Others say the president is not fit enough to attend to his day-to-day duties and that’s why he needs an assistant. An Assistant to the President!! Have you heard such a thing before? Somalia (Khaatumastate.com) Over the past few weeks the hot topic that had been the centre of heated debate in Somaliland was probably the issue relating to the dispute over Berbera Cement Factory between Dahabshiil and Muse Dalab led group. Having read some opinion articles about the matter, I must admit that I was quite surprised to see the extent that one’s relative perspective on the issue is being a victim of cynical tribalism stereotyping.This is evidently manifested in the arguments and counter-arguments represented in the debate in either way of the pros and cons.

Already a fully fledged scuffle of opinions is being waged on the Internet with people from both sides of the ally aligned along tribal lines and given the kind of language used by both sides it appears that these discussions have lost all essence of common decency. There is no central objectives towards which the discourse is heading. Nor there is any possibility to bridge the widening gap of opinions that is becoming more apparent among the debating groups.

Somalis have natural tendency to view things from a perspective so twisted and tainted by tribalistic assumptions that they easily forget their commonalities and sense of responsibility to one another, and their need to find a common denominator to their problems and co-exist peacefully whilst sharing the land and resources in it equally and fairly. Things can easily spin out of control.

I say this because I haven’t seen a single person whose views are not blended with this kind of deeply profound bias nor have I come across anyone questioning the role of the government’s wrong decision-making or talk about its inherent failures to promoting the equality and social justice as fundamental values and catalyst that would hold our societies together.

Hardly you see anyone addressing the underlying causes of the crisis let alone criticising the Government for devising the dispute, which I believe is a direct derivative of wrong decisions taken by both the current and previous Governments of Somaliland under President Siilanyo and in fact Dahir Rayaale for that matter.

The cement deposits in Dubar Hills near Berbera are national resources just like any other natural resource in the country and they belong to the people. One cannot give its entirety to a person or group of persons and make them the sole beneficiaries of such resources. The Government has responsibility and legal mandate to enact appropriate Laws that would guarantee public ownership of these resources and ensure the general public are the primary beneficiaries of all natural resources.

These include Private Investment Laws and legislations that govern Private and Public Partnership schemes, should the need arises that the State is to require additional cash injection from the private sector in order to undertake certain projects, which otherwise the State alone would not be able to undertake due to financial shortages.

In which case the State is required to create a suitable environment for Public Private Partnership and appropriate legal framework should be in place to make this possible. And this is what I would have liked people to be debating on.

Instead of focusing their attention on those more crucial aspects of the debate with national public interest close to heart, I was quite disappointed to see people taking their eyes of the ball and going on some kind of a goose chase beating around the bushes often making despicable remarks that have no place the civilised world.

Media statements from traditional chiefs are neither helping the situation nor the inflammatory blame-games and exchange of rebukes used, such is (Ciise Muse ayaa Berbera dadka u diidan iyo Habar Jeclaa Buurii nagu haysata etc) are the polite ways of addressing a delicate issue like this. As a matter of fact these are nothing but pure and utter insult and vulgarity.

Hence I must point out that the dispute over Berbera Cement Factory is Not between two clans: far from it. It is a mindless and insane wrangling between two different business groups who are fighting over own egotistical battle of business interests, driven by greed and avarice and it would be foolish anyone to see it differently.

So who is to blame for stirring up the situation? Are we to blame the average men and women who entertain different and irreconcilable personal views on the issue? Or should we put the blame squarely on the leadership of Somaliland whose stupid actions have sewn the seeds of the current squabble.

In this article I will argue that the current leadership in Somaliland is solely the chief architect of the ongoing cataclysm. Their unjust decisions have caused the chaos and their bias and prejudice has drawn lines of divisions among the nation and put them at loggerheads with one another.

I am putting the blame on Ahmed Mohamed Siilanyo and his cats-paws around him in the Presidential palace as the main culprits, no matter how long they try to hide behind the smoke screen hoping CONFUSION will takes care of the outcome.

Siilanyo is being hooked up by the nose by Dahabshiil and some other big fat cats in the business community who bankrolled his election campaign and owe him millions of dollars in political funding during election campaigns. These individuals expect to be paid back in kind by the President off course by ways of special favours, contract deals and sometimes exclusive license to exploit natural resources.

It has never been a secret that Siilanyo was actually put in the presidential seat by Dahabshiil. Thanks to the unreserved financial support provided by the latter having bankrolled the entire election campaign of Kulmiye Party during the run up to the presidential elections in June 2010. According to reliable and informed sources close to Dahabdhiil, the owner of Africa’s biggest international money transfer company, the amount of money spent on Siilanyo’s election campaign project in 2010 elections exceeds $1.7 Million.

Another major sponsor of Siilanyo’s election was Indhadeero Group who is believed to have invested not less than $500,000 into the project.

Both Dahabshiil and Indhadeero Group have previously supported Siilanyo and lost so much money when Siilanyo’s first bid for top-job ended in disaster in 2003 having lost the presidential race to his predecessor Mr Dahir Rayaale Kahin.

This is to say that Mr Siilanyo owed millions of dollars to these companies already and had he elected Siilanyo was made to agree to a range of specific in-kind repayment plans with his creditors, which including pledges of major government contracts, special favours, awarding exclusive rights to utilise and take over certain government structures and assets such as the Berbera Cement Factory, fuel storage facilities in Berbera, Indhadeero Animal Quarantine Centre, exclusive private banking license to Dahabshiil etc. Siilanyo also entered some kind of gentlemen’s agreement with these companies with reference to promoting their business interests above others and at all costs to ensure that as long as Siilanyo is in office they are to benefit and prosper however unjust and unfair that may entail.

In order that such business interests are best represented and safeguarded from the highest levels of the government, Siilanyo was made to succumb to more serious demands put forward by his creditors which included significant power-sharing deals in the government. At least two former senior employees of Dahabshiil Company were to be appointed in crucial cabinet posts. Dr. Saad Haji Ali Shireh as Minister of National Development and Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan as the Chief of Cabinet, — (a rather controversial cabinet portfolio that attracted lots of criticism from different political spheres as the powers allotted to this man were equivalent to that of a Prime Minister. The post was later renamed as ‘Minister of Presidency’)

Both men were former Dahabshiil managers and they landed in their respective posts with the blessings of their former employer. How very convenient.

The idea of implanting Trojans in Siilanyo’s government by Dahabshiil was part and parcel of a plan to steer government policy issues and exert influence on his decision-making often whispering suggestions over the back of president’s shoulders by Hirsi, which effectively meant co-running the country with the President. Soon rumours emerged that Hirsi is actually the one calling the shots at the presidential Palace not the president any more.

Others say the president is not fit enough to attend to his day-to-day duties and that’s why he needs an assistant. An Assistant to the President!! Have you heard such a thing before?

With this back-drop with the current dispute over the Berbera Cement Factory, one cannot expect Siilanyo’s stance to be neutral and impartial, particularly given the fact that the dispute is between his sponsors on one side and other peoples on the other side. And such was in fact the case considering Siilanyo’s position with regard to the row over the Berbera Cement Factory between Dahabshiil and Muse Dalab-led Group of companies whom the previous government of Dahir Rayaale Kahin granted permission to manage and distribute private shares investments to rebuild the Berbera Cement Factory.

To better understand how unregulated political funding of Political Parties by big Corporations can undermine our entire democracy and put justice and equality of citizens in jeopardy we look at the following list of events and their political implications such that it constitutes to bribery.

When Siilanyo took office in July 2010 the Presidential Palace was buzzing with activities and meetings behind the closed curtains taking place between the President and local business CEOs, tribal chiefs and contract lobbyists representing big corporations.

One such meeting took place at the presidential palace on 7th August 2010 between the president and Mr Mustafe Indhadeero, leader and CEO of Indhadeero Group of Companies, in which the latter was awarded permission to build privately owned Livestock Quarantine and Health Certification Centre in Berbera, — massive and financially lucrative business venture capable of generating tens of millions of dollars in annual proceeds from livestock health certification fees. President awarded this exclusive right of ownership of such facilities to Indhadeero Group using Presidential decree and without procedures of open tender or competition. This was in direct contrary to Siilanyo’s election campaign pledges.

On 24 August 2010 president Siilanyo awarded SomCable a major fibre optic telecommunication cable wiring contract again by Presidential Decree without tender procedure or competition. The owner of SomCable is known to have funded Siilanyo’s election campaign and has done so with the knowledge of having vested interest as Siilanyo had already promised to him this contract unchallenged as part of the political funding deal however unfair.

As Soon as he took office, Mr Siilanyo also rushed a draft law of so-called Private Banking Law to the parliament with intent to pave the way for Dahabshiil to take over Somaliland banking system. On 10 February 2012 the draft was passed into law without debate. Thanks to financial kick-backs to the members by Dahabshiil.

Dahabshiil was long interested in dominating the banking system and financial services in Somaliland and Siilanyo to push forward this Law was part of the deal he entered with the company.

Furthermore, Dahabshiil was given a secret contract deal within months of Siilanyo coming to power, which was to print new 5000 Somaliland shilling banknote.

On 2 April 2011 the news broke out of the arrival of the new banknote. To this day how much the contract was worth and how Dahabshiil Company happened to be the sole recipient of this contracting deal is unknown to the general public however unfair it might be.

The list of contract deals and special favours given to individuals and businesses belonging to the President’s clan family goes on. But the most controversial and rather most unethical one is that of the Berbera Cement Factory which the president of Somaliland gave exclusive permission to Dahabshiil to erect own cement factory and exploit cement deposits in Dubar hills without anyone else buying shares again by a way of Presidential decree.

This move certainly put Dahabshiil at loggerheads with another business group of companies whom the previous government appointed to distribute shares of private investors in order to rebuild the same cement factory. The group invited Dahabshiil and Telesom to participate and buy shares in the cement factory investment project allocating as much as 25% dividend of the business to Dahabshiil alone. — a lion’s share by far. However Dahashiil won’t be satisfied with anything less than 100% ownership of the factory. Simply because, Dahabshiil has the President on his side and that is what the quarrel is all about.

President Siilanyo to use presidential powers issuing decrees in order to advance business interests of his clan family members was itself part of the deal with his creditors and clan kinships. So talking about justice, fairness and equality of opportunity nonsense! Wait till you see the top part of Somaliland flag replaced by Dahabshiil’s logo. Of course at the Emperor’s Discretion even that is possible.

ADVICE: I advise Siilanyo to cancel both permissions granted to the two groups by himself and his predecessor until further notice and start to create the legal framework and Laws of private Investment and necessary regulatory bodies and legislation needed for fair and just way of doing it right. So I advise him to go back to the drawing board and do everything all over again from stretch.

CONCLUSION: As a new democracy Somaliland has yet not enacted enough laws and adequate legislations for regulating the financial contributions given to Political Parties by big companies. Political Parties are not required by Law to reveal major financial contributors and there is no effective way of establishing their motives are.

In modern democracies Political Parties are required to declare any major contribution made available to the party. In Somaliland that is not the case and this is the result.Unregulated political funding by big corporations and business leaders is as immoral as bribery and should be addressed. And this is the job of the Lagislative chambers.

Source: Khaatumastate.com