By M.A. Egge
The state is to form a taskforce to address the decentralization processes of policies, administrative and fiscal matters such that governance may be bolstered and fledged throughout the country..
The decision was taken at the 20th session of this week’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening following discussions on the matter for two consecutive sessions.
It was chaired as usual by the President himself, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro while flanked by the Vice President His Excellency Mohamed Ali Aw Abdi.
The session also largely devoted the session to the preparations of the commemoration and celebration of May 18, the D-day that the nation declared to re-assert its sovereignty.
The celebrations are being observed both intensively and extensively, within the country and internationally.
The Council of Ministers also underpinned the fact that May 18th is markedly observed as the people’s exhibition Day of Solidarity and Unity.
The agenda of the 20th session of the Council of Ministers session was generally as follows; –
𝟏) National Security and stability:
The Council of Ministers heard a general report on the country’s security situation from the Minister of Interior and Security, Hon. Abdalle Mohamed Arab. The Minister told the Council that overall the country’s security was stable, except for daily minor criminal occurrences in society and traffic accidents that cause the most deaths and injuries.
𝟐. Economic situation:
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Abdillahi Hassan Aden, gave the Council a general report on the country’s economic conditions and the progress of tax collection in general, especially as concerns GST taxes. The Minister said that the growth of National Income is increasing day by day.
3) Nationalization of local community forces and El Afweyn pacification
The Minister of Defense, Hon. Mohamed Yusuf Ali (who was part of the delegation led by the Vice President to the pacification issues in the eastern parts of the country) gave the Somaliland Council of Ministers a detailed report on the various stages of the complex processes on the matter that they had undergone through on the nationalization of the Civilian Forces, the pacification of El-Afweyn and the modern registration of the entire forces; these issues were indeed of particular importance to the Somaliland.
The Minister said that there were significant challenges that faced the team, since the tasks required determination and courage.
He said that, in addition to Divine help, the President of Somaliland was always there to support them with firm determination and in everything that they did.
𝟒) Measles outbreak:
The Minister of Health Development, Dr. Hussein Bashir Hirsi, gave the Cabinet a general report on the measles outbreak in some regions of the country. He said that as a Ministry, they are putting a lot of efforts into controlling the epidemic. He said that the Ministry is starting to raise public awareness and accelerate the vaccination of children under 5 years of age.
- UAE trip by IID minister
The Minister of Investment and Industrial Development, H.E. Saeed Mohamoud Buraale, briefed the Cabinet on a working trip that he and his team went to the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai, following an official invitation extended by the DP World International Ports Authority Company. The Minister said that they saw lessons and experiences that can be learned related to how a country can develop.
𝟔) Preparations for 18th May national celebrations:
The Minister of the Presidency, Hon. Khadar Hussein Abdi, gave the Council a report on the progress of preparations for the celebration of the day of Reestablishment of Nationality and Independence of Somaliland.
The Minister shared with the Council the procedures and protocols planned for this year’s National Day. He particularly noted that this year the Ministry of Education role in the preparations for May 18 is more marked especially by raising awareness among students in schools across the country about the May 18 commemoration.
𝟕) Decentralization processes:
The Council of Ministers of the Somaliland once again discussed the Decentralization System (decentralization) of the Regions and Districts of the country, specifically in:
1) Political Decentralization;
2) Administrative Decentralization; and
3) Fiscal Decentralization.
The discussions of the Council of Ministers all underlined that decentralization empowers decision-making at the local level, while strengthening accountability and monitoring the provision of appropriate social services.
In conclusion, the President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, the discussion of the Council of Ministers in the 19th and 20th sessions, directed the Council that the issue of decentralization should be referred to a Committee consisting of the Council of Ministers and experts knowledgeable in this subject, based on the guidelines of the National Constitution.