By M.A. Egge

The state has revealed that it is planning on establishing a national development fund in 2025.

It has also announced that the population of the country of Somaliland has hit 6.2 million.

Similarly, the government has directed that a committee be formed to put in check the rising numbers of the spates of accidents whose incidences has caused a lot of carnages.

These were part of the resolutions reached during the 127th session of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Somaliland meeting on Thursday which also had their deliberations dwell on the upcoming presidential and political party elections, finance, security issues and also the increasing incidences of road carnages in the country.

According to a press release from the Presidency, the cabinet members analysed various points that are based on how to harmonize the pertinent issues that are being prepared for this year’s elections and the nation’s general plans in terms of finance, security and traffic accidents that are increasing from time to time.

Customarily, the Council of Ministers listened to a general briefing which were given on the security of the country from the Deputy Minister of Interior, who is the acting minister, Hon. Abdullahi Hussein Mohamed, who updated the council on the security situation in the country and in the Horn of the region.

He also informed the cabinet on the ongoing preparations of commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the re-asserting of the independence the Republic of Somaliland on May 18.

Presently there are both intensive and extensive preparations underway within and outside the country to observe the event in elaborate support the cause of Somaliland’s independence.

The council also heard reports from the Ministers of Finance Hon. Dr. Saad Ali Shire, Planning and National development Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Diriye (Toorno), Agricultural Development Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Habbane and Health Hon. Hassan Mohamed Ali (Hasan Gaafadi) on general updates of the dockets that they are charged with and their expected plans in the course of the year.

After lengthy deliberations the council issued important points related to the interests of the nation and members of the public as whole, which were: –

1. To establish a national development fund from 2025, with the procedure to be managed jointly by the ministry of financial development and that of planning and national development.
2. The council reinforces the previous decisions that came out of the previous meetings that related that the development projects that the Republic of Somaliland receives from the international community should not be passed by proxy to any other entity but directly to it.
3. The number of people living in the Republic of Somaliland is currently at 6.2 million hence the government is working steadfastly to provide them with comprehensive services.
4. That urgent legal action should be taken on the repeated issues that cause traffic accidents whose carnages has been causing rampant loss of life and property to the country and the people, by appointing a committee composed of the Ministry of Transport and Road Development and the relevant security agencies to delve into it with the aim of combating it.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and National Guidance has depicted its unmatched championing in planting trees amongst the premises of all government ministries, agencies and institutions in the country.

This was the observation made by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Somaliland Hon. Shukri Haji Ismail Bandare on Wednesday when she toured the information ministry.

The Minister of Information Hon. Ali Hassan Mohamed (Ali Marehaan) who was flanked by the Deputy Minister Hon. Syed Hassan Habbane and the Director General of the Ministry, Mustafa Abdi Isse (Shiine), welcomed Hon. Shukri Haji Ismail Bandare to the headquarters of the Ministry of Information as she paid a courtesy call and inspected the forestation endevours of the ministry.

She hailed Hon. Ali Hassan for his personal fete in planting the trees by noting that he had left such a legacy at the water ministry during his stint at there.

Minister Shukri highlighted that she appreciated the plan and action of the Ministry of Information to plant a large number of trees that were spread widely around the vast compound of the ministry’s headquarters.

The Minister of Information Hon. Ali Hassan Mohamed, said that on the 15th of this month, the ministry of information participated in the reforestation campaign led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, by planting in its compound 560 trees of assorted species, a move will contribute to combating the global warming and climate change.

“We are very happy because when I see a tree planted, I am happy. Indeed, the Ministry of Information has made a change by planting trees in the ministry”, she said.

“I congratulate the Minister and greatly honour the ministry for achieving such a wonderful fete”, she added. She noted that the number of trees planted was a whopping 500 tree seedlings.

On the same note, she praised the information minister for having paved paths at the ministry’s headquarters with 7k marbles and asphalt in quite a short while that he has been at the helm of the information ministry.

Minister Shukri pointed out that the Ministry of Information has onerous tasks and heavy duty to the nation in being the main rapportoire bridging the people and their government and as the mirror of the nation of Somaliland.

By M.A. Egge

Minister of Planning Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Diriye Toorno has said that the government is committed to the development of basic needs to which it is responsible for such as in the sectors of infrastructure, agricultural and livestock production, fisheries and water development and also in both the health and education departments.

The minister emphasized the fact that the said priorities named are factors that the Government of President Bihi are intent on bolstering.

He said, “The development plan of the government led by President Musa Bihi gives priority to basic needs of the people, such as livestock, fish, water and economic infrastructure, including roads and electricity, just as on health and education sectors”.

To underpin such importance of necessities, he pointed out that for instance if there is no water then basically there is no essence of life and no development altogether.

The minister gave the sentiments during the laying of a foundation stone for a water rig in Sallahley district.

He said, “This is the tenth water source in this area that is being implemented during the government’s existence, and soon another well will be drilled in Waays Odane, a dam will be excavated in Qotandabo, and two others in Labisagale and in Elyo”.

-He scoffs at diasporans who misuse social media in efforts to plant seeds of discord

-He calls for harmonious solidarity unity and sense of belonging as a nation

By M.A. Egge

The former president of Somaliland H.E. Dahir Rayale Kaahin has disclosed that the government of Somaliland is convicted to construct the Lughaya port and that the Office of the Presidency will pay the first million USD fund injection to the project.

He at the same time scoffed and told off diasporans who try to foment insurgencies through the social media terming their efforts to be in utter futility.

He called for harmonious solidarity unity and sense of belonging as a nation.

The former president who is held in high esteem across the country also prevailed upon naysayers who hail from his region from distracting the residents from the cause of the nation’s aspirations.

H.E. Rayale made the revelations as he made an unprecedented political public address in Borama, Awdal region for the first time in fourteen years since he left office.

The meeting which was indeed large was attended by the Minister Trade and that of Council Relations and Constitution, Awdal regional government officials, cultural traditional and contemporary leaders, scholars and eminent personalities and, audiences from the social sectors.

He gave a long speech that highlighted the gist of the meeting as being one to rally the populaces of the region together in upholding the essence of belonging as a nation.

In emphasizing the seriousness and magnitude he had for the meeting pointed out, “This is the first time that I am holding such a meeting with the leaders of the Awdal fraternity in fourteen years’ time”.

He decried and condemned the unnecessary calamities and upheavals that has been ruffling over time and advised on the ways and means of combatting them.

He lamented that the use of social media to plant seeds of discord within the community has reached a virulent high and that it should be not lend credence.

He told off diaspora community who hail from Awdal and foment insurgency that they have no future at all in playing to the whims of the Mogadishu government.

He stated that the situation of the former Italian colony was rife with constant political turbulences, upheavals, disorganization and pandemonium hence are on the verge of disintegration.

He was categorical that the future of the people was with their nation of Somaliland where they belong and ought to have their sense of belonging and aspirations.

He said that Somalilanders in both the eastern and western parts of the country share the same destiny.

In driving his point home, H.E. Rayale noted that when the country re-asserted its independence back in1991 there was only one secondary school in Awdal region, that is Sheikh Bashir which he said was built through volunteering; and that in comparison, today there were the higher institutions of learning and secondary schools in every town centres.

Indeed, the region is regarded as the seat and crème of education in the country, as it is dubbed the “home of intellectuals”.

H.E. Rayale said that the government of Somaliland is committed to the construction of Lughaya port, and stressed that the first million will be paid by the president.

By M.A. Egge

The Ministers of Water development, Hon. Suleiman Yusuf Ali Koore, was flanked by his Health and National Planning colleagues the honourables Hassan Ali Mohamed Gaafadi and Ahmed Mohamed Diriye Toorno respectively as they jointly laid the foundation stone for a new water-well to be implemented in Sallaley district.

The function of laying the foundation stone was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, the manager of the Airports Authority, the Deputy Chairman of the national Tenders Committee, and both the regional and district officials.

This new water well is intended to strengthen the expansion of water supply in Sallahley district, contributing greatly the commodity’s need.

Hon. Suleiman noted in his speech that the borehole water-well drills were more cumbersome than the open water-wells dam, especially in all the Hawt areas.

He underpinned the fact that even both the public and private implements are not able to serve the purpose. He however pointed out that much has been done in the sector and more projects are underway.

He quipped that he was honoured to expedite his services to the people of the area as far as the sector of water resources was concerned.

The various leaders and officials who spoke on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the water-well praised the government for its efforts to ensure that the community has enough water.

The Minister of Education inspected some schools in Borama

Minister of Education and Science of Somaliland Hon. Dr. Ahmed Aden Buhane visited Sheikh Ali Jowhar High School, in Borama city, in bid to launch mock trial tests for this year’s form four candidates.

He at the same time was in a monitoring tour that saw him visit several other schools in the area with the aim of assessing the education qualities.

The minister visited the A.A. Good primary school, met with the teachers and students of the school, and urged the students to work hard and surpass in their studies.

At Al-Aqsa High School in Borama, the minister was welcomed by the administration, teachers and students of the school where he took time to plant a tree at the school’s premise to boost forestation exercises.

The education minister who has been in Borama, Awdal region, for the few past days has been visiting and inspecting several educational facilities in the area hence gave words of advice and encouragement to the students and teachers wherever he met them.

As they met Swedish delegation, official political parties

By M.A. Egge

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has revealed that in a week’s time it will avail the timetable for the electioneering processes for both the presidential elections and that of the political organizations in a simultaneous voting come 13^th November this year.

The NEC has similarly disclosed that it will also publicize the final list of potential voters at the same time.

These were made public following a meeting that the elections board held on Wednesday with all the three national official political parties and a delegation from the Sweden government at their headquarters.

According to a statement published on the official Facebook page of the Somaliland National Elections Commission, it explained, “The National Elections Commission received a delegation led by the Swedish Ambassador Mr. Joachim Waern and an official Mr. Johan Svensson”.

It further noted that the NEC briefed the Ambassador about the preparations for the election hence disclosed that they would in the course of the week release both the list of potential Final Voters and the timetable Schedule of the Presidential and National Party Elections.

It also said that the Electoral Commission has asked the Swedish government and the Swedish government to support the elections, especially the economy.

It continued, “On the other hand, we met with the officials of the three national parties, UCID, WADDANI and KULMIYE, and we discussed the activities of the elections and the availing of the schedule for the both the presidential elections and that of the national political organizations, with the agreement that free and fair elections will take place in the country”.

The Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Development Hon. Mohamud Warsame Jama, has launched a campaign to promote fish markets in the country in order to find out about their sales and public health impact, hence collate comprehensive data on the sector.

The minister who spoke at the site of the dispersal of the groups involved in this campaign, said that the campaign program will be launched in all regions of the country to ensure the commercial status of fish in the country which will be implemented in Marodijeeh, Sahil, Awdal, Sanaag and Togdeer regions.

Hon. Mohamud said that the campaign efforts will continue for some time, while investigating the general welfare, sales and business activities of the sector to get comprehensive information.

Ahmed Aden Roble and Ismail Mirre Farah, who are respectively the directors of the Fisheries Department and that of the Coastal Development of the Republic of Somaliland, indicated that the regions of the Republic of Somaliland will start the campaign to ensure the appropriate standard for the country’s fish business, with particular attention to the health of commercial fish taken to fish markets in the country’s regions.

The complete statistics and data on the industry is expected to be comprehensively collated.

By M.A. Egge

The Somaliland Coast Guards based at Sanaag region have apprehended Ethiopian 170 illegal human trafficking migrants, including men and women, who were trying to sail out of the continent.

An operation carried out by the Coast Guard in Sanaag Region in the area of Waqadariya on the eastern coast of Sanaag Region captured the illegal migrants as they were being smuggled out in boats.

The illegal migrants who were traveling to Yemen were arrested while they were in a large boat at the coast in Snaag eion.

In the last two months, the Army has been carrying out operations to ensure the security of the sea and the fight against pirates, terrorists and illegal fishermen in the sea, smuggling and illegal human trafficking.