Female Genital Mutilation is the Least of Our Problems
As a female born and raised in Somaliland, I find that no one seems to understand what women need in Somaliland. Sure, we want to be given our fair share in government institutions. But the topic that gets the most attention and probably the most funding is FGM. I am here to tell you that while it is a problem, it is the least of what women face in Somaliland.
To be clear, I have never been outside of Somaliland and do not adhere to some western notion of what it is to be a women, nor am I a raving feminist who is demanding changes to our share of inheritance. I am very comfortable in my role as a modern Muslim women.
As young women, I faced issues that I had no one to turn to and could not openly discuss even with my own mother. No one has prepared me for the profound changes that my body would undergo when I reached a certain age. To this day, I suffer anxiety due to the traumatic experience of my first period and what I thought was happening to me.
I imagine every girl who comes of age in Somaliland suffers the same fate of finding out how traumatic it is to transition to womanhood.
I feel the piercing gaze of male shop owners when I try to buy feminine products. Every time… and I am tempted to remind them that yes I have female genitals just like every other female human in the world. But I do not.
It does not stop there, I dread the thought of going to the market to buy underwear.
The problems I face as a female in Somaliland are those of backward thinking that treats everything about a women as a taboo. Not just our bodies and reproductive health, we cannot even hang our intimate clothes outside to dry them.
Women in Somaliland do not have access to basic OB/GYN services or even access to information resources to help them take care of themselves in that special time. It is even worse for women living outside of major towns.
FGM is the one issue that gets the most attention when it comes to women issues and I believe even one girl who undergoes this barbaric act is one too many I support the effort of women trying to get our fair share of the government and that is a high aspiration but at the same time I want them to not forget our most basic problems.
To my male counterparts, I want them to understand that every time you look at a women in a way that makes her uncomfortable, remember that someone, somewhere is looking at your sister or possibly mother the same way and making her uncomfortable.
About the Author Anonymous female.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of Somaliland Chronicle and it’s staff.
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United States Acknowledges The Legal Case for Somaliland’s Recognition
Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy, Jr. held a press briefing today in Washington DC to discuss the Trump Administration’s new Africa strategy.
The United States new African strategy was unveiled by President Trump’s National Security Adviser, John Bolton at the Heritage Foundation.
Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and his delegation were invited at the unveiling of the new policy.
Assistant Secretary Nagy discussed the wide ranging implication of the new policy and invited international media from around the world including Somaliland Chronicle to ask questions.
HOST: Another question on the theme of aid to the continent. This one from journalist Saeed Ibrahim. He says: The U.S. has announced almost a billion dollars in aid to Somalia despite rampant corruption and deteriorating security. In contrast, Somaliland has been peaceful and democratic for 27 years. Why hasn’t the U.S. engaged Somaliland in a more meaningful way?
AMBASSADOR NAGY: Yeah, the Somaliland question comes up constantly when I speak or when I do these programs. Here’s the thing: Somaliland does have a legal argument it makes. Of course, that has to be treated in the appropriate fora. And, the United States normally when it comes to recognizing states in Africa will consult with the African Union, and the integrity of the state of Somalia is an important precept for the African Union. So the United States of America is dealing with the government in Mogadishu. We are doing our best to strengthen that government, both in its economic development, but also in the security environment.
So for the time being U.S. policy is to deal with Mogadishu, to work with the government in Mogadishu to strengthen that part of the Horn of Africa.
You can read the entire press briefing here in which the Mr. Nagy has discussed issues and opportunities in parts of Africa including the ongoing conflict in the Anglophone region of Cameroon.
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Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasin Hagi Mohamoud Concludes Inaugural Diplomatic Mission to the United States
Foreign Minister advocates for stronger relations in meetings with U.S. officials, lawmakers and experts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Somaliland Foreign Minister Yasin Hagi Mohamoud today concluded his visit to the United States, which included meetings with counterparts in the Trump Administration, the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. Foreign Minister Mohamoud traveled to Washington, DC, New York, Ohio and Minnesota in his first trip to the United States since his appointment on November 10, 2018.
During his visit, Foreign Minister Mohamoud met with U.S. officials to encourage enhanced diplomatic, defense and commercial ties between the two countries. In the U.S. Congress, he met with Rep. Karen Bass (D-California), who beginning in January will chair the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. The Minister also met with Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), a member of the Senate’s Africa Subcommittee, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Illinois) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Georgia). In addition, he met with investors and economic development organizations to discuss the modernization of the Port of Berbera, improved conditions for oil production, and other promising opportunities for economic growth.
Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasin Mahmoud Hiir and his delegation met Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia at his office in Washington DC.
Foreign Minister Mohamoud consulted with officials from the United Nations, Department of State, Department of Defense, and U.S. Agency for International Development during his visit. He addressed policy experts at the Atlantic Council and met with representatives from the Heritage Foundation, the International Crisis Group, the American Councils for International Education, the International Republican Institute and the Corporate Council on Africa. The Minister was also invited to, and attended, the 13 November address by U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton announcing the Trump Administration’s new strategy toward Africa.
At United Nations headquarters in New York, the Foreign Minister met with Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Tayé-Brook Zerihoun. He was interviewed by reporters from The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, the BBC, and Voice of America.
In addition, the Foreign Minister traveled to Ohio and Minnesota, where he met with members of the Somaliland diaspora.
At the conclusion of his visit, Foreign Minister Mohamoud released this statement:
“Our friends in the United States recognize mutual benefits to be gained from a stronger partnership with Somaliland. Somaliland’s independent but unrecognized status requires that it contend with unique diplomatic circumstances. At the same time, its role as a democratic example for others, a conduit for expanded regional commerce, and a bulwark of security in a strategic part of the world is recognized and valued. Somaliland looks forward to working with the U.S. Administration and Congress to advance our partnership and shared interest in countering the threats of terrorism and piracy in the Horn of Africa.”
Somaliland became an independent, sovereign state on 26 June 1960 – an achievement acknowledged by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and many other governments. Five days after independence, Somaliland united with Somalia with the aim of creating a “Greater Somalia,” bringing together all people of ethnic Somali origin in five countries in the Horn of Africa. Following the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, Somaliland withdrew from the union it had voluntarily entered in 1960 and reclaimed its independence. In the subsequent decades, Somaliland has built a functioning, stable, democratic state in an otherwise volatile Horn of Africa region. In seeking formal recognition by the international community, Somaliland serves a model for other nations that seek to govern responsibly and provide opportunities for their citizens.
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STABILITY AND SOVEREIGNTY BEFORE INTEGRATION; THE INDUCED HEGEMONY IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
The Horn of Africa is known for its rich history and geopolitical strategic importance, which attracted the ancient civilizations and powers. The region has been one of the most resourceful regions in Africa in the antediluvian times and at the present. The coast of the Horn of Africa links through the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and with the Indian Ocean and the Far East. Besides this, the Somali Airspace is one of the most world’s important air routes that connect Africa and the Greater Asia. The resource competition during the industrial era, which turned into political and economic power gambling during the colonial arenas, is now taking its fourth stage. This stage is more sophisticated, illusive and multi-polarized with odds of interest amongst the key players and ringleaders as they are all behind the scene. The front line actors and operant interface are now Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti, while the pushing factors are much connected to the invigorated modern cold war and the stormy geopolitics.
The historical accounts about the greater Horn of Africa or East Africa has been marked as a conflict zone even before the European invaders and particularly land disputes amongst East African major ethnic groups like Oromo and Somalis is worth to mention. And the territorial disputes of Somalia with Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti with Eretria would not have happened without the divide and rule approach of the colonial powers. The territorial disputes in the region had long term impact on the economic development and political affairs of the region. And this is the main reason that PM Aby Ahmed of Ethiopia had to focus on. Seemingly, it is not a newly emerged phenomenon that Somalia and Ethiopia had to negotiate the peace and stability in the region. This reminds on June 30th 19981 president Siad Barre pointed out that the dispute with Ethiopia, which has gone on for more than six years, had drained his country’s economic resources to a point where funds for economic development were scarce. The Somali leader said that he would ”greatly welcome” initiatives from any of the Western powers, the United Nations and other African and Arab countries to get the process going for negotiations with Ethiopia. As such, what is happening now in the Horn of Africa has been involving over the years and without the hands of the external powers it would not have happened in this way. That negotiation did not achieve its objectives towards peace building and finding a durable solution for Ethio-Somalian border dispute due to the collapse of the Somali central government and the regime change in Ethiopia.
The land dispute between Sudan and Egypt as well as other potential territorial disputes in African countries are the drivers of instability and poverty. The political boarders made by the colonial powers were managed in a way that keeps African countries in this never lasting political calamity that yet serves the interest of the superpowers. Along with inter-state regional borders are the current domestic deputes amongst the Somali communities, which at the present tackled and disrupted the progress of the Somali central government. Likewise, Oromo and Somali disputes in Ethiopia are the result of disputes over regional borders. This manifestation sheds lights on that each and every country in the region has its own active violence within along with bad governance with autocratic leadership. Ethiopia been the first country involved in drastic government change but it did not come confidence and through a domestic polity. Seemly, the transformation went through series of stages derived by political demography amongst the ethnic federal states and was lubricated by strategic foreign stakeholders.
Similarly, the federal government of Somalia has been over the years considered as the failed state and without clue of establishing a legitimate government. A lot of mutations in the Somali political development emerged, which resisted against all possibilities for its statehood. A part from the domestic crisis within, there has also been destructive interventions that deeply divided Somali into powerful regional administration backed by foreign countries. This weakened the sovereignty and the legal mandate of the federal government; it positioned Somali inability to accommodate and control its territorial integrity. Despite the fact that Somali is very fragile and attempting to overcome the long-lasting stateless state as huge challenges are ahead. Almost, Gulf countries included Saudi Arabi, UAE and Qatar, were actively involved and stirred the political climate of Somalia. President Siad Barre in his interview on 17th May 1977 attacked the Saudis for their alleged policy of trying to turn the Red Sea into an Arab lake, saying no power has the right to monopolize the waterway. Again Arab countries are trying to anchor their economic and political interest in the Horn of Africa and closing all windows against Iran. The blind and the plot involvement of the Arabs in the region is greediness, politically premature and tailed to be win-loss strategy. This is another indication triggered the dispute between Djibouti and UAE over the port management. This calamity and conspiracy was transferred to Somalia as UAE interred into the controversial Berbera port extension agreement into Somaliland and to deploy a military pace.
However, this question shall arise; peace and stability or integration; which comes first? There are undeniably robust social, cultural, economic, and political commonalities that position Horn of Africa as hegemony. There are many other factors that commonly treat the Horn of Africa as a single region; apart from the socio-economic connections, but natural disasters ranging from prolonged drought, recurrent famine, environmental degradation, poverty, disease to political instability, and all these problems need collective efforts and synergy. In addition to this, Horn of Africa by country has a lot of internal, political and economic crisis, which exacerbated the exiting active violence within. For instance, Somalia has been suffering political infightings, war on Al-Shabaab, and now federal states provoked major conflicts, which compromised the territorial integrity, the serenity and the sovereignty of the country. Similarly, Ethiopia has also been suffering potential crisis and ethnic violence which claimed the deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Some of these potential crises exploded out the merely drastic and transformational change led the PM Aby Ahmed as he did not handle this transition with caution and curio. The need for, and significance of, finding solutions for their domestic problems could not be argued more and should be the first priority. Inclusive politics, full control of territorial integrity and resolving all kinds of potential disputes amongst these countries are indispensable to be settled down before anything else.
The existing discourse on cultural, political economic integrations in the region, which began recently, was centered on more narrow and insipid application of fundamental principles of hegemony might turn into political conspiracies. This initiated regional integration will possible expand to Sudan, Kenya and Uganda if it produces sustenance that emulate the instability in the Horn of Africa and most importantly in a way that is responsive to the major stakeholders. The legacy of the colonialism in Africa was instability of all kinds; let it be; social and cultural, structural and political instability, though some countries like Botswana and Rwanda are undergoing drastic systematic changes. The tough question is -when and how?
About the Author Mohamed Jama Madar (@MohamedMadar) holds a Ph.D. in Policy Studies for Sustainable Development who writes on STI policies, Education for Sustainable Development and S&T Policies.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints of Somaliland Chronicle and it’s staff.
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Aid Nation: Why Somaliland Government Operates like an NGO
The President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi, in his recent travel to the country’s eastern provinces gave an impassioned advice to graduates of the University of Erigavo implored them to break the cycle of aid dependency.
President Bihi spoke to the graduates about the culture of dependency and asked them to bring back the proud heritage of our people of self reliance. He added that no country has ever developed on funds from an aid agency.
This inspirational speech got us curious about a disconnect between many of the President’s policy laden speeches and why very little of it is implemented. In essence, it seems that many in President Bihi’s administration are either deaf or are simply ignoring the direction of the President of the Republic.
While the President was inaugurating many project in the east during his trip, the Director General of the Presidency was donating blankets to the Mental Hospital of Hargeisa.
Similar activities that are straight out of NGO playbook where simple provisions are distributed while cameras roll are all too common in Somaliland.
Unfortunately, these activities with little to no lasting impact are what is passes as actual work.
The Ministry of Employment, Family and Social Affairs is one of the busiest agencies in Somaliland all thanks to its Director General Mr. Mohamed Adan Elmi (Ilkocase) who came to public service from one of the oldest local NGO known as HAVAYOCO.
Unfortunately, the Ministry operations are indistinguishable from that of an NGO, where endless seminars are held about issues such as FGM and Gender based violence.
In fact, the Director General holds several of these seminars a week, again complete with wall to wall media coverage to show progress.
However, the core portfolio of Employment, whether it is job creation and other aspects of solving the rampant unemployment in Somaliland, the most we get out of the Ministry of Employment is the occasional vacancy re-posting by the Director General.
Some of these events are more of a party than an actual place of work where critical ideas are exchanged and meaningful policy is produced.
We have asked a current Minister in President Bihi’s government about his view of Mr. Mohamed Adan Elmi (Ilkocase) and others in this article and he said “If you turn on a camera and microphone in the Saraar desert, Ilkocase will magically show up for a photo op and a speech, but the President is keenly aware of what is being passed for work these days”.
Other times, it is worse where a government Minister accepts a shipment of 500 pairs of shoes and allows himself to be photographed holding a shoe from a donor.
Judging from the quality of the footwear, we estimate it the total value to be around 20,000 US dollars. This is something the Ministry of Justice can afford.
Poverty Tourism brought to you by Amoud Foundation
Recently, Amoud Foundation has brought a former NBA superstar
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (formerly Chris Jackson) to participate in its charitable work.
The first problem is that the Charity on its website, stated that Mr. Abdul-Rauf is in Somalia. This is inaccurate, he was in Somaliland.
Mr. Abdul-Rauf was met by the Vice President Abdirahman Saylici and Director General of the Presidency Mr. Mohamed Ali Bile. The public record of these meetings does not show any discussion of substance.
A charity distributing food with the help of a world reknown celebrity is not a problem, except, this same charity, Amoud Foundation, employs President Muse Bihi Abdi’s official Photographer Mr. Ibrahim Eagle.
Mr. Eagle has produced breathtaking photos of President Bihi going back to the election but unfortunately, for his other job at Amoud Foundation he has taken the photo on the right of a child in garbage.
These photos tell two different stories of Somaliland by the very person whose job it is to help sell an image that is worth of recognition.
It is unclear if Mr. Abdul-Rauf has personally contributed to the aid he is helping distribute or if he is just another poverty tourist but what is clear is that Somaliland government has not tried to take advantage of his fame in a way that is useful perhaps attracting other Muslim coverts from North America like him with means to invest in Somaliland.
When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail
The vast majority of technocrats such as Director Generals and Heads of Departments of ministries come from civil society organization, NGOs on few occasions from the United Nations.
This is the root of the problem, these former aid workers only know one thing and that is how to operate like the NGO or the aid agency they came from.
Non-governmental organizations are generally not a problem, but there is no government in the world that operates like one. Except for Somaliland.
The President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi’s Abdi’s message that we should rely on ourselves and take care of our own is not getting through to his own employees.
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United States Scrambles to Counter Chinese and Russian Influence in Africa
The Trump administration on Thursday announced a sharp refocus of its Africa strategy to counter what it called the “predatory” practices of China and Russia, moves which National Security Adviser John Bolton said “deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage.”
Speaking at the conservative Heritage Foundation,Mr. Bolton said that curbing Moscow and Beijing’s growing influence in Africa will be the White House’s top objective in the region.
“Great-power competitors, namely China and Russia, are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa,” Mr. Bolton said Thursday. “They are deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States.”
For over a decade, China has outpaced the U.S. and its allies in currying favor and investment opportunities among African nations, though what Mr. Bolton said were “bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing’s wishes and demands.”
Under the new “Prosper Africa” strategy, Mr. Bolton said, “we will encourage African leaders to choose high-quality, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable foreign investment projects, including those from the United States.”
More recently, Moscow has used its military influence, including weapons deals or military adviser forces deployed to autocratic African regimes, “that keep strongmen in power, undermine peace and security, and run counter to the best interests of the African people,” Mr. Bolton added.
Mr. Bolton said previous U.S. administrations failed to fashion a coordinated approach to Africa.
“There has been an uneven appreciation of Africa,” he told reporters after his Heritage remarks. “It did not fit cohesively in American foreign policy goals.”
Trump administration’s policy readjustment toward Africa will take on a prominent role as the White House reviews U.S. foreign aid programs. The review is nearly complete, with elements of the review already being included the administration’s budget plan for fiscal year 2020, Mr. Bolton said.
The administration’s national security shift away from counterterrorism to confronting major rivals such as China and Russia required a re-think of U.S. policy in Africa, Mr. Bolton added.
“This is a very important point for the U.S. and Western world to wake up’” and recognize, Mr. Bolton said of Chinese and Russian influence expanding across Africa.
But that recognition of the threats posed by Russia and China in Africa coincided with a Pentagon decision to reduce its overall counterterror operations in Africa by 10 percent. The reductions, mostly focused on ongoing U.S. operations in western Africa, did not mean American commanders were abandoning wholesale the fight against extremists on the continent, officials insisted.
Mr. Bolton did note Washington would have no qualms about pulling support from African countries if their counterterrorism efforts were deemed to have little to no benefit to U.S. national security initiatives.
Mr. Bolton vowed that Washington will “reevaluate its support for U.N. peacekeeping missions” as well as aid to countries whose governance it finds troublesome, including South Sudan.
“The United States will no longer provide indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent,” Mr. Bolton said. He added that “countries that repeatedly vote against the United States in international forums, or take action counter to U.S. interests, should not receive generous American foreign aid.”
Source Associated Press and wire services
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Statement by Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Following today’s speech at the Heritage Foundation by U.S. National Security Advisor Amb. John Bolton on The Trump Administration’s New Africa Strategy, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Somaliland Yasin Hagi Mohamoud Hiir made the following statement:
The Republic of Somaliland welcomes efforts by the United States to empower African governments to seek greater freedom to chart their own democratic path, achieve independence from foreign influence and catalyze sustained economic growth through an embrace of free markets all which we have successfully pursued since separating from Somalia and reclaiming our independence in 1991.
Today’s remarks by Amb. Bolton and America’s new strategy have opened the door to a strategic reevaluation of our diplomatic ties and a stronger partnership, from which there would be mutual benefits. Somaliland can be a model to others as the Trump Administration acts to advance democracy, good governance and a secure future for Africa.
Somaliland Mission US
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