01/05/2020 Volume 4 Issue 8

Puntland Post Monthly

INSIDE THIS ISSUE An Interview with Ali Mohamed Gedi

Former Prime Minister of Somalia and Leader of Somali Patriotic Party (SPP)

1. AN INTERVIEW WITH ALI MOHAMED GEDI Ali Mohamed Gedi, a former Somali Prime Minister, leads 2. JUBALAND AGREEMENT Somali Patriotic Party, one of the political parties that will

RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT contest the 2021 elections in Somalia. In April Puntland AHMED MADOBE’S LEGITIMACY Post interviewed him . 3. JOURNALISTIC LEGACY OF

MOHAMUD M. AFRAH 4. PUNTLAND POLITICAL

ASSOCIATIONS FACE AN UPHILL TASK 5. THE LOCKDOWN TRANSFORMS

SOMALILAND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM 6. BOSASO-GAROWE ROAD IN

POOR CONDITION 7. AN EXCERPT FROM TALKING TRUTH TO POWER

8. HOW INADEQUATE TOWN PLANNING INTENSIFIED Ali Mohamed Gedi: Leader of Somali Patriotic Party IMPACT OF FLOODS IN QARDHO Puntland Post Monthly: As a former Prime Minister of 9. SOMALILAND IMPOSES Somalia you lead a political party. When and why was

TEMPORARY BAN ON KHAT the political party established? IMPORTS Ali M. Gedi: First and foremost, let me take this opportunity 10. HOW WILL REMITTANCES to express my thanks and gratitude to PUNTLAND POST AFFECT THE SOMALI COVID-19 team for the interview. To answer the first question, Somali RESPONSE? Patriotic Party (SPP) was established in February 2016 (even before the political parties’ law was enacted by the Federal Parliament) to INTERVIEW shift the country WITH from ALI centralised/dictatorial rule to decentralised and democratic M. GEDI governance through multi-party system. SPP was

established by competent andFrom qualified page 1scholars (men and women) who complement my professional and political PPM: What differentiates the experience. political party you lead from See page 2other column 1 parties?

Ali M. Gedi: My long-term Ali M. Gedi: Criticism is a regular academic and research act before the eyes of a public activities coupled with more than administration. Hence, a decade-long collaboration, expressing adverse or partnership and interaction with disapproving judgment on international organisations, plus governmental institutions is a three years (2004-2007) of tool for dealing with mistakes working as a Prime Minister of and the leaders must take it the Transitional Federal Somali Patriotic Party’s Logo easy as corrective measures. Government (TFG) of Somalia PPM: What is the position of Based on the above, the Federal have equipped me with the SPPyour party on possible Member states have the right to necessary knowledge, postponement of elections constructively criticise the experiences and tools that make due to Covid-19? Federal Government within the difference to leading a modern framework of the Provisional party compared to the other Ali M. Gedi: The position of SPP Federal Constitution and the political parties. on possible postponement of the government must accept it as coming elections is very clear. such. Destructive or divisive PP: Somali Patriotic Party is The current government has criticism must be avoided by all not a member of the Forum for been given 4 years mandate to stakeholders. National Parties. Does that run the affairs of the country, mean your party supports an ending January 2021. PP: Does Somali Patriotic open contest in place of Therefore, by constitution, the Party have branches in other building coalitions based on a federal government must hold parts of Somalia? desire to unseat the elections timely, freely and fairly Ali M. Gedi: At the levels of the incumbent administration? without any further delay. Yes, Federal Member States of Ali M. Gedi: Yes. SPP is not and FORCE MAJEURE is an Somalia, local regulations and imperative issue, in the event of will not be a member of the guidelines in conformity with the Forum for National Parties due unexpected disasters like the federal government, for opening to differences in vision and Coronavirus Pandemic. In this offices of the political parties are mission, principles, objectives case, the leadership of the not yet in place; but SPP and goals. In this regard, SPP Federal Government of Somalia members and supporters are in must come up with options and has a political and moral action everywhere in the philosophy based on mechanisms acceptable to all Federal Member States and secularism, equality, freedom of the political stakeholders of the district authorities country-wide speech, freedom of press, country so as to proceed as well as in each and every human rights, corruption-free, smoothly to a conducive Diaspora community of Somalia anti-tribalism, anti- environment which can allow world-wide. free and fair elections to take radicalism/extremism and terrorism among others. place next year. © Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 PP: Some federal member states criticise the Federal Government for bringing back centralised governance. In JUBALAND AGREEMENT your view is there a substance RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT to the criticism?

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AHMED MADOBE’S brigade and forces of former Jubaland is a multi-clan federal LEGITIMACY Defence Minister Barre Hirale member state. The deal preceded the 2013 election won deepens the crisis of legitimacy by Ahmed Madobe as the facing President Ahmed By Mohamud A. Dersi President of Jubaland Interim Madobe” says Dahir Abdi, a Administration. In 2015 he won former traditional leader in Kismayo ( PPM) — In 2009 the Jubaland Presidency to lead Jamaame. The Council of Inter- when Al-shabaab captured a fully recognised federal State Cooperation founded in Kismayo, Ahmed Mohamed member state. His 2019 Kismayo in 2018 folded after Islam (aka Ahmed Madobe), candidacy for a third term ran Hirshabelle, Galmudug and then a senior Hizbul Islam into trouble after the Federal South West allied themselves officer, called on the extremist Government formulated a policy with the Federal Government of organisation to make peace with to oversee electoral processes Somalia. Close relations with Hizbul Islam. Hizbul Islam had of federal member states formed Kenya at the expense of dissolved when its founder, after 2004, the year Somalia cooperation with Federal Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, adopted a federal system. With Government further eroded the joined Al-shabaab. Ahmed the exception of Puntland State, legitimacy of Jubaland Madobe fled to Afmadow where the Federal Government has leader. Like Mukhtar Robow, he helped Raskamboni brigade had input in the formation of the Ahmed Madobe has joined to regroup as a formidable other four federal member mainstream politics as a enemy of Al-shabaab. Ahmed states. New guidelines reformed extremist. Somalia’s Madobe allied himself with published the Federal Ministry of International Partners urge Kenya Defence Forces that Interior and Federal Affairs Ahmed Madobe to cooperate invaded Somalia in 2011 to vested in the Federal with the Federal Government to counter the threat of Al-shabaab Government powers to prepare make Jubaland Administration forces in Gedo. In 2011 and criteria for selecting MPs, who more inclusive. Following 2012 Raskamboni launched hit elect Jubaland President. The that bit of advice could and run attacks against Al- agreement signed in Nairobi by politically stand Ahmed Madobe shabaab but was hardly able to Jubaland leader and three rivals in good retake territory from Al-shabaab. who questioned his legitimacy stead. Azania project headed by Dr after 2019 elections removed © Puntland Post Mohamed Abdi Gandi, a rival of one hurdle in the path to making Monthly, 2020 Ahmed Madobe’s, boosted the Jubaland an inclusive latter’s chances to lead a administration. UNSOM has Federal Member State that was welcomed the agreement as a in the pipeline. The former US steppingstone to getting other Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stakeholders involved the told Somali stakeholders she political process. “Somalis, like had met in Nairobi in 2012 that others, deserve to choose their plans to dislodge Al-shabaab leaders via free, fair and legal from Kismaayo were afoot. elections. Last August’s In September 2012 Kenya process was deeply flawed. It’s Defence Forces captured good to see old rivals reconcile Kismayo in conjunction of but truly inclusive politics - local Raskamboni brigade. Ahmed and national - requires more” Madobe emerged as the tweeted Ben Fender, the British potential leader of a federal Ambassador to Somalia. member state in the making. “Four men have thrashed out Clashes between Raskamboni their differences in Nairobi.

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THE JOURNALISTIC LEGACY OF MOHAMUD M. AFRAH One year ago Somali community in Nairobi lost a Somali journalism luminary Mohamud Mohamed Afrah. Born in Mogadishu in 1935 Afrah spent the first decade of his life in Mogadishu and learned Koran. In one letter published in 1966 Afrah recounted how at a press conference he challenged a journalist from Ethiopian Herald who had made misrepresentations about Somalia. When he had finished his studies and returned to Somalia he was promoted to managing editor of SONNA. In 1978 when the Ministry of Information and National Guidance launched Heegan, Afrah Advertise in Puntland Post news was appointed as the editor-in- chief. He edited Heegan until website and webzine December 28 December 1990, when the last issue of the paper Email:[email protected] appeared. Afrah’s contemporaries Early 1940s, when the British include the late Said Bakar Military Administration was Mukhtar, Mohamed Roble Nur, controlling Mogadishu, Afrah had deputy editor-in-chief, Hassan been sent to what was known as Ayeh Boqorreh, Ahmed Zaki British Kenya where he remained Gulaid. Afrah nurtured talents of until he finished primary and many journalists whose careers secondary education. Afrah took off at SONNA and Heegan. returned to Somalia when it He edited the Quarterly Economic gained independence in 1960. He Review then based at the Somali was among the first group of Presidency and was a employees at the Somali Ministry correspondent for Reuters. of Information. He was appointed Afrah remained in Mogadishu as editor with the Somali National during January 1991 when United News Agency (SONNA). His Somali Congress militias fought diligence earned him scholarship the forces loyal to the military in West Germany. He studied mass dictatorship. His book Target: communications at Eningen. Afrah Villa Somalia, recounts the first voraciously read the weekly phase of the internecine civil war Somali News in which his letters in Southern Somalia. were published.

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2005. Afrah will be remembered Member States access through for his three decade-long service to the Federal Government in Somali journalism under different Mogadishu. Puntland forces are conditions— parliamentary organised along subclan lines. democracy followed by military Each new administration dictatorship . His principled stand recruits new forces and senior on the rights of the Somali citizen civil servants loyal to the new will inspire many people. administration. Against this © Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 backdrop political associations can make little or no change Puntland Political without becoming candid about Associations Face An Uphill the clan-based politics that Task, discourage criticism of an Your report on Puntland incumbent political associations (Puntland administration. Added to this is Political Associations and the the length of time it takes to put political programmes of parties His second book, Mogadishu: Hell Road Ahead, PPM, April ) across to citizens. Local on Earth, depicts an accurate touched on issues that government elections will take picture of Mogadishu’s descend politicians should address place in three districts. into clannish bloodletting that before people take the Whoever made the decision to resulted in the 1992 famine. democratisation initiative seriously. Puntland lacks the conduct pilot local governments clan diversity enjoyed either by only in three districts unwittingly Somaliland or Galmudug. This disclosed how poor governance disadvantage sharpens intra- stalled decentralisation in clan power struggle. Political Puntland despite Garowe being associations may bring to an vocal about defending the end the practice of taking turns nascent federal system of at Puntland presidency, a Somalia. If Transitional system that rewards leaders of Puntland Electoral Commission three subclans. 15 years of can pilot local government political stability in Puntland elections in three districts, it have yet to yield good should be able to conduct governance. Political elections in all districts under accountability is virtually absent the control of Puntland in Puntland. The executive Administration. Who proposed controls the Parliament. the local government elections Political dysfunction in Puntland in this limited format? Puntland — manifested in leasing political associations, Puntland Afrah left Somalia after 1992 and Bosaso Port to DP World State government arrived in Canada. Afrah had a without community wide and TPEC had better put their sense of humour, was generous consultations — deepens every heads together and come up and kind. He loved his country and day. Puntland prides itself on with a more democratic pilot people. “I owe a lot to Somalia and introducing the federal system local government elections Somalis. I cannot promote divisive but its government seldom plan. policies or sow discord among my benefits from training and other compatriots” Afrah once told a institutional development Hussein F. Taher, Bosaso group of Somali men and women, opportunities other Federal who visited him in Toronto in

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THE Lockdown Transforms live lessons to ask questions or leaving exams taken by the Somaliland Educational leave comments once the live Ministry of Education; private System lesson comes to an end. school students receive top By Khadar Mariano Students have found ways to marks . But now classes taught The COVID-19 pandemic has boost their learning. whatsApp by the best teachers in the disrupted every aspect of life groups to exchange class links, country are available for all on around the globe in the last assignments, and other platforms like Facebook and three months. It changed the resources have become YouTube, the educational way we interact with each common. Social Media inequality in Somaliland gets other, the way we conduct platforms, which were dubbed temporarily business, and the way we to be a waste of time, have addressed. When the learn. People are conforming to suddenly become a valuable lockdown is over, social distancing, employees resource. the Somaliland Ministry of are working from home, Education will be hard pressed meetings are conducted via to ignore educational disparities Zoom and students are that deprive many children of receiving their lessons online. life chances bestowed by In Somaliland, the government quality education. had closed all schools and universities to prevent spread of © Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 COVID-19 in learning spaces. A teacher in Hargeisa gives The schools were originally an online lesson via YouTube supposed to be closed for four BOSASO-GAROWE weeks, but the period was later Moreover, cable channels have extended by four weeks. started airing prerecorded ROAD IN POOR Educational institutions, like lessons for elementary, CONDITION other institutions affected by the intermediate and secondary preventive measures, have no students,. Students who do not Garowe (PPM) — Built during clues how long it will take to have access to the internet or the second half of 1980s, reopen schools and television sets can just turn on Garowe-Bosaso Road plays universities. They have had to their radios because Radio an underappreciated role in adopt new ways to deliver Hargeisa has also started the post-1991 reconstruction lessons to students to meet broadcasting lessons. of Mudug, Nugaal and Bari their teaching obligations. The interesting thing is that this regions. The road has been Universities and schools have new way of schooling is in a gradually showing signs of come up with a creative sense becoming a great wear and tear. It is a solution: online classes. equaliser regarding the quality landmark infrastructure Distance learning is a new of education students from project that the military territory for most universities in public and private schools regime implemented with Somaliland. It is a timely receive. It’s is usually the timely assistance from the initiative to lessen the impact private schools that hire the former Italian Aid Fund (FAI). the lockdown has on students’ best teachers since they pay learning. Students avail much better than government Since last year the incidence of themselves of enough, influx of schools do, this has long accidents and minor landslides recorded lessons and live caused a disparity between the from seasonal rains that affect sessions on Facebook or quality of education students in travel on the road has YouTube. These lessons these institutions obtain. This increased. The most worrying benefit from interactive facilities gap is most evident in the aspect of this situation is that enable student following secondary and intermediate

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reflected in the more than 40% severely affects travel to and misappropriation of funds for increase of the travel time from Bosaso. Puntland does the renovation of Garowe- between Bosaso and Garowe. not have cranes that can Galka’yo road in 2016 dented When the road was in good remove overturned trucks in the confidence donor organisations condition it took a truck driver main road. have in the ability of Puntland roughly 5 hours to deliver State to run small-scale goods from Bosaso to Garowe, infrastructure projects. the adminstrative capital of Puntland State. Now it takes A Backbreaking journey between 8-10 hours.

Trucks avoiding the treacherous Bosaso-Garowe road A gully formed in a part of the The economic costs of poor road between Sunni-jiif and roads result in inflationary Garowe pressures in Puntland. Truck Spring rains contribute to the drivers that once charged US$ deterioration of Bosaso-Garowe 1000 to deliver goods to Road condition. When a Buhodle now charge between minibus carrying passengers US$ 1,500-1,800 to make up reaches a gully in a part of the for extra hours to travel on road near Sunni-jiif, passengers unpaved and rocky roads. “I have to disembark and carry have to service my lorry once their belongings on their backs we unload goods. The to wade through the stagnant mechanic charges me between rain water. People fleeing the A deep pothole in the US$ 300-500 ” said the owner Bosaso-Garowe road inclement summer weather of of a lorry in Lasanod. Puntland Bosaso to spend their xagaa- The travel time increases ever Highways Authority tasked with bax (summer holiday ) in inland more when an accident in the renovating roads remains districts face longer travel times road involving haulage trucks underfunded. The and riskier journeys. Minibuses

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travel on sandy and rocky seasonal torrential rains that An Excerpt from terrains by the main road. further weaken the foundations Passengers walk by the of the road. Talking Truth to minibus or the truck for one or Power by Ismail Haji two kilometres to return to the The new Puntland Warsame main road to resume the administration that took office in backbreaking journey. “The January 2019 had not asked for January 9, 2020 2019 summer was assistance from the Federal I watched and listened to exceptionally tiresome. Families Ministry of Housing and Public President Deni’s State of Union travel in minibuses or small Works. With assistance from Speech on his First cars that cannot travel when so Qatar the Somali Federal Year in office last night. While many potholes and gullies Government last year launched the efforts of his administration necessitate longer walks as a projects to renovate are commendable in many part of the journey. Families Mogadishu-Bal’ad Road and aspects, I felt that there is a long with children or elders or sick Mogadishu-Agoye Road. “Poor way for him to go to address root people had to stay in Bosaso to relations between Garowe and causes as to why Puntland State brave the hot summer weather Mogadishu should not deprive is falling behind in many fronts, there” says a Bosaso-based us of our right to seek including, first and foremost, business man. renovation assistance from the democratization process, public Federal Government. service, judiciary and public security reforms. The pre-1991 Somali But, what is clearly noticeable Government implemented and overarching problem of Bosaso-Garowe Road and Puntland is the absence of Bosaso Port” said Dahir strategic policy planning on: Ahmed, a teacher in 1. Puntland policy objectives Bosaso. People in Puntland towards poverty reduction, are waking up to economic youth unemployment, the crisis costs resulting from the poor of health sector, whereby there condition of Bosaso-Garowe is no a single quality hospital in Road. State after 21 years of © Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 statehood. 2. Economic benchmarks to strive for in the next five years, at least. 3. Education goals, where Puntland State has fallen behind Somaliland and Banadir Region, especially in quality of its higher learning. 4. Think Tank and academic research centres. Pile-up of mini-buses and 5. Competent State advisory cars on Bosaso-Garowe road boards and professional People who regularly travel on associations tackling with issues Bosaso-Garowe Road complain of state and national interests on of the rate at which potholes get daily basis. formed in the main road in 6. Provision of proactive policy addition to the threat of

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and strategy in dealing with the deserve after long and historic and Garowe districts. Rain fledgling Federal Government in struggle for a better life. This will water flows under the bridge. the making of a “New Somalia”. also set the record for Somalia’s The distance between the Puntland should cause things to governance, and act as another bridge and Qardho safeguards happen, not to wait for things to Puntland contribution to the district against floods. The happen to her and reacts to Somalia’s continued nation- second watercourse runs events. It should take the lead in state. through Qardho. A concrete national political developments. It is my sincere hope that watercourse (known as buundo It should make noises and alerts President Deni’s Administration jiif) able to withstand rainfloods of its dissatisfaction to Somalia’s would wake up and wise up to has been on the road to International Partners and all meet the challenges of the time. Bosaso. Cars and Lorries wait stakeholders. for rainfloods to run their course 7. Unlike the rest of Somalia, © Ismail Haji Warsame, 2020 before resuming a journey. Puntland has immense human and natural resources to exploit HOW INADEQUATE TOWN Before the district expanded effectively. It has a huge PLANNING INTENSIFIED IMPACT locals had left the watercourse diaspora population. It has OF FLOODS IN QARDHO unaffected by town planning. rich cultural heritage and long They knew building houses or history of self-government. In Qardho (PPM) — The offices along the watercourse the past, it had played critical torrential rains that caused was to put oneself at the mercy and leading roles in Somalia’s floods in Qardho on Monday of roaring seasonal floods that statecraft and statehood. These evening had resulted in meander through the semi- are historical achievements it displacement, loss of life and desert terrain of Bari region couldn’t abandon to be quite wealth. Puntland State before flowing into the Indian visible and proactive. It has to Government has appointed a Ocean. re-assert itself, reset and reboot. disaster response committee 8. Finally, Puntland should tasked to assess the damage proclaim policy guidelines on wrought by floods. fighting maladministration, cronyism, nepotism and abuses Since 1993 Qardho has been of public office. undergoing expansion spurred There must be developed and by population increase. Like known standards for handling other towns of Puntland State issues of malpractice in both Qardho has benefitted from public and private sectors. economic growth triggered by Ismail Warsame: enterprising internally displaced President Said Abdullahi Deni people from Southern Somalia (second from right) visiting Qardho 9. In conclusion, the Head of the and other districts of Bari region neighbourhoods affected by floods

Administration must launch a before and after Qardho had policy of public accountability become an adminstrative The watercourse in Qardho and must do away the notion of capital of Karkaar, a new region ‘Madax-Ka-Nool’, whether it is created by Puntland. proved an ideal place to build perceived or real. This will be a houses, offices and business premises. Some businesses break from the past mistakes or Geographically Qardho is abuses of power. All branches of located between two near the watercourse have built an annex along the government must operate in the watercourses (tog in Somali). A watercourse while the area was accordance with the bridge spans over the becoming a much sought after Constitution. That is what watercourse between Qardho people of Puntland spot for developers.

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Two factors have contributed to area is as dangerous as leaving have agreed with us on the the devastating impact of the watercourse as it is now — importance of prioritizing rainfloods in Qardho. 1- clogged with properties and saving lives in the wake of The local government has other amenities. Rainfloods will this COVID-19 pandemic . We failed to discharge its duty not cause more displacement and agreed to temporarily stop to issue planning permits for an loss of life as long as the one- Khat imports. We are very area known to be a natural time natural watercourse gets thankful for their watercourse for seasonal rain referred to as a Qardho demonstration of water. 2- Low rainfall for the last neighbourhood . responsibility” said H.E. ten years has lulled locals into a Abdirahman Saylici. false sense of security. © Puntland Post The majority of the people Monthly, 2020 have welcomed this decision, Rainfloods did not cause but many issues remain damage of similar scale in the Somaliland Imposes unresolved. Taxes on Khat district before the watercourse account for about 20% of the had become a local Temporary Ban on national budget. Khat trade neighbourhood of Qardho. Khat Imports also employs notable Houses, schools, parks, By Khadar Mariano portions of the population, business premises and the for many of whom Khat market built on the watercourse Hargeisa ( PPM ) – The business is their only source force rainfloods to bifurcate into Chairman of the National of income. This decision is two parts of the district. One COVID-19 Preparedness presumably going to part of floods affected a part of Committee, Vice President exacerbate the Qardho not too far from the Abdirahman Abdilahi (Saylici) unemployment rates of the watercourse. Houses diverted has announced 25 days ban country, estimated to be over floods to other other on Khat imports effective 70%. neighbourhoods of Qardho. The from the 23rd of March. The government is yet to say second part of floods damaged The temporary ban has not how it plans to make up for most buildings built on what come about easily, but rather the budget deficit the Khat was once the district after long deliberations ban will cause or how it will watercourse. within the government, health deal with the unemployment experts The absence of disaster Sayli’i: Common stand on Khat mitigation policy along with and three successive inadequate town planning had meetings with the major Khat intensified the impact of importers in Somaliland. The rainfloods. While the impact of Vice President has rainfloods on the underlined that the neighbourhood of the Somaliland Government is watercourse was foreseeable, it very serious about was difficult to plan for the reinforcing this decision with district-wide impact of stringent measures. The floods. How lessons from the Somaliland Police will the temporary ban of Khat devastating rainfloods will confiscate any vehicles imports will surely result in . inform planning and relocation caught illegally delivering Another question one might decisions remains unclear. Khat during the temporary ask is how effective the Allowing families and ban. government can enforce this businesses affected by floods “The Khat traders have decision given that the to return to the watercourse shown great patriotism. They

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Minister of Information Mr. the Somali diaspora and its conflict, drought, floods or Saleban Ali Koore has financial resources play in economic emergencies (or a previously acknowledged the times of crisis. Taking stock of combination of these). In this government’s inability to this information can provide instance, however, the shock of patrol the long border useful insight into the likely COVID-19 has begun in the Somaliland shares with to impacts of the imminent drop in diaspora. Ultimately it is likely Ethiopia to stop Khat imports remittances. that both ends of the from the neighbouring remittance chain are likely to be country. The COVID-19 pandemic is an affected by the same shock, However it turns out, the event of radical uncertainty: we playing out in similar and people of Somaliland are don’t know the dynamics of the different ways. Already, closely following what comes pandemic in different according to an industry source, out of this bold decision to contexts (especially in Africa), stop Khat trade for the first the volume of remittances has time since 1991. nor its wider economic impact. dropped by as much as 50% in We don’t know if this shock will certain corridors. compound other stresses © Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 afflicting Somalis (such as war International assistance to the and food insecurity), or whether unfolding crisis will always How Will Remittances the resilience shown by Somali have political dimensions and communities in response to responses need to use ‘conflict Affect the Somali COVID- those shocks will also serve lenses’ and the principle of 19 Response? them well under the pressures ‘know your epidemic’. Somalia of the pandemic. has a deeply politicised history Nisar Majid of aid, most recently brought The Somali diaspora, out once again in relation to Laura Hammond numbering well over 1 million, is the political economy of food distributed throughout the assistance. This will play out in Khalif Abdirahman globe. Some of the largest the current context in terms of communities are in the US which countries provide Guhad Adan (where at the time of writing assistance and how it is the most cases have been distributed internally. Nauja Kleist recorded as a result of COVID- 19), the UK, Sweden, What do we know about those As the COVID-19 pandemic Netherlands, Germany, and Italy who send remittances? spreads into the Horn of Africa, (all of which have extremely and as diaspora communities severe outbreaks and high – Remittances from Somalis become affected by lockdowns, although varying – death rates). abroad are estimated at layoffs and illness, between US$1.3 – 2 bn the remittance lifeline that While the Somali diaspora are annually, possibly much more, sustains more than 40% of renowned for their ability to where GDP is estimated at Somalis is being attenuated. respond to crises in their US$6bn. Approximately 40% of This blog outlines a number of country of heritage and have households in the country are issues related to remittances been doing so for decades, estimated to receive these and Somalia in the light of the typically it is they who are funds directly. The vast majority COVID-19 pandemic. There has insulated from the shocks that of direct recipients are based in been considerable research on their relatives are facing within urban settings, but many send remittances and the role that the Somali territories, whether

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on a portion of this money to people organising global families.1 These geographic rural relatives. fundraising initiatives through and identity-based WhatsApp groups, or Somali particularities, for example, link Remittances contribute to the community groups working Somaliland (and its diaspora) payment of national food together with their strongly with the UK, a function imports in what is a food deficit memberships to raise funds. of colonial history. Some of country. At the household level, Remittances usually intensify these patterns may be even this money primarily covers during crises and emergencies, more localised with large food and household essentials whether through increased extended families linked – biil, in Somali. It also demands from recipients or between specific towns in the contributes to essential additional contributions to diaspora and in Somalia. One of education and health care fundraising activities. It thereby the four major Somali clan expenses. Receiving compounds existing diaspora families, the Digil and Mirifle, remittances makes it easier to contributions and civil society are predominantly found in access credit, repay debts, engagement. In the cholera southern Somalia, are make business investments outbreak of 2017 remittance historically marginalised, and and smooth out fluctuations in funds were used to buy medical have a much smaller diaspora overall household expenditures. supplies, pay for health staff than the clan families of Diaspora funding is a major salaries and protective northern and central regions. source of finance for the private equipment and supplies. These communities, who are health care sector. They play a also predominantly the farming major role in peace-building In the Somalia famine of 2011 and agro-pastoral populations, activities as well. Some as well as in the 2017 have been the worst affected by remittances have undoubtedly emergency, the ability of those natural hazards such as funded conflict activities in the living in the midst of appalling droughts or locust swarms, as past, but data on this is difficult conditions to take advantage of well as due to their weaker to obtain; today funding for their ‘social connectedness’ to social and political conflict mostly comes from reach out through social status. They make up the sources other than remittances. networks to Somalis in urban majority of the internally areas of the country and to the displaced living in Somalia’s The diaspora’s support in times diaspora to ask for help was largest cities and those who of crisis occurs in different crucial to their survival. Of remain in their home areas are ways. It may involve an particular concern in this largely under Al Shabaab’s extended family mobilising pandemic is that the domain, complicating their financially to support an virus knows no boundaries and position. These factors will individual household that has may affect members in rural, need to be considered in fallen on difficult times, or it urban and diaspora locations at analyses of vulnerability and in may involve the wider diaspora the same time. humanitarian response. in multiple countries organising together to respond to a What do we know about who Research also suggests that as drought or famine. Mobilisation receives remittances? many as 80% of remittance can take many different forms, recipients receive money from including calling on family and We also know that remittances one sender, suggesting a high kinship networks, groups of are not equally distributed in dependence and vulnerability young people using social Somali society. They are on this relationship. Older media or holding charity events, concentrated within particular women, who retain strong ties individuals or small groups of clans, lineages and extended to family ‘back home’ are

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important senders. If anything their own survival – particularly services both in the US and the happens to this person – they the restrictions in recent years UK. These services are lose their job, become ill, or on access to bank accounts – nonetheless limited due to have to care for immediate but have been instrumental to restricted banking services and family members who are ill – the survival of their clients. accessibility in the Somali they may not be able to They are also powerful territories. Continued continue to remit at the same economic and political actors in restrictions on money transfer level. The extent to which the their own right. companies’ operations have an remittance link is resilient will impact as well on international depend on other family Depending on the sending aid agencies’ activities, as they members being able to take up country location there are use these channels to pay staff this role. The result is likely to different options and and deliver essential funding be a reduction in the amount of preferences for how to send for aid resources inside remittances people in the money. Following the collapse Somalia. diaspora are able to send, if not of the state, the Somali-owned at first then over time if the money transfer companies Emerging issues and unemployment and disease were the only option, with cash vulnerabilities in the diaspora crises are protracted. Likewise, taken to a shop, which could this reliance accentuates the then be collected within Immediate concerns and significant pressure that Somali minutes or hours in numerous reactions in the diaspora are diaspora groups may encounter locations in Somalia. This is centred on the personal health in this crisis. still a very common means of and financial impacts that sending money, especially for people are facing. As in wider These geographic and identity the older generation, many of society, economic impact is patterns matter in light of whom are less familiar with differentiated across different COVID-19 as both the health online technologies. countries and labour markets. and economic impacts may People working in sectors such play out quite differently in the In recent years, online services as transportation, retail, countries (and localities) that have grown although not domestic and office cleaning, host the majority of Somali equally in all places. In Somalia, and restaurant/hospitality (all diaspora groups; financial in terms of internal financial of which are major employers impact as well as economic transfers, mobile money has of Somalis) are being laid off. and welfare support is become ubiquitous, and various Cafes and teashops are closed significantly different in, for online platforms can be used to in many locations; taxis example, the USA, the UK and move money within Somalia or business is virtually at a Scandinavia. between neighbouring standstill. Where it has been countries – particularly Kenya – promised, income support is Remittance vehicles and Somali recipients. In the not likely to cover their full lost UK, online sending platforms to salary. There will also be a The story of remittances in Somalia are not that commonly cohort of Somalia over the last 40 years used given the tight restrictions unregistered/undocumented is linked to the evolution of the on money service providers in migrants doing casual work, Somali telecommunications many Western countries. who will be badly affected and and money transfer enterprises, However, money transfer for whom no compensation will who are a great success story companies like Dahabshiil and be available. in innovation. They have faced its mobile platform eDahab and and continue to face threats to Hormuud/Taaj have online

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Some areas of employment are and some activities have the virus will spare them is still active or well protected. stopped, such as women’s already being shattered by Notable amongst these are savings clubs – hagbad in reports of people with fevers public sector workers, including Somali. It is expected that belts and cough-related illnesses in health workers and those in the will be tightened and families in many parts of the country. With education sector. Public Somalia warned that less no in-country testing transport in cities like London is money will be coming their way. procedures it is impossible to considered essential and well- know whether these are COVID- protected and is a source of However, as COVID-19 cases in 19 cases. employment for many Somali Somalia begin to be reported, men. Minnesota is an important some diaspora and community Northern and central areas hub for Somalis and while there groups have started to raise depend more on remittances as are many taxi drivers and other funds for response. In a single well as on food imports, as occupations that are hard hit weekend, in response to the these are predominantly urban there is also a strong meat Somaliland appeal for support, and pastoral areas. These processing industry that for example, several thousand areas also have a greater remains active. pounds have been raised from reliance on the livestock within the diaspora. Ramadan economy. Especially the export Beyond their employment, is approaching, which is a of livestock to the Gulf, where people are concerned about traditional time of giving, which the Hajj in Saudi Arabia – due their elderly relatives, and are may help to alleviate some of to start this year in late July, trying to use social distancing the worst effects of the crisis if and already under doubt – practices if possible and to live people can find ways to send provides a huge annual demand with restrictions on funds home. However over for Somali-reared animals, and movements. The illness and time, as the economic impacts an important source of deaths of prominent Somalis in deepen, such giving may be household income and food the diaspora as a result of difficult to sustain. imports. With the potential for COVID-19 are being shared in strict economic lockdowns and media/social media and are Emerging Issues and restrictions on imports, such as being used as warnings for vulnerabilities in Somalia of cereal imports, warning bells Somalis to follow social will already be ringing. isolation practices. Pre-existing food security and economic vulnerability is Looking forward … it seems Somalis in the diaspora focused on southern Somalia, likely that the negative impact contacted for this blog suggest particularly amongst displaced on remittance flows to Somalia that people are still populations, however and globally will be preoccupied with their own displacement-vulnerability is as considerable. Those who situation and that it is still too much a factor of access as it is remain in work or whose early to know how remittances of vulnerability; conditions of income is protected by the will be affected; the end of the rural populations in Al Shabaab various financial support month of March is the first territory are not clearly provisions being made by month that an effect on understood. The underlying governments in the Global remittances will become health conditions in IDP camps North are likely to be obliged to evident. Anecdotal reports and poor urban settings are support relatives in these same indicate that people are not extremely worrying in relation to areas. Increased reliance on visiting money transfer the health impact of COVID-19. forms of welfare support in companies’ shops (in the UK) The hope of many Somalis that Europe and the UK, where

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health care is largely free, 1. There is a need for continuous Daniel Maxwell, Hannah appear to offer better prospects monitoring of conditions in Stogdon, Peter Hailey, Mark than in the USA where social both diaspora countries and in Bradbury and Alex de Waal protection is patchier and Somalia to see how the for valuable inputs. health care costs can be epidemiological and economic exorbitant. In short, the social impacts of the pandemic support mechanisms in Somali influence diaspora/country of society, which are extremely origin interactions; operational strong, may be coming under aid agencies (both Somali and great strain, just to support international) and donors those in the diaspora. The should use this information to longer the domestic and adapt their approaches. international lockdowns 2. The influence of politics and continue to inhibit economic conflict on the spread of activity, the greater the COVID-19 needs to be challenges to remittances will monitored in real time to be be. able to adapt. The epidemiology of COVID-19 3. Remittance-sending channels and its interaction with other need to be protected to enable diseases in Somalia, and in people to send money to all Africa, is not yet known, but will parts of Somalia. be revealed in the coming weeks. If remittances to 4. All money transfer companies Somalia do diminish operating in Somalia should significantly and the Hajj reduce their transaction fees to pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia is help maintain the flows. cancelled, if food imports 5. Aid flows to Somalia may need remain restricted and prices to increase to compensate for start to rise, pressure will losses in remittance support. It quickly mount. The gu rains is worth noting that that are starting across the humanitarian agencies rely on Somali territories will play an Money Transfer Companies to important role in 2020 as good deliver this much needed aid. livestock health will mean more milk and meat and higher value 6. Source: LSE Blog animals. 7. This blog was written following a meeting of Following on from this researchers and preliminary piece, and as the COVID-19 crisis evolves, we will practitioners working on Somalia, on 1 April, hosted GRADE A PREMIER & be developing a more detailed WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT analysis. by the Rift Valley Institute COMPANY (RVI) and facilitated by the This brief review already Centre for Humanitarian Tailor-made, all-in-one suggests several Change (CHC). Thanks to software, web solution: domain recommendations:

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name registration, hosting and Tadamun Social Society 5. Car Rental /Hire rates application development. (TASS), is hiring TWO per Month hired within vehicles (Land cruiser) (ONE Puntland expressed in Email: [email protected] VIHICLE for Laas Caanood USD Currency and Dharkein Genyo and 6. The Rates MUST be ANOTHER ONE in Taleex) for inclusive of the Drivers a period of 9 months. The and fuel TENDER NOTICE FOR VEHICLE vehicles will support SHF 7. Copy for the owner’s HIRING IN LAAS CAANOOD, funded protection project in passport/ID TALEEX AND DHARKEIN GENYO Laas Caanood, Taleex and Dharkein Genyo of Sool Completed and sealed bids region. indicating tender reference numbers on the sealed Interested bidders are invited envelopes are to be submitted to collect a complete set of into tender box placed in Supplier Registration Forms/ TASS offices in Bosaso, North documents in visiting the of international Village Hotel TASS offices in Bosaso, North and in Garowe, Gen Nuur of international Village Hotel Salaad Rd, Street 14, Mire and in Garowe, Gen Nuur Aware Stadium area-Opposite Salaad Rd, Street 14, Mire Save the Children. Aware Stadium area-Opposite Save the Children, Late bids shall be rejected. from 1st May 2020 to 8th May Bids containing other external Tadamun Social 2020, between 08.30am to markings that can identify the Society 03.30pm. vendor or addressed to individuals will be Key Requirements: automatically disqualified. TASS Project Code: SOM- 1. Duly filled in Vehicle Please note that TASS is not bound Hire Prequalification to accept any or all bids and may 20/3485/SA1/Prot/NGO/15118 decide at its sole discretion to reject Form in English any or all bids without offering any Donor: SHF Language with explanation. Owner’s and driver’s IFB NO: PNTB/12/2020 full details For More Information, Kindly 2. Certified True Copy of Contact: APPLICATION all Pages of the Vehicle DEADLINE: 10th May 2020 Ownership/Log Book Location Tel Number Email address Bosaso 907 796147 with the generality of [email protected] proprietors- (Certified Tadamun Social Society Garowe 907 794774 (TASS) is a national Relief and by the Ministry of 906 527238 Development agency with Public Works- Transport Department) cross- sectorial programs bridging relief and 3. Road Tax Clearance development assistance and Certificates program services to 4. True Certified Copy of vulnerable communities. the driver’s license (valid)

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