Somaliland American Council, a chapter of East Africa Policy Institute hosted a lively exchange between the Somaliland Diaspora community and the Vice president of Somaliland Mr Ahmed Yusuf Yassin.The vice president started his remarks by thanking the audience and the organizers of the teleconference for giving him the opportunity to have a conversation with them. He then briefly describe the history and the difficulties facing Somaliland in terms of the economy, security and the educational needs present in the country. After those remarks, he embarked in answering a number of tough questions from the audience as the following transcript from the session indicates.
Questions to the Vice President
1- Question from Mudane Hussein "Gacmadheere"
Q-What is the reason why the gov. won’t allow us to sell our livestock at market value?
VP-Aljabari was the only one who answered our call for help and invested his own money up front (3M) to build in Berbera facilities that will allow us to directly export our livestock from Berbera, instead of going through Djibouti. This facility will be ready in 4 months and then we will allow the free market place to take over.
1- Question from Mudane Hussein "Gacmadheere"
Q-What is the reason why the gov. won’t allow us to sell our livestock at market value?
VP-Aljabari was the only one who answered our call for help and invested his own money up front (3M) to build in Berbera facilities that will allow us to directly export our livestock from Berbera, instead of going through Djibouti. This facility will be ready in 4 months and then we will allow the free market place to take over.
2 - Saamiya Cali Madar
Q-The gov. donated 2000 heads of livestock to Djibouti recently, since chartity begins at home and there is a large need for food in the country, why did you not help those in need at home?
VP-The need is large and we know it, but our actions had something to do with building a better relation with our neighbor.
3 – Yusuf Sultan, NJ, USA
Q_Berbera is ghost town and is showing a lot neglect, even the newly built power factory is not producing any power due to fuel shortages, all of this happens when this is the city that generates the most revenue for the gov. What are you planning to do to change the situation ?
VP- Fuel costs are a lot higher now than they were when i twas built and resources are limited, but thruth be told, this is a city neglected by its own people, every community is building its own city, why are the people of Berbera not building their own city ?
4 - Samsam Haybe Hersi, Toronto, Canada
Q- Is the Guurti going to have an election, or will they be selected like they were the last time?
VP- There is going to have to be a special election for the Guurti, something different than one man one vote, because of the nature of their office. They are a very important body and they are the reason why we are so successful, they will be here long after everyone else is gone from the scene.
5 – Mohamed Hassan Ali Awale, Boston, MA, USA
Q- In your public statements you project yourself as some one who is a defender of the constitutuion, however Why is your administration constantly breaking the law? For example why are you enforcing monopolies like Total and Aljabari?
VP- Aljaberi I already discussed, Total was the company that restored the fuel Tanks and invested in the infrastructure. Total has 50 year contract (issued to them by the previous administration) furthermore anyone who wants to import fuel can do so provided they meet the company (Total )standards and conditions.
6– Ismail Hassan Yassin, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Q-Every time the president leaves town, you promise to do something different than what his administration has done so far, then when the president gets back into town, nothing gets done. Can we intrerpret that as you having different policy and political disagreement Rayale and you are unable to institute them because of him?
VP- There are no policy or political differences between the president and myself.
7– Ibrahim Abdi, Baltimore, MD, USA
Q- Every time there is a public demonstration, the police end up using live bullets and people die, how can the public express their dissent publicly without having to fear being shot at.
VP- We will have the best demonstration in the contry when all fire arm is removed from every house hold, because we know that every one has at least three rifles at home.
-Moderator followed up and pointed to the vp that no one shot at the police, the only shooting that took place came from the police. Why not invest in buying the police some shields and helmets to protect them form stone throwing youths.
VP- We do not have the resources to buy such equipment, we don’t even have funds to buy bullets for our snipers.
8- Foosi Saleebaan Aw-Bindhe, Burco, Somaliland
Q_ It is getting closer to when Udub is going to have its convention, are you running for president, or are you still a vp candidate?
VP- I am for a united party and I am running as a vp candidate.
9– Prof. Amina Xaaji Aadan, CA, USA
Q- Poor countries need to foster and aid their local business in order to grow their economies, why is your administration issuing and eforcing foreign monopolies at the expense of local business and industry.
VP-- Aljabari was the only one who answered our call for help and invested his own money up front (3M) to build in Berbera facilities that will allow us to directly export our livestock from Berbera, instead of going through Djiboti. This facility will be ready in 4 months and then we will allow the free market plce to take over.
10– Hassan Ali, Maine, USA
Q- The previous commission is recognized as having done a good job despite the difficulties of their period, yet some feel that they were not properly compensated and have actually been humiliated by having the police reposses their vehicle while driving in town. Is your administration going to consider some kind of compensation for them?
VP- I don’t recall the incident you describe about their cars being confiscated by the police, and I believe they did their job. The difficulty is that now they all joined different parties and are no longer an independent entity. It would have been better had they not done that.
11– CABDIRAHMAN JAMA AHMED ( SHOOTALI), Manchester, UK
Q-Do you have a fire fighters and fire trucks?
VP-No we do not, fire trucks require funds we do not have at the moment and now we have the police to respond to fires.
12– Mohamed Bashe Ibrahim, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Q- Why is the gov. not changing the old Somali currency into the Somaliland shilling from the eastern regions?
VP- We know there is a problem of old Somali currency being used in the easteren region and we have already taken steps to address the problem. We are planning to resolve this problem before the election.
13– Hussein Beergeel,
Q- Why is the gov. not addressing the water shortage in Hargeysa?
VP- We are currently in the process of digging wells and have complete some already
14– Abdi Hussein, Atlanta, GA, USA
Q- There are allegations made by none other than members of the parliament that all the revenue source coming out of Berbera port are not reflected on the sl budget. Can you address this issue?
VP- I want you to come to Berbera and do the auditing yourself to put your mind at ease. Of course that is not the case and everything is accounted for.
15- Abdillahi Ahmed, Toronto, Canada,
Q- Having had to postpone the election once already, how confident are you that this time elections will take place in March 29,2008?
VP-The election commission is the body responsible to determine the time to hold elections, however the political parties have agreed on this timetable and I believe the elections will take place at the appropriate time. If there are issues we have mechanisms in place to deal with them.
Follow up question: If by the time elections are to take place, the voter registration is not completed, will you postpone the election once again or are you going to have the elections take place like the other previous election which required no voter registration?
VP- It is worth noting that some of the parties (UCID) are adamant about completing the voter registration before any elections are to take place, and we have come to a concensus on the matter.
16– Abdillahi Daud, MN, USA
Q-Why your government is not helping the private sector to create local jobs? For instance, the government refused to impose high tariffs on foreign products which compete on goods currently produced in Somaliland.
VP-We try to help out our small business and we do not impose any taxes on them, and God willing we will help them more in the future.
17– Hassan Yonis, MN, USA
Q- Your administration has promise in October 2007 to start construction of the Berbera cement factory, why the delay, and what is the latest news about it?
VP- The German company in charge of building the factory is about to start the project and is due to arrive within the next few months. The agreement calls for, the immediate open bidding for anyone to take over that project if the Germans are unable to deliver and complete the project.
18 – Caydaruus Cilmi Yusuf,
Q- What is your administration going to do about the flood of young people loosing their lives in the red sea while attempting to leave the country?
VP- We are aware of the situation and let me point out to you that you guys in the diaspora are also contributing to this problem by coming home and showing off with your computers and cameras. Because of that all the young people think that leaving the country is the answer to get everything one needs.
19 – Ahmed Ali, Seattle, WAQ- What is your position in opening up the process and allowing more parties to participate in the election?
VP- The constitution is very clear in that regard and we can only have three parties
20-ModeratorQ-Your administration has blocked private ownership of radio stations, and you have made the claim that there is a need for legislation and regulations in place before you can open the airwaves to the private citizens. How come you have given license to the BBC and VOA to establish FM stations in Somaliland, while denying your own citizens the same rights?-
VP- The foreign press has fulfilled and signed all our contractual agreements and God willing the local press will do the same.
End.
Source: East Africa Policy Institute- eastafricapi.com
Q-The gov. donated 2000 heads of livestock to Djibouti recently, since chartity begins at home and there is a large need for food in the country, why did you not help those in need at home?
VP-The need is large and we know it, but our actions had something to do with building a better relation with our neighbor.
3 – Yusuf Sultan, NJ, USA
Q_Berbera is ghost town and is showing a lot neglect, even the newly built power factory is not producing any power due to fuel shortages, all of this happens when this is the city that generates the most revenue for the gov. What are you planning to do to change the situation ?
VP- Fuel costs are a lot higher now than they were when i twas built and resources are limited, but thruth be told, this is a city neglected by its own people, every community is building its own city, why are the people of Berbera not building their own city ?
4 - Samsam Haybe Hersi, Toronto, Canada
Q- Is the Guurti going to have an election, or will they be selected like they were the last time?
VP- There is going to have to be a special election for the Guurti, something different than one man one vote, because of the nature of their office. They are a very important body and they are the reason why we are so successful, they will be here long after everyone else is gone from the scene.
5 – Mohamed Hassan Ali Awale, Boston, MA, USA
Q- In your public statements you project yourself as some one who is a defender of the constitutuion, however Why is your administration constantly breaking the law? For example why are you enforcing monopolies like Total and Aljabari?
VP- Aljaberi I already discussed, Total was the company that restored the fuel Tanks and invested in the infrastructure. Total has 50 year contract (issued to them by the previous administration) furthermore anyone who wants to import fuel can do so provided they meet the company (Total )standards and conditions.
6– Ismail Hassan Yassin, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Q-Every time the president leaves town, you promise to do something different than what his administration has done so far, then when the president gets back into town, nothing gets done. Can we intrerpret that as you having different policy and political disagreement Rayale and you are unable to institute them because of him?
VP- There are no policy or political differences between the president and myself.
7– Ibrahim Abdi, Baltimore, MD, USA
Q- Every time there is a public demonstration, the police end up using live bullets and people die, how can the public express their dissent publicly without having to fear being shot at.
VP- We will have the best demonstration in the contry when all fire arm is removed from every house hold, because we know that every one has at least three rifles at home.
-Moderator followed up and pointed to the vp that no one shot at the police, the only shooting that took place came from the police. Why not invest in buying the police some shields and helmets to protect them form stone throwing youths.
VP- We do not have the resources to buy such equipment, we don’t even have funds to buy bullets for our snipers.
8- Foosi Saleebaan Aw-Bindhe, Burco, Somaliland
Q_ It is getting closer to when Udub is going to have its convention, are you running for president, or are you still a vp candidate?
VP- I am for a united party and I am running as a vp candidate.
9– Prof. Amina Xaaji Aadan, CA, USA
Q- Poor countries need to foster and aid their local business in order to grow their economies, why is your administration issuing and eforcing foreign monopolies at the expense of local business and industry.
VP-- Aljabari was the only one who answered our call for help and invested his own money up front (3M) to build in Berbera facilities that will allow us to directly export our livestock from Berbera, instead of going through Djiboti. This facility will be ready in 4 months and then we will allow the free market plce to take over.
10– Hassan Ali, Maine, USA
Q- The previous commission is recognized as having done a good job despite the difficulties of their period, yet some feel that they were not properly compensated and have actually been humiliated by having the police reposses their vehicle while driving in town. Is your administration going to consider some kind of compensation for them?
VP- I don’t recall the incident you describe about their cars being confiscated by the police, and I believe they did their job. The difficulty is that now they all joined different parties and are no longer an independent entity. It would have been better had they not done that.
11– CABDIRAHMAN JAMA AHMED ( SHOOTALI), Manchester, UK
Q-Do you have a fire fighters and fire trucks?
VP-No we do not, fire trucks require funds we do not have at the moment and now we have the police to respond to fires.
12– Mohamed Bashe Ibrahim, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Q- Why is the gov. not changing the old Somali currency into the Somaliland shilling from the eastern regions?
VP- We know there is a problem of old Somali currency being used in the easteren region and we have already taken steps to address the problem. We are planning to resolve this problem before the election.
13– Hussein Beergeel,
Q- Why is the gov. not addressing the water shortage in Hargeysa?
VP- We are currently in the process of digging wells and have complete some already
14– Abdi Hussein, Atlanta, GA, USA
Q- There are allegations made by none other than members of the parliament that all the revenue source coming out of Berbera port are not reflected on the sl budget. Can you address this issue?
VP- I want you to come to Berbera and do the auditing yourself to put your mind at ease. Of course that is not the case and everything is accounted for.
15- Abdillahi Ahmed, Toronto, Canada,
Q- Having had to postpone the election once already, how confident are you that this time elections will take place in March 29,2008?
VP-The election commission is the body responsible to determine the time to hold elections, however the political parties have agreed on this timetable and I believe the elections will take place at the appropriate time. If there are issues we have mechanisms in place to deal with them.
Follow up question: If by the time elections are to take place, the voter registration is not completed, will you postpone the election once again or are you going to have the elections take place like the other previous election which required no voter registration?
VP- It is worth noting that some of the parties (UCID) are adamant about completing the voter registration before any elections are to take place, and we have come to a concensus on the matter.
16– Abdillahi Daud, MN, USA
Q-Why your government is not helping the private sector to create local jobs? For instance, the government refused to impose high tariffs on foreign products which compete on goods currently produced in Somaliland.
VP-We try to help out our small business and we do not impose any taxes on them, and God willing we will help them more in the future.
17– Hassan Yonis, MN, USA
Q- Your administration has promise in October 2007 to start construction of the Berbera cement factory, why the delay, and what is the latest news about it?
VP- The German company in charge of building the factory is about to start the project and is due to arrive within the next few months. The agreement calls for, the immediate open bidding for anyone to take over that project if the Germans are unable to deliver and complete the project.
18 – Caydaruus Cilmi Yusuf,
Q- What is your administration going to do about the flood of young people loosing their lives in the red sea while attempting to leave the country?
VP- We are aware of the situation and let me point out to you that you guys in the diaspora are also contributing to this problem by coming home and showing off with your computers and cameras. Because of that all the young people think that leaving the country is the answer to get everything one needs.
19 – Ahmed Ali, Seattle, WAQ- What is your position in opening up the process and allowing more parties to participate in the election?
VP- The constitution is very clear in that regard and we can only have three parties
20-ModeratorQ-Your administration has blocked private ownership of radio stations, and you have made the claim that there is a need for legislation and regulations in place before you can open the airwaves to the private citizens. How come you have given license to the BBC and VOA to establish FM stations in Somaliland, while denying your own citizens the same rights?-
VP- The foreign press has fulfilled and signed all our contractual agreements and God willing the local press will do the same.
End.
Source: East Africa Policy Institute- eastafricapi.com
