Somaliland Finance Minister meets with Kenyan Prime Minister

NAIROBI, — Somaliland Finance minister, Mr. Hussein Ali Duale has met with the Kenyan Prime Minister, Mr. Raila Odinga at the Prime Minister’s office in Nairobi on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister and the minister discussed areas of mutual interest between the two countries.

Mr. Daule briefed the Prime Minister of the current situation in Somaliland, including the forthcoming Presidential elections, the economy and social development in the country.

Mr. Odinga has praised Somaliland’s ability to maintain security and stability and for it’s development and progress.

Mr. Duale has also met with other senior Kenyan officials including the Foreign Minister, Moses Wetangula.

Source: Qaranews, 26 March 2010

Somaliland jails eight pirates

A court in Somaliland on Wednesday sentenced eight pirates to 15 years in jail each, an official said.

The suspects were arrested by the Somaliland coastguards late January after their broken-down speedboat drifted to the shore.

“The court found them guilty… They are pirates and each of them is sentenced to 15 years in jail,” judge Osman Ibrahim Dahir said.

Somaliland, has sentenced dozens of suspected pirates caught by its coastguard.

Earlier this month, the Russian navy turned over seven suspected pirates to the region for trial.

Agence France-Presse

World’s first Ferrari theme park unveiled at Abu Dhabi,UAE

It’s entirely fitting that a unique theme park devoted to Ferrari will feature the world’s fastest roller coaster ride.

Travelling at speeds of up to 125mph, the roller coaster gives its passengers the experience of being in a Ferrari Formula One car as it generates the same G-force.

The ride takes passengers up and down its track with elevations of 62 metres.

Visitors to the theme park can also try out the state-of-the-art racing simulators used by the Ferrari F1 team.

For the real thing, kids can have a go on the Driving and Racing School and receive expert tuition from instructors.

Another park ride takes visitors on a journey through the V12 engine of a Ferrari 599 supercar.

Built on Yas Island, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi also has the world’s largest indoor park to keep visitors out of the hot sun.

The park’s roof is made from glass and metal to cover a total area of 200,000 square metres. It also has the famous Ferrari logo painted on to its red surface.

A 2,200-room hotel is part of the theme park and Abu Dhabi airport is only 10 minutes drive from the park’s front gate.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is set to open in September this year.

Somaliland President Meets With Russian Delegation

Hargeisa- The President of Somaliland, Dahir Rayale Kahin has met with a delegation from Russia at the presidency in Hargeisa. . The Russian delegation who are on a short visit to Somaliland consists of senior officials from several large Russian industrial groups, businessmen and members of the Russian media. Speaking to the Russian group, President Rayale spoke of the need for a closer relationship between Somaliland and the Russian federation in terms of economic and trade ties. President Rayale stated that during the union with the defunct Somali Republic, the former Soviet Union played a key role in the development of Somaliland, including the port of Berbera, the Berbera International airport and several other major infrastructure projects. A spokesman for the Russain group thanked the President and the people of Somaliland for the warm welcome afforded to their delegation, and stated their desire to explore the possibilities of future projects in Somaliland which will be based on a co-operation between the two countries. In a related event, the Russian group were the guest at a formal luncheon in their honor hosted by members of the Somaliland community educated and trained in Russia, several of whom are fluent Russian speakers. (Qarannews)

SOMALILAND: President Meets Yemeni Delegation

HARGEISA, 20 March 2010 – President Dahir Rayale Kahin met a Yemeni delegation in his office today. According to a press release made my the government spokesman, Mr. Saeed Adani Moge, the meeting took place at the president’s office to discuss several issues concerning the two countries.

Mohamed Rawishani, the leader of the delegation said he is delighted to visit Somaliland and observe the stability in the country. They said they will open a trade office before the end of their visit which will start operating as soon as possible.

The President welcomed the delegation and said Somailland is ready to build a strong bilateral relationship with the Yemeni government. Mr. Kahin talked about the background of the relationship between Somaliland and Yemen which was mainly based on trade and business between the two countries. He mentioned the meeting he had with the Yemeni President, Ali Abdalla Salah in 2007 where the two agreed on resuming the trade relationship between Hargeisa and San’a.

“There are Yemeni family who always lived in Somaliland and there are Somaillanders who lived in Yemen throughout the history” Said the President. “This is the proof that the two countries shared a long history of good relationship” he concluded.

The Yemeni delegation arrived Somaliland few days ago and during their stay they had meetings with a senior government officials including ministers, politicians and others.

Yemen’s intention to open a new office in Somaliland will strengthen the relationship between the two countries in terms of trade.

Somaliland National Elections Commission (NEC) Completes Staffing of Regional Offices

Hargeisa- The Somaliland National Elections Commission (NEC) has confirmed in a recent press release that the staffing of all its regional offices ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections in Somaliland have been completed. In its press release, the NEC has outlined that the criteria for staff selection across Somaliland was in accordance with the Commission’s mandate to provide suitable staff for all future elections in the country.The NEC also recently stated that new voter registration identification cards will replace the previous ones. The reason given for the change, according to the NEC, is due to the lack of veracity of the voter registration list which is currently going under a complete overhaul.In a related matter, the Somaliland National Elections Commission stated that work on the voter registration list is proceeding according to plan and some of the recently uncovered false data includes the ineligible registration of minor and non-Somaliland nationals.The NEC has stated that current voter registration work is expected to completed in the near future and there will be a thorough check of the figures before the list can be certified.

Somaliland:Singer Safi Du’ale Ali dies in Hargeisa

HARGEISA– A Somali famous musician, Safi Du’ale Ali, has died in the capital of the Republic of Somaliland on Tuesday. 

Abdikarin Farah Jiir, a prominent Somali composer and a member of the famous Waberi Band said, Safi was a good singer and had a beautiful voice. 

The composer added that Safi left behind four children and their father Abdulkadir Muse who was also a member one of Waberi Band. 

Jiir said the deceased singer had a good manner and described her someone people liked to be with her. 

Safi Du’ale Ali was born and grew up in Hargeisa, Somaliland. She was buried in the same town. 

Most of the Somali musicians sent condolences to the family of the deceased singer. 

Somaliland: Protecting Foreign Workers

HARGEISA,16 March 2010 After reading a hastily written “article” entitled, “Somaliland: Dream job turns into a nightmare” published on the so-called The Star Online, few unanswered questions linger. If Somaliland is as lawless as the article portrayed it, why thousands of foreign workers are there? Did the author of the article in question fail to distinguish Somaliland from Somalia?

Yes indeed. The Star Online article states, “The lure of a high-paying job took telecommunications consultant Hor Chee Fei to Somalia, one of the world’s most dangerous places.” Is that so?

Perhaps, the telecom consultant encountered the same scams that people come across in China, U.S., Europe and elsewhere. And Somaliland is not immune to scams.

But few things don’t add up: why the telecom consultant failed to name the CEO or the telecom firm that allegedly chased the worker all the way to Hargeisa’s airport runway? Nor did he provide the contacts of the firm. Something smells rotten.

The worker not only failed to provide the names of the people who have turned his dream job into a nightmare, but he also failed to go to the nearest police station and report the alleged crime.

The Star Online article states, “Hor and five other Malaysians managed to avoid detection by blending in with a crowd of Chinese tourists.”

Well the question is: if there are foreign tourists in Somaliland, then it could not be a lawless country.

Also, what the worker perhaps is not telling you is: that his team members either disputed the contract or they could not deliver the services they promised. Now because things didn’t go as rosy as planned, labeling Somaliland as a lawless land is one way of avenging for their misfortune. Every story has two versions, doesn’t it?

The least the telecom consultant could have done was contact the hundreds of other Malaysians workers in Hargiesa and seek help. In fact, other firms such as, Chinese construction companies have signed contracts with Somaliland government to rebuild Hargeisa’s airport and roads, and currently there hundreds of Chinese as well as Malaysians working in Somaliland. Some even have opened dentist clinics. Read more:

http://www.qarannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7527&Itemid=59

More important, why the airport security forces remained oblivious of the telecom worker chased around by the telecom firm’s owner inside the airport? Is this logical at all? Hargeisa’s airport has one of the most secured systems I have ever come across. The authority is so paranoid that nothing evades its eyes. Yet the telecom worker claims some gangs chased him inside the runway.

Unprofessional articles written by news outlets which break the ethics of good journalism are unfortunately what many people who seek jobs in Somaliland read. It is these articles that would reshape their perception towards Somaliland and influence their decisions to take their skills to there.

If there is no such system in place already, upon their arrivals all foreign nationals should receive the contacts of the security forces, immigration, human rights groups, and Foreign Minister of Somaliland, as well as U.N. agencies. Additionally, it is the government’s responsibility to monitor the well-being of International workers and take all the appropriate actions to protect them.

Dalmar Kaahin
dalmar_k@yahoo.com

Yemen sends delegation to Somaliland to open diplomatic office

HARGEISA  — The Republic of Yemen has sent four-member delegation consisting of diplomats and investors to Somaliland on Sunday ahead of the opening of diplomatic office by Yemen in Hargeisa. According to sources close to the government, the office will serve mainly to carry out consular functions for Yemeni citizens. It will also work toward fostering trade and improving diplomatic contacts between Hargeisa and Sana’a. The decision to open office in Hargeisa came after the two states recognized growing economic and political cooperation between the two red-sea nations. Yemen provided no timeline but the office is expected to be opened some time this week. Reports also added that Yemen was concerned about Islamists movements in Somalia, after al-Shabab group pledged it would send fighters to help an al-Qaeda affiliate in the country. Yemen’s foreign minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said his country would not tolerate threats and foreign fighters on it’s soil and it is believed now Yemen is going on the offensive by supporting Somaliland. Yemen is also facing economic and social burdens due to the unrest in parts of the country and the continuous exodus of illegal migrants from the Horn of Africa, who are said to be more than 800,000 refugees. More than 60 per cent are believed to be from Somalia, a country that has been mired in conflict since 1991. Yemen and Somaliland have historical and economical ties since 1840 when southern part of Yemen (Aden) was annexed by the British and shortly after, Somaliland became British protectorate. The British established trade with Somaliland mainly to supply mutton to it’s Aden garrison. This contact initiated Somaliland livestock trade which made it’s way to Yemeni cities and later on the lucrative business attracted Yemeni traders and continued well after the British had left. The Yemenis along with Somali traders later opened other key markets for Somaliland livestock including Saudi Arabia. Yemen will become the first Arab nation to have diplomatic office in Somaliland.

Russian navy hands over alleged pirates to Somaliland

The Russian navy operating off Somalia has turned over seven suspected pirates to the breakaway state of Somaliland, where they will stand trial, officials said Sunday.

The Russian navy operating off Somalia has turned over seven suspected pirates to the breakaway state of Somaliland, where they will stand trial, officials said Sunday.

“The suspects were apprehended by a Russian navy ship and turned over to our coastguards in the His district of Sanag region late Saturday,” local coastguard commander Mohamed Yusuf Otor told reporters.

Otor said the Russians captured the alleged pirates around two weeks ago in the Gulf of Aden.

“Once the investigation is over they will be brought to court where they will be tried,” local police official Abdulahi Rage told AFP by phone from Somaliland’s main port of Berbera.

Russia has been taking part in international anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean since September 2008.

 

Agence France-Presse