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Puntland State of Somalia's MAP
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Puntland State Of Somalia
Puntland MAP
for More Info
http://www.puntlandgovt.com

March 1, 2009 | 4:00 PM Comments  0 comments

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You Know Puntland ? HERE IS BRIEF
Related to country: Somalia

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Historical Background

The northeast region of Somalia has, since mid-1998, been referred to as the Puntland State of Somalia . Although pre-colonial Somalian society did not have a national government with modern structures and clearly defined international borders, the northeast region had traditional structures of government dating from the early years of the 19 th century; namely, the Sultanate of Majerteen (1901–1927), whose territory included the current regions of Bari and Nugal, the Sultanate of Mudug/Hobyo (1885–1925) and the Sultanate of eastern Sanaag (1896–1925).

These Sultanates were relatively under-developed and far from achieving a modern status in terms of political and state management systems. They had administrative and military structures, which safeguarded security, social welfare and political stability until these were disrupted by colonial powers; the Italians in the first two Sultanates and the British in the third one. Trade and commercial relations existed between the Sultanates and the Indian sub-continent and Arabian Gulf states. For instance, ad valorem taxation systems, export of livestock, animal and agro-forestry products and import of consumer goods thrived in the Sultanate of Majerteen during the second half of the 19 th century and first quarter of the 20 th century.

The Italian and British conquest of the Sultanate in (1923-1927) suppressed the peoples' resistance and destroyed all political, economic and commercial structures. The Italian fascist authorities were more repressive than the British, as reflected by the economic policies they applied to these regions. For instance, import-export trade and all the commercial transactions with above mentioned traditional markets were suspended and forcibly replaced with Italian trade companies, which imported consumer goods from Italy and exported salt, frankincense, hides, skin and agricultural cash crops (banana and cotton) to Italy through Mogadishu.

The suspension of trade markets and political structures of the former Sultanates by the colonial authorities had a devastating effect on the livelihood security, famine coping mechanism and employment/income earning opportunities of the northeastern communities. Pastoralists, merchants and fishermen had to immigrate to the southern regions in order to seek employment and trading opportunities.

Furthermore, the Sultans of Majerteen and Mudug, their families, relations and key collaborators, such as the traditional elders, were forcibly deported by the Italians to Mogadishu .

The Sultan of eastern Sanaag was exiled to the Seychelles Island by the British authorities. The deportation and exile of the Sultans, the compulsory conscription of more than 25,000 pastoralists (Italo-Ethiopian war of 1935-36) and destruction of economic, trade and political structures were all aimed to prevent or repress internal resistance and rebellion and to deplete and weaken the manpower resources of the conquered regions. The successive administrations that ruled the country in the 20 th century were British and Italian colonial authorities (mid 1920s-1960) and Somali governments (1960-1990).

In 1991, after the collapse of the Somali State , the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), which was one of the opposition fighting factions against the Somali Government, was the only political and military structure that existed in the northeastern region at the time.

The SSDF leadership, supported by the population, had directed its political and military actions toward defending its territory from the invading forces from Southern Somalia , spearheaded by USC (1991-1993), and the containment of Al-Itihad religious fundamentalists, who tried to take over the political and military powers by force from SSDF in 1992. Both forces were defeated; it was a heroic action that invigorated the SSDF's political and military posture, not only in the region, but also in the rest of Somalia .

1.2 Puntland State of Somalia

After a series of locally sponsored conferences, in which a traditional council of elders (Isimada) played an important role, the SSDF leadership and community elders had at last taken positive steps by calling an all-inclusive general conference in Garowe on May 5, 1998. The Puntland Regional State was formed, based on the design of three branches of government; Legislative (66 members, with 5 women), Judiciary, and Executive (President with Vice-President and 9 Ministers). Two regions- Sool and Eastern Sanag- also joined the former northeastern regions and, thus, jointly formed the Puntland State of Somalia as an autonomous regional administration.

As stipulated in Article 1 of the Transitional Constitution, Puntland is a part of an anticipated Federal State of Somalia . It is striving for the unity of the Somali people and the creation of a Somali government based on a federal system. The Puntland State consists of the following seven regions:

Bari
Nugal
Mudug
Sanaag
Sool
Ayn
Karkaar
1.3 Trends of Political and Constitutional Development

Up until it was affected by the recently resolved internal conflict (following a peace accord reached on 17 th May 2003) the State of Puntland had shown some degree of initiative to step up the slow and hesitant development of governance structures and socio-economic reconstruction without the benefit of much international assistance.

2. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

2.1 Location

Puntland State is geographically located in the eastern portion of Somalia . It borders with northwest regions in the west, Gulf of Aden in the north, Indian Ocean in the southeast, central regions in the south and Ethiopia in the southwest.

2.2 Area

The total area of the State of Puntland is 212,510 km 2 , (roughly one-third of Somalia 's geographical area).

2.3 Climate

The State of Puntland is semi arid. The country has a warm climate and average daily temperatures range from 27 ° C to 37 ° C. This favours pastoralism as the most effective use of land in most parts of the State. The most valuable pastures include the Hawd region in the high plateau of the West of Mudug and Sool regions and into Ethiopia and the low Nugal valley. In contrast, it is only along the high mountain ranges of Bari that mild temperatures are experienced. In all other parts, the State generally endures tropical desert heat.

2.4 Rainfall

Rainfall is variable and sparse with no one area receiving more than 400mm of rain annually. Therefore, nomads rely primarily on wells as a water source rather than surface water. There are four main seasons dictated by shifts in wind patterns. Pastoral and agricultural life revolves around these seasons. These are:

Jilal from January to March, the harshest dry season of the year;
Gu is the main rainy season from April to June;
Xagaa from July to September is the second dry season;
Dayr is the shortest and less reliable rainy season, lasting from October to December.
3. ADMINISTRATIVE SUB-DIVISION

3.1 Structure of the State

The structure of Puntland State consists of the Legislative (House of Representatives), the Judiciary, and the Executive (the President and Vice-President and his nominated Council of Ministers).

Leadership:

President: Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed (Faroolw), elected by parliament on January 8, 2009

Vice-President: Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, elected by parliament on January 8, 2009

House of Representatives: 66 Members from all regions

The territory's first leader, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, served 1998 – 2004, until his election as Somalia 's transitional president in October 2004.

Puntland's second President: Mohamed Abdi Hashi October 2004 - January 7, 2005

Puntland's Third President: Mohamud Muse Hersi (Adde), elected by parliament on January 8, 2005 - January 7, 2009

Puntland's Third Vice-President: Hassan Dahir Mohamud, elected by parliament on January 8, 2005 - January 7, 2009

3.2 Capital

The capital of the Puntland State of Somalia is Garowe, with an estimated population of 50,000.

3.3 Other Major Towns

Other major towns are Bosasso, Galkacyo, Las Anod, Gardo, Baran and Buhoodle.

3.4 Major Port

The major port of Puntland State of Somalia is Bosasso Port.

4. POPULATION

The population of Puntland State is estimated at 2.4 million, of which 65% are nomadic.

4.1 Vital Statistics

The population growth rate of Puntland State is currently very high due to the influx of people from war-torn southern Somalia and from neighbouring countries.

Currently, 30% of Puntlanders live in the fast growing towns of Bosasso, Gardo, Las-Anod, Garowe, and Galkacyo. Approximately 70% of the population is below the age of 30.

5. RELIGION

Islam is the religion of Puntland. Virtually all Puntlanders are sunni-Muslims.

6. LANGUAGES

The official languages are Somali and Arabic. English and Italian are also widely spoken in Puntland.

7. LIVESTOCK

The livestock sector dominates the economy of the Puntland regions. The livestock products not only contribute to the livelihood of the nomads, but are also a substantial portion of the daily food intake of the population living in rural and urban areas. The economy of Puntland is largely dependent on livestock exports, which contribute to approximately 80% of foreign exchange earnings, 40% of the GDP and 60% of employment opportunities.

8. FISHERY SECTOR

The Somali coastline is 3,300 km long. The proportion attributable to the State of Puntland is approximately 1,300 km 2 , extending from Gara'ad on the Indian Ocean side to Laaso Surad on the Gulf of Aden, the waters of which constitute the richest fish habitats in the region.

The fish population in Puntland's coastal waters varies in diversity and density. It is known that the prevalent species are large pelagic varieties such as yellow fin tuna, long-tail tuna, bonito, skipjack, and Spanish mackerel, while the main commercial demersal fish are groupers, snappers, grout and sea beam. Large populations of shark and ray are also registered. Commercial populations of inshore spiny lobster, genus panulirus, and offshore types of Puerulus Sewell and Puerulus Carinatus are found at depths of 150-400 metres. The abundance of marine resources, characteristic of Puntland's coastal zones by virtue of its geographical location, has also exposed Puntland's marine resources to the risk of deterioration. These risks are attributable to factors such as an existing marine transport network, over-harvesting carried out by illegal foreign trawlers and increased fishing efforts of the local people of Puntland.

Soon after the establishment of the Puntland State of Somalia , the Ministry of Fisheries and Ports recognised the importance of a fishing development strategy for both the current and the future generation.

The fishing industry provides direct employment to thousands of people during the eight-month fishing season, as well as indirect employment for people working in restaurants and enterprises. During the fishing season, temporary settlements are created along the coastline where women take goods for sale to earn income. The fishing industry is ranked as the second highest income earner for the population of Puntland, after livestock.

9. ECONOMY

There are four main sources of revenue in Puntland today: Livestock, Fishery, Agriculture and Remittance.

The population mainly depends, either directly or indirectly, on livestock products for their livelihood. Remittance from the Diaspora has also played a major role in the economy.

10. COMMUNICATION

Communication is one area where the Puntland State has developed remarkably. After the civil war to date, a number of companies using modern telephone, fax, email and Internet systems are currently conducting profitable business. Radios for broadcasting exist in the towns of Bossaso, Garowe and Galkacyo. A high frequency radio information relay system is also in place in all towns and in a number of villages.

11. PUNTLAND'S NATURAL RESOURCES

In 1991 the World Bank coordinated a study intended to encourage private investment in the petroleum potential of eight (8) African nations. Somalia and The Sudan topped the list of potential new commercial oil producers.

Puntland State of Somalia remains one of the very few areas in the world that has vast untapped potential for the discovery of significant reserves of hydrocarbons and world class mineral deposits.

The current government of Puntland is focusing on Peace and Security, Good Governing and also encouraging foreign investors to explore and exploit the vast untapped natural resources of Puntland.

More Information VISIT
http://www.puntlandgovt.com/profile.php
Somali Language
http://www.puntlandgovt.com/xogta.php


March 1, 2009 | 7:48 AM Comments  0 comments



NEW Somali Prime Minister named on 13 Feb 2009
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

New Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke the son of farmer Somali President and Second Somali President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was named on 13 Feb 2009 by New Somali President Sharif Sh. Ahmed.

Here is the PM's Biography.

Name: Omar A.A. Sharmarke
Date of Birth June 19, 1960
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Male
Nationality: Somali

EDUCATION:

· Masters of Arts in Political Economy, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada (2000).
· Bachelor of Arts (High Honors) in Political Science, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada (1998).
· Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Somali National University , Mogadishu , Somalia (1984).
EMPLOYMENT:

Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia
Foreign Policy Advisor, Oct 2007 - Present

United Nations (UN)
Political Adviser, Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultations (DDDC),
Seconded to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), Sep 2006 – Sep 2007

United Nations (UN)
Political/ Civil Affairs Officer, Civil Affairs Division, UNMIS,
Sudan, Jan 2006 – Aug 2006

United Nations (UN)
Political/Civil Affairs Officer, Civil Affairs Division, UNAMSIL,
Sierra Leone, Aug 2000 – Dec 2005

Center for Peace and Democratic Initiatives (CPDI)
Director of Africa Program, Ottawa , Canada , Mar 1993 – June 2000
East Africa Project Coordinator, Ottawa , Canada , July 1992 – Feb 1993

Somali Development Bank,
Project Consultant, Mogadishu, Somalia Jan 1988 – Dec 1990

Coca Cola, Somali Bottling Company Ltd.
Consultant and Member of Board of Directors,
Mogadishu, Somalia, Sep 1984 – Dec 1990

February 13, 2009 | 5:35 PM Comments  0 comments



AU Summit Hails New Somali Leader; Calls on ICC to Suspend Bashir Warrants
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Somalia's newly-elected President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has been hailed at the opening ceremonies of a summit of African leaders in Addis Ababa. The session was dominated by Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi, who vowed to push ahead with his idea of a continental government, a day after it was declared effectively dead.

A Continent Ravaged By War

The summit's business meeting opened Monday with AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping painting a harsh picture of a continent split by wars, military coups, and on the brink of a disastrous recession.

Speaking in French, the continent's top diplomat warned Africans they are about to feel what he called the 'sweeping blow' of a 'systemic global economic crisis'. And with Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir in the audience, he said the continental body is working to delay the pending International Criminal Court warrants charging Mr. Bashir with genocide.

He said efforts are underway to persuade the ICC to place a 12-month moratorium on any move to hand down indictments against Mr. Bashir. The Sudanese leader sat quietly at the front of the hall.

Chairman Ping also deplored Africa's apparent return to the bad old days of military coups, as evidenced by Guinea and Mauritania, the unsuccessful coup in Guinea Bissau, and the current unrest in Madagascar.

Progress Made


On the bright side, he pointed to the recent arrest of renegade Congolese General Laurent Nkunda, efforts to achieve peace in places from Burundi and the Comoros, the Central African Republic and countries of the West Africa zone.

Ping also hailed the election three days earlier of Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and asked Africa's newest head of state to stand, as the packed hall erupted in applause.

He said shades of hope are appearing in Somalia with the United Nations Security Council expressing its intention to take over the AU Somalia peacekeeping force, as well as the peace accords signed in Djibouti that led to election of Sheikh Sharif.

The Somali president's presence in the Ethiopian capital was ironic, coming two years after Ethiopian troops poured into Somalia to force him and his Islamic Courts Union from power.

Questions Surround Libya's-AU Role

The summit session was marked by contradictions. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was sworn in as AU Chairman for the coming year by the outgoing chairman, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. A day earlier, Mr. Kikwete had pronounced the Libyan leader's concept of a union government a "non-starter.

But in his acceptance speech, delivered in Arabic through an interpreter, the golden-robed Mr. Gaddafi appeared to reject the death sentence imposed on his unity government idea. He said he would consider the idea accepted unless a majority of the heads of states speak out against it. Gadhafi speaks thru an interpreter.

"We want it to be ratified, either rejected or accepted, at the next summit. If we don't have a quorum for rejection, then this means we have accepted it," he said.

Human rights groups said Mr. Gadhafi's election raiseed questions about the African Union's commitment to democratic principles. Reed Brody of the group Human Rights Watch said this breaks a string of three consecutive democratically-elected leaders at the helm of the continental body.

"The question is whether he sets a good example in terms of human rights and democracy. For the African continent. Let's remember that despite Libya's re-engagement with the international community, it's still a country that doesn't have political freedoms," he said.

Outgoing chairman Kikwete interrupted summit business Monday to pay tribute to the new U.S. President Barack Obama. As his last act in the chair, Mr. Kikwete said the African Union attaches great importance to what most people here feel will be a new chapter for U.S. Africa relations during the Obama administration.

VOA News

February 3, 2009 | 7:01 AM Comments  0 comments

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A letter from Puntland Finance minister on Oil law issue

Recent moves by Prime Minister Gedi to introduce a so called national oil law through the TFG Parliament must be viewed with great suspicion,
and little credence should be given to the move
The Prime Minister is the head of a transitional government put in place to attempt to form a federal Somalia, and a general constitution to be accepted by all regional parties.

Instead he has decided to introduce a controversial oil law before any legitimate constitution and federal Somalia is accepted by the TFG parliament and local autonomous regions of the Federation.

This is simply a political mockery aimed at destabilising the hard work done by the Somalis in Nairobi to set up a Federal Government. It also creates a period of delay and uncertainty for Puntland and all the development and vast sums of money spent in the regions over the last 2 years in research and exploration.

Puntland and the (TFG Government ) recognise and acknowledge the contracts by Range Resources and Africa Oil and their effort over the last 2 years on the exploration and development of Puntland’s natural resources.

It is imperative for both of these companies, and other companies being invited into Puntland to develop natural resources and other projects, that they have 100% certainty and confidence in the process and ability of the Puntland government and parliament to guarantee that all contracts and production sharing agreements entered into will at all times be recognised and upheld.

As it stands Puntland stands to earn billions of dollars in royalty and profit share payments from the successful development of its natural resources. Puntland has always maintained that it would share these earnings with any legitimately formed federal Somali government.

Put simply the proposed structure would be detrimental to both Puntland and Somalia as a whole.

Puntland has spent the last 2 years securing what it considers to be a formidable (both financially and technically) oil exploration and development team in Range and Africa Oil who are best placed to produce the significant royalty and profit share revenues to be shared by Puntland, a federal Somali government and the people of Somalia.

Given the end of year drilling timetable of Range and Africa Oil and the resultant government access to oil production royalties, any move by the any member of the TFG to destabilise this activity will not be tolerated as the Puntland people cannot afford to be denied the vast wealth that could be generated in the very near future.

The TFG had previously endorsed all of Puntland’s natural resource agreements (including a commitment to incorporate them in any federal system) yet the Prime minister has now decided to go down a path (without any consultation with Puntland or its own President) which throws out Puntland’s efforts to bring in foreign investment when no other entities were prepared to come in.

More bewildering is the proposed move by the Prime Minister to set up a national oil company 50% owned by comparatively small Indonesian and Kuwaiti energy companies – the Puntland Government will have 100% access to all royalty and profit share revenues and will share these with any legitimately formed and endorsed federal government – not a prime minister who changes his mind every day about anything he signs and its activities without any regard to its formally constituted parliament and government.

If the TFG Parliament does not stop the debate of this controversial legislation brought forward by the Prime Minister it will create disruption, lack of trust and will ruin the good relationship and the working together between the Puntland government and the Federal Government in the future.

Mohamed Ali Yusuf - Minister of Finance of Puntland State of Somalia

August 22, 2007 | 3:37 AM Comments  0 comments

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