Kenya is on the verge of recognising Somaliland

Somalia’s peace could be found in unlikely place

By Juma Kwayera

Kenya is on the verge of recognising the breakaway region of Somaliland and Puntland to get Somali warlords to silence their guns.

The two are breakaway regions and have enjoyed relative peace for the last 17 years eliciting view whether they should secede. The two are petitioning the United Nations and the African Union to be acknowledged as sovereign states; different from the other war-ravaged central region that includes the capital Mogadishu.

Kenya’s move is seen as one of the many efforts – spreading 20 years – to force the militia in Somalia to end fighting.

A delegation of Kenyan MPs that visited Hargeisa, Somaliland capital, on fact-finding mission after peaceful elections and change of power on June 26, have recommended that Kenya considers engaging diplomatically with the regions regarded as peace enclaves and semi-autonomous entities that have warded off insurgency, piracy, and terrorism.

Vital lessons

The leader of the delegation, House Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, told The Standard On Sunday the group’s report is likely to be debated in Parliament as an urgent matter of national importance given its security and economic implications.

“In the interest of regional peace, let’s engage with Somaliland. Somaliland has had peace for 17 years and there is a lot the larger Somalia can learn from the relative stability. They combat terrorism and piracy that have been a major threat to international security,” says Maalim, MP for Lagdera, which borders volatile Somalia.

However, the views of the delegation are unlikely to find favour in Mogadishu. Somali ambassador to Kenya Mohammed Nur told The Standard On Sunday that despite the two-decade old conflict, a unitary state is still the ideal situation.

“The problem Somalia faces today is that we have spent too much time in conferences that do not resolve the crisis. What we want friendly countries to do is provide the military and material support to beef up government efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia,” says Nur.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Sharif kicked off an international campaign last week during his address to the United Nations General Assembly when he appealed for action to stamp out the violence in his country. Nur sees no sense in “more and more conferences”.

“It is the same message the president will be taking next week to another international conference in Madrid, Spain, that will address Somalia crisis. This is because we are aware the insurgents are threatening regional peace after the Kampala bombing,” says the Somali envoy.

Positive engagement

In its report, the delegation recommends that the Kenya Government should develop a framework for limited engagement with Somali land to promote trade and enhance security in the Horn of Africa. “For those who are able to access education, Kenya should provide assistance because there are many idle youth. The delegations said there should be an international reward for stability,” says Maalim.

According to the report, lack of international recognition has negatively affected Somaliland, which cannot do business with other governments and multilateral organisations.

Now, says Nur, such assistance is available through the non-functioning and fragile Transitional Federal Government led by President Sharif.

UN and other friendly states can only provide humanitarian assistance such as food, shelter and medicine, often intercepted by Al Shabab.

Maalim says positive engagement would result in peaceful region influencing Somalia.

There should be a premium good governance, peace and political stability in the form of funding the operations of police, judiciary and the civil service, which are rather weak for lack of necessary skills,” he says. the Somaliland regime, despite limited resources, has arrested and charged 48 hardcore terrorists and pirates.

If the Kenyan Parliament approves the report, it will send a signal to the Government to engage and lead the campaign for the recognition of the Republic of Somaliland, as a full member of Inter- Governmental Authority on Development, the African Union, and the United Nations.

US to seek stronger ties with Somaliland

US Assistant secretary of state for Africa Johnnie Carson

The Obama administration’s Assistant secretary of state for Africa Johnnie Carson has said US wants to strengthen its ties with Somaliland.

The assistant secretary of state for Africa said the US would send more aid workers and diplomats to Puntland and Somaliland and support both with development projects.

“In the past we have not engaged with these areas and political entities aggressively. We will now start to do so,” Mr Carson said.

Somaliland:President Silanyo Paid a Visit to Hargeisa’s New Bridge construction site

Video:Somaliland|President Silanyo Paid a Visit to Hargeisa’s New Bridge construction site

 

Hargeisa: The President Was Accompanied By Haji Abdikarim of House of Elders And Members of His Cabinet, his Personel M-Haji and his Spokesman Abdilahi Cukuse.

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Danish delegation in Somaliland

Danish delegation in Somaliland:President Silanyo receives a delegation from Denmark

Danish Delegation in Somaliland

Hargeisa – The president of Somaliland, His Excellency Ahmed M. Silanyo today received in his office a delegation from Denmark lead by Ms. Sus Ulbæk Kaaliyaha , deputy Minister of foreign affairs of the Danish government . The president briefed the delegation about the current security situation in Somaliland as well as the success that Somaliland achieved through democratic processes. The president also briefed the delegation about the fight against piracy in the region spear-headed by Somaliland and the support required to sustain effective campaign against it in the region.

Mr. Silanyo reiterated the foreign aid that the government and the people of Somaliland need in development and sustainable democracy in the region.

The Danish delegation in turn commended the people and the government of Somaliland on the recent elections in the country and the peaceful transfer of power afterwards. Ms Sus said that her government will work directly with the government of Somaliland and that all aid allotted for Somaliland will be directly given instead of routing it through aid agencies. The deputy director also promised that her government will closely work with Somaliland on security and development issues as well as on ways of sustaining the commendable democratic successes that Somaliland achieved since 1991.

Danish Delegation in Somaliland

The Danish delegation consisted of:

1. Ms. Sus Ulbæk, deputy Minister of foreign affairs of the Danish government

2. Ms. Anne Ehrenreich Head of Department MoFA, Denmark

3. H.E. Geert Aagaard Andersen, (new) Ambassador to Kenya (GAA)

4. Mr. Thomas Thomsen, Chief Adviser, MoFA Denmark

5. Mrs. Betina Gollander, Counsellor Development (BG)

6. Ms. Pernille Mortensen, 1st Secretary, Embassy of Denmark, Addis Ababa

UK scientists unearth 5,000-year-old rock art, including drawing of a mounted hunter, in Somaliland

British archaeologists find cave paintings at 100 new African sites:

UK scientists unearth 5,000-year-old rock art, including drawing of a mounted hunter, in Somaliland

 

 

Dr Sada Mire with some of the ancient art finds at Dhambalin, Somaliland. Mire headed the University College London team that discovered more than 100 rock art sites. Photograph: UCL

 

Striking prehistoric rock art created up to 5,000 years ago has been discovered in eastern Africa by a UK-based team of scientists.

A team headed by Dr Sada Mire – an archaeologist at the institute of archaeology at University College London (UCL) – made the finds at almost 100 sites in Somaliland on the Gulf of Aden.

Leaping antelopes, prancing giraffes and snakes poised to strike are among animals and reptiles depicted with astonishing clarity in the ancient paintings.

The images include a man on horseback, painted around 4,000 years ago – one of the earliest known depictions of a mounted hunter.

Such is the quality of the paintings that at least 10 of the sites are likely to be given World Heritage status.

Mire’s research study will be published this month in the journal Current World Archaeology.

The archaeologist, who has just become a UN consultant for Somaliland, told the Guardian: “These are among the best prehistoric paintings in the world. Yet Somaliland is a country whose history is totally hidden.

“With wars, droughts and piracy in Somalia, hardly anyone has researched the archaeology until now. But it’s absolutely full of extraordinarily well-preserved rock art.”

One of the sites – Dhambalin, mountainous sand dunes located about 40 miles from the Red Sea – features pictures of horned cattle, sheep and goats, painted about 5,000 years ago. The animals have distinctive bands around their backs and bellies, which suggests farming or ritual traditions.

There are also animals such as giraffes that are no longer found in Somaliland.

Mire, who is Somali-born, has been particularly struck by ancient paintings of “eerie headless creatures”.

She said: “Sometimes the cattle are represented as simply necks or horns, a pictorial shorthand that was evidently still sufficient to convey meaning to its audience.”

Other paintings are more mysterious – like the 2,000-year-old colourful images of the full moon, half-moon and geometric signs at another site, Dawa’aleh.

Mire believes these depict the ancient artists’ view of the world, time and space.

The sites are scattered across semi-desert terrain in Somaliland. The country is in the northern part of Somalia, and covers an area slightly larger than England – but with a population of just 3.5 million. More than half of these people are nomads.

Once part of the Ottoman empire, it was a British colony from 1884 until 1960. After gaining independence, Somaliland merged with Italian Somaliland, an Italian colony until 1941, to create modern Somalia.

Although Somaliland declared itself independent of Somalia in 1991, and has a separate government, it is yet to be recognised as a separate state.

Mire said: “Whereas Somalia has suffered with an ongoing civil war and piracy, Somaliland has remained peaceful. It does not have piracy.

“Yet, despite boasting a stable, grassroots democracy, the country has not been recognised by the UN and so does not formally exist, leaving it a breakaway state teetering on the edge of a violent region.

“However, its heritage puts it firmly on the archaeological world map. Few people, either inside or outside Somaliland, are aware of the riches it contains.”

The latest discoveries are a sequel to the impressive cave paintings found at Laas Geel in 2000. For centuries, these were known only to nomads, who believed the site was haunted by evil spirits.

“This superstition had the fortunate side effect of preventing their livestock from damaging the fragile murals,” Mire said. She believes that many more sites are yet to be found.

Your secret African travel destinations:Somaliland surprises

Somaliland, with marvellous beaches, breathtaking diving opportunities, scenic mountains and rich culture, is the definitive frontier of tourism. Not because it is unsafe, but because there is absolutely no tourism infrastructure and you’ll feel like you are the first visitor.

Berbera Beach

Don’t confuse quiet, democratic and well organised Somaliland with chaotic and violent (southern) Somalia. On most maps, it is the same, as Somaliland is not an internationally recognised country. But Somaliland, de facto independent since 1991, has managed to build the most robust democracy of the entire region and takes great pride in it.

It is this confusion with Somalia and Somaliland’s lack of international funding that has so far prevented tourists from discovering the riches of the country and developers from constructing tourist resorts along its magnificent coast.

Therefore, Somaliland is the perfect destination for the adventurous backpacker, wanting to “discover” virgin lands without fellow tourists, but also willing to bring all she/he needs in the rucksack and accept low comforts. But Somali hospitality and Somaliland sights easily weigh up for these hassles.

There is little travel planning information available in books and on the web. But Lonely Planet’s Africa guide includes a few pages on Somaliland worth reading, listing the following as one of the highlights of the country: “Enjoy the smug feeling of impressing your fellow travellers: ‘Yes, I’ve been to Somaliland!’.” By the way, the Lonely Planet representative visiting Somaliland was unable to hide he immediately fell in love with the country.

So while you wait for the more detailed planned afrol News travel guide to Somaliland, this “secret African travel destinations” feature should inspire you to consider some of Somaliland’s main sites and adventures; to go there before everybody else will do!

Endless talks in Hargeisa

You will probably reach Somaliland through its surprisingly vibrant capital, Hargeisa, either overland from Ethiopia or by air flying for example the country’s own private airliner Daallo Airlines.

Hargeisa is far from spectacular. Don’t come here to see big palaces or ancient architectural pearls. Still, do dwell here to dive into the articulated and wide-spanning Somali culture in peaceful and well organised surroundings.

Getting in contact with Somalilanders – not being difficult at all, and English is quite widely spoken – you risk getting talked your head off. Somali culture is very oral and mastering poetry forms part of basic education. Both the good story and the philosophical analysis are always around the corner, and the freedom and diversity of Hargeisa also permits the deeper and meaningful discussion about hot issues.

The Zeila (Seylac) coast of Awdal province, western Somaliland, is spectacular

The good talk, permitting the traveller to dig deeper into Somali history,politics and culture, is best shared over a good meal in Hargeisa’s many excellent restaurants. Eating out is marvellous in Hargeisa with all kinds of African and western dishes available. Visitors usually love to dine in outside restaurants where people eat delicious roasted camel meet, camel milk, fried sheep liver, all kinds of fresh seafood and other local products in the open air, under shadow-blessing trees.

If you however need a drink to engage in a good talk, Somaliland may be a good country to unhook you from this bad habit. Alcohol is prohibited in Somaliland.

Hargeisa also has excellent hotels, including the five-star Ambassador Hotel close to the airport and several three star hotels. Cheap hostels and guesthouses are widely available, and for longer stays, beautiful and low-priced villas are available and a recommended buy. This wealth of safe accommodation choices contributes to making Hargeisa a low-threshold destination; available for any type of traveller.

Berbera and the coast

Somaliland’s third largest city, Berbera, is far smaller, but still has sufficient hotels and restaurants to offer a good infrastructure for most travellers. In addition, this port town has a more comfortable climate, fantastic beaches and a charming architecture. The somewhat sleepier town is located about 150 kilometres north-east of Hargeisa and easily and safely reached by bus, bushtaxi or air from the capital.

Berbera can boast of more history than Hargeisa, with its older Somali, Arab and British colonial architecture bearing testimony to the city’s former role as a major trade port in the Gulf of Aden. Berbera was also less damaged than Hargeisa during the Somali civil war that led up to Somaliland’s declaration of independence in 1991. But lack of international recognition has let the great potentials of the Berbera port crumble, with Djibouti now having taken over the role of the region’s main maritime transport hub.

Kilometres of lush sandy beaches stretch out from Berbera, to the great joy of the local population, making active recreational use of them. Berbera used to be a Soviet and later US military base, and locals still remember how the Russians and Americans used every occasion to enjoy their beach. Then, the city was livelier. But remnants of these times still exist, and Berbera restaurants can still offer visitors delicious seafood and other Somali and international dishes.

Abtiyo Fastfood in Hargeisa is one of many places providing cheap and tasty basic foods in Somaliland's capital

Beyond Berbera, the rough adventures of Somalil

Fastfood in Hargeisa and begin. Especially the westernmost coastline, in Awdal province, can easily claim a title among Africa’s most spectacular landscapes and seascapes. Rugged, green cliffs, tropical beach bays, unexploited coral reefs and ancient towns and ruins – this surely will become an international tourist destination in the future!

The Awdal coast is dotted with small villages and towns, but has no major settlements or tourism infrastructure. The dirt road along the coast is a disaster, and the recommended way of travelling would be in your own boat (do however seek regular updates on the piracy situation!). Travellers should bring all kinds of provisions as only the most basic items can be bought locally. For accommodation, bring your tent or pay locals for a bed.The best would nevertheless be to seek a guide in Berbera or in Boorama – the latter located inland with a dirt road connecting it to Zeila at the coast. A local guide will help out with language – here Somali is mostly the only language spoken – customs, contacts, transports and accommodation.

From Berbera, the first major settlement is Lughaya. Here, the beach with nearby grazing camels and the unspoilt reefs are the main attraction. Also, Lughaya is a good place to mingle with rural locals, mostly cattle nomads and farmers, to learn about the other side of Somaliland, the non-urban lifestyle that still dominates the country.

Further west, the landscape culminates in scenic cliffs, bays and beaches. Especially the smaller islands off the coast, for example Saad-Din Island, provide the best coral reefs and spectacular dives. Off course, no diving equipment rentals are available.

This breathtaking coastline ends up in Zeila (or “Seylac”, on some maps). Today, the town of around 25,000 inhabitants is a mere shadow of its historic heydays, when it was capital of the Sultanate of Adal. The Sultanate was an influential power in the 9th and 10th century. Zeila again flourished as a city state and a trade and learning hub from the 14th to the 19th century. During colonial times, Zeila lost out to Djibouti port in French Somaliland and the British port in Berbera, leading to rapid decline of the town.

But the ruins of Zeila’s old city can still be seen and culturally interested travellers can enjoy pondering about it and walking through the old buildings, mosques and city quarters. Basic accommodation and restaurants are available. Finally, the beaches, reefs and landscapes are tremendous. Altogether, this makes Zeila one of the most charming and recommended coastal destinations in Somaliland. Zeila is most easily reached from Hargeisa, via Boorama.

Soulseeking further inland

A Somalilander would say that, to really understand the country’s culture, history and soul, you should look inland, away from the coast. Here, where generation after generation has struggled to overcome a challenging climate by small-scale farming and semi-nomadic pastoralism, the true essence of Somali culture is found.

The Erigavo Valley in Somaliland provides lovely trekking landscapes

Lucky then, that there are quite a few worthy sites, landscapes and activities for travellers in the historic inlands of Somaliland.

A “must visit” site, Las Geel, takes you way back in history, up to 7,000 years. Located some 50 kilometres outside Hargeisa, close to the Berbera road, Las Geel is the richest, most well-preserved, but least studied and least visited prehistoric rock painting site in the world. It was only discovered in 2003 and still lacks professional preservation, but can easily be visited from Hargeisa.

Deeper into the soulscapes of Somaliland, a visit to the beautiful Erigavo mountain area is truly recommended – but only if security permits it. Erigavo town (also written “Ceerigaabo”) and its hinterland are closer to troubled Puntland in Somalia-proper, which makes claims to the eastern parts of Somaliland. Before travelling to the east, especially Sanaag and Sool provinces, you should contact tourism authorities in Hargeisa, asking for the current security situation! They will give you an honest answer, as their greatest concern is the security of foreigners.

If the Erigavo area is calm – which it usually is – the growing provincial town at 1800 meters altitude can be reached by plane or poor roads. Erivago is the entrance to the highest mountains in the region, reaching over 2400 metres. With the height, the climate improves and the vegetation increases. Some of the misty valleys even surprise with juniper forests.

The scenic mountain landscape and its many trails are an open invitation to trekkers looking for the unusual. In addition to some breathtaking landscapes, wildlife – while rapidly declining – is interesting and includes jackals, gazelles and baboons. Especially, Somaliland is famous for its extensive and exotic birdlife, with over 600 species known, and the mountains being the best place to observe them.

The area also has some nice challenges for mountaineering and rock climbing, including Shimbibris Mountain (2450 m, in the Surud mountain range). Of course, you will have to bring all necessary equipment as nothing is found locally. But you will be able to brag about your exotic peak bagging in Somaliland when you get home.

Camels are a common sight all over Somaliland, even on the beaches

Make sure to get a guide knowing the area well and able to introduce you to villagers, farmers and nomads. Alternatively, if lucky, the many foreign humanitarian agency workers in Erigavo can introduce you to someone or may even invite you to join them.

In Erigavo, or anywhere else in the Somaliland countryside, there is one particularly memorable activity that can be organised, especially for the younger traveller. Spend a day or two with a typical Somali nomad group and see the men watering camels, the young lads milking and herding camels, while monkeys lead their life in the background. You can sleep in a Somali traditional hut or in the open air courtyard, where you drink milk in wooden containers, eat food in wooden spoons and talk yourself to sleep under the stars.

It doesn’t get more memorable, and you couldn’t get deeper into the Somali soul!

Practical advices

Somaliland is not the standard tourist destination, meaning you should plan your trip well if going outside Hargeisa and Berbera. If you want some comfort, make sure to contact Somaliland tourism authorities or local industry specialists such as Daallo Airlines before you go, asking them to tailor your trip.

If you will be backpacking through the landscapes of Somaliland, make sure to bring all you need from Hargeisa, Berbera or abroad. For example, you cannot count on getting even scuba diving equipment where you suddenly need it. Always have enough water available! And do not shy away from listening to authorities when it comes to security.
All travellers should consider Somaliland’s tough climate as a key to travel timing. There are two rainy seasons – March to June and October to November – and unlike other travel destinations, this is the time to go. Avoid the dry season from July to September, as temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius make travelling exhausting. Anytime from December to June would be a good time.

You need a visa to go to Somaliland, which will be issued rather easily at Somaliland’s Liaison Offices in Ethiopia, the UK or the US.

Now, get set for the experience of a lifetime. Have a safe journey!

VIDEO:Eid Mubarak CIID Mubaarik CIID Wanaagsan

Eid Mubarak CIID Mubaarik CIID Wanaagsan

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Somaliland Eid Salah & Somaliland President Eid Day Speech

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Somaliland New Foreign Affairs Minister pays official working visit to Ethiopia 5th-7th Sept 2010

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Beautiful|One of the most awe-inspiring sights in religion: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather at Mecca to perform Umrah

They have come in their hundreds of thousands, all devout, converging on one of the world’s holiest places.

This was the scene at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the birthplace of Islam, yesterday as Muslims around the world celebrated Ramadan.

The Grand Mosque houses the Kaaba, the most holy place in Islam, a square-shaped building that predates the religion itself. It is the Kaaba that Muslims around the world are facing when they pray towards Mecca.

 

Mecca and Medina have swollen with worshippers from Saudi Arabia and around the world undertaking the umrah, or minor pilgrimage, which peaks during Ramadan.

The Muslim fasting month ends on September 8th or 9th with the holiday of Eid al Fitr.

In this astonishing image worshippers can be seen at prayer in Mecca. The city receives 13million or more visitors every year

Awe-inspiring: The scene at the Grand Mosque yesterday. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar

Thousands of Muslims gather at the Grand Mosque in Islam's holiest city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, to perform the Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, during the last week of the month of Ramadan

Thousands of Muslims gather at the Grand Mosque in Islam’s holiest city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, to perform the Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, during the last week of the month of Ramadan

Could Tiny Somaliland Become the First Cashless Society?

Could Tiny Somaliland Become the First Cashless Society? by Monty Munford

Bob Dylan once said that ‘money doesn’t talk, it swears’, but in Hargeisa the capital of Africa’s Somaliland it stinks. It literally stinks, reeking of rotten paper, like a leaky library in a monsoon.

That’s because there’s so much of it. For every dollar there are almost 17,000 Somaliland Shillings and the highest-denomination note is 500 Shillings, which is by no means the most common note in circulation. Money-changers sit within self-built stacks of money (picture left, video below) and children take wheelbarrows of it from one place to another, reminiscent of 1930s Weimar Germany when the Deutsch Mark became worthless.

By all criteria, cash doesn’t work here. Could tiny, unknown Somaliland become the first nation to become a cashless society? It is not only possible, it is almost certain. There is already a surprisingly strong base for this to happen. Thanks to a cobbled together-by-necessity system of money-transfer posts from Somaliland’s diaspora and a surging mobile banking industry, the country has to do away with cash. But first some background.

The currency is not formally recognised and neither is the country. Somaliland has no ATMs and credit cards are not only impossible to use, but are regarded as ridiculous items by local people. The country declared itself independent in 1991 after a brutal civil war with Somalia and now has a free press, a free market and a recent election was widely perceived as free and fair.

A significant diaspora send American dollars home by using Dahabshiil, an African version of Western Union that is extraordinarily efficient. Wherever in the world money is paid in, Somalilanders can withdraw American dollars within five minutes of funds being deposited via 24,000 agents and branches in 144 countries. Moreover they receive a SMS before that time telling them their dollars can be picked up.

I was thankful of Dahabshiil after arriving overland from Ethiopia. I had flown in from India after acting in my second Bollywood movie and was used to people escorting me from my trailer carrying umbrellas and catering for my every need. I would have needed a trailer if I had changed all my dollars; an obviously insane and unsustainable system.

Consequently, Selesom, the major mobile carrier has launched a service where cash is completely bypassed. Mobile banking in Africa is nothing new and is far more advanced in the West or Asia, but Somaliland can take this to a further level because the country itself doesn’t officially exist. The state itself runs on a budget of only $40 million dollars so entrepreneurship and innovation is vital to keep the country going as it strives for formal recognition from the rest of the world.

In less than six months more than 80,000 people in Hargesia have signed up with Selesom for its ZAAD mobile money service for money transfers, retail purchases and bill payments, a significant number in an already buoyant mobile sector of five carriers in a ‘country’ the size of England and a population of only 3.5 million.

Calls from Somaliland are the cheapest in Africa and fierce competition between the country’s carriers means calls from Somaliland are five to six times cheaper than other African countries. Mohamed Saed Duale, the founder of Dahabshiill has joined the fray and recently launched Somtel and joins Telesom, Telcom, Africa Online, Nationlink and Soltelco as the country’s sixth carrier.

The implications are clear. Somtel will use the 18-year money-wiring experience of its parent company to take on Selesom in the mobile money sector. The diaspora will continue to wire money home but the recipients will no longer need to go to a bank or visit the money-changers.

They will only need their mobile for all transactions and it means the money-changers will be kicked out of the Somaliland cash temples forever. Where Selesom has led, Somtel will attempt to dominate while the four other carriers will undoubtedly emulate.

So while the world wasn’t watching, a small peaceful country in the Horn of Africa that doesn’t officially exist will set an example that the rest of Africa will inevitably follow. Funny old world. Perhaps Dylan should write a song about it.

Somaliland president announces a “National Cleaning Day” campaign

 

 

HARGEISA – Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Siilaanyo) announced a national cleaning campaign day throughout the country. The president announced this in a press conference with two of his cabinet members at the presidnetal palace in Hargeia.

The president told in the press conference that the national cleaning campaign day will be on Sunday of the coming week. “ I am announcing today the national cleaning campaign day which will be at Sunday on 5^th of September at 7:00am which will be in each 45 days.”   The president requested from the people of Somaliland to participate the cleaning campaign day.

The president also informed the governors of the regions to fully prepare and participate that day. “I am informing the governors and the municipalities to prepare their regions/cities for the national cleaning campaign”

There were cases of diarrhea infections in Northern regions of Somaliland (Lawyo-cado iyo Saylac) in the last month. Three children die from severe case of diarrhea which caused by drinking contaminated water and poor sanitation. As a result, the government is committed to combat such diseases caused by poor sanitation, the president stated in a press release.

(Somalilandpress)