Somaliland CyberSpace Archive

Somaliland documentation archives

Say no to school fees. Primary education in a public school should be free!

Politics

Haatuf's pictorial evidence of corruption(2007)

Somaliland corruption led by President Dahir Rayale and his wife Huda (2007)

Jawahir Adam. Somaliland: a window to the future (2006) Brief article.

Elizabeth Clark. Somaliland: A Democracy Under Threat (2006)

"Somaliland: The Other Somalia with No War" (2006)

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin July-September (2006)

Dilemma of the Horn: the West Pushes for Somaliland Recognition (2006) Brief article

Global recognition for Somaliland a must (2006) Brief article

Geoff Hill. Somaliland's plight(2006) Brief article

Will Reno. A country only to its own citizens(2006) Brief article

Alex McBride. Welcome to Somaliland (2006)

Africa Analysis. Somaliland: The urgent AU task (2006)

D. Simpson. The Ghost of Somalia: Somaliland Should be Allowed to Depart a Chaotic Country in Transition (2006)

Simon Plummer. World Stage: A forgotten democracy in the Horn of Africa (2006)

Farhiya Ali. Somaliland: elusive independence (2006)Brief article

Iqbal Jhazbhay. Somaliland has strong case for recognition(2006)

The Signs Say Somaliland, but the World Says Somalia (2006) Brief article

ICG. Somaliland: Time for African Union Leadership (2006)
''Somaliland has made notable progress in building peace, security and constitutional democracy within its de facto borders. Hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people have returned home, tens of thousands of landmines have been removed and destroyed, and clan militias have been integrated into unified police and military forces. A multi-party political system and successive competitive elections have established Somaliland as a rarity in the Horn of Africa and the Muslim world.'
Somaliland: Past, Present and Future

Steve Kibble. Briefing to the inaugural meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Somaliland (2006)

Steve Kibble. Somaliland: The Post Election Path (06)

IRI. Somaliland: Empowering the parties(2005)

I.M.Lewis. Lessons from Somaliland: appropriate technology for `Peace processes' (2005)

Shane Quinn. Somaliland elections boost hopes for peace (2005)Brief article

Somaliland Elections for the Lower House of Parliament (2005)

Kurt Shillinger. Recognizing Somaliland: Forward Step in Countering Terrorism?, 2005
'Withholding recognition from Somaliland runs contrary to the West's rhetoric about standing shoulder to shoulder with aspiring democracies'.
Simanowitz, Stefan. Democracy Comes of Age in Somaliland (2005)

Peter Hurst. Somaliland's democratic lesson (2005)
Somaliland can now claim to have another feature of a functioning and democratic state, in sharp contrast to Somalia's capital Mogadishu: on 29 September 2005 it held parliamentary elections, the first in Somalia since before the 1969 coup that brought the dictator Siad Barre to power. Around 800,000 voters went to the country's 985 polling-stations to elect 82 members of parliament from the 246 candidates on offer. It was the culmination of a gradual process: after a 2001 constitutional referendum, 2002 municipal elections, and a 2003 presidential election, Somaliland will now have a legislature to balance the leadership of the president.
BBC. Somaliland's missing identity (2005) Brief articles

Richard Rahn. Curious Case of Somaliland (2005)Brief article

Harry Garnett. Somalia Public Sector Issues (2005)

Counter-Terrorism in Somalia: Losing Hearts and Minds (2005)?
'TFG leaders and supporters -- domestic and foreign -- have long sought to exploit international terrorism concerns by portraying themselves as partners in the war on terror, while labelling rivals and critics as members of extremist groups. In reality, ordinary Somalis -- including members of other Islamist groups -- are equally dedicated to containing jihadism and often have better information and analysis'.
Observation Report On Somaliland Presidential Elections Implemented by NAGAAD & COSONGO (2005)

CIIR. Somaliland Elections to House of Representatives. Final. (05)

CIIR. Further steps to democracy: The Somaliland parliamentary elections (2005)
"On 29 September 2005 the people of the Republic of Somaliland, an internationally-unrecognised country in north-west Somalia, elected a new parliament. These parliamentary elections, the first to be held in the Somali region since 1969, were the latest and, arguably, most important step in establishing a constitutionally-based, democratic governmental system in Somaliland".
IRI. Somaliland Parliamentary Election Assessment Report (2005)(American group)
"The IRI team applauds Somaliland on the conduct of this election, a significant accomplishment for the territory. Institute observers witnessed no major violence or unrest on voting day. Lines of 200-300 voters at the opening of polling stations indicated the great excitement surrounding the election".
Mariam Jooma. Experiences from the parliamentary elections in Somaliland (2005)

Report on JNA Mission to Somaliland and Puntland (2005) Brief article

Ruin and Renewal: The story of Somaliland (2004)
[T]he first thing the child learns to memorize is his or her lineage - reckoning a chain of ancestors from one's father to a distant and perhaps mythical founder of the clan who lived as far as the 8th or 9th Century - the time Islam came to Somali shores... This system of kinship is based on a chain of paternal ancestors reaching back to a mythical founding ancestor (like Sheikh Isxaaq and Sheikh Isma'iil) whose name all members of the clan assume as their collective identity.
Battera. State-& democracy-building in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Somaliland (2004)

M.Jama. The Political Ecology of Colonial Somaliland (2004)

Matt Bryden. Somalia and Somaliland: Envisioning a dialogue on the question of Somali unity (2004)

Jeffrey Herbst. In Africa, What Does It Take to Be a Country' (2004) Brief article
'At least a small part of the future of Africa is being played out in Somaliland, the northwest portion of Somalia that declared its independence in 1991. In its bustling but impoverished capital of Hargeysa, the most striking contrast with most African cities is the sense of order. Police -- who, given their salaries, are almost volunteers -- stand in the hot sun and direct obedient drivers. Money-changers sit on the side of the street with huge piles of cash visible, waiting for customers. '
I.M.Lewis. Academic View Of Somaliland Recognition (05)
Some southerners will protest that Somaliland's recognition is a blow to Somali unity. But this is sheer nonsense and sounds hollow coming, as it does, from people who in the last fourteen years have done nothing to advance Somali unity and even less to further human rights and democracy. Somali 're-configuration' as the British foreign office blandly calls it, has already happened. The people of Somaliland have demonstrated that their independence is a fait accompli whatever outsiders choose to think. Nor does this in any way endanger or diminish the ethnic identity of the Somali people and their socio-economic cohesion that reaches into Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya-an un-disruptive political dismemberment already accepted within the Somali nation. Thus, the attitude to Somaliland's independence, of those southern Somali politicians who oppose it, is akin to that of a person who has had a limb amputated, but still claims to feel it as part of his body.
Dustin Dehz. Somaliland and the Issue of International Recognition

Somaliland: Trying to behave like a proper state (2005)

Steve Kibble. Somaliland: Surviving Without Recognition;Somalia: Recognised but Failing? (2004)

Magi Black. Somaliland: will the good times keep rolling? (2004)

British Parliament's Debate On Somaliland (2004)
'Somalilanders are caught in a vicious Catch-22 position. They are being told, "Destroy your nation by joining the destroyers in the south, and we will recognise you. Stay outside, with stability and democracy, and we will ignore you'.
Nathalie Peutz. Signpost in Somaliland's Quest for Sovereignty

I.M. Lewis. As The Kenyan Somali 'Peace' Conference Falls Apart In Confusion, Recognition Of Somaliland's Independence Is Overdue
'My guess is that recognition of Somaliland at this juncture would have a tonic effect in Somalia. It would administer a brisk wakeup call, shaking the southern politicians out of their prolonged self- indulgent torpor, and thus help to dispel their wild political fantasies so unwisely promoted by the hasty UN recognition given to the undemocratic and insubstantial regime of Mr Abdulqasim, whom Puntland web sites call the 'defunct' transitional president.'
Iqbal Jhazbhay. As a success story, Somaliland is Africa's best kept secret (2004)
'Somaliland is labeled as a "breakaway state" by some analysts, while others describe its success as "the little country that could"'.
Somalia And Survival In The Shadow Of The Global Economy (2004)

Africa Analysis. Two Somali states must be allowed to co-exist (2004)Brief article

The African Union (AU) and its obstinate dilemma vis-.-vis The Republic of Somaliland '04

WSP. Somali Programme Dialogue for Peace "Wadatashiga Nabadda" (2004)

Ninna Sorensen. Opportunity & Pitfalls in the Migration-development Nexus: Somaliland and Beyond (2004)

Time To Come Home: Repatriation Projects for Somaliland (2004)

Dahir Rayale. Speech to Members of British House of Commons (2004)

UNDP. Somalia: Governance (2003)
"UNDP is building upon the peace, stability and the democratization process that is underway in Somaliland, Puntland and pockets of stability in the central and south zones, working with emergent institutions to engage popular participation, respect for human rights, gender equality, the rule of law and are publicly accountable."
Farhiya Ali Ahmed. The Sovereignty Of Somaliland And Its Role In The Conflict Resolution
"With southern Somalia still in the hands of the feuding warlords, Somali studies experts and scholars note the necessity of Somaliland's recognition in resolving the Somali conflict. Professor I. Lewis guru of Somali studies, notes that "for the moment, despite the reluctance to recognize Somaliland officially, this might actually be for some time the only viable Somali state on offer. It might accordingly prove necessary to recognize that, in this as in so many other case, half a loaf is better than none."'
Somaliland's Resurgence a Key to CT War (2003)

Report on a Training Needs Assessment of the Somaliland Civil Service (2003)
"As part of the UNDP Capacity Building and Governance Programme, a 3-month preparatory study on civil service training in Somaliland was funded, which included a training needs assessment".
Report on the Somaliland Presidential Elections Report, 2003 (South African Mission) (2)

Report on the Somaliland Presidential Elections (South African Mission ) (1)
"The team commends the people of Somaliland for their conduct on Election Day and for the generally calm atmosphere in which polling took place. Overall the presidential elections were conducted in a peaceful and tolerant manner. Thousands of Somalilanders responded enthusiastically, often forming long lines at the opening of polls.
Somaliland: Presidential Election 2003 (Danish Group) 2003
"The concept of Somaliland today enjoys considerable support from the local population, as shown by the May 31, 2001 referendum over a constitution that stipulated independence. It was a referendum where 1,148,940 of the 1,188,746 registered voters voted for the constitution The Initiative and Referendum Institute, a non profit Washington based organisation, monitored the election and found it to be free and fair".
Voting For Democracy. (Dutch Group) (2003)
'Considering our special relation with Somaliland and Somalilanders and realizing the importance of observing the elections in Somaliland we found it an honour to be invited to witness the District Council Elections in December 2002 and the Presidential Elections in April 2003'.
NEC. Code of Conduct for the Political Parties (2005)

Rakiya Omaar. Taking the Tiger by the Tail: Somaliland's Forthcoming Elections (2005)

David Shinn. The Horn of Africa: How does Somaliland fit? (03)
So long as the rest of Somalia remains a failed state, it is unreasonable to expect peaceful Somaliland to join willingly with its compatriots to the south. Somaliland must now convince the rest of the world, and especially the members of the African Union, that its case is special and deserves support.
ICG. Somaliland: Democratisation and its Discontents (2003)
'Being a Gadabursi has worked both for and against Rayale. Many Somalilanders are proud that their political system has produced a leader from a minority clan - something that no other part of Somalia, nor even Djibouti, has managed to do. Others believe that Rayale offers better prospects for Somaliland's peace and stability than an Isaaq president since the destructive intra-Isaaq power struggles of the 1990s can be set aside. But a significant number of Isaaq resent seeing a Gadabursi lead the country, and among the Harti of eastern Somaliland, the notion of a Gadabursi president is also unpopular. Some simply feel that a Gadabursi president lacks the political clout to lead. "Rayale cannot run this country," a Kulmiye party activist told ICG. "He's from a minority clan and cannot take tough decisions".'
Symposium On Civil Society Concluded In Hargeisa (2003)

M. Jama. Somalia and Somaliland: Strategies for dialogue and consensus ... (2003)
'This paper has been prepared in response to a request by the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre (OGC) to examine the experience of Somaliland in peace building and in forging effective institutions of governance, assess its lessons and implications for Somalia as a whole, and outline a scenario for UNDP and international involvement in seeking a lasting solution to the Somali crisis'.
Asteris Huliaras. The Viability of Somaliland: Internal Constraints and Regional Geopolitics (2002)

David Shinn. Somaliland: The Little Country that Could (2002)
'It is up to the government of Somaliland to take a more aggressive position, especially before the African Union and its individual members, on the question of international recognition. As of this writing, the rest of Somalia remains a failed state. There is no indication that peace and stability will return anytime soon. It is unreasonable to expect peaceful Somaliland to join willingly with Somalia, which is not at peace'.
George Packer. Letter From Somaliland (2002) Brief artilce (On Islamic fundamentalism)

M.Jama. Imperial policies and nationalism in the decolonization of Somaliland, 1954-1960. (2002)

Cindy F. Holleman. The Socio-economic Implications of the Livestock Ban in Somaliland (2002)

Markus Hoehne Virgil. Report on the recent situation in Somaliland
'Heer is relevant especially at the level of the diya-paying groups that are mainly concerned with paying and receiving compensation payments for crimes, like manslaugther, for example. Heer is also contracted to confirm the outcome of negotiations.This segmentary order is very fluent. Groups can unite on a higher level of segmentation, or a unit can split into small subgroups, depending on the external situation and internal interests'.
Guido Ambroso. Pastoral society and transnational refugees: population movements in Somaliland (2002)

Tabea Zierau. Politics and Economy in Nation-building Processes: Somaliland Republic 2002
This paper argues that the declaration of Somaliland, as a counter-hegemonic project, is a direct result of the formation of elites during the commercialization of pastoralism under British colonial rule. The separation of Mogadishu and the long-term limitation of the Somaliland state-power are both in the very interest of the dominating traders.
Ahmed Yusuf Farah. Roots of Reconciliation: Local Level Peace Processes in Somaliland
Traditionally, women were exchanged to seal a peace treaty between the parties. A daughter was offered as a sign of trust and honour to mark the pact between giver and receiver. Likewise, when blood has been shed, Somalis regard the gift of a marriageable partner as material and symbolic compensation for the loss of life.
Sean Rorison. Into Somaliland: An Obscure Route to an Obscure CountryBrief article

Somaliland Local Councils Elections Held of December 2002 (2002)

Nicholas Van Hear. Refugee return and reconstruction after war: class, conflict and forced migration in Sri Lanka and Somaliland.
This paper makes a simple point: that patterns and impacts of refugee flight and return are shaped by the resources refugees and their relatives can mobilise, and those resources are largely determined by socio-economic background. The paper looks at the part class plays in shaping forms, patterns and impacts of forced migration in societies that have undergone or are emerging from conflict.
Impact Evaluation of The War-Torn Societies Project: Somaliland (2001)

Gerard Prunier. Somalia re-invents itself (2000)
For the advocates of reunification the proposition was simple, not to say simplistic: there once was a Somali state, it no longer exists, and therefore needs to be re-created. They did not question why it had ceased to exist. The UN's refusal to consider that issue had been the main reason for its failure between December 1992 and March 1995.
IRIN Special - A Question of Recognition (2001)
For Somaliland, the closest it has got to recognition is in being treated as de facto independent by neighbouring Ethiopia - which has accepted Somaliland passports, and recently initiated twice-weekly flights by Ethiopian Airlines, and has discussed banking arrangements with the administration. But regional observers pose it is extremely unlikely that Ethiopia would go as far as extending formal recognition, as it would not want to undermine options in the south. This has recently been demonstrated by improved relations between Ethiopia and the TNG, and the continued role of Ethiopia in Somali peace talks. Somaliland passports have also been accepted in Italy, in the context of visiting delegations of Somaliland ministers. Italy, however, is seen as being strongly opposed to Somaliland independence because of its colonial attachment to a united Somalia.
Position of Somaliland On the Djibouti Peace Initiative on Somalia (2000)

Frank Douglas Heath. Whither Somaliland 2000
A Deputy Speaker of Somaliland's parliament told the authors of Self-Portrait, "We need to come up with a system that accommodates one man one vote, but allows every community (beel) to be represented. So far, no one has come up with such a formula."
Jeremy Wells. Cabinda & Somaliland - A Comparative Study for Statehood & Independence
On opposite sides of the African continent, two nations are striving to be recognized by the international community as independent states. The Cabindan enclave, a former Portuguese colony in Angola ... Somaliland declared its own independence in 1991, but is yet to be recognized by anyone other than its own citizens. This paper compares the respective claims of Cabinda and Somaliland for official independent status.
Steven R. Hofmann. The Divergent Paths of Somalia and Somaliland: (2002)
Somaliland's success has been due, at least in part, to the decision of its leaders to utilize indigenous forms of self-governance after the collapse of the Somali state in early 1991. Somalia's difficulties can be at least partially attributed to the lack of meaningful attempts to do the same.
A Self-Portrait of Somaliland: Rebuilding from the Ruins, 1999
Animal husbandry pervades every aspect of Somaliland society. Beyond its economic dimensions, the nomadic pastoral system contributes to a sense of collective identity, shared culture and values. Even in the more settled areas where pure pastoralism has been diluted with agricultural practices, people often describe themselves in terms of nomadic pastoralism. The camel is a national symbol, and the language and imagery of pastoralism enjoy the stature of high art.
Ian Fisher. Somaliland: An Oasis of Peace in Somalia Seeks Freedom (1999)

A nomad's life is hard. (Somaliland's struggle for independence from Somalia) (1999)

Small Arms in Somaliland: Their Role and Diffusion, 1999
The report draws a picture of the role which small arms currently have in Somaliland's post-war society. The term "Small Arms", for this report, is defined as those arms which can be carried by an individual.
US.Congress. Concerning Economic, Humanitarian, and Other Assistance to Northern Somalia (1998)

Gerard Prunier. Surviving without the UN. Somaliland, a forgotten country (1997)
The hybrid western-nomad state that is taking shape is gradually becoming more democratic, not, as elsewhere in Africa, to satisfy foreign donors (the country does not have any) but to meet a real practical need. The choice is between true democratisation and civil war. The paradox is that a state that certainly has more legitimacy and roots in society than most other African states, operating with very limited financial resources and no outside aid, is managing to survive and sustain a fragile peace despite the almost total indifference of the international community. Last May a Somaliland businessman voiced the opinion that the country was better off without the international community which had had nothing to offer apart from the civil war it supported in the south.
Another country: Somaliland. (unrecognized independent state in Somalia) (1996)Brief article

M. Bryden. Somaliland and Peace in the Horn of Africa: A Situation Report and Analysis (95)

Julie Flint. Struggling to survive. (Somaliland) (1994)

Somaliland: Going It Alone. Interview. (1994)

Ahmed Yusuf Farah. Somalia: The Roots of Reconciliation (93) Full report.

Ian Alexander. Rebuilding a shattered land (1993)

R.Omaar. Somaliland: The best chance for peace. (1993)

National Resources

M. Ali. Hydrocarbon potential of Somaliland(2006)

M. Ali. Somaliland Once Again Becomes Accessible Oil Resources (2005)

Surud Montain Forest in Somaliland(2004)Brief article

The Mineral Industry of Somalia (2004) Brief article

Water Shortage in Somaliland (2004) Brief article

John Miskell. An Ecological and Resource Utilization Assessment of Gacan Libaax Somaliland (2003)
'As there have been no comprehensive reports on the status of Gacaan Libaax in recent years, this study was undertaken to ascertain the current condition of the ecosystem. It was also intended to determine appropriate steps to be taken with the local communities to ensure its conservation and continued support for livelihoods in the area. In addition, it was to provide information useful for subsequent activities in other parts of this extensive ecosystem, as this becomes possible. The primary purpose of this study is to lay the groundwork for future discussions with the local people and administration, which will empower them to effectively manage their natural resources'.
Malte Sommerlatte. An Ecological Assessment of the Coastal Plains of North Western Somalia (Somaliland) (2003)

Community Based Participatory Natural Resource and Land Management Planning
Somali herders want good quality medicines for their animals, they want to know how to use the medicines properly and they pay for services which they consider to be valuable.
Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources: National Water Policy
This paper is the statement of the policy that officially defines the principles, the goals and the way to develop the water sector. This is the National Water Policy which is entirely developed by the (only) governmental entity that is entitled to regulate the entire water sector and the various actors that take a role in this sector.
IUNC. Towards Environmentally Sound Water Projects in Somalia(2000)

Martin Herzog. Forestry and Woodland Management in Somaliland
At present the forestry department has very limited activities. Before it was running some 18 nurseries and 47 range reserves have been functioning. Since 1995 only the nurseries at Hargeisa, Boroma, Gebile and Berbera are functional.
Osman A Farah. Water sources management in rural Somaliland (1999)

Biodiversity Assessment of the Somali Coast of Berbera (1999)
The survey was undertaken between 4-11 March 1999 from 15 km west of Berbera to the mangrove known as Khoor Shoora approximately 150 km to the east. Data were collected on the nature and biodiversity of the shoreline, mangrove, seaweed, coral reef and pelagic environments. A record was kept on the abundance of turtles, dolphins and seabirds, as well as of the extent of turtle nesting on beaches.

Economic development

Steve Kibble. `The Governance and Economic Development of Somaliland' (2006)

Exposing The Plot Of The Minister Of Mineral & Water Resources And Rova Energy (2006)
Somaliland's prosperous refugees return to invest in their country (2005)

BBC. Learning for Livelihoods in Somalia: Initial Insights on Audience Patterns and Preferences (2006)

Somaliland: Harnessing Solar Power(2005) Brief article

Philip Appleton. Promotion of Employment through Training in Somalia (2004)

APD. Analysis of Macro-Economic Situation in Somaliland (2004)

Somalia: Towards a Livestock Sector Strategy. (2004)

Cadastral Surveys: addressing territorial disputes in Somaliland

Hargeisa Municipality Statistical Abstract (2003)
'This is the second publication of the Hargeisa Statistical Abstract of Hargeisa Municipality, which was facilitated by the technical assistance of UNDP Somalia in February 2003. The primary objective is to document all the completed achievements that occurred within the Greater Hargeisa Areas in terms of local social, economical and infrastructure projects. It also takes into account the incredible growth in terms of land size, population and other socio-environmental factors in the same period'. John Drysdale describes how Natural Area Codes and a Geographic Information System (GIS) database are enabling farmers in Somaliland to gain legal title to their land.
Gu 2003 Mid Season Pastoral Assessment In Somaliland and Puntland(2003)

Hargeisa Urban Household Economy Assessment (2003)

Regulating the Livestock Economy of Somaliland (2002)

An Outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Northeastern Kenya, 1997-98 (2002)

Millennium Development Goals for Somalia (2002)

Supporting Local Seed Systems in Southern Somalia: (2001)

Andy Catley. Community-based Animal Health Care in Somali Areas Africa: A Review (2000)
To the Somali pastoralist the camel is the most valuable animal of all, and a large herd is a sign of strength, power and prestige. As a form of property the camel is strongly associated with patrilineal kinship, which is a major structural principle in Somali society and culture. Their value lies in the material and social survival capacity that they offer the families that keep them. The camel, which in Somali culture represents the image of continuity and reproduction, is a source of security in case of drought and misfortune.
Tackling Somaliland Pastoralists poverty and Environmental Degradation (2003)
This document presents an external evaluator's report on PENHA's Somaliland programme. The 3 year programme was based on the PENHA's research and the recommendations of a workshop involving representatives from eight other bodies including Somaliland Pastoralists, local and international CBO/NGOs and the Somaliland Ministry of Pastoralist Development.
David Hadrill. Mapping of seasonal migrations in the Sanaag region of Somaliland
The Isaaq and Darod clans inhabit the west and east of the Sanaag region respectively. They maintain a natural buffer zone between them over which neither clan claims to have definitive overall grazing rights. During the civil war there was a great deal of conflict between the Isaaq and Dorod clans in the Sanaag region. But in peace-time there is greater flexibility of movement and the clans enter into each other's territory, subject to prior agreements.
Feasibilty Report on the Fisheries Sector in Somaliland
The fisheries sector has historically not been a priority area for Somaliland people, and hence the agro-pastoral system and livestock sector has remained the economic backbone of the region. Until the droughts in 1974 and 1976, only very few coastal people were seriously involved in the sector.
Migrant Transfers As a Development Tool: The Case of Somaliland
This paper examines the relationship between migration and development in the contest of Somaliland, where an estimated 25-40 per cent of the population receive regular remittances from abroad.
Why the Body Shop goes shopping in Somaliland (2001) Brief articles

IRIN Special - The Berbera Lifeline

Husbandry and management of camels in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti (nd)

PAC. Peace and Development in Northern Somalia: Opportunities and Challenges (1997)

WB. Consultations with the Poor: National Synthesis Report Somaliland (1999)
This study was conducted in two regions (Sanaag & Togdheer) of Somaliland. In each region eight sites were selected for the study and regional synthesis reports were produced separately for each, besides the eight site reports. This summary report will cover both regions in order to arrive at a country report for Somaliland.
Somalia: IRIN Focus on Saudi livestock ban (1999)

Pastoralists, Paravets and Privatisation: Experiences in Sanaag (1998)

The Somalia Inshore Lobster Resource of the Northeast Region (1998)

Scott Coffen-Smout. Pirates, Warlords and Rogue Fishing Vessels in Somalia's Unruly Seas (1998)

Human rights

Conditions in Hargeisa central prison (2005)
The living conditions in the central prison are shocking. The prisoners lack medical attention. There is a medical officer assigned to the prison but he never appears there. Inmates suffer from TB, HIV/AIDS, swelling of the skin and other diseases. There were prisoners with broken limbs who had not been attended by doctors.
US. Somalia: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (2005)

Girl jailed for espionage released in Somaliland(2005) Brief article

Status and (Human Rights) Obligations of Non-recognized De Facto Regimes in International Law: The Case of 'Somaliland.' (2005)

Ghanim Alnajjar. Situation of human rights in Somalia (2004)

UK. Somalia Country Report Human Rights (2004)

Somaliland: Shadows of the Past As Human Rights Deteriorate 2003
'This paper is intended to raise awareness of these incidents and of the potential that they will lead to a more widespread problem. It offers a reminder of Somaliland's precarious state: its people have had to climb a steep and rocky path to peace and security, and any step backwards could therefore be disastrous'.
Training on the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Hargeisa,
The IDP population in Hargeisa is actually living in slums located in the mentioned areas. They are living in stiff poverty and below standard of living as victims of disasters, with no reliable sources of income. There is no facilitation of social services for the IDPs in their temporary settlements and they almost get no assistance from either the administration or the international organizations.
Zeinab Ahmed. Human Rights & Ecological Health (1999)

AI. Human rights in Somaliland: Awareness and action (1998)

Khat

Khat use as risk factor for psychotic disorders: A cross-sectional and case-control study in Somalia (2005)

War-trauma, Khat Abuse and Psychosis: Mental Health in ... Somaliland(2002)

R.H. Green. Khat & the realities of Somalis: (1999)

Education

Back to School Campaign: Somaliland girl pursues her dream of an education (2005)

UNICEF. Education in Somalia: A New Dawn - An advocacy kit, 2003
The document, New Dawn, gives a perspective as of 2003. Topics include: Somali education through history; education in emergencies; community ownership; girl education; teacher training; improving the school environment; the new curriculum, collection of statistics and the future.
UNICEF. Koranic School Project(2002) Brief article

Eric Eversmann. Education Kits in Somalia (2001)

Distance Education examples from Namibia, Somalia & Peru

Ali Abdi. Education in Somalia: History, destruction, and calls for reconstruction (1998)

Somalia: Mid-decade Review of Prgress Toward Education for all(1996)

Somalia: Strategies on Nomadic Education Delivery (1995)

Rehabilitating Somalia's Education Sector - The Role of UNESCO (1994)

Jo Bradley. Primary Education Needs in Somaliland (1993)

Gender

International FGM Day 6th February 2005

Somaliland women take on new roles(2005) Brief article

Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices of Female Genital Mutilation in Somaliland
"The research participants cited religious requirement and a set of related beliefs around the need to suppress female sexuality (purity, honour, chastity etc.) as the primary reasons for the practice of FGM. These are therefore the issues that need to be addressed in campaigning to eradicate FGM. The underlying social and economic conditions of women were also highlighted by the networks as key factors".
Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation in Somalia
'People know it is dangerous and brings difficult births, they hear this on the radio. There are those who say we should stop. If it was up to me, I would say: "Don't do this to your daughters," but I'm afraid society would not accept. My mother knows there are problems, but she believes it is a rule. She thinks it is shameful to live with the genital area open. She will always insist that we have to close it'
Nagaad Annual Report 2003
'Nagaad umbrella organization is a non-profit making, non-sectarian and voluntary local umbrella organization embraced by 32 women organizations in 1997, in Hargeisa'.
UNICEF. Women's Rights in Islam and Somali Culture - A study, 2002
The study process engaged Somali religious leaders and experts of Somali culture in exploration of women's rights based on Islamic principles.
Sadia Ahmed. Islam and development: Opportunities and constraints for Somali women(1999)

Medical Complications of Female Genital Mutilation (2001)

Maisoun Badawi. The Culture And Tradition Of Women In Somalia
The family to whom the girl child is born feels a lack of jubilant mood and anxiety. The mother of the baby girl is bitterly loathed and despised, during her post natal period, and her husband anxiously awaits the time that his wife can resume her daily house chores.

Health

Working together to rebuild health care in post-conflict Somaliland(2006)

Fighting TB in Somalia (2006) Brief articles

Somaliland HIV/AIDS Newsletter (2005)

Towards a concerted approach for Hygiene and Sanitation promotion in Somaliland (2005)

Somalia : epidemiological fact sheets on HIV/AIDS and STDs (2004)

Somaliland national disability forum (2004)

Sool Plateau of Sool & Sanag Regions Nutrition Survey(2004)

Sahil Region Somaliland Nutrition Survey (2003)

Haud of Hargeisa-Balleygubadley & Salahley Nutrition Survey(2002)

Social Facilitation, Development and the Diaspora: Support for Sustainable Health Services in Somalia (2004)

Stephanie Strong. Post-conflict mental health in Somallland
Chained to a wall in Burao, in the east of Somaliland, is Janwar, a 23-year-old Somalian who suffers from epileptic seizures. However, with proper medication and treatment Janwar would be able to lead a relatively normal life. 'Mental jails' are widespread in Somaliland and chaining people who suffer from psychological or emotional crisis is common practice. Those who find their way to hospitals are people who are abandoned, without families or any kind of infrastructure to support them. In the face of a widespread lack of health resources, jailing has become the most common response to mental illness in a country that has been devastated by over 30 years of war and poverty.
UNICEF. Children's situation Analysis in Somaliland Health and Nutrition
'After the ratifications of the children's rights by Somaliland, the concerned ministries and International agencies decided to carry out a Children's situational analysis survey, to be a baseline for Future planning and strategies towards children in Somaliland'.
WHO. Polio Eradication in Somalia(2002)

UNICEF Health and Nutrition Programmes in Somalia (2001)

Report of a medical mission to Somaliland, 2001
'Prevention is better than cure'. However, public health is a formidable task. The cultural issues are not to be taken lightly: People who were nomadic by tradition do not have habits of garbage disposal or sewage like people who lived in urban centers for generations. It is important to provide health education in the school system, so that the next generation will be able to live in a cleaner environment. Plastic bags do not carry disease, but they are a marker of carelessness. The country is littered with millions of used plastic bags, and this is a sign of poor garbage disposal.
M Jama. Epidemics and Public Health in Late Colonial Somaliland (1999)

Folklore

Faysal Omar Mushteeg - Somaliland's Indisputable Male Vocalist (2003)

Martin Orwin. Introduction to Somali Poetry
A young girl might sing songs about the sheep and goats she is tending, weaving into such a song her feelings for the animals and what they mean to her family; a young man may praise his camels in a watering song, a woman tease her neighbour in a mat-weaving song and so on. Many such worksongs are of common heritage, but it is also the case that people compose their own lyrics reflecting concerns and events in their own lives.
Lidwien Kapteijns. Laments about Labor Migration in Somali Love Songs (2001)

Law

The Judicial System in Somaliand (2002)

General Election Law No. 20/2001
Considering the need to surpass the clan-based system and in order to realize the nation's long yearned aspiration to elect state political office-holders under fair and free elections...
The evolution and integration of different legal systems in the Horn of Africa: the case of Somaliland.(2001)

General

Somaliland: The Landmine Problem(2006)

Landmine Impact Survey: Awdal, Galbeed, Sahil and Togdheer Regions (2006)

HPG. Humanitarian action in the new security environment:... in Somalia and Somaliland (2006)

Somaliland: Land Mine Monitor Report 2005

Ocha. Overview of Humanitarian Environment in Somaliland(2005)

Emergency Food Aid Distribution Project in Togdheer, Somaliland (2004)

A case study on Somaliland, in the framework of the WDR project, (2003)
"This report contains a case study of Somaliland, prepared in the framework of WDR program. Among the case countries in WDR project, Somaliland is by far the poorest with an ICT development in its very infancy. The report maps the development of ICT in Somaliland and gives an analysis of potentials and barriers related to ICT development and investment, which is the overall theme of WDR this year".
Somalia: Looking after the unwanted
'Clan is everything here. You need clan to marry, to get credit, to get a bank account, to get property, to belong. Without clan, you are a nobody in society,' said one of the social workers at the children's home, which is now Mahad's world.

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Outside links

David H. Shinn. Somalia: Regional Involvement and Implications for US Policy

Michael A. Weinstein. Somalia in mid-November: Sparring and Waiting for Someone to Strike'

Michael van Notten. From Nation-state to Staelessness: the Somali Experience

Current status of marine fisheries in Somalia

Monitoring agricultural vegetation in Somalia using SPOT VGT Vegetation Index,

FSAU. Somalia: Food Security & Nutrition Alert

SOMALIA: FOOD SECURITY EMERGENCY

UNICEF Somalia Monthly Review September 2006

Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia(2006)

SC Presidential Statement on situation in Somalia (06)

R. Marchal. Somalia's Islamists (2006)

Freedomhouse. Somalia (2006)

Somaliland in Figures (2004)

Wikipedia.org. Somaliland

Ken Menkhaus. Warlords and Landlords: Non-State Actors and Humanitarian Norms in Somalia

Peter T. Leeson. Better Off Stateless: Somalia Before and After Government Collapse

World Bank. Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics (2004)

VETAID Somalia Programme Documents- Books

UNFPA/World Bank. FGM Report

Rinderpest Sero - Surveillance in Somalia

Somalia Sector Assessment: With special attention to Northwest Zone (2003)

Graham Harrison. �Who Can Invest in Somalia Today?�

Somalia Socio economic survey 2002 Full report.

National Human Development Report 2001- Somalia Full report.

Powering economic diversification project[Puntland, Somalia, Somaliland](2001)

Alex de Waal. Class and Power in a Stateless Somalia (1996)

R. Fine. The Oil Factor in Somalia (1993)

A General Survey of the Somaliland Protectorate 1944-1950, John A. Hunt, 1951