By M.A. Egge
The former vice president of Somaliland, Mr. Abdirahman Aw Ali Farah, who attended the foundation ceremony of the national police force of the Republic of Somaliland on its 31st anniversary, gave a brief recap of its inception from a rag-tag outfit.
The former VP said that in 1991 when Somaliland re-asserted its independence he was in Boorama, the capital of Awdal region doubling both as town mayor and regional governor hence initiated a rag-tag 80-man strong unit to become the first police officers in the area.
He noted that similar efforts were made in Hargeisa and other major cities, a move that ultimately gave birth to the establishment of the national police force.
He beamed as he narrated the progressive stages the police department went through, despite all pros and cons undergone, to become the formidable force it is today with thousands of servicemen in its ranks and file.