Somaliland: Questions & Answers In Westminister Parliament

Somaliland: 26 Feb 2007

Mr. Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk, Liberal Democrat): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often (a) she and (b) her officials are in contact with the Somaliland authorities. [120799] 26 Feb 2007

Margaret Beckett (Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office): I have not met any representatives of the Somaliland authorities. However, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, has met Mr. Dahir Rayale, the ‘President' of the Somaliland authorities on several occasions, most recently in August 2006. Officials, including our ambassador in Addis Ababa, are also in regular contact with representatives of the Somaliland authorities.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) she and (b) her officials last met her counterpart in Somaliland.

Margaret Beckett: I have not met any representatives of the Somaliland authorities. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, last met Mr. Abdillahi Duale, the ‘Foreign Minister' of the Somaliland authorities, on 26 January in the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Our ambassador in Addis Ababa and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Africa Director also met with Mr. Abdillahi Duale in Addis Ababa on 9 February.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the discussions on Somaliland at the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa.

Margaret Beckett: The UK attended the recent African Union summit as an observer and did not have any formal status or participate in the discussions. We understand that the question of Somaliland was raised at Foreign Minister level but that there was little detailed discussion.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Minister and (b) official represented the UK at the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa which discussed Somaliland; in what discussions on Somalia the Minister or official took part; and what the outcome was of these discussions. [120802]

Margaret Beckett: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and our ambassador in Addis Ababa, who is our Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), attended the recent AU summit in Addis Ababa as observers. Lord Triesman had meetings in the margins of the summit with President Yusuf of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia, during which Somalia was discussed. They agreed there was currently a window of opportunity for Somalia which should be maximized through pursuing an inclusive political dialogue, the early deployment of the AU Mission to Somalia and increased assistance for reconstruction. Lord Triesman also met Mr. Abdillahi Duale, ‘Foreign Minister' of the Somaliland authorities, to discuss the situation in Somalia and areas of co-operation with the UK.

26 Feb 2007

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the state of democracy in Somaliland; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: We welcome the progress that has been made in Somaliland towards stability and democracy. The elections last year were another positive step forward in the democratization process. We continue to support the development of democratic institutions in Somaliland.

27 Feb 2007

International Development

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing to Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development) DFID's assistance to Somalia has increased from less than £2 million in 2002-03 to almost £18.75 million in 2005-06. Our assistance is aimed at achieving a peaceful and economically viable Somalia, and is based on three objectives:

(i) to help achieve a just and viable political settlement in Somalia;

(ii) to work with others to establish the basis for effective development assistance,

with an initial focus on improving governance and service delivery; and

(iii) to ensure timely provision of humanitarian relief.

A key part of DFID's support is channeled through the UNDP to provide direct support to the transitional federal institutions (TFIs). The UK, along with other donors (mainly the European Commission, Norway and Sweden), are providing both technical and financial assistance to help the TFIs to become established and build their capacity. Support to date has involved direct financial support to the costs of the TFIs through a UNDP project (e.g. refurbishment and equipping of TFI buildings, stipends for MPs, police and judiciary, and costs of TFI members' travel within Somalia). These donors are also providing capacity building support to the TFIs through an emergency technical assistance project, plus support for a constitution development project.

DFID, alongside a broad group of other donors, is also providing support to the security and judiciary sector across Somalia though UNDP's rule of law and security programme. This support has helped establish three police training centers (one in Somaliland, one in Puntland and one in Baidoa), as well as helping to produce a somali police Development Plan as a basis for re-establishing policing in south/central Somalia. Security sector review work is also being taken forward as a priority with Somaliland and Puntland. This programme has also financed the reconstruction of the prison in Hargeisa, so that it now meets international standards.

The largest part of DFID's funding for Somalia to date has been in the form of humanitarian assistance, which has been provided in response to natural disasters which have afflicted Somalia in recent years. These funds have been channeled through UN agencies and NGOs. We continue to carefully monitor the humanitarian situation in Somalia and have been one of the leaders in the international response to these crises.

In addition to our humanitarian response, we continue to support the education and health sectors via UN agencies and NGOs, and agreed last year a£6 million education partnership with UNICEF and UNESCO.

Much of DFID's funds are directed to Somaliland and Puntland in the north, as they are currently more stable. Somaliland receives 30 to 40 per cent. of UK assistance to Somalia. This includes support to the 2005 Somaliland parliamentary elections and the upcoming presidential election.

Early Day Motion - Somaliland

Michael, Alun

21.02.2007

That this House congratulates Somaliland on 16 years of democratic development which has included local government elections, parliamentary elections and presidential elections, including a close-fought election in which the narrowly-defeated presidential candidate accepted the result `because we are a democracy'; considers this to be a model example of successful democracy in one small corner of Africa; calls on the international community not to overlook the thriving democracy of Somaliland in its understandable enthusiasm to see peace and an effective administration in the South; believes that it is for Somalis to decide their own future and that the international community must not ride roughshod over Somaliland in search of a tidy solution; welcomes the demonstration on 22nd February 2007 as a way of celebrating democratic success; further welcomes the solidarity and loyalty of the Somaliland community in the UK to their homeland; further welcomes the interest and engagement of successive UK Ministers in the emerging democracy of Somaliland; considers this to be right and fair given the contribution of Somalilanders to the UK's economy and defence in three centuries, two world wars and numerous other conflicts; and applauds the patience with which Somaliland, while working hard at its own capacity for self determination and democratic development, has awaited peace in the South so that Somalis can sit down and work out their future together.

Signatures ( 41)