By Goth Mohamed Goth

Hargeisa-ActionAid International which has being operating in the country for the past 21 years and which works in partnership with poor communities and local partners and in collaboration with Government, Inter-governmental agencies, development agencies and networks to eradicate poverty yesterday unveiled a development plans aimed at benefiting 14,000 people and which will be to be implemented in a period of 3 years in 21 rural settlements located in Maroodi Jeh and Gabiley region.

The ActionAid international Director Mr. Adriano Combalino ,Somaliland Minister of Agriculture Prof. Farah Elmi Geedoole, Deputy Governor of Gabiley region were there to attend the unveiling ceremony of the three year development plan which was held in Mansour Hotel yesterday.

Mr. Ahmed Aden who head policy and public relation at ActionAid began by giving a brief history of the aid agency, “ActionAid began has working in Somalia in 1983 with refugees from the Ethiopia-Somalia war. In 1989 it was forced to close its programme after the government collapsed and the country descended into chaos. We returned to work with poor communities in Somaliland in 1993, first in the area of Sanaag and later also in Togdheer. ActionAid Somaliland supports the basic needs and rights of poor people.

Poverty is known to be caused by a multiplicity of factors. In Somaliland, poverty is a complex state sustained by deprivation of capacities, choices, power imbalances and denial of rights (such as access to water, health, hygiene, food, shelter, clothing and medication). Given the complex nature of the problems, external support is needed to alleviate the problems, in the short term, with the ultimate aim of eradicating poverty.

Over the 18 years that Action Aid has been working in Somaliland, one of the major concerns has been reduction of workload for women. Access to water in Somaliland involves heavy work load, conflicts and long daily travels to far off and unsafe water points and missed opportunities for girls, including, learning and self-advancement.    

The new three Development plan aims to promote sustainable agriculture and improved market access to address people’s right to food access. Sustainable agriculture is a way of life based on self-reliant and agro-ecological systems that encompass all forms of livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

The deputy governor of Gabiley region Mr. Ali Abdillahi Abdi speaking at the function on behalf of farmers in Gabiley thanked the ActionAid for implementing similar development projects such as sustainable agriculture approaches which in turn promotes the ability of farmers, particularly smallholders, to gain access and own their resources such as land.

Madam Sa’da Abdi Aalin ActionAid country director said ,“The three year development Project will help promote a  Sustainable agriculture initiative which is the most efficient and socially just way to increase productivity, resilience to climate change, household incomes, job creation, regeneration of land and other natural resources, and improvements in household food security.  It also allows them to use those resources to secure their livelihood with the support of socially, economically, and environmentally appropriate technologies.

Mr. Adriano Combalino Director General of ActionAid International which operates in more than 47 countries worldwide and who his first vist to the country said, “This new project in Maroodi Jeh and Gabiley regions is an important one because we hope it will make a difference and we expect this initiative to immensely benefits local farmers in the improvements in household food security this in regard to the ever raising global food prizes, Every day, one in six people goes to bed hungry. Yet the world produces more than enough food for everybody. We’re tackling the causes of hunger, so that everyone can enjoy the right to have enough to eat.

Somaliland Minister of Agriculture Prof. Farah Elmi Geedoole officially launching the three year development project yesterday said, “Thanked ActionAid for the various development projects it undertakes in the country which are aimed at improving the livelihoods of Somaliland citizens, he went on to add, “Smallholder farmers in many countries are responsible for not only producing the food but also feeding their families and communities.

By M.A. Egge

The National Organizing Committee for the 18^th May Independence Day Celebrations has urged Somalilanders within the country and abroad to come out strongly for the festivities.

At the same time this year’s celebration has its motto as “Real Recognition by/ from the IC”.

Both the plea and the revelation were announced by the committee’s chairman Hon. Ali Mohammed Waran’adde in his office yesterday.

“We call upon all Somalilanders to come out strongly for the celebrations of this year’s 18^th May Independence Day”, urged the Interior Minister in a plea to all patriots within the country and those in the Diaspora.

He continued by revealing, “This year’s motto will be ‘Real Recognition by/from the International Community’ of this country’s sovereignty”.

The Minister who was chairing a meeting of the committee underscored the fact that it was imperative hence worthwhile that the objectives of the long lives-costing struggle was the need of sovereignty whose independence must be underpinned.

“It is incumbent upon us to make it vividly clear to the world community hence depict our true and real aspirations”, said Hon. Waran’adde.

The Interior Minister reminded his colleagues in the committee named by the President that it was their responsibility to coordinate the general organizations of the festivities in a fashionable manner that would have a real impact.

He was flanked by the eloquent Information Minister who is the committee’s spokesman Hon. Abdillahi Mohammed Dahir U’kuse.

The Minister who also holds the Cultural Heritage and National Guidance portfolios said on his part, “You can see the committee members seated here appointed by the Head of State”, and continued, “All Somalilanders are expected to work together to make the day a success.”

 Hon. U’kuse added, “All mayors, regional and area administrators, security committees at all levels and all concerned arms are likewise expected to lend the committee a hand”.

He stressed the fact that the event ought to be made a success because of the importance of the historical nature the day denotes.

By Goth Mohamed Goth

A. H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo has in Presidential decree # JSL/M/XERM/249-2446/052014 has named three new regional Governors for Gabiley , Sahil and  Sanaag Regions.

1. Hon Mustafe Abdi Essa (Shiine), as the new Governor for Gabiley Region.

2. Hon Fahmi Abdi Bidaar,  as the new Governor for Sahil Region.

3. Hon Mahmoud Ali Saleban (Ramaax), as the new Governor for Sanaag Region.

B. H.E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo has in Presidential decree #JSL/M/XERM/249-2448/052014 has appointed a new the Director General in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National endowment at the same time transferring the Director General in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Director General of Ministry of Education and Higher Learning the Director General in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to Different postings.

Hon Aden Abdillahi Abdille shall be the new Director General in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National endowment.

Hon Mohamed Elmi Aden shall now be the new Director General in the Ministry of Information and National Guidance.

Hon Abiib Ahmed Ali shall now be the new Director General in the Ministry of Education and Higher Learning.

Hon Khadar Ahmed Direye Shall now be the new Director General in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

C. H. E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo has in another Presidential Decree # JSL/M/XERM/249-2450/052014 named Mr. Ahmed Muhumed Geele as the a new Deputy Director for the National Disaster and Emergency Agency.

D. Meanwhile H. E President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo has # JSL/M/XERM/249-2454/052014 has appointed Mr. Ahmed Ali Maygag as the new Commanding Officer to head the Elite Presidential Guard

All Changes are due to take place with immediate effect.

Signed

Ahmed Saleban Dhuxul

Presidential Spokesperson

Today, 3^rd May 2014, 328 signatories have submitted petition to the president of Somaliland H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud. The petition demands the government of Somaliland to lift the suspension of four independent newspapers, Haatuf, Hubaal, Somaliland Times and The Independent.  The newspapers were closed down in Somaliland by the authorities. 

The signatories consisting of human rights organizations, journalist’s organizations, lawyer’s organizations, civil society members and organizations, traditional elders, business community, professionals, academicians, members of the two houses of the parliament, the political parties and political association have requested the president to lift immediately the suspension of the four papers without condition. The signatories comprising of all the segments of the society demanded the government to protect the freedom of expression and to observe the separation of powers enshrined in the constitution.

The submission of the petition took place the World Press Freedom Day, 3^rd May 2014. The petition quoted article 32(2) of the constitution which states that the press and other media are part of the fundamental freedoms of expression and are independent. All acts to subjugate the media are prohibited by the constitution. The papers were not given opportunity to defend themselves before the decision of the closure was taken.

This petition is the first of its kind ever presented to the president of Somaliland. The signatories hope that the Head of State will respect the people’s demand.  

Contact:

Human Rights Centre

Hargeisa Somaliland

www.hrcsomaliland.org

By Abdi Jama

 After being in Finland for 20 years, I felt a need to go back to my country of origin, Somaliland. Although I had received advanced education and gained extensive professional experiences in the Nordic countries, in different professional domains, in 2010 I felt Somaliland calling me to contribute to its reconstruction efforts. Somaliland is a self-declared independent state that still has to earn international recognition. It’s very peaceful and sometimes called the miracle of Africa as it has conducted many elections and presidential powers have been handed-over smoothly.

I had strong willingness to go back and help the nation, but it was not without worrying that things might not turn out as I expected. I signed a subcontract agreement with an international development organization to help improve the ICT systems of the Somaliland Civil Service Commission. As I reached the institution’s head-office there in the capital city, Hargeisa, it was immediately obvious that the possibility of executing my assignment as planned was extremely low. The infrastructure to build IT applications upon was not in place at all. It seemed like I had accepted an agreement to build the Great Pyramid of Egypt without sand and stones.

Two colleagues of mine who also been hired from Europe by the same agency could not survive the trial and decided to quit after several months and went back to their residency countries.

I was deeply challenged from all sides and sometimes felt powerless. I reminded myself when in 1990 I immigrated to Finland at the age of 18 without any family members and no international experience. What a cultural shock I experienced at that time. Everything was cold and everything automated. The biggest challenge at that time was the winter cold and that very few wanted to talk to me, except my Finnish teacher. I really felt alone at that time and I wonder if this was another #careercurveballs.

At this time, in Hargeisa, it’s warm and everybody wants to talk non-stop, but enjoying the sun and chatting all day was not why I went there. After 3 weeks without any work done, I adjusted my work-plan and instead of insisting on implementing a McKinsey-like consulting assignment in Europe, I decided to build things from the grassroots by training the executives about ICT and the impact technology can have on the development of the nation. I engaged with the top government leadership and convinced them that there was a need to improve the ICT infrastructure if they wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services they provide to public.

After three months of training leaders and mobilising support, the Civil Service Commission decided to establish a Civil Service Reform program. I was assigned to lead an international group of experts on the nation’s Civil Service Reform Technical Committee. We worked with five Cabinet Ministers who reported our efforts directly to the President. What an opportunity! We planned and created a national Civil Service Reform Strategy where ICT is a major component. In short, I led a national level change effort that produced historic achievements for Somaliland.

THE KEY: PERSISTENCE

If I had not persisted and not been adaptable and resilient to this career-curveball, I would not have had the opportunity to achieve such results. I am sure I would have been forever disappointed if I had quit in my first two months when we were stressed and so confused. I would not have been able to develop such a relationship with the nation, a relationship which continues today as the original project has been followed up by many others.

We humans know nothing about the future and how things might turnout tomorrow, therefore, we might give-up early when hit hard and lose focus.

In my experience in this situation and many others, it’s usually in these moments that a professional must persist and deal with the curveballs. Nothing has ever been achieved without persisting 99% more than the rest.

MEMORABLE PLACES

During my stay in Somaliland one of the places I enjoyed visiting was Laas Geel. The beautiful image above and below are from Laas Geel (Somaliland: Laas Geel), a complex of caves and rock shelters in Somaliland. Famous for their rock art, the caves are located in a rural area on the outskirts of Hargeisa. They contain some of the earliest known cave paintings in the Horn of Africa. Laas Geel’s rock art is estimated to date back to somewhere between 9,000–3,000 BCE.

By Goth Mohamed Goth

The Chief magistrate of the Hargeisa regional court today handed down death sentences to 4 people accused in the cold blood murder of a mother of three nearly two months ago.

The Judge Feisal Mohamed Abdullah  “Feisal Dhago Dhago” handed the sentence of death by firing squad to 37yrs Ms. Muna Mohamed the prime suspect in murder of Ruqiya Said Ayaanle and at the same time handing similar sentences to  Mohamed Ahmed Abdi 22yrs  , Sakariye Ahmed Abdi 19 yrs.  , Farah Ahmed Abdi 18 yrs.  and a 10 years jail sentence  to Hana Abdi Salaan Ismael, 17 yrs.

The same court released and dropped all charges against Mr. Abdi Salaan Ismael, the husband of Ms. Muna Mohamed who at the time when the crime took place was based in the port of Berbera.

On the other hand the same court sentenced Mr. Mohamed Hassan Abdi to one year jail term for providing false information to the police with the intent of stalling investigations after alleging the deceased woman was seen in the town of Galabadh.

The deceased woman was the mother of several children went missing for eight days and was killed after she went to demand debt she had earlier lent to her assailants who murdered her after the quarrel went sower, her remains were later found buried in a pit inside the compound of the residence of Ms. Ms. Muna Mohamed.

SomalilandPress.com

By Goth Mohamed Goth

HE President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Silanyo has issued Presidential decree #, JSL/M/XILQ/249/1-2455/052014 relieving of their duties the Assistant Minister of Interior and in Charge of National Security, Head of the Presidential Guard, the Regional Governors of Sahil, Gabiley, Sanaag , Director General in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Director General In the Ministry of Information , National Guidance and Culture.

List of Sacked Officials

1.       Mr. Abdullah Abokor  Osman, the Assistant Minister of Interior and in Charge of National Security

2.       Major Feisal Kamil Essa , Head of the Presidential Guard

3.       Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim Geedi, Governor of Gabiley Region

4.       Mr. AbdiRashid Jibril Yusuf, Director General in the Ministry of Information, National Guidance and Culture.

5.       Mr. AbdiRashid Abdullah Mohamed, Director General in the Ministry of Religious Affairs

Gentlemen

I do hereby on behalf of the Government of Somaliland take this opportunity to thank the outgoing officials for the servitude to the nation

I expect the outgoing officials will transfer the offices in an orderly manner to the newly appointed officials.

Signed By

Ahmed Saleban Dhuhul

Presidential Spokesperson