Erigavo rdThis May Somaliland is celebrating more than its 24th self-declared Independence Day; it is celebrating its newly found spirit of self-reliance and overall sense of confidence. It was only two years ago when president Ahmed M. Mohamoud Silanyo made the clarion call to the nation to help construct the Erigavo road, a truly virtuous and deeply inspiring endeavor that stems from the president’s paramount initiative of public involvement and volunteerism (Iskaa wax uu qabso). The president’s clarion call to service and sacrifice provided Somaliland with a new and compelling path of its self and ideals. The president’s actions served and inspired this nation by invoking their sense of civic duty to which the public answered the call with great enthusiasm and optimism.

President Ahmed M. Mohamoud Silanyo has been the transformational leader who altered the nation’s passive psyche to proactive one, this new paradigm and framework along with the newly aligned attitudes and commitments of the public will inevitably be the much needed catalyst for forging solutions to our myriad constraints.

President Ahmed M. Mohamoud Silanyo has been the transformational leader who altered the nation’s passive psyche to proactive one, this new paradigm and framework along with the newly aligned attitudes and commitments of the public will inevitably be the much needed catalyst for forging solutions to our myriad constraints. The president has created the moral imperative for the citizens of Somaliland to act, and through his own course demonstrated exemplary leadership in implementing eleemosynary policies that exhibit compassion towards the most vulnerable citizens of Somaliland, free primary schooling, doubling the government salaries, assisting the disabled & mentality ill, addressing gender disparate in literacy and providing better access to government sustained health facilities have all been instrumental in easing the plight of the weak.

Somalilanders are patriots, who are keen to aid the progress and development of their nation, they have also shown that they are ready to respond when there is a lead, and they are called to a greater purpose. Somalilanders came to grips with the drastic needs of their nation to fund the most important infrastructure project of their country, the over 370-km road linking Burcoa to Erigavo, Somaliland citizens from all walks of life have contributed to building of this road by pledging and donating millions to its construction.

Somaliland’s homegrown capacity and our sense of communal self-reliance have been strengthened and the Erigavo road will prove to be a pivotal driver in our economy, opening the ever essential internal links that are so important for integration and policy harmonization.

Somaliland’s objectives and its aspirations will be fulfilled through the incessant actions of its unified and resolute people. There comes a moment when every nation finds its utterance and footing and Somaliland has looked inward to its indigenous capacity and resiliently resourceful public to find its voice, no feat will remain too grandeur for its people to achieve as a nation.

Geleh Ali Marshal

geleh@hotmail.com