My Visit to the Somaliland mission to the UK on the 5th
I had the opportunity to discuss with the head of the Somaliland mission to the UK regarding to
the contribution of the current Kulmiye government led by the incumbent president, Ahmed
Mohammed Mohamud Siilanyo has made to our country. It was thought form his Excellency, Mr Ali
Adan Awale to provide me with informed knowledge if the government had delivered its election
manifestation pledge. To name for views, it has promised economic development to reduce extreme
poverty, to promote good governance, to tackle corruption and to cut down on inefficiencies.
Some government departments, and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs)were
believed to have been endemic with corruptions and inefficiencies before the current government
came into power. Furthermore, securing international recognition for the Somaliland was the
cornerstone of the government’s election promises. To this end, I put to his Excellency, Mr Awale
as to what extent the government has met its promises to Somaliland public? And why should the
government face up its people to have another five more years mandate to run the country?
Over view of government achievements
As I am a senior opposition politician who has been involved in Somaliland politics and has been
one of the founders of both the Somaliland opposition political parties, I have made him aware
that current government inherited a fully democratic and peaceful country. To this end, should the
economic development and strengthening institutions have been what was elected for the current
government in 2010?
His Excellency, in responding to my questions, reminded me of the achievements of current
government. He stated that the Kulmiye government soon after coming into power, reviewed all
government departments, including the police and armed forces to cut out the inefficiencies and
corruption, including the international NGOs. He stated the outcome of government robustness
had yielded a tangible and measured outcome – and within its first year into office it had increased
the budget by 100% and paid off the debt it inherited from previous government. Furthermore, He
stated that the government budget was $44 million when they came into power in 2010 and was
increased to $152million according to the last budget.
He further elaborated by stating if it had not been the effective anticorruption policy by the
government, it would not have been made huge savings. With this, I must have undoubtedly
agreed with Mr Awale, that this government has been tough on corruption and its efficiency saving
paid off huge dividends to the Somaliland workforce in the public sector; including the police and
armed forces. They all saw their salaries increase by 100%. This does not mean it has been perfect
and in my last visits I observed that many departments are by far underperforming owing to short
of talent and expertise. It should have to be appealed to the altruism of likes of highly educated
Somalilanders in the diaspora to go back to their country and the government should accommodate
them.
However, the reduction in inefficiency and corruption, albeit the proceeds were distributed fairly
and appears that it lifted many Somalilanders out of extreme poverty. Moreover, those who lost
out their unearned income due to cutting corruption have waged unrelenting misinformation
on government policies. For example, the last local election was said to be that the government
had won by rigging it, whilst the international observers stated by far it had met the international
standards. Notwithstanding, there had been issues of underage voting and repeated voting in some
areas, however, it was stated that some opposition areas had been endemic with irregularities.
I asked his Excellency what had been the government’s response to this allegation and why
the government had not been able to get its good records across to the public to stem out
misinformation. For example, it saved $105 million since it came into power. On the contrary, some
rogue politicians were stating over exaggerated claims of widespread corruption within government,
unsubstantiated. Ironically, those claims outwitted the government in spreading their myth, for
example they accused the government to have poorly managed the $10 million Kuwait fund to
rebuild Hargeisa and Berbera Airports. I asked if there had been poor public relations within the
government.
In responding to this, he stated that the Somaliland president is not a new politician and has a good
track record known to be honest throughout his political career. As you stated, his efficiency saving
and drive against corruption had saved more than $100 million, those who accused of government
had mismanaged the $10 million from Kuwait was a malicious claim. Therefore, our people will judge
our track record to be inextricably interwoven with good governance and increased prosperity.
Furthermore, development projects have been carried up and down the country; and countless
roads that have been completed and many more that are being built. I (Ahmed Isse) was of the
views to have agreed to Mr Awale because when I visited Somaliland in November 2013 for the
first time in five years, I was astounded by the development that had been made since the current
government was elected.
Government on efficiency and anti-corruption policies aimed at International NGOs
The other area that I was very interested in was about the work of international NGOs because I
had been a shadow secretary of Development and Coordination for my party for over 5 years. At
that time, I was shocked that I had evidently noted the inefficiencies and corruption that had been
endemic within international NGOs. It was documented that every $1 spent by the international
NGOs prior 2010 it 80%- 90% had been going towards cost. What had made the situation worst was
as the last governments were busy building democratisation and focused on peace and stability of
our country as their priorities, the international NGOs had been left unregulated and unchecked
of their activities. With this regard, the INGOs exploited to fit in their objective around the
development discourse propagated by the World Bank and IMF, which favoured capacity building
and empowerment as development policy prescribed to them. This was an outcast and not fit in
Somaliland’s needs. It meant not to give in money to developing countries directly as it was believed
to benefited only by the corrupt regimes and their families as was demonstrated in corrupt regimes
of ZAIRE and Nigeria who had outsourced billions worth of aid money into Swiss personal accounts
in the mid-1980s.
In exploiting the situation of Somaliland and Somalia, International NGOs flooded into the country
with an approximation of over one hundred to being operating in Somaliland. The INGOS were
all carrying out a duplicate work – and the vast majority of funding provided to Somaliland via
international NGos had been spent in the most wasteful way. This means, funding that should
have been gone into development projects, including health and education as key priorities had
been spent on holding endless conferences in hotels in capital of Somaliland. Millions of dollars’
worth of funding spent in such a wasteful way by the name of capacity and empowerment building
conferences and workshops that had not made a measured development. I asked his Excellency
what had been the steps taken to cut the inefficiencies and corruptions within international NGOs?
He replied to this, the Somaliland government policy on corruption was paying dividends to, not only
government departments who were targeted as you mentioned but as well, International NGOs,
which were accused of, to be endemic with inefficiency and corruption
The government has introduced a licensing agreement with INGOS, which required their work to
reflect on the Somaliland National Development priority needs that have not existed under any
previous governments. With this, all INGOS were required to register the country and consult with
the Ministry of planning and coordination before constructing a one size fit project for our country.
Today, we have seen see the huge difference the international community funding has impacted on
our country. Good example is the Somaliland development fund in which the government directs the
international development funding to prioritise areas.
Finally, he said his government’s track record appeals to the Somaliland people to give an
opportunity for another term in office to induce five more prosperous years to accomplish its
mission to economic development and getting this country internationally recognised.
Ahmed Abdi Isse
An Academic in Social Science
