Somaliland on the International Stage

Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM

Somaliland Update / April 2020

Somaliland on the International Stage

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Somaliland responds to COVID-19

President Muse Bihi Abdi recently appointed an inter-ministerial taskforce to

coordinate Somaliland’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak, t pon launching the taskforce, President Bihi said, ”1 urge all Somalilanders to strictly adhere to all guidelines issued by the government," through the National Coronavirus Prophylactic Committee. Minister of Health Cumar Cahdillaahi Bedey, Information and Culture

Minister Saleebaan Ali Koore, Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin Ahmed and Minister of Religion Khalil Ahdillahi are working together on the Committee to implement all necessary preventative measures. Some of these guidelines include school closures, restrictions on public gatherings and non-emergency travel bans for certain countries. The first two cases of COVID-19 in Somaliland were confirmed on March 3i. Read

more.

President Bihi meets with counterparts on sidelines

of African Union Summit



President Bihi traveled to Addis Ababa for four days in February to engage in meetings regarding diplomatic and trade matters with African leaders attending the African 1 nion (Al summit. President Bihi met with llie new A1 chairperson, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia as part of bis broader efforts to encourage regional support for Somaliland's recognition

by I be international community. Bead more.

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Political leaders call for finance institutions to address Somaliland and Somalia separately

In March, President Bihi and the chairmen of Somaliland's l Cl Hand \\ addani opposition parties together urged the \\ orld Bank and other international financial institutions to address debt relief, new projects and loans to Somaliland in addition to its programs in Somalia. President Bihi told reporters, "We do not mind if [the World Bank has to assist or support Somalia, but the Republic of Somaliland



unrecognized as it might be internationally is a reality none can ignore or sidestep." Read more.

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EU and Somaliland partner to ensure preservation of Laas Geel cave paintings

The European l nion (El announced in March their support for the conservation and protection of the Laas Geel cave paintings. Located on the rural outskirts of Hargeisa, the cave is home to some of the earliest known paintings in the Horn of Africa and are estimated to he between 5,ooo and 7,000 years old. The El will support a program implemented by the Hargeisa Cultural Center in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, which entails capacity building for site management, fencing of the entire site, removal of invasive vegetation and the construction of pathways leading to the paintings. Read more.



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Somaliland and EU Envoy to Somalia kick off Joint Rule of Law Program

lit March, Somaliland Minister of the Interior Mohamed Kahin Ahmed and El Envoy to Somalia Nicolas Berlanga signed an MOU inaugurating the Joint Rule of Law Program, which is supported through funds from Sweden. Swedish Ambassador to Somalia Staffan Tillander noted the importance of this program to help the country prepare for parliamentary elections later this year, while Ambassador Berlanga expressed the El s commitment to a long-term partnership with Somaliland. Read

more.



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Vice President Abdirahman Saylici meets with IJNCDF delegation

In Februaiy, Vice President Abdirahman Saylici met with the Director of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) David Jackson, UNCDF Regional Director Dmitry Pozhidaev, and UNCDF Officer for Somaliland and Somalia Anka Kitunzi to discuss bilateral relations and Somaliland’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The UN delegation also met with Somaliland Minister of Interior Mohamed Kaliin Ahmed, who leads the implementation of joint programs for the government. During the meeting, the officials discussed local government priorities and the potential creation of an infrastructure development fund. Read more.



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President Bihi and British Ambassador to Somalia discuss continued cooperation

At the beginning of the New Year, President Rilii met with British Ambassador to

Somalia Ben Fender in Hargeisa to discuss further cooperation between the two countries, security in the Horn of Africa and efforts to improve educational standard in Somaliland. Ambassador Fender’s visit also included several meetings with the various stakeholders involved in Somaliland’s electoral process. Read more.



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Somaliland Representative to the U.S. attends UNPO Presidency meeting

Somaliland Representative to the l nited Stales Bashir Goth attended and presented

at the Unrecognized Peoples and Nations Organization (UNPO Presidency meeting in Washington, DC in early March. Somaliland l ias been a member of the l NPO, an international organization focused on empowering the voices of unrepresented and marginalized peoples, for 29 years.

Somaliland Representative to the U.S. attends ICCF

retreat

At the beginning of the year, Somaliland's Special Representative to the l nited States Bashir Goth attended an International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) retreat at White Oak Conservation Center in Florida. The weekend included wildlife experiences in between presentations and mealtime discussions. Representative Goth also had the opportunity to brief lawmakers on Somaliland's ongoing conservation efforts, including the Cheetah Conservation Center that has recently opened in partnership with the Cheetah Conservation Fund.



Inside Somaliland

President Bilii gives annual address

During his annual address to Parliament on 18 February, President Bilii covered a range of topics, including the economy, agriculture and livestock, education, infrastructure, job creation, elections and security. Regarding the economy, President Bilii highlighted Somaliland’s 4-5% increase in revenue in FY2019, citing the “efforts and capabilities of the National Revenue Authority." A full transcript can he found here.

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Political parties reach consensus on path to parliamentary elections

At the end of February, Somaliland’s three national political parties Kiilmiye, UCID and Waddani reached consensus on a framework for parliamentary elections to he held before the end of 2020. The agreement establishes a Technical Elections



Management Unit (TEMU) to carry out 1 lie majority of the process. The TEMU will plan, organize and supervise local and parliamentary polls. Read more.

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Somaliland and EU launch Berbera Urban

Development Project

The Government of Somaliland and the El launched the Berbera 1 rban Development Project in January, a project worth 7.5 million euros aimed at supporting “the inclusive and sustainable development of the coastal city. Some of the specific solutions and outcomes of the project include building a new dumpsite with a modern waste management facility, developing 20 kilometers of roads and securing 5oo long-term jobs from project output. UN Habitat Somalia will run the project in partnership with the City of Berbera for a period of three years. Read more.



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Somaliland opens second cheetah sanctuary in Hargeisa

This month, Vice President Saylici officially opened a new cheetah sanctuaiy in

Hargeisa in partnership with the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). After the opening, Vice President Saylici said, " I am very proud of the activities leading to this sanctuaiy that houses 36 cheetahs rescued from poachers and smugglers and the government of President Muse Bihi is committed to providing all necessary help with its reach thence wildlife conserv ation. " The center, the second of its kind in Somaliland, also received donations of medicine and equipment from the Nashville Zoo. The sanctuary, which expands CCF s capacity to house even more confiscated cheetahs, will be overseen by Minister of Environment and Rural Development Shukri Bandare and marks Somaliland's latest partnership aimed at ending the trafficking of exotic animals. Read more.

2020 Somaliland Marathon a success



This year’s Somaliland Marathon, which began as a fundraiser for education and women's health two years ago, once again saw an increase in the number of female participants. The New York Times recently reported on the history of both the event

and Somaliland’s international engagement more broadly: "The breakaway region, in the northwest of Somalia, is not recognized internationally. But in contrast to the areas in the south, which are plagued by clan infighting and terrorism, Somaliland is an oasis attracting tourists, hosting a prominent literaiy festival and even enticing multinationals like Coca-Cola. The l imning events are part of Somaliland’s push to increase cultural and commercial outreach, and runners from 16 different nations competed this year. Read more from The New ) ork Times and about thechanties that

the marathon supports.

Somaliland is Open for Business

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Somaliland and DP World launch Berbera Special Economic Free Zone



The Berbera Special Economic Free Zone launched on 10 December with remarks from President Bihi, Somaliland Minister of Finance Saad Ali Shire and DP World Deputy Manager Suhail A1 Banna. In his address, President Bilii discussed the "economic boom" that the project would bring to locals and the region as a whole, while Finance Minister Saad A1 Shire noted, "This free zone will complement the growth of Berbera Port, enabling it to become a gateway for trade to the region and the whole of Africa. The three leaders signed a treaty in front of a crowd made up of ambassadors from neighboring countries, the Saili 1 regional authority, ministers and traders. The multi-million-dollar project will result in the largest free economic zone in the Horn of Africa as work on the Port of Berbera Continues to raise Somaliland’s profile as a regional trading hub. In January, Somaliland broke ground on the construction of a new road linking the towns of Wadaama-goo and Buhodle and facilitating the transport of goods and commuters between Somaliland, Ethiopia and Somalia. Read more.

Berbera fishermen and fisheries get a boost from Fair Fishing

Fishermen in Somaliland have been working w ith Fair Fishing, an NGO that seeks to

improve lives in the Horn of Africa by building up local businesses and creating jobs in sustainable fishing. One of Fair Fishing’s two management teams in the region is located in Berbera, where they are developing a thriving fisheiy sector that provides fresh fish to restaurants and markets. The organization is also planning to stimulate the demand for fish in Somaliland, a country that relies largely on agriculture, by educating households, restaurants and market owners about the nutritional benefits of eating fish and how it should be stored, cleaned and cooked. Since its founding eight years ago, Fair Fishing has created over 3,ooo jobs in Somaliland. Read more.

Closing Viewpoints “



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AEdna Adan Hospital Foundation wins the 2019 Holiday Impact Prize

During the holiday season, The New York Times opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof

awarded Si00,000 to Somaliland's Dr. Edna Adan to fund her hospital as she lights for women’s health, trains doctors and empowers women. Each year, Kristof publishes a gift guide with suggestions for “gifts with meaning," and for the first time ever, the 2019 winner Was awarded a generous $100,000 prize from an anonymous

reader. After studying in the l K, becoming a midwife and working with the World Health Organization, Dr. Adan used her savings to build a maternity hospital in Somaliland in 2002. Since then, she lias started a university and medical school to train the next generation of doctors in Somaliland, 70% of whom are females. In addition to her work in maternal health, Dr. Adan has been a tireless advocate for women’s rights; this year, Somaliland adopted a law that punishes rape with up to 3i years in prison with her help. Read more.

Locust outbreaks devastate Somaliland’s livelihood



In March, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) invited a group of foreign journalists to experience how climate change-driven locust swarms across Eastern Africa have affected communities in Somaliland by devouring crops and creating food

shortages. Thomson Reuters Foundation reporter Nita Bhalla joined the group, noting that “few foreigners venture [to Somaliland " because the country is "often falsely perceived [to be] as insecure as its southern neighbor, Somalia." She spoke to Mohamed Mohamoud, Director of Somaliland's Plant Protection Department, who explained that "There are countless swarms like these across east Africa. Once they become adults and take Right, the destruction they can do is unimaginable.” Read

more.

Somaliland’s exclusion from African Union Summit a “glaring failure”

In an op-ed for the Ethiopian publication The Reporter ., freelance journalist Kassahun

Addis called Somaliland's exclusion from the African Union Summits a "glaring failure of the l nion.' Addis notes that Somaliland has been "prohibited from legitimately participating in the AU Summits," and recommends that the AU "start with brushing up the 20o5 report from its own fact finding mission, inviting the democratically elected government of Somaliland for reengagement and provision of a temporary observer status it throws generously even at non-state, non-African entities." Read more.

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Office of llie Somaliland Representative in the United States

This material is distributed by the Glover Park Group on behalfof the Republic ofSomaliland. For more information visit www.fara.sov.


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Somaliland on the International Stage