BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 16, 2003/SOURCE: The Somaliland Times web site, Hargeysa, in English 14 Dec 03
Weekly says Somaliland-Ethiopia security pact serving latter's interests only
Somaliland-Ethiopian relations are often described as good. However, nobody can tell how good these relations are. The question often asked is: are the ties between the two countries strong enough as to equally satisfy the basic needs and aspirations of both sides? Many Somalilanders do not think so. Rather, they feel that the relations between the two countries are strongly tilted in favour of Ethiopia.
Somaliland getting hostile treatment owing to ties with Ethiopia
Because of its genuine desire to have peaceful and mutually beneficial relations with Ethiopia, Somaliland has earned the animosity of certain quarters, inside and outside this region, that furiously oppose Ethiopia. The Al-Ittihad Somali Islamist group -Ogaden National Liberation Front ONLF alliance, nurtured and supported by the forces of international terror, is one good example of such quarters. This alliance, as the ONLF chairman, Mr Muhammad Umar Uthman, pointed out during an interview with the BBC Somali Service on Tuesday 6 December , has always viewed Somaliland's cooperation with Ethiopia on security matters as constituting a major stumbling block against their plans.
Somaliland is also being victimized by totalitarian Arab regimes, particularly those of Egypt, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Syria, not only for having withdrawn from the 1960 union with Somalia, but also for taking a pro-Ethiopian stance since declaring independence in 1991. Driven by extremist ideologies, greed and the desire to exercise hegemony over others, the above Arab governments are working overtime on various schemes to force Somaliland to rejoin Somalia.
For Egypt, the re-emergence of a strong Somalia state (to be made up of Somaliland and Somalia) would give Egypt an ally on the eastern border of Ethiopia, in case of a conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt over the waters of the Nile. The Saudi involvement serves to deflect criticism that the kingdom's wealthy rulers do not care about poor Arabs. It is also an opportunity for Saudi Arabia not to cede Arab leadership to Egypt, with the added advantage that there are no real costs to be paid.
For Djibouti, opposing Somaliland's independence means getting more money from Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states. The Ba'athist regime in Syria supports the concept of greater Somalia because paying lip service to Arab unity is part of its strategy of survival. For Libyan leader Mu'ammar al- Qadhafi, recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state would seem a bad omen for starting his grand project of seeking the creation of the union of African states.
Somalilanders torn between gratitude and resentment of Ethiopia
Most of Somaliland's people harbour feelings of gratitude towards Ethiopia because of the support it gave to Somaliland's liberation struggle during the 80s, when other Somalis were trying to slaughter as many Somalilanders as possible. Ethiopia hosted hundreds of thousands of Somaliland refugees who lived there after fleeing genocide. The present Ethiopian government, which has been in power since 1991, has shown sympathy and understanding towards Somaliland's quest for recognition.
But despite all of these positive factors, there is growing disappointment among Somalilanders about the Ethiopian government's reluctance to widen the scope of relations between the two countries beyond the current level that is largely confined to cooperation on security matters. Somalilanders cannot understand why the same Ethiopian government, which allowed Eritrea to secede and become independent, is not forthcoming when it comes to recognizing Somaliland, which from a strictly legal standpoint has a stronger case for being recognized as a sovereign state.
There is no doubt that Ethiopia itself has frequently come under external pressure to persuade it against going ahead with Somaliland's recognition. Somalia's warlords such as Abdiqasim Salad Hasan president, Transitional National Government, TNG never seem to tire of accusing Ethiopia of trying to dismember the non-existent state of Somalia. But while Somaliland has not relented in the face of external pressure, the Ethiopian side has comparatively shown a tendency of yielding to blackmail at the expense of its long-term strategic interests in the region. Hence the new argument now that Somaliland could perhaps be better off if it took a neutral position with regard to regional affairs.
Proponents of this argument view the Somaliland-Ethiopian security cooperation as an arrangement that tends to serve one side's interests - Ethiopia's. They cite the assassination attempt carried out in Laascaanood by Abdullahi Yusuf Puntland leader against Somaliland's president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, as a typical example of the Ethiopian government's insensitivity towards Somaliland's concerns. They argue that Abdullahi Yusuf who is fed, clothed and armed by Ethiopia, should have received a harsh response from the Ethiopian government.
The Ethiopian government's decision to close informal trading activities at the border towards the end of last year has also made many Somalilanders even more confused as to the real intentions of the Ethiopian side. And in the aftermath of the recent arrests of ONLF fighters in Hargeysa, the question being widely asked these days is why should Somaliland bother itself with the security of anyone when everyone else, especially its neighbours, are unwilling to recognize and respect the basic aspirations of Somaliland's people to be the masters of their destiny and live in peace in their own independent country.
It is in Ethiopia's interests that this new argument does not become the dominant one in Somaliland; and the best way to ensure that it does not is to start addressing Somaliland's concerns.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200312151194.html
Looming Crisis As Drought Hits Parts of Northern Somalia
Drought has hit Somalia and its impact is being felt most in the northern parts of this Horn of African country, a recently released report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) has disclosed.
"All berkads (water reservoirs) are dry and many bore-holes are inoperable. Pasture is extremely poor in almost all areas," says the report, which is an assessment of the Sool Plateau and Gebi Valley, in the Sool and Sanaag regions.
The report, made available to AANA by the UN-OCHA-Somalia Mission, says that cumulative livestock losses have decimated herds and rendered them unproductive.
Camels, which are used in this region for mobility as well as for milk supply, are particularly affected.
Herds have been reduced by about 60-70 percent, reducing the chances of survival of the nomadic pastoral populations to a critical point.
In a telephone interview with AANA after his arrival from a mission in Somalia, the head of UN-OCHA-Somalia Mission, Calum McLean, revealed that "an estimated 93,000 people are currently affected by the drought."
"Their animals are fast being wiped out, and UN agencies have already sent out food appeals," he added.
The UN official added that both the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), were already delivering humanitarian aid.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, November 26, 2003/SOURCE: Jamhuuriya web site, Hargeysa, in Somali 25 Nov 03
Somaliland: Finance minister said paid "secret" trip to Djibouti
As reported by Haatuf, Somaliland Minster of Finance, Mr Husayn Ali Du'ale (Awil), paid a secret to Djibouti last week.
The Somaliland government did not issue any official communique on the minister's visit but there is a strong suspicion that the minister was bearing some special errand for the President Dahir Riyale. As is known, the minister was a member of the delegation which accompanied Riyale to Djibouti. The report stipulates that the minister of finance routinely is engaged in "foreign affairs" diplomacy work, if prove of this can be his recent participation of the IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Conference in Uganda. While his dispatch to Uganda arguably is justified by the fact that the foreign minister was then out of the country, Awil's secret slip into Djibouti is seen to be very odd given the fact that the foreign minister, Edna Adan Ismail, is in the country.
In a recent talk with Sub-Saharan Informer of Addis Ababa, the minister advised that the Somali so-called reconciliation meetings be held in Somaliland. In this talk, the minister emphasized benefits for Somaliland in bettering relations with neighbouring countries, especially Djibouti. The minister's "advice" was echoed by an obscure Somaliland parliamentarian (Abdi Si'id Fahiye) who also was part of the President's delegation to Djibouti. This MP, who hails from the same tribe as that of the Djibouti President, attacked Ethiopia which he accused of hijacking the Somali conference in Nairobi. He argued that the meetings of Somali groups would be successful if they take place under the auspices of Djibouti and Somaliland.
Earlier, upon their return from a visit to the USA, South Korea and Britain, Somaliland Foreign Minister Edna Adan Isma'il and Commerce and Industry Minister Muhammad Hashi Elmi denied rumours to the effect of planned resignation from President Dahir Riyale's cabinet. The two ministers also refuted allegations that they were unhappy with President Riyale's administration and that policy differences existed.
Ms Edna was the loudest in her denial saying that she will never resign. Many people, who are proud of Edna's achievements and are aware of her special position in Riyale's otherwise mostly mediocre cabinet, were somehow taken aback by the foreign minister's caustic remarks. While in London, the foreign minister issued a statement with regard to the killings of the foreign aid workers in Somaliland. The minister's statements were later rudely rebuffed by Somaliland's outlandish interior minister who almost called her a liar. Now, if the emerging diplomatic activities of Awil gather momentum, there will be less and less for Marwo Edna to handle in the annals of Somaliland's foreign policy.
Whether the proud Edna Adan Dhakhtar will put up with more humiliation will have to be seen.
Somaliland Government Watch, Oslo.
Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) - Norway,
09 Dec 2003 13:12:00 GMT
Alarming drought in Somalia
Website:
http://ips.idium.no/folkehjelp.no/?module=Articles;action=Article.publicShow;ID=1024;lang=eng
Four years of failing rain have resulted in the worst drought since 1974 in the Sool region, reports Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) representatives' in Somalia. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently granted USD 450 000 to NPA's relief work in the Somalian Sool region.
The Sool Plateau has been badly affected by the drought through several years. The local pastoralists are totally dependent on their livestock to survive. They move with their animals to wherever they can find water and pasture. The situation is now alarming.
NPA has received unconfirmed reports of the first human deaths. The hospital in Los Anod reports that the patients are weak and malnourished. Most of the livestock have perished as a result of dry pastures and water shortage, or they have been sold in distress. The short rains have failed again this fall like it has for four years now. Consequently the water reservoirs have dried out. The few boreholes in the area are operating day and night unable to meet the demand of water. As a result the water price has increased by 600 per cent, a price totally out of range for the local pastoralists.
The grant from The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs helps facilitating water transportation into the affected areas. NPA also builds boreholes and rehabilitates wells by digging deeper and securing them from contamination.
For more information contact: Øystein Botillen, Advisor Horn of Africa Programme, telephone: + 00 47 22 03 77 93
SOMALIA: Money transfer companies form association
NAIROBI, 5 Dec 2003 (IRIN) - Somali money transfer companies launched the Somali Financial Services Association (SFSA) on Thursday at a two-day conference in London, attended by representatives of remittance companies, financial regulators from Britain, continental Europe and the United States.
According to a UN Development Programme (UNDP) press statement, the two-day conference was an opportunity for both international regulators and the remittance companies to discuss obstacles facing the sector.
The new body, which is supported by UNDP, brings together 14 money transfer companies "and aims to provide both advocacy and technical support to the industry while also serving as a conduit between members and authorities in foreign countries on issues such as legislation".
“Remittance companies are the largest employers in Somalia,” SFSA Secretary General Muhammed Jirdeh Hussein was quoted as saying. “They also handle millions of dollars belonging to the Somali people. We thought it important to set up a supervisory and accountable authority which would also develop a code of conduct and best practices for the industry."
After the 11 September terror attacks, Somali money transfer companies came under international scrutiny and the biggest company Barakat was shut down after the US government accused it of links with terror groups - a charge vehemently denied by the company.
According to the UN, money transfer companies remit approximately US $750 million annually into the country from Somalis living in the Diaspora.
In a recent interview, Abdirashid M Duale, head of Dahab Shiil, currently the largest money transfer company, told IRIN, a significant number of the transactions relate to investments, commerce and social development projects initiated in the region. For the Somali business sector, remittance companies are the main gateway to the rest of the world.
“Remittances into Somalia help to avert humanitarian crises,” said UNDP Somalia Resident Representative Maxwell Gaylard. “The Association will help safeguard this lifeline into Somalia and contribute to the development of the economy and the capacity of those who drive it.”
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 1, 2003/SOURCE: The Somaliland Times web site, Hargeysa, in English 30 Nov 03
Somaliland: People in drought-stricken regions said on verge of starvation
Somaliland is in the middle of a severe drought, the worst since that of 1973-74, known as Daba-Dheer. Four consecutive years of rain failures has left both humans and their livestock without water, food, or fodder on which to live. The problem is now acute in Sool, Sanaag, and some parts of Togdheer, but the situation in the remaining regions of Sahil, North West (Hargeysa), and Awdal is also deteriorating. Already tens of thousands of animals have perished in the eastern regions, and the toll is expected to rise much higher as drought continues to bite harder. The local population in drought-stricken areas is on the verge of starvation, and at least 200,000 people are estimated to be vulnerable.
Frustrated by the lack of an early response to its repeated appeals for humanitarian aid, the Somaliland government has taken some practical steps towards assisting the drought victims in the worst affected areas. An initial fund of 160 million shillings (roughly 20,000 dollars) was made available by the authorities to cover fuel purchases for the bore-hole generators and tankers needed to transport water and other relief aid supplies, such as food and medicine. This is not a mean feat for an administration whose annual national budget stands at around 20m dollars. The Somaliland Civic Forum for Peace, which brings together a diverse group of organizations and individuals, has also raised 10,000 dollars in support of emergency aid for the worst hit victims. Efforts are also under way to tap both the public and private sectors for more resources in the next few days, not to mention the Diaspora as a potential source of support.
Despite the significance of these local initiatives in combating the drought, it has been obvious from the beginning that it was beyond the capacity of Somaliland alone to deal with a humanitarian crisis of such a devastating magnitude. That is why Somaliland has issued four different appeals in the course of this year alone for urgent international assistance for drought victims.
Had there been a much earlier response to the crisis on the part of both the government and aid organizations, the present catastrophic situation could have been averted to a considerable extent. The humanitarian situation is so bad that there is no room for arguments as to who really should bear the blame for the lack of a quick response to the drought. What is needed now is for the international community to act by providing an urgent humanitarian assistance for saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of women, children, and men who are on the verge of starvation.
Priority should be given to meeting the needs of the currently worst affected areas, but the situation in other parts of the country must be closely monitored with the aim of reducing the vulnerability of people there before it becomes too late.
The Somaliland society has never been dependent on foreign aid and it certainly does not intend to become so. Somalilanders have always helped one another in times of hardship. The present drought is yet another trying challenge that they must overcome through solidarity, the sharing of resources, and helping each other. The international community should also do its part.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, December 16, 2003/Source: The Somaliland Times web site, Hargeysa, in English 14 Dec 03
) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND POLICE INTERCEPT ETHIOPIAN REBELS REPORTEDLY TRAINED IN ERITREA
The Somaliland security forces have foiled an operation for smuggling a group of combatants with suspected ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front, Ethiopian rebel group) ties into eastern Ethiopia. All the group's 34 members were arrested by the police. The arrests were believed to have taken place between 29 November and 1 December 2003. The 34 suspects were remanded in custody on Thursday (4 December) by a Hargeysa court. According to Somaliland Police Commissioner Muhammad Ige, state prosecutors will deal with the case in front of a Somaliland court. The arrested men were expected to be, at least, charged with endangering the country's national security and violating the country's immigration laws.
According to police sources, a number of suspects have already confessed that all members of their group belonged to the Ogaden National Liberation Movement, an armed militia group fighting the Ethiopian government in areas inhabited by the Ogaden clan in the Somali (Regional) State of Ethiopia known as Zone 5. Though police investigations are still under way, all those who had been interrogated, so far, confessed that they underwent military training in Eritrea and came to Somaliland via Djibouti.
According to sources close to the police, the suspects were among the first batch of ONLF combatants to graduate from Kalena and Addis Maskal (names as published) training camps in Eritrea. Between 700 and 1,200 ONLF recruits were receiving training at the two camps. The batch consisting of 100 men divided into three sub-groups had planned to infiltrate into Ethiopia through Djibouti and then Somaliland. At least one of the remaining two sub-groups, made up of 33 men each, was confirmed to have left Hargeysa for the Ethiopian border by end of last month.
However, shortly after crossing into Ethiopia on the night of 27 November, this sub-group was intercepted within the vicinity of Bali-Gubadle village, about 80 km south of Hargeysa. In the ensuing fighting, two ONLF insurgents were reportedly killed while another two were taken prisoner. A group of nomads from the area were believed to have joined the fighting along side the Ethiopian security forces. One of the nomads was confirmed dead while another was wounded.
It was not yet known whether the Ethiopian regular security forces had taken any casualties as a result of the clash. The remaining ONLF fighters (30) managed to escape by going south into Zone Five's hinterland. They were again intercepted at Dusmo, about 200 km south of Hargeysa, located between Aware and Dega Bur. The Ethiopians were reported to have lost six men in this clash. Dusmo is located in an area inhabited by members of the Ogaden clan.
Ordinary Somalilanders were shocked by the news that the ONLF was using Somaliland territories for staging infiltration operations. They were also angered by the ONLF chairman's statement on Tuesday (9 December) that his group will respond to the Hargeysa arrests by taking reprisals against Somaliland nomads in Zone 5. Though the Ogaden co-inhabit Zone 5 with other Somali groups, the ONLF chairman claimed that the whole territory belonged only to members of his clan.
Already a number of Isaq men were reported to have been killed by Ogadeni insurgents in various parts of Zone 5. The ONLF chairman (Mr Muhammad Umar Uthman) who lives in London, was interviewed by the BBC Somali Service on Tuesday. He served under the regime of Somalia's former dictator, Siyad Barre, in the position of admiral of the Somali navy.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 9, 2003/SOURCE: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 9 Dec 03
Somaliland traffic police commandant shot dead in Hargeysa
Somaliland President HE Dahir Riyale Kahin today on his own behalf and on the behalf of the Somaliland people sent a message of condolence to the family of the late Hargeysa regional traffic police chief, Mahmud Abdi Jama. The president prayed for the late Jama and asked God to rest his soul in eternal peace and give patience and strength to the bereaved family. Mr Mahmud Abdi Jama was today shot in front of his house in Hargeysa and died later at the Hargeysa General Hospital.
Somaliland security forces are investigating the incident.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, November 20, 2003/ Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 20 Nov 03) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND: SOME 4,660 ILLEGAL ALIENS LEAVE IN 10 DAYS
The chairman of the Somaliland Department of Immigration today briefed Radio Hargeysa and said some 4,660 foreigners including Somalis and Ethiopians had left the country in the last 10 days.
Mr Muhammad Usman Dayib also said the people departed from Burco, Tog Wajaale (on southwestern Somaliland-Ethiopia border), and Hargeysa airport.
The immigration official asked the remaining (illegal) foreigners to quickly leave the country before the expiry of the stipulated period.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 2, 2003, SOURCE: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 2 Dec 03
Somaliland extends deadline for illegal immigrants to leave
The minister of interior, Isma'il Adan Usman, today announced the extension by 30 more days of the deadline for non-Somaliland nationals living in the country illegaly to leave.
Reports say the extension follows a request from those affected by the order who sought to have more time to facilitate their departure.
It is worth recalling that on 13 October the Somaliland government gave foreigners living illegaly in the country 45 days to leave. This deadline would have expired on 8 December.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 9, 2003/ SOURCE: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 9 Dec 03
Somaliland minister opens BBC training course for journalists in Hargeysa
The minister of information and guidance of the republic of Somaliland, Hon Abdullahi Muhammad Du'ale, today opened a training course prepared by the BBC World Service Trust for journalists working for the media in the country at Hotel Mansur in Hargeysa.
The BBC training course will run for two word indistinct . The aim of the course is to improve the journalistic standards of the media.
In his opening remarks, Hon Abdullahi Muhammad Du'ale, the information minister, urged the participants, including those from Somalia, to benefit from the course.
Among the participants at the two-day course are directors of media outlets.
The head of the BBC World Service Trust, Mr Chris Greene, said the project would run for two years as heard and would be held in various other places. He said the course was designed for journalists with a higher level of training.
The function was attended by the ministers of interior, justice, the Somaliland envoy to South Africa, some members of parliament and officials of other organs of the state.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, December 12, 2003/Source: Jamhuuriya web site, Hargeysa, in Somali 10 Dec 03) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND: MINISTER DENIES GOVERNMENT ORGANIZING PEACE CONFERENCE FOR SOMALIA
Somaliland's Finance minister, Ambassador Husayn Ali Du'ale (Awil), has refuted reports carried early this week by Al-Khalij newspaper from the UAE which said it had interviewed Ambassador Awil.
Mr Awil was reported to have said the Somaliland government was involved in plans to organize a peace conference for warring Somali factions. The newspaper report said the minister had said his government had the blessings of the President of Djibouti Isma'il Omar Guelleh with whom they had discussed the matter.
Mr Awil who is on a working visit to Burco, Toghdeer Regional HQ, spoke with Jamhuuriya and vehemently refuted Al-Khalij's story which has been widely reported on some Internet websites. The story has generated distrust and debate in Somaliland.
He said he had not had an interview with Al-Khalij and the report was a fabrication by enemies of Somaliland on a smear campaign against Somaliland. He pointed an accusing finger at Puntland (passage omitted).
BBC Monitoring International Reports, December 2, 2003/Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 1 Dec 03
) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND: MILITARY COMMANDERS RESHUFFLED
The president of the republic of Somaliland, Hon Dahir Riyale Kahin, today released a presidential decree in which he named the commander of the armed forces, the commander of the 31st division and the deputy armed forces commander.
The decree said: Following the president's scrutiny of the 90th article of the Somaliland constitution, the urgency for change in the high command structure of armed forces, and in consideration of views of the heads of the Ministry of Defence and after being convinced that the new appointees would be able to shoulder their responsibilities, the president named Nuh Isma'il Gediye as the commander of the armed forces of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdisamad Haji Abdullahi Gamgam, the former national armed forces commander, as the deputy commander of the national armed forces, Ibrahim Aydid Ahmad Dabdable as the C-in-C of the national armed forces and Hasan Abdi Wa'ays Warsame as the commander of the 31 division of the Somaliland armed forces.
The president urged those reshuffled to exchange posts.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, December 9, 2003/Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 9 Dec 03 ) BBC Monitoring
SOMALILAND TRAFFIC POLICE COMMANDANT SHOT DEAD IN HARGEYSA
President Dahir Riyale Kahin today on his own behalf and on the behalf of the Somaliland people sent a message of condolence to the family of the late Hargeysa regional traffic police chief, Mahmud Abdi Jama. The president prayed for the late Jama and asked God to rest his soul in eternal peace and give patience and strength to the bereaved family. Mr Mahmud Abdi Jama was today shot in front of his house in Hargeysa and died later at the Hargeysa General Hospital. Somaliland security forces are investigating the incident.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 2, 2003/SOURCE: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 1 Dec 03
Somaliland: President, cabinet discuss recent attacks on foreign workers
A cabinet meeting chaired by President Dahir Riyale Kahin today discussed security matters, foreign trips by government officials and problems facing the country.
The president briefed the cabinet on security measures taken by the government, the aftermath of the incidents in Sheekh and Boorame and actions taken by the government and the results. He said the incidents were an eye-opener to the government on maintenance of peace in the country. He said operations carried out by the government had revealed a lot.
The minister of internal affairs elaborated on the matter saying the case on the murdered British teachers was on its final stage. He also dealt with other security matters like cash robberies on the Ethiopian side of the border. He said arrests made so far have shed light on the perpetrators who were foreigners trying to undermine the peace and security in Somaliland passage omitted.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring, December 1, 2003/SOURCE: Xog-Ogaal, Mogadishu, in Somali 1 Dec 03
At least two Somaliland MPs seek political asylum in UK
At least two members of the Representative Council in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland have surrendered themselves to Britain for political asylum.
Among those members who surrendered themselves are MP Abdullahi Salah and MP Abdi Dahir Amud. It was not immediately clear why they had sought asylum in Britain, but it is believed that it has something to do with political issues based on their dissatisfaction with the current Somaliland administration. The surrender of the two MPs coincides with the resumption of the parliament's regular session after it was adjourned recently.
BBC Monitoring, December 2, 2003 Source: Radio Midnimo, Boosaaso, in Somali 1030 gmt 2 Dec 03
) BBC Monitoring
BBC TRAINING TO CONDUCT COURSE FOR SOMALI JOURNALISTS IN HARGEYSA
A meeting to discuss training of journalists was today held at Hotel Huruuse in Boosaaso (port city in Puntland, northeastern Somalia) and was attended by some members of the BBC's training department and several journalists from Puntland.
Thirteen journalists, among them radio directors and editors of the independent newspapers will begin a training course in Hargeysa (Somaliland) on 8 December. The journalists and the head of BBC Training held a discussion which went well about how the course will be conducted, the subjects to be taught and the benefits of the course. The two sides reached an agreement on how the course will be conducted.
Meanwhile, a separate meeting took place between the deputy minister and director-general of the Ministry of Information, Abdishakur Adan Mire and the head of BBC Training and the two agreed that another course for Puntland journalists should be held in Boosaaso after the one in Hargeysa.
Africa News, December 10, 2003/BYLINE: UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
Somalia; Senior Police Officer Shot Dead in Somaliland
A senior police officer was shot dead in Hargeysa, the capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, on Tuesday, according to a local journalist.
He said the Hargeysa regional traffic police chief, Col Mahmud Abdi Jama, was shot twice in front of his house by unknown gunmen who followed him home. "He was rushed to a nearby hospital but died shortly afterwards," the source added.
An investigation into the killing is underway, with many policemen visible on the streets of the city.
The police officer's killing follows the murder in October of two British teachers Richard and Enid Eyeington, and Italian veteran aid worker, Dr Annalena Tonelli.
An official with Somaliland's information ministry said the motive for the latest murder was not yet clear, neither who was behind it nor whether it was linked to the previous murders.
"It is unlikely that this and the earlier incidents are connected," the official told IRIN. "It is too early to speculate on who might have killed the officer and why. We have to wait for the police to arrest suspects before we can comment."
Some 20 people are in police custody for the earlier killings, which were blamed on "elements working to destabilise the region". All those arrested will be brought to court "as soon as ongoing police investigations are completed", the official added.
BBC World Service, 28 November, 2003, 17:07 GMT
Somaliland chewers' street march
Chewing is popular across the region
Hundreds of protestors have marched through the streets of a Somaliland town after the price of a mild narcotic leaf, known as Khat, was doubled.
The stimulant is widely chewed in the breakaway state and across the region. At the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan demand soars and so do prices, but the BBC's Hussein Ali Nur says protests are quite unprecedented. The security forces in the central town of Burao fired shots in the air to deter the marchers.
According to a journalist there, the authorities held an emergency meeting with Khat suppliers and agreed to drop the prices back down to nearer the pre-Ramadan level.
There is a lucrative business in the mild stimulant which is mainly chewed by men who sit in groups for long hours.
The Khat trade has been the cause of many disturbances in the past.
Khat facts
Green-leaved shrub
- Bitter-tasting leaves potent for only a few days after picking
- Leaves can be used to make tea or chewable paste
- Banned in US, Canada, Norway and Sweden
- Side-effects include appetite suppression, insomnia and anxiety
- Many onlookers expressed said they would have been more supportive if they had been protesting about the price of food and other commodities, which have also increased dramatically this year.
XINHUA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE, November 26, 2003
WFP warns of humanitarian disaster in northern Somalia
NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) appealed Wednesday for more funds to avert a humanitarian disaster in Sool Plateau, northern Somalia.
In a press release issued in Nairobi, WFP Representative for Somalia Robert Hauser said "if we're to continue our planned assistance over the next five months, we need some 6.5 million US dollars to buy about 8,600 tons of food aid."
"If the resources were available, we would expand assistance beyond the 64,000 people to an additional 41,200 needy people in 18 villages," he said.
Hauser noted that the area had been devoid of rain for a long time and groundwater reserves were drying up and the WFP was expanding its operations to respond to "the worst drought to hit the region since 1981."
"We need to intervene immediately to prevent wide scale malnutrition and stave off a humanitarian disaster," Hauser warned.
The WFP noted that the Sool Plateau, which covers parts of Sool and Sanaag districts in Somaliland as well as parts of Bari district in Puntland, had suffered three consecutive years of drought.
The Sool Plateau region is claimed by both Somaliland and Puntland and has seen intense fighting in the past few months.
Somalia has been divided without a recognized government and ruled by rival clan warlords since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled in January 1991.
The Somali Transitional National Government, which was established by a Somali peace conference in Djibouti in 2000, has only managed to control a small part in the capital.
Africa News, November 25, 2003/BYLINE: UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
Somalia; UN Warns of Humanitarian Disaster in Sool Plateau
The UN's World Food Programme has appealed for funds to avert a humanitarian disaster in northern Somalia's Sool Plateau.
In a press release on Tuesday, the WFP Representative for Somalia Robert Hauser noted that the area had been devoid of rain for a long time and groundwater reserves were drying up. WFP was expanding its operations to respond to "the worst drought to hit the region since 1981".
"We need to intervene immediately to prevent widescale malnutrition and stave off a humanitarian disaster," Hauser warned. Some 60,000 vulnerable people are facing severe food shortages in the region.
WFP noted that the Sool Plateau - covering parts of Sool and Sanaag districts in Somaliland, as well as parts of Bari district in Puntland - had suffered three consecutive years of drought. "WFP urgently needs more funds if we're to continue our planned assistance over the next five months," Hauser said. "We need some US $6.5 million to buy about 8,600 tonnes of food aid."
WFP added that the Sool plateau region is claimed by both Somaliland and Puntland and has seen intense fighting in the past few months.
BBC Monitoring International Reports, November 25, 2003/Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network, Nairobi, in English 25 Nov 03
) BBC Monitoring
SOMALIA: UN OFFICIAL WARNS OF "DISASTER" IN NORTHERN REGION OVER FAMINE
Nairobi, 25 November: The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed for funds to avert a humanitarian disaster in northern Somalia's Sool Plateau.
In a press release on Tuesday (25 November), the WFP representative for Somalia, Robert Hauser, noted that the area had been devoid of rain for a long time and groundwater reserves were drying up. WFP was expanding its operations to respond to "the worst drought to hit the region since 1981". "We need to intervene immediately to prevent widescale malnutrition and stave off a humanitarian disaster," Hauser warned. Some 60,000 vulnerable people are facing severe food shortages in the region. WFP noted that the Sool Plateau - covering parts of Sool and Sanaag districts in Somaliland, as well as parts of Bari district in Puntland - had suffered three consecutive years of drought. "WFP urgently needs more funds if we're to continue our planned assistance over the next five months," Hauser said. "We need some 6.5m dollars to buy about 8,600 tonnes of food aid." WFP added that the Sool plateau region is claimed by both Somaliland and Puntland and has seen intense fighting in the past few months.