USAID Official Says Somaliland Is A Good Place For Investment

USAID Official Says Somaliland Is A Good Place For Investment
February 24, 2004

Hargeisa, 14 Feb 2004 (SL Times)--An official of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has described Somaliland as a good place for his organization to work and make investment in development.

Mr. Andrew B. Sisson, USAID’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, who was interviewed by the Somaliland Times shortly before his departure from Hargeisa last Monday, revealed that the US government was providing 25 million dollars a year in humanitarian aid for Somaliland and Somalia through USAID, in addition to 3 million dollars a year through the State Department.

Mr. Sisson arrived in Hargeisa last Sunday as the head of a USAID delegation that also included Mr. Flynn Fuller, office director for Burundi, Djibouti and Somalia programs and Ms Moria Berry, USAID Somalia unit.

The USAID delegation met with senior Somaliland government officials, as well as leaders of civil society and the private sector. The delegates also reviewed several programs run in Somaliland with the help of USAID assistance.

Mr. Sisson, who lauded Somaliland for achieving a lot since the end of the war in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, houses and in building democracy. He said they “hope to do more in the future [in Somaliland]”, adding, “from what we have seen and heard from friends, we will encourage our policymakers in Washington to take even more interest in development assistance in Somaliland”.

Mr. Sisson explained that the major reason behind the remarkable increase in the US government’s economic assistance for Djibouti, was related to the role being played by Djibouti as a military base for US forces engaged in combating terrorism in the Horn of Africa. “The Djibouti government and people have become a major ally for the United States in the war on terror,” Mr Sisson asserted.

While stressing the priority that his government attaches to the war on terror, Mr. Sisson added, “we appreciate any assistance that we can get from your government and people.”

Mr. Flynn Fuller, who lived in Somalia during the 1980s said he was impressed to hear from minister of Commerce, Mohamed Hashi Elmi, that a little bit of technical assistance can go a long way and that Somaliland was not looking for a large amount of handouts but for a little bit of a assistance in its efforts for continued development and rebuilding. “I was also impressed to know from the minister that Somalilanders were now learning how to share resources of the country by coming together,” Mr. Fuller said.

SIRAG ARCHIVE

Attack on Somaliland by Colonel Abdillahi Yussuf and Puntland: Somaliland Forum Calls on IGAD and International Community to Condemn Abdillahi Yusuf

SOMALILAND FORUM
PRESS RELEASE 01.01.2004 REF: SLF/EC-29 03/04

Attack on Somaliland by Colonel Abdillahi Yussuf and Puntland:
Somaliland Forum Calls on IGAD and International Community to Condemn Abdillahi Yusuf

On 7th of December, 2002, the President of the Republic of Somaliland Hon. Dahir Rayale Kahin paid an official state visit to Laasanod, Sool, one of the six regions of Somaliland. As the President and his entourage were resting in their Guesthouses, a militia controlled by Abdillahi Yusuf attacked the President and his delegation in their guesthouse. In the interests of peace and stability; and to save innocent civilian lives, the delegation led by Presidential Rayale peacefully retreated from the city and thus prevented unnecessary loss of life. Somaliland informed the international community then about Abdillahi Yusuf's aggression on Somaliland.

In the Summer of 2003, Abdillahi Yusuf announced the additional creation of a new regional administration in Puntland consisting primarily of towns and cities in Somaliland and named this new region "Cayn", and threatened Somaliland with violence should it object to his new regional administration. Somaliland has done every thing possible to avoid conflict in the region, and also appealed to Abdillahi Yusuf to stop violating the territorial integrity of Somaliland and not to destroy the fragile peace prevalent in the region.

Finally, on 22nd December 2003, Colonel Abdillahi Yusuf of Puntland, attacked the Capital of Sool region "Lasanod" and captured the town by force, killing two persons and jailing hundreds of innocent civilians. Undoubtedly, this time Abdillahi Yusuf has gone one step too far and intends to start an armed conflict between Somaliland and Puntland. Yesterday, 31st December, 2003 on his interview with the BBC, Abdillahi Yusuf declared unequivocally that he will not remove his Militia from Las Anod.

We, Somaliland Forum, an independent organisation that represents the Somaliland Diaspora, condemn the senseless murder of innocent civilians by Puntland militia, jailing of the people and the illegal occupation by Col Abdillahi Yusuf's militia on Somaliland territory. The Republic of Somaliland, as is evident from its short history of statehood, is a peace-loving country. Nevertheless, when faced with external aggression, the Republic of Somaliland reserves the right to uphold its territorial integrity and not accept external aggression on its borders. We believe that Abdillahi Yusuf's actions speak louder than words, and that the International community must hold him responsible for his latest aggression on Somaliland.

We request from and urge the international Community, IGAD and the African Union leaders to hold this warlord personally responsible for these terrorist attacks on Somaliland. We request from these bodies to send a loud and clear message to Abdillahi Yusuf in the strongest possible terms to remove his Militia from Las Anod and immediately cease all provocative acts. Ironically, at this present time, Colonel Abdillahi Yusuf is being entertained by IGAD leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, as an important leader in the so-called Somali Reconciliation Conference, while at the same time, he is orchestrating terrorist attacks against Somaliland. If IGAD member nations are serious about their efforts for peace and stability in the horn of Africa, they must start with this dangerous Warlord.

Somaliland Forum

For More Information On Somaliland Forum please Contact:

N. America: Adam Hersi Adam Hersi Email: adamhirsi@yahoo.com

Europe: Dahir A Jama Tel : 44 7960 173 184 Email: D.Jama@btopenworld.com

SIRAG ARCHIVE