The Minister of Water Resources and the Managing Director of Hargeisa water supply agency held a joint press conference after meeting with representatives of UAE Khaliifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation who are currently in the country visiting and inspecting the various projects funded by the foundation.
The visiting representatives of UAE Khaliifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation have pledged to provide the funds for the second phase of the project which will be in form the construction of booster stations and water storage and the extra pipelines required
“On successful completion of phase II of this alternative water supply where pipelines, booster stations and water storage will be constructed, the city of Hargeisa will see an additional 6,000 cum (at least) of water to the Hargeisa City Water Supply system,” the Mr. Ibrahim Siyad Yunis MD of Hargeisa water agency Stated.
The Water resources minister Hon Hussein Mohamed Abdille dispelled recent speculations which alleging that the pipeline will be diverted to the western fringes of the city instead of the eastern parts which are currently not in the supply grid and likely to face water scarcity due to lack of proper water infrastructure in place, he termed the allegation absurd .
This additional water will be targeted at the areas of Hargeisa currently not receiving water. Further the additional water will see an increase of household connections and a sharp reduction in water trucking to the capital through un-hygienic water tankers pumping water from contaminated shallow riverbed aquifers.
UAE Khaliifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation had previously through the Afro Arabian Gulf Drilling and Construction Companyhave completed and handed over 10 boreholes drilled and equipped in the Humbowaayne Basin approximately 30 km NE of Hargeisa City.
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE–(Marketwired – Jan. 14, 2014) – The directors and management of Kilimanjaro Capital (GXG:KCAP) (PINKSHEETS:KIMJF), an investment company focused on hydrocarbons, minerals and other natural resources, are pleased to provide an update on the Company’s interest in Somalia where Kilimanjaro Capital currently has a 5% interest in the Amsas-Coriole-Afgoi (ACA) Block of 1,161,400 acres.
The company has obtained an independent NI 51-101 Evaluation of Prospective Resources report for Kilimanjaro Capital which indicates prospective oil resources of 21 million barrels and 130 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas (Bscf) in the ACA Block. The 112 page report is available in its entirety online and conservative estimates that the value for Kilimanjaro Capital’s share is approximately $187.5 million USD with an overall contractor group net present value of $3.75 billion USD for the entire ACA Block. This is consistent with the findings by Sinclair Somal Oil in the 1960’s and the Somalia Government in 1980’s during their drilling of test wells. The Company is in negotiations to raise funds for the Somalia ACA Block Project and to exercise its option to acquire an additional 5% interest. Unlike other blocks in Somalia, the ACA Block is not subject to reentry by major oil companies who have declared force majeure. The ACA Block was nationalized in the 1970’s by the Somalia Democratic Republic due its close proximity to the capital, Mogadishu, and was known as the Government Block. Kilimanjaro Capital expresses its support for a portion of the gas reserves to be set aside for revitalization of the Somali economy by providing an efficient fuel source and local participation in the project.
In a another African development, Kilimanjaro has signed a Letter of Intent with the Matabeleland Liberation Organization (MLO) to set up and operate a Matabeleland Oil, Gas, and Mining Authority jointly administered by Kilimanjaro Capital and the MLO. The MLO seeks the total independence of Matabeleland from Zimbabwe. Matabeleland consists of the western half of Zimbabwe with its capital at Bulawayo and is rich in gold and other resources.
Kilimanjaro Capital is a Belize company conducting business in Africa in conjunction with its stakeholders and affiliates. The Company is listed on the Danish GXG Exchange and has obtained a secondary listing on the US OTC Markets exchange as a foreign issuer under the ticker symbol KIMJF.
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE–(Marketwired – Jan. 14, 2014) – The directors and management of Kilimanjaro Capital (GXG:KCAP) (PINKSHEETS:KIMJF), an investment company focused on hydrocarbons, minerals and other natural resources, are pleased to provide an update on the Company’s interest in Somalia where Kilimanjaro Capital currently has a 5% interest in the Amsas-Coriole-Afgoi (ACA) Block of 1,161,400 acres.
The company has obtained an independent NI 51-101 Evaluation of Prospective Resources report for Kilimanjaro Capital which indicates prospective oil resources of 21 million barrels and 130 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas (Bscf) in the ACA Block. The 112 page report is available in its entirety online and conservative estimates that the value for Kilimanjaro Capital’s share is approximately $187.5 million USD with an overall contractor group net present value of $3.75 billion USD for the entire ACA Block. This is consistent with the findings by Sinclair Somal Oil in the 1960’s and the Somalia Government in 1980’s during their drilling of test wells. The Company is in negotiations to raise funds for the Somalia ACA Block Project and to exercise its option to acquire an additional 5% interest. Unlike other blocks in Somalia, the ACA Block is not subject to reentry by major oil companies who have declared force majeure. The ACA Block was nationalized in the 1970’s by the Somalia Democratic Republic due its close proximity to the capital, Mogadishu, and was known as the Government Block. Kilimanjaro Capital expresses its support for a portion of the gas reserves to be set aside for revitalization of the Somali economy by providing an efficient fuel source and local participation in the project.
In a another African development, Kilimanjaro has signed a Letter of Intent with the Matabeleland Liberation Organization (MLO) to set up and operate a Matabeleland Oil, Gas, and Mining Authority jointly administered by Kilimanjaro Capital and the MLO. The MLO seeks the total independence of Matabeleland from Zimbabwe. Matabeleland consists of the western half of Zimbabwe with its capital at Bulawayo and is rich in gold and other resources.
Kilimanjaro Capital is a Belize company conducting business in Africa in conjunction with its stakeholders and affiliates. The Company is listed on the Danish GXG Exchange and has obtained a secondary listing on the US OTC Markets exchange as a foreign issuer under the ticker symbol KIMJF.
THE CONSULTATIVE DIALOGUE OF SOMALILAND POLITICAL PARTIES (Dood-cilmiyeeka Xisbiyadda Qaranka)
THEMES: DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF
SOMALILAND
Date: 10/2/14
Venue: Ambassador Hotel
Background
Despite the tremendous progress made in Somaliland’s state-building and democratization processes over the past two decades, many challenges still remain. Addressing these challenges require that the nation’s major stakeholders, including political parties, the civil society and the public come together as part of regular efforts to enrich and improve their collective political culture and social environment.
Central to the Somaliland model of development and democratization is the principle of “dialogue”, which is part and parcel of the principles of Somaliland constitution, has now become the trademark means through which its citizens and communities harness the profound power of its customary institutions in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. Over time, Somaliland’s hybrid model of state-building, which weds traditional and modern institutions of governance and representation, has woven growing engagement with neighboring countries and the broader international community into the fabric of these dialogue processes, without compromising the core purpose behind such an approach.
As a result, traditional methods of dialogue have become embedded within accepted modern democratic political practices. Since the first popular elections in 2002, Somaliland’s has created a vibrant political atmosphere in which legal opposition parties ruling parties have served to hold the ruling party to account through vocal debate and consultation, so as to ensure that all government actions and activities meet the expectations of election pledges, operate in accordance the laws of the nation and promote equitable and sustainable development that improve the lives of all citizens.
In that backdrop, opposition parties, UCID and WADDANI, to reactivate their role in ensuring critical and constructive dialogue, that unites the entire country behind the shared goals of good
governance and international recognition, the nation’s guardians, the House of Elders (Guurti), have spearheaded negotiations between opposition parties, the ruling party (Kulmiye) and the
government over the establishment of the Consultative Dialogue for Political Parties
(Doodcilmiyeedka
Xisbibiyadda Qaranka).
The Consultative dialogue will provide the three national political parties with the opportunity to undertake discussion on a wide range of fundamental issues, including elections, foreign policy, economic development, and the Constitution of Somaliland.
The parties have agreed also that the dialogue should be hosted and facilitated by the Academy for Peace and Development (APD) in collobration Somaliland Non-state Actors Forum (SONSAF).
Therefore, APD would like to invite to submit papers that relate to the following topics:
1. Elections
a. The holding of the 2015 presidential and parliamentary elections
b. Electoral laws
c. Women’s participation
d. Minority participation
e. Voter registration
f. 2012 post-election evaluation
g. The House of Elders
2. International relations and Somaliland’s quest for recognition
a. Challenges facing Somaliland’s quest for recognition
b. The Somaliland-Somalia Dialogue
3. Development
a. Economic and social development
b. Investment
c. Natural resource management
d. Employment
4. The gaps, contradictions and required changes of the Somaliland
Constitution
a. Comparative study of Somaliland constitution
All those hoping to submit papers will need to indicate their intentions to submit a full paper by sending an email to APD with (1) the title of paper, (2) the name(s) of the author(s) and (3) an abstract. The full manuscript should be emailed as a PDF to APD
by the deadline indicated below. Authoring guidelines will be emailed to those interested
after the letter of intent is received.
Address to send all papers: Mohamed Farah APD Director: xirsi_law@hotmail.com
The Minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport Hon Mahmoud Hashi Abdi and the Minister of Commerce and International Investment Dr. Mohamed Abdullah Omer have during a working trip to the UAE concluded a major deal with the UAE owned Al Arabiya Airline in Dubai.
The two Somaliland Ministers signed the deal on behalf of the government of Somaliland with high ranking officials from Al Arabiya at the Airlines headquarters in Dubaiin a deal which will also pave the way for the airline to use the facilities of airports in Somaliland.
The Minister of Commerce and international Investment Dr. Mohamed Abdullah Omer speaking moments after the signing ceremony said , “Somaliland is open for business and any individual or business entity interested in investing in country is welcomed to do so ,
Apart from Al Arabiya Airlines which is expected to begin operations in the coming weeks, the only other international carrier which operates flights to Somaliland is Ethiopian Airlines with Kenyan Airways expected to join the rest in the coming future.
A top Al-Arabiya official said, “We keep expanding our network by launching new routes, the company will also invest in the modernization of the various facilities and will also help to improve airport services as it plans to use Somaliland as a stoppage and rest hub link routes in the Middle East and West Africa.
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In late November 2013, 500 Somali Armed Forces Were Put Through A Graduation Ceremony In Mogadishu And Headed For Hiiraan, The Administrative Region Of South Central Somalia. Their Prime Purpose Was To Bolster The African Union Mission’s Fight Against Al-Shabab, An Al-Qaida Linked Armed Group In Somalia. On Thursday The 12th Of December 2013, The Same Army Dressed And Equipped With The Military Gear Of The Somali National Army Rain Carnage And Destruction On The Farming District Of Kabxanley. To The Dismay And Disbelieve Of The People Of Hiiraan, Their Fight Was Not Against Al-shabab, But Rather A Calculated Plan Spearheaded By The Regional Administration To Takeover Some Of The Best Commercial Farmlands In Hiiraan And Distribute Among The Xawaadle Clan Which DSominate The Political Affairs Of Hiiraan.
Kabaxanley is a Small Farming District 30 Km to the Northwest of Beledweyn, the Provincial Capital of Hiiraan; its Home to the Surre-Qubeys Clan Part of the Larger Dir Family. The Residents of Kabxanley are known to the People of Hiiraan As Fiqi Cumur, Forename Associated with the Clan’s Islamic Religious Teachings During The Early 15th Century in Central and Northern Eastern Somalia.
Events that Unfolded Could only be Described as Total Annihilation designed to ensure the Permanent displacement of the fiqi Cumur Farming Community. Armed with over 20 Technical Pickups and 600 Men, the Lightly Equipped Farmers of Kabaxenley Numbering Just 70 Who Bravely Attempted to Defend their Homes and Farms from the invading army never stood a chance. Testimonies from farmers who fled to surrounding villages tell accounts of how their houses and farms were burnt down from the heavy shelling and soldiers directly instructing they vacate district then torching homes and farms.
The Consequential Carnage Spearheaded by the Army resulted in over 300 homes being burnt including the district only Mosque; the burning of a Mosque something unheard of in Somalia’s 23 years civil war. The resulting Casualties included 25 Deaths and 30 injuries, with the Injured belonging to Kabaxanley Farming Community being Refused Medical Treatment in Beledweyn’s General Hospital and Forced to seek Medical Attention over the border in Ethiopia. A troubling aspect which will further prolong the achievement of a stable Somalia was that this done with total endorsement from the Hiiraan Regional Administration.
Over the past several months, the Biimaal farming communities in the Lower Shabelle Region have continually fallen victim to government forces brutality infamously portrayed by Amin Amir, the famous Somali political cartoonist. According to the lower Shabelle clan elders, their illegal acts are being sanctioned by the Interior minister of Somalia, Mr Abdikarim Hussein Guled, who has well-documented ties to warlord that terrorised the lower Shebelle communities for over 22 years. Resources meant to liberate the country from the scourge of Al-Shabab are being used to train militias aligned to the Interior minister of Somalia, Mr Abdikarim Hussein Guled and the infamous Warlord Mr. Yusuf Mohamed Siyad (Indha cadde). It was not long ago when Amnesty International Warned against lifting the arms Embargo against Somalia due the lack of necessary mechanisms to ensure that armaments don’t violate human rights Abuses.
According to elders in kabaxnely, their farms became a target for the Xawaadle clan when the director of thee (Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Hiiraan, Cilmi Axmed Nuur, promised to fund farming projects obtained through DRC assistance if the Xawaadle communities who he shares kinship ties with could expand their territorial dominion over this rich farming district. It’s not uncommon for either politicians or directors of NGO’s in Somalia to fuel tribal tensions over economic resources.
According to elders in kabaxnely, their farms became a target for the Xawaadle clan when the director of thee (Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Hiiraan, Cilmi Axmed Nuur, promised to fund farming projects obtained through DRC assistance if the Xawaadle communities who he shares kinship ties with could expand their territorial dominion over this rich farming district. It’s not uncommon for either politicians or directors of NGO’s in Somalia to fuel tribal tensions over economic resources.
A Somali government delegation led by the Minister of Natural Resources was dispatched to observe to events that have unfolded and force ceasefire between the warring sides. However, no acceptable peace plan was put forward by the government delegation which included allowing the refugees that fled Kabxanley to return to their homes and farms.
Somaliland Ambassador to Kenya Dr. Mahmoud Abdillahi Jama(Sifir)today speaking to state owned media outlet gave an in-depth briefings why the government of Kenya plans to open a full Embassy in Somaliland.
The Envoy said, “Our first priority is providing follow up and support to various problems facing Somaliladers and our Counselor offices in Kenya also provide Visa services and has managed to comply with guidelines which are essential for provide assistance and services to Somalilanders living in that country and also to Kenyan expatriates working and doing business in Somaliland this actions have prompted plans the Kenyan government to open a full Embassy.
“Both nations stand to benefit immensely by doubling the existing commercial exchange in the coming years and developing mutual relations in the field investment we now have a moment of opportunity to build stronger ties at all levels between our business worlds,” He said.
Dr. Safir lastly said, “Somaliland stands to gain by expanding the operations of its Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya this because of the close proximity and access to the regional head offices of most international organizations, foreign embassies and East African regional bodies based there.
Somaliland and Kenyan government officials have meet in the past to discuss ways to enhance both diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.
The Executive Director of Somaliland National AIDS Commission Mr. Abdi Ali Jama has opened a workshop for health workers on diagnosing and identifying high risk groups who are likely to contract the deadly disease and the assessment of the impact of the scourge in the country.
SOLNAC Executive Director speaking at the opening ceremony elaborated on effective ways which can be employed to counter the spread of the contractions and infections of the deadly HIV /AIDS Virus and that they must check to see if these measures are those suitable in fighting the disease in Somaliland.
The Director urged the participants of the seminar to use the moment to analyses and come up with the current analysis of the precise status of the disease in the country.
Lastly the executive director of SOLNAC urged those medical workers participating in the seminar to make good use of the methods and techniques that they garnered during the duration.
NAIROBI, 13 January 2014 (IRIN) – As Somalia’s new prime minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, gets ready to announce his new cabinet, analysts warn that the fragile Somali administration could come unstuck if further conflicts hit the executive. Ahmed assumed office on 26 December following a no-confidence vote against his predecessor Abdi Farah Shirdon ‘Saa’id’ on 2 December.
“The removal of the former PM [Prime Minister] Shirdon has, in fact, created a loss of credibility, because internal political crisis has been a norm for Somalia’s transitional governments since the year 2000,” Abukar Sanei, the director of the Center for Policy Analysis and Research, a Somali think-tank, told IRIN by email. “The expectations of the people from this ‘permanent government’ was to avoid internal political clashes, and move the country forward in the peace-building and state-building processes.”
According to a briefing by the Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), the change in administration in Somalia is derailing the country and “another phase of infighting could lead to a collapse of this government.”
Shirdon’s removal, added the HIPS briefing, had “dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the Federal Government of Somalia and disoriented it from the urgent task of state building.” Shirdon had been in government for just 13 months, the last of which were characterized by rifts with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Executive infighting
Infighting within Somalia’s executive has remained a perennial challenge.
“Since 2000, practically every pair of leaders appointed or elected has gone through similar challenges. At the end of each round, significant, crucial time was lost, institutions were damaged and the profound structural problem – the real impetus causing periodical disharmony – was never addressed,” noted Afyare Elmi, a professor at Qatar University, and Abukar Arman, a former Somalia ambassador to the US, in an opinion piece .
The expectations of the people from this ‘permanent government’ was to avoid internal political clashes, and move the country forward in the peace-building and state-building processes
In the last 13 years, Somalia has had four presidents and 10 prime ministers, with the frequent changes in the executive forcing “the already weak institutions [to] take a devastating and irrecoverable hit,” adds the opinion piece.
Indeed, Somalia’s parliament was due to discuss various bills, including some on anti-terrorism, federalism, foreign investment and judicial services, before Shirdon’s ouster. For now, Prime Minister Ahmed has asked parliament to hold off discussing and ratifying draft bills prepared by Shirdon’s administration, pending the appointment of a new cabinet.
This situation could be exploited by terrorist organizations, such as the insurgent Al-Shabab militia. Corruption and inter-clan competition could also increase amid the risk of government work stalling, warns the HIPS briefing.
Lopsided power-sharing
Under Somalia’s provisional constitution, the president and the prime minister share power in a bid to maintain equity between the clans. But the exact role of the prime minister is not specified, leading to competition for control. In their opinion piece, analysts Elmi and Arman argue that this model leads to divisiveness and wrangling; they call for shifting to a presidential, rather than a parliamentary, model of governance.
The president appoints the prime minister but cannot dismiss him. The president is also tasked with the implementation of all policies, while the cabinet is responsible for crafting these initiatives.
“The presidency is perceived as usurping responsibilities beyond those stipulated in the Provisional Constitution and at the expense of the prime minister,” adds the HIPS briefing.
This interference has permeated high-level institutions. Just weeks before Shirdon’s removal, the Central Bank Governor Yussur Abrar resigned, after only seven weeks on the job, citing corruption and government meddling. Abrar was quoted saying that “the central bank has not been allowed to function free from interference, and as such cannot operate as a credible institution”.
But Nicholas Kay, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Somalia, is optimistic. On the transfer of power, Kay noted, “It was important this unprecedented piece of parliamentary business was managed in accordance with the provisional constitution and the rules of procedure of the parliament.”
Challenges remain
Whether Prime Minister Ahmed will fare better than his predecessor remains to be seen. “I understand Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed will consult widely in forming his new cabinet, and aim to establish a broadly inclusive government capable of delivering rule of law, good governance and public services,” Kay said.
Somalia’s new Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed
A lot of work lies ahead with elections planned in 2016. “With considerably less legitimacy and support, it is difficult to envisage the emergence of capable state institutions ushering Somalia into a new era of inclusive politics in the next three years. The government’s daunting challenges appear increasingly insurmountable,” warns the HIPS briefing.
According to HIPS, it is too soon to assess Prime Minister Ahmed’s abilities, but the underlying problem of potential political gridlock remains.
Compared to Shirdon, “the new prime minister is even weaker”, Cedric Barnes, the International Crisis Group (ICG) Horn of Africa project director told IRIN, noting that while Ahmed is very qualified, having spent the past two decades working for various institutions outside Somalia, he has no previous political experience. “He’s got quite a weak position within the federal government,” explained Barnes.
NAIROBI, 13 January 2014 (IRIN) – As Somalia’s new prime minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, gets ready to announce his new cabinet, analysts warn that the fragile Somali administration could come unstuck if further conflicts hit the executive. Ahmed assumed office on 26 December following a no-confidence vote against his predecessor Abdi Farah Shirdon ‘Saa’id’ on 2 December.
“The removal of the former PM [Prime Minister] Shirdon has, in fact, created a loss of credibility, because internal political crisis has been a norm for Somalia’s transitional governments since the year 2000,” Abukar Sanei, the director of the Center for Policy Analysis and Research, a Somali think-tank, told IRIN by email. “The expectations of the people from this ‘permanent government’ was to avoid internal political clashes, and move the country forward in the peace-building and state-building processes.”
According to a briefing by the Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), the change in administration in Somalia is derailing the country and “another phase of infighting could lead to a collapse of this government.”
Shirdon’s removal, added the HIPS briefing, had “dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the Federal Government of Somalia and disoriented it from the urgent task of state building.” Shirdon had been in government for just 13 months, the last of which were characterized by rifts with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Executive infighting
Infighting within Somalia’s executive has remained a perennial challenge.
“Since 2000, practically every pair of leaders appointed or elected has gone through similar challenges. At the end of each round, significant, crucial time was lost, institutions were damaged and the profound structural problem – the real impetus causing periodical disharmony – was never addressed,” noted Afyare Elmi, a professor at Qatar University, and Abukar Arman, a former Somalia ambassador to the US, in an opinion piece .
The expectations of the people from this ‘permanent government’ was to avoid internal political clashes, and move the country forward in the peace-building and state-building processes
In the last 13 years, Somalia has had four presidents and 10 prime ministers, with the frequent changes in the executive forcing “the already weak institutions [to] take a devastating and irrecoverable hit,” adds the opinion piece.
Indeed, Somalia’s parliament was due to discuss various bills, including some on anti-terrorism, federalism, foreign investment and judicial services, before Shirdon’s ouster. For now, Prime Minister Ahmed has asked parliament to hold off discussing and ratifying draft bills prepared by Shirdon’s administration, pending the appointment of a new cabinet.
This situation could be exploited by terrorist organizations, such as the insurgent Al-Shabab militia. Corruption and inter-clan competition could also increase amid the risk of government work stalling, warns the HIPS briefing.
Lopsided power-sharing
Under Somalia’s provisional constitution, the president and the prime minister share power in a bid to maintain equity between the clans. But the exact role of the prime minister is not specified, leading to competition for control. In their opinion piece, analysts Elmi and Arman argue that this model leads to divisiveness and wrangling; they call for shifting to a presidential, rather than a parliamentary, model of governance.
The president appoints the prime minister but cannot dismiss him. The president is also tasked with the implementation of all policies, while the cabinet is responsible for crafting these initiatives.
“The presidency is perceived as usurping responsibilities beyond those stipulated in the Provisional Constitution and at the expense of the prime minister,” adds the HIPS briefing.
This interference has permeated high-level institutions. Just weeks before Shirdon’s removal, the Central Bank Governor Yussur Abrar resigned, after only seven weeks on the job, citing corruption and government meddling. Abrar was quoted saying that “the central bank has not been allowed to function free from interference, and as such cannot operate as a credible institution”.
But Nicholas Kay, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Somalia, is optimistic. On the transfer of power, Kay noted, “It was important this unprecedented piece of parliamentary business was managed in accordance with the provisional constitution and the rules of procedure of the parliament.”
Challenges remain
Whether Prime Minister Ahmed will fare better than his predecessor remains to be seen. “I understand Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed will consult widely in forming his new cabinet, and aim to establish a broadly inclusive government capable of delivering rule of law, good governance and public services,” Kay said.
Somalia’s new Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed
A lot of work lies ahead with elections planned in 2016. “With considerably less legitimacy and support, it is difficult to envisage the emergence of capable state institutions ushering Somalia into a new era of inclusive politics in the next three years. The government’s daunting challenges appear increasingly insurmountable,” warns the HIPS briefing.
According to HIPS, it is too soon to assess Prime Minister Ahmed’s abilities, but the underlying problem of potential political gridlock remains.
Compared to Shirdon, “the new prime minister is even weaker”, Cedric Barnes, the International Crisis Group (ICG) Horn of Africa project director told IRIN, noting that while Ahmed is very qualified, having spent the past two decades working for various institutions outside Somalia, he has no previous political experience. “He’s got quite a weak position within the federal government,” explained Barnes.
