In a special segment to showcase the beating heart of Somaliland’s entrepreneurial spirit, we caught up with Saeed Sheikh Omar, the owner and operator of Summertime Enterprises to get him to divulge the secret to his success and advice the next generation of Somaliland entrepreneurs.
We suspect most people in Somaliland would’ve heard of you by now, but for those of us who live under a rock, Mr. Omer, tell us a little about yourself
Saeed Sh Omer At the Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi in 2015
Thank you, and call me Saeed, Sheikh Omar was my father! The best way I can describe myself is that I am a product of Somaliland and specially my beloved city of Hargeisa.
Take us back to how you get started in business, the very beginning
Well to be honest with you, starting a business was not my first plan, like most of my generation, I tried to go overseas on multiple occasions and though at the time, I felt very unlucky, in hindsight I am very glad that it did not work out.
It was terrifying at first, but going into business requires one to take some risk, so I sold a property I owned to use the funds as seed for my very first business which was a rental car to an Aid agency and it had its challenges where I could not get a permanent job with them, so just by chance, I was driving the employees to work one day and I saw a construction site which is where my restaurant is today and the rest is history.
What I learned when I look back and I am always mindful of how I got here, is you do your best when your back is against the wall.
What where some of the challenges in growing the business?
Vice President Saylici cutting the ribbon of Green Plaza event venue in 2014.
Distance was a big challenge for us, Summertime was the further restaurant in the city when we opened it, most people back in those days would go to the downtown area Gargaar area and the furthest would be Haraf and Ming Sing restaurants, and Summertime is a lot further than those so having people to come to Summertime was a challenge, not everyone drove back in those days.
The other major challenge of being in the hospitality business in general is knowing your customers, it took a bit of trial and error, for instance we started with just snacks at first and we saw many customers come in at night and turn around and leave. We had to quickly understand what the customers want and how to effective attract and retain customers . I think overcoming this challenge is to this day our secret sauce.
You have a construction of a large hotel in the Jijiga Yar area? Are you ready to challenge the big hotels in Hargeisa?
Naturally, I am a competitive guy but there is enough business for everyone in the hospitality industry in Hargeisa, after all it is the capital of Somaliland. From the mom who makes 50 Sambusas a day to Mansoor and anything in between.
A dream nearing completion. Summertime’s Hotel and Resort nearing completion in Hargeisa.
Our hotel has been coming along for quite a while and everyone thought I went insane in embarking on a project of this scale, I think the fruits of our labor are nearing completion.
Our secret weapon has always been customer service with a personal touch, unlike the large hotels and entertainment venues in the country, while I have employees I personally run my businesses and attend to the smallest details. I think this is where we beat the competition who are mostly not involved in their business and are reliant on employees making major decisions.
Elaborate the last point, your secret weapon
Well, hospitality is a happy business, and unhappy customer will never come back to an establishment where they don’t think they were treated right. Unless you love the business you are in, chances of success are very low.
For instance, whether you are in my restaurant with your family or attending a wedding at our Green Plaza, we make sure our customers have the very best. It warms my heart when I see a bride and a groom having the best night of their life and we took a small part of making it as perfect as possible.
Saeed speaking to the Success Club about his start in business.
I have many friends who started a restaurant, a guesthouse or other types of businesses only to close down in a short period of time, it is not that they are not good at what they are doing, it is just that their heart was not in it. This is what I tell every entrepreneur , if you don’t love something, don’t do it because the end result will show.
So Our hotel, when it opens soon insha Allah, will be very different in many ways. Look, anyone can stick a bed in a room and call it a hotel, we are working to get international certifications to make sure our guests have the best amenities in Somaliland including an swimming pool.
Summertime Enterprises is a set of businesses that all build on one another, from the restaurant, the event venue, apartments and again very soon insha Allah the Hotel which will tie it all together.
What would you tell a young person who is aspiring to immigrate to western countries?
I have nothing against going overseas, but right now, Somaliland is where opportunities are. I ran into good friends of mine who are moving back from every corner of the globe back to Somaliland looking for opportunities. This is when I know I have made the right decision to stay and trust the motherland.
My advise to the young people is start a business, the size of the business does not matter, what matters is your passion for it and how much time you are willing to invest. Do what your peers would not do, that’s trick! do what others think is hard and stick with it and I guarantee that you will surprise what you can accomplish. And if you fail, do it all over again!
There is a good chance you have not heard of Anglo Somaliland Resources. It is the company that has the exclusive right to sell commercial fishing licenses on behalf of Somaliland. The Somaliland government has signed a 10 year agreement with Anglo Somaliland Resources on August 4th 2015.
Before we delve into Anglo Somaliland Resources, we need to understand its origin, its genesis and to do that, first we need to understand its founders, Mr Ian Fenwick and Sir Antony Brian Baldry.
Sir Antony Brian Baldry
Mr Baldry is a former British MP who has been in public service for more than 30 years.
For a sitting MP, while this is not illegal to have private business, the sheer volume makes it is highly unusual. What is even more puzzling is that the great majority of entities that Mr Baldry is involved with seem to be connected to foreign countries, especially third world or conflict zones. Here two particular entities we would like you to keep in mind.
Mr Baldry has been accused of range of improprieties, including corruption involving a Nigerian politician accused of money laundering and on another instance, the The Parliamentary Commissioner on Standards found him in breach of code of conduct when he failed to disclose that he was a partner in a firm trading in blood diamonds in Sierra Leone.
Mr Fenwick is the co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer of the Anglo Somaliland Resources. He is a former salesman turned businessman. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to go on about Mr. Fenwick on the public records except, the impressive number of companies he has been involved in.
Much like Mr. Baldry, he has been quite busy in starting and closing down businesses with shocking frequency, in fact, the two gentlemen have been in business together for years according to filings with the British government prior to co-founding Anglo Somaliland Resources.
The Somalia Connection
Ian Fenwick with former Somali President Hassan Sheikh
Sir Baldry and Mr. Fenwick have a long history in the Horn of Africa, in fact you dont have to look hard to find it. Before their arrival in Somaliland and Anglo Somaliland Resources, both gentleman have done extensive business with successive Somali Governments in Mogadishu.
Baldry with former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu
Mr. Baldry has written and lobbied on behalf of Somalia and at times against the independence of Somaliland on the international stage so much that President Hassan Sheikh has granted him an honorary Somali citizenship.
Mr. Baldry singing an MOU with Somali Ambassador in Nov 2013
On February 24 2014, Mr. Baldry did mention Somaliland but not in the way one would assume, he wrote that Somaliland needs to remain a part of the larger Somalia “There appears to be no desire to rush talks with Hargeisa, but rather the hope that over time Somalilanders would recognise that there is again value in being part of a larger de jure state, but within a federal structure that gives them maximum autonomy.”
Mr Fenwick with the Somali Interior Minister, celebrating the sale of a biometric identification system.
Mr Fenwick has been part of everything Mr. Baldry has done in Somalia, including the sale of a biometric identification and a secure communication systems to the Government of Somalia.
Compartmentalized
Kim and Ian Fenwick with President Elect Muse Bihi Abdi.
Finding all the companies Mr Baldry and Fenwick started over the years takes some effort and there seems to be an effort to conceal some or create the appearance of not being connected to them. This is achieved by slight variation in how their names appear on the Company House registry.
Mr Fenwick, for any business intended for business with Somalia has used Ian Leonard Fenwick, this variation in name makes a huge difference. When looking at the registry, we found that Ms Kim Fenwick is also part of playing this game of musical Chairs.
Mr Baldry has done the same where companies are registered under variations of his name, there is Tony Baldry, Sir Anthony Brian Baldry and Sir Tony Baldry. All in an attempt to conceal and compartmentalize their various business dealings with Somalia.
We are not sure what happened with Somalia, but both Mr Fenwick and Baldry seem to have closed up shop in Somalia and had a sudden change of heart and pivoted to Somaliland.
They come bearing gifts (and Aid)
A post from ASR showing “kind” donations for Edna Adan Hospital
Besides lots of photos with Somaliland Government officials and civic leaders such as Edna Adan, there isn’t much in terms of what Anglo Somaliland Resources has done in the public domain.
It’s charitable arm Anglo Somaliland Foundation, however seems to be humming with activities mostly directed to Edna Hospital. Mr Fenwick has given extensive interviews together with the Director of Edna Foundation on donations that he had personally collected from hospitals in England.
Ms Edna Adan and Edna Foundation receiving a container of donations from Ian Fenwick
A total of one container that has been extensively photographed and documented was valued to contain around 200,000 British Pounds worth of donations by Mr Fenwick and its transportation costs were covered by the Somaliland community in England.
Anglo Somaliland Resources’ website has an impressive collection of photos featuring its charitable work but nothing related to the fishing contract it has signed with Somaliland.
In fact, one would immediately notice the gratuitous use of Ms Edna Adan’s photos as an endorsement of Anglo Somaliland Resources and or Anglo Somaliland Foundation.
Unwanted Publicity
Anglo Somaliland Resources’s contract with the Somaliland government has come under scrutiny and was criticized by the United Nations Security Council.
This report contains the most amount of detail that has come to the public regarding this contract.
The only page that is publicly available of the Somaliland Gov and ASR
To push back on the accusation of the report, for the first time, Mr Baldry and Mr Fenwick have given a lengthy interview to Somaliland TV to answer the allegations. But mostly characterizing the accusation as an anti-Somaliland effort.
Tony Baldry and Ian Fenwick with Former President Siilaanyo
Mr Baldry has stated that since Somaliland is unrecognized, it is unable to sell fishing licenses itself which is where his firm comes in. The reporter from Somaliland National TV, does not seem to be asking any questions related to the substance of the contract but just the allegations in the Security Council Report.
An excerpt from the UN Security Council report regarding the ASR contract with Somaliland.
The United Nations Security Council’s report states that Anglo Somaliland Resources gets 60% of every fishing contract it sells on behalf of Somaliland, where Somaliland gets 40%. Additionally, Somaliland has been paid 500 US Dollars on the signing on the contract and a 2000 annual fee.
“It is a classic case of bananas for your gold”
A commercial fishing is worth several hundred thousand dollars each but it is essential that fishing fleets are properly supervised to ensure only sustainable method of harvesting fish stocks are employed. Something Anglo Somaliland Resources promised to do in their contract but does not seem to have any sign of operation on the ground in Somaliland.
It is unclear how many licenses Anglo Somaliland Resources has sold on behalf of Somaliland over the three years the contract has been in effect.
President Muse Bihi
Kim and Ian Fenwick with President Elect Muse Bihi Abdi in November 2017
While the contract that grants Anglo Somaliland Resources the exclusive right to sell commercial fishing license at 60% commission, was signed under President Siilaanyo’s Administration, the contract seems to be in full effect under President Muse Bihi Abdi.
Mr Baldry and Fenwick has met with President Muse Bihi Abdi at least three times, once as a President Elect and twice as President.
Mr Fenwick and Vinay Ganga of Zhong Lun Law with President Muse Bihi Abdi
On one of the most recent meetings of Mr Fenwick with President Bihi was on May 18 celebration at the Presidential Palace. Mr Fenwick announced ASR’s partnership with Zhong Lun Law, a major Chinese law firm.
It is unclear why Mr Fenwick would meet the President of Somaliland with lawyers in tow. What is clear is that HE Muse Bihi Abdi is aware of this contract and Anglo Somaliland Resources.
Mr Fenwick, Baldry after meeting with the President together with teh Minister of Fisheries Hassan Gafadhi.
We have reached out to Somaliland officials from the Ministry of Fisheries to ask about the contract with ASR, how many contracts it has sold on behalf of Somaliland so far, what sort of “development and preservation” ASR is conducting and we have informed that they are unaware of the contract we are referring to and are unable to locate it.
“Somaliland leaders are either too incompetent to have signed this sort of contract or are CRIMINALLY complicit”
Somaliland, once again, seems to taken advantage of by sophisticated con men, who came through the classic paths of helping seek recognition and international aid and Development.
“Somaliland leaders are either too incompetent to have signed this sort of contract or are criminally complicit” is how a former high ranking official of the Ministry of Fishery described the contract. “They already had the contract written and the Minster simply signed it, we assume they had friends at higher places” he added.
A young lady who is involved with humanitarian work and is affiliated with NAGAAD network, under condition of anonymity told us “It is a classic case of bananas for your gold”
Reverting back to their old game of shell companies, Messrs Baldry and Fenwick have created yet another entity called BERBERA MARITIME RESOURCES LTD
Somaliland has been seeking recognition from the world community for 27 years, it has compelling case for recognition and consistently met every condition for statehood. In search of this elusive goal, it has put itself smack in the middle of the Gulf conflict, conceded 19% stake of its Berbera port to its Ethiopian neighbor. It has bent over backwards for the smallest glimmer of recognition only to be taken advantage time after time.
This is not another appeal for recognition from the west, Gulf states, Djibouti or Ethiopia, this is a radical bold approach that will bring a giant into the Horn of Africa, forever altering the landscape and will ultimately get Somaliland the right partner, a reliable partner. We are speaking of Russia and Vladimir Putin ofcourse.
Nothing makes the west sit up and take notice than a direct engagement with their strategic foes like China and Russia, especially Russia.
Learn From Djibouti
Djibouti has played this game very well to the point where it has become the smallest country with the largest concentration of foreign troops in the world. Bruno Maçães wrote a piece for Politico and described Djibouti as the most valuable military real estate in the world and opened it with “World War III will start here”.
“World War III will start here”
Back in February this year, Djibouti has unilaterally withdrawn from agreement with DP World to manage its Doraleh Container Terminal and immediately struck a new deal with a Chinese owned enterprise.
Gen Waldhauser testifying before US Congress
In a congressional testimony, US Marine General Thomas Waldhauser, the top U.S. military commander overseeing troops in Africa, said that if China placed restrictions on the port’s use, it could affect resupplying the U.S. base in Djibouti and the ability of Navy ships to refuel there. Separately, U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said his committee will investigate China’s efforts to gain military and economic power in Africa.
Besides the military basis, Djibouti has commissioned a $3.5 billion, Chinese-built free trade zone on Thursday deepening concerns from its traditional western allies.
Djibouti has publicly admitted DP World’s Berbera deal was its main reason for ending its longstanding relationship with the world’s largest port terminal operator. And soon after pivoted to Mogadishu.
Somaliland and Djibouti while both are vying for foreign investment in large scale infrastructure, Somaliland remains unrecognized. And it is this basic need that hampers its ability to function at the global stage.
External Pressures
Somaliland is facing the most severe external pressures it has ever seen. An intense asymmetrical war from Somalia on its border with Puntland Regional Administration, an attempt to cut off international aid to complaints to the UN Security Council about the UAE military base in Berbera.
Prime Minister Abiy with President Farmaajo in Mogadishu
Ethiopia which acquired a 19% stake in Berbera Port has taken a different direction where its new Prime Minister Dr Ahmed Abiye has completely ignored Somaliland and has publicly embraced Somalia instead, and in a joint communique issued with President Farmajo stated that Ethiopia will be investing in four Somali ports. Strategically something that makes sense to Ethiopia, why rent from Somaliland when I Ethiopia can acquire Somalia whole.
Djibouti has also shown a similar pivot to Mogadishu recently where it has even shipped armament to Somalia despite weapons embargo.
BREAKING: Houthi-bound illicit weapons seized by Djibouti has been sold to the Somali Govt. The Govt was required to notify U.N. Security Council about the weapons 5 days prior to importation, that didn’t happen, according to source familiar w UN sanctionshttps://t.co/cOoHYXIb7Z
The euphoria of the public in Somaliland has quickly wore off as the speculations of imminent recognition from the UAE and or Saudi Arabia has not materialized, and the public mood is slowly souring regarding the new Ethiopian Prime Minister.
Despite a fruitless search for recognition for Somaliland, there has been no fresh ideas or new efforts to explore new avenues for recognition. In fact Somaliland needs to take a hard look at both its foreign policy and its foreign services team. Both have been less than effective in recent years.
New and Higher Paths
People’s Republic of China
His Holiness the Dalai Lama (or Why China will not recognize Somaliland)
There was an incident back in Feb 2017 where Chinese broadcaster CGTN put up a map showing Somalia and Somaliland as separate countries, briefly however unintentionally recognizing Somaliland, they immediately issues a retraction and an apology.
While China has recently taken a lot of interest in Africa and would have been a good fit, unfortunately China has no tolerance for secession of any kind as it has its own territories that demand independence including the thorn on its side better known as Tibet. There are trade and other opportunities but seeking a direct engagement with China is out for the moment.
Russia
For starters, Somaliland has large intelligentsia who understand Russia better than they understand anywhere else, they most likely read Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment in Russian. These are either ex-military officers trained in the former Soviet Republic or have spent significant amount of time working there, these includes the current President His Excellency Muse Bihi Abdi, the Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin, the opposition leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, his deputy Abdiqadir Jirde and many many more. All of these leaders are fluent in Russian.
Somaliland Foreign Minister Dr Saad Ali Shire meeting Russian diplomat Yury Kourchakov in 2017
We have spoken to a number of high regarded Somaliland politicians, including former State Minister for Health Amb Mahmoud Adam Jama “Galaal” ho is a very strong proponent of a strategy which involves The Russian Federation.
So why have we not engaged with Russia?
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hand with Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Assad was in Moscow, in his first known trip abroad since the war broke out in Syria in 2011, to meet his strongest ally Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The two leaders stressed that the military operations in Syria_ in which Moscow is the latest and most powerful addition_ must lead to a political process. (Alexei Druzhinin, RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Because western countries, especially the EU block consider Putin and Russia a threat to their national security and perhaps we would invite the collective wrath of Angela Merkel and Theresa May and Hillary Clinton. Perhaps Somaliland will become a pariah state in the west.
This is nonsense, and geopolitics are not one dimensional or moral, they are shades of intersecting interests.
It is precisely this sort of thought process that has kept Somaliland under the spell of hope, waiting for the west and the Gulf states to recognize it for 27 years. It is time we stop worrying about what 10 Downing Street thinks about Somaliland and seek better and more equitable alliance than the United Arab Emirates.
Besides seeking recognition from Moscow, perhaps a more compelling reason is to inoculate Somaliland from the gathering storm and regional pressures from our immediate neighbors including Ethiopia, which will undoubtedly have an expeditious change of attitude towards Somaliland with Putin on our side.
Presidents Trump and Putin
The current climate of traditional US Russian rivalry has entered a new era with the election of Donald Trump. This means, support from Russia will not face much resistance from Washington at least in the next few years at least while Mr. Trump is in office.
What Does Putin Want?
Lets start with the obvious, real estate. There has been multiple reports of Russian acquisition of naval base in Somaliland, all unconfirmed of course despite the fact that dozens of news outlets reported this in April this year.
The Admiral Grigorovich frigate
The location of this purported base is the most western tip of Somaliland coast – Zeila. While most have not heard of this town, it is located at a strategic Suez trade route and would arguably give Russia its best naval base outside of Russia.
Let’s make Russia and President Putin an offer they cannot refuse, on condition of immediate recognition of Somaliland, lets give them a foothold in the Red Sea, let’s help Russia flex its muscle and invite them to build a naval and an air base in Zeila.
What Somaliland have been doing in terms of recognition, clearly has not worked. Its time we stop “begging the beggars” and take a step that will produce immediate results for our country and people. It is time to take our rightful place among the world community. Mr. President it is time to make that phone call to the Kremlin.
In a visit to the Somaliland armed forces stationed in Tukeraq, Professor Ahmed Ismail Samatar accompanied by high level delegation from Somaliland government thanked the troops for the valuable service to their country and conveyed deep gratitude from Somaliland diaspora.
Somaliland Speaker of the House and Military Commanders with Professor Samatar in Tukeraq
In his trademark eloquence, the Professor said “From what I seen around the world, I have spoken in 59 universities around the world, troops, weather police of military have two prime directives and the first one is defend their country and to protect peace. That is why you are all here, its that responsibility that brought you all here.”
“Peace through STRENGTH”
Professor Samatar thanked the troops from the people of Somaliland and continued “Peace that is not defended is vulnerable, so in that case peace through strength is our posture. May God be with you and seeing you brought joy and happiness to my heart”
Abdiwali Gaas, leader of Puntland regional administration.
Speaking about Puntland whose capital Garowe lies few Kilometers from where he was speaking “Our brothers in Puntland, i know many people from Puntland including Dr Abdiwali [Gaas], he has been behind me in university few classes but I know him very well, they are our people, they are Somalis, we share culture, language and religion but we are two separate nations much like the Arab countries, they are all Arabs and the Islamic faith and some are neighbors and they live side by side in peace. Our contest should be by waging war at each other but we should compete in economic development, building of higher education institutions and making our lands productive”
Dr Saad Ali Shire, Somaliland’s current Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Professor Samatar is back in Somaliland at a time where there is speculation of cabinet reshuffle, though he had played a huge role in the election of President Muse Bihi, he has been left out of his initial cabinet appointments. Sources tell Somaliland Chronicle that he might be appointed the next Minister of Foreign Affairs.
At 12 people were reported to have died in an attack on Somalia’s Interior Ministry today in Mogadishu. Ministry employees are among the casualties and the injured. Others sustained injuries while leaping from building windows and balconies.
The number of casualties could rise as new figures are still being reported from Mogadishu.
Destroyed vehicle at the scene of the attack
This latest brazen assault at the seat of Somalia’s power started when a suicide car bomber detonated at the gates of the Interior Ministry compound, which is less than 2 kilometers away from Villa Somalia and parliament headquarters. The Ministry of Interior is the home of Somalia’s entire security services including the National Intelligence and Security Agency.
A second blast occurred in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Saturday, opposite a police building, minutes after a suicide car bombing occurred near the presidential palace, a police official told Reuters.
“A second blast occurred outside Sayidka Hotel which is opposite the police building where the first blast took place,” Major Nur Ali, a police officer told Reuters. A Reuters witness heard the second blast and saw the huge clouds of smoke rising above the scene.
Al-Shabaab terrorist network has claimed responsibility for the attack on Ministry of interior adding they have killed over 20 ministry employees.
In a separate incident on Saturday, a roadside bomb killed a former district commissioner in the Lower Shabelle region and wounded three others, according to police. Al shabaab also claimed responsibility for that attack.
No official statement from Somalia’s Government or AMISOM about the attack at the heart of Mogadishu.
MOGADISHU — At least 17 people have been killed in fighting between militants from Somalia’s al Shabaab group and clan militias in the country’s central semi-autonomous region of Galmudug, residents and the group told Reuters on Thursday.
Somali state-run Radio Muqdisho reported on its website on Thursday that the fighting in the Haradheere area, which started on Wednesday, had been triggered by alleged al Shabaab conscription of teenagers into their ranks.
Al Shabaab has controlled the port district for years but has repeatedly clashed with local clan militias over a range of disputes.
“Al Shabaab asked for teenagers to be recruited,” the radio reported. A tax called zakat being imposed by al Shabaab had also stoked anger among the residents and militias, it added.
Residents in the area told Reuters a total of nine militia members and al Shabaab fighters had been killed in the fighting.
“We attacked al Shabaab and … then, al Shabaab got many militants as reinforcement from various regions. We fought and fought till we ran out of bullets,” a local elder, Farah Ahmed, told Reuters by phone from the Haradheere area on Thursday.
Somalia has been convulsed by lawlessness and violence since 1991 when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled.
Al Shabaab is fighting to dislodge the western-backed central government and African Union-mandated peace-keeping force AMISOM which, defends it, and install its own government based on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.
Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman told Reuters they had fought the militias because they were armed by neighboring Ethiopia. They had killed 15 members of the militias, he said.
“Ethiopia wants Hobyo port and so it is using clan militias to capture the road to Hobyo port town,” he said.
Hobyo port is about 260 kilometers northeast of Haradheere. Musab said al Shabaab had taken all weapons from the militias during the attack.
(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Abdirahman Hersi is the dynamic and energetic CEO of Horn of Africa Strategic Consulting Initiatives or HASI consulting Consulting is key regional player consulting services related to strategic management, leadership, marketing, HR, and other organizational development for business, NGOs and government institutions. HASI also provides services related to project management, proposal & concept note development, drafting polices & procedures.
Mr Hersi has attended the Africa Trade & Investment Global Summit in Washington DC and been kind enough to give us an exclusive interview on the summit and how it affects Somaliland and the region in general.
Tell us about the ATIGS summit and who was in attendance?
LapCorp Group presentation at ATIGS 2018
The 2018 Africa Trade & Investment Global Summit (ATIGS), was held on June 24 to 26, 2018 at the World Trade Center Washington D.C, under the main theme “Driving Trade, Unleashing Investment and Enhancing Economic Development: the Gateway to African Markets”. ATIGS is a prestigious biennial business conference and exhibition designed specifically to promote and facilitate international trade between Americas, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, UAE, with Africa; to facilitate foreign direct investment in Africa, and to provide a platform for businesses to expand into new markets.
The original idea of the ATIGS was conceived by a Cameroonian businessman and the owner of LaboCorp Group of Companies who has worked with many business and industry leaders to make this dream summit a reality. The US Chamber of Commerce has been a tremendous help in facilitating visas for the delegations, and since the last ATIGS held in San Francisco did not have a single participant from Africa due to visa issues.
There were more than 70 countries in attendance including government delegations from ministers, governors, heads of chambers of commerce, high-profile African business leaders, project developers and international investors.The event covered 16 economic sectors, particularly manufacturing, agribusiness, power, construction, transportation, IT, health, financial technology or cryptocurrency, tourism, telecoms, and natural resources sectors.
There were both government and private sector investors seeking to get in the ground level of African development and with varied interests in many economic sectors. This was the basic idea of the summit, to bring together investors and Africa.
What were the main topics of discussion in the summit?
Because of the main purpose of either attracting investment or finding the right investment opportunity with the right country or the right business in attendance, this was everyone’s singular focus. The more prepared countries had presentations to showcase their natural resources, their economic There were different keynote speeches about countries highlighting their natural resources, farm and factor production. I was amazed by how different countries were organized, government officials, business leaders, investment consulting firms and that each countries team had a unified plan to attract the most investment to their country.
The most discussed topics were investment in natural resource such as fishing, agriculture, minerals an oil exploration. Other areas that are pertinent to African development such telecommunication and technology, clean and sustainable energy, industrialization, raising the standard of healthcare were discussed in great detail.
The western African participants both public and private sector participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and others were the best prepared teams. From east Africa, Ethiopia had the most visible presence with their Washington DC Embassy staff, Chamber of Commerce as well as many business leaders in their private sector were present.
What about Somaliland, was there a delegation from Somaliland attending the Summit?
Actually, I was the only one person from Somaliland representing my firm HASI Consulting. The thing that surprised me the most was the Ethiopian delegations presentation which talked about their stake acquisitions from Djibouti, Kenya and Sudan and the glaring omission of any mention of Somaliland, Berbera Port or the Corridor project, not even a word about Somaliland was uttered by the Ethiopian team. A western businessman in attendance asked the Ethiopian delegation why they have not pursued Berbera and their response was that it is possible in the future!
I have talked to many investment firms from around the world and I was always shocked that most have not heard of Somaliland. Even some Ethiopian companies have not heard of us!!
The UAE delegation did mention Berbera Port deal with DP World.
What is your suggestions to our Government on how to raise Somaliland’s profile in summits like these?
Preparation is everything to be successful in these important gatherings, the Government, business leaders from Somaliland need to be prepared to be able to present the investment opportunities in our country. And the first step is to actually attend!
At a minimum, exposure to international investment firms will get us known, how long we have been a country, the stability and our untapped natural resources in Somaliland.
Its important that relevant government agencies collect and present investor information and publish it on regional and international magazines and social media to make sure people know what kind of investment opportunities are available in Somaliland.
It is also important to get the business community involved and educate them on how to connect and be able to effectively present and possibly attract investment into their business but equally important, we need to focus on attracting investment from within Somaliland to jump start robust manufacturing that can lead to more exports and show case our natural resources.
The Spokesman for the Galmudug Regional Administration of Somalia and social media activist, Mr. Abdillahi Hashi Roob da’ay, in a stunning statement to Goobjoob media outlet said he was “kidnapped, tortured, stripped naked and photographed” by troops from the National Intelligence and Security Agency.
Mr. Roob da’ay, who was visibly upset and choking back tears recounted the terrifying ordeal of how he was kidnapped by troops from the NISA in front of the parliament building, blindfolded thrown in the back of a vehicle and taken to a place where he was asked “So you are the one who keeps bringing up Qalbi-dhagah who is going after the President and the Prime Minister? Aren’t you the one who is always talking about the Security Services has murdered someone? Today is your day, what do you think of that?”
He continued “I told them that I am a government official who is a Spokesman of an Administration, you can check my identification if you want, if I am being accused of a crime I am willing to go to court but if this is a kidnaping you can do what you ever you want”.
Western trained National Intelligence and Security Agency forces, whom Mr Roobda;ay accused of abuse.
After that exchange, according to Mr. Roob da’ay, his captors administered a severe beating and tortured him with electric shock, he added “after all that, at gun point, I was told if you value your life, you will strip naked, I tried to fight them off but in the end I took my clothes off as ordered. They grab their cameras and began to take naked photos of me and I was told if you post [on facebook] anything about President Farmajo or Prime Minister Khaire or about Qalbi-dhagax, we will post one of these photos of you”.
“I was told if you post anything, we will post a picture, guard your life and your reputation and if you don’t stay out of the government’s business or ours you will lose your life. I was blindfolded again and I was thrown in my car and driven to a deserted area” Mr Roob da’ay added.
“Today, I was visited with this terrible ordeal in the name of the government, the name of the President and in the name of the Prime Minister and I honestly never expected it, when I was being abducted I thought they were Al-Shabaab at first, it was only after I saw them and the government places they took me when I realized that the Somali government is abusing and suffocating its people. I am certain that this is the first time the government used this tactic and I am sure there were many youths before me who may not have the courage to come forward. I am not hiding anything; this is the abuse I faced” Mr Roob da’ay said seemingly talking directly to his captors “You can post my naked pictures tonight if you so wish, I am not hiding the violence against me and you will answer for it in the afterlife and in this life, if there is a lawful government I will go to the courts and I will not let it go. From this point on I truly believe that you are prepared to assassinate or imprison me and anything that happens to me from now on, the public and the world is my witness”
Qalbidhagah in Ethiopian custody after being handed over by Farmaajo’s Somali Adminstration.
Qalbi-dhagax is the OLNF leader who was handed to Ethiopia by Farmaajo’s administration that caused an uproar and some called a treasonous and unlawful act by Farmaajo and was recently pardoned by Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy of Ethiopia as part of his reconciliation of warring factions in his country.
BREAKING: newly released #ONLF commander AbdiKarim Muse #QalbiDhagax, spoke to the media in #AddisAbaba today for his first speech after releasing Ethiopian Jail, thanking to all Somali people by standing with him and strongly condemned his deportation from #Mogadishu. #Somaliapic.twitter.com/Q34UQTxRbp
Additionally, there was a massive campaign to discredit Mr. Abdillahi Hashi Roob da’ay’s claim on social media, where some accused him of working on an asylum claim in the Netherland and link him opposition politicial Abdirahman Abdishakur whose house was attacked in December 2017 by the same National Intelligence and Security Agency killing five of his bodyguards and injuring him while serving a warrant for his arrest for what the Somali government called “treason” charges.
Anti Govt propaganda has reached a new record high. Guy claiming to be #Galmudug spokesman said he was abducted, assaulted and blackmailed by #NISA. Turns out it’s a BIG LIE & he’s laying down foundations for asylum app in #Nertherlands —produced and directed by @AAbdishakurpic.twitter.com/dABS7rjKDH
Others on social media expressed shock at the allegation and accused the NISA of behaving like terrorists.
NISA behave like terrorists, they torture, blackmail and murder with no evidence, they think good governance can be achieved with these bullshit actions.
