Siilaanyo’s Predatory Behavior Leading to Grievances and Tragedy
By: Saeed M. Timir
Predation has become Siilaanyo’s new tool to enrich the administration’s well connected political and business allies. Predation is the concept of preying on the vulnerable. These include members of minority groups, mom and pop shops, fishermen coops, taxi men associations, farmers or their coops etc. These are vulnerable groups who earn less than five dollars a day. It is well established that predation motivates the risk of conflict and makes possible the realization of grievances. This cannot be further from the truth as recent events in Somaliland indicate.
Illegal appropriation of public domain properties:
On January 12, 2012 President Siilaanyo issued a decree to protect land and government owned properties in which he prohibited the assignment or ownership of land and public domain properties to private entities or individuals.
However, it has become public knowledge, recently, that the government illegally sold these public domain properties, in contravention of Siilaanyo’s decree, to favored business allies. This has resulted in taxi drivers association protesting the proffering of untendered contract for exclusive service to Hargeisa International airport. In a similar fashion Berbera fishermen’s coop has also protested the sale of the government owned public fish market to Siilaanyo connected business. The national theatre was not even spared as it was also assigned to close associates of Siilaanyo.
Endemic corruption is everywhere:
In his numerous campaign events when Siilaanyo was Chairman of Kulmiye opposition party, he promised and assured us he will end corruption as we know it. And in particular he used to always mention Ali Xoor Xoor day in and day out as the man who exemplified everything that is corruption in Somaliland. He called Ali Xoor Xoor “The head of the mafia of Berbera port” and how abhorrent this was to Siilaanyo can not be emphasized enough in here.
But only 3 months later did Siilaanyo hire for himself Mr. Xoor Xoor “the head of the mafia of Berbera port” just to ensure the maximum possible un-accounted for revenue from the port escapes scrutiny of the Minister of Finance. There are no checks, no balances and no transparency as to what this revenue is used for or where it ends up.
And in Burao there were massive demonstrations against the government that caused death on both civilian and police side. What triggered Burao’s demonstrations was infact non-sensical – the transfer of current police commander to a different region of Somaliland – but the real reason is more than the transfer. It is endemic corruption and economic marginalization. It also has to do with the awarding of Genel contracts to government connected allies of the president. Somalilanders feel there was no diversity in awarding Genel contracts.
There was also another demonstration at Daami settlement in Hargeisa caused by alleged police bias for ignoring and not investigating murders in that particular section of the city.
Lack of equitable economic distribution:
Lately Siilaanyo reached an agreement with Turkish businesses to visit and invest in Somaliland and partner with other Somaliland businesses. This agreement is screaming for our vigilance to ensure Somaliland businesses partnering with Turkish businesses are diverse ethnically and represents all regions of Somaliland from Badhan, Erigavo, LasAnod, Burao, Berbera, Hargeisa and Borama. Should only the current dominant businesses who are well connected to the administration be selected it can only result in furthering predation which will escalate current conflicts and grievances beyond control.
Below is Siilaanyo’s decree in English translation as well as Somali issued 12 January, 2013.
“Presidential decree for Protection of land and government properties in the public domain”
After the president of the Republic of Somaliland Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Siilaanyo) looked at Article 90 and article 12 section 1 of the constitution of Somaliland and having again looked at article 12 section 1 of the Urban Land Management Law – Law No: 17/2001.
Having learned that government houses are being looted, sold and their deeds illegally appropriated, the following decision is issued:
“Government houses, government land and public domain properties are government owned and only the central government has the power to sell, assign and rent. It is prohibited to assign deed or ownership of such properties to private entities or private individuals. The president hereby instructs concerned government agencies to execute this decree to perform their responsibilities.”
Here is the Somali version of the presidential decree:
Ilaalinta Dhulka Iyo Guryaha Danta Guud
“Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland Mudane, Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud (Siilaanyo) Markuu Arkay: Qodobka 90aad ee Dastuurka Jamhuuriyada Somaliland, Markuu Arkay: Qodobka 12aad, Farqadiisa 1aad ee Dastuurka Jamhuuriyada Somaliland. Markuu Arkay: Qodobka 2aad, Farqadiisa 2aad ee Xeerka Maamulka Dhulka, Magaalooyinka Jamhuuriyada Somaliland Xeer No. 17/2001/
Markuu Ka war helay: In Guryihii Dawlada Boob lagu hayo oo dad kala iibsanayo qaarna ay isku dayeen in ay Mulkiyado u samaystaan Wuxuu soo saaray Go’aankan:-
Guryaha Dawladda, Dhulka Dawlada iyo dhulka danta guud waa hanti qaran, waxaana Awood sharci u leh iibintiisa, Bixintiisa, Kirayntiisa, dawladda dhexe. Waxaana reeban in cid gaar ah Mulkiyad iyo lahaansho gaar ah loogu sameeyo. Go’aankan waxa uu madaxweynuhu faray Hay’addaha ku shaqada leh inay waajibkooda ka gutaan meel marintiisa.”
Saeed M. Timir 12/26/2013