President Rayale’s Achievements And Failures

By Yassin Abdillahi Ahmed

Sine the beginning of 1990s, Somaliland has made remarkable progress on many directions. To name some: reconciliation process, the creation and implementation of functioning governance, institutional building and democratization process which further led to three different free and fair elections, but for the last five years was imperative.

Education

When Rayale, came to power five years ago, the number of school going children was as low as 15 to 17%, but since becoming the president of Somaliland in May, 2002, the number has increased dramatically to 33% which puts Somaliland much higher than, the other parts of the Defunct Somali State. On the other hand, the salary of teachers is very low, mostly teachers are unsuitable, the absenteeism rate is incredibly high and the environment is not promising.

The Ministry of Education is weak as an institution, its capacity is extremely limited, the top leadership is incompetent. Although, this year the government has increased the salary of the teachers, and the whole Government employees at large by 30% still it is too little too late, and needs further attention to be given.

It is clear that the institutional capacity is far from sufficient to take on the management, and implementation of key education needs, but the Education policy which Ministry of Education has produced last year deserves to be congratulated, and it is one step towards the Right direction but will not make Somaliland achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the year of 2015.

Health

A total of 23 Hospitals, 69 Health Centers and 157 Health posts serve the entire population. Currently, only 85 doctors, and 215 nurses are serving the entire nation. Training needs are paramount but only two universities provide medical training. In addition, the capacities of Universities are limited, and the Government failed to invest in the higher Education at large, and specially, Health departments of Amoud and Hargeisa Universities respectively.

The infrastructure network is limited, with high population – to facility ratios of 130,500 per Hospital, and 44,000 per Health Center. Regrettably, half of the hospitals and close to two-thirds of the doctors are currently located in Hargeisa.

The Government has neglected the health services with the possible exception of Hargeisa Group Hospital, where President Rayale, nominated an independent committee, which currently runs the hospital, and later, the Government together with UNHCR has constructed a surgery theater, which costs Sl. Sh 90,000. The committee works hard since its inception, it has rehabilitated previous buildings, constructed new ones, procured new equipment including vehicles and established a pharmacy, and finally, today Hargeisa Group Hospital is completely different than what is was five years ago, thanks to the honest committee and outstanding director.

Foreign policy

Although Somaliland is unrecognized by the world at large, however, Somaliland has made significant progress towards attaining de-jure recognition. Since becoming Somaliland’s President, Rayale has energized Somaliland’s foreign policy and enabled it to boost the image of Somaliland in the international arena. He visited more than two dozens of African and European Countries,

Somaliland government persuaded the African Union Commission to dispatch a fact-finding mission, which will report back to the commission and the head of States. Pro. Alpha Oumar Konare had dispatched high level delegation led by his Deputy, and further the fact-finding mission reported the AU head of States in Sirta, Libya. The Mission indicated that Somaliland’s search for recognition was historically unique and justified and it recommended that the case shouldn’t be viewed as opening a Pandora’s box. The Mission also recommended the AU must find a way to deal with this outstanding case. On the other hand, Ethiopian-Somaliland relations have been growing for the last decade and half but has now become a strategic partnership. Somaliland/Kenyan relations improved extensively.

The biggest success for Somaliland Government

President Rayale, held local elections in December 2002, free and fair presidential Elections in April 2003. He culminated the democratization process with the first multi party Parliamentary elections held on 29 September, 2005, which fielded 246 candidates and resulted in the opposition gaining a majority in Parliament.

In June 2006, Somaliland’s case was debated at AU Executive Committee; In January 2007, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister openly proposed that Somaliland’s case should be debated and that Somaliland should be given an observer status, and now Somaliland is likely to participate in the up-coming AU meeting in Accra, Ghana. For the last five years the Government budget increased significantly; Finally, President Rayale’s current visit to Europe is likely to attain substantial investment, and a new era of cooperation between Somaliland and Nordic Countries.

The biggest question for UDUB Congress

One of the biggest questions for UDUB members is: which direction the party will move? It is still unclear whether UDUB has desired to pressure Rayale into more meaningful reforms, like stepping down from his role of leading UDUB Party a second term or at least decreasing the number of Ministers. Although, many believe that it is a must, others view Rayale as Strong. Regardless of this debate, it is obvious that Rayale is smart but his latest swift decision to fire his former Defense Minister has exposed raised doubts about his sound decision making.

Rayale’s biggest failures

The withdrawal of Somaliland forces from Las Anod was one of the biggest mistakes Rayale made over the last five years. Good leaders realize they have two ears and mouth, so they can listen twice as much as they talk, but Somaliland leaders are the opposite. Finally, it’s clear that President Rayale has over promised and under delivered.

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