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Somaliland: President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud’s Misplaced Idealism

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By Mohamed Ahmed

The recently concluded Somalia &Somaliland talks spurred response from the president of Federal government of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud. The president hosted a town hall meeting aired by Somali language Universal television (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4VjEw1ZxoU). He outlined his views with a backdrop of chorus of adulation in over two-hour long interview.

The somewhat markedly moderated tone of President Hassan focused mostly on the progress of good governance in Somalia and the unity of Somalia. Despite his insistence on a united Somalia, President Hassan said that his government would continue the talks with government of Somaliland.

President Hassan referenced back to the Somali government of 1960.For this reason he said Somalia was one country and will always be one. What the President failed to realize is that there are countless examples of countries which had started as one and have since become two separate countries – such as Malaysia and Singapore, Senegal and Mali, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Somaliland is arguing today that the broad democratic right of its governance is wide enough to accommodate its aspiration to challenge the legitimacy of one Somalia! What president Hassan needs to understand is that one of the greatest themes of modern history is the struggle of subjugated people to gain control over their lives and fates. Somaliland citizens have achieved this goal when they took their fate into their own hands .President Hassan and his cohorts in Mogadishu evidently believe that they can dismiss Somaliland aspirations!

Only one Somaliland political party immediately aired their views on the recently concluded talks. The leaders of UCID opposition party reacted furiously and declared the recent concluded Somalia and Somaliland talks a failure! For the sake of argument, I wish we can assume that some of the criticism that emanates from these familiar quarters — Feysal Ali warabe and the rest — has no foundation in a genuine Somaliland patriotic disappointment, but one of pandering politicians.

I think we can give a pass to our pandering politicians this time with a fumbling President on the other side. Asked about his government recognition of Khatumo state, Hassan said “they are people who love Somali unity” He also explained the weak position his government finds itself at this time in supporting them. From these answers one can adduce that he wish he could support Khatumo State.

An old political axiom that says you should never interfere while an opponent is busy destroying himself comes to mind. Khatumo State is busy destroying itself. Apart from their insurrections of episodic inter-sub clan war, Khatumo State supporters have not been successful in gaining grip within Somaliland main contended cities like Las Anod.

Back in the real world of Somaliland, however, there is of course a need for entirely agent and legitimate project of self-critical spirit. One hopes President Silanyo is not holding his breath waiting for President Hassan to support a united Somaliland! If Somaliland doesn’t open up the political space and allow willing communities within its border to inscribe themselves in Somaliland political space we could risk Somalia turning Khatumo State supporters into a theater in which Somalia can prosecute their political goals against Somaliland. I know this is a rare chance, but the authority in Mogadishu can play a hypocritical role in dividing Somaliland.

President Silanyo authority has so far made progress in winning the hearts of many people from Sool & Sanaag. The recent countryside tour of Somaliland internal affairs minister Hon. Ali Mohamed Waran Cade is a step in the right directions. There have been informed criticisms of the Somaliland authority of clan nepotism.

The primary emphasis of Somaliland authority should be one with a view towards creating a united Somaliland. The world must see a highly disciplined political culture, deeply imbued with justice and fairness. The fact that some elements of Somaliland ruling authority may appear to be potentially tribal minded can create and reinforce fears and doubts on the common citizens.

Some memorable predictable Clannish inclined critics aside, the nepotism leveled against Silanyo authority deserves a look and one worth to pursue with evidence only. Finally, for anyone hoping Somalia will reach settlement with Somaliland, the president Hassan remarks about Somaliland would appear to be self-delusion!

 

 

Somaliland:Why don’t you like HIPS?

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 By Ibtisam

 

What do you have against HIPS? Do you know any of them personally? Have they done something to you?  I’ve been asked these question repeatedly all week- sometimes by the same people- it must be personal, come on just tell us!

 

People are amazed when I say, I actually don’t know them personally, and I have nothing against them individually- In fact most of them I have never met. It is not personal and I don’t dislike them.  In fact, last year when their formation was announced, I cheered and celebrated on facebook and twitter for what would be “Somalia’s First think tank”. Heritage Institute objectives and aspirations made me feel hopeful that there would be a Somali voice in the discussions and discourse amongst the predominately none Somali experts on Somalia and Somali issues.  But more importantly I was happy that research on Somali issues and the analysis of such research would be better carried out by Somali’s, after all I know firsthand as a researcher how much is often lost in translation.

 

Maybe I was too hopeful, maybe I expected too much and because of that my disappointment was much greater and more apparent when they failed to deliver on their promises. Most people laugh and say well what did you expect and I always want to say; I wanted what they promised- I still do!

 

Their first briefing paper on the US Recognition of Somalia was a bit flat and not enlightening- rather just regurgitating what was already in the media, a summary of a sort- and that was okay with me, after all it was just their first briefing.  Their second briefing  was a song and a dance for the president (yes I get that they were trying to make friends and some people even say help their relatives out- but I never use the clan card). But for me it was still too early and I made public excuses for them like maybe they did not want to make too many enemies so early in a dangerous place- the truth can sometimes get you in trouble- I know that more than anyone.

 

The Somalia-Somaliland Negotiations briefing was a disaster from start to finish and did nothing to advance the dialogue but instead was ridiculously insulting to research (forget evidence based research).  While I do not mind forcefully advocating for Somali unity if that is what the research indicated, what about the other side of the coin, and what evidence did they use to reduce people who support Somaliland to “dogmatic” and “radical secessionists”? I don’t really need to get it to the evident bias as well as the lack of research to support that briefing paper because I am sure that even HIPS look back and cringe. I am hopeful, now that all of the members of HIPS have managed to venture out to Somaliland at some point in the last year, that they have seen people in Somaliland are not ignorant or isolated from the region or the happenings of Somali affairs and more importantly that Somaliland hosts and offers a home to all Somali’s.  I wish HIPS just presented the two sides of the arguments supported by evidence; the SFG would have done their own insulting and the chest beating.  I wonder why they didn’t have one of their many foreign International friends, backers or fellows to proof read it? I can’t imagine their fellow Laura Hammond read that briefing paper and said “excellent piece of evidence based research and analysis”.  Even if that did happen and she suffered from a case of, they are Somali, so maybe they know something I don’t, I can’t imagine that once it was published and researchers independent or otherwise gave their feedback, HIPS did not acknowledge their mistake and offer an apology.

 

Instead in January 2014 and while in Hargeisa they continue with the patronizing tone that somehow it was our imagination and their paper was apolitical- in their feedback section of the Annual Report 2013 they say:

 

“Our March Briefing, for example, focusing on the negotiations between Somalia and Somaliland, prompted strong condemnation from pro- Somaliland independence groups who accused HIPS of adopting an anti-Somaliland bias. A Somaliland Diaspora umbrella organization released a strong rebuttal and the Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of the Somaliland Parliament criticized the Briefing on the BBC Somali Service. Organizers of the Hargeisa International Book Fair rescinded an invitation for HIPS to participate. The Institute has taken tangible measures to address a perception of anti- Somaliland bias. Representatives of the Institute went to Hargeisa to reassure officials and civil society actors that HIPS does not harbor an anti-Somaliland agenda. HIPS publications have commended the significant achievements Somaliland have made in securing relative peace and stability in the region.”
 

 

 Again if I forget about the whole Somaliland and Somalia issue and focus on factual and research based information here is what is wrong with that statement:

 

1-      It was not only pro-Somaliland independence groups who objected; the briefing paper was rubbished by average Somali who was neither informed nor educated by it and people with research background who could not trace the facts in the piece

 

2-      The rebuttal was not written by an umbrella organisation- it was signed by four different independent organisations in different continents. By saying it is a single umbrella organisations it distorts the facts intentionally or due to lack of research- even Google would’ve told them.

 

3-      Hargeysa International Book Fair retracting their invite- is that because HIPS insulted Somaliland or because you neither stand for research, learning or education and therefore have no place in a literature festival?  A delegation from Puntland and Mogdisho participated in the festival and stayed throughout, despite not recognising Somaliland as a state but they shared their literature, the issues and difficult that face arts and literature in their society.

 

 HIPS have clearly not learnt anything from the feedback it got and is too proud and stubborn to acknowledge its mistakes. Continuing to clutch at straws and asserting that they acknowledge Somaliland’s peace and prosperity to divert the issue- great so at least you are not totally in denial- but can you address your political divisive bias that made you mask your opinions are research?

 

HIPS report on “The state of Higher Education in Somalia” prompted the researcher who collected the data from Somaliland to pull out in protest and take to social media to discuss the distortion of research data she collected.

 

I could go on but I believe I have explained why I have issues with a provocative journalistic opinion pieces masquerading as evidence based research and impartial analysis on Somali issues and affairs.  Having a five day course in Hargeisa on research and ethical issues is not going to help HIPS overcome their difficulties and biases, but hopefully it will help them mask their political ranting and prejudices a little better in 2014.

 

For HIPS and the friends who have decided to stick by them, while you can continue praying that they get better, It is clear that HIPS is no longer welcomed in Somaliland as an institution or as individuals for research. For those organisations who hope to partner with HIPS in Somaliland, you will have complications and people will constantly ask you; why are you associated with such dubious, dishonest and unethical institution. For those few interviews you manage to get by paying DSA and kick backs, participants will worry how you will distort their facts and their stories to suit HIPS narrative. And when or if you get passed all these challenges and do publish your findings, we will assume that you probably made it up or distorted the data.That is assuming that you manage to get HIPS members into Somaliland and past the ports of entry of course.

 

We have managed to distort politics, governments and the media into different mouth piece for clans, interests and lobby groups- please let’s try or aim to keep research independent, nonpartisan and accurate. It is all of our duty and if the equivalent of HIPS was based in Hargeisa distorting research in the public arena- I would be the first to hold them to account. This is even more important considering the research fatigue in the Somali context. I have the same problem with western researchers who publicly claim to be a member of clan X or distort history and facts to suit a particular state, region or clan. We should name them, we should shame them and stop them from bothering our people in the name of research, earning money on it and then distorting the facts to suit their own agenda.

So there you have it- it is nothing personal after all.

Africa: South Sudan president says UN staff back rebels

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President Salva Kiir accuses UN workers in his country of siding with rebel fighters seeking to overthrow him.
The relationship between South Sudan and the United Nations (UN) is souring during a critical time of conflict and mass death inside the world’s newest country.
After a month of fighting between President Salva Kiir’s government and rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar, the UN suddenly finds itself under verbal attack from South Sudan.
An Information Ministry spokesman said the UN has no respect for the government, while Kiir’s spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, on Wednesday said the UN is sheltering armed rebels in its camp in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state. Kiir also accused the top UN representative in South Sudan of wanting to be co-president.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s Jamal ElShayyal, Kiir discussed his strained relationship with the UN. We are the 193rd member state of the UN,” he said. “There can be no way that we can be enemies to the UN. It is the individuals within the UN system who are creating problems. If we talk about what is the role of the UN, yes they have the mandate which they are here for, whether they are dong it effectively or not… That is their mandate…They allowed the rebels: either they took them by force or they gave them their vehicles and then they came and mounted these vehicles with machine guns to fight our forces with.”
 
ElShayyal clarified: “So you are accusing the UN of: 1. Double standards when it comes to this current conflict and 2: Of tacit support to the rebels by either handing over vehicles or turning a blind eye to their vehicles being used to mount machine guns. Is that your accusation?”

Kiir replied, “Not the whole UN; it is this group that are here with us…”

“So UN staff in Juba and South Sudan have given tacit support to the rebels?”

“Of course,” Kiir said. 

Kiir also rejected UN allegations that his forces may have committed war crimes. “I am confident that our forces acted according to the international laws,” he said. “It is not now that we are ruling our own country that we are going to abuse our own people. I will not accept that. What I do not like is these blanket accusations. ‘Both sides have done this’ is a very vague term. It was Riek Machar who destroyed Bor.”
Ariane Quentier, UN Mission in South Sudan spokesperson in Juba, declined to comment on Kiir’s accusations. “He’s been saying this about us for the past five days.”
Watch and embed the interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p4a5MtVV8g
AL JAZEERA MEDIA NETWORK

Sudan: Brutal Gang Rape of a Young Pregnant Ethiopian Woman

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Public Statement

22nd January 2014

In August 2013, soon after Eid Al Fatah, a young Ethiopian woman was lured to an empty property where she was pinned down and brutally gang raped by a group of seven men. The rape was filmed by one of the participants and then circulated through online social media months later. Since the film became publically available, six of the perpetrators have been arrested by police (on the 15th Jan) as well as the young woman in question (on the 17th Jan). One of the perpetrators, notably the individual that lured the victim, is still unaccounted for despite attempts by police to find him.

The case is still in the first process of investigation for which it is understood that both perpetrators and victim are being investigated under Articles 153 and 154 of the criminal code, referring to the making and distribution of indecent material and indecent behaviour. Despite a request for bail, the Prosecutor General’s office has denied bail, however have agreed to transfer her to a medical facility in light of her being now nine months pregnant- this however is yet to take place and the woman is currently still in a police detention cell with no mattress or facilities

A lawyer, working on behalf of the victim has visited her in prison to ascertain the facts. The victim, an 18 year old married Ethiopia woman, was approximately three months pregnant at the time of the incident. The woman was seeking new accommodation and this was used as a pretext by the perpetrator to lure her to the empty property. It was there that she was attacked. The video of the event, seen by SIHA staff, clearly shows that the woman was pinned down against her will whilst the men took turns in violating her. She was further threatened with more violence if she was to report the case, and out of fear for her own and her child’s safety she stayed silent.

The case raises serious concerns over the way survivors of rape are treated by police. At no point should a victim of such a brutal gang rape be arrested and detained within a police station and accused of a crime when she herself was a victim of violence. Such an investigation into the victim serves only to diffuse culpability away from the perpetrators.

Similarly, the public reaction, which has in turn attempted to present the woman, without any factual basis, as a prostitute, as having HIV or being a willing participant, serve as attempts to delegitimise the victim, to present her as a woman unworthy of support and empathy and ostensibly justice. The speed with which the general public and media have been willing to condemn the female victim as opposed to denounce the perpetrators reflects the deep-seated prejudices and assumptions that culpability for sexual violence lies with a woman and her behaviour, whilst ignoring the active and violent role that the men have played. Certainly, that some media outlets are attempting to claim that the men had taken hallucinogenic drugs inadvertently prescribed by a pharmacist, is a deeply cynical attempt at mitigating culpability of the perpetrators.

In turn this case further raises the racial prejudices that exist towards Ethiopian migrants, with her publically and falsely portrayed as being HIV positive whilst medical tests demonstrate that this is not the case.

To endure such violence for the woman is cruel enough, but for her humiliation and violation to have been recorded and distributed for public consumption further exacerbates this and her arrest serves as another layer of victimisation of a woman who has already been harmed both physically and psychologically.

SIHA demands the immediate release of the woman and a full investigation into the perpetrators instigated such that they are brought to justice for committing rape and sexual violence.  No person, irrespective of status in society should be above or exempt from the law. And no person, irrespective of status or background should be denied justice on this basis.Both in line with Sudan’s obligations to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, this woman is entitled to protection which the Sudanese government  should asser.

 

Somaliland:Ministry of Planning Presents the National Registration Policy on NGO’s

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By Goth Mohamed Goth

The director general in the ministry of national planning Mr. Abdirashid Ahmed Guled presented the ministry’s policy on law governing Somaliland non-governmental organizations and registration of such organizations.

The planning director said, “The Ministry of National Planning and Development is the sole and only representative of the government of Somaliland mandated to register, administer and coordinate all national, foreign and international non-governmental organizations operating in Somaliland and we usually classify this organization into three categories, International non-profit organization, foreign non-profit organization, Local non-profit organization.

All International organizations are obliged to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government of Somaliland for them to work in the country, while the two other categories (Foreign &local NGO) are required to comply and fill all rules and regulations required to qualify for registration.

The director general stated, “The national assembly recently passed into law the “Non-governmental Welfare Organizations Law – Law No. 43/2010 which means we now have in place laws unlike before we did not have laws that govern the NGO sector and that all NGO’s foreign and local are required by law  to registered in our offices which can be found in almost all regions of the country,

SomalilandPress.com

    

 

Somaliland: Minister of Health Head's to Helsinki to Attend Conference

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By Goth Mohamed Goth

Somaliland Minister of Health Dr. Saleban Essa Ahmed“Xaglatosiye” yesterday flew out the country headed to Helsinki, the Finnish capital to attend a health conference.

Somaliland Health Minister is expected to sign a new agreement for the next three years known MIDA FINNSOM Health project with the Finnish government after the previous one ended recently and which is a demand driven and based on priority needs identified by local authorities and project partners in Somaliland .Such needs will be matched with available human resources in Finland. Furthermore, the transfer of knowledge, the creation of personal and professional links, and the promotion of bilateral institutional partnerships will serve to institutionalize the Finnish-Somali diaspora’s role in the reconstruction of their homeland’s health sector.

The government of Finland has in the past provided funds for the MIDA FINNSOM Health and still supports the rehabilitation and development of regional health sectors in Somaliland which continue to bear the consequences of years of neglect, and a debilitating lack of qualified human resources.

In the framework of this project, Finnish-Somali professionals will carry out temporary capacity building and mentoring assignments in local health institutions; transferring skills and experiences gained while working and studying in Finland. As a complement, Finnish health experts may on a limited basis accompany Somali colleagues in order to carry out specialized training sessions for which the know-how is not available within the Finnish-Somali health community.

Dr. Saleban Essa Ahmed also gave an in-depth briefing of his tour of Awdal and Selel regions which aims and purpose is to assess the health situation in all regions of the country.

The Health minister said, “The credentials of all foreign doctors will checked and evaluated by the National Health professionals council in order prove their qualification before he can be allowed to treat people in our hospitals,

SomalilandPress.com

Somaliland:Grabbing the Ethiopian lion by the tail with help of Bollore.

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By Geleh Ali Marshall

Somaliland is cleverly inducing a third party –Bollore Africa Logistics to facilitate and bring into fruition the elusive Berbera Corridor that holds so much economic promise for this young nation irrespective to its inability to partake in or to become a party to an international agreement. Bolloré Africa Logistics is well suited to harness and fulfill Somaliland’s aspirations due to its political influence coupled with its shear capacity, comparative-advantage and expertise.

Once implemented the Berbera-Corridor will connect Somaliland with the emerging 90 plus million nation of Ethiopia that has been one of the fasts growing economies in the world and better yet that has managed to sustain its growth. President Ahmed Mohammed Mohamoud Silanyo of Somaliland has pertinaciously toiled for Berbera Port and its corridor to Ethiopia to be fully agreed on by the nexus of parties involved, the Somaliland president has visited both capitals Addis Ababa and Paris within this single month retaining to this matter.

There is already a feasibility study of port Berbera’s capacity and the road networks connecting Somaliland with Ethiopia underway and it is being carried out by a German company Gauff that was selected by IGAD and funded by the EU. Port Berbera will be instrumental in creating trade relations to the already political relations and cultural relations that both countries enjoy. Already the benefits to Port Berbera is that it has a shorter road distance to Addis Ababa than compared to both port Mombasa of Kenya and Port Sudan of Sudan. The road linking Port Berbera and Addis Ababa is 930 kilometers in length, with 240 kilometers of it within Somaliland and remaining 690 kilometers in Ethiopia.

There is no denying it, the last decade has been the Renaissance of the African lion-Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa with a population of over 90 million and GDP of over 100 billion exhibited an extraordinary growth rate for a non-oil producing country. Ethiopia might have been known for been largest exporter of coffee and having the most efficient and profitable airline on the continent, but Ethiopia will soon have the highest skyscraper and will be the biggest power exporter in Africa thanks to its economic transformation, where in the last decade Ethiopia was one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Somaliland is trying to grab this lion by the tail and hoping that it will have the multiplier effect that beyond just revenues provides jobs, stimulates investment, spurs long term-growth and mitigates the constraints from the lack of recognition that have put bilateral assistance and capital markets beyond its reach. Somaliland is ready and aiming to capitalize on the landlocked nation of over 90 million by leveraging its Berbera Port as the corridor to which Ethiopia will cater its emerging market to the rest of the world.
The impasse to the Berbera port has been Somaliland’s inability to partake in and to become a party to an international agreement since it is not officially recognized by the rest of the world, which limited or eliminated the renowned financial institutions and insurance companies willing to ensure if not at premium certainly the cargo’s travelling through Somaliland or ships docking on Berbera port.

However Somaliland’s strategic maneuver to include a large multinational conglomerate likes that of Bolloré Africa Logistics which has the sway and capacity along with Ethiopia to back and guarantee the presumed liabilities associated doing business in an unsovereign nation situated in a conflict- predisposed zone of world dominated by terrorism and piracy. Certainly Somaliland values Bollore’s political connections and technical know-how and presumes that Bolloré Africa Logistics is capable of making this venture a success.

The clear-cut objectives of President Ahmed M.M. Silanyo’s administration have been the promotion of political, social and economic interests of Somaliland and thus his grandiose development-plan and Somaliland’s economic prosperity lies with the free flow of people, services and goods between the Berbera-Corridor. Berbera corridor has been identified as a project that can transform Somaliland and irrespective of its political quandary Somaliland is encouraged by its proximity to Ethiopia and is geared up to benefit from it. Somaliland wants to be a recipient of the Ethiopian electric surplus that many in the East African countries are about to become beneficiaries to. The World Bank and the African development bank have funded what is called the “Eastern Electricity Highway project” that will soon light up 5 African countries that include Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi and that is on top of Djibouti and South Sudan who are already receiving electricity from Ethiopia. Somaliland certainly wants to benefit from the Ethiopian electricity surplus, but first the Berbera –Corridor has to be implemented and it has to become a success.

Somaliland is not waiting for Ethiopia to hold its hand or anyone else to dictate any top-down solutions, Somaliland has subsisted within its frugal means since its inception without any substantial assistance from the international community. Somaliland is led by a president with an economic background who has taken a holistic approach with strategic alternatives for fostering economic growth by making development a national priority. To maximize the impact of the president’s economic agenda, the president laid the groundwork and transformed the government sector first and his administration did not rest on Somaliland’s internal-strengths and laurels of peace and security but they have rather enhanced the capacity of Somaliland’s public sector by honing in on and streamlining government services.

Once the government reforms where concluded with the president transitioned onto economic development and in a quest to realize Somaliland’s development aspirations, Somaliland has created an enabling and conducive business environment that started with the creation of a whole new government branch to the ministry of Commerce solely to attract foreign Investment. This new branch has published an Investment -Guide and an internet portal that aims to attract foreign direct investment in Somaliland by enticing would be investors with incentives and tax-abatements. It has also created a “One Stop-Shop” that does away with the counterproductive requirements and bureaucratic controls that hindered investments in the past. Somaliland has instituted a viable economic plan called The National Development Plan (NDP) and has also created Somaliland Development Fund (SDF) that is in line with Somaliland’s developmental ambitions. Somaliland’s NGO act ensures that aid and humanitarian agencies along with development partners concerning the New Deal to be in lockstep with Somaliland’s developmental priorities. The current National Development Plan of 2012 to 2016 is based on five pillars that is guided by urgent issues concerning developments in key areas that are set the on the steady path for the long term vision of Somaliland in 2030. President Ahmed M.M. Silanyo’s administration’s untiring concerted development effort has taken the concrete actions that will bring such vision to reality by enhancing the simple Pastoral economy of Somaliland.

The expedited improvement of Somaliland’s public sector can be credited to caliber of competent ministers that have laid a new foundation for Somaliland’s transformation. For the first time in Somaliland’s history the national forecasted budget was brought to the parliament on a timely manner and it was the largest in the country’s history $152 Million. With its meager scare resources the government has invested in the long term human capital of Somaliland by freeing primary education and ensuring Somaliland future cadre are literate and in 2013 Somaliland undertook a country wide census in order for to government comprehend demographic outline of the nation to better meet social needs of its citizens.

The Ethiopian transformation could be contributed to the vision and insistence of late Meles Zenawi who is considered the father of Ethiopia’s economic miracle and driver of its momentous achievements. Meles Zenawi affirmatively chose to adhere to the economic growth model of Asian Tiger and rejected the neo-liberal and deregulation growth model prescribed by the so called Washington consensus that consists of the World Bank, US Treasury and the IMF, In addition to the political pressure he was under at the onset from the world trade organization that insisted Meles liberalize the telecom and banking and the national Airline. Meles prudently placed Ethiopian state owned institutions at center of development, which they are playing a big role in even in their current 5 year economic plan 2011-2015. The Ethiopian government had concrete plans and competent institutions that is why its economy prospered and fared well, Plans like the Growth and transformation plan” and steering institutions like Public Enterprise Supervising Agency (PESA). Ethiopia has used its state owned institutions like the Ethiopian commercial bank to support national priorities and act as an anchor for strategic development.

In Somaliland’s case it has placed it self well to benefit enormously from this mutually beneficial port Berebera project. With its limited resources and capability Somaliland has done everything within its sphere to rebuild its physical and human capital infrastructure. Somaliland’s current economic phase holistically seeks to incorporate public private partnership (PPP) with the backing of it’s the civil sector. Somaliland has impressively financed the maintenance and construction of its roads through levies, windfall tax and with the assistance of willing public who see the Ceerigabo road as a national calling. Somaliland has had great achievements such the free primary education, the doubling of public pay, ushering new political parties, in addition to numerous other government endeavors that included Military Ranks.

It is my hope that if the Berbera-Corridor is agreed upon it will have the multiplier effect that Somaliland is in dire need of, and if given the opportunity Somaliland will certainly grab this resilient Ethiopian lion by the tail to create jobs, stimulate investment, and spurs long term-growth for Somaliland.

Bienvenue Au Somaliland!
Geleh Ali Marshall
Geleh@hotmail.com
Hargeisa Somaliland

Djibouti:Violations of the Teachers Rights

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President of the Republic,

 

The Education International (EI), the global union federation representing 30 million teachers and education workers in 171 countries, condemns the arbitrary sanctions by the authorities of Djibouti against the least 83 teachers and other education personnel (academic advisors, inspectors and agents of the Ministry of Education) whose wages have been suspended since October 2013. Among teachers and education personnel are sanctioned by the Secretary General of SYNESED Mr. Farah Abdillahi Miguil, and several of the founding members of the Collective “Save the National Education”.

 

The Union of teachers colleges and schools of Djibouti (SYNESED) and the Teachers’ Union First Degree (MS), both affiliated to EI have expressed their concerns about the deterioration of the situation of teachers and Djibouti to serious violations of freedom of association in the country. Changes, wage freezes, redundancy procedures: arbitrary sanctions in defiance of all the rules and administrative procedures continue against workers education.

 

Harassment and repression against teachers and trade unionists seeking to exercise their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association are unfortunately commonplace for many years to Djibouti. Since September 1995, the date of dismissal of senior union officials of the two plants in the country, the Djibouti Union of Labour and the General Workers Djibouti and dismissal of leaders SYNESED Union in February 1997, no union expression seems tolerated by those in power.

 

EI is particularly concerned by the death in custody of Mr. Mahamoud Elmi Rayaleh, professor of French Public High School Balbala and engaged citizen. His death on the night of 28 to 29 August 2013 and hastily buried by authorities, in the absence of any member of his family and his entourage leave room for many doubts about the circumstances of his disappearance. Arrested Aug. 2, 2013, Mr. Rayaleh was placed under warrant the next day and sentenced to two months in prison on Aug. 20 on the grounds of his “participation in an unauthorized demonstration.” He was in good health during his imprisonment in Central Jail Gabode.

 

Two missions of direct contact of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1998 and 2008 did not improve the social climate. The intransigence of the Djiboutian public power have recently demonstrated in November 2012 when Mr Samuel Ngoua Ngou, regional coordinator of the IE, was denied the right to enter the territory of Djibouti, where he made to organize a national seminar on early childhood education with the unions and September SYNESED. Ngoua Mr Ngou was indeed repressed Djibouti airport on his arrival, despite the official letter authorizing him to obtain a visa Airport.

 

EI calls upon the authorities of Djibouti to it:

       up immediately and unconditionally all sanctions arbitrarily against teachers and education personnel;

       pay teachers and education personnel involved unpaid wages since October 2013 as soon as possible;

       respect fundamental rights and freedoms of teachers, students and union activists in accordance with international standards;

       open an independent commission of inquiry to shed light on the circumstances of the death of Mr. Mahamoud Elmi Rayaleh;

       establish the conditions guaranteeing a fair and respectful dialogue with all actors of civil society, including teachers and their representative organizations.

In view of the serious violations of international labor standards which go guilty Djibouti authorities, EI plans to bring the matter before the Committee on Freedom of Association of the International Labour Organisation.

 

EI will of course continue to monitor the situation of teacher (s) Djibouti (ne) s.

 

Please accept, Excellency President of the Republic, the assurance of our highest consideration,

 

Fred van Leeuwen

Secretary-general

 

Ismail Omar Guelleh
President of the Republic

Djibouti

 

Fax: (253) 21 35 06 45  

 

Copies:

Mr. MOHAMED Abdoulkader KAMIL, Prime Minister
Fax: (253) 21 35 18 12 or (253) 21 35 45 74, email: primature@intnet.dj

Mr. AHMED ABDI HOUSSEIN, Labour Minister responsible for Government Reform
Fax: (253) 21 35 72 68

DR. DJAMA ELMI Okieh, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training
Fax: (253) 21 35 42 34

Ombudsman OF THE REPUBLIC – Fax: (253) 21 35 32 37, email: mediateur.djibouti @ yahoo.fr

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Istanbul Communiqué II a loss of gargantuan proportions for Somaliland

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The Somaliland delegation returned from Istanbul with a bloody nose and a broken jaw from a left hook punch thrown by the Federal Republic of Somalia’s interior minister. The jaw blowing punch was a result of acceding to the insertion of the word “atrocities” instead of “genocide”.

 

The word atrocity does not have a clearly defined legal stature in international treaties but the word genocide does have clear legal definition in international treaties which is aptly applicable in our case for crimes against humanity committed in Somaliland by the military regime of Somalia. Of particular importance is that the word genocide is specific to crimes committed against a specific group. To illustrate this point you need to look no further than article 6 of the Rome Statute of the international criminal court which defines genocide as:

 

         Genocide

         For  the  purpose  of  this  Statute,  ‘genocide’  means  any  of  the  following  acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: 

         (a) Killing members of the group;

         (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

         (c) Deliberately  inflicting  on  the  group  conditions  of  life  calculated  to  bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

         (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

         (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

 

In conclusion it is extremely paramount that the government of president Siilaanyo commences consulting international legal and foreign relations experts. No longer can we afford to rely on our own instincts or limited knowledge. If you look closely at our delegation none have expertise in law or international conventions.

 

Abdirahman Cirro should grill our delegation in parliament for accepting the word “atrocities” instead of the word “genocide”. He should also demand that they have ready in their hotel an internationally known expert in international law in their future negotiations.

 

 

Saeed Timir

Somaliland:Visiting American Doctors to Provide Training on Mental Illness

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By Goth Mohamed Goth

The founder of Hargeisa Neurology Center  Essa Kayd accompanied by a group of three American doctors who are is currently visiting the country on a four day visit and led by Dr. David C. Henderson who is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Essa and his team of visiting American Doctors will during the duration of their stay in the country will conduct studies, evaluation and assessments plans and to provide training to Doctors and medical workers on researching and collecting data, giving medications, and or treatments, intervening in emergencies, providing group therapy and will  also be visiting the various medical institution which deal mental disease including the ministry of health.

The Director of the Hargeisa Neurology Center Dr. Hassan speaking to us said, “On behalf of my fellow doctors and those at the center we welcome the visiting doctors, we hope to learn more from each other regarding by sharing our experiences in dealing with the illness which is a serious and also debilitating disease which is costly and expensive to treat, especially in poor countries such as Somaliland that lack adequate healthcare system.

Cases of post-stress traumatic syndrome have increased in Somaliland mainly because there has been a breakdown healthcare system and since the fall of the Siad Barre government in 1991, coupled with economical hardship, displacement and the daily uncertainty and violence in an impoverished environment, he said.

Chained mentally patients

 

 Chaining mentally ill Patients is a common Sight in Somaliland

The clinic which is a joint investment between  Essa Kayd and his associates has since its inception been offering specialized treatment to patients suffering from an array of mental illnesses such as psychosis, mood disorders, substance abuse, depression, neurosis and epilepsy.  

 Essa Kayd is the Chief Neurodiagnostic Specialist at Brigham and Women Hospital a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School has been awarded the 16th annual Partners in Excellence Award for his outstanding community contributions. Mr. Kayd has traveled to several East Africa countries to help train other technologist and physicians on performing Neuro-diagnostic studies for their patients. Essa Kayd won the award after his colleagues nominated him for his exemplary performance and for contributions “above and beyond the call of duty”.