The results of our week long poll to evaluate President Muse Bihi Abdi’s performance rating through public polling are finally here! The response rate was less than we anticipated but we believe we have a representative sample to accurate gauge public sentiment of Somaliland President HE Muse Bihi Abdi and his administration.
It is also worth noting that 80% of the votes came in after the President re-nationalized the Berbera Port Oil terminals.
Number of Participants
4,193
Poll Duration
6 Days
Poll Method
Online
43.2% of respondents believe the President is doing great or good work with 29% unfavorable. Interestingly 27.8% think it is too early to evaluate President Bihi’s performance.
Clear majority of respondents have a unfavorable view of the President’s cabinet members. A point the President has acknowledged in a recent speech.
Most interesting question of the lot and its even more interesting that people are putting national unity ahead of the economy and justice.
Another area of consensus is the negative view of Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs team. 66.7% do not believe Somaliland will be recognized during President Bihi’s term as President.
The President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi issued a Presidential decree in which he replaced and reassigned members of Somaliland representatives to the United States, United Arab Emirates and Kenya.
Ambassador Bashe Awil, the former Representative of Somaliland to the United Arab Emirates was reassigned to Kenya. This is the most significant change President Bihi has made thus far in his eight month old administration. Mr Awil was appointed by former President Ahmed Mohamoud Siilanyo and is considered one of the most powerful officials in Somaliland government;
While Mr Awil is credited with what some have hailed as a close relationship with the United Arab Emirates and and a key figure in the Berbera DP World deal, he is none the less a lightening rod for opposition where without prove have accused him of corruption and abuse of public office.
Ambassador Awil with Former President Silanyo and
In an interview with Bulsho TV, Ambassador has graciously accepted the reassigned and touched on few of his accomplishments related to the DP World and the lease of the Berbera Airport to the UAE Military.
Ambassador Bashe Awil speaking to Bulsho TV
Mr Awil is replaced by Hassan Hirad Yasin. Mr Yasin is virtually unknown but unconfirmed reports on social media state that he is in the education field currently working in the UAE as a teacher in a private school.
United States of America
President Muse Bihi Abdi also replaced the long term Representative of Somaliland to the United Stated Ambassador Rashid Garuf with Bashir Sheikh Omar Goth.
Rashid Nur Absiye in his office at the Mission.
Mr Goth who is not widely known in Somaliland political circles and hails from a well respected family and is said to be an accomplished poet and a has been an avid blogger who has written about issues in both African and Somali society extensively. According to people who know him, Mr Goth is said to be well qualified for to represent Somaliland in the United States.
In addition to the changes at the foreign missions, the President appointed Mr Hassn Ahmed Ibrahim (Embassy) as the Administrator to the Berbera port fuel and storage facilities. President Bihi has re-nationalized the Berbera port fuel and storage facility on Saturday 11th of August 2018.
In a move that is hailed as a major step in the right direction for Somaliland, today the President of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi issued an order to re-nationalize Berbera Port Oil Terminals.
In addition to re-nationalizing the Berbera Port Oil terminals, the Presidential decree also withdrew the Somaliland government from two other agreements where private enterprises have been contracted to provide security and manage the Egal International Airport parking facilities.
President Muse Bihi Abdi in his weekly cabinet meeting.
There has been a lot of complaints about the manner in which the previous Somaliland administration has transferred the management or outright sold some public infrastructure in the past including the cement factory near Berbera which was sold off to a Kuwaiti and Dahabshiil joint ventures.
Without specifics, the the Presidential decree stated that these contracts where awarded in less than legal circumstances.
Transfer of Berbera oil terminal and storage facilities to Berbera Oil Group where approved by Somaliland Parliament back in 2016 and has caused a lot of public outcry. There are unconfirmed reports that claim members of former President inner circle have ownership stakes in Berbera Oil Group.
Mohamoud Hashi, former Minister of the Presidency and Aviation.
SRM and E-pass where approved back when Mohamoud Hashi was the Minister of Aviation. Again, there are allegations that he owns a stake in both enterprises.
Ambassador Awil
It is unclear if the President’s decree to re-nationalize the Berbera oil terminal and withdraw from the airport related contracts are related to the Parliamentary Commission’s ongoing investigation into former Ministers from the previous administration.
There has been no comments from BOG, SRM and E-pass regarding the presidential decree.
We are excited to introduce Somaliland Chronicle Polls. Today, we are conducting a poll to gauge the public opinion on the performance of President Muse Bihi Abdi and his Administration. The Poll is open until midnight August 16th and will publish the results as soon as it closes.
Somaliland and Somalia have accepted peace treaty brokered by the United States Chargé d’affaires Martin Dale. Mr Dale met with Somaliland President HE Muse Bihi Abdi on August 4th and discussed the terms of the peace settlement to end the conflict in Tukeraq with Somalia’s state of Puntland.
SL President Bihi and US Charge Dale had a productive meeting on regional politics, development and humanitarian assistance, and finding an immediate resolution to the SL-PL conflict. pic.twitter.com/WeIHasCGq2
Additionally, Mr Dale met with the Somali President Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo in Mogadishu the same day.
United States Charge D’Affairs Martin Dale with President Muse Bihi
Mr. Dale’s meeting with the two heads of state follows the meetings with the recent visit of IGAD and UNSOM delegation that met with both sides of the Tukeraq conflict as well as members of Somaliland’s opposition parties.
In #Hargeisa today, as part of joint efforts to resolve #Tukaraq conflict, IGAD's Mohamed Ali Guyo and @UNSOM's Raisedon Zenenga presented President Muse Bihi and others with proposals that could lead to peaceful solution. It was agreed that these should be further discussed. pic.twitter.com/945xwhQSfb
Diplomatic sources in Nairobi as well as others in Somaliland Presidency confirm the peace settlement and that all sides have accepted and have started to quietly implement its terms.
The most important elements of the settlement include the immediate cessation of hostilities and establishment of direct communication channel between commanders, restart Somaliland and Somalia talks as early as possible and release of POWS.
There are additional terms that Somaliland Chronicle have agreed to not discuss due to the sensitive nature of the settlement.
Mohamed Mohamoud Sheik is the latest casualty of a war that continues to claim thousands of innocent lives in Somalia, what is different this time is, the victim, Mohamed Mohamoud Sheik was the embodiment of hope and unrelenting ambition and tragically, he too has been consumed by the city where hope itself goes to die.
Mohamed was a prolific entrepreneur and a diaspora returnee who sought to create not only much needed services but also got involved in multiple causes including Startup Grind a global business incubator and a entrepreneur support network in partnership with tech giants like Google.
Mr Sheikh hosting Startup Grind Mogadishu.
Mr. Sheikh was also featured as judge on Inspire Somalia a sort of Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to seek funding and guidance from seasoned business people like Mr Sheikh.
In Tedx talk in Mogadishu Mr Sheikh talked about what inspired him to return to Somalia and start a business in Mogadishu.
Aside from his enterpreneurial spirit and infectious smile that has won the hearts of everyone who has come to know him, Mr Sheikh was far from a nobody, instead he was the son of the commanding General of Somalia’s Air force General Mohamoud Sheikh Ali.
Mr Sheikh’s killing bears all the hallmarks of recent spate of brazen assassinations by Al-Shabaab, where victims who were mostly identified as government officials were targeted in public places such as restaurants. Oddly enough though Al-Shabaab generally take credit for terror attacks almost immediately but in the case of Mr Sheikh slaying, there has been no claim of responsibility.
Although no arrests were made public, sources in security services in Mogadishu say there are three suspects in custody and confirmed that they are not affiliated with Al-Shabaab.
From his twitter Mr Sheikh was an outspoken and openly discussed all sorts of things including politics and freely shared his displeasure with some government officials.
Which he has the right to say that with explanation why they don’t recognize them, I don’t see why he should be fired and not these useless other ministers who just attend the music concerts
We have reached out to family members of Mr Sheikh to ask if he had any enemies or had any safety concerns and they were unaware of any specific threats to Mr Sheikh’s life. A relative of Mr Sheikh in Switzerland confirmed that there has been reports of arrests though the government has not made any details public and he added that the accused are not Al-Shabaab.
Even in death, Mr Sheikh is still a lightening rod for social justice and his friends in Mogadishu have launched a rally to demand justice for Mr. Sheikh’s killing.
Huge turnout is ongoing in Mogadishu's Benadir junction attended by hundreds of youth showcasing the awful act of a young entrepreneur killed in Mogadishu. They are demanding justice for Moahemd. #WeAreNotSafe. pic.twitter.com/VAM5GgZV6K
Update: There are unconfirmed reports via twitter and other social media network that Somali authorities have killed the assailants behind Mr Sheikh’s killing. At the moment, Somaliland Chronicle is unable to locate an official statement from the Ministry of Information.
BREAKING: Somali Minister of Information Dahir Mohamud Gelle, told SONNA that the security forces killed today a gunmen behind killing of Mohamed Sheikh Ali youth Activist
Unrest in Ethiopia’s Somali region has gained momentum on Saturday following the deployment of military in regional capital of Jijiga early Saturday morning.
Scenes of chaos in Jijiga
Looting and burning of property has been reported by witnesses on Satuday as unrest spread across the region. Witnesses also reported gunfire and sporadic fighting between the Ethiopian military and local security forces known as Liyu.
Reports of arson against Ethiopian Orthodox churches have been reported as well as violence against non-Somali ethic groups according to witnesses.
The fate of regional administration officials is unclear and there are conflicting reports as to their whereabouts. What is clear though is that all regional administration offices are under military control across the region.
Ethiopian military in Jijiga and other Somali cities in eastern Ethiopia
It is unclear why the central authorities Addis Ababa have intervened in the Somali region but there have been unconfirmed reports that members of the Somali regional parliament were planning on Saturday to invoke article 39 of the Ethiopian constitution which allows self-determination including secession from Ethiopia.
President Abdi Mohomud Omar
Statement from the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense confirmed the troop deployment. “The violence has not been halted despite attempts by defense forces and other security forces to restore calm,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The violence has not been halted despite attempts by defense forces and other security forces to restore calm,”
Ethiopian Ministry of Defense
The statement from the ministry stated “Hence, as the region’s peace and security has come under threat, our defense forces will not remain silent in the face of unrest and chaos and will take necessary measures in accordance with constitutional obligations.” Underscoring the seriousness of the situation in Ethiopia’s Somali region.
#Ethiopia Security Alert: Reports that Ethiopia’s National Defense Force seized control of highways, govt buildings, and airport in #Jijiga, capital of Ethiopia’s Somali region. Reports of churches, houses, and cars, and Amhara and Oromo minority groups in area under attack. pic.twitter.com/TxFeA8AhZw
United States Department of State travel advisory.
The province has been plagued by violence for the last three decades. The government has fought the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) since 1984 after the group launched a bid for secession of the region, also known as Ogaden.
Liu Police
Since 2017, clashes along the Somali region’s border with Oromiya province have displaced tens of thousands of people.
Jail Ogaden is unthinkable. From the moment you are put there until the moment you are released, you do not know if you are alive or dead. You are tortured and humiliated day and night, you are starved, [and] you can’t sleep because there’s so many people.
42-year-old Mohamed who spent five years without charge in Jail Ogaden, August 2017
In a statement, the ONLF criticized the deployment of federal troops, saying the government had ordered its military “to attack and take over the Somali regional administration … creating chaos and uncertainty”.
Ogaden National Liberation Front fightes
The “ONLF calls upon the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia to halt immediately any military activities and initiate a peaceful process,” it added, referring to Abiy Ahmed, who took office in April.
Somaliland authorities have issued a directive to tighten border with Ethiopia following the unrests. It is unclear how much the chaos in the region will affect Somaliland’s massive trade Ethiopia specifically the Somali Ethiopian region currently roiled by unrest.
Somaliland’s Vice Minister of Finance HE Mohamed Ahmed Dahir, in a speech to the Inland Revenue Services team at a training event said the 20 largest businesses in Somaliland have paid a combined 0.4% of Payroll taxes in 2017.
The Vice Minister said “in 2017, the total Payroll Tax collected was 5.8 Million US Dollars, of which only 0.4% or less than 1% came from the 20 largest businesses in Somaliland”
He added that “99.4% of the payroll collected was paid by government NGO emplyees”.
To put this in perspective, the largest corporations in Somaliland including Dahabshiil, Telesom, Somtel, Salama Bank and many other multi million dollar companies collectively paid $23,200.00 in payroll taxes.
Deputy Minister Dahir asked the largest 20 corporations in Somaliland to deduct payroll taxes from their employees and added that Somaliland’s 6% payroll tax rate is one of cheapest in the world, while some countries payroll taxes are minimum of 15%.
“The only way to build our country is to abide by our laws and pay our fair share of taxes”
Deputy Finance Minister
The Deputy Minister stated that the employer is responsible for filling out the relevant forms for payroll tax assessment and will be penalized and will be prosecuted for any false declaration on these official government forms ie reporting false number of employees or their salaries.
Somaliland President with the Deputy and Minister of Finance
The Vice Minister concluded his remark “The only way to build out country is to abide by our laws and pay our fair share of taxes”.
Mr Dahir did not specify what kind of penalties the government would levy against companies for under-reporting their employees’ income to reduce their payroll tax obligations.
An Inland Revenue Services employee described the training as “learning how to fill forms!” adding “its like pushing a boulder uphill with oil under your feet, how I am going to ensure Dahabshiil and Telesom are not lying about how many employees they have?”
Deputy Finance Minister Mohamed Dahir
Others officials at the Ministry of Finance stated that enforcement is key to assessing payroll taxes while others complained about their own pay scales being less than a living wage.
“I seriously doubt anyone can prosecute Dahabshiil or Somcable, the owners have friends in high places, I guarantee someone will loose their job instantly if they complain about them” said a senior Finance Minister official on condition of anonymity.
Abdirashid Duale is the CEO of Dahabshiil
We have reached to an HR manager at one of these large corporations to ask him about the Vice Minister’s comment and if their organizations are positioned to deduct payroll taxes and he stated “I think the government needs to earn the trust of the people and that their taxes will not be used to private mansions but would go to health care and education”.
Despite millions of dollars spent by the World Bank on the Ministry of Finance’s PFM project, this effort to reenergize the payroll tax collection remains a manual process and is based entirely on physical forms.
Somali’s Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire arrived in Garowe today the capital of Puntland regional administration amid heavy security.
The purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit is unclear and coincides with the visit of the Somali President Farmajo’s visit to Eritrea. What is clear is that according to reports, Mr Khaire is in Garowe to show solidarity with Mr Abdiwali Gas.
Somali Prime Minister with Regional Governor of Puntland Abdiwali Gas.
Additionally, Mr Khaire’s visit is as provocative as Somali President’s visit to Garowe last January when hostilities in Tukeraq ignited with Somaliland on his second day of visiting Puntland. Since January, Somaliland forces in Tukeraq have been attacked multiple times by Puntland militias.
There are confirmed reports from Villa Somalia of power struggle between Prime Minister Khaire and President Farmajo. The two leaders of Somalia’s Federal Government have recently engaged in tit for tat sacking of officials from their government.
Somali President with Eritarian President Afawarqi in Asmara.
While Farmajo has disavowed any hand in supporting Puntland’s war with Somaliland, Mr. Khaire is said to be more directly involved if at least to undermine Mr. Farmajo, especially during his absence to his official state visit to Eritrea.
Puntland’s regional government is facing a host of issues including a resurgent Al-Shabaab and other groups associated with ISIL and an election in less than 5 months and has been accused of using the conflict with Somaliland as a delay tactic.
Somaliland Government has not addressed the visit of the Somali Prime Minister go Garowe, less than 50 km from Tukeraq.
Top @UNSOM official Raisedon Zenenga and IGAD Special Envoy Mohamed Ali Guyo were in #Garowe today as part of ongoing efforts to find peaceful solution to #Tukaraq conflict. They met #Puntland's President and Vice-President, and Sool region elders. They go to Hargeisa on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/IrbMff9vWg
International community is trying to mediate a truce between Somaliland and Somalia’s regional administration of Puntland.
Somaliland government has been clear about its desire to have a peaceful coexistence of its neighbors including Somalia but also that will defend the territorial integrity.
