By Goth Mohamed Goth

Hargeisa-The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), today held an important meeting at the Presidential Palace with the heads of United Nations agencies, led by the highest official for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. George Conway, along with a large delegation that included the head of the UN OCHA office, Blaise Kabongo Mujika, and other senior officials from the UN office in Somaliland.

First, the head of the UN delegation, Mr. George Conway, congratulated the President of Somaliland on the historic victory he achieved in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Similarly, the delegation commended the nation of Somaliland for its security, stability, democracy, and adherence to international laws and regulations, stating that UN agencies will continue to strengthen the longstanding and effective partnership they have with Somaliland.

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, in turn, discussed key issues of national importance with the delegation, including: peace and stability, democratic affairs, humanitarian aid, and the review and reassessment of the quantity, quality, and financial scope of projects implemented by UN agencies in the Republic of Somaliland.

The President of Somaliland informed the delegation that despite lacking international recognition, Somaliland has successfully maintained peace, security, and the construction of a democratic statehood for over 30 years—an achievement that is rare and exceptional in the Horn of Africa, a region plagued by conflicts.

President Abdirahman Cirro told the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations for Somaliland and Somalia that the UN’s support should be based on fairness, ensuring that Somaliland receives appropriate and equitable support and assistance.

The President of Somaliland also informed the Deputy Special Representative that Somaliland has conducted multiple transparent elections held in peace, including at the presidential, parliamentary, and local levels. Furthermore, Somaliland is now preparing for the upcoming electoral cycles, which are expected to take place within the scheduled timeframe, in accordance with our legal framework that prevents the country from falling into election-related disputes and political controversies.

In conclusion, the President of Somaliland told the Deputy Special Representative that Somaliland is ready to engage in constructive and meaningful cooperation with the UN but will not beg for it. Somaliland is prepared to address the serious challenges facing the Horn of Africa region.

The President of Somaliland emphasized to the UN that Somaliland must not be equated with Somalia. The UN should respect Somaliland’s official stance regarding the self-determination of the people and nation of Somaliland—a historic decision fully endorsed by the people of Somaliland through a free and fair referendum.

MP and legal expert Hon. Mustafa Mohamed H. Dahir delivered a speech related to the Somaliland Recognition at a meeting held in USA

MP Mustafa, member of Elders House who details about the object of the meeting stated “I had the privilege of presenting at the Future Diplomacy Forum 2025, where I explored the legal and diplomatic dimensions of Somaliland’s pursuit of international recognition.

The presentation focused on the challenges and strategies involved in Somaliland’s quest for statehood, examining both the legal foundations and diplomatic efforts that have shaped its path.

Key points included:

1. Legal Framework: I discussed the legal arguments supporting Somaliland’s claim to statehood, including the principles of self-determination and the historical context of its independence before the 1960 union with Somalia.
2. Diplomatic Strategies: The presentation highlighted Somaliland’s diplomatic initiatives, showcasing its efforts to gain international recognition through bilateral relations and multilateral engagements, despite facing opposition from Somalia.
3. Regional and Global Implications: I also touched upon the broader geopolitical and strategic considerations that impact Somaliland’s recognition, underscoring how the Horn of Africa’s diplomatic landscape influences its pursuit.

The session provided valuable insights into the complex intersection of law and diplomacy in Somaliland’s quest for recognition, illustrating both the challenges it faces and the resilience of its diplomatic efforts.

https://headwayinstitute.org/fdf-2025/

The training implemented by the Centre for Community Services (CCS) at Amoud University (AU), the COHESA “Multiplier” in the country held in Borama.

Dr. Yusuf Hared, is the Country Multiplier Lead and Director of CCS, who oversees the training.

Who and How the training will be conducted?

This five-day workshop 5-9 April in Borama use a facilitator guide and participant manual developed by ILRI under the HEAL project. Training was delivered by Prof. Siobhan Mor, who led the material development and HEAL trainings in Ethiopia and Kenya, and Dr. Farah Isse Mumin, a HEAL-affiliated PhD student who participated in those sessions.

Dr. Yusuf Hared, who officially opened training workshop provided an overview of the COHESA project, highlighting key activities completed in the country and how this workshop was initiated in response to capacity gaps identified during the national baseline assessment and net-mapping exercises.

He was followed by senior management from Amoud University, including the Principal of the College of Health Sciences, Vice Presidents for Academics & Research, and Public Relations and Extracurricular Activities.

They expressed their pleasure in welcoming such a committed and diverse group, emphasizing the importance of the workshop as a platform for learning, collaboration, and capacity building.

They noted that the workshop is not only about knowledge transfer but also a space for dialogue, experience-sharing, and practical skill development that can benefit both individuals and institutions.

Gratitude was extended to all organizers, facilitators, and partners. Participants were encouraged to actively engage, ask questions, and collaborate throughout the training.

The President of Amoud University, Dr. Mohamed Musa, then officially declared the workshop open and wished all participants a successful and impactful experience.

Why This Training:

The “One Health” approach brings together different fields to create a joined-up way of improving the health of the people, the animals, and the environment. It recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected and that issues such as diseases, food safety, and environmental health require collaborative, multisectoral and multi-prong efforts.

Higher education institutions and relevant government bodies are crucial in promoting “One Health” in any country. However, the concept is relatively new to Somaliland, primarily introduced by the HORN project, the Borama “One Heath” conference, implemented by Amoud University, and the COHESA project, leading by Amoud university as Multiplier. Many academics and government officials have only a superficial understanding of the said concept and need to learn practical applications.

There is a clear need to train key stakeholders on the basic principles and applications of One Health to strengthen cross-sector collaboration—both at the faculty level in academia and at administrative levels in government.

This activity delivers a ToT for 29 selected participants (22 male, 7 female), including 15 from One Health line ministries at central and regional levels—namely the Ministry of Health Development, Ministry of Agriculture Development, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Authority (NADFOR), as well as the Borama District Municipality.

The remaining 14 participants represent academic and research institutions such as Amoud University, University of Hargeisa, Burao University, Golis University, IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School, Adal University, Alpha University, Eelo University, the Public Health Emergency and Research Center, and the Sadar Development and Resilience Institute.

“The program covers an introduction to One Health principles, followed by a focus on systems thinking. It emphasizes data-driven decision-making for evidence-based practice in One Health and highlights the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination. The final focus is on participatory community engagement within the One Health framework.”

By M.A. Egge

The Vice President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E. Mohamed Ali aw Abdi, and the delegation he leads on the pacification mission working trip to Sanaag region, held a large meeting in the town of El-Afweyne that is now for over a month, with the cultural leaders, intellectuals, and businessmen of Togdeer, Sanaag, Saahil, and Saraar regions.

At this meeting, they discussed on how to work together and strengthen the common interests there is as a nation, as well as to turn away from anything that undermines the national identity of the Somaliland.

The meeting discussed the issues of nationalizing the civilian militia and pacifying El Afweyne.

The leaders, intellectuals and the speakers who spoke at the forum expressed their readiness to play their role in the WADDANI administration government’s plan, which emphasizes on “Togetherness and action”, for peace and development of the country and the people and the issue of pacifying El Afweyne and also the nationalization of the civilian militias.

The VP spoke about the importance of peace for humanity, thanked the leaders and intellectuals, and informed them that the new administration is committed to absorbing the local militias into the mainstream national armed forces.

He underscored the fact that the government is sole responsible entity for the security of the country and the people and the defence of the country.

He likewise underpinned the fact that the state is committed to strengthening peaceful coexistence, unity and solidarity of the people of Somaliland.

Ultimately, the meeting ended in mutual understanding and collective agreement to the need and essence of stronger nationhood.

The Mayor of the Capital, Abdikarim Ahmed Moge, has responded to allegations made against him by members of the Hargeisa Local Council. In a statement issued by Abdikarim Ahmed Moge, he stated that there is no basis to the accusations directed at him by the councilors and that they do not comply with Law No. 23. His response is as follows:
Subject: Response Opposing the Request for an Extraordinary Session
Honorable Members,
I have received your letter dated 29/03/2025, in which you request that I convene an extraordinary session. It is incumbent upon me to provide you with a legally compliant response, and here is my reply:
Firstly, you have requested that I convene an extraordinary session, citing Article 70, Paragraph 1, Subsections A and D of Law No. 23/2019, which refer to “deviation from fulfilling the council’s duties and the National Strategy, and habitual violation of national laws and regulations.”

You have also accused me of failing to hold the council’s regular sessions as mandated by Law No. 23/2019 and the Local Council Bylaws.

Additionally, you allege that I have violated Article 70, Paragraph 1, Subsection B, claiming that I have breached the Local Council Bylaws and Law No. 23/2019.

You further accuse me, under Article 70, Paragraph 1, Subsection C, of exhibiting authoritarianism and unilateral decision-making.

Lastly, you claim that I have violated Articles 44 and 51 of Law No. 23/2019, which pertain to council sessions, the responsibilities of the mayor, and his powers.

Now, addressing the allegations you have raised above, they are, in general, baseless and do not align with the articles you have referenced. I will provide a legal response to each point, rendering your arguments legally invalid:
Regarding the first accusation, based on Article 70, Paragraph 1, Subsections A and D, your letter fails to specify any duties I have neglected, any National Strategy I have deviated from, or any national laws or regulations I have violated. You have merely copied the wording of the article without identifying specific duties I failed to perform, a National Strategy I deviated from, or a legal provision I breached. This demonstrates that your accusation is nothing more than empty rhetoric.

On the second accusation, you claim I failed to hold the council’s regular sessions. However, honorable members, you seem to have forgotten—or are deliberately ignoring—the decision reached at the council’s 9th session, where we collectively agreed to postpone council sessions until after the elections. Furthermore, I remind you that following the elections, I issued two notices on 05/01/2025 and 08/01/2025, scheduling sessions that could have taken place, but you yourselves provided excuses for not attending. This renders your accusation baseless.

The third accusation alleges that I violated the Local Council Bylaws and Law No. 23/2019. Yet, your letter does not cite a single article I have breached or disregarded. You have simply copied the text of the law, which proves that your accusation lacks any legal foundation.

The fourth accusation, under Article 70, Paragraph 1, Subsection C, claims that I have exhibited authoritarianism and unilateral decision-making. This accusation mirrors your previous ones, relying solely on the general principles of the article without providing any evidence. Honorable members, I and the executive committee operate within the powers granted to us by Law No. 23/2019, the Local Council Bylaws, and the decisions arising from council sessions. There is no decision I, as mayor, or other members of the executive committee have made that contradicts these three sources of authority. What you label as “unilateralism” is merely the day-to-day execution of the mayor’s and executive committee’s duties as outlined in Law No. 23/2019 and the Local Council Bylaws.

The fifth accusation is yet another baseless claim, unsupported by legal reasoning or evidence.

As for the legality of your letter requesting an extraordinary session, it does not comply with the law. Some councilors have confirmed that they did not request an extraordinary session, yet their signatures appear on a document calling for the 10th regular session. Additionally, it is evident from the date of your letter that some councilors listed were not even in the country at the time. This discrepancy between the content of the allegations and the signatures—lacking initial signatures—further highlights the inconsistencies.

Since your proposal to hold an extraordinary session does not comply with Law No. 23/2019 or the Local Council Bylaws, there is no basis for me to convene such a meeting. However, I remain ready to hold the regular sessions that were previously unfeasible due to the circumstances.
In conclusion, I consider your allegations lacks legal merit as they do not conform to the law. Therefore, in accordance with Article 30, Paragraph 6 of the Local Council Bylaws, which states: “If a dispute arises regarding the legality of a removal from office, it shall be referred to the council’s standing committee for mediation and resolution, and if they are unable to resolve it, it shall be escalated to the Regional Governor and the Ministries of Interior and Local Government,” I will proceed accordingly.