By Goth Mohamed Goth

Date: –   13/01/2014

 PRESS RELEASE

HE President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo’s has today has issued a Presidential decree # JSL/M/XERM/249-2232/012014 the Disability Services Act applied in all public and private buildings.

The Press Release read as follows:-

President: –

1.       In accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland

2.       In accordance with Article 19 of the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland

3.       The need to overcome the hurdles and challenges facing people with disabilities to able to fulfill their tasks independently,

4.        In recognizing the difficulties and challenges facing people with disabilities in public places, Health centers, Schools, Water facilities and work sites public or private.

5.       In order to overcome this hurdles the government of Somaliland has come to the decision which is to issue the following guidelines so as to ensure that buildings, facilities, and transit vehicles are accessible and usable by people with disabilities.

Article (1)

Building Centers government agencies or private

1.       These standards apply to places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities including those already standing buildings or those currently under construction be it those of governmental agencies and private businesses; from the rule becomes effective way to build or framework to facilitate people with disabilities to stay and base able to access or to access Public meeting places, spirituality, culture, society, or entertainment,   .

2.       That all government agencies and private businesses are required to have this facilities in place when the disability law comes in places in a bid to allow more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, this means paying attention to more than just ramps and accessible washrooms. It also means looking at e.g. lighting audible alarm systems, signage with high contrast lettering easy-to-find directories, and accessible parking.

§ (2)

Law enforcement

Law enforcement officers, and in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and local governments in municipalities are required to enforce this law.

Article (3)

Effective regulation and enforcement

The rule will come into force from the date it will be signed into a law by the President.

By Cabaas Idiris, Ex John Drysdale

from The Guardian (London), ( 25 June, 1991)

John Drysdale reports on the unrecognized independence of the Republic of Somaliland.

THEIR economy crushed by civil war and their new state unrecognised by the world, the people of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland have hit rock bottom. Paradoxically, it has brought out the best In many of them, a realisation that their future lies in their own hands.

Jama Mohamoud, aged So, is an example. He was wounded in an engagement with the forces of Mohammed Siad Barre, since deposed as President of Somalia. Gangrene set in. His leg was sawn off below the knee in the bush, and Jama waited for it to heal. “That was the painful part,” he said.

He carved a wooden leg and secured it to his trouser belt. Now he walks briskly with only a walking stick, saying: “I’m lucky to be alive.”

On May 16 – four months after Siad Barre was ousted – the people of the northern regions of Somalia forced their political leaders to declare an independent Somaliland. Political leaders in the southern regions have refused to accept the declaration.

War and adversity seem to have heightened pride in the north. Children who forever held out a hand for baksheesh now disdain a tip for helping to carry baggage.

Paid only with rations, absurdly young ex-rebel soldiers carrying Kalashnikovs and wearing bits of uniform patrol the cities and man roadblocks. They generally keep security under control, as evidenced by the 800 miles I travelled without an armed escort.

Along with security has come a revival of private enterprise, long dormant under President Siad Barre who stifled the north’s vital export trade and closed the port of Berbera.

The breakaway attempt has its roots in 100 years of colonial history. The empires of Britain, Italy, France and Ethiopia all ruled the Somalis and it was the prospect of a united people in a Greater Somalia that led to the creation of Somalia in 1960.

The new country comprised the old Italian Somaliland in the south and the British Somaliland Protectorate to the north, but not the Somali-inhabited Haud and Ogaden areas which remained under the Ethiopians.

A military coup d’etat in 1969 replaced the democratically elected government and brought Marxist socialism under President Siad Barre.

But Soviet support switched to Ethiopia, and after a Somali invasion was repulsed by the Ethiopians with Soviet help in 1977, President Siad Barre changed to a course of ethnic nepotism and what amounted to genocide towards the main northern clan group, known as the Isaq. They in turn formed the Somali National Movement (SNM) in 1982 to overthrow the Mogadishu regime.

In May 1988 the two forces joined battle. The SNM held the rural areas and the Siad Barre forces held the depopulated cities, surrounding themselves with minefields, which are still in place today.

With the overthrow of President Siad Barre in January by the forces of the United Somali I Congress (USC) in Mogadishu, and the surrender of his army to the SNM in the north, the war – though not the internecine struggles of the Hawiye clan now ruling in the south – came to an end.

In the notch, a groundswell of opinion began pressing SNM leaders to seize the moment and declare Independence.

Little development aid has ever reached the north from the capital. Net foreign aid donations since 1987 to Somalia amounted to Dollars l.48 billion (Britain contributing $1.9 million). Out of this, the northern regions received 6.4 per cent, though their 3 million people are estimated to be 30-40 per cent of the country’s total.

The minimal economic interdependence of the two parts of the country is matched by a cultural divide, despite Somalia’s status – rare in Africa – as a homogeneous state.

While some northerners have become wealthy in Mogadishu, the dominant “Italian Somalis” of the south are distinct in their practices from the northern “British Somalis”. The only university (in Mogadishu) makes Italian a prerequisite.

The leaders of the new regime in Mogadishu have neither visited the north nor initiated constitutional proposals, such as regional autonomy.

But the priority in the north now is to revive the economy, left without electricity, piped water, postal services and telephones. Street trade has come to life in the shade of roofless, battle-scarred shops. Local engineers and architects are working on electricity, water and building plans.

Exports to the Saudi peninsula, however, are the life-blood of the northern economy camels, sheep and goats. Foreign livestock sales used to bring in 70 90 per cent of Somalia’s export earnings, predominantly from the north. They totalled $182 million in 1981. In the past two months, since the Berbera port reopened, exports have risen from nought to more than 1,000 head a day.

But lack of veterinary drugs and the absence of telecommunications are frustrating expansion; and trade. including the food imports, depends on fuel. A gift from Sharjah has filled up the Berbera fuel tanks but Arab Nur, the unpaid petroleum manager, says this is likely to run out by September.

The new central government has to rely on donations from overseas Somalis and on customs duties. The unpaid customs officer at Berbera, Ahmed Isman, showed me the first entries of duties paid – $42,000. It was a start for a resident people who desperately need outside help but cannot quite see their way to asking for it.

John Drysdale has just completed a three-week independent study of reconstruction needs in Somaliland.

By Hared Odah

Contrary to the rumored Gar-Adag Accord, aka Burao Accord, Silanyo has decided to run for a second term. The DAM-JADEED Wing of KULMIYE has been in full gear for some time by using WADAAD Trojan horses to derail BIHI’s presidential ambition and, therefore, secure a second term Presidential candidacy for Silanyo.

This shrewd strategy was, and still is, designed to keep the presidency in the hands of Silanyo’s DAMJADEED surrogates. Given his age and ill health, a second term gives Silanyo the constitutional prerogative to resign due to ill health within three years. Article 89, section 1, of our constitution sets forth if any of the conditions for presidency vacancy as stipulated in Article 86 — criminal conviction, death, ill health or resignation — gets parliament consent, then “… the Vice President shall act as a temporary President, and the election of the President shall be held within six months.”

In this Scenario, Sayli’i becomes a caretaker President for six months. Barring any last minute manoeuvre by the BIHI/KAHIN Wing to stop the DAMJADEED plans, a soon-to-be nominated Silanyo’s crony in the forthcoming Erigavo conference will run against the pre-planned weaker candidates of WADDANI and UCID.

The delay tactic of Silanyo is meant to get under BIHI’s skin and, therefore, force the BIHI/KAHIN alliance to forfeit their chance for the ticket by BIHI falling for the proverbial tactic “MUUSE WAA KAA!” The question is: Does the BIHI/KAHIN Wing have what it takes to come up with a DAN-GADIID strategy and beat Silanyo at his own game?

Although all children develop in their own unique fashion, as a direct result of both hereditary and environmental influences, there is a certain pattern of development that applies to nearly all children. It is crucial for today’s teachers and educators to have a thorough understanding of that development. Schools today play an important role in the socialization of children and therefore it is critical that teachers know how to best socialize their students. An understanding of basic human developmental stages can be used to gear the teacher’s lesson plans in order to maximize the success of students in Somaliland both the academic and the social realms of their lives. This understanding can also be used to minimize problems in the classroom In Somaliland where most of the teachers aren’t well-trained and teachers are badly scolding the students and students are abusing their teachers.

Human development is one of the biggest contributing factors to human behavior. As children go through their different stages of life, they approach learning in different ways. When Teacher or an educator has an intricate understanding of human development, he or she can use that understanding to make assessments about the behaviors of children in the classroom. This can be used to prevent problems in the classroom that often result from normal developmental acting out behavior. Such problems may also occur as a result of having a small number of children within the larger classroom who are at a different developmental stage of their lives from the stage of the other students.

Most of Somaliland Teachers do not understand the role of development in the behavior of the classroom and often find that they are frustrated in their working lives. This is because they simply cannot relate to why their approach to teaching the children is not working. As usual happens in Somaliland schools Teacher who fail to gear their lessons and teaching approach to the correct developmental stage will find that they are not reaching the children in their classrooms. This can upset the power balance between student and teacher and creating a chaotic classroom environment.

Additionally, most of the teachers in Somaliland always fail to understand the developmental stages of their students frequently have problems with one or two specific students. These are generally the students who are developing at a slower (or occasionally faster) pace than the larger group, and so they stand out to the teacher. For my experience of teaching without an understanding of why that particular student’s behavior may differ from the behavior of the other students, most teachers in Somaliland may feel that the student is merely a problem student and start to beat him/her. This also leads to a chaotic classroom environment, which is problematic not only for the teacher but also for the individual’s students who may fail to accomplish appropriate development as a result.

It is critical that the adults who are in a child’s life, especially during critical developmental stages, are able to successfully lead these children through completion of each stage and on in to the next developmental stages of their lives. For example, the stage when children go through middle school is a time when they can be heavily influenced by external factors. With the pull of peer pressure in place, teachers may find it difficult to reach their students at this stage of life. However, there are numerous things that middle school teacher/educators can do to positively influence the students in their classrooms, creating a more positive classroom environment and contributing to the development of each individual student.

All in all the importance of Teachers and educators understands of their students’ developmental stages is clear. Teacher/ Educators play a critical role in the socialization of their students. Middle school is a particularly time of great confusion and a time when students are undergoing dramatic changes that will shape who they are for the rest of their lives. By teaching them appropriate socialization and helping them to develop a strong sense of personal identity, teachers in Somaliland can lead the children and overall Somaliland students in to becoming healthy well-developed adults.

Mohamoud Dahir Omar

Education Analyst

Tell: 0634423327

By Goth Mohamed Goth

Somaliland Minister of Mining and Energy Hon Hussein Abdi Dualeh today received representatives of Ras al Khaimah Gas Company LLC (RAKGAS) lead by Mr. Osama Abdulla Aal and his associate who are currently visiting the country.

Hon Dualeh speaking during today’s press conference said, “The visiting “RAKGAS” officials are in the country in regarding the execution of the production sharing Agreement (PSA) with government of Somaliland, for the exploration of Block SL9 and SL12 respectively and to facilitate the start the of the Explorations & oil extraction operations by the UAE owned company in the country which is due to commence in March 2014.

Mr. Dualeh added that, “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Ras al Khaimah Gas Company LLC (RAKGAS) as we look to develop the oil and gas industry in Somaliland and we are looking forward for future cooperation.”

“This is the fourth oil company to announce it will start oil extraction operation in the country this year,” He stated

 Mr. Osama Abdulla Aal leading the visting RAKGas delegation said “, He was pleased to be working with the people and government of Somaliland especially the minister of energy for his hospitality and he hoped the deal will be fruitful to all.

Last year Somaliland Minister of Mining and Energy Hon Hussein Abdi Dualeh announced the execution of an amendment to the production sharing Agreement (PSA) with Ophir Energy plc (Ophir) and Ras al Khaimah Gas Company LLC (RAKGAS), for the exploration of Block SL9 and SL12 respectively.

The Amendment includes the awarding of additional acreage to Ophir and RAKGAS in lieu of signature bonus, the payments of surface rent, a participating interest and an improved work program.

About RAK Gas LLC

Established in 1984 RAK Gas LLC is the state natural gas utility of the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah in the UAE.

Ophir Energy plc was founded in 2004 in the UK and is the incorporated holding company of a group of companies with oil and gas exploration assets in a number of African states.

SomalilandPress.com

Mr. Abdiweli Ali Gaas was the only presidential candidate that went to the Sanaag Region of Somaliland, when he was campaigning for election. He visited the city of Badhan in December 2013; he openly announced the district of Badhan as part of Puntland state of Somalia. He was clearly campaigning in Sanaag Region of Somaliland without fear or hesitation. Other candidates did not go to any dispute cites, neither Sool nor Sanaag. The only candidate that tried to create provocation was Mr. Abdiweli. When he was in Badhan, he made a speech and he vowed that if he wins the election he would strive to establish his administration in Sanaag region particularly in Badhan city.

No one understands the reason behind Mr. Gas going to that district of Badhan. The election would not be one man one vote and everybody knows the handpicked members would vote for them. It really looks a litmus test. He tried to see how the Somaliland government would react. He will bring a military battalion in Sanaag region as soon as he transferred the power off to Puntland. Is this what the Somaliland government planned for?  Did they welcome this again?

The Somaliland people are peaceful people and would not like to hear cynical words, whether it comes from the elected leaders of Puntland or other federal leaders in Somalia

The president of Somaliland also welcomes and congratulations the elected leader of Puntland. Not only does the president welcome him, but his ministries also welcome him as well. Particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of State, the question are they really oblivious to what this man has done to the autonomy of Somaliland or do they not care about the sovereignty of the country.

This elected man (Mr. Gas) does not respect the nation of Somaliland and does not believed the existence of the country, therefore, he did not deserve what he has got form the leaders of the Somaliland. They must have condemned the violation that he committed when he was campaigning.   

This is not the first time that Mr. Gas has violated the existence of the Somaliland, but he also did when he was the Prime Minister of Somalia. He had denounced Somaliland’s existence. He has claimed that Somaliland is a part of Somalia. He knows the Somaliland people had withdrew the union after they voted in 2001.  

I don’t understand the reason behind the congratulations. He is not worthy of welcome and passing on good wishes to. Shame on you those who welcome him. He is supposed to refrain and stay away from the east regions of Somaliland as they did to his opponents like Abdurrahman Sheikh Faroole.  

By Osman Awad

By Abdirahman Mohamed Dirye

It is the first time more than two decades, one of the world’s leading newspaper, the Economist, based on her country’s foreign policy perhaps, a country many Somalilanders consider unfailing friend— and sometimes Somali false unionist call Somaliland’s “avuncular”  wrote  deadpan commentary starting with eulogy as Somaliland had already died and ending with  where we are today—directionless and miscalculated—the news article, how timely maybe, is bad as it could because  at the least it divine  the doomed fate of Somaliland unless we carry out overall reforms in foreign policy and take pragmatic steps not just we wait as the Economist advisably concludes. Despite the Economist absolutely error-free but if you just carefully read the title it is solecism because it has two negative words, and as rule, if I am not mistaken, if two negative goes together they turn positive. But the Economist intentionally did so for emphasis perhaps but the reason is enigma to me at the least. However; the Economist depicted the total foreign policy fiasco and how the damage is irreversible. I will recapitulate putting in my own terms, not theirs or yours, to spoonfeed the delusional mass readers who think we are on the right track.  

Let us quote the Economist by verbatim,  Bihi said ‘it (the recognition) will happen soon” the Economist added “his optimism is overblown” in other words his expectations are overinflated beyond the reality of the global cruel diplomacy. And the crew writers of the Economists lists many national, regional, and international factors including Somalia’s reluctance to accept reality on the ground negatively affect our chance of gain recognition —you read the original article to see all if you like.

The commentary repeatedly uses the word claim whenever Bihi, Somaliland foreign minister says something, “it will happen soon” or “how best disengage from each other” He claims. This word, among others with negative connotations, is deliberately used by the authors to tell readers  that Somaliland foreign minister argues something without substantiation and of just in his own imagination! Enough insult.

Unlike our tabloids and blogs, foreign newspapers like the Economists and New York Times directly or indirectly guided by their countries’ foreign policies. So this one-sided story clearly without any iota of doubt summarizes the sudden shift of the UK government’s position in regard to Somaliland independence from ally to hostile. Last month or so, her Majesty on behalf of the UK government, the Queen warmly received and dined with Somalia ambassador recently nominated by Damal jadeed of Isah-installed president of Somalia,  heavy blow to Somaliland foreign policy and gesture that the UK backed off our cause altogether!

However, the UK is free to recognize whomever he wishes and to pursue UK national interests anywhere in the world regardless of sensibility of foreigners. But this news article is the rude awakening to many of us who think Britain would be with us forever rather than with Mogadishu.

I don’t mean Bihi or other individual has to be blamed on this but I am asking what happened for the last two years? It was, in fact, diplomatic mess. Does the president “as fit as fiddle” as his cohorts always claim, read the Economist newspaper not for refuting and denial as usual but trying to adjust his policies accordingly? This reminds me of another big overriding issue written by the Indian Ocean Newsletter about the president’s health status: minor stroke hit the president; Ukuse took him to the Hargiesa Municipality and filmed walking. But the authenticity was in question.

 If you read it deeply you see their portrayal of the solitary confinement we endure without any hint of redeemer but the conclusion of the Economist “Hargiesa will wait”! Is bitter and inconclusive .How long shall we wait: another decade or another quarter century?

But the excuses that Somaliland nationhood would be catalyst for balkanization of Africa or the Horn are funny and lame: South Sudan case makes Somaliland recognition more unlikely is ridiculous. It is your fault. The western prematurely granted South Sudan without educating people of the modern state is.  This cliché, however, is repeatedly used against us to discredit our just cause. But it was much better to tell us that we failed to market our country for what Somaliland means for the major countries of the world in the terms of geopolitics, economy, and global security before Somalia’s foreign ministry revives. We can understand that.

The US recognized Mogadishu’s Damal jadeed led government, radical team cell  more dangerous than Morsi of Egypt for reasons they know because Sheikh Hassan and his Islamists are more or less  gave up abstract ideas of restoring caliphates and willed to work with Washington much like Arabia by keeping religion in Mosques and co-fulfilling US project in the Horn. Somewhat more civilized than ours who see the world through lens of? But things may improve.

The Economist News article especially the disappointing title has given us the break of fool’s paradise that we have been living in for two decades and alerted us to change the course “ politics of is the art of possibilities” once Dr Ismail Bubaa said. But fools in power might think the article is the work of the opposition parties of Jamal or Erro , especially Engineer Faysal Ali Warabe whom they deprived of the right of participating in the national overriding issues such as Turkey Talks.

There is only one positive element in the analysis that we do not need permission from Mogadishu to be recognized. Western governments says “… the first move should come out of Africa”, a continent unfamiliar with such bold moves. This demand is like catch-22, to have recognition is to go t the continental body, and to go to the AU is to have recognition!  “The chance happening looking slim” however, the Economist whether in favor or against us, has unreservedly told us that Somaliland’s foreign policy is malfunctioning by talking to the chief policymaker of Somaliland Mr. Bihi Yonis.   He didn’t elaborate what ways he would walk on to tackle the problem but just mere assertion “it will happen soon” but how? what is the pathway to it? He failed to mention clearly defined pathway to the recognition, a needle in haystack as well as mania of 3.5 million people.

Unfortunately, I’ve no recommendation or panacea in order to exit the state of limbo. But in my humble opinion, the matter needs the unity of all walks of life, not just Kulmiye or others but the unity itself eroded by bipartisan and tribal dirty politics where Faysal of UCID party called to enter negotiations with Somalia because the government does represent Garadag and small Gabilay businesses’ interests not his constituency or the nation as whole! Ministers in the government insist on that they went to Turkey to see Othman empire and ask additional Madrasas, not hospitals,  to crowd out Saudi ones and meet business leaders to have joint ventures back in Somaliland with the ministers.  No recognition talks at the all. And that is why the national opposition was left behind not to know what is deals are about.

Unity, however, is must to overcome the real challenges listed by the Economists. Let us be realistic and find out solutions to the problem without entertaining dead policy of the placement stones and false inauguration of false projects to rob the last penny our citizenry could donate to genuine charity. This will finally harm our unity. If Somaliland’s existence is quite uncertain by using Economist’s word “ slim” which means something can happen once out of trillions times! Check the meanings of probable, possible, slim, unlikely and etc to compare. However, Somaliland is at the stake now, so does Kulmiye convention matter? Does Wadani’s rhetoric matter? Does fundraising lavish feast for a country that does not exist internationally matter? Or simply we are more loyal to clannish bogus campaigns rather real issues that affect our lives?  According to the Economist, we held elections amazingly and blown Western minds away!  But that did not make us win recognition nor brought us any good.

The entire country’s is in mayhem, not just the foreign policy alone, and that is exactly the message of Economist newspaper conveyed to Bihi and us as well. Not too bad, and not too late, there is plenty of space and time to reshuffle, readjust to set the record straight. To acknowledge that one is failing is to acknowledge he or she is failing. That is the initial step towards tackling the problem. And we are far from it : Hirsi accompanies by Silanyo co-open Madrasa Yemeni or Kabul or Paki poetry center, they  co-throw stone for turban factory establishment in Eastern Buroa to manufacture militant uniform for heaven! What has that to do with our country’s diplomacy?  Sad drama is played out and unfolded in the wrong place.

If the genuine democracy of peaceful transfer of power and security cooperation with free world during Kahin’s reign didn’t work and brought no recognition, nothing will unless Somaliland diplomacy is restored to original context. Because the current government leader encounters nightmares— Akh iyo Uf was his worst haunted ghost —and often forgets by borrowing ex-minister Saed Sulub’ s euphemism for dementiaand thus unaware of anything and nothing under his control. 

 Hirsi, though unelected and ex-chief cashier and fundraiser for Garadag dirty clannish hatred convention that triggered the re-emergence of tribalism and disintegration of Somaliland, usurped the authority of the bedridden, aged president Silanyo who was his uncle, Hirsi followed him from the gathering from day one. Needless to prove it, just turn on the government TV or others, you hear Hirsi delivered speech in parliament covering all issues from health to foreign affairs or he goes to r*stroom. What nepotism! Utter mayhem.

 I wish Kulmiye to be sincere in Somaliland’s well-being and keen to avoid existential threats to their poor masses those were in state of limbo and uncertainty for over a quarter century now without single complaining, will take the necessary steps to address the listed challenges of the Economist newspaper.

If Silanyo regime listens to President Riyale Kahin’ well-meaning farewell of “I left country united and functioning… do not let this country to destroy by your hands…” all these could be avoided.

In nutshell, picturing how all options are shut, the Economist newspaper concluded that we to have to wait but never mentioned what exactly we are waiting for: union or split from the rest of Somalia creating another uncertainty. Uncertainty severely pains us all. Like dwindling Evangelists who expect Jesus will return to Palestine in their lifetime and kill or convert all Jews, waiting and waiting again and again will only demoralize the few honest people who cling to the Somaliland will one day join the family of nations, who knows maybe that is not distant.  Somaliland will never go to the dustbin of history as doomsayers always tell us to break our heart, never; it won’t, because God forbid that.