The intention of this article is to highlight the various forms of corruption in Somaliland society and who benefit the most from it.
Who, in Somaliland society benefit the most from corruption? Silaanyo ethnic or regional groups or clans who are strong enough to extract much from the state than their fair part of public investments, development projects, international aid, regional autonomy and representation in national institutions. power abuse“privatisation” and a highly biased distribution of state resources have been accumulated to friends and relatives, regardless of merit by the ruling “Silaanyo” clan to make more benefits. many business interests are buying political favours to escape the full burden of taxation and environmental regulations, others are able to buy protected markets and monopolies, import/export licences, etc.
it isn’t a hidden thing which makes it to be more perplexed to foreigners and probably to International Non-governmental Organisations present in Somaliland who are mostly unlikely to catch and report the real issues in the country, When exaggeratedly strict taxation, overtly delayed licenses, repeated and brutal police inspections or other harassment are committed by the ruling party. Certain people like Abdirashid MS Duale “Dhabshiil”, Abdirazak Jama Ismael “Cumaani” and Baashe Awil Haji Omar “Morgan”, are commissioned to buy privatised public property (cheaply), or given preferences, state guaranteed or subventioned loans, or selected as entrepreneurs for public works, nominated to represent corporate interests in various public councils and committees, and given other privileges through various economic clan “Favouritism” beneficial profit following in accordance of the reached agreements of Gar-Adag conference policies.
The European Community, for instance, reversed its earlier indifference and linked its aid to respect for human rights, democratisation, a free press and honest government in a resolution adopted in 1991. The IMF, the World Bank and the donor community have initiated substantial pressure on Third World governments to fight corruption19. Norway and Sweden froze aid to Tanzania in 1994 because of widespread corruption in the Tanzanian tax administration. In 1996, Norway threatened to suspend aid to Namibia because of “economic mismanagement” (in particular the purchase of a presidential jet). we expect such intervention actions from international communities by frizzing all the funds and accounts of Somaliland officials amassing unlimited sums of money,as well as the bribery by foreign oil firms,companies in Somaliland that are significantly contributing getting easy access to resources, markets, through corruption. Other brokers between the foreign interests and local governments orchestrates deals in ways that hide their own profits as well as the illegality or immorality of the deal itself with the administrative discretion of various ministries, departments and offices.
In Colin Nye’s classical and most widely used definition, corruption is “behaviour which deviates from the formal duties of a public role because of private- regarding (personal, close family, private clique) pecuniary or status gains; or violates rules against the exercise of certain types of private-regarding influence”. When corruption is defined as so,how is it perceived with in Somaliland society?
Well, you will be astonished by the answer am here to deliver because Somalilander’s approve corruption and sees it as a chance. All the clans that lives in Somaliland mostly fight for the most resourceful positions with in the country institutions that it happens that some clan elders gets a complain private visit meeting with the president concerning their clans status with in the institutions of the states arguing that the given positions “to their clan” doesn’t comply to their expected needs or demands in financial means.
Our parliament members in general and opposition party members in particular are meant to monitor and control the workings of the government and of the administration, it is to criticise and make suggestions, and to inform the general public. But our Parliaments increases corruption through their power of legislation for their own personal gains by always taking & being bribed to pass Kulmiye ruling party laws, always unconstitutionally restricting free press and active civil society who are wrongfully jailed, intimidated and oppressed. And when it comes to the opposition parties they are the biggest disappointment always confusing people due to their hypocritical instability behaviours which is; always changing camps moving out from a party to another inconstantly with no agenda always accusing the government with zero solutions and platform but always aiming to be bribed by the government to shut-up or to get appointed to office, and once again switch to the governing party starting the new role of singing ” Dalkeena nimcaa fadhida ” Kulmiye anthem.
ADEN ABDI DAHER ( ADEN-DEEQ )
