The National Education Committee convened to improve education and review the country’s curriculum
The National Education Council is out to review the national education curricula with the aim and view of raising its general and caliber.
This was revealed following a high stake meeting that brought the ministry of education, the National Examinations Council and the board itself under the chairmanship of the Education Minister Hon. Ahmed Adan Buhane
The meeting, which was convened by the board, was its thirtieth session and sought to focus on improving the quality of education in Somaliland and how to delve into the most appropriate ways and means to improve education in Somaliland.
A number of agendas related to improving the quality of education in general were discussed.
The thanked the National Education Board and the officials of the National Examinations Office for their work for the nation.
On the other hand the head of the examinations council briefed the meeting on the successful conclusion of the 2023/24 educational end year exams for both primary and secondary schools in the country.
In conclusion the meeting underscored the imperativeness of raising the quality of education in the country.
Abdirashid Duale sees remittances as a key driver of development in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dahabshiil is keen to expand its Ethiopian presence following its remittance service partnership with M-Pesa Safaricom, CEO Abdirashid Duale tells The Africa Report.
The agreement at the end of June enables the Ethiopian diaspora to send money to M-Pesa mobile wallets back home. In May 2023 Safaricom obtained a licence to become Ethiopia’s first non-state mobile service operator.
Remittance service providers have been targeting Ethiopia to take advantage of the country’s accelerating financial liberalisation. Ethiopia’s first stock exchange since the 1970s, due to be launched by the end of this year, aims to attract diaspora investment in listed companies. The central bank’s liberalisation of the country’s foreign exchange regime announced on 29 July includes a commitment to simplify the rules on foreign currency accounts held by the diaspora. Safaricom in March signed an agreement with Onafriq on remittances to the country.
Duale welcomed the Ethiopian government’s decision on 29 July to allow the birr’s value to be market-determined. “It is a positive development for the diaspora who want to remit money to Ethiopia, and for its importers and exporters,” he says. “We believe it will encourage the private sector and stimulate entrepreneurship.”
“We are always looking for new ventures in Ethiopia and more widely as this helps drive development and generates employment,” Duale says. Dahabshiil was already working with M-Pesa in Kenya and further cooperation with Safaricom is possible. “I believe it’s in both our interests and those of our customers to cooperate where there’s a mutual interest.”
Remittances, according to the World Bank, play a role in supporting the current accounts of African countries facing food insecurity, drought, supply-chain disruptions, floods, and debt-servicing difficulties. Flows to sub-Saharan Africa declined 0.3% to $54bn in 2023, according to the World Bank. The bank predicts growth of 1.5% per year in 2024 and 2025, constrained by slow growth in the US and a “feeble” rebound in flows from Europe.
Sprawling Conglomerate
Dahabshiil was founded in 1970 by Duale’s father, Mohamed Said Duale, in the Somali town of Burao. The company started by importing goods including food, construction materials and clothing from the Gulf, and developed a remittance service to help migrants send money back to East Africa.
Today, the Dahabshiil Group invests in sectors including petroleum, oil terminals, communications, fibre-optic cables, manufacturing and electricity. It operates in 126 countries, including 40 in Africa.
Recent financial services additions include the DahabPlus app, through which it is possible to apply for an account with Dahabshiil Bank and a Mastercard. In the long term, Duale wants the company’s banking operations to be present everywhere in Africa, and able to serve all African diaspora markets. That would help trade and financial services across the continent to become more open and less bureaucratic, he says. Global companies should work with indigenous companies like Dahabshiil who know the local market, he adds. “This will enable access to finance to be a lot easier than it is now for a lot of entrepreneurs in Africa.”
Remittances remain core to Duale’s mission. “Due to my own experience of conflict and displacement, the importance of remittances is personal to me as I have seen firsthand how they serve as a lifeline in times of desperate need,” he says. Remittances are a driver of economic development which help cover living costs, provide seed funding for investment and fund education, he says.
“They also help reduce migration and foreign aid by reducing desperation and enabling people to start businesses and generate employment at home rather than pursuing the risky strategy of migration
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said early Wednesday, and Hamas blamed Israel for the attack. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.
By ABBY SEWELL
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran after attending the inauguration of the country’s new president, Iran and the militant group said early Wednesday.
Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike for the death of the head of the Palestinian militant group’s political bureau. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it was investigating the attack and did not say how it occurred.
Israel has vowed to kill Haniyeh and other leaders of Hamas over the group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw some 250 others taken hostage.
An Israeli military spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel often doesn’t comment on assassinations carried out by its Mossad intelligence agency.
Hamas said Haniyeh was killed “in a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran” after he attended the swearing-in of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, along with other Hamas officials and officials from Hezbollah and allied groups.
“Hamas declares to the great Palestinian people and the people of the Arab and Islamic nations and all the free people of the world, brother leader Ismail Ismail Haniyeh a martyr,” Hamas said in its terse statement.
In another statement, the group quoted Haniyeh as saying that the Palestinian cause has “costs” and “we are ready for these costs: martyrdom for the sake of Palestine, and for the sake of God Almighty, and for the sake of the dignity of this nation.”
Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
In the West Bank, the internationally backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Haniyeh’s killing, calling it a “cowardly act and dangerous development.” Political factions in the occupied territory called for strikes in protest at the killing.
Haniyeh left the Gaza Strip in 2019 and had lived in exile in Qatar. The top Hamas leader in Gaza is Yehya Sinwar, who masterminded the Oct. 7 attack.
In April, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren.
In an interview with the Al Jazeera satellite channel at the time, Haniyeh said the killings would not pressure Hamas into softening its positions amid ongoing cease-fire negotiations with Israel.
The killing of Haniyeh comes after Israel carried out a rare strike on Beirut, which it said killed Fouad Shukur, a top Hezbollah military commander. Hezbollah has not confirmed Shukur’s death in the strike, which also killed at least one woman and two children and wounded dozens of people.
The strike came amid escalating hostilities with the Lebanese militant group. The U.S. also blames Shukur for planning and launching the deadly 1983 Marine bombing in the Lebanese capital.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, said that a strike Tuesday night on a base southwest of Baghdad killed four members of the Kataib Hezbollah militia.
The group accused the United States of being behind the strike. Kataib Hezbollah, along with some of the other militias, has in recent months carried out attacks against bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel in the war in Gaza. U.S. officials did not immediately comment.
There was no immediate reaction from the White House to the killing of Haniyeh. The apparent assassination comes at a precarious time, as the Biden administration has tried to push Hamas and Israel to agree to at least a temporary cease-fire and hostage-release deal.
CIA Director Bill Burns was in Rome on Sunday to meet with senior Israel, Qatari and Egyptian officials in the latest round of talks. Separately, Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, is in the region for talks with U.S. partners.
Israel is suspected of running a yearslong assassination campaign targeting Iranian nuclear scientists and others associated with its atomic program. In 2020, a top Iranian military nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun while traveling in a car outside Tehran.
In Israel’s war against Hamas since the October attack, more than 39,360 Palestinians have been killed and more than 90,900 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Addis Ababa – Neighboring African military officers emphasized Ethiopia’s exceptional contribution to the continent’s peace and security, which goes back to the African liberation movement.
Defense War College of Ethiopia graduated military officers from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Somaliland, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
The officers attended short and long term courses in military security and strategic leadership fields.
Speaking to ENA, the graduates commended Ethiopia for its strong collaboration with the neighboring countries in the field of military and its longstanding support to the freedom of African countries..
Kenyan Brigadier General Osald Odour Opiyo said that the training he received in the college for ten months he has provided him enormous skills and experiences to effectively fulfill his country’s obligations.
The War College also enabled him to understand and learn the wisdom of Ethiopians in achieving black victory against Italian colonizer at the battle of Adwa, he added, noting that the training will further strengthen regional and continental cooperation in response to peace and security threats of the region like terrorism.
Moreover, he hailed Ethiopia’s contribution for regional and continental peace since the reigme of Emperor Haile Selassie, playing a great role in establishing the organization of African Unity to ensure peace and security and supporting anti colonial struggles in Africa.
“The role of Ethiopia in peace and security goes back to many years. Emperor Haile Selassie’s contribution for providing training grounds for a few of African liberation forces gave a lot of African countries independence…”
Ethiopia’s Pan-Africanism movement dated back to the struggle for colonial independence and the nation is currently carrying out its mission of fighting against terrorism by deploying its peacekeeping mission, Brigadier General Opiyo stressed.
South Sudanese Colonel Mangong Anyijong Dut on his part said he has received the knowledge of military security and strategic leadership in theory and practice at the college.
The knowledge and experience of military leadership he has earned in the college will help him to strengthen regional and continental cooperation among African countries, he added.
Ethiopia is a great country that has been playing an important and positive role in African affairs, he said, lauding the country for its commitment to the issues of continental freedom, peace and security in all regimes since Emperor Haile Selassie.
Ethiopia provided support for Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkurumah and other African leaders in fight against colonial struggle in Africa, he explained, adding that the successive regimes after Emperor Haile Selassie also supported South Sudan for its independence that demonstrates Ethiopia’s commitment for continental freedom, peace and security.
“Ethiopia’s role in African issues is always vital and positive. Its role started long time ago, he said.
Colonel Ahmed Aideed Omer of Somaliland on his part expressed gratitude to the Ethiopian government, the National Defense Force and the War College for the opportunities provided for him that would enhance his military capacity of his country and he recalled that he had previously received training at the Hurso Contingent Military Training School of Ethiopia.
He added that Ethiopia is a great nation that has been playing a constructive role in maintaining the peace and security of the region by combating against terrorism.
Dr. Jama Jama Musse innovative spirit has left an indelible mark on the academic and cultural landscapes of Africa. As the founder of the Hargeysa Cultural Centre and the Hargeysa International Book Fair, Dr. Jama has created platforms that celebrate and preserve Somali culture while promoting literary and intellectual exchange. These initiatives have not only become cornerstones of cultural life in the Horn of Africa but have also inspired similar efforts across the region, spreading his vision far and wide.
Dr. Jama Musse Jama is an eminent ethnomathematician and computational linguist specializing in African languages. Holding a Ph.D. from the prestigious Oriental University of Naples and an MSc Summa Cum Laude in Mathematics from the University of Pisa, Dr. Jama has imparted his extensive knowledge as a lecturer at various esteemed universities. His scholarly pursuits have led to the authorship and editing of numerous books, contributing significantly to the fields of ethnomathematics and African studies.
Renowned for his pioneering research on traditional African games, Dr. Jama has explored their educational potential, advocating for their integration into formal education systems. His work underscores the cultural richness and pedagogical value of these games, promoting a deeper understanding of African heritage.
Dr. Jama’s dedication to cultural activism and historical research is evident in his tireless efforts to preserve Somali oral histories, ensuring that these narratives are safeguarded for future generations. In 2024, his commitment to the academic community was further highlighted when he hosted the 17th International Congress of Somali Studies International Association in Hargeysa. His tenure as the formal President of the Association from 2018 to 2020 marked a period of significant scholarly and cultural advancements.
Dr. Jama Musse Jama’s legacy as a living legend, role model, and entrepreneur continues to inspire countless individuals. His initiatives have sparked a cultural renaissance across the Horn of Africa, with numerous Somali regions embracing and perpetuating his vision. Dr. Jama exemplifies the transformative power of scholarship and cultural preservation, leaving an enduring mark on the academic and cultural fabric of Africa.
Over the course of his term and illegal expansions in office, President Muse Bihi and his Kulmiye Party have demonstrated a disastrous failure of leadership that threatens to undermine Somaliland’s hard-won stability. For seven years, Bihi’s regime has neglected its fundamental responsibilities of ensuring unity, security, good governance, and public welfare..
Under Bihi’s tenure, Somaliland’s reputation and standing on the international stage have
declined precipitously. Its territorial integrity has faced unprecedented challenges, with the loss of key border regions like Sool and Sanaag raising grave security concerns.
Domestically, Bihi has stoked divisions by favoring select clans over others in state
resources and government appointments. Communal trust and cooperation have severely eroded as a result
The collapse of government authority in LasAnod is emblematic of broader military failures.Over 300 soldiers, including high-ranking officers, have been taken as prisoners of war, underscoring the severe operational and strategic deficiencies of the current government.
The upcoming election on November 13, 2024, represents a critical juncture for Somaliland.
It is an opportunity for the people to reclaim their power and elect a leader committed to reunification and effective governance.
Dr Abdirahman Cirro emerges as a promising candidate, with a vision to heal divisions, restore public trust, and tackle the myriad challenges facing the nation.
Dahabshill message to Esteemed Customers on COVID-19
Dahabshiil Company has welcomed the shift to a market-based exchange regime as part of a major revision of Ethiopia’s foreign exchange (FX) system. A statement published on the company’s Twitter handle read as follows;
“We welcome Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali’s statement on the key role of the private sector & entrepreneurship, & a market-based forex rate. This will be good news for our customers including the diaspora who want to remit money to Ethiopia & for its exporters & importers.”
The statement comes after The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) announced a shift to a market-based exchange regime as part of a major revision of the country’s foreign exchange (FX) system. The move follows the government’s announcement yesterday regarding Ethiopia’s macro-economic reform program.
According to the NBE, banks are now permitted to buy and sell foreign currencies from and to their clients and among themselves at freely negotiated rates. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia reported a buying rate of 74 and a selling rate of 76 birr per 1 USD, showing a 30% devaluation within a day.
The American Embassy in #Addis_Abeba commented, “Implementing a market-based foreign exchange system is a tough but essential move for addressing Ethiopia’s macroeconomic issues.” They further urged, “We encourage the government to work with development partners to implement these reforms.”
The Ambassador of the Republic of Somaliland to Ethiopia Amb. Adam Gedi Qayad along with the Deputy Minister of Trade and Tourism Hon. Faisal Mohamud Said and the Education attaché of Somaliland embassy to Ethiopia Mr. Abdikhalaq Mohamed Ase, participated in the ceremony held for the troops who graduated from the military training college in Ethiopia, which had amongst them, officers from the Republic of Somaliland.
The officials also met with the Commander of the Ethiopian Military Forces Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia and other leaders and eminent personalities who attended the ceremony.
The Ambassador thanked the government of Ethiopia for the scholarship given to the Republic of Somaliland and congratulated the graduate officers for having completed their courses successfully.
The Hargeisa International Book Fair, which held its 17th exhibition this year, has just concluded at the Hargeisa Cultural Center after running for about a week.
The exposition had the center reel with the multitude of people who thronged it to attend the event in their thousands.
The 17th exhibition, which this year has had its theme as ‘”Togetherness”, with this year’s hosting partner country being Tunisia, saw various presentations of wonderful scientific debates on culture, literature, books including availing of new ones and exchanges of a large ken of knowledge and related intellectual development, and of course assorted concerts .
The event was moreover blessed with the witnessing of attendances of foreign delegates from 16 countries around the world that included writers, academics, researchers, poets, inventors and play-writes and, of course thousands of people thronging the center throughout who were from all cadres of the society.
The director of the Hargeisa Cultural Center, Issa Musa Adan, wrapped up the activities of the weeklong event of the Hargeisa International Book Fair with the words, “During the six days of the International Book Fair in Hargeisa, 25 different scientific discussions were held at the center. 15 book fairs were also presented that saw the launching presentations of 35 new ones.
150 participants that had researchers, writers, poets and scholars conducted presentations and gave diverse lectures throughout the event.
He observed that the expo was arguably the biggest book fair in going by the number of patrons who visited the expo on day and night basis by the tens of thousands throughout the exhibition.
Various certificates were awarded to 40 students who attended several weeks’ course at the center on literal prose.
Chairman of the Cultural Center of Hargeisa Dr. Jama Musa Jama who spoke on the occasion, thanked all the people of the world and the country who came to attend the Hargeisa International Book Fair, which this year is the 17th edition of the Redsea Cultural Foundation Club organized by the Cultural Center Hargeisa has been a part of it since its inception in 2008. He thanked the staff of the Cultural Center and 25 young volunteers from the regions of Somaliland.
He also thanked the Hargeisa Group Hospital for participating in the exhibition this year. He also thanked everyone who made the success of the event either through participation or contribution to the exhibition.
He announced the most popular book at the event as “Mana-Fay” as he revealed the top four and hailed them.
He said, “The best-selling book during this exhibition is the book Mana-Fay written by Mohamed Dahir Afrah. The second book is ‘The Invincible State’ written by Dr. Jama Guled. The third book is ‘Danjire Kongo’, and the fourth place is the book ‘Hundred Projects and Projects’ written by Sheikh Hamse”.
Saying that he was elated by the contents of the Mana-Fay, he praised the message it relayed to the youth about the essence of reading, he congratulated them for their fetes.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Development is intent on seeing to it that the rural centres and settlement along the coast are able to get communications and internment services soonest; and now concerted efforts are underway to provide the services that are indispensable and cannot be done without.
This move follows a recent feasibility study undertaken by the ministry with the aim of boosting the industry pointed to the fact that a striking lack of communications facilities such as phones and the internet was a major inhibitor that curtailed or impeded swift marketing services for the highly perishable produce.
In effect, as per the study reports, the ministry sought the addressing of the issue by availing the facts to the ministry concerned, which in turn facilitated a round-table with the service providers operating in the country.
The meeting that brought together the Minister of Communications and Technology Hon. Ahmed Yusuf Idris and the Fisheries Minister Hon. Mohamoud Warsame Jama, and both their DGs, also saw the attendances of the officials from the largest communications services providers, TELESOM and SOMTEL.
The meeting was in agreement that the lack of the telecommunications services was indeed a stumbling block to the marketing of the fishing industry.
Given that fish is a perishable product that if not swiftly transported will degrade fast by decomposing, the consensus was that the services should be available to the affected fishing centers.
The implementation of internet and communication services will be a success for the communities living on the coasts, and thus finding a solution to the sale of the fish swiftly through fast-track messaging, texting or communicating between the fishermen in their boats, the coastal centers and the major towns inland.
