November 10, 2017

By Scott Pegg and Michael Walls November 10 at 7:00 AM

​

On Nov. 13, Somalilanders will vote for a new president. The campaign kicked off in dramatic fashion in October with Somaliland’s first-ever presidential debate shown live on national television, and large campaign rallies.

Here’s what you need to know:

Somaliland has a long history of elections and executive turnover

A former British protectorate, Somaliland enjoyed five days of sovereign independence before uniting with Somalia in 1960. Following a brutal civil war, Somaliland dissolved its union with Somalia in 1991 and continues to exist as an unrecognized de facto state.

With 4 million people and a territory of 68,000 square miles, Somaliland impresses outside observers with its sustained process of electoral democracy and a hybrid blend of traditional and modern state institutions. Somaliland’s stability stands in contrast to the insecurity and poor governance in neighboring Somalia.

[Somalia’s new president now faces 3 big challenges]

And unlike Somalia’s uneven transition record, Somaliland has seen peaceful leadership transitions for decades. The first president, Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur (1991-1993), accepted defeat in an indirect election in 1993. President Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (1993-2002) then led Somaliland for nearly a decade. Vice President Dahir Riyale Kahin (2002-2010) ascended to the presidency after Egal’s death and remained in office after winning an election in 2003.

Riyale accepted defeat and peacefully transferred power in 2010 to Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Silanyo” in accordance with Somaliland’s constitution. Silanyo opted not to seek reelection in 2017, and there are three contenders in the current election.

To be sure, democracy depends on more than regular executive turnover. Recent presidential elections have seen extensive delays. There have been no parliamentary elections since 2005, and journalists and independent media experience arrest and harassment. International election observers found widespread multiple voting during 2012 local council elections but accepted those elections as “largely free and credible” — though they were not fully free and fair.

There have been a series of electoral delays

Somaliland was supposed to hold joint presidential and parliamentary elections in 2015. Severe drought and several political controversies led to multiple postponements. Droughts then forced pastoralists in the country to migrate, which meant that the March 2017 target election date would not be possible after delays in voter registration.

[Four things you should know about food security in Africa]

Ultimately, complicated negotiations between the political parties and the National Electoral Commission and an intervention by the upper house of parliament led to the decision to hold the presidential ballot Nov. 13,  and then hold a separate parliamentary poll in April 2019 in combination with local government elections.

The decision to delay both elections, then separate them and further delay the parliamentary elections, greatly angered Somaliland’s Western supporters. One of the opposition candidates has repeatedly expressed concerns over the fairness of the electoral process, yet there is every reason to hope that Somaliland’s presidential elections will be peaceful and ultimately widely accepted. One concern, of course, is the possibility of disruption from the al-Shabab terrorist group.

Somaliland’s system of limiting each political party to campaigning only on certain days of the week has calmed nerves and minimized pre-election violence in past elections. The iris-based biometric voter registration processwas largely successful and generally accepted by the electorate. This should obviate many of the problems noted in the 2012 local council elections.

Who is running for president?

Three parties are fielding presidential candidates. Musa Bihi Abdi is the presidential candidate of the ruling Kulmiye Party. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” represents the Waddani Party. Faysal Ali “Warabe” represents the UCID Party. Both UCID and Kulmiye competed in the 2003 and 2010 presidential elections, but this is the first election for the Waddani Party, which earned the right to field a candidate based on its performance in the 2012 local elections.

During the October presidential debate, all three candidates agreed on the need to improve education, combat unemployment and pursue international recognition — no countries have officially recognized Somaliland. Abdi pledged to increase the representation of women in politics and to introduce compulsory national service for high school and university graduates. Irro was emphatic that he would not allow term extensions or delayed elections — and he promised to strengthen the powers of the Central Bank to combat inflation. Warabe promised more government intervention in the economy and to devote 15 percent of the government’s budget to health care.

Somaliland’s most pressing challenges come after the election

Whoever wins the presidential election will inherit a fragile political economy— one that is highly dependent on diaspora remittances and livestock exports in a drought-prone region. The new president will also take over what political scientist Kenneth Menkhaus has termed a “functional failed state” with a few “clusters of competence.” In other words, the state functions, and maintains public order and a degree of economic growth, but has limited government capacity, low levels of institutionalization, and modest budgets.

An overriding concern is that Somaliland has limited state capacity — though the National Election Commission seems to be one area that works. Somaliland’s 2017 budget of $362 million represents about $100 per person of government spending, which is significantly lower than the sub-Saharan Africa average and also that of other conflict states. More than half the budget typically goes to security, leaving little room for education, health, infrastructure or development spending.

[This short video shows what Africans think of their elections]

To date, this has been accepted practice because Somalilanders are “hostages to peace” who value the maintenance of peace and stability above all else. The human development costs, however, are vast, and popular demands on the government to address these needs are growing.

Members of Somaliland’s Guurti, or upper house, have not been elected or selected since 1997. They have extended their own terms in office, with some members being replaced by immediate offspring.

Scholars now raise questions that Somaliland’s attempt to blend traditional and modern governance may be a “crippled hybrid” in which neither institution functions well. If lower house parliamentary elections are held in 2019, parliamentarians will have served nine years beyond their constitutionally mandated five-year terms of office.

Despite these and other challenges, there are reasons for optimism. With comparatively little international assistance, Somaliland has survived two livestock export bans that decimated its leading industry, the sudden and unexpected death in office of President Egal in 2002 and various electoral crises.

A new president with a fresh electoral mandate offers the prospects of renewed electoral progress, necessary institutional reforms and incremental improvements in the daily lives of its citizens. If all goes to plan, Somaliland’s fifth president in 26 years will be inaugurated Dec. 13 — and assume responsibility for Somaliland’s continued peace and security.

Scott Pegg is professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and is serving as an international election observer for Somaliland’s presidential elections.

Michael Walls is senior lecturer in the Development Planning Unit at University College London and is coordinating the international election observer mission for Somaliland’s presidential elections.

​

For the original publication, clink the button bellow. 

October 04, 2017

Qalinkii Khaalid Maxamed Cali

​

Muddo 26 sanno laga soo joogo, ayay Somaliland ictiraaf buuxa ka raadinaysay beesha caalamka, iyadoo markeedi hore ba ay ictiraaf buuxa ka heshay dhawr iyo soddon waddan 26 June 1960. Haddaba 26 sanno Somaliland waxay heerkaa ku soo gaadhay, isku filnaansho iyo kaalmo yar ay beesha caalamku siiso Somaliland. Ilaa 1991, Somaliland waxay isku tijaabisay in ay qadiyaddeeda beesha caalamka ka dhaadhiciso, si ay mar labaad beesha caalamka uga mid noqoto.

​

Haddaba waxa xussid mudan, socdaalki xaqiiq raadis ka ahaa, ay Ururka Africa amma (African Union)ku u yimaaddeen Somaliland 2005, si ay wax uga ogaadaan in ay Somaliland buuxisay shuruudihi dawladnimo, waxaanay ku soo gabogabeeyeen xaqiiq raadiskaas, in ay Somaliland xaq taariikhiya u leedahay in la ictiraafo “Somaliland’s search for recognition was historically unique and self-justified in African political history”

Baryahan dambe Somaliland waxay magac ku yeelatay caalamka, xagga dhaqaalaha oo ay dalal badani u la dhaqmaan oo ay heshiisyo u la galaan, sidi dal la ictiraafsan yahay. Tusaalo ahaan, heshiiski 30 sanno ay dhawaan Somaliland la gashay shirkadda DP World oo ay xukuumadda Dubai leedahay, si ay u maamusho dekedda Berbera.

​

Haddaba, haddii aanu mawduuca qoraalkan guda galno. Somaliland 10ki sanno ee na soo dhaafay, waxay horumar la taaban karo ka gaadhay xagga lacagta sida elektronika loo isticmaalo ama afka qalaad loo yaqaanno (Mobile Money), daraasado faro badan oo sannaddadn dambe soo baxay, ayaa waxay xaqiijiyeen in ay Somaliland tahay dalka qudha ee dunida si xawli leh loogu isticmaalo adeegga (Mobile Money) ama aanu u naqaanno (Zaad), waxa taa u sabab ahaa banggi la’aanta ka jirtay dalka, si ay u suurto galiso meel ay dadka bilaa xisaab banggi (The Unbanked), ay lacagtooda ku keydsadaan, waxna ku kala iibsadaan. Arrinkaasna waxa aad uga helay, qirayna in ay tallaabo hor leh tahay, mulkiilaha shirkadda caalamiga ah ee (Microsoft) Mudane Bill Gates, isaga oo Somaliland ka dhigtay tusaale fiican, u ah 2 Billion oo qof, oo aan haysan meel ay ku kaydsadaan lacagtooda, oo ku kala nool Africa iyo Asia in ay ku daydaan. 

​

Kolkaa taasi waxay ku tusaysaa in ay Somaliland meel fiican taagantahay, oo ay heshay waddoooyin cusub ay u mari lahayd, geeddi socodkeeda, ee ictiraaf doonka, wadadaas oo ka duwan, waddadi diblumaasiga ahayd ee ay Somaliland u maraysay ictiraaf raadiskeeda muddo laga joogo imika 26 sanno. Waddadaasi waa waddada internetka amma dunidda internetka (Virtual World), waa waddada uugu dhakso badan si ictiraaf dheeraad ah oo calami ah ay Somaliland u hesho, taas oo keenaysa in ay ku yeelato bar ama astaan internetka (Top Level Domain), kaas oo ah (.SLND). 

​

Bartaas ee magaceeda ku suntan tahay, oo ah (.SLND) (Top Level Domain Name .SLND), waxa laga yaabaa in ay Somaliland la kulanto caqabado xagga qaynuunka iyo xeerarka u yaalla hay’adda caalamiga ee xakamaysa internetka ee kolka la soo gaabiyo loo yaqaanno (ICANN), sababta oo ah aqoonsi la’aanta hadda Somaliland haysa. Ee laakin haddii aanu tusaalo ahaan soo qaadanno, waddanka (Scotland) oo ka mid ah boqortooyada ingiriiska, doonayana in uu ka go’o boqortooyada ingiriiska, waxay ku guulaysteen in ay barta internetka ku yeeshaan astaan u gaadh ah oo ay ku fidiyaan dhaqankooda iyo taariikhdooda u gaadh ka ah, oo ah (.SCOT), taas oo ku timid dadaal, dood iyo daba gal dhawr sanno gaadhaya, ay kula jireen hay’adda maamusha internetka ee la yidhaahdo (ICANN). Guushaasina waxa ay ku timid kolka ay xukuumadda Scotland, iyo hay’ad (Scottish) ah iyo shicibka reer (Scotland) ay dhawrkaa sanno is barbar taagnaayeen, iyo fiiga ama kharash gaadhaya $200,000 si ay (Scotland) iskaga diiwaan galiso hay’adda (ICANN), kuna yeelato magaca (.SCOT) barta iternetka. Waa la ga maarmaan in ay Somaliland ku yeelato internetka bar magaceeda tilmaamaysa oo ah (.SLND), oo aduunka waxaad tuseysaa in uu goonni isu taagaagu mid dhab ah yahay, xagga aanu hadda ka isticmaalno (.COM), oo ay ugu horeeyaan wasaaradaha iyo hay’adaha xukuumadda hoos yimaadda oo dhan. Haddii aanu sida ay (Scotland) yeesho yeelno, oo ay xukuumadda, shacabka iyo ururadda aqoonyahanka, oo aanu ka dhigno olole weyn oo ay 200,000 oo muwaadin reer Somaliland ahi ku deeqaan $1, guushaas waanu gaadhi doonnaa. Waxaana xusid mudan iyaduna, in uu ururka internetka ee caalamiga ah (ICANN) uu ku qaban doono shir weyn oo ku saabsan internetka (Abu Dhabi) caasimadda dalka isu tagga Imaaraatka Carabta 28 October 2017 ilaa 3 November 2017.   

​

Haddaba haddii aanu nahay Machadka Aqoonyahanka Somaliland ama (Somaliland Intellectuals Institute (SII), waxaanu ku adkeynaynaa xukuumadda cusub ee Somaliland ka dhalan doonta bisha November 2017, in ay arinkaas barnaamijkeeda siyaasadeed ku darsato. Wixi faahfaahin dheeraad ah, oo ku saabsan arinkaas, iyo sidi loo gudo gali lahaa, aanu uga wada shaqayn lahayn haddii aanu nahahy Somaliland Intellectuals Institute (SII).

Fadlan nagala soo xidhiidh:

Khalid Maxamad Cali – Xubin ka mid ah (SII) – Soona dhigtay cilmiga (Strategic Innovation)

October 04, 2017

By Saeed M. Soleman

​

Neuro-Linguistic Programming is an approach for communication, personal development, and psychotherapy andit’s about how high achievers in different fields obtain outstanding results, and how their successful thinking and behaviour patterns can be modelled. Then how anyone can utilise these tried and test techniques to communicate effectively, influence others and achieve their own success. In simple terms, learning and applying NLP is about learning the language of your own mind and how to apply it effectively.

Neuro relates to your neurology; the way we use our senses to interpret the world around us, as each person has developed their own unique mental filtering system for processing the millions of data being absorbed through their senses. Neurological processes affect our thoughts and emotions, our physiology and subsequent behaviour.

Each individual has developed their own unique mental filtering system for processing the millions of data being absorbed through their senses. As such the first mental map of the world around is called the ‘First Access’ in NLP. This map is made up of internal images, internal sensations, sounds, tactile awareness, tastes and smells that form as result of the neurological filtering process.

Linguistic refers to the use of language; it’s about how we use language to describe, categorise and make sense of our reality and experience then assign personal meaning to the information being received from the world around us. We form our second mental map which is called the ‘Linguistic Map’ by assigning language to the internal images, sounds and feelings, tastes and smells, thus forming everyday conscious awareness.

Programming refers to how that neural language functions; it’s about the sequence of our internal thought processes and the patterns of behaviour that we use to motivate ourselves to achieve our goals. It’s about managing the thoughts, feeling and behavioural response that occurs as a result of neurological filtering processes and the subsequent linguistic map that is developed.

Image

A brief history

Neuro Linguistic Programming started early in the 1970s with the collaboration of an Associate Professor from the University of California, Santa Cruz, John Grinder and undergraduate Richard Bandler. They both had passion for human excellence which charted a path for them to model behavioural patterns of selected geniuses they has studied. They studied a wide range of people they considered to be excellent, especially in the areas of communication and management of change and they identified consistent patterns of behaviour and resources they shared in common.

The core activity of NLP is modelling, and is the process of replicating and extricating the language, structure, habits and behavioural patterns of highly successful people at a given activity or stages in their lives. NLP modelling is the art of making explicit the set of differences present in someone who is excellent at a given activity compared with someone who is mediocre at the same activity. Modelling is by far the highest skill level in NLP and it can be used to capture patterns of excellence present in anyone in any context.

NLP Presuppositions

The NLP Presuppositions is that the mind and body are interconnected and such they are:

• Parts of the same system, and they affect each other

• The Map is Not the Territory as we all have different maps of the world around us

• There is no failure, only feedback  and a renewed opportunity for success

• The Map Becomes the Territory as what you believe to be true either is true or becomes true, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right!” (Henry Ford)

• Knowing what you want will help you to reach you goal

• The resources we need to reach our goals are within us

• Know that communication is verbal as well as non-verbal e.g. Body language

• The sub-conscious mind is benevolent and has no sense of time

• Communication is to the sub-conscious as well as the conscious mind as your language can influence subconscious mind

• The meaning of my communication is the response I get

• By modelling excellent behaviour leads to excellence in your pursuit of your  goals

•  

An NLP Practitioner can employ his/her skills as an agent of change working with individuals, groups, or companies, or even global organisations and governments. As a technology, NLP has an amazing track record for instigating fast and efficient change in individuals and groups.

Many people study NLP to help them become more effective in their chosen field. The techniques and patterns can be employed across a wide area of applications ranging from diverse fields as education, team building, sales, marketing, personal development, leadership and coaching. Wherever there is human interaction and growth potential, NLP can be used to develop and enhance performance.

What are the potential benefits NLP?

There are numerous benefits of NLP, particularly in business and sport such as:

• Increased awareness of our thinking patterns increases our flexibility, our choices and our self-management, so that we can influence outcomes

• Increased awareness of and ability to use language to influence others and facilitate change

• Understand the factors that lead to successful outcomes

• Quickly identify and blast through the limitations that are holding you back in business and in life... Once you break through these, your business and personal life will never be the same again.

• Master your subconscious mind so that you can learn more quickly than traditional teaching methods could ever allow

• Learn things about yourself that you didn’t know before

• Master your own emotions so that you handle all eventualities easily

• Gain that vital edge that makes you a far more effective and powerful communicator

• Enhance your personal relationships

• Develop instant confidence

The four Pillars of NLP

1. Rapport: building relationships of trust and influence

2. Outcome focused: know what you want, clear purpose and direction

3. Sensory acuity:  paying attention to the responses and signals you get from others

4. Flexibility of behaviour: the more choices you have in practice, the more chance you have of getting what you want

Rapport

Generally being in rapport with someone is about getting on with them but in NLP it is much more than this and is about:

• Is the first step to good communication

• Is meeting others in their model of the world

• Is matching the way you communicate to the way the other person takes in information

• Increases the likelihood that the message you send will be the one they receive

• Promotes trust and comfort between people

Outcome Focused

The second pillar is to know what you want and without knowing what you want, you cannot define success, celebrate when you achieve, or map your journey towards your goals.

You need to ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I want?

• What do I want?

• What do I want?

• What do I want?

Sensory Acuity

The third pillar is to notice what is happening to you and to others around you. Become more curious and aware of the effects and impact of what you do. Only then will you truly know if you are on course to achieve your goal. You can then use this feedback to adjust what you are doing an you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• How will I know when I have got it?

• What will I be seeing when I have got it?

• What will I be hearing when I have got it?

• What will I be feeling when I have got it?

• What will you see me doing, when I have got it?

• What will you hear me saying when I have got it?

Flexibility of behaviour

In the fourth pillar; if what you are doing isn’t working do something different. And if you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get the same results. Know that you always have a choice of what action to take and how you act and react to each situation. It is useful to look at the world from different perspectives and points of views. The more behavioural flexibility you have the more choices you will discover and by keep changing what you do until you get the results you want.

In conclusion NLP is a means for unlocking personal potential and improving an individual’s performance. It achieves this by removing the psychological barriers - such as fear of failures - that normally inhibit an individual from challenging his/her ability in different situations outside their normal comfort zone. Therefore, by enabling and building the individuals confidence to overcome beliefs that normally limits one’s capability, NLP creates a 'safety net' that allows the individual to perform outside their perceived  limited comfort zones, thereby achieving more than we previously believed we were capable of achieving.

Your next steps…?

If you want to unlock your potential, you need to get curious about NLP and discover more in my following articles at The Somaliland Review.