Somaliland: Areas We Can Improve without Recognition

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April 7, 2019

Often we heard the following oft-repeated, but empty, rhetoric from our politicians: “we cannot make improvements in many areas because we are not yet recognized or have no funding.” But there are many areas we can improve without recognition and with limited funds. Although areas we can improve abound, this short article attempts to shed light on few areas.

Traffic Police

Somaliland’s traffic police have the ability to make outstanding improvements. These improvements will have two positive outcomes: first, it will generate revenue for the traffic police; and second, it will improve and enhance overall public safety. It is a win-win situation. They should effectively enact and enforce the following traffic laws:

They should erect traffic sings at the side of, or above, all main roads in Hargeisa to give instructions for drivers. These traffic sings include, but may not limited to, the following: parking signs; speed limit signs; direction; prohibitory signs; special regulations signs; danger warning sings; mandatory signs; priority signs; etc. Violators of these traffic signs should be fined according to the traffic sign. For instance, let us say, a traffic sign has the road speed limit of 48 kph. Any driver who exceeds should be fined. Or if a driver parks on a “no parking” area, he or she should also be fined.
They should have the mandate to issue driver’s licenses. Before issuing driver’s licenses, they should test potential drivers theoretically as well as practically. When testing drivers and issuing driver’s licenses, they should levy fees.
They should enact, or enforce a minimum driving age—which is the age at which an individual can obtain a driver’s license. Let us say, anyone over fifteen (15) and anyone over eighty (80) years. Any driver younger than eighteen or older than eighty should be fined

These fines and fees for tests and driver’s licenses will generate revenues for the traffic police. In addition, it will make drivers adhere to the existing traffic laws which, as a result, will improve and enhance public safety. If the revenues are managed properly, the traffic police will then increase the salary of its officers and it will also acquire traffic cars, walkie-talkies, computers, etc. These improvements require neither recognition nor huge funding.

Police National Database

Currently, our police stations utilize the outdated “Occurrence Book” (OB) to record the information of the arrestees; such as, their names, ages, arrest day, nature of the crime, etc. The OB contains thousands of names of offenders/criminals. It is almost impossible to retrieve specifically the names of the repeat offenders; that is, if someone commits a crime several times, our police are unable to retrieve prior arrest records of the offender. For instance, let us say that a young man commits a robbery and he is arrested at the same police station on 05 November, 2018; 29 February, 2019; 01 March, 2019; and again 20 March, 2019. Unless the police recognize the robber, it is impossible for the police to know that the young man commits the same crime many times. If a single police station is unable to do so, how about when the offender commits similar crime at different locations in Hargeisa, or worst in other cities like Burao, Borama, Berbera, Las-anod, etc. This consumes not only the police’s limited resources, but it also creates a safe haven for repeat offenders and criminals.

Our police can make the following improvements:

They need to acquire simple desk-top computers, database software, finger printing machines, etc. The aforesaid equipment could easily be obtained with cheaper prices or for free. When an offender is finger-printed and his information is entered into a computer, it is easy to retrieve his prior arrest record. This will help the police and the court to punish the repeat offenders which will contribute to the overall public safety. It will also help police to use its resource effectively.
They need to hire university-graduated students to perform the aforesaid duties since graduates are savvy. This will have many benefits: it will reduce the current unemployment rate and it will also encourage university student focus on their studies since they realize that they would be employed. This improvement can be easily accomplished without recognition or funding.

Somaliland Medical Association

Currently, our healthcare system is in shatters. There are countless medical charlatans (or fake doctors); imported and unregulated medications; and skyrocketed unregulated clinics and pharmacies. To contain, control and improve our devastated healthcare system, it is high time to create Somaliland Medical Association (SMA). The SMA will consist professional and independent medical team and will have the required knowledge and expertise to monitor and set standards for healthcare system. To do so, the National Health Professional Commission should outsource its mandate of overseeing healthcare system to SMA. The SMA shall:

Have the mandate to issue and revoke licenses. Currently, there are countless medical charlatans (fake medical professionals) operating in Somaliland. Therefore, in order to contain these medical charlatans, the SMA shall reexamine all existing medical professionals and have the mandate to issue, renew, and revoke any medical licenses.
Set standards for imported medications. Currently, our imported medications are unregulated. The businesspeople import fake, expired, and ineffective medications. Therefore, the SMA will have the mandate to oversee all imported medications; that is, it will act as a quality control agency for imported medical and health related items.
Set standards for medical schools and internship programs. Currently, there are countless ineffective universities “medical departments.” The SMA will have the mandate to oversee these departments and shall revoke the license of any department that fail to meet the SMA standards.
Set standards for spiritual healers. Currently, there are numerous spiritual healers throughout the country. Majority, if not all, of these spiritual healers run healing centers while they are not medically trained. The SMA will have the mandate to assess, examine, and set standards for these spiritual healers.

If SMA is created and is permitted independently to oversee the aforesaid, and many other, aspects of our healthcare system, it will improve and enhance our healthcare system.

Improving these areas require neither recognition nor huge fund.

“If there is a will,” the old adage goes, “there is a way.”

About the Author
Abdi Hussein Daud and can be reached @ abdihdaud[at]yahoo.com

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

Notice: This article by Somaliland Chronicle 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 – German Ambassador to Kenya, Seychelles and Somalia to visit Somaliland

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April 7, 2019

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A delegation led by the Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Kenya and Head of Mission to Seychelles and Somalia, Annett Güntheris is coming to Somaliland tomorrow April 8th.

Ambassador Güntheris who is based in Nairobi is also the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and to the United Nations Human Settlements Program UN-HABITAT.

The Federal Republic of Germany is Somaliland’s biggest donor on infrastructure projects including Hargeisa water expansion, road network and others. According to sources, diplomatic sources, Ambassador Güntheris will be visiting some of these projects.

Image result for Linneweber GIZ — GIZ Country Representative Mr. H. Linneweber

The German Ambassador are accompanied by the Deputy Ambassador to Somalia Markus Bollmohr, GIZ Country Representative Mr. H. Linneweber and others,

Breaking – United States Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto to Visit Somaliland – Update

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April 7, 2019

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According to sources in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other diplomatic sources in Nairobi, the United States Ambassador to Somalia, Donald Yamamoto is expected to visit Somaliland.

This the first time Mr. Yamamoto is visiting Somaliland since appointed to head the United States Mission to Somalia on October 19, 2018

Details of Mr. Yamamoto’s delegation and itinerary were not clear, but sources in Somaliland government state that the United States is looking to assist Somaliland in the security sector, it is unclear if Mr. Yamamoto’s visit is related.

Updated: Friday, April 12 2019.

The United States Ambassador to Somalia, Mr. Donald Yamamoto and his delegation arrived in Hargeisa, Somaliland with his delegation and met President Muse Bihi Abdi.

President Bihi met with Mr. Yamamoto and his delegation in the Presidency where they discussed investment opportunities for US companies, democracy and Somaliland’s upcoming elections.

President Bihi Fires the Head of the NHPC and Replaces him with A Real Doctor

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April 7, 2019

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President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi today sacked the head of the The National Health Professions Commission Dr. Ahmed Hashi Oday and appointed Dr. Lul Jirde Husein Dualeh to replace him.

New Chairwomen of the NHPC Dr. Lul Jirde Husein Dualeh

Dr. Oday a veterinarian has been at the helm of the NHPC since its founding and under his leadership the agency has been largely non-functional and only small fraction of medical professional professional has been licensed.

President Bihi’s choice to lead the NHPC, Dr. Dualeh is Canadian trained pediatric doctor and one of the original founders of the NHPC.

Ambassador Yamamoto is the Personification of America’s Shrinking Stature in the Horn of Africa

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April 5, 2019

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Ambassador Donald Yamamoto assumed the role Somalia Ambassador right around the time President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi was elected. Yet Mr. Yamamoto has so far chose to completely ignore Somaliland.

Ambassador Yamamoto in Puntland province of Somalia last week

Understandably, one can argue that Ambassador Yamamoto is the US Ambassador to Somalia and directly engaging with Somaliland might be out of bounds and could possibly anger and earn him a Persona Non Grata Status from his hosts in Villa Somalia.

U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Donald Y. Yamamoto and Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Madobe met to discuss regional politics and development issues. pic.twitter.com/jIABeeKQbb
— U.S. Mission-Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) April 5, 2019

That argument falls apart very quickly when one considers the bold actions of his predecessor, Ambassador Stephen Schwartz who not only engaged Somaliland directly but has successfully brokered the ceasefire between Somaliland and Somalia on the border dispute in Tukeraq.

@US2Somalia Ambassador to #Somalia Donald Y. Yamamoto and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni met to discuss regional politics and economic development. pic.twitter.com/zlKsFjdTr1
— U.S. Mission-Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) April 1, 2019

And to the possibility that Somalia may assign a PNG status to Mr. Yamamoto? We say hogwash! the United States is not the United Nations.

Historically, United States Ambassadors have a great latitude and their core mission is to advance the interests of the United States. However, Mr. Yamamoto has failed this basic tenent of his assignment by prioritizing a relationship with provinces of Somalia over Somaliland and its strategic importance to the long term interests of the United States. Hint: Red Sea and control of Bab Al-Mandab.

it’s never too late to do anything. We must focus on what is important.
Ambassador Yamamoto

Even worse, the United States Embassy in Somalia in Nairobi (We meant to write Mogadishu) is helping sell the Villa Somalia’s propaganda to hide its abysmal failure in securing that country and assert any meaningful control beyond few kilometers.

There are reports of the Somali Prime Minister Hassan Khaire heading to Washington DC to meet with members of the Trump Administration including National Security Adviser Mr. John Bolton. We imagine that Mr. Yamamoto has not shared an accurate assessment with the US government on how things are going or the fact that he may have granted a visa to a member of the Prime Minister’s entourage with suspected ties to terrorist groups – the head of NISA Mr. Fahad Yasin.

If unconfirmed reports of Mr. Yamamoto’s visit to Somaliland are true, Somaliland government should reject his effect to make Somaliland look like the provinces of Somalia he has been wandering.

While Mr. Yamamoto does not have the authority to recognize Somaliland, he must remember that the people of Somaliland has decided to stand on their own and have not been part of Somalia for 30 years.

Ambassador Yamamoto once said “it’s never too late to do anything. We must focus on what is important”. This is a sound Advice Mr. Yamamoto.

Notice: This article by Somaliland Chronicle 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.

PRESS RELEASE: HIGH-LEVEL VISIT BY INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO HARGEISA, SOMALILAND

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April 4, 2019

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4 April, 2019

A high-level delegation of Ambassadors and representatives from Denmark, European Union, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom visited Hargeisa, Somaliland, on 2 to 3 April 2019. The delegation met with H.E. President Muse Bihi Abdi, all political parties, Parliament, the Electoral Commission and representatives of civil society organisations.

The main purpose of the visit was to demonstrate the partners’ continued support for Somaliland’s democratisation process and, in that context, underline the need for parliamentary and local council elections to take place on time on 12 December 2019. The delegation noted with concern the lack of progress in the preparations for the elections due to disagreements between the three main political parties and in the passage of electoral legislation in the Parliament.

The delegation regretted this state of affairs, and underlined the risks that further delay would pose to the democratic credentials and international perception of Somaliland. Partners urged all political parties to demonstrate their commitment and will to make the necessary compromises to unblock the stalemate and to support the work of the Electoral Commission. They also urged the House of Representatives to accelerate the passage of the Electoral Law.

They underlined that elections should be held according to the principles of inclusiveness, transparency and credibility in a peaceful environment and stressed that women and minorities needed to be provided with a legally enforceable right to participate and be elected.

The delegation expressed the willingness of the international community to work with Somaliland to address the current drought. The delegation stressed that the long-term solution to the negative impact of recurrent droughts lay with a sustainable and resilient development trajectory.

They also welcomed a commitment by the H.E. President Muse Bihi Abdi to pursuing dialogue with H.E. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo and with H.E. President Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland, including on current security challenges.

The delegation thanked their hosts for their warm hospitality during the visit and reaffirmed their support for Somaliland’s development and democratisation.

END

Somaliland Presidential Spokesman Asserts that Mr. Geele is Sought by INTERPOL

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April 4, 2019

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In attempt to clarify the ongoing row over the dispute between the Djibouti government, a private bank and Somaliland businessman Mr. Ahmed Omer Geele, Presidential Spokesman Mr. _ made a statement that further muddied and added more confusion to the case that has captivated Somaliland in recent days.

Mr. Mahamoud Warsame Jama stated that Somaliland has made its position clear that court judgement from Djibouti or France has no merit in Somaliland and gave a chronology of events that the public was unaware before such as the visit of the French Ambassador in Nairobi to Somaliland to discuss the case of BCIMR, parent company and GSK and Mr. Geele.

During the press briefing, the Presidential spokesman contradicted an earlier assertion by the Minister of Interior by stating that Mr. Geele is sought by the INTERPOL.

Somaliland Chronicle has checked INTERPOL Red Notice database and was unable to substantial the Presidential Spokesman’s claim of an INTERPOL interest in Mr. Geele. We have been unable to reach Somaliland Presidency for comments.

Mr. Jama confirm the existence of documents from Djibouti to Somaliland government and accused the SBI Chairman Mr. Geele of illegally obtained them from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and misrepresenting it to his tribal leaders as a warrant for his arrest. Mr. Jama id not specify what laws were broken and if the documents were considered classified and whether Mr. Geele was entitled to receive a copy.

One of the GSK properties allegedly confiscated by Djibouti

Finally, the Presidential Spokesman linked the case to Somaliland’s image and its commitment to rule of law and to ensure the outside does not view Somaliland as a place where one can come to evade his debts and hide from the law.

Unconfirmed reports state that a delegation led by the Minister of Interior of Djibouti and Chief of Police are headed to Somaliland early next week. It is unclear if the purpose of thier visit is related to the case of Mr. Geele.

Djibouti’s Undue Influence over Somaliland and the Case Against Mr. Ahmed Osman Geele

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April 4, 2019

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Mr. Ahmed Osman Geele also known as Ina Geele Arab is one of the most prominent businessmen in Somaliland and the owner of Somaliland Beverage Industries (SBI) which produces Coca-Cola products, an assortment of juices and Lis dairy products.

What set Mr. Geele apart from other wealthy Somaliland businessmen is the manufacturing nature of his business and the staggering price tag of 17 million US dollars it took to to build out the beverage plant.

International media including the Financial Times and The Guardian in 2012 widely covered the inauguration of the SBI’s plant in Somaliland.

Mr. Geele is a dual national of Somaliland and Djibouti and has done business in the latter before he started SBI in Somaliland but since October 2017, Djiboutian authorities sought to arrest Mr. Geele for unspecified crimes.

According to sources familiar with the row between Mr. Geele and the President of Djibouti Mr. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, the dispute centers on Mr. Geele’s decision to manufacture the Lis dairy products in his SBI facility in Somaliland rather than build a plant in Djibouti in partnership with the first lady of Djibouti Ms. Kadra Mahamoud Haid.

Because of the fallout with the first lady, authorities in Djibouti confiscated all of Mr. Geele’s assets. An asset estimated to at least 100 million US dollars.

Mr. Geele and Djibouti authorities’ dispute and legal tangling spilled over to Somaliland where unsubstantiated reports of an imminent extradition of Mr. Geele and tribal elders warning of dire consequences dominated social media sites.

The issue was briefly compounded by a fake letter purportedly written and signed by the former Minister of Justice Mr. Abdiqani Ateye (Fariid) instructing law enforcement agencies to apprehend Mr. Geele due to crimes he committed against Djibouti. The Minister has since issued a statement calling it fake news.

The Minister of Interior Mr. Mohamed Kahin Abdi who was asked about the alleged extradition request from Djibouti, told reporters it is untrue that there is a warrant for Mr. Geele’s arrest.

Director General of Ministry of Justice
Mr. Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan

So has Djibouti asked Somaliland to extradite or take any action against Mr. Geele? The answer is no but there is more to it than that. Let’s unpack what we have learned so far.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs stamp and the Director General Mr. Abdinasir A. Hersi signature

Both ministers who spoke about this issue told partial truths and neglected to mention that Djibouti has submitted a legal document through its diplomatic mission in Somaliland. Mr. Ateye, the Minister of Justice at the time is the second ministry to have dealt with this document.

Ministry of Justice Stamp and signature of the Director General Mr. Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan’s signature

Djibouti submitted a legal document from its Appeals Court through its Ambassador to Somaliland who delivered it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation where the Director General Mr. Abdinasir A. Hersi signed, stamped it and sent it on to the Ministry of Justice. The Director General of the Ministry of Justice Mr. Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan also stamped, signed it and forwarded it to the Appeals Court in Somaliland.

The document known as the “Certificate of Non-opposition or Appeal” referring to a case No 192/18 that took place on 04/04/2018 in which Mr. Geele’s GSK Holdings S.A.S supposedly lost and the Bank that was suing him won – La Banque Pour Le Commerce Et L’industrie – Mer Rouge also known as BCIMR. A bank that is rumored to have the first family of Djibouti as major stakeholders.

It is unclear what the next steps are in this case but sources in Somaliland judiciary stated that BCIMR and Djibouti authorities are seeking to shutter Mr. Geele’s businesses in Somaliland and specifically SBI until they settle the dispute. It is unclear if they are seeking this with the current one-page document or are planning to take legal action against Mr. Geele and sue him in Somaliland’s legal system.

It is unclear what the next steps are in this case but sources in Somaliland judiciary stated that BCIMR and Djibouti authorities are seeking to shutter Mr. Geele’s businesses in Somaliland and specifically SBI until they settle the dispute. It is unclear if they are seeking this with the current one-page document or are planning to take legal action against Mr. Geele and sue him in Somaliland’s court system

Currently, the documents sent by Djibouti are with Somaliland’s Appeals Court and may be reviewed by the Chief Justice Aden Haji Ali.

A central question that remains unanswered by Somaliland government is what Djibouti is asking Somaliland? A court’s decision has no validity outside of its sovereign territory. That is the role of international courts and arbitration venues. An arrest warrant from one country is equally invalid unless the two countries have an extradition treaty, and a warrant is submitted through INTERPOL.

It is important to note that Djibouti does not recognize Somaliland as a sovereign country and regards it as part of Somalia.

Legal scholars also point out that while a foreign entity such as BCIMR can open a civil case and sue Mr. Geele in Somaliland, there is an issue of jurisdiction where Somaliland cannot enforce any judgement against BCIMR should they loose.

There is a negligible trade between the two countries since most of Somaliland business men such as Ibrahim Dheere, Hoogsade and others have moved the bulk of their operations to Somaliland. So what makes Djibouti loom so large over Somaliland? The answer is passports.

Foreign Policy magazine referred to Djibouti as a Friendly Little Dictatorship has controlled the means with which most Somaliland politicians and many others travel because it issues them passports, a short-lived passport with a validity period of three years.

According to a member of Somaliland parliament who insisted on anonymity for fear of loosing his passport, the vast majority of members of Somaliland Parliament host a Djibouti passport. He added that as soon as someone is appointed for a position, Djibouti issues them a passport.

This is one of the many side effects of lack of recognition and the need for people to travel for commerce and more often to seek medical attention overseas but also gives a major leverage to a regional economic and strategic rival.

Our efforts to speak to key personnel from Somaliland government and Mr. Geele have been unsuccessful. Our request for clarification from the former Minister of Justice and current Minister of Defense have not been answered.

Notice: This is an article by Somaliland Chronicle. It 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.

Seven European Union Ambassadors Coming to Somaliland

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Staff

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April 2, 2019

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A large delegation of European Union Ambassadors are coming to Somaliland on Tuesday April 2nd 2019 to meet with President Muse Bihi Abdi and members of his administration.

According to sources in Somaliland Presidency, the delegation is comprised of Ambassadors from Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom and EU.

This is the largest delegation from the EU to ever visit Somaliland and topics of discussion include Somaliland’s parliamentary elections, development and security cooperation with Somaliland and Somaliland and Somalia talks.

The Ambassador’s are all based in Nairobi and will be in Somaliland for two days and will meet with members of the opposition parties to discuss parliamentary elections.

Sources add that the United States Ambassador Mr. Donald Yamamoto will be visiting Somaliland this week to meet with President Bihi. He has been in Bossaso to meet with the President of Puntland regional administration, Mr. Said Abdullahi Deni.

The international community has been making efforts to establish a better and more direct with Somaliland due to worsening security situation in Somalia.

Story of the EU delegation’s visit to Somaliland was first reported by Mr. Khaalid Foodhaadhi on twitter.

Update

The EU delegation have been welcomed by the Minister of Interior Affairs Mr. Mohamed Kahin Abdi. The delegation members are

Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, people sitting and suit

Amb. of Denmark , Mette Knudsen
Amb. of UK, Ben Fender,
Amb. of Sweden, Andreas von Uexkull
Amb. of Norway, Elin Bergithe Rognlie
Charge d’Affairs EU Delegation, Fulgencio Garrido Ruiz
Head of Somalia Office Switzerland Embassy, Siro Beltrametti
First secretary Finland, Toni Sandell
Head of UK Hargeisa Office, Stuart Brown
First Secretary Denmark, Adam Sparre Spliid
Senior Advisor Sweden, Johan Svensson
First secretary Norway Svein Olaf Svoldal

The delegation is scheduled to meet with President Muse Bihi.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.

Unchecked Radicals: The Dangerous Political Imams of Somaliland

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Staff

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March 31, 2019

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