NEC chairman Ahmed Haji Ali (Adami) receives his organization’s certificate of distinguished achievement and Somaliland minister for the Presidency Nuh Ahmed Osman who presented the awards and Mr Mahmud Mohamed Horreh (chairman of S/land Forum) was the announcer of the awards

Hargeysa, Somaliland , December 31, 2005 (SL Times) – The Somaliland House of Elders (Guurti) and the country’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) have each received a certificate of achievement from the Somaliland Forum, an internet-based organization founded in the mid 1990s by Somalilanders in the diasporra.

The award winning ceremonies were held at the Hargeysa Oriental Hotel on last Wednesday evening.

As Mahmud Mohamed Horreh (Cammudo), chairman of the Somaliland Forum, announced the names of the winners of the SLF awards for distinguished achievement, Somaliland minister for the Presidency Nuh Ahmed Osman presented a certificate for distinguished achievement to Sheekh Ahmed Nuh, the first deputy chairman of the Guurti.

“The Guurti was awarded this prize in recognition of its valuable contributions to the success of Somaliland ’s peace, reconciliation and democratization processes,” Mr. Horreh said.

NEC chairman Ahmed Haji Ali (Adami) received his organization’s certificate of distinguished achievement.

According to the SLF the NEC was honored for its “deep commitment to democracy and its successful conduction of the 2002 local council elections, the 2003 presidential elections and the 2005 parliamentary elections”.

SNDF’s chairman Jama Ibrahim Awad receives award on behalf of SNDF

A number of other civil society organizations received certificates of appreciation for strafing to improve public services. The SNDF, an umbrella organization for the disabled was cited for a remarkable dedication to the well-being of the handicapped community.

The SNDF’s chairman Jama Ibrahim Awad thanked the SLF for acknowledging the efforts for improving the lives of disabled persons in Somaliland .

The Somaliland Academy of Peace and Development was also one of the recipients of the certificates of appreciation. The Academy was praised for its overt and behind the scene role in paving the way for the democratization process.

Abdi Yusuf Dualle represented the academy at the awarding function.

Havoyoco, the youth organization was also an award recipient for rendering valuable social services and youth development. Havoyoco’s chairman Omer Shiekh was there to collect the prize.

And the two journalist associations, SSJW and SOLJA were also honored for promoting freedom of the press and democracy. Yusuf A. Gabobe and Abdi Adan received certificates of appreciation on behalf of their two respective organizations.

The gathering was concluded with a lecture by the well-known Somaliland elderman Abdi Warabe on peacemaking.

“Peace was possible in Somaliland because the young fighters accepted to listen to us and lay down their weapons. This is one important aspect why we are different from Somalia . Up there they don’t respect elders and they don’t have peace. As a Somaliland elder I’m grateful to the Almighty Allah first and secondly to our young men who gave us the opportunity to make this durable peace,” Haji Abdi said.

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives