The Minister of Education and Science Hon. Dr Ahmed Adan Buuhane visited the girls’ teachers training college in a bid to boost their morale in asserting the importance of the course for the nation.
He held a conference hall meeting with the students where the principal and the college’s staff were present as he parleyed with them at length.
The minister said that it was a success for the ministry that 120 girls are specially trained as teachers, and that they hope in the future to meet the needs of female teachers in the country’s schools.
It is the first time that the Ministry of Education and Science has taken 120 girls to be trained as teachers, which are intended to educate and teach young students in primary schools in the country.
The Chief Justice who is also the President of the Supreme Court of Somaliland, Hon. Adam Haji Ali Ahmed, held a crucial meeting to bolster and strengthen the services that the diverse sectors of the judiciary and prosecution dispense.
Apart from the Chief Justice and Attorney General Abdirahman Jama Hayaan, Attorney General Abdisamad Omar Maal, the meeting was attended by the Director General of the Ministry of Justice, Ismail Suleiman Bowkah, Chairman of the Law Review Committee Mohamud Hussein Farah, judges of the Supreme Court, members of the Justice Committee, the chairmen of the Court of Appeal of Maroodi-jeh, the Regional Court of Maroodi-jeh, the District Court of Hargeisa, some of the deputies of the Attorney General, the officials of the SOLLA Bar Association and the prosecutors and lawyers operating in the Maroodi-jeeh.
Major issue on focus was the stepping up of the services especially on inter-departmental working relations and the general bolstering of the services for the nation.
The Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Ahmed Adan Buuhane has lauded the national examinations council for doing a tremendous job in seeing t it that the caliber of the secondary school graduates is at par with acceptable international standards and is recognized.
The minister gave the sentiments as he briefed the permanent Standing Committee of the Somaliland Senate led by in Hon. Dayib Hassan Ahmed. The minister stated that students who have completed their secondary schools examination were admitted to institutions of higher learning in all neighbouring countries as far as in the Sudan and beyond.
He noted that the recognition and acknowledgment of the country’s national schools’ certificate is evidenced in even the US itself.
He emphasized that such reputable fete is due to the diligence f the council charged with the task who “should be in act lauded for the achievement” especially under the leadership of Chairman Daud Ahmed Farah.
Hon. Buuhane revealed that they have already absorbed this year 120 women teachers into training for teachers’ course and are currently in college in Daboloq.
He further emphasized that the ministry would step up educational services to the marginal pastoral pupils and students whose families are largely nomadic.
The ministered underscored the fact that arid boarding facilities are abundant hence the department always supported it by supplying them with foodstuffs.
He similarly disclosed that resuscitation of polytechnic centers is a main focus of the ministry. Saying that while one is already underway in Hargeisa, through the sponsorship of the GIZ hence about to be completed, the minister pointed out that the other one is in Burao facilitated by King Salmaan Foundation.
He said that this year will see twenty thousand students sitting for the annual exams which will have its invigilation further fortified by local universities institutions.
The Minister of Interior Hon. Mohamed Kahin Ahmed received in his office the new representative of the United Nations office in Somaliland who arrived in the country.
The Minister of Internal Affairs JSL, Mr. Mohamed Kahin Ahmed had a meeting yesterday in his office with Nikolai Rogosaroff who is the new Representative of the United Nations Office in the Republic of Somaliland.
The purpose of the meeting was to get to know each other.
The new representative was accompanied by his predecessor Simon Strachen.
The Minister of Interior was accompanied by the Mayor of Hargeisa Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge and Director General of the Ministry of Interior Mohamed Yusuf Ismail amongst other officials.
The United Nations supports Somaliland in terms of development, and there is a strong relationship between Somaliland and the United Nations.
The new representative of the United Nations office in Somaliland is expected to start his work in Hargeisa, and he will hold various meetings with the country’s officials to discuss the work ahead.
On his part, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Somaliland, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, warmly welcomed the new representative of the United Nations office in Somaliland to the country.
At least 156 cases and two mortalities of confirmed Cholera infections have been reported across Somaliland in the past three months, a surprise plunging community already in dire humanitarian needs into a state of emergency.
The Cholera cases are increasing on a daily basis with at least 17 new infections identified in the past 24 hours, despite efforts made by the government and humanitarian agencies including Save the Children, in curbing the outbreak.
According to the reports from Somaliland health authority, 75 percent of those affected are children under the age of 5 years, and in desperate need of immediate assistance to save lives.
Initially, the diarrhea cases were concentrated in the Sahil, Togdher, and Sanag regions, but the epidemic has now spread to other regions including Gebilay, Awdal and Marodijeh, with alarming rapidity. Borama, Gabiley, and Wajaale districts have emerged as critical epicenters which need immediate attention to curb the outbreak. The escalation is attributed to cross-border movements and limited availability of clean drinking water during this dry season.
“Every moment counts to curb this outbreak and alleviate the suffering of those affected by this preventable disease. We call upon the government of Somaliland, humanitarian partners, and the Somaliland community to join their efforts to curb this highly contagious disease which spreads quickly through contaminated water. Children’s lives are at stake, and time is of the essence. We also call upon the public to take extra care and follow the public guidance from the Ministry of Health ”, said Abdinasir Ali Sahal, the Area Representative of Save the Children Somaliland.
Save the Children is actively collaborating with the government of Somaliland, UNICEF, local partners, and communities to provide emergency medical supplies, hygiene kits, awareness campaigns, and training for frontline health workers.
Save the Children has worked in Somaliland for over 70 years providing humanitarian and development programming in health, nutrition, water hygiene and sanitation, education, child protection, and child rights governance. In 2023, Save the Children reached 954,312 people in Somaliland, including more than 659,120 children.
Emirates has been forced to deny reports that one of its Boeing 777-300 aircraft with a capacity of 360 passengers was involved in a potentially catastrophic near-miss accident high above the skies of Africa on Sunday evening.
The alleged incident came to light from an account on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), which is purportedly run by the Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of the small breakaway East African state of Somaliland.
The report claims that Emirates flight EK722, which was flying from Nairobi, Kenya, to Dubai, nearly collided with an Ethiopian Airlines-operated Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying between Addis Ababa and Bengaluru as flight number ET690.
According to Somaliland’s CAAA, air traffic controllers in Mogadishu had accidentally put the two aircraft on a collision course at the exact same altitude.
A mid-air collision was only avoided, the CAAA claimed, because its skilled air traffic controllers managed to get the pilot of the Ethiopian Airlines 737 to quickly climb to 39,000 feet just moments before the paths of the two aircraft would have crossed.
Dubai-based Emirates has robustly denied the account, saying in a statement: “Emirates can confirm that there was no instance of an aircraft proximity event compromising the safety of the aircraft over the airspace and during the date and time in question.”
“All Emirates aircraft are equipped with capabilities to maintain safe separation and distance during operations.”
Somaliland’s CAAA used the alleged incident to slam the skill of air traffic controllers in Mogadishu.
Somaliland declared itself an independent state in 1991, separating itself from Somalia, although Mogadishu disputes its sovereignty. No other country formally recognizes Somaliland as independent, and only Taiwan has previously referred to Somaliland as a country.
Earlier this year, Addis Ababa reportedly promised Somaliland a stake in flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines as part of a deal to secure access to the Red Sea port of Berbera in the Gulf of Aden.
In a significant development for the tech ecosystem in Somaliland, the Somaliland Innovation Zone under the Ministry of ICT recently hosted a delegation from the German development agency GIZ.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Communication and Technology of Somaliland officials met with the GIZ Agency director of projects at the ministry headquarters. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange information on how to forge and enhance close working cooperation between the Ministry & the German Aid Agency in the areas of development programs and technology innovation, which is necessary today in every aspect of development.
Following fruitful discussions, both parties have agreed to collaborate closely on various technological aspects to foster regional innovation and growth. The meeting marked a pivotal moment as key stakeholders from both organizations explored opportunities to leverage each other’s strengths and expertise. The partnership aims to drive technological innovation, support local startups, and enhance the digital infrastructure in Somaliland.
The Economic Committee of the Somaliland Government Cabinet, together with the Directors General of Ministries and Economic Institutions held an important meeting at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals on Thursday. In the meeting, 50 projects selected from the Somaliland Economic Forum Conference II, which took place at the end of last year, were approved.
50 programs from the 2023 Somaliland Economic Forum Report got the green light for implementation in 2024.
It has been specially recognized that the acceleration and implementation of these projects will be fruitful, with the General Directors being mandated to effectively manage the acceleration and implementation of these projects to ensure continuous economic and social development.
This is a crucial step forward for Somaliland’s economic growth and development.
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration ET-AWH performing flight ET-690 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Bangalore (India), was enroute at FL370 over Somaliland in contact with Somalia’s ATC.
An Emirates Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration A6-EGN performing flight EK-722 from Nairobi (Kenya) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was enroute at FL370 over Somaliland, the two aircraft were on converging trajectories.
According to Somaliland’s Civil Aviation And Airport Authority, a “harrowing” occurrence of a possible near collision was averted by the quick reaction of Somaliland’s ATC Controllers (see their report below).
However, ADS-B data transmitted by the aircraft tell another story:
Both aircraft were at FL370 on converging trajectories over Somaliland, both in contact with Somalia’s Air Traffic Control, when ET-690 began their step climb to FL390. At that point the aircraft’s lateral distance was over 30nm. When ET-690 climbed through FL380 the aircraft were still 20nm apart. ET-690 was about 30nm before the crossing point when they began the climb, EK-722 was about 40nm ahead of the crossing point. When ET-690 crossed over the flight track of EK-722 already at FL390, EK-722 was still 10nm ahead of the crossing point. At no point in time separation minima were violated.
Consequently, Emirates Airlines “robustly” denied that such an occurrence as described by Somaliland’s CAA has ever occurred.
Both aircraft continued to their destinations for safe landings.
Somaliland and Somalia struggle over who is in control of the airspace. In 2019 ICAO had assigned the control of entire Airspace of Somalia to Somalia’s government in Mogadishu stating:
As you might be following up, the management of the airspace of Somalia had been transferred from ICAO-FISS Project-SOM14802 to the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) of the Federal Government of Somalia with effect from 1st AUG 2019. Thereafter, Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has been responsible for the provision of Air Navigation Services in the entire airspace of Somalia including Aeronautical Information Service/Management.
Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an internationally unrecognized state internationally deemed to be part of Somalia.
There have been reports of “invalid transmissions” on ATC frequencies over Northern Somalia (Somaliland) in the recent month, where (“hostile”) voices other than the ATC controllers were attempting to provide instructions to aircraft, for example see: Incident: El Al B789 over Somalia on Feb 17th 2024, invalid communication on ATC frequency.
In essence, the statement by Somaliland’s CAA such confirms, that Mogadishu (Somalia) ATC was in control of the aircraft and claims, that Somaliland controllers invalidly transmitted on that frequency providing instructions to an aircraft.
This conflict between Somaliland and Somalia endangers international air traffic over Somalia, in particular over Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden.
The statement by Somaliland’s CAA:
Map with trajectories according to ADS-B data transmitted by both aircraft (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):
On Wednesday, the Director General of the National Insurance Agency closed a three-day training for the employees of the National Insurance Agency.
The purpose of the training was to develop and improve the knowledge of National Insurance Agency employees on the Basics of Insurance and in the field of insurance management.
This training was in the presentation of knowledge and study methods facilitated by the Director of Human resources, Mr. Ahmed Nuuh Abdurrahman, Director of the Sustainability and Development of Insurance, Mr. Ahmed Abdi Kahin and the Director of Legal Affairs, Mr. Jawhar Abdurrahman Abdisalaan.
