Visit to Somaliland

Visit to Somaliland 62 81 14

On 11 October, the Somaliland Cabinet, chaired by President Dahir Riyale Kahin, issued a statement reiterating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somaliland as non negotiable and requesting the international community's help to prevent conflict between Somalia and Somaliland .

The law has caused concern about renewed tension between Somaliland and Puntland during parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for Somaliland on 28 March 2005.

During this mission he visited Somaliland , Puntland and Nairobi.

The Commission is presently reviewing the Somaliland Penal Code.

52. The civilian courts function in the Somaliland region.

In Somaliland , UNDP, other United Nations agencies and non governmental organizations are assisting the Somaliland administration in consolidating ongoing and completed interventions through a reintegration matrix.

(b) Assisting in the effort to address the issue of Somaliland

Despite some occasional fighting in August 1996, Somaliland now appears stable.

Efforts are under way to establish a civil service institute in Somaliland to train and upgrade the professional skills of managers and administrative and clerical staff of the Somaliland administration.

The autonomous region of Somaliland continued to be relatively secure throughout 2004.

The independent expert visited Hargeisa, Somaliland , from 31 January to 2 February.

The United Nations is continuing to support the Somaliland Law Review Commission.

They have set up a referral network with the Somaliland Human Rights Network.

On 21 October, journalist Abdullahi Dhere was allegedly badly beaten with sticks in Hargeisa, capital of the self proclaimed state of Somaliland, after having published an article about a political leader in Somaliland.

On 6 April, the Chairman of the Kulmiye Political Party in Somaliland , Ahmed Mouhammed Silanyo , held a press conference in Hargeysa accusing the authorities of violating the constitution of Somaliland and harassing his supporters.

In Somaliland , the United Nations has organized the Somaliland Urban Forum in Hargeysa to assist the region's seven municipalities in sharing information and planning initiatives for urban management and in the delivery of social services.

The independent expert held several meetings with interested donor countries while in Nairobi, where he briefed them on his mission to Somaliland and Puntland and raised human rights issues such as the elections in Somaliland and the Public Order Law in Somaliland as well as the economic rights issues concerning illegal fishing and the livestock industry in Puntland .

The issue of forced returns of refugees to Somaliland was also raised during this meeting.

There remains the issue of impunity for human rights violations in many parts of Somaliland .

An AU delegation led by Deputy Chairman Mazimhaka visited Somaliland from 1 to 4 May.

Mr. Mazimhaka stated that recognition of Somaliland was within the purview of AU member States.

Thirteen female cadets were recruited into the Mandera Police Academy from different parts of Somaliland .

In mid April, heavy rain and floods hit Hargeysa in Somaliland , causing widespread damage to infrastructure.

The majority of the returnees came to Somaliland , while others were airlifted from Djibouti to Puntland .

And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas or in the east by Somaliland.

In addition, over 300 asylum seekers were referred by the Somaliland authorities for refugee status determination interviews.

The self proclaimed and unrecognized State of Somaliland in the north west has already entered this phase.

Indeed, to date, only Ethiopia s borders with British Somaliland (1930) and Kenya (1965) have been fully demarcated.

These initiatives have been met with much support by NGOs and international organizations working in Somaliland and Puntland .

Other partners include the African Virtual University and the ministries of planning and education in Somaliland and Puntland .

The independent expert took advantage of his mission to Somaliland to inquire about the case of Zamzam Ahmed Dualeh.

It was noted by some observers that the human rights situation in Somaliland was not on all counts improving.

On 25 October, the United Kingdom Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Africa, Chris Mullin, addressed the Somaliland Parliament.

The independent expert perceived some calm and optimism to resolving the Sool and Sanaag border conflict between Somaliland and Puntland .

In October 2004, unusually bloody clashes between Somaliland and Puntland forces in the Sool region left over 100 people dead.

The Somaliland officials noted that perhaps some of the charges of human rights violations were inaccurate or exaggerated by observers.

It was asserted that they wished to be more involved in the establishment of a human rights commission for Somaliland .

The former President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, visited Somaliland from 19 to 21 May at the invitation of the authorities.

In addition, the rule of law programme has rehabilitated and equipped two police stations in Somaliland (in Berbera and Dhoqoshey).

The Special Protection Unit continues to provide protection to staff and the premises of humanitarian and development organizations in Somaliland.

On 5 February, the Somaliland House of Elders (Guurti) passed the electoral law as presented by the House of Representatives.

However, the continued confrontation between Somaliland and Puntland over control of the Sool and Sanaag regions remains a serious concern.

43. Banditry, kidnapping and looting are said to be common in areas other than the self proclaimed state of Somaliland .