Horn of Africa: A lesson in stability from Somaliland

A lesson in stability from Somaliland

Recognition of Somaliland will have positive consequences for the Horn of Africa.

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Last month Al Shabaab, the Somali fundamentalist Islamist group with ties to Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for a deadly truck bombing in Mogadishu in which more than 85 Somali students died as they waited in line to see if they had won scholarships to study in Turkey.

Somalia arguably is the world’s most ungovernable country, and a graveyard for many of the United Nations’ unsustainable policy initiatives.

But in reality Somalia is three different entities: Somaliland, Puntland and south central Somalia, where the current humanitarian disaster is unfolding.

Somaliland, the northern territory of Somalia, has shown itself to be a lawful and productive nation. Somaliland’s order contrasts dramatically with the rest of Somalia, which has collapsed into clan-driven violence, terrorism, piracy and lawlessness.

The chronic instability in Somalia highlights that America and the West must find a new pragmatic approach which reflects the new reality on the ground.

Luckily, an overlooked partner for peace and stability already exists — Somaliland, which re-declared its independence in 1991. It was briefly independent in 1960.

More: UN declares famine in Somalia

Right now the United States is expending vast resources supporting a fictional Somali government led by Sheik Sharif Ahmed. While for political reasons, the Obama administration has refused to support and recognize a source of strength in the area — the stable, functioning and democratic entity of Somaliland, which stands for freedom and democracy.

I believe recognizing democratic Somaliland would have positive consequences not just for Somalia, but for the whole Horn of Africa region. It offers a platform to stabilize southern Somalia, a bulwark against radical forces in the region and a reliable partner to combat the piracy that is the scourge of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian ocean.

Somaliland’s success shows the world that Somalis have the ability to manage their own affairs, reconcile various clans, compromise and govern themselves, with little or no outside help.

Somaliland as an example that could provide the rest of southern Somalia’s rival clans an incentive to stop fighting among themselves in the interest of their own citizens, to reach out adversaries for the sake of ending the civil strife, and to begin moving toward good governance.

More: Aid workers kidnapped by Al Shabaab

If southern Somali clans used the Somaliland model, they could develop a more stable society, which would start to alleviate the heavy burden the Somali refugees had on its neighbors, especially Kenya, which is hosting more than 600,000 people who have fled the current famine and the violence in southern Somalia.

Granting full diplomatic recognition for Somaliland would help it rebuild its shattered economy. With a stable economy, Somaliland would become stronger and be able to provide more resources for education, health, agriculture, water and economic development, which would improve the livelihood of its people, especially for young people.

This would be bad news for Al Shabaab, which controls much of central and southern Somalia, because its Al Qaeda-style extremist ideology would diminish.

More deadly drone attacks or proxy African troops alone will not dismantle or defeat Al Shabaab in Somalia.

Somalia’s chronic instability is causing piracy to thrive in many small ports in its coastline, and is costing the world economy billions every year.

Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in eastern corner of Somalia, is the hub of the pirates that now plague much of the Gulf of Aden and the north Indian Ocean.

But Somaliland, which has a nascent coast guard that has cracked down on piracy on its 585 miles of coastline, is willing to contribute significantly with the United States and the West efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden — one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

If it were to become a member of the international community, Somaliland would be able to equip and modernize its counter-piracy operations and could become a reliable partner to the international community in eliminating piracy.

Recognizing Somaliland would not be the negative step some US State Department diplomats, particularly those who are experts on Africa, think it might be. I believe if America were to take the lead, many other countries would quickly follow.

It is time for President Barack Obama to lead the world and do the right thing by accepting the viable and sustainable solution — an independent and sovereign Somaliland.

Anything else would mean keeping the status-quo: more terrorism and chaos in Somalia, which could threaten the whole region. And for democratic Somaliland it would mean unjust delay for its diplomatic recognition and fewer resources to develop its economy. It would also leave the country to fend for itself from menacing piracy and extremism.

Ali Mohamed is co-founder of the Horn of Africa Freedom Foundation, a grass-roots level organization advocating for the advancement of freedom and democratic values for the indigenous people of the Horn of Africa.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/opinion/111107/opinion-lesson-stability-somaliland

Healthcare and education gains as Somaliland marks 20th anniversary

WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP: President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Siilanyo

Republic of Somaliland has made key improvements in sectors such as health, education and infrastructure in the past two decades, its leaders say, despite its lack of international recognition.

“One of the main obstacles for Somaliland is lack of recognition, but my government will never give up trying to gain it,” President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Siilanyo said on May 18, when the region marked 20 years since declaring unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia.

Efforts in reconciliation, nation-building and drafting a new constitution have helped promote peace in the region, Siilanyo said.

“We have put in place a new currency and passport, encouraged democratisation and multi-party elections; improved access to healthcare and education, respect for human rights, freedom of expression, and facilitated a free market,” he said.

“[The rest of] Somalia has been in lawlessness during the last 20 years, and I am calling on the Somali politicians to look after their citizens and consider the problems they are living under, and resolve their differences so as to give peace a chance.”

Nimo Hussein Qawdhan, deputy health minister, said increased provision of healthcare services – by the government and private sector – was one of the developments made since 1991.

Qawdhan said Somaliland had also made gains in the fight against malaria. The past two years have seen the region become almost malaria-free, Qawdhan said.

The region has also de-mined large tracts of land mined between 1981 and 1991 during the war between the Somali National Army and the Liberation Movement for Somaliland, as well as during the war between Somalia and Ethiopia over the Ogaden region (now known as Somali region in Ethiopia).

“Literacy rates increased from 20 percent [in 1991] to 45 percent [in 2010],” an official from Somaliland’s Ministry of Education said.

“We had only a total of 219 primary, intermediate and secondary schools in 1991, but now we have about 506 primary schools throughout the country.”

A 2010 Millennium Developments Goals report for Somaliland put the region’s literacy rate of the population aged 15 years and above at 26.9 percent in 1999.

Besides education gains, Somalilanders also believe they have matured politically.

“The people of Somaliland have mastered how to overthrow their leaders through the ballot, not through the bullet,” Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle, an opposition member of parliament, told IRIN.

Ayanle added that Somaliland’s first president, Abdi-Rahman Ahmed Ali (1991-1993), and his successors, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal (1993-2002) and Dahir Rayale Kahin (2002-2010), had helped establish peace and a respected constitution. “We hope [current] President Siilanyo will keep these efforts going.”

Some of those who fought in Somaliland’s 1981-1991 war said they were pleased with the progress the region had made.

“During the war, our mission was to overthrow [Somalia’s President Siad] Barre and give the people a chance to decide their future. It is the people who decided to dissolve Somalia’s unity, hence the creation of Somaliland,” Yusuf Abdi Gabobe, a war veteran, said.

IRIN

Video:Somaliland: aasitaanka baraagihii kalshaale

Somaliland: aasitaanka baraagihii kalshaale

Somaliland could be force for good in Horn of Africa

From Charles Tannock MEP

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/174cc918-3edb-11e0-834e-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1Eo8KTJJc

Sir, In your editorial “Pirates of the Gulf” (February 19) you rightly call for more support for the “autonomous” former British protectorate of Somaliland, which has been de facto independent from Mogadishu in the south since a brief civil war in 1991.

May 2009, Charles Tannock MEP talking with Somaliland President Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo

Somaliland is currently a good news story in contrast to the failed state of Somalia, whose transitional federal government, supported internationally, has totally failed to control the al-Shabab jihadi terrorists who brutally impose Sharia law on the people or to defeat the scourge of piracy based on its territory and neighbouring Puntland.

In support of independence, a 2005 African Union report pointed out that the union in 1960 between Somaliland and Somalia was never formally ratified. Excitingly on July 9 South Sudan will become an independent new state and the Juba government has already stated it will recognise a sovereign Somaliland. In all probability this will result in other AU countries following suit.

An independent Somaliland could be a force for stability and good governance in the Horn of Africa. It is high time the AU and western powers recognised the sovereignty of the republic of Somaliland, which has all-party support under the government of President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, which resulted from free and fair elections.

Charles Tannock,

European Parliament (London Region – Conservative),

Brussels, Belgium

Source: FT.COM

VIDEOS/PHOTOS:Somaliland’s hopes for international recognition

Somaliland’s hopes for international recognition

 

By BBC News : Zeinab Badawi

When you land at the clean, tidy airport in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, you feel you could have arrived in any small African state.

Freedom Square reminds people of the struggle to break away from Somalia

The police are courteous and wear freshly-pressed uniforms, the Somaliland flag flutters gently in the hot morning breeze, and you move briskly through the airport security.

The taxi you take into town is paid for in Somaliland’s currency, the shilling.

But do not get carried away – despite the outward trappings of statehood, this is a country that does not officially exist.

Somaliland unilaterally declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in May 1991, after the fall of the country’s military strongman, Mohamed Siad Barre.

He fled the country exactly 20 years ago on Wednesday, after two decades in power.

Monument

I made my way to Freedom Square in central Hargeisa to see the monument, which reminds those here of the bitter battle they fought to break away from the rest of Somalia. Around 50,000 people died.

The actual fighter jet used by Barre’s forces to bomb the city is on a dais, underneath the figure of a woman holding the green, white and red of the Somaliland flag, looking skywards in hope.

VIDEO:Somaliland’s hopes for international recognition

Jumhuriya newspaper

There, I spoke to a local journalist, Albdelhakim Mohamed from the Jumhuriya newspaper.

“We want our independence here in Somaliland,” he told me.

“We have a country. We have a parliament, a free press, and businesses just like London and New York.”

At the base of the monument, a body lay wrapped in cardboard.

At first I was not sure if it was part of the display, then I realised it was just a homeless man who had spent the night at its foot.

Around the monument is also a market where goods of all kinds are readily available.

Traditional spices mingle with the ubiquitous plastic of Chinese imports, brightly coloured sandals, plastic buckets and hair decorations.

Vital remittances

Abdirashid Duale admits Somaliland's unofficial status affects business with abroad

I walked through the market with Abdirashid Duale, the head of Dahabshiil, Africa’s largest money transfer company.

Tall, elegant and expensively clad – his company makes a lot of money here – he was reticent to commit to whether Somaliland should be recognised as independent; after all, his business interests extend all over Somalia.

When I ask him whether Somaliland’s unofficial status affects business, he admits it is a challenge.

But Dahabshiil, like other financial corporations in the 21st Century, can base its headquarters anywhere in the world these days. Mr Duale spends most of his time in neighbouring Kenya.

VIDEO:Somaliland President’s speaks of hopes for Somaliland recognition

From the people I chatted to informally in Hargeisa, I was left with the overwhelming impression that they would find it hard to re-integrate into the rest of Somalia.

Though with the Somaliland government so intent on independence it is hard to know if some were reluctant to speak their minds too freely.

People use money exchange centres to retrieve the funds sent to them by wire transfer

According to the World Bank, the Somali diaspora as a whole sends about $1bn (£632m) to their relatives back home every year.

Here in Hargeisa, with no official help from the outside world and no recognition as a state, most official aid is closed to them. So the remittances are a vital source of income.

People use the many money exchange centres dotted around Hargeisa to retrieve the funds sent to them by wire transfer.

I went into one office with Mr Duale.

Some people recognised him as the big boss, and I had no trouble being escorted into the back office where money was being counted.

Despite the scene, often money does not actually change hands – many transactions are carried out over the internet.

‘On our guard’

Somaliland seems a world away from the chaos and violence of south and central Somalia, which includes the capital Mogadishu.

The country is divided. Puntland in the north is a semi-autonomous state and Somaliland is a functioning state in all but name.

But Somaliland is not immune from the militant brand of Islamism that afflicts other parts of Somalia.

In 2008, suicide car bombings left dozens dead in Hargeisa, as well as in Puntland.

The leader of the main Islamist group al-Shabab, Ahmed Cabdi Godane – who is himself from Somaliland – was blamed for the attacks.

“We are on our guard,” President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo told me.

“We are doing our level best to encourage young people through education and work, and to engage them in useful activities instead of going to extremist groups like al-Shabab.”

Somaliland is seen as a transit route for militant groups going into Somalia proper, and the government here is keen to assist international efforts to tackle this.

Although Mr Silanyo has been applauded for his efforts since taking office in July, this has not given him the international recognition he craves.

Referendum hopes

Somaliland is free from the violence plaguing Somalia

On a recent trip of Western capitals to press Somaliland’s case, he told me that it deserved to be seen as an independent country.

Historically, it was a different country from Somalia, which was divided by the French, Italian and British colonial powers, he explained.

Somaliland was British and was independent for five days in 1961, before it opted to join the rest of the country.

Those five days though are crucial in legal terms to the government and gives it a basis to claim it was once an independent state.

Ethnically, the people I encountered in Somaliland are no different from their brethren elsewhere, but their lives in the last 20 years have been relatively free from the violence and divisions that have plagued the rest of Somalia.

Now President Silanyo feels that with Southern Sudan likely to become independent, the people of Somaliland cannot be denied the chance of their own referendum to vote for secession.

The key question for the intentional community is whether it should be allowed to go it alone, or be forced to remain part of Somalia to help bring greater peace and prosperity to a country that has known only war for two decades?

Source: BBC World News

Second Kenyan airline launches direct flights to Somaliland

By DANIEL OTIENO

Nairobi-Jetlink is set to launch flights to Eritrea and Somaliland as it seeks to establish itself in the region.

The airline is aiming at tapping the increased movement of people and goods within the East African and Comesa trading blocs.

Just a week after launching a direct international flight to Mwanza, the Hargeisa route is set to start next Monday with Eritrea being the next destination.

The company’s managing director, Mr Elly Aluvale, said the removal of trade and movement barriers had increased traffic into the East African region, hence the need for a faster and affordable means of transport.

Mr Aluvale said competition in the local aviation industry had pushed operators to charge lower prices, pegging their profits on numbers.

Mr Aluvale spoke in Mwanza when Prime Minister Raila Odinga launched the inaugural flight to the Tanzanian town on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Unfair practices

During the ceremony, Mr Aluvale decried what he termed as unfair practices that hindered competition in the market, saying the government should level the playing field.

Transport Minister Amos Kimunya said plans were under way to build a second runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to accommodate increased traffic.

“The expansion and modernisation of the various airport infrastructural facilities is aimed at meeting the increased demand for aviation services within Kenya and in the East African region in general,” he said.

The minister said the government would continue to negotiate and review Bilateral Air Services Agreements to expand the available routes for Kenyan airlines.

Mr Odinga said the JKIA had become Eastern Africa’s aviation hub. He said the government would improve airports in major towns to ease pressure off Nairobi.

The PM said the management of Kisumu Airport must be prepared to meet the increased traffic.

“This facility closes at 8pm. It’s time they woke up to the fresh challenges and see how they can reschedule their operations,” Mr Odinga said.

Source: Daily Nation

Somaliland:EU Delegation arrived in Somaliland and met with Somaliland President

EU Delegation in Somaliland

EU Delegation of 13th members team lead by Georges–Marc Andre EU Special Envoy to Somalia and Somaliland arrived in Somaliland and met with Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo. The EU Delegation consisted of countries from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France. Netherlands, Hungary, Spain, Germany, Austria and UK.

EU Delegation in Somaliland

EU Delegation in Somaliland

EU Delegation in Somaliland

EU Delegation in Somaliland

EU Delegation in Somaliland

EU Delegation in Somaliland

VIDEOS: How Kenyan TVs Reported “Inauguration Of Somaliland New President” 2010

VIDEOS: How Kenyan TV’s Reported “Inauguration Of New Somaliland President” 2010

1) Kenyan NTV Report: Somaliland Democracy in the horn 2010

2) Kenyan KTN TV Report on Somaliland New President  Inauguration 2010

New Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo Sworn in

New Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo Sworn in

HARGEISA, Republic of SomaliLand — The newly-elected president of Somaliland was sworn in Tuesday following June polls widely acclaimed as peaceful and democratic.

Outgoing president Dahir Riyale Kahin handed over power to Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo during a ceremony at the presidential palace in the capital Hargeisa.

“I solemnly transfer power to the new president, my brother Ahmed Silanyo, who defeated me in the recent elections,” said Riyale, who had been in power since 2002.

“I will work with him by giving my support and I call upon all of you to unite in his support,” he added. “There is a huge and difficult task ahead of our brother so let us help him succeed in his work.”

Silanyo, who has a degree from the London School of Economics and runs the Kulmiye party, is Somaliland’s fourth president since the territory unilaterally proclaimed its independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991.

“I ask for your support to fulfil my commitments and, as of tomorrow, I will start appointing my government,” Silanyo said at the ceremony.

The elections were held on June 26, on the day of Somaliland’s 50th anniversary of independence  from Britain.

VIDEO:

VIDEO:UK Prime Minister David Cameron Somaliland Election “genuine democracy”.

In response to a question about Somaliland asked by former Welsh first minister Alun Michael Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff South and Penarth(Labour MP). Mr Cameron says the new government there is the result of an election carried out under a system of “genuine democracy”.