The UK To Increase
Assistance For Somaliland Police

The president of the republic of Somaliland being welcomed by Foreign Office VIP officials at Gatwik Airport on last Wednesday

Hargeysa, Somaliland, August 19, 2006 (SL Times) – The British government has agreed to strengthen the law enforcement capacity of the Somaliland police.

The Somaliland Times has learned that security cooperation between Somaliland and Britain was the main topic for discussions during talks held in London between ministers accompanying Somaliland president Dahir Rayale Kahin and officials from the UK Home Office on last Tuesday and Wednesday.

President Rayale arrived in London earlier this week on a 2-day official visit to Britain. The Somaliland leader was accompanied by his Foreign minister Abdillahi M. Duale, Finance minister, Awil Ali Duale and Post and Telecommunication minister Liban Duale (Asayr). The chief of the National Security Intelligence, Hussein Kenyati arrived in London ahead of the president’s delegation.

Both Somaliland and Britain have experienced terrorist attacks in the past.

The UK is expected to overhaul the Somaliland Immigration Department and strengthening the police’s law enforcement capabilities. The assistance will include training in the techniques of data filing, investigations and intelligence gathering and analyses.

A first-hand assessment of the Somaliland needs was conducted by a group of British officials from the Home Office who visited Hargeysa in June.

The UK has already been assisting Somaliland’s rule of law and judiciary sectors through the UNDP. However there is a growing concern among many legislators in the lower House that president Rayale might utilize the forthcoming British aid for strengthening the National Security Intelligence Department instead of the police.

A group of MPs have indicated that they will seek to raise issue of the NSI in the next session of the House.

The NSI reports directly to president Rayale and there has been a lot of controversy about its constitutionality as a state body.

Source: Somaliland Times