Awdal Region And The Emerging Businesses

By Ahmed Abib Hayir, Borama

Awdal Region is inclusively one of those other Somaliland parts affected by many of the same forces that have shaped the history of our country. For one thing, Somaliland -my country- fell in the hands of the former regime of Mohamed Siyad Bare. The leaders of this regime, without sacrifice or risk on their part, corrupted the country’s resources, divided their people into hostile clan groupings. Bribery and mismanagement of public resources were wide-spread. It was like they tied stones on their wings now that people turned against them. Clan-based armed forces declared war on the regime. This created an internal unrest and accelerated the state decay and political disintegration. Unfortunately, the resulting downfall of the regime- contrary to expectations- did not bring the social and political upheaval to an end.

Due to the easy availability of huge supplies of arms and ammunitions from the arsenals of the toppled regime or through the borders of the neighboring countries, the situation was even further escalated. Armed conflicts plunged the country into prolonged and cruel civil wars. Hostile clan-based militiamen used their weapons of all kinds indiscriminately against one another at the expense of their people. As a result, hundreds of thousands were threatened by the combined effects of wars and droughts and the country as a whole remained victim under the hands of its own people

On the other hand, the collapse of the centralized institutions ever deepened the economic and social standing affecting the Somali people. The country’s economy has long been mainly based on the herding of camels, cattle, goats and sheep which were/ are the major exports to the outside world. The undeniable fact was that the armed conflicts, devastating droughts and famine, more or less overlooked by the outside world, caused a huge influx of the country people into towns and cities. This urban migration, in turn, put the Somali livestock in a state of negligence. The urban migration also prompted deforestations and soil degradation. Disregarding plant’s contribution to livestock rearing and the environment as a whole, people indiscriminately cut trees for energy. In this way, hundreds of thousands of the Somali livestock were lost bringing about economic set back.

Owing to the national upheavals, the other more or less economic contributors, like fishing, crop production and mineral deposits remained of no importance as sources of income generation. However, people were still prisoners of their freezing economy. There have long been no jobs to do. The unemployment rate has been steadily getting higher. People were/are about the street corners or sipping traditional tea from local teashops. As sensible reader you can then imagine the distress and the inconsolable sadness of the unemployment will therefore contribute to higher crime rates. So far there have been a vast number of criminal records. For instance, properties were looted, women were raped and many others were deliberately murdered.

Here in my region, Awdal, despite the hardships people are considerably dependant on money sent home through remittance for their income. The families, relatives and friends sending money to their brothers, sisters, and kins are doing jobs in the alien countries they are based. It is for sure then, that the Awdal Diaspora is limited in number -each one of us has not got a brother or a sister abroad. Therefore, the money transfer is unevenly acquired. Only certain people do have the right to make use of their foreign-based financial supporters. Because of this income disparity, some believe the emerging social classes and the resulting standard of living may not underpin any hope of success for the future of private businesses. On this basis, many would-be entrepreneurs maintai n the strong will to hold back their hard-won wealth. They do not want to start businesses. These people are under the illusion that nothing returns from their investments. As long as this fear weighs down in their heads, investments, whatever, is to be avoided at all costs. If, however, favorable conditions call their attentions to finance their assets, the pulling and pushing between their mental attitudes puts them off balance. This reluctance brings about doubt, whatever that confines themselves to an assertion of probability. The fear of losing dominates their mind and finally they give up and remain in a state of indifference however profitable the existing opportunities are. I say many people in my region, though wealthy are always scared to end up in the streets begging. This is how far I judge but you can also add fuel to the fire of criticism! Were they a little bit sensible and made investments, jobs would be created for the numberless unemployed people and the investors themselves would get richer and as a direct consequence of this, the society would be well off.

In the light of this condition, Idris Muhumed Sacad (Ina Cunaye), the most prominent businessman in Awdal region does not lack the courage to release his assets from the binding chains of wasteful doubts about of investments. What pronounces a feeling of special satisfaction for him is that even failure “if any” is necessary to achieve latter success. To bridge the gap, Idris started a number of private businesses in the region. These include the only modern hotel in Borama. Rays hotel - the first five-star hotel ever built in my hometown, Borama. This modern hotel which belongs to Idiris Cunaye has taken the reputation of our town to rarified height.

I remember we were still in summer last June and the rain came almost everyday. On lovely Sunday afternoon, I paid a short visit to Rays Hotel at the northern end of my town. In this summer afternoon, the whole world seemed beautiful. We had enjoyed a comfortable shower at noon that day, and now in the afternoon, the sun shone glaring down from a clear sky. Down in the north, the farmland stretching to the eastern grassy hill sides were laden with green leaved corn crops whose seeds have just taken roots. Far behind the farms, clumps of green trees were lining in front of the high mountains towering over the plains below. On the near side, the foreground of the farms was green leveled and grassed over. Young people were hanging about and walking across the open grass land. In the immediate neighboring area from the grass, the football stadium was occupied by two teams playing an afternoon match. Their relative fans were chanting supportive slogans and other spectators also crowded the stadium. The Rays Hotel tall building was standing against the sun as I was on my way to the hotel. This view cast a dreamlike aura of how beautiful my town is certain to be.

I finally ended up in front of the hotel gate. This time the sky was already aflame with the sunset. A flock of birds were flying over this same part of the hotel tall building that I could have already seen all the way back home. Rain would-be clouds were just forming the sky over this building. The iron gate of the hotel stone-built fence is open to a way that cuts across the eastern part of the hotel’s main building. On the either side of the way, several buildings are standing. These buildings facing west and opposite the hotel gate are the laundry and the power station where an engine is roaring. The open foreground of these buildings is the parking area. I see cars lining up there. I am now entering the front gate of the hotel main building. On my right is the hotel manager’s office. The next door attached to the right of this office is the internet cafe where I see, through its glass-paned window a man with an awkward posture whose eyes are fixed on a computer screen in front of him. Further right the internet café is lined by a platform with an open front and roof that extends in a short distance. In this verandah, people occupy the chairs having drinks and some of them have dishes on tables in front of them. Some are entertained by TV program going on while others are making healthy conversations. Few steps in front of the verandah, there lies a square body of land with mowed green lawn. A fountain pumps out jets of water in the air and a model mountain with heavy black stone on it also occupy the area.

The hotel main building -modernly designed three floors- is just behind the fountain area. On the left side of the gate, there is the restaurant part. Along this side, small green roofed huts are also standing. The hotel has got conference halls, stores and a mosque behind the main building in addition.

The hotel provides a wide range of services for both local people and foreign guests. It has got luxurious sleeping rooms and delicious dishes and drinks. In addition to this, internet and laundry services are also available.

The hotel is staffed mainly by university graduates. Abdirahman Adan Mohamud, the current hotel manager directs his power of motivation and leadership to the well-disciplined staff that runs day-by-day activities of the hotel. The hotel customers are also satisfied with the services they are rendered by the hotel. Rays has so far earned reputation for its sound management

In conclusion, Rays hotel is not only an asset to our towns reputation, but it can also serve as an illustrative example for the typical businesses that are open for investments here in Awdal Region. Also, the hotel has created a conducive environment for attracting many guests to visit Borama and Awdal Region. Most importantly, it has created an employment opportunities for many Awdalians. Finally, I call upon Awdalian business people to better contribute to the development and economic growth of their region, which is lagging behind other regions of Somaliland in terms of businesses by making investments and starting businesses like Rays Hotel.

The pen of Ahmed Abib Hayir

3 rd Year Student

Amoud University

School of Business & Public Administration

E-mail: hayir89@hotmail.com

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