Somaliland on the International Stage
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Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Somaliland Update / April 2020 Somaliland on the International Stage * % l w / r * 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 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 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. > ■ % 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 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM unrecognized as it might be internationally is a reality none can ignore or sidestep." Read more. r - - ■ «r I- ' ^ •• w f. f 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. Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 1 r ♦ 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. Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM \ M . HI " a V Vice; m 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. Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM * ; 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. Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 1 v 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. Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 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. i 4k. 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 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 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. t .t T. i y 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. Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 4^- % > x .*r ,-r C. I 1 K • • » . V'* PDI 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 Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/06/2020 5:48:58 PM 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.