of Transport and Road Development, Hon. Osman Ibrahim Nuur (Afgaab), briefed the cabinet on newly introduced regulations governing vehicle plate removal, garages management, and vehicle modifications.
Under the new rules, vehicle alterations will only be approved after a full technical inspection to ensure compliance with safety and traffic standards.

8. Meeting between the Cabinet and the WADDANI Ruling Party

The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Hon. Khadar Hussein Abdi, reported on a crucial meeting held between the cabinet and the ruling WADDANI party, which focused on strengthening coordination, improving communication with supporters, and advancing the party’s political agenda. He described the meeting as one that was quite productive and unifying.

9. Approval of the National Youth Policy

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Ahmed-Yasin Mohamed Farah, together with the Attorney General, Ali Bashe Mohamed, briefed the cabinet on the National Youth Policy previously distributed for review.
Following discussion, President Abdirahman Irro called for a vote. All 37 cabinet members present voted in favor, with no objections or abstentions whatsoever.

Hargeisa, Somaliland – In a decisive response to a persistent national crisis, the Somaliland government will host a high-level National Road Safety Conference on November 25–26, 2025. The two-day summit, led by the Ministry of Transport and Roads Development, aims to formulate a comprehensive, actionable strategy to stem the tide of fatal traffic accidents.

Officials have characterized the country’s road safety situation as a continuing disaster, with accidents monthly claiming hundreds of lives and inflicting severe economic and social costs.

Announcing the conference, Minister of Transport and Roads Development Osman Adan Afgab delivered a stark assessment. “The epidemic of road accidents remains one of the gravest threats to our citizens’ safety,” he stated. “While the root causes—dangerous driving and unsafe vehicles—are clear, our countermeasures have thus fallen short. This conference will produce the definitive, integrated solutions we urgently need.”

Minister Afgab confirmed that the strategy will address the triad of road safety: driver behavior, vehicle roadworthiness, and road infrastructure conditions, based on extensive data compiled with traffic authorities. He issued a broad appeal for input, declaring the issue “a national emergency—a matter of life and death for every citizen.”

Providing a statistical backdrop, General Mohamed Ige Cidhere, Commander of the Somaliland Traffic Police Force, reported a modest decline in incidents but emphasized the unacceptably high toll.

Key Accident Data (This Year):

· Total Accidents: 6,409 (down from 7,618)
· Fatalities: 164
· Injuries: 4,454
· Vehicles Damaged/Destroyed: 2,925

“The data confirms that the driver, the vehicle, and the road are the three pillars we must address simultaneously to achieve a breakthrough,” Gen. Cidhere stated.

The conference is set to unite a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including government leaders, traffic police, transport engineers, vehicle inspection authorities, civil society, and the public, with the unified goal of drastically reducing preventable road deaths and injuries across Somaliland.

Hargeisa, Somaliland – The Ministry of Planning and National Development hosted a high-profile event in Hargeisa to celebrate African Statistics Day, underscoring the critical role of reliable data in steering the nation’s development. The occasion, observed annually on November 18th, is formally recognized in Somaliland as National Statistics Day.

The ceremony brought together cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, directors-general, and representatives from international organizations, universities, and national data agencies, highlighting a unified commitment to strengthening the country’s statistical ecosystem.

In her opening address, the Minister of Planning and National Development, Hon. Kaltun Sheikh Hassan Abdi, declared accurate and independent data the cornerstone of effective governance and sustainable progress.

“Somaliland is a self-reliant nation that independently collects, stores, and transparently utilizes its own data to guide our development and present evidence-based facts to the world,” Minister Kaltun stated. She emphasized that meaningful development is impossible without comprehensive data spanning health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and the economy.

The Minister stressed the necessity of region-specific data to ensure efficient resource allocation. “To achieve real development in any region, you must first have accurate data showing whether that area needs better roads, agricultural support, or other interventions. Without data, we waste both time and resources,” she explained.

Senior officials, including Director-General Mohamed Said Mahmoud and Statistics Director Khadar Mohamed Gahayr, reinforced how quality data is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving public services.

The event featured presentations of new data systems and publications from several key ministries, including:

· The Ministry of Health, which showcased its Health Management Information System (HMIS).
· The Ministry of Education, which presented its Education Management Information System (EMIS).
· The Ministries of Finance and Planning, which shared the latest economic and household welfare reports.

Participants unanimously agreed on the need to strengthen national statistical systems and enhance inter-agency collaboration to support evidence-based policymaking.

This year’s celebration served to demonstrate Somaliland’s growing data capacity and reaffirm its readiness to engage with African and international statistical communities as an equal partner. The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all government institutions and partners to continue developing Somaliland’s independent national statistics ecosystem.

Berbera, Somaliland – A major technical conference on implementing Somaliland’s Decentralization Governance System was officially launched in the port city of Berbera, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s efforts to bring essential public services closer to citizens at the district level.

The two-day event, organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development, was inaugurated by Minister Hassan Ahmed Duale. In his opening address, the Minister emphasized that decentralization is not a contest for power, but a strategic reform designed to streamline and accelerate the delivery of critical services.

“Decentralization is about efficiency and proximity,” stated Minister Duale. “It ensures that education, healthcare, clean water, and security are managed and delivered directly at the local level, rather than waiting for slow decisions from the capital.”

The Minister noted that a recent inspection tour of Berbera District revealed education and health services have already reached commendable standards, describing the district as a model for other regions.

Senior officials at the conference, including the Governor of Sahil Region, the Mayor of Berbera, and the Director General of the Ministry, unanimously endorsed the policy. They stressed that transferring authority and resources to local governments will:

· Enhance transparency and accountability.
· Boost community participation.
· Reduce bureaucratic delays.
· Counter the over-concentration of power in Hargeisa.

Governance experts participating in the event highlighted that effective decentralization will empower districts to respond swiftly to local needs and foster grassroots development.

“This is a historic step toward building a more responsive and people-centered administration,” one expert remarked. “When services are managed locally, citizens see tangible results faster, and trust in government grows.”

The Berbera conference is expected to finalize the technical and legal framework for rolling out decentralization across all of Somaliland’s regions in the coming years. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to the policy, describing it as a cornerstone of its vision for equitable development and efficient public service delivery nationwide.