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Somaliland Office in Taiwan Rejects Sexual Misconduct Allegations

The Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan has...

Ministry of Information Spends 600,000 US Dollars to Fix a Decade Old Radio Station

According to a contract signed by the Minister of Information, Culture...

How Somalia is trying to Stifle Somaliland – US ties with an Online Troll and a pseudo-Charitable Organization

In February, June, and  August 2022, Mr. Okeke-Von Batten filed Lobby Disclosure Act...
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Analysis of the Long-Term Negative Impacts of The Active involvement of Tribal Elders in The Parliamentarians Selection Process With The Absence of Political Parties Constitutional Role

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Somaliland had experienced sustained peace, growing Democracy, and fruitful conflict resolution among Somaliland tribes to maintain unity. Furthermore, Somaliland held free and fair presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections and voted for the constitution, which received 97 percent approval to become an independent state in 2002.

Since the Somaliland political parties agreed on the parliamentary and council elections in 2020, many Somalilanders, including politicians, diaspora, civil servants,  and businessmen and women, have shown their interest in becoming candidates for the upcoming planned elections on May 31st, 2021. However, the parliamentarians’ flawed selection process due to tribal elders’ influence in the candidates’ selection process; most of the following Somaliland candidates for Parliament/Representatives do not possess prior expertise in legislation or worked in government sectors.

Therefore, if such an imperfect selection process that excluded women of public and political figures, i.e., Suad Armiye, continues and political parties neglect to choose the future Parliamentarians who have no experience and academic knowledge regarding public-law, politics, or international law. Political analysts forecast the likelihood of having the lowest quality parliamentarians ever elected due to the clan-based selection process that limited elite society, including educated men and women in Somaliland; thus, our upcoming parliamentarians will not serve the state.

Filling the house of Parliament with illiterates who have mostly passed the national examination board office’s screening process with fake certificates or backed up by the government will affect our legislative system in the long run. The qualification required from the Somaliland Parliament candidates is having a secondary school certificate or equivalent, as written in article 15 of conditions relating to House of Somaliland Representatives Election Law.[1]

Nonetheless, hundreds of losers were motivated to run for the legislature by tribal elders and the secondary or equivalent qualification. Simultaneously, putting a burden on those who were qualified or had previous working experience in law and related fields due to their lack of knowledge of the tribal influence in Somaliland politics or have insufficient funds to self-finance their campaigns.

In other words, the three political parties of Kulmiye, UCID, and Waddani favor those candidates promoted or unanimously agreed on by their tribes; because of fear of losing the majority of the tribal and ethnic clan votes if they nominate those candidates not approved by the tribal elders. It is worth mentioning that almost 70% or over of the running candidates do not qualify to hold such senior legislature positions due to having no understanding of what being a parliamentarian means.

The Somaliland constitution includes a principle of parliamentary sovereignty. It establishes Parliament as the supreme legal authority in Somaliland to make or repeal any law. A democratic parliament has several tasks to do; inside the house of Somaliland parliament. These include representing states, examine and criticize the evil work of the government (scrutiny), create and amend laws (legislation), debate the most pressing issues of the day (debating), and analyze and disapprove/approve the government’s spending (budget/taxes).

In Somaliland’s case of the upcoming Parliamentary elections, few candidates are competent enough to serve the nation and fulfill these roles mentioned above. Yet, most of the candidates running for these senior legislative positions lack or have misunderstood their roles.

The current Parliamentarians, whose term ended after sitting for the past fifteen years since 2005, had neither monitored nor accounted for the government’s unconstitutional acts during these fifteen years. Kulmiye government had signed unconstitutional agreements with external inventors, including DP World of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, whereby no official agreements availed to the representatives to comment, review, disapprove or approve it.[2]

Government officials have frequently harassed journalists, opposition figures, and other government critics. Additionally, due to the retaliation of their activities, several journalists and opposition activists have been briefly detained since 2009. The brutal acts and violations of human rights happened due to the passive role of the Parliament elected in 2005. [3]

Moreover, the long-sitting parliamentarians were reluctant to pass the replacing representatives’ election law. As a result, a disenfranchised generation with zero hope to elect their representative became a national issue threatening Somaliland youth. DW TV of Germany interviewed Somaliland youth who reported the concerns youth have over delayed parliamentary elections said:

“We are having a whole generation unable to elect their representatives because everyone who is under the age of 30 was not eligible to vote in 2005 when our parliament was elected,” says Guleid Ahmed Jama, a lawyer, and political analyst. “There is a detachment between the elected officials and the majority of the people in the city, who are suffering because of unemployment and other social issues.”[4]

The worst-case scenarios of the outgoing representatives were; they were not committed to check and balance the Executive Part of the government, but they merged themselves in the ruling party of Kulmiye. Representatives were mainly involved in dirty games of corruption, seeking government projects, and asking for a bribe in every Parliamentary motion to approve government fiscal policies, annual budget, and foreign agreements regarding mining and investment.

Notably, the President and Ministries of Kulmiye Party were not accountable in practical to the sitting Parliament for a long time. Due to this, very few legislations or laws were drafted or passed. Simultaneously, the unconstitutional government acts and taxpayer money’s corruption and unfair distribution remained to continue throughout the country because of the government’s Executive and legislative parts’ unlawful mix-up.[5]

Three political parties rule Somaliland, which is limited by the constitution to discourage clan-based and sub-clan parties and competition, which have previously caused tensions. However, such alliances continue to play an essential role in the region’s politics.[6] 

As experienced, clan elders are the kingmakers in Somaliland politics. Continuation of such clan-based politics will not only disable the country’s Democracy. Yet, it will negatively affect building a democratic state with an independent legislative system in the house of Parliament.

In a nutshell, the current representatives’ selection process will exclude capable women from the Parliament because of the gender gap and inequality. It will be a challenge to those elites, intellectuals, and politicians who are dreaming of democratizing Somaliland by creating an accountable and transparent environment for the three government components of the Executive, Parliament, and Judiciary.


[1] House of Representatives Election Law – Law No. 20-2/2005 – 2005

[2] Somaliland Parliament refuses DP World agreement on Berbera Port

[3] “Hostages to Peace” Threats to Human Rights and Democracy in Somaliland

[4] Somaliland is on a rocky political path

[5] Mohamud Hashi: The money-grubbing moron who fleeced Somaliland Civil Aviation Department

[6] Clan-based politics: Somaliland is on a rocky political path

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Khalid S. Dirir is a Political Analyst and holds MSc & Med in Development Studies and Advanced Education London, UK

Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of the Somaliland Chronicle, and its staff. 

Creative Commons License

Notice: This is an article by Somaliland Chronicle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Under this license, all reprints and non-commercial distribution of this work is permitted.

Training government officials in Cybersecurity in Somaliland is a remarkable move

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Dr Jama Musse Jama, PhD, Hargeysa Cultural Centre, @JamaMusse

I attended the launch of the cybersecurity training program for 35 government officials, responsible IT departments of the Republic of Somaliland ministries, and other government institutions. The team will be trained for 10 days at the University of Hargeysa by the UK-based Protection Group International (PGI), a cybersecurity specialized firm worked with over 50 countries worldwide including 21 African countries. The project is supported by the UK Government and implemented by the Somaliland Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

National Cybersecurity is a plan that requires a set of practices, tools, infrastructure, and most importantly qualified human resources specifically trained for the purpose. In contemporary times, every government needs to invest in securing its vital data as a nation as well as the data and identity of each and every one of its citizens. This requires an internal technical capacity building at the government level, but also developing rules and regulations to govern the IT security.

Numbers speak by themselves: over 26.6 billion devices active and connected to the Internet of Things in the year 2019, growing to 31 billion in 2020, and the projected numbers are impressive: 50 billion devices will be active and connected by 2030. This will shape the concept of security in technology, and of course, will create huge loopholes in the stability of the systems, but on the other hand, cybersecurity will create jobs, and Somaliland needs to get its share in this market for its young people and train them for this opportunity beforehand. The training launched today in Hargeysa, despite for now only for the government officials, is a remarkable move towards the modernization of the country.

National security, including cybersecurity, is a high-level top-down approach and the Somaliland government needs to build its own internal capacity in order to be able to protect the national assets (data) and keep its integrity, and foster a culture of security in its citizens. This of course can happen with a long-term national strategy for cybersecurity. That strategy should focus on producing qualified personnel and promoting cybersecurity education at every level of the national educational system. Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Abdiweli Abdillahi Soufi believes Somaliland is already in the process of implementing the national strategy launched last year, and he considers investing in human resources is what makes the strategy implementable. Addressing the trainees, he says “you are selected from your ministry to be the expert in cybersecurity for the government and represent in a way our ministry as qualified personnel who will act as the trainer of the future trainees. Providing you with a certification in your expertise is not to just give you a title, but to equip you with a tangible way to transfer the knowledge from outside and disseminate it inside of the country.”

The government needs to set the direction, define a localized regulatory framework and laws that govern the security, but delivering cybersecurity requires everyone to play their role – particularly big business, but also citizens. Therefore, along with the capacity building at the executive level, raising awareness among the citizens and mainly among the young generation will be a priority.

There are people that belief cyber might not a priority in Somaliland, but a country that is being built from the ground out has a unique opportunity to build the foundations right from the start rather than retrofit on old systems like the developed countries. Head of the UK Representative Office in Hargeysa, Stuart Brown highlighted the opportunity for Somaliland to become a frontrunner in the fourth-generation industrial revolution. “It may be a cliche, but in an interconnected world cybersecurity is a global challenge: your security is our security. As Somaliland builds its own e-Gov and digital ecosystems there is an opportunity to adopt an approach that is secure by design – a luxury we don’t have in the UK. This will increase trust in government platforms that one day could deliver public services digitally to all corners of Somaliland. It will also help increase investor confidence and create an environment conducive to developing homegrown talent, which in turn will be key to unlocking Somaliland’s potential to become a regional leader in the digital sector” says Mr. Brown.

Sebastian Madden, Chief Corporate Development Officer at PGI sees both challenges and opportunities in developing the strong cybersecurity apparatus required to enable digital strategies in Africa. He praises Somaliland’s decision to develop self-sustaining national capability through this programme. Mr. Madden says: “The global shortage of cybersecurity skills means countries are struggling to recruit, retain and afford the people they need to mitigate the cybersecurity risks to their programmes. PGI has therefore specialised in helping countries develop the cybersecurity training capabilities they need to develop their own security professionals. The skills we are teaching over the next ten days are the key foundations on which all cybersecurity careers are built. And the Ministry of ICT’s decision to train trainers alongside the staff receiving the training programme will give Somaliland the ability to deliver these courses itself to future generations of security professionals.”

The defense system of the nation needs to be responsive to the new attacks, which may not necessarily happen indirect attack to damage the data but by having access to unauthorized content and misusing it for own advantage. This will require a defense system of protecting these contents against those attackers. I would have loved to hear today here the voice of the ministry of defense as well because the cybersecurity issues had an impact also on the military and other defense apparatus.

Finally, cybersecurity comes with new forms of crimes, and there is a need for a new vision in terms of regulatory framework, laws, and procedures to handle it. Every level of security and safety apparatus needs to improve, including the investigation department. The Minister mentioned the draft of the law governing the ICT, including cybersecurity and cybercrimes is ready and in its final reading. This is certainly good news.

I am happy to see the Somaliland Government is taking the lead in the region in all these elements I have mentioned. Congratulation to the entire Ministry team, and I appreciate to testimony that, with the support of UKAID, things are moving in the right direction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Jama Musse Jama has a Ph.D. in Computational Linguistics and has extensive research publications in mathematics, ICT, and the role of art and culture in development. Founder of the Hargeysa International Book Fair, and currently Director of the Hargeysa Cultural Centre in Somaliland, Dr. Jama has also a Senior Research Associate position at DPU, University College London, UK. He occasionally writes on Somaliland Chronicle in a personal capacity, and he can be reached on Twitter @JamaMusse.

Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of the Somaliland Chronicle, and its staff. 

Creative Commons License

Notice: This is an article by Somaliland Chronicle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Under this license, all reprints and non-commercial distribution of this work is permitted.

Breaking – Somaliland Received 65,000 Single Doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX

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According to sources from the Ministry of Health Development, the 65,000 vaccines received yesterday by the government of Somaliland are only one of the two recommended doses of the vaccine. As recommended by the vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca and the World Health Organization, the second dose that should be administered within 8 to 12 weeks is not included in the received shipment of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX.

Somaliland government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity did know why only one of the recommended doses were shipped but were hopeful that the issue would be remedied within 8 to 12 weeks and added that Somaliland is looking to other sources of vaccine beyond the COVAX program.

Although not directly linked, many countries have paused the use of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine after a small number of recipients have experienced blood clots, some of them fatal.

The President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi, addressing an initial public offering of Dahabshiil Group spoke of the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine and stated that vaccination is entirely voluntary and that he will be the first one to take it when its administration starts on Saturday.

It is unclear if President Bihi is aware that the vaccines Somaliland has received through the COVAX program are only one of the two recommended doses and it is also unclear if Somaliland will be getting the second dose of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine within the recommended period.

An official who spoke on the matter of this particular vaccine and the fact that many countries have paused its use stated that most medications have side effects and the risk of COVID-19 infection outweighs concerns of potential side effects.

COVID-19 infections have been surging in Somaliland lately and no new government efforts have been announced to curb the spread of the virus. Two days ago the Vice President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Abdirahman Ismail Saylici announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been struggling with it the last three days. Other officials including the Minister of Finance Development Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire and the Deputy Minister of Health Hon Mahdi Osman Buri were reported to have also tested positive for COVID.

MSF – People left with few healthcare options in Tigray as facilities looted, destroyed

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Press Release

  • Violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has extended to attacks on health facilities, with barely one in 10 functioning.
  • Of the 106 health facilities MSF teams visited, one in five had been or was occupied by armed soldiers; one facility is being used as an army base.
  • The damaged, looted facilities and resulting lack of medical staff means people in the region have very little access to healthcare.
  • MSF urges all armed groups in the area to respect medical facilities and for services to be restored as soon as possible.

ADDIS ABABA – Health facilities across Ethiopia’s Tigray region have been looted, vandalised and destroyed in a deliberate and widespread attack on healthcare, according to teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Of 106 health facilities visited by MSF teams between mid-December 2020 and early March 2021, nearly 70% had been looted, and more than 30% had been damaged; just 13% were functioning normally.

In some health facilities across Tigray, the looting of health facilities continues, according to MSF teams. While some looting may have been opportunistic, health facilities in most areas appear to have been deliberately vandalised to make them non-functional.  In many health centres, such as in Debre Abay and May Kuhli in North-West Tigray, teams found destroyed equipment, smashed doors and windows, and medicine and patient files scattered across floors.

In Adwa hospital in central Tigray, medical equipment, including ultrasound machines and monitors, had been deliberately smashed. In the same region, the health facility in Semema was reportedly looted twice by soldiers before being set on fire, while the health centre in Sebeya was hit by rockets, destroying the delivery room.

MSF teams recently visited 106 medical facilities across Tigray region, Ethiopia. Of the facilities visited:

Hospitals occupied by soldiers

Every fifth health facility visited by MSF teams was occupied by soldiers. In some instances, this was temporary; in others the armed occupation continues. In Mugulat in east Tigray, Eritrean soldiers are still using the health facility as their base. The hospital in Abiy Addi in central Tigray, which serves a population of half a million, was occupied by Ethiopian forces until early March.

“The army used Abiy Addi hospital as a military base and to stabilise their injured soldiers,” says Kate Nolan, MSF emergency coordinator. “During that time, it was not accessible to the general population.”

Health facilities and health staff need to be protected during a conflict, in accordance with international humanitarian law. This is clearly not happening in Tigray.
OLIVER BEHN, MSF GENERAL DIRECTOR
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Ambulances seized

Few health facilities in Tigray now have ambulances, as most have been seized by armed groups. In and around the city of Adigrat in east Tigray, for example, some 20 ambulances were taken from the hospital and nearby health centres.

Later, MSF teams saw some of these vehicles being used by soldiers near the Eritrean border, to transport goods. As a result, the referral system in Tigray for transporting sick patients is almost non-existent. Patients travel long distances, sometimes walking for days, to reach essential health services.

Many health facilities have few – or no – remaining staff. Some have fled in fear; others no longer come to work because they have not been paid in months.

Devastating impact on people

“The attacks on Tigray’s health facilities are having a devastating impact on people,” says Oliver Behn, MSF general director. “Health facilities and health staff need to be protected during a conflict, in accordance with international humanitarian law. This is clearly not happening in Tigray.”

Before the conflict began in November 2020, Tigray had one of the best health systems in Ethiopia, with health posts in villages, health centres and hospitals in towns, and a functioning referral system with ambulances transporting sick patients to hospital. This health system has now almost completely collapsed.ATTACKS ON MEDICAL FACILITIES IN TIGRAY

MSF staff conducting mobile clinics in rural areas of Tigray hear of women who have died in childbirth, because they were unable to get to a hospital due to the lack of ambulances, rampant insecurity on the roads and a night-time curfew. Meanwhile, many women are giving birth in unhygienic conditions in informal displacement camps.

In the past four months, few pregnant women have received antenatal or postnatal care, and children have gone unvaccinated, raising the risk of future outbreaks of infectious diseases. Patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and HIV, as well as psychiatric patients, are going without lifesaving drugs. Victims of sexual violence are often unable to get medical and psychological care.

“The health system needs to be restored as soon as possible,” says Behn. “Health facilities need to be rehabilitated and receive more supplies and ambulances, and staff need to receive salaries and the opportunity to work in a safe environment. Most importantly, all armed groups in this conflict need to respect and protect health facilities and medical staff.”

MSF teams are rehabilitating a number of health facilities across the region and providing them with drugs and other medical supplies, as well as providing hands-on medical support in emergency rooms, maternity wards and outpatient departments. MSF teams are also running mobile clinics in rural towns and villages where the health system is not functioning, and in informal sites where displaced people are staying. However, there are still rural areas in Tigray that neither MSF, nor any other organisation, has been able to reach; MSF can only assume that people living in these areas are also without access to healthcare. 

President Muse Bihi Abdi’s Job Performance Review Poll

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Evaluate Your President

The President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi has been in office for more than three years and it is important that the public has a way of evaluating their elected leaders, today, we are conducting our second poll to gauge the public opinion on the performance of President Muse Bihi Abdi and his Administration. 

Voting is open until midnight March 26th and will publish the results as soon as it closes. Remember to scroll down to answer all questions.

President Bihi Welcomes the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Somaliland

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The President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi has accepted the credentials of the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Somaliland. This is according to a statement released by the Presidency this afternoon. Ambassador Abdulla Alnaqbi would be the first official emissary of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Somaliland since its independence in 1991.

President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi [left] with Ambassador of the UAE Alqanbi

According to the statement from the Presidency, Ambassador Alqanbi has extended greetings from the government of the United Arab Emirates to President Bihi.

The United Arab Emirates has been the largest direct foreign investor in Somaliland via Dubai DP World Port’s 450 million US dollar Berbera port expansion and management deal signed between the two countries many years ago.

The United Arab Emirates has been the latest Villa Somalia target for harassment following its statement on Somalia’s failed elections and referring to Mr. Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo as interim President. Somalia has also in the past lodged numerous protests against the UAE especially following the signing of Berbera DP World Port deal. It is unclear if any of Somalia’s diplomatic belligerence has prompted the UAE to tacitly recognize Somaliland and send Ambassador Alqanbi.

Under President Bihi, Somaliland has enjoyed a string of diplomatic successes starting with the establishment of bilateral ties with Taiwan last year.

Minister of Education Rebukes and Threatens Legal Action against Privately-Owned Schools and Students following Riots

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Following back-to-back student riots at two of the largest privately-owned schools in Hargeisa, Nuradin Boys’ School and Salama private schools, the Minister of Education and Science Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Diriye Egeh has rebuked and issued a stern warning to the privately-owned schools to immediately implement COVID-19 directives and to stop forcing students to purchase books and school lunches from them among other issues.

The student riot at Salaama private school was disbursed by police and government response to the incident was swift where many officials have been onsite and updated the public and the media. This follows another riot a week prior at Nuradin school that has caused major property damage to the school. No death or injuries were reported on either incident.

Although the reason for the riot at Salama school was not immediately known, the prior incident on March 3rd at Nuradin school follows the dismissal of a student who posted a complaint on social media about the school’s business practices including an allegation that the school is openly violating COVID-19 prevention directives and that students are prohibited from purchasing anything including lunch from outside the school.

The Minister of Education and Science Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Diriye Egeh stated that violation of COVID-19 prevention directives would no longer be tolerated and would result in the immediate revocation of their operating license.

Before the news of yesterday’s riot at Salaama school, a committee tasked with investigating the incident at Nuradin has issued a report recommending that include the prohibition of charging students any fees except the monthly fees and that students can purchase textbooks anywhere they wish and that Nuradin school should immediately stop selling textbooks.

The recommendation of the committee seems to vindicate points raised by the student that posted the complaint against Nuradin on social that reported sparked the riot.

In the press briefing, the Minister of Education and Science Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Diriye Egeh said “Any school caught with more than 45 students sitting in a class and not adhering to the ministry’s directive for social distances their licenses will be revoked within the hour. The time for tolerance and grace period is over.”. He added that in addition to the revocation of the operating license the government will prosecute violators to the fullest extent of the law.

Speaking on the additional fees the students have alleged the private schools assess, the minister states that it is against the law to charge students any fees except the monthly fee as part of the directives of the COVID-19 prevention.

The minister also spoke on the other allegation that students are forced to purchase textbooks, lunches, and anything they may need from the school itself and are unable to do so on the open market and asked rhetorically if the school owners consider the pupils to be their property and said students are free to purchase books and lunches from anywhere they want.

The minister who seemed livid mentioned that the owners of private schools may be colluding on WhatsApp groups and added that the government will recognize them as a criminal element waging a war against the government and that the government knows how to deal with that.

Continuing his speech, the minister called upon privately-owned schools to work with the ministry and stated that they should not think they not equal to the government and that no one is above the law.

To the students, the minister said that they can register their grievances with the ministry and warned them of slandering their schools on social media, and stated that libel is a criminal offense in Somaliland.

“If someone is charging you a fee they shouldn’t or is forcing you to purchase textbooks from the school or school lunch can be only purchased from the school-owned cafeteria, or you think you have been suspended unfairly, you can file a complaint to our call center at 9666, this line can be called from all telecom companies that operate in Somaliland. But any student that says I will not file a complaint but would rather take the law into their hands. They will be caught with an iron fist and steps will be taken against them” said Minister Diriye.

“This is the second riot in 10 days, and steps will be taken against anyone who participated even if they broke a small window as they have destroyed a property that belongs to Somaliland” he said.

Minister Diriye stated that it is thought or even suspected that the rioters may be trying to destabilize Somaliland’s security at the direction of external actors and that will be investigated. His speech did not reconcile the unfair treatment of the students that he referred to in his previous part of the speech where he addressed and threatened legal action against the owners of the privately-owned schools.

Annual Constitutional Address of The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi

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The following is the verbatim annual constitutional address of the President of the Republic of Somaliland in a joint session of parliament as published by the Presidency.

Monday, March 8, 2021

• Chairman of the Parliament
• Honorable Members of Parliament
• Chairman of the Supreme Court
• Commanders of the National Armed Forces
• The People of Somaliland wherever they are

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honor and privilege to be in the Parliament of the Republic of Somaliland to deliver the 2021 annual address to the nation.

The year 2020 began with a global virus that affected the whole world and at the same time made a total change in the way societies live. More than, 2.5 million people lost their lives and millions in different parts of the world had been affected by the virus. But it was a year that ended with a low effect and great success achieved in science and vaccines.

2021 was a year of stability and peace for Somaliland. It was a year that we have realized great success politically and diplomatically and our case has found different international forums where we can present them.

Last year, in the whole region where we live and the rest of the entire world there was a great change in the socio-economic, military, and political alliances which transformed the political and military features of the world. There were conflicts and wars which had great damage in many parts of the world. It is important to remind ourselves that these wars manifested the power of more than technology and the change they brought on the methods and tactics of war.

It was a year when an unprecedented election and great distortions happened in the Unites States which was the greatest trial and obstacles that Western democracy and elections had to face.

For Somaliland, the year was a great achievement for realizing total political peace and security. The government, the political parties, the Electoral Commission, Parliament, and the people of Somaliland united to hold the dual election of the House of Representatives and Local Government elections.

Economic

In regard to the economical categories of the world, Somaliland is considered to be one of the low economy countries. Although that exists, its continued economic development is being realized by the efforts of the different government efforts and businessmen who invested in the country. The government under my leadership is making a great effort to realize economic growth.

The four pillars of our economic:

  • Revenue collected by Public Financial Institutions
  • Investment and economic development by businessmen who have the main economy in their hands.
  • Somaliland Diaspora’s support and the investment in the country
  • Foreign investment and international aid.

51.67% of our income and the budget passed by the House of Representatives are used for national security, defense, and salary for civil servants. The rest of the budget is used for basic infrastructures and different activities such as the quest for recognition, job creation, development projects, infrastructure, education, health and access to drinkable water, etc.

The majority of international aids we receive are humanitarian and emergency support, as well as pilot projects. The political status for the country and sabotage by the government of Mogadishu are great obstacles to get foreign aid and major international investment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our constitution pinpoints the structure and the economic administration of the country. Article 12 of the constitutions clearly provides that the government is responsible to establish the economic policy of the country which is based on free market and cooperation with the private sector, Public property commonly owned by the nation, Public assets and foreign investment.

According to the constitution, it is imperative that the economic policy of the country doesn’t allow the wealth and resources of the country to be in the hands of a group(s) or individuals in order to avoid the creation of economic classes which divides the people to have and have not’s. Similarly, Article 12 of the constitution promulgate that land is public property owned by the nation, and the state responsible.

To overcome economic difficulties such as unemployment and to develop economic infrastructures the government will implement laws to achieve vision and mission as enshrined in the constitution.

Since our reclamation of independence, the revenue system of the country depended on customs and tax. This is an outdated system of taxation that cannot be depended on. 78% of our budget depends on revenue collected from customs, while 22% of the budget is from Inland Revenue. As a nation, to be self-sufficient the government is trying to change the former revenue system. We are a nation whose income is low and who have low savings.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Last year, Somaliland had to overcome many major obstacles which had great impact on our economy such as

  • Covid-19 had an impact on millions of people globally.
  • Ban of livestock export.
  • Effect of locust on our agricultural production.

Although these obstacles existed, the government had made great efforts to develop and improve the economy such as:

  • 106 projects were financed from the national budget at the cost of 173 billion SL shilling. All those projects were implemented via tender.
  • In 2021 our plan is to implement projects at the cost of 273 billion SL shillings.
  • Development projects at the cost of 163.6 billion SL Shillings were realized by foreign aid we received. We thank our friends for their supports and at the same time, we inform them that Somaliland needs more support.
  • The number of civil servants increased by 10%. In the last three years the number of civil servants increased by 5,150 people which is an increase of 26%.
  • Although the government employed so many Civil Servants, this is a very low number compared to unemployment in the country.
  • Looking at the GDP, the government manages less than 10%. We can deduce that the budget of the government cannot cover unemployment and poverty alone. This shows that a great responsibility of job creation and development of the economy depends on the free market as mentioned by the constitution.
  • The value of Somaliland shilling is current around 8,500 SL shillings for the dollar. Inflation has decreased by 3.5% which is the lowest in recent years.
  • There are four private banks in the country. The people have deposit of 200 million dollars. Last year the four banks have lent 70 million dollars, which means that they have 130 million dollars in the treasury which is not being used. This money which is idle can be used for developing industries, constructing modern hospitals and creating jobs.
  • We don’t have international banks in the country. Although our local banks have their problems, we encourage them to target working like international banks which uses the deposit they have.
  • We established The Institute of Agricultural Research with the aim of modernizing and developing farming and irrigation in the country to achieve self-sufficient on agricultural production.
  • We are aware that the original seeds of our crops have vanished and the as such we have succeeded in reviving 23 different types of seeds which were popular in the country. We aim to establish a National Seed Bank.
  • We have also vaccinated 3, 000,000 heads and 81, 000 nomadic families have benefited from thi.
  • Construction of fishing port at Maydh began with 5 million dollar.
  • The first phase of 400 meter construction of Berbera port is 100% complete. The port will have the capacity of serving 450 thousand containers per year, while its current capacity at present is 150 thousand containers. This will be an increase of 67%. Modernization of the port of Berbera targets serving the whole region.
  • Berbera airport is being internationalized this year and will serve goods and the people of the region.
  • The construction of Berbera corridor although delayed is moving at good speed.
  • 252 km of Buroa-Erigavo road construction is complete. Only 32 km is remaining and this will be completed soon
  • The 53 km Odweyne-Buroa road construction has begun and will be completed very soon “Insha Allah.”
  • Construction of Lowyacaddo-Borama road which is being financed by African Development Bank will begin after the survey is completed.
  • Tarmac road connecting Las-Anod airport with the centre of the town has been completed.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Somaliland is a rich country which can realize self-sufficiency in economy if we cooperate.

If the government becomes the guardian of the security,
If the government is the major job creator,
If the government is the main service provider
Yet, there is unemployment and the basic needs of the society which need to be taken care of as a nation.

Public Services

  • Education: We have built 76 schools, 400 teachers have completed their trainings and 670 others under training.
  • Health: 589 thousand children have been vaccinated.
  • 1.5 million Patients were treated in public hospitals and that is 12% more than last year.
  • There is an increase of mental illness, diabetic, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and kidney diseases. This is due to climate change, way of life and socio-economic of the society.
  • Last year, according to Ministry of Health, the number of patients who went abroad for treatment were 5,600 people with an average expense of 10 thousand dollars each that means that the society has spent 56 million dollars for treatment abroad. These indicate that society through cooperation can build modern hospitals in the country. This is an economic-bleeding and it is an issue that the public and the government should deal with.
  • 42 bore-wells were dug in 38 districts in different regions and 16 others were rehabilitated.
  • 81 ordinary wells were also dug in the different regions
  • 13 large dams were built.

Security

The world classifies security into three main parts- Security and defense armed defense, peace and order.

Security and Defence

Thank God, Somaliland has armed forces that cannot that can be depended on, strong, valiant, experienced heroes on which the national security, defense and stability is relies on. The government and the people have the same vision to prioritize security and the people of Somaliland are grateful for them and have high esteem for them.

Rule of Law

Rule of Law can be achieved by raising the awareness and knowhow of the people. This will help the society on how to solve difficulties they face; it will unite them physically and mentally. This step will help achieve economic development and create a good administration which brings about rule of law. The government will secure the stability through raising their awareness and understanding and will use its power to ascertain stability when required. Rule of law, will help the society to have something in common, cooperate and trust each other. That is the core which the Judiciary is interested with. The judiciary is the binding factor of the society and as such it gives priority to:

  • Protection of rights of citizens and equality
  • Adjudication of disputes in the society
  • Adjudication between the society and government
  • And interpretation of legal disputes within government institutions

The stability of the society can be realized by having equal opportunities for employment, economy, education, and support of the vulnerable groups in the society. To realize this government has established National Service Program to give opportunities to Somaliland youth. We have insisted Civil Service Commission give job opportunities in government institutions through fair and equal competition, in order to avoid suspension and mal-affect of in harmony the society.

To give special consideration for the vulnerable groups in the society

  • Economic support was given to 32,000 families living in different regions
  • 18,976 girls were trained with different vocational skills and were provided money to establish small business.
  • Food and other goods were distributed to more than 70,000 IDPs families.
  • $320,000 were distributed to 4,500 IDPs families

Good Governance:

We believe that good governance is one of the main pillars which guarantee social security, development of the nation and the realization of good governance for the government. It can also take part in the structure and services the government provides for the public, therefore:

  • A major reform was made in the National Auditor General System.
  • Major steps were taken against embezzlement of public funds by financial and administrative auditing on 72 government institutions. 31 public officials are accused and waiting on trail.
  • 5 billion SL shillings which were embezzled were returned to the public treasury.
  • Laws dealing with financial and administration investigation were strengthened.

Ladies/Gentlemen

Although the government had made great efforts to decrease different kinds of crimes in the country, it succeeded to some extent but hasn’t reached level it aspires to reach.

  • For example, 4,824 crime cases were brought to the court.
  • The numbers of inmates in the prisons are 2,904 of which most of them are young.
  • 377 cases were registered as theft.
  • 142 cases are registered as rape.
  • 535 crime cases were registered to be related to drug selling business
  • 302 cases were registered as car accidents.

The government after seeing the enormous difficulties and the reasons behind these crimes decided on ways of reducing this:

  • Reducing poverty
  • Awareness to be given by experts on crimes
  • The government strengthening the law pertaining to control crimes, such as car accidents and drug.
  • The government will fight crimes related to murder, drugs, and rape.

4. Elections

Ladies/Gentlemen,

Somaliland is widely respected for its democracy, peace, and stability. These are two issues which regions in the country are not enjoying. We were implementing free and fair elections, one-man-one-vote for the last 19 years. This has attracted international respect and prestige. Thank God that we are ready to hold the dual-election of the House of Representative and the local governments-which we have waiting for a long time to be held after 83 days. The wind of the forthcoming elections is blowing in all the regions of Somaliland.

We thank the House of Parliament, political parties, election committee, security forces, candidates, and the people of Somaliland for accepting to hold a one-man-one-vote election peacefully. This is a sign of the political maturity of Somaliland. The government has prepared 132.6 billion SL Shilling for voter registration and elections.

When we began the process of election, Somaliland’s friends promised to support us financially. We have received the first part of their support of 50.1 billion SL. Shillings. The financial support of 33.1 billion SL Shilling was paid/to be paid by UK, Sweden, EU. Taiwan paid 17 billion for the election fund.

The government of Somaliland has decided to hold the election because elections decide the destiny of the people and that is our responsibility.

Ladies/Gentlemen,

The numbers of candidates who have registered are 993. They have all gone through the legal procedure in which their education, efficiency, the responsibility were investigated. We commend them and we have respect for them. People who play football say “the 2 colors of a ball is white and black.” Similarly the voting card is “yes” and “no.” We have to know that only 331 candidates will have the “yes” card.

Ladies/Gentlemen,

83 days only have remained to Ballot Day, and we know the number of candidates who will win. The only thing that we don’t know is their names and their appearances. I would urge you knowing the number of those who will succeed to accept the decision when the commission announce the result and avoid unrequited hullaballoo.

5. Foreign Policy

The foreign policy of Somaliland is based on good neighborliness, peace, mutual respect, and international cooperation. Last year, was a year of success for Somaliland’s foreign policy. It was a year when Somaliland made trips to different countries in Africa and was visited by different delegations from different parts of the world.

For 30 years we were looking for recognition. We were advised that Somaliland recognition is an African issue and has to go through AU. On the bases of that the government has made connection with member states of African Union. The result is that our cause has been supported by some and accepted by others.

Somaliland and Somalia dialogue

Ladies/Gentlemen,

The government of Somaliland goal is to realize the independence of Somaliland and as such it has decided to go to any forum and meet everyone where the issue of Somaliland demand. We agreed to re-establish the dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia which has been on hold or suspended for a long period.

As you are aware, we had a summit that was held in Djibouti. You are aware also how at the International Forum, that the delegation I led had full confidence to present the reality of our cause. We thank the President of Djibouti for organizing the conference through experience full knowledge and neutrality.

Ladies/Gentlemen,

Following that, the president of Kenya H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta invited us to his country. You are aware of the reception and prestige the delegation I led was given.

You have seen and read the joint communiqué released by the two governments. You are fully aware the enmity and hatred that came out of the government that was ruling Mogadishu on that day and the decisions it has published. The position of that government was not directed on the government of Kenya but it was explicitly describing the hatred and enmity of that government has for the people and the sovereignty of the Republic of Somaliland.

Ahead of that, you also remember the hatred and enmity it manifested against Guinea when it invited us to its country.

I thank the presidents of Kenya and Guinea on their receptions and courageous decisions reached.

Ladies/Gentlemen,

This indicates the degree of hatred and enmity Somalia has for us. Fortunately, the trips and talks we had last year had tangible results that Somaliland’s cause is an international issue that cannot be denied.

We have through these visits got new friends in Africa and the rest of the world.

United Nations

Respect of Human Rights and the rights of nations for self-determination are the foundation principles of the United Nations. It is unfortunate, that United Nations doesn’t respect the principles of its foundations, regarding the wishes of the people of Somaliland and the resolutions it decided when it reclaimed its sovereignty on May 18, 1991.

The people of Somaliland decided to unilaterally pullout of the unity and establish the Republic of Somaliland.

Somaliland has taken the road for peace, good governance, democracy, one-man-one-vote elections and peaceful transfer of leadership. Unfortunately, the United Nations didn’t raise any of these issues nor give acknowledgement, respect and prestige which Somaliland deserves.

It is really surprising that some governments give recognition and financial support to Somalia which has taken the road of distraction, chaos, political unrest, and disorder.

We can say that these governments who supply weapons and economy to Somalia have their interest which is far and different from what is the good for the people of Somalia.

You are all aware today that the government whose term has expired and which didn’t get any legal extension is ruling Mogadishu. That government hasn’t any plan to hold elections and according to the media, international representatives who are in Mogadishu haven’t so far clarified their position about the government whose term has expired.

In addition to that, it is an intervention against Somaliland that the issue of difference includes calling Members of Mogadishu Parliament to represent northern regions. Somaliland states that it is clear aggression to call Members of that Parliament to be representing Somaliland, when in reality they live in Mogadishu.

I urge the People of Somalia not to allow or accept individuals who are fugitive/deserters from their country.

Somaliland Citizens who are implicated in such behavior will be dealt with, in accordance to the law.

Conclusion

Ladies/Gentlemen,

Visioning and preparation of the future are educationally and economically important for better life and the development of the country. Problems facing us today:

– Man-made problems such as (conflicts, desertification which cause droughts, settlements and annexation of land in towns)

– Global climate change

– Modern technology has a lot of benefits but is harmful as well.

– Problems of Urbanization and the migration of people from rural areas to urban areas.

The problems we have mentioned indicate that we have a lot of shortcomings to be taken care of. It is an obligation for us living today to take the responsibility as a government, intellectuals, businessmen, Ulima and elites to wake up and put the basis for a better future for the coming generations and history.

What does Somaliland need in the next decade?

Somaliland focus its goal on the development of Somaliland Vision 2030; which needs to be a democratic country that abides by law, stability, prosperity for all its people and not for a few, and to be the beacon for education and civilization in Africa.

Ladies/Gentlemen, Good vision cannot be realized without effort and polarization. It can be realized through cooperation, harmony, unity and brotherhood. The people should hold each other’s hand and unite to achieve our long vision and mission.

Finally,

I pray for the people of Somaliland to have lasting success, prosperity, and peace. I commend the House of Representatives and Local counsels which will hand over their responsibilities. I would also welcome those who will be elected. I pray for the election to be a good omen for development and peace.

Long live the Republic of Somaliland
Success for the people of Somaliland
Thank God

Farmajo’s Dangerous Calculus: With Ethiopia and Eritrea’s Support, Stay in Power at all Costs

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Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo whose term has effectively ended on February 8th has predictably clung to power like many African despots. Like his mentors Messrs. Abiy and Afwerki, he has even thrown extra dictatorial hallmarks of trying to assassinate his political rivals, including the two former Presidents who preceded him and his former Prime Minister Mr. Hassan Ali Khaire.

In hindsight, it now seems that Farmajo has planned and calculated for years for this eventuality, and never intended to transfer power peacefully via a credible election or more precisely a selection, as is the case in Somalia. Realizing that he cannot guarantee an outcome where he remains in power even after attempting to rig it by filling key electoral positions with Villa Somalia loyalists and members of his own intelligence service, he has breached all democratic norms in moves that would make Somalia’s late bloody dictator Siad Barre smile down on him from where mass murderers end up in the afterlife.

Mr. Farmajo has picked diplomatic scuffles with many nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, and Djibouti. Countries that have supported Somalia’s successive governments to their detriments. Worst, he has attempted to draw Kenya into an out all war with Somalia, although the latter’s defense forces are responsible for securing large swaths of Somalia’s south under the AMISOM mandate. Without explicitly stating it, one of his major reasons for isolating Somalia is that these countries have some level of ties with Somaliland.

In his desperate attempt to cling to power, it seems that Farmajo is determined to turn Somalia into an Eritrean-style hermit state by torching every possible diplomatic bridge until its only allies are Ethiopia, Eritrea, Turkey, Qatar, and China.

The Somali National Army which was equipped and trained by the United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, Qatar, and others, have been used to do Farmajo’s bidding, and has all but withdrawn all units from the all-important fight with Al-Shabab and repurposed them to his own loyal tribal militia to fight Jubaland Federal Member State, where US and Turkish trained units were recently witnessed beating wounded fighters from Jubaland captured in battle. The same units are now being used against Farmajo’s political rivals and have been implicated in the assassination attempt of two former presidents and prime minister.

Under Farmajo, Al-Shabab has not only strengthened its chokehold on much of Somalia and especially around the capital, but by the admission of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Baileh is “exceedingly efficient in tax collection” and other basic service delivery when compared to the Federal Government. Farmajo’s administration has turned Somalia into the only safe haven in the world where a deadly terrorist organization goes unchallenged and can organize and plan successful attacks outside of Somalia, including the brazen attack on Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya where US service personnel were killed.

Mr. Farmajo has been circling the dictatorial drain for a while with frequent summits with Abiy and Afwerki and has been upfront about his disdain for democracy and the fact that changing governments every few years can be disruptive. The outcome of these closed-door meetings remains a mystery but may explain how recruits of the Somali National Army ended up in Eritrea for training, and to their parent’s shock and horrors were sent to fight the war in Tigray in Abiy’s “Law and Order” operation.

One of Farmajo’s often overlooked attributes is his cruelty, ruthlessness, and determination to stay in power at all cost, and for context, one must take into account Mr. Farmajo’s direct connection to Somalia’s former Dictator Mr. Mohamed Siad Barre under whose regime tens of thousands of innocent civilians were murdered. The brunt of Siad Barre’s genocidal oppression occurred in the now-independent Republic of Somaliland, where major cities were systematically bombarded and razed to the ground.

In his Master’s thesis titled U.S. Strategic Interest in Somalia: From the Cold War Era to the War on Terror.’, Farmajo almost gleeful and framed the leveling of entire cities and crimes against humanity as an unfortunate event where civilians were caught in the crossfire between rebels and the government. For a morally bankrupt politician like Farmajo, burning Mogadishu to the ground is a small price to pay for remaining in power.

Despite failing miserably to govern or make any gains against Al-Shabaab and spending much of his tenure undermining the long-planned elections, which at some point even the International Community naively believed could be held on a one person one vote basis; he has been very successful in hoodwinking the international community and its ambassadors.

The representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and the United Nations behaved like chronic gamblers and have been doubling up their bet on Farmajo at every juncture but worse, are now being completely co-opted. They are unwittingly siding with him and are completely ignoring the calls of the opposition, or the fact that they are being fired upon by the very troops they trained to protect the country, and are insisting that he can be trusted to implement the 17th August Dhusamareeb agreements.

The reputational damage to the United Nations and the countries whose representatives have turned a blind eye to Farmajo’s actions to drag Somalia into a civil war is immense and may take years to undo. The United States Ambassador, Mr. Donald Yamamoto whose departure is imminent and was referred to as “former” by Congresswoman Karen Bass, his British counterpart who has been recently reassigned Mr. Ben Fender, along with the head of UNSOM and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. James Swan have given Farmajo carte-blanche from the early days, and have been willing partners in Farmajo’s lies to the global community about Somalia, and how it is imminently making a comeback.

Mr. Yamamoto has been instrumental in the Somalia debt relief and that the United States writes off its massive debt, an effort that was meant to bring Somalia back into the fold of the world community as a nation that has overcome wars, famine, and most importantly corruption. None of it was true and according to the London School of Economics, the process was not only rushed but was outright fabricated to make Somalia look more palatable.

SRGS Mr. Swan in his latest address to the Security Council raised the issue of the current election impasse but ignored the fact that Mr. Farmajo’s has been the single biggest obstacle to free and fair elections in Somalia, precisely because he failed to control and adequately mitigate against negative outcomes. Mr. Swan has all but ignored the call of the opposition politicians for impartiality and has referred to their attempted assassination on February 18 in their hotels as “clashes”.

Mr. Farmajo, a former United States citizen from Buffalo, relinquished his citizenship on August 1st, 2019, 2 years and five months after becoming President, and while fully aware that the United States Law prohibits its citizens from holding such positions. In the spirit of a fascist dictator, he and the Villa Somalia wrapped the act of renouncing his American citizenship as a nationalistic action for establishing further clout. It’s clear to those outside of his rabid following, that he had undertaken this action to avoid being prosecuted on US soil where he never planned to return.

More recently, Mr. Farmajo is using an entirely different calculus than the opposition and Western diplomats who are desperately hoping that things will magically work out since his nexus with Abiy, the horn’s latest pariah, and Afwerki, a leader who has starved and enslaved his people for decades that the west is actually powerless to do anything beyond issuing strongly-worded statements and all he really needs is Ethiopia and Eritrea to help pacify his opponents while Qatar and Turkey arm him and foot the bill.

There are limited options left for the International Community to become impartial and regain the trust of the people of Somalia and the first step is to recalibrate its assessment of Farmajo and how far is willing to go to remain in power and secondly to recognize that he is the single biggest impediment to democracy and stability in Somalia.

In the case of the United States which is the biggest loser in Farmajo’s Somalia despite the fact that it has spent the most on Somalia for the last 30 years and possibly lost many service members trying to help Somalia stand on its feet has less influence than China who is actually getting the lion’s share of Somalia’s natural resources including the exclusive fishing privilege of Somali waters. Ambassador Yamamoto at a minimum has failed to keep Somalia off the communist column and under his watch; Somalia could be sliding into a major civil war.

Biden’s new administration seems to take a tougher stance on issues of human rights and specifically in the region have urged the Ethiopian government to allow humanitarian aid to Tigray is said to be considering appointing a Special Envoy to the region who may be the anecdote to Yamamoto’s years of diplomatic malpractice in Somalia.

Another unexplored leverage for the international community is to pressure and possibly censure its citizens who currently hold cabinet-level or political positions in Somalia to ensure their citizens are not implicated in brewing Tigray-style conflict that is sure to result from Farmajo’s failure to hold long-planned elections and unwillingness to transfer power peacefully.

Farmajo currently employs many Western nationals including Prime Minister Mr. Mohamed Hussein Roble, a Swedish national the Minister of Information Mr. Osman Dubbe, a British citizen, the Minister of Finance Mr. Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mohamed Abdirizak, both naturalized US citizen, the Minister of Planning Mr. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, a Canadian national and the list goes on. There are existing laws that prevent naturalized citizens of a country to return to their country of origin and serve in an anti-democratic regime that openly violates human rights and other international norms.

The United Arab Emirates and Kenya could be of tremendous help in ridding the Somali people of Farmajo as well by sanctioning the individual ministers above and ensure that Somali politicians are not hiding their ill-gotten wealth in their countries.

None of these ministers and members of Farmajo’s inner circle have renounced their foreign citizenship like Farmajo and are legally exposed and would abandon Farmajo under the slightest pressure from their governments. An option that if exercised will produce results and possibly prevent another civil war in Somalia.

“Development is Not Free” – Hargeisa Water Agency Manager

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In an interview with Bulsho TV, the Manager of Hargeisa Water Agency Mr. Mohamed Ali Darod was asked about the 50 dollar water meter his agency has recently mandated. This is the first time Mr. Darod has spoken on the issue since the agency has sent letters to its customers that they must purchase the new water meter in 3 months.

In response to a question of what necessitated the new water meters, has stated that its part of the agency’s effort to modernize its operations and move to an accurate meter reading as well as simplifying the arduous process of meter reading for its staff and added that the new meter will completely eliminate to physically reach and every meter and the need to access customers homes. He added that the source of friction between the water agency and its customers is the low quality of the previously imported water meters.

Mr. Darod’s answers about the water meters were inline with the notice his agency has sent its customers where it explained the benefits of the new meters including the new water meter’s accuracy to eliminate erroneous meter reading. The first reason the agency listed in its letter is that the new water meter will eliminate the guess or estimate-based water reading.

On the price of the meter, Mr. Darod characterized it as a recurring debate and that customers have two options, to purchase the meter outright or to work out a payment plan to spread the 50 dollar cost over months depending on what one can afford but ended quickly ended the discussion of the price of the meter as not important and said “development is not free” and went back to describing how the new meters will be beneficial to both the public and its employees.

The reporter asked a follow up question regarding the difference of the new meter to the ones the agency’s customers are already using. Mr. Darod stated that the new meter is based on modern technology and the way his agency currency functions is outdated and that water agencies from other countries have move away and the most important aspect of it is to ensure “customers are not bothered and no one is knocking on their doors everyday” and once again described that it will make his staff’s job easier to read the meters remotely and its a lot more accurate than existing meters.

Mr. Darod Mr. Darod has denied allegations that the meter is a project awarded to well connected private citizens and stated that the agency has not awarded a contract to anyone and that it has acquired the meters directly from Italy and one of the largest suppliers of water meters in Europe and added: “At the end the day no one can say a contract was awarded to someone, as government agencies are not always mandated to award a contract and in order to develop, government agencies must have the authority to execute their programs and the water agency is one of those”. Asked if his agency is working directly with the manufacturer, Mr. Darod responded “Absolutely”.

Legal cases against lawyers who questioned the legality of the water agency’s new meter did not come up in Bulsho TV’s interview with the Manager of Hargeisa Water Agency Manager Mr. Mohamed Ali Darod. The Horizon Institute issued a scathing report about the conduct of the Chairman of Regional Court of Marodijeh Hon. Abdi Qawdhan, who issued an arrest warrant for one lawyer and disbarred another for a year.

The Horizon Institute called upon the High Judicial Council, the body with the responsibility to discipline the judiciary to immediately review and dismiss the unlawful arrest warrant of one lawyer and disbarment of another for a year by the Chairman of Regional Court of Marodijeh Hon. Abdi Qawdhan Abdi and to suspend him from all duties pending the immediate investigation of his professional conduct.

The current water expansion project of Hargeisa is being funded by the German development bank KfW. The current project was awarded 23.55 million Euros.