By: Goth Mohamed Goth
The Government of Somaliland has banned TOYATA VITZ locally known as “Dukhaanka” to be used as public transport vehicles ferrying passengers back and forth to the country regions and district. At the same time, the government prohibits public transports vehicles known as TOYATA Noah from carrying more than 7 passengers at any given time.
In a press statement by the Somaliland Ministry of Transport and Roads Authority:-
In Accordance With: Article 20 and 42 the Public transportation law (Xeer L/r/56/2013)
As Stipulated in : Article 25, section 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland (Xeer l/r 01.2018) and in accordance with the Ministry of Transport and Roads mandate to manage the flow of people to and fro and the same time ensure the safety transit of goods and services of public transport in Somaliland roads.
After thorough Consideration: Hence, the need to safeguard the lives of citizens and wealth, the state has to regulate the safety of passengers plying our roads and the flow of goods back and forth to towns/cities the country.
I have decided that;All cars under the category-classed personnel namely TOYATA VITZ locally known as “Dukhaanka” to be used as public transport vehicles ferrying passengers to and fro to the country regions and district. At the same time, the government prohibits public transports vehicles known as TOYATA Noah from carrying more than 7 passengers at any given time.
Those failing to comply with the above provisions shall prosecuted in accordance with the Law.
In Somaliland, parents are trying to dissuade their children from dangerous and illegal migration to Europe by buying them second-hand cars that can be operated as taxis. These cabs, now ubiquitous in Hargeisa, the capital city and other major cities of Somaliland, have become known as “hooyo ha Tahriibin”, which translates roughly as a mother pleading “my son, do not tahriib.”
By spending between $2,000 and $3,000 on a second-hand car, families hope to give their children a source of income and reason to stay. Yet it’s unclear whether this strategy is working. Youth unemployment in Somaliland is estimated to be as high as 70%, but analysts say there are other reasons factoring into young people’s decision to leave, including Somaliland’s lack of international recognition, and the number of Somali people already living abroad.
Making money from the taxis also, isn’t a sure bet? Hargeisa is now crowded with hooyo ha tahriibin taxis. “What is clear is that households in Somaliland are not encouraging their young to embark on the dangerous journey to Europe. Instead, they are proactively looking for ways to halt the trend,”
One wonder why, is Somaliland Government reversing this trend or is it encouraging the youth to embark in a dangerous and illegal migration to Europe to search for greener pastures.
