DATE=10/13/00
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=SOMALILAND
NUMBER=5-47171
BYLINE=LUCINDA GORRINGE
DATELINE=HARGEYSA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Somaliland declared itself a republic when it broke away from Somalia after dictator Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. Somaliland has managed to restore peace and avoid much of the civil war that hit the rest of Somalia. Lucinda Gorringe recently visited Hargeysa, Somaliland and found people were working hard to rebuild their lives.
TEXT:
/// SFX: TOWN MARKET ///
The sounds of a busy Somaliland market. It is filled with shoes, bags, cosmetics, spices and vegetables. They are all stacked neatly and are typical of almost any market one might find in this part of Africa.
What is impressive about this market, however, is that it has grown out of the rubble of battle. The civil war that gripped the south of Somalia for so many years reduced much of the north to a state of utter desolation. And it is here, in the north of Somalia, that Four-zia Yusuf H Adam is one the founders of a new university in Hargeysa.
/// YUSUF ACT ///
People are coming together, [to] fight the old
and start a new life and development. The
country was destroyed entirely. We decided to
establish a research-oriented university,
research for development, retain people who were
in key positions, start a proper institution for
high school graduates. We also want to
establish the Horn of Africa's first gender
studies [facility]; it will have four
departments. There is nothing impossible in
this world. If you want to do it, you can do
it. We just started with an idea.
/// END ACT ///
It is this attitude of determination that led the people of Somaliland to establish their own government, currency and banking system, and other institutions, all largely achieved without any international assistance. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Sahah Noor says the people of Somaliland are very proud of their successes. But he adds that the self-declared republic cannot progress without international recognition.
/// MOHAMMED ACT ///
We are a country [that is an] oasis of peace and
stability, in a region engulfed by war. The
major constraint in our social and economic
development is the lack of international status.
We can't deal with I-M-F [the International
Monetary Fund]. [We] can't tap into donor
resources. Foreign investment can not come in.
/// END ACT ///
Minister of Defense Omar Mohamed Nee-mo-le-ee says Somaliland maintains a fragile grip on peace and stability. He says almost all revenue from the country's main resource of livestock goes into keeping peace. That hurts the country's economy and ultimately its development.
/// OMAR ACT ///
Going back to the union [with Somalia] we think
will be a disaster. It will be a lot of
fighting again, and that is why we want to be
independent of Somalia. Now the international
community are not helping us, and for nine years
we are keeping the peace. Our country was
peaceful and we are absolutely really struggling
hard to keep this peace. What we think is, if
the international community continue to stop
their aid, not to help us, I have my doubts, it
will be difficult to keep the peace in this
country.
/// END ACT ///
Although a majority of people in Somaliland want to keep their independence from the rest of Somalia, there are still deep divisions among many of the rival clans. But with new homes being built and successful business being set up almost daily, there is a mood of optimism that peace can prevail in Somaliland. (Signed)
NEB/LG/GE/WTW
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