According to diplomatic sources in Djibouti, the United States Ambassador is pressing Somaliland to accept the unresolved issue involving free movement of people between the two countries. A point, Somaliland delegation did not accept at the summit.
Sources add that the United States Ambassador Donald Yamamoto has contacted the President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi to accept the insertion of a murky article about free movement of people between the countries including Somaliland politicians currently based in Mogadishu. Sources indicate that President Bihi has outright rejected the suggested language.
A Communiqué released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti has a compromised version of the language that allows movement of people for non-political reasons. It is not yet entirely clear if the Somali Federal Government or Ambassador Yamamoto will accept it.
The language in the new Communiqué states “The two sides also agreed not to impede non-political social engagement (cultural, academic, sports and trade) in order to promote peace and dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland.”
Below is the full Communiqué released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti who hosted the latest talks between Somaliland and Somalia.
According to Mr. Pratt’s Certificate of Competency published by the State Department, Mr. Pratt is a career US diplomat who has held high level positions in US embassies in Pakistan, Republic of Congo, Sudan, Angola and Jordan and is a fluent speaker of Chinese, Arabic, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
According to diplomatic sources based in the region, the current US Ambassador to Djibouti Mr. Larry Edward André is slated to replace Mr. Donald Yamamoto as the US Ambassador to Somalia. Other sources who attended the Djibouti Somaliland/Somalia talks who on condition of anonymity confirm that Mr. Yamamoto whose three year term is not up will be replaced soon.
Asked for confirmation that Ambassador Yamamto is on his way out, Spokesman for the United States Embassy in Somalia currently based in Nairobi said “Ambassadors must be nominated by the President and then confirmed by the Senate. None of that has occurred. Ambassador Yamamoto is still the Ambassador to Somalia.”
Although not yet confirmed, the current US Ambassador in Djibouti who has previously served as the Director of the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan a case that has many parallels to the issues at the heart of the dispute between Somaliland and Somalia.
Ambassador Donald Yamamoto and Somali President Mr. Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo
Prior to his posting to the Somalia Embassy, Mr. Yamamoto has been the Ambassador in many countries in the Horn of African including Djibouti.
Under Ambassador Yamamoto, the US Embassy in Somalia has adopted a one Somalia policy and had little to no dealings with the government of Somaliland. Somaliland, on its part has been quietly complaining about Mr. Yamamoto’s close relationship with Mr. Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo and Villa Somalia.
Somaliland is politically an isolated state after it lost its independence and reunited with the Italian-Somalia on July 1, 1960. The country suffered huge political and economic losses when Somaliland representative politicians of Mohamed H. Ibrahim Egal and his fellows voluntarily handed over the dream of millions of Somalilanders to their same ethnic Somalis in the south. However, the reunion with southern Somalia came after the need to reunite all five Somaliland regions of Djibouti, Northern Frontier District (presently North Eastern Province, Kenya), and Reserve Area (Ethiopia) that were colonized by the different colonial powers of the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Unfortunately, only the British Somaliland Protectorate and Italian Somalia united due to the existing diplomatic pressure that left Djibouti under French colony, merged NFD and Reserve Area with greater Kenya and Ethiopia.
Since then, Somaliland suffered ethnic cleansing, brutal killings, economic embargo, human rights violations, jailing of elites, politicians, and influential persons. Siad Barre overthrew the democratically elected government in 1969 in a military coup that was facilitated by unknown foreign powers. President Sharmarke was murdered and Prime Minister Egal who was from the northern regions (previously, British Somaliland Protectorate) was sentenced to jail that lasted twenty years (Mohamed, 2017).
The authoritarian government launched cruel revolutionary acts, preached haterate, and targeted the northern (Somaliland) and eastern regions of President Sharmarke and Prime Minister Egal. However, in Somaliland alone, “Between 1987 and 1989, the regime of Somali dictator Siad Barre massacred an estimated 200,000 members of the Isaaq tribe, the largest clan group in the northwest part of Somalia” (Einashe & Kennard, 2018). Besides, The New York Times had reported, “More than 300,000 Somali refugees, fleeing civil war, have walked across the Ethiopian border” (Perlez, 1988).
The ill-minded and cruel regime continued massacring of the northern ethnic tribes of Isaaq and this resulted formation of the Somali National Movement (SNM) in Saudi Arabia and London in 1981. Diaspora, elites, politicians and fled army officers launched a massive campaign against Siad Barre regime and this speeded up the establishment of rebel and guerrilla forces in neighboring Ethiopia that had land and political disputes with the Somali regime since 1964. Siad Barre responded to this SNM and its member tribes with ethnic cleansing, genocide and targeted massacre that left half a million people deaths, sexual abuse and human right violations.
Reinl (2014) of Aljazeera English found, “As many as 200,000 people were buried in mass graves in the 1980s under Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre”. In addition, Einashe and Kennard, 2018 as cited in Amnesty International stated, the Siad Barre regime committed “widespread arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and summary executions, and torture of those suspected of collaborating with the SNM. They found that those who opposed the Barre regime were gathered, bound, and taken to places like the Valley of Death where they were shot and buried in unmarked graves”.
Furthermore, the Siad Barre Government has “denied diplomats and relief officials, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, access to the north of the country. Journalists have been denied visas into Somalia. Somali National Movement” (Perlez, 1988).
Nevertheless, SNM fighters of mainly Isaaq and none Isaaq’s of Gadabursi and Dhulbahante clan members strongly resisted Siad Barre’s atrocities and massive killings of women, children and elderly people from the north, and attacked Somaliland territories and cities of Hargeisa, Berbera, and Burao to end the cruel regime killings and massacre of the northern ethnic tribes. Luckily, SNM fighters occupied most of the Somaliland territory in 1988. Three years later and in 1991, the Somali government collapsed because of increased armed resistance from the southern, northern, and middle regions formed rebel fighters. In May 1991, Somaliland regained its land control, announced sovereignty, and broke away from the rest of greater Somalia that united on July 1, 1960.
For the past 29 years, Somaliland had enjoyed sustained peace, growing democracy, and made fruitful conflict resolution among the Somaliland tribes to ensure and maintain unity. Moreover, Somaliland managed to hold free and fair presidential, parliamentary and local councils elections and voted for the constitution that ended up 97% to become an independent state in 2002. On top of that, Somaliland re-built the economic and education sectors for the past two decades. According to the International Crisis Group (2003), “Somaliland’s hybrid system of tri-party democracy and traditional clan-based governance has enabled the consolidation of state-like authority, social and economic recovery and, above all, relative peace and security”.
Unlikely, Somalia had its challenges of conflicting political parts, rebel armed functions, piracy, terrorism, AMISOM, and UN-backed weak governments since 1991 even though the International community had poured millions of taxpayers’ money to bring conflict resolution, long-lasting and sustained peace in Somalia. Besides, “After the complete collapse of state institutions in 1991, Somalia represents one of the world’s most protracted cases of statelessness. The on-going civil war, tensions between traditional clans, and recurring famine ensure that the prospects for political stability remain bleak” (Rahman, 2017 as cited in Stiftung, 2016).
Therefore, since 2012, the EU, UK, and Turkey attempted to bring Somalia and Somaliland government on the table to discuss their future. Unfortunately, all of those meetings ended up with no results as the consecutive Federal Governments of Somalia neglected to fulfill the agreed communiques and points including aid and aviation management. On the other hand, the Somaliland government is optimistic to continue political dialogue with neighboring Somalia. From their side, the International Community brokers continuation of these political dialogues to reach an agreement on the most conflicting points including Somaliland’s future and sovereignty while “lingering tensions could threaten regional stability” (International Crisis Group, 2019).
Concisely, Somaliland’s position is clear, and it is to get international recognition from the entire world ‘including’ the African Union, EU, UK, and the USA as seen from the Somaliland President Mr. Bihi’s speech. Furthermore, these talks initiated in Djibouti and brokered by the Ethiopian Prime Minister and US Embassy in Mogadishu in June 2020 are time-consuming and President Farmajo who is in his last six months in office is not diplomatically open to pave the way Somaliland to continue its long-lasted democratic way of living. Therefore, Somaliland should think wisely and stick on its position as Dr. Adna Adam said, “there is no going back and there is no re-union”.
Khalid Sahid is a political analyst living in Burao, Somaliland. He holds dual Master’s Degree and majored in Development Studies, and Advanced Education from Mount Kenya University and University of the People of Kenya and the USA respectively. He is currently working as a consultant for international NGOs.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of Somaliland Chronicle and it’s staff.
Somaliland – Somalia talks taking place in Djibouti since June 14th have hit an impasse according to Somaliland’s Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Hon. Saeed Sulub who spoke to the media a short while ago.
“it is true that the talks have collapsed, the folks we met were not serious, clueless and lacked basic understanding of what was being discussed” Minister Sulub said.
He added “They want tie our sovereignty to international aid and politicize it”, the minister also discussed a freedom of movement for politicians proposed by the Somalia team that Somaliland delegation at the meeting rejected saying that accepting it would essentially means Somaliland’s acceptance of becoming a regional administration of Somalia.
A key point in a communique on the talks issued by the Djibouti government stated that the two sides agreed not to politicize aid and development.
Despite rosy expectation and adulation from many in the international community on the resumption of the stalled Somaliland/Somalia talks, this is the second time a member of Somaliland’s delegation has assessed the talks to be a complete failure.
President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi is still in Djibouti, although it is unclear if he is personally participating any of the negotiation rounds or if he is directing the Somaliland team.
President Bihi’s address at the opening of the talks in which he reiterated Somaliland’s sovereignty and the atrocities committed against its people by the Somali regime was widely received in Somaliland.
Sources add that President of Djibouti Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh and the United Ambassador to Somalia Mr. Donald Yamamoto are trying to salvage the talks.
Efforts to reach Somaliland delegation or Ambassador Yamamoto for further comments were unsuccessful.
By Ambassador Bashe Awil, Somaliland Representative to Kenya
In August 2018, Somaliland President Musa Bihi appointed me to come and head the Liaison office in Nairobi. My previous mission was in the United Arab Emirates where I played a similar role as head of the embassy in Dubai.
In Nairobi, part of my mission is to work towards strengthening the ties between Kenya and Somaliland which have been cordial since the pre independence days when we were both under the British colonial rule.
During the period I have served in Nairobi, I have come to appreciate the good working relationship the Kenya government and my country has despite the obvious stumbling block occasioned by the fact that Somaliland remains virtually unrecognized internationally.From culture, education, trade and social issues, Kenya and Somaliland are joined on the hip making the two countries able to work with each other and supplement the other
On paper, Kenya, just like many other states does not recognize Somaliland, but beyond the political radar, Kenyans accept and appreciate the existence of Somaliland as an independent state.The fact that we have a liaison office in Kenya that acts as a link between the two countries is testimony enough that Kenya recognises the existence of Somaliland.
It is for this reason, I have engaged in a vigorous shuttle diplomacy within the Kenyan government not only to acquaint myself with my hosts but also to implore on the Kenyan government on the growing need to open a liaison office in our capital city, Hargeisa. I have met the ministry of foreign affairs officials in Nairobi and together we share the same opinion that a Kenyan mission in Somaliland will cement the great ties the two countries have had.
Kenya’s former Prime Minister and African Union special envoy, Raila Odinga is one of the top leaders here who have shown total support to “free Somaliland.”Odinga has been leading calls for the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state and we see him as a valuable partner in the quest for independence of Somaliland.His appointment as the Africa Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa was well received in Hargeisa.
Raila is quite aware of the role Somaliland plays not only in the economy of Kenya but also in this region.We are home to the largest number of Kenyans living and working in the Horn of Africa region. The Kenyans in Somaliland work in the education industry as teachers and lecturers, in the hotel industry, while others are working as doctors and nurses and in the Information Technology sector.
We also have a huge number of businessmen and investors in our country. Most of these Kenyans have helped impart their skills to our people and are helping in building our young economy. These Kenyans in Somaliland are also supporting their families back home in Kenya hence contributing to the Kenyan economy.
These Kenyans need representation especially when they undergo challenges in their course of duty like for instance the current COVID-19 era where countries are either repatriating their nationals or monitoring their well being through their embassies and high commissions in different nations.And there are other many areas Kenya and Somaliland can work together for the benefit of their citizens.
We have previously worked together on improving security in a region that had earned a negative reputation of terrorism and piracy perpetrated by the Al Shabab and youth from neighbouring Somalia.
While I cannot confidently say the war against terrorism has been won, we have managed to control previous cases of piracy in the Horn of Africa. Our cooperation can see trade between the two countries grow. We are in the process of expanding the Port of Berbera which once complete will be one of the most modern in the region.
While in the UAE, I played a key role in convincing the DP World to come and invest in Berbera where we are also building a free market akin to that in Dubai. My role in Kenya is to encourage investors to venture in Somaliland.
We have held two conferences in Kenya other the last two years where we invited the private and public sector players in Kenya to showcase Somaliland’s potential.
With Kenya also expanding the Lamu Port, the two countries can supplement each other in trade between the two ports and beyond. Somaliland economy is booming, yet we have had to import most agricultural commodities from the middle east. An interesting fact is most of the produce like fruits and vegetables that we import from the middle east are originally from Kenya. We therefore do not need to look to the middle east yet we can get what we need from here.Further, with a more solid partnership, we can promote educational and health tourism. As things stand now, our people are forced to seek further education and medical attention in Europe and the middle east yet they can access the same facilities in Kenya.
There has been plans to have the Kenya Airways making a direct flight to Hargeisa. Officials of the Kenyan airline and government representatives have been to the Somaliland capital and made recommendations but implementation is yet to be done.
This has denied the KQ the much needed revenue because passengers have had to connect through Addis Ababa with the Ethiopian Airline which operates two flights a day to Hargeisa from Nairobi.Kenya is respected across the continent and beyond for its democracy and strong international policy. Should Kenya recognize Somaliland, the rest of Africa and especially the African Union will have no alternative.A recognized Somaliland will play an even bigger role in promoting peace in the Horn of Africa.
Before his departure to attend the Somaliland – Somalia meeting, President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi has ordered the firing of the entire management team of Hargeisa Group Hospital with the exception of the newly re-appointed General Manager Dr. Ahmed Omar Askar.
President Bihi visiting Hargeisa Group Hospital
Reports indicate the firing of the hospital management team is related to corruption allegation and missing funds. Those that lost their jobs include the Deputy Manager of the Hospital, Head of Administration and Finance, Chief Accountant and others with direct involvement in the hospital’s finances.
Hargeisa Group Hospital has been in the limelight lately for issues related to its treatment of patients including deaths attributed to lack of oxygen at Somaliland’s biggest government run hospital.
Waddani Party Spokesman Mr. Barkhad Batun
Opposition parties have criticized President Bihi and his administration for Hargeisa Group Hospital’s dire condition often emphasizing the hospital’s close proximity to the Presidential Palace.
It is unclear if President Bihi has consulted the Ministry of Health Development for the changes at Hargeisa Group Hospital. Hospital Manager is a direct presidential appointment.
Additionally, it is unclear if management changes will be done in other public hospitals around Somaliland where subpar patient services and inadequate lifesaving equipment have been reported.
There is no indication that Auditor General was involved or has uncovered any issues at Hargeisa Group Hospital despite allegation of massive corruption.
No official statement have been released about the firing of the entire management team of Hargeisa Group Hospital and what temporary measures were put in place for day to day operations. Efforts to reach Hargeisa Group Hospital Manager and Ministry of Health were unsuccessful.
The President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi and his delegation departed Hargeisa International Airport and arrived in Djibouti today to meet with delegation led by Somalia President Mr. Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo.
The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. @musebiihi lands at Djibouti International Airport.
President’s delegation include Dr. Edna Aden and Mr. Mohamed Bihi Yonis two former Foreign Ministers and seasoned politicians currently not part of Somaliland government.
The first meeting seems to be limited to the Presidents of Somaliland and Somalia, Chairman of Somaliland House of Elders Chairman Hon. Saleban Mohamud Adan, Somalia’s Chairman of the Upper house of the Parliament, the Somali Prime Minister, the President and Vice President of Djibouti.
During the consultation summit on relations between Somalia and Somaliland, PM @AbiyAhmedAli reiterated the value of peace and reconciliation in the Horn region as the foundation for regional integration. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/hEtFUav343
— Office of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia (@PMEthiopia) June 14, 2020
Somaliland public opinion on the resumption of talks with Somalia and President Bihi’s meeting with Farmajo is mixed where some question the timing or if Somalia can be trusted to follow through on anything agreed on as the case was with previous rounds of talks in London and Ankara.
Somaliland government has not publicly released any information about the meeting and how long the arrangements has been ongoing. Sources tell Somaliland Chronicle that the Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs Mr. Tibor Nagy has spoken to President Bihi about the meeting.
The incident involving George Floyd was a heinous crime witnessed in real time in the age of social media, a horror of a show in itself – not many see acts of murders as they unfold.
The police officer that committed the crime knew what he was doing – because he got away with so much (16 incidents) police brutality in the past, he was emboldened to assume this was another day in the office. The good people of the United States and the world over are rightly outraged and that gives me hope as we all call for justice, human decency and dignity for all.
The fact that the police officer won his appeal process every time exposes far deeper issues within police departments and disciplinary processes – which is often employee led rather than victims due to the unionised nature of the complaint processes. Racial disparities in the US is deep seated and historical in nature – because black people were not part of the original national narrative .In fact some of the US’s founding fathers were slave owners at the time they wrote the US constitution and this contradictory commitment of values and actions is still present in the US, hence why white US citizens are not referred to European citizens while black citizens are referred to African Americans (outsiders).This racial indifference further plays out in the sphere of employment, justice system, health and power politics.
In its current juncture, the US is best advised to formulate a new chapter of co-existence, check and balances that promotes deeper ties and racial balance in all aspect of society. Failure to deal with this issue ahead – on would be mean the politics of denials and tick-boxing will eventually collide with reality and we are witnessing this across the US today. Whether there is a Republican or Democrat in Office, the issues are systematic, societal and structural – beyond the term of one party presidency or personality. It requires a root and branch change beyond words or piecemeal policy initiatives, often driven by the emotions of the day – it’s about new settlement of co-existence beyond tolerating each other, a call for new national narrative beyond soothing words and slogans. It must deliver for all equally and locally.
It is also fair to say that black people and minorities at large are also part of the problem. I have met many who see power/politics as white person’s exercise. Unfortunately, this is a costly judgement and is proving so at grassroots level.
What gave those police officers the confidence and impunity to publicly kill another black man has direct link with our lack of engagement and apathy. Black people must turn a new chapter and engage in local decision making at District Prosecutor’s offices, Parole and School Boards, Unions, Courts and Jury services. Our attitude of apathy to towards power politics is costing our lives and opportunities. When we are on the table, you can deter problems, influence direction of travel and have an impact on quality of outcomes of decisions that affect our daily lives, families and community – the baseline for consolidating power through our common interest.
Demonstrations and riots are only half the story. Once the dust settles we will still have to live with the systematic structures that reinforced injustice and brutality. To truly have maximum impact we must embrace new chapter of collective organising towards power from bottom up. To take a leaf out of the Jewish community, to their credit, they are on (almost) every table of decision making – not because they are more special but they know the cost of non-involvement. In a space of 60 years, they rose from the ashes/horror of the Holocaust. They have organised, spread their wings everywhere in politics, economics, science and academia to make sure such atrocities never return – and if they do, is on their terms. This is about fluidity of influence and power, which has taken aspiring individuals and groups’ decades to build to help change society for better. It is a great human story and we must all embrace this form of revival in our own ways peacefully.
The great Martin Luther King was eloquently right to say “the arch of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” – I would add, only if we seize it politically by building a collective narrative behind it.
The world is awash with great black, white and brown people who hear the message of justice and equality – it beats in everyone’s hearts that is free of dogma and hate – Lets embrace change within and beyond. It starts with being at the table –the side-lines are all too costly personally and structurally.
About the Author Mohamed Ibrahim BA/MSc, LSE, UK based, Social Activist – He can be reached via mohamedlsyf[@]gmail.com
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of Somaliland Chronicle and it’s staff.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, the infection of this outbreak was first reported in December of 2019 in Wuhan – the seventh largest city of china. This contagious disease infected thousands of people of the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) considered this outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and recognized as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The rapid ‘globalization’ of the COVID-19 pandemic is something that the world perhaps has never encountered before. As world health organization ( WHO) and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared the virus is transmitted by close contact and by small droplets produced during sneezing, coughing even talking. People may also be affected by this virus by touching a contaminated surface and then without washing their hand touching their face [CDC 2020). Therefore WHO recommended some preventive measures taken to suppress the spread of the pandemic which includes washing hand through water and soap often for at-least 20 seconds, avoiding touching the eyes, mouths or nose with unwashed hands, practicing good respiratory hygiene, staying at home, avoiding crowded place, maintaining social distance, covering ones mouth when coughing and sneezing, self-isolated himself if someone suspected himself that he might be affected (CDC 2020).
On March 31, a Coronovirus Pandemic was the first two cases confirmed in Somaliland by announcement of the Ministry of Health, these two people were among the three suspects who were quarantined by Ministry of Health and had their DNA sent Kenya for testing. As of this writing, the number of detected cases in Somaliland is more than 500 positive cases, 26 have died and 84 have recovered after treatment. The Somaliland government has implemented a partial lockdown. This largely affects only public offices, including schools and universities.
To stop the spread of this mammoth virus, there are lots of preventive actions taken by the government of Somaliland like regional or national quarantine, travel restriction, cancellation and postponements of events, curfews, boarder enclosure and screening at airport etc. These kinds of preventive measures like lockdown the borders may extract normal flow of raw materials, products and services, capitals, humans which resulting in business and production shutdowns at least temporarily.
The outbreak of Covid-19 is not only an ominous global health challenge but has caused gigantic negative effects on populace wellbeing, society, education, and the economy in Somaliland. Social distancing, self-isolation and travel restrictions forced a decrease in the workforce across all economic sectors and caused many jobs to be lost. Schools have closed down, and the need of commodities and manufactured products has decreased. In contrast, the need for medical supplies has significantly increased. The food supply has also seen a great demand due to panic-buying and stockpiling of food products.
In response to this global outbreak, the aim is to deliver a comprehensive overview of the observed and the possible impacts in socio-economic effects of COVID-19 and government response in Somaliland.
Economic impact:
The COVID-19 pandemic has formed deep disruptions to Somaliland economy and society. Many businesses are experiencing an adverse impact from the outbreak, which is same with other countries fighting the disease. In prevention and response to the crisis of this pandemic, the Somaliland government imposed the country under national lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, caused in shutting down of many businesses.
Local decisions have affected Somaliland’s major economic sectors including in aviation, hospitality and domestic transport. Hargeisa had regular flights to/from Addis Ababa, Dubai, Nairobi and Mogadishu; all international and domestic flights are suspended except Ethiopian Airlines and those carrying essential goods across the country. Somaliland was reluctant to close its airspace but decisions taken elsewhere have effectively made such closures inevitable. The Federal Government of Somalia’s banning of both international and domestic flights has led to tensions with Somaliland over control of airspace. Ethiopian Airlines is currently the only carrier that has flights to Hargeisa but passenger numbers have significantly reduced.
Decisions made to close schools – government-run, private and Madarasas – have a huge knock-on effect within the informal economy, as the small shops and traders – mainly women – that supplied snacks and drinks has been closed and half a million children are now shutdown. Street vendors are also being evicted by the police and cleaners, working in homes and offices, have less work.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt not just on the national economy but on the household economy of local people. Its devastating impact is already unfolding in Somaliland. Daily wage earners have been badly hit; many have nothing to live on now and are unable to buy food for their families. Hunger, malnutrition, and other problems that have always plagued Somaliland are poised to intensify as a result of the lockdown.
The government has sought to enforce social distancing through the lockdown but has not been too successful in this regard so far. Several factors make this a near-impossible task in Somaliland; social distancing is anathema to Somali community and culture. Most Somali people live in close proximity to each other. Families are large and live in small and cramped cottages, with several families sharing a single tap and toilet. This is even more pronounced in the IDPs camps, where around a huge number of low income families live in crowded and temporary shelters and do not access health facilities. Other hand, people are unable to stay at homes without work for their survival, thus, they are concerned much more about their job rather than Covid-19.
Education impact:
Education is one of the sectors affected the most by this crisis. More than 1.5 billion students and youth across the world are affected by school and university closures due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In this present scenario, all academic activities have been stopped. Since the students are not attending classes, they are spending their time watching television, playing games, internet surfing, chatting, etc.
A day after the first COVID-19 positive cases was confirmed in Somaliland, Ministry of Education announced that all of the country’s educational institutions would be closed for one month, in a bid to stop the spread of the disease. The order was subsequently extended. On April 18, 2020, the authorities of education advised both private and public schools and universities to take classes online to recoup the academic losses as a result of the suspension of academic activities during the Covid-19 outbreak. These initiatives were highly informative to the faculty members and the students to enhance their knowledge. The initiatives include: Online courses, Learning through YouTube channel and Digital library etc. Somaliland Television already has started some online classes for primary and secondary students.
This unaware outbreak has caused Significant impact on continuity of education and availability of remote services for primary and secondary schools, also has impacted for children from marginalized and most vulnerable groups in the community as they will have limited or no access to the alternate modes of education promoted by the government.
Teachers of the private schools and universities in Somaliland also have fallen victim to COVID 19 outbreak more or less. All schools and universities have been declared closed since March 2020 and shall stay closed till august 2020 if the situation continues unabated. The private Schools/universities, mostly run by tuition fees, seem to have been doubly affected by the pandemic. They are anticipating huge financial losses to be incurred by nonpayment of tuition fees caused by the suspension of academic activities and uncertainty about the upcoming new semester enrolment and academic year registration. The great bulk of tertiary level students are studying at the private universities many of which may be threatened with continued existence by the financial crisis.
Recommendations:
1. Supporting the government to increase the pool of alternate education platforms made available, giving due consideration to availability and accessibility by vulnerable groups.
2. Increasing awareness among students and parents about alternate platforms available for education.
3. Supporting most vulnerable groups with appropriate in-kind and cash support to ensure that they have adequate access to essential food items.
4. Immediate interventions to ensure fair pricing to safeguard producers and consumers, as well securing and supporting the food value chain and market distribution system.
5. For COVID-19, hand-washing is the most important practice which we should focus on and ensure hand-washing material available and affordable in market
6. Ensure continual functionality of water facilities in rural and urban areas
7. Ensure all community clinics have access to WASH services and provide relevant hygiene messages
8. Planning for needs of marginalized and communities in slums in meeting self isolation and quarantine requirements that will emerge.
9. Support to enterprise recovery for small businesses and micro-enterprises through providing start-up grants which may include but not limited to new skill for returnees, small grants for small business for both local and returnees.
About the Author Adam Duale holds Msc Degree in Development studies from Alpha university, Hargiesa-Somaliland and is currently MA candidate student at United International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. he studied social work affairs with special interest in education sector. He can be reached Ademduale[@]gmail.com
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of Somaliland Chronicle and it’s staff.
According to sources, a meeting between the President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi and the Somali President Mr. Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo is set to take place in Djibouti next week. The meeting between the two Presidents is brokered by the United States Ambassador to Somalia Mr. Donald Yamamoto.
US Ambassador to Somalia, Mr. Donald Yamamoto
Although President Bihi rebuffed efforts by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr. Abiy Ahmed to bring the Somali President Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo to Hargeisa, the two have met in Addis Ababa at the sidelines of the African Union in February this year.
Reliable sources confirm that President Bihi will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Yasin Hagi Mohamoud Hiir (Faratoon) and the Chairman of Somaliland House of Elders Chairman Hon. Saleban Mohamud Adan. The delegation of the Federal Government of Somalia will include the Prime Minister Mr. Hassan Khaire.
Somaliland government has downplayed President Bihi’s meeting with Farmajo as a chance encounter at Prime Minister Abiy’s office.
President Bihi has publicly conditioned the Somaliland and Somalia talks on Somalia’s recognition of Somaliland and has insisted on the addition of neutral international partners to the process, it is unclear what changed President Bihi’s mind to accept a meeting with the President of Somalia Mr. Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo whose term is coming to an end next year.
President of Somalia is at the lowest point of his presidency and has been facing a unified apposition from former Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
President Farmajo’s government has been openly hostile to Somaliland and has taken steps to isolate it and oppose development projects including DP World’s investment in Berbera port.
It is unclear if Somalia’s Federal Government has made any concessions to President Bihi to change his position and accept the meeting brokered by Ambassador Yamamoto to be held in Djibouti.
Since the appointment of Ambassador Donald Yamamoto, the United States Embassy in Somalia has adopted a one Somalia policy and has had little contact with the government of Somaliland.
