Hargeysa, Somaliland, December 1, 2007 – Around 6:30pm local time Wednesday evening, a large lorry carrying heavy telecommunications equipment pulled into the main compound of the   Somaliland ministry of information.

This lorry carried the transmitter for the new broadcasting unit of Radio   Hargeysa, which is in fact   “Radio Somaliland”. This transmitter is the final components of the broadcasting unit, enabling the station to reach across the whole of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.   

This new broadcasting unit has long been expected to arrive in Somaliland. After several delays, it has now arrived and will be broadcasting   within a few days.

According the Somaliland Minister   of Information, Ahmed Haji Dahir, "this transmitter is the final piece" in Somaliland’s desire to   project   its democratic and free voice across the region and to our neighboring brothers   in the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore this is a broadcasting unit for all the people of Somaliland, irrespective of political, social or economic affiliation" .

The Somaliland government has been under severe criticism from members of the Parliament, opposition parties and other members of the public for not delivering the much needed unit earlier.   Although many Somalilanders have access to television sets and satellite services, the majority of the population live in the rural areas and rely on their radio sets to keep them informed of the situation in the country and the world in general.

Mohamed Mussa Inji

Hargeysa, Somaliland

(SOLJA) Spokesman

Source: SOLJA