Lord Stuart Polak called on the British government to recognize Somaliland to contribute to the stability of the region.
In a debate in the British House of Elders on foreign policy, Lord Polak stated;
A very short distance from Yemen’s violent and chaotic coast lies Somaliland. Somaliland has 850 kilometers of Red Sea coastline with no piracy; this can be attributed to the pro-western democracy that is Somaliland. On 1 January, Ethiopia, a key partner of the UK, signed an MoU with Somaliland, in which Ethiopia formally recognizes Somaliland in return for it giving Ethiopia naval and commercial access to the Red Sea. This has been ratified by the Ethiopian parliament and other prominent African nations are seriously discussing this. I urge my noble friend the Foreign Secretary to look at these positive developments with a sense of urgency.
Putting Somalia back together has not worked. The world has changed and has moved on since our “one Somalia” policy, born in 1961. It is time our policy changes too. I hope my noble friend the Foreign Secretary will find the time to recognise and uphold Somaliland’s contributions to regional stability and security, ensuring that its vital role is not overlooked or undervalued.
The technical committee charged with the task of the implementation modalities of the memorandum of agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia went on an orientation trip to the city of Berbera to specifically tour the harbor and the docking ports.
The committee was welcomed at Berbera port by Somaliland Ports Manager Syed Hassan Abdilahi. They briefly had a meeting with the manager in which they discussed issues related to Berbera Port, its services and the way it works at the moment.
The manager conducted them to a tour in the facility taking the committee through the container sites and the service work at the Port. They were informed that the largest ships to sail in the high seas were now able to dock at the port.
The ministry’s Director of Somaliland Ports said that the purpose of the committee’s trip was to observe the ongoing work at Berbera International Port, to investigate the implementation of the agreement, and he encouraged the committee to maneuver well the destiny of the Somaliland community which fell in their lap, as he testified that the members selected for the technical agreement are able to perform the task assigned to them.
On the other hand, the deputy chairman of the technical committee for the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia and Somaliland’s ambassador to the United States and Canada, Amb. Bashir Sheikh Omar Goth, said that their trip included observation and information gathering by the committee, to contribute to their work before they handed over their report to the head of state.
On behalf of the task force, he lauded the ports chief for a job well done at the harbor.
Finally, the committee also held a meeting with the top officials of DP World, which manages the Berbera port, who further briefed them on the work of the Berbera port and the progress so far realized since they assumed management of the port in 2016.
The House of Representatives of the Republic of Somaliland on Monday approved the budget estimates for the year 2024. Various motions were also presented to the House of Representatives, some of which were approved and some of which were rejected.
The former Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Somaliland House of Representatives, Abdirashid Abdilahi Muse (Agawayne), read the 2024 annual budget estimates before the assembly.
He pointed out that the budget was the framework of the national duties, and noted that it can be discussed depending on the direction of the government within the year. It entails all the economic, political, development, security, priorities, and plans of the government, in the annual budget year.
Hon. Abdirashid also pointed out that the budget for the year 2024 does not have much difference from that of the previous year.
The budget committee, he said, had perused and had in-depth delved upon the estimates and hence has just tabled it for approval endorsement to the parliament.
With the first deputy Speaker of Somaliland’s House of Representatives, Hon. Syed Farah Mire (Giire) chairing, the ayes voted 41 to 8 of the nays.
The House of Representatives also approved the presentation of the motion of legal dispute between the company DP World and Al Waddania.
On the other hand, the House of Representatives rejected the motion submitted by the President of Somaliland, who wanted interdicted National Elections Commissioner Abdiaziz Hirsi Warsame impeached and voted out of office.
The MPs voted against the president’s proposal, with 39 members rejecting the motion, against 9 who wanted the commissioner out of office.
With the re-endorsement of the commissioner, he is thus expected to resume his office.
A motion signed by 32 MPs was also presented to the council regarding the opening of the bylaws of the House of Representatives. , there were 9 members, 23 members agreed, but failed to reach the one-third minimum (27 members) requirement.
The parliament has now gone to a two-month recess.
The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi, officially opened Tuesday 5th March the 11th African Islamic Finance Summit hosted in the capital Hargeisa in 2024.
The Head of State hailed the importance of conference saying that Somaliland has been fortunate enough to hosting it. He warmly welcomed the international experts who traveled to come to the conference from different countries around the world.
The President praised all the financial fraternities, saying that the nation and the various banks that work in finance are standing together. He said that the state backed the industry which in turn stands with the people and their nation.
“Banks are required, once the mortgage law has been approved, to invest and ease youth unemployment. Somaliland is in good shape, there are many tasks ahead of us that need to be resolved together, the most important thing is the elections that we are entering this year, let everyone prepare for it.” President.
The conference is being attended by international leaders in the financial world, from more than a dozen of the world’s financial and business experts. Present were the head of the Somaliland Insurance Agency, the heads of the Central Bank of the Republic of Somaliland, the leadership of the organization United Banks of Somaliland, heads of financial institutions from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt and also various experts from independent banks in Somaliland; who focused on how, and the importance, of the country of Somaliland could benefit from the expertise and experiences in finance and commerce of the participants in the summit.
The Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Somaliland Dr. Ali Abdullahi Dahir explained in depth the importance of the summit and how it contributes greatly to the role of Islamic banks in the field of development and also in fighting against poverty.
Director of Al-Huda Islamic Banking and Economics, Mr. Muhamed Subeir Mughal and the chairman of the association of the Bank in Somaliland, Mr. Khalif Omar Noor praised the 11th conference held in Hargeisa, while noting that this it would contribute a lot to economic growth in Somaliland.
The Chairman of the Insurance Agency of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Guleed Muse Galaal focused in his speech on the importance of the insurance industry and the role of the government in implementing insurance in the country, as its laws have been already finalized.
Minister of Finance Development, Hon. Dr. Saad Ali Shire on his part welcomed the delegates and international experts who participated in the international conference on Islamic economics and noted that it is a great opportunity for Somaliland.
Borama, Somaliland,05/03/2024. Communities in districts within Awdal region are among tens of thousands of families that are directly benefiting from the ongoing ‘Better Lives’ Health programme funded by United Kingdom’s The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
According to Awdal Regional Health Co-ordinator, Mohamed Abdi Ahmed, the Health programme implementation is going on well and has been meeting its targets and objective since its inception. Among critical services and support it has been offering, are provision of maternity services that includes referral of pregnant women with complication to Borama Hospital as well as supply of essential medicines.
“The Better Lives Health programme has been implemented across Awdal region covering the districts of Borama and Zeila and numerous health facilities like the main regional hospital, health centres and Maternal Child Health(MCH). It services are critical and live-saving for instance it includes referral through ambulance services, of pregnant women with complication to Borama regional hospital where they are given lifesaving services. It has supplied health facilities with the required medicines as well as offering MCH services to visiting mothers and children” he explained.
The Better Lives for Women and Children continue to attend to the health and nutrition needs of the communities and comes with essential package of health services e.g Maternity care, children health that includes the critical neonatal care and nutrition.
At Borama Central MCH that is being supported by the programme, tens of mothers and children were being attended by health care professional and they include Ikran Roble a pregnant mother who received important pregnancy tests and counselling.
“I’m four months pregnant with my second child and I visited this health facility where I was given free pregnancy tests like Ultrasound and counselling of which food to eat and how to care of myself during the pregnancy and the unborn baby’ she indicated.
In Somaliland its currently being implemented in Awdal and Toghdeer regions. With the support from FCDO, UNICEF has been providing technical support, guidance and monitoring to implementing partners that are the Somaliland Ministry of Health Development and development agencies, Save the Children and Mercy USA as well.
According to Jamal Abdi Sarman, UNICEF Communications Officer, the programme will in addition support the Ministry service delivery and oversight role.
“In the long run this programme will also further strengthen the Somaliland Health Authorities oversight and service delivery roles. Its approach aims to support long term sustainability of these critical services.” He stated.
With support from its donors like FCDO, UNICEF through its network of partnership support primary healthcare, particularly at the community level, to help achieve the universal health coverage. It also works with partners to strengthen health systems to deliver integrated and innovative services for Somali children, youths and women of reproductive age.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland has reviewed the Heritage Institute policy brief titled “Ethiopia’s MoU with Somaliland,” which alleges a threat to Somalia’s sovereignty and regional stability. Our assessment finds the brief to be distorted, laden with political rhetoric akin to that of the Mogadishu government and is aimed at lending academic legitimacy to recent ramblings of Hassan Sh Mahmoud.
Furthermore, the assertion that the MoU may fuel recruitment for Al Shabab lacks conclusive evidence and is speculative. Extremist groups like Al Shabab operate beyond borders, driven by a broader ideological agenda rather than specific territorial disputes. The brief also overlooks the Mogadishu government’s repeated failures in combating Al Shabab effectively.
It is important to recognize that Al Shabab’s emergence stems from conditions of lawlessness, warlordism, and poverty, rather than fueled by animosity towards Ethiopia or neighboring countries. Their continued existence is facilitated by weak administrative institutions within Somalia, which fail to address the fundamental needs of their citizens.
Moreover, successive governments in Mogadishu have become complacent in managing the conflict, prioritizing external donor engagements over domestic responsibilities.
Academic research consistently highlights the correlation between poverty, violence, and the proliferation of organized crime and militancy, undermining claims of a direct link between regional agreements and the resurgence of such groups.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Somaliland’s sovereignty and independence, achieved through the sacrifices of its people. Despite minimal foreign assistance, Somaliland has effectively governed itself for 33 years and will continue to do so despite Mogadishu’s unfounded claims.
It is imperative for Mogadishu and its intellectuals to recognize the changing dynamics of the world, transcending past animosities and towards mutual economic cooperation and respect. The historic MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland signifies a Positive step towards regional stability and prosperity.
Map showing Somalia and Somaliland. Photo: Siirski | Wikimedia Commons
Since the start of the year, tensions between Somalia and Somaliland (an independent but internationally unrecognized state) have been high. While the two territories have been going at it for years, tensions have increased since the signing of an MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland on January 1.
The MoU would see landlocked Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea through the Port of Berbera in exchange for recognizing Somaliland as an independent country and granting it a stake in Ethiopian Airlines. Seeing this as an attack on its sovereignty, Somalia immediately rejected the arrangement, causing further tensions between the Horn of Africa countries. This was followed by an airspace dispute, which has resulted in several incidents and raised concerns about airline safety in the region.
Who controls the airspace over Somalia?
The unstable political situation in Somalia seriously impacted the country’s aviation sector for many years. The previous national carrier, Somali Airlines, also suffered due to a civil war in the early 90s. However, following improvements in certain areas, the airspace over Somalia was reclassified to “Class A” last year. This saw the return of air traffic control services in the country after three decades. Also highlighting how far the air transport sector has come, Somalia recently opened its first Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) center in over 30 years.
The airspace over Somalia and the surrounding ocean is managed by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) from the Mogadishu Area Control Center. “This airspace, known as the Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR) and its controlling authority are defined under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Navigation Plan for the Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) Region, which recognizes Somalia as the controlling State, by extension the Somali Civil Aviation Authority,” explained a spokesperson from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to Simple Flying.
Photo: Siirski | Wikimedia On the other hand, Somaliland has control over its airports but not the upper airspace. Egal International Airport (HGA) is the state’s main airport, serving the capital of Hargeisa. Following the signing of the Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU, Somali authorities began restricting flight activity in Somaliland to assert its authority over its airspace.
Consequences of the ongoing dispute
On January 17, the SCAA blocked an Ethiopian Airlines Dash 8 carrying Ethiopian delegates from entering the airspace, saying it had no permission to enter the country. The SCAA also reportedly blocked an air ambulance that was carrying a Somaliland citizen who “needed urgent help.” However, the Somali authorities denied the last claim.
In return, Somaliland claimed independence over its territory and surrounding areas, issuing an international aviation advisory and a statement on its X (formerly Twitter) page. It is attempting to control air traffic in the region from Hargeisa. With both states claiming the right to control traffic, there have been multiple reports of airlines receiving conflicting instructions while overflying the area.
Crews receiving instructions to climb and descend
Over the past month, airlines flying over Somalia have reported receiving conflicting instructions from different air traffic controllers. Last week, an Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Airbus A350 and a Qatar Airways (QR) Boeing 787 narrowly avoided a collision as TCAS intervened. The Qatar Airways crew had been wrongly instructed by ATC in Mogadishu to climb from 38,000 ft to 40,000 ft while the ET aircraft was flying at 38,000 ft, about 180 NM from Hargeisa. Some experts suggest this might have been a mistake on the ATC’s part.
OPSGROUP notes that it received at least ten reports of aircraft flying over Somalia “being contacted by a ‘fake controller’ on the same frequency, issuing conflicting instructions.”The Horn Observer also reported that on February 14, a Qatar Airways A320 crew received conflicting instructions from air traffic controllers on a flight from Doha to Mogadishu via Djibouti.
An El Al 787 crew flying from Phuket to Tel Aviv on February 18 reported receiving communication disturbances while overflying Somalia. It is believed that a hostile group attempted to hijack the flight radio. El Al explained that “the disturbances are not aimed at El Al planes and that this is not a security incident.” It is not entirely clear if this was also a result of the disputing controllers in Mogadishu and Hargeisa.
Somali authorities issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning of unlawful VHF interference in the area over Somaliland (150NM radius of Hargeisa). It indicated that flights in the area should not expect altitude adjustments unless directed by authorities in Mogadishu. This was followed by a statement on February 19, accusing Somaliland of disrupting “the lines used by airplanes over parts of the airspace of the northern regions of Somalia.” It added that “if these offensive measures continue,” the Somali government would have to “take strong measures to ensure the security and safety of the Somali Civil Aviation.”
The mysterious death of an air traffic controller
One of the most significant developments in this dispute was the death of Abdinasir Muse Abdirahman, a Somaliland-born air traffic controller working with the Somali Civil Aviation Authority. He was found dead in his apartment in Mogadishu on February 18, and his body showed signs of strangulation and severe torture. Six suspects were immediately detained by Somali police officers.
While there are ongoing investigations in both states, the Somaliland Civil Aviation and Airports Authority (SCAAA), in a statement from February 20, accused Somalia and its Civil Aviation Authority of a “conspiracy to kill AHN Abdinasir Muse Dahale, and the illegal detention of his friends to cover up the involvement of the government agencies.”
The fate of operations over Somali airspace
The area over East Africa is one of the busiest on the continent. The region is also home to some of Africa’s most prominent airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. Some of the busiest airways, connecting the African subcontinent south of Ethiopia with destinations in the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, pass through Somali airspace. The same applies to air links between Western Europe and the Indian subcontinent and Indian Ocean islands.
As the IATA spokesperson said, no airline would fly in “unsafe airspace.” The risks of flying over Somalia have been assessed by the Air Navigation Service Provider and the operators, who have implemented mitigation measures. Yesterday, Ethiopian Airlines announced that it would change some of its routes to avoid Somali airspace. The carrier will now fly over Djibouti, affecting some flights to Asia and the Middle East. However, it has maintained its schedules to Mogadishu and Hargeisa.
For airlines still flying over the country, crews have been advised to be wary of the environment and follow instructions in the NOTAM issued by Mogadishu authorities advising them to contact the Mogadishu Area Control Center through additional methods like controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) or satellite communication (SATCOM), particularly in the area within a 150 NM radius of Hargeisa.
The implementation of the construction of the Lawyo-Addo to Borama road project supported by the African Development Bank {AFDB} whose work has gone through different stages is set to start soon.
The construction of this road, which is of great importance to us as a nation and as an individual, will contribute greatly to the economic growth of the country. Phase 1 of the construction of Lawyo-addo-Borama road, which the community has been waiting its implementation, according to the copy of the agreement the relevant parties have officially signed on 03 June 2023, and there are different stakeholders involved. On the side of the Somaliland government, the Ministry of Finance is in charge of the agreement, while its implementation responsible by the Somaliland Roads Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Road Development.
The 1-st phase of the Lawyo-Addo to Borama road, which has passed through various stages as mentioned above, has been signed, the feasibility study has been carried out, and it is now in its final stage, with the hope that it will start soon Insha-Allah. And now the African Development Bank is expected to release the money that was allocated for the project.
As the Ministry of Finance, based on our role in the implementation of this project and representing the Government of Somaliland in the agreement for the construction of the road, at the same time, keeping in mind its importance, we are taking a great responsibility to follow up with the leaders of the African Development Bank to speed up the money allocated to the project to start the implementation of phase 1 early.
This road is one that we have had a great need for, with a great burden on the traffic of the West coast and the rest of the country, and it is a dream that we do want to come true.
Finally, there are major projects related to roads and bridges that have been implemented since Somaliland regained its independence, including the long road connecting Berbera to Wajaale {Berbera Corridor}, the longest road that has ever been implemented is the road that connects Burco and Eerigabo which is something to be proud of.
It is also worth noting that we should inform the public that on February 26, 2024 that the Minister of Transport and Road Development Hon. Suleiman Awad Ali (Bukhari) opened a meeting to mark the beginning of the construction of the Hargeisa-Odweyne-Burao road. Preparatory work for the start of the Road Project Study, who’s funding is supported by the African Development Bank (AFDB) is in on.
In addition to that, there are many roads that our community has built voluntarily while the government has always been helping them as much as they can.
All autocratic politicians share one basic belief that they own the absolute truth on life, the rulers of Somalia today continue to behave accordingly, both Al-Itisam of Hasan Sheik Mohamoud and Al-Shabab live in on an imagined realm that they have a united Somalia that the man in Villa Somalia presides. But the actual fact is far from this deceit.
The process of fragmentation of the Somali state was started with the very moment when the military Junta’s regime was established in 1969, and has been deepening by the year through divide & rule policy practiced by the regime. Henceforth, the direction of political actions had been according to the thesis of monopolization of power and resource by one man who remained to qualify the only thinker about ‘’Greater-Somalia’’ mission, in which justice and human rights were excluded.
Henceforth, the Somali State has been present only in the minds of the Ruling Elite plus some leaders from the opposition side, Abdillahi Yusuf, General Farh Aided, Abdulqasim Salad, Ali Mahdi and the likes, all of whom believed in clan ideology that necessarily hostile to modern statehood. Other radical slogans based on Islamism, which emerged with the rise of the global Islamic radicalism have negatively contributed to the withered away of Somali State. All those outmoded politicians have decided to occupy Villa Somalia in order to rule the State of Somalia which doesn’t exist in reality.
This mentality was taken Somalia into 1991 when the Southern Somalia entered into the era of Warlords, Islamic Courts, and the State Building process fallen into the hands of foreigners, where the indigenes political actors left to devise the art of corruption, piracy and putting down all kind of wastes into the Somali soil. The grave upshot of all these blunders led to the Somali State Building process entirely failing. Unfortunately, the Current Somali politicians don’t see this reality, and to conceal their failures they are raising war slogans against MoU, mobilizing everything in their disposal including Islamist resources to halt the MoU to be realized.
In contrast to these practices, Somaliland has different type of experience in relation to State building process which was based on local ownership of reconciliation, where communities came together in peace and reconciliation conferences, decisions had been taken on fund raising issues, resolved disputes and demobilization of militias has been realized as well as resolving other related problems on consensus building manner.
The Traditional and modern systems merged into a Hybrid Political and Security Governance. One person one vote elections become the supreme practices of democracy in Somaliland. Out of this rationale Somaliland has taken one more step towards sharing resources with the next-door neighbor, Ethiopia. Ethiopia, which according to Nelson Mandela Representatives Genuine African of Civilization and Statehood (Long Walk to Freedom).
Resource Sharing courses are an historically inevitable and unavowable trend for the development of Africa. To stop this waves of Somaliland progress, which is in line with the orientation of renaissance and modernization of Africa, the Political Islam both Al-Shabab and Al-itisam, who rule Somalia today are desperately trying to halt the Ethio-Somaliland deal through attempts of reviving medieval based ‘Islam versus Christian’, which is a clear evidence that the ruling elites in Somalia today are ideological followers of the most radical Islamic interpretation of human history related to ‘’ibn Taymiyyah School of thought’’. Therefore, behind the high-profile campaign against MoU signed by Somaliland and Ethiopia is a dangerous attempt to hold-back mankind’s procession and bring it back to the dark ages.
About the Author
Ambassador Adam Jibril Muse has held various positions in the Somaliland government, including serving as a Representative to the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and the African Union. He is also a writer who has authored several articles. He can be reached at adamjibril4@gmail.com.
The Dahabshil group of companies is celebrating in style its Golden Jubilee by inaugurating its UK headquarters in London.
The groups’ official tweeter broadcasted its elation which went as follows:-
“Thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new UK headquarters in the heart of London where we celebrated our more than 50 years of serving the diaspora. Thank you to all our customers, agents, and staff for contributing to saving lives and development.
“Similarly, Dahabshil is elated seeing one of their customers using a Dahabshil bank card in the UK to ride on buses, buy food, and withdraw cash. It’s great to see satisfied customers using our fully compliant services locally and globally.
“The opening of this office will further expand the company’s services to its clients”. END.
