Abstract
Somalia is that part of the northeast Africa sometimes termed as the Horn of Africa. The country has a land area of 637,540 square kilometers, a coastal line of 3,025 kilometers long, and a population of about 7 to 8 million. Hot, arid to semiarid climate prevails in most of the country with a rainfall less than 600 mm/year.
The natural resources of the country can be generally divided into 1) Marine resources (fish and salt) 2) surface resources (e.g., forests, wild life, frankincense and Myrrh, surface water, etc), and subsurface resources (e.g., rocks and minerals, fossil fuels, and groundwater). Rocks and minerals that are known to exist and available for exploitation include Tin in the Majiyahan – Dhalan area (south of Bosaso – Ceelayo costal strip), Uranium in the Galgadud and Bur Hakaba areas, Sepiolites of Ceel Bur, Iron-ore in the Dinsor district, quartz, granite, marble, limestone and gypsum in different regions of the country. These natural resources include primary row materials for various kinds of industry, e.g, cement industry, industry for prefabricated walls, roofing, floor and wall tiles, aggregates and concrete production, and industrial minerals.
Minerals with high potential include gold, zinc, lead, manganese, aluminum, and graphite. Existence of good petroleum indicators has been known for a while, and recent data highly encourage the exploration potential of the country. Water resources are the most need commodity in Somalia, and many areas with promising considerable groundwater accumulation have been identified.
Since we have so many surface, subsurface, and marine resources, then why are we starving?
The answer could be summarized as follows:
1- Lack of technology, security, and political stability.
2- Scarcity of professionals and skilled people, and struggle for survival for those few available professionals;
3- Mismanagement and/or lack of sincere, capable, and responsible administration.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SOMALIS:
1- TRUST THAT WE HAVE AMPLE NATURAL RESOURCES; 2- IMPROVE OUR SKILLS AND PERFECT OUR PROFESSIONS; 3- INFORM OUR RICHNESS & THE NEED FOR A GOOD GOVERNANCE; 4- DATA COLLECTION.
TO THE FUTURE SOMALI GOVERNMENT
1- SOMALI REGIONS / STATES SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THEIR TERRITORIES; 2- GOOD FOREIGN POLICY, FACILITATION OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS, REPATRIATION OF THE SKILLED SOMALIS, ETC.
TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
1- HELP SOMALIA MORALLY AND MATERIALLY TO ALLEVIATE THE WOUNDS OF THE CIVIL WAR AND TO ESTABLISH GOOD GOVERNANCE; 2- HELP DATA COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION; 3- AT THIS CRITICAL STAGE, CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOST-NEEDED NATURAL RESOURCES: THE WATER; 4- SUPPORT THE STABLE REGIONS TO DEVELOP THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES; 5- ACCOUNTABILITY.
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The above is the abstract of a major paper presented at the conference Rebirth of the Somali State-Policy Options and Programme Opportunities for Canada, sponsored by the Som-Can Institute for Research and Development (SCIRD) in collaboration with Partnership Africa Canada (PAC). The two-day conference was held at Parliament Hill’s Railway Committee Room and at Carlton University’s Southern Hall, Theatre B.
The main objectives of the conference were:
- To inform the Canadian Government, NGOs and the International community about the current political changes with respect to Somalia.
- To present some lessons learned from the Somali peace process.
- Discuss how Canada, International community and the Somali Diaspora can play a role in the reconstruction of Somalia.
Invitees included representatives from the following:
- Canadian Government
- Canadian NGOs and other institutions
- Somali NGOs and Civil Society
- Somali Diaspora in Canada, including youth representatives
- United Nations
- Media
PROVISIONAL CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 253D Parliament Hill, Ottawa Friday, November 3, 2000 Session 1 Rebirth of Somalia State: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead 9:00 am-12:00pm Welcoming/Introduction Chair: Mrs. Idil Salah and Mr. Ahmed Yusuf Speakers: Mr. Ahmed Dahir Shell Title: The Cry of Somali Civil Society for Peace Prespectives from the Recovery Zones for Lasting Peace Mr. Ahmed M. Haji-Jama (Northeast Regions knowns as PUNTLAND) Title: Puntland State Rejects the Outcome of “Arta(Djibouti) Process” As it was Undemocratic, Unrepresentative and Illegal Mrs. Zaynab Aden (Northwest Regions known as SOMALILAND) Title: Somaliland Does NOT Recognize the Transitional Government Appointed in Djibouti Questions/Discussions 11:00-11:15 am Break Strategic Planning: Concrete Recommendations from within on ” How can Somali Diaspora community contribute to strengthen the Somalia Peace and Development”. Session 11 1:30 Registration (Cont): 2:00pm. Introduction: Mrs. Ebyan Salah, Executive Director Som-Can Institute for Research and Development (SCRID) 2:15pm -6:15pm Key Note Speaker Mr. Eugene Bellemara Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Cooperation Theme: The Political Achievments and the Challenges Ahead Chairperson: Mr. Ahmed Abdi Hashi Hashara Speakers: Mr. Rooble Colhaye, Djibouti Ambassador to the UN Title: Djibouti Peace Initiative for Somalia Mr. Ahmed Dahir Shell, Co-Chair Technical Committee for Somalia Peace Conference Title: Peace From Within Dr. Babafemi A. Badejo, Senior Political Advisor, UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) Title: Somalia, the United Nations’s Role in the Somalia Peace Process and Future Commitments 4.30 pm Coffee/Tea Break 5pm-6.15pm Questions period, Discussion and Recommendations 6.15pm Concluding Remarks: Mr. Bernard Taylor, PAC Saturday, November 4, 2000 Carlton University’s Southern Hall, Theatre B. 9:00-12:30 Theme: Strengthening Somalia’s Public and Private Sector Chair: Mrs. Idil Salah, Development Anthropologist/Consultant Mr. Mohamed Dalmar MBA, Settlement Counselor Title: Monetary Experience of Somalia: What can we learn from the past mistakes? Mr. Abdishakur Abdulle, MA/PhD Candidate/ Research Scientist Title: Prioritization and Investment for Health and Education_a Path to Social Development for Somalia Dr. Osman Salad Hersi (PhD), Geologist and Researcher Title: Exploring Somalia’s Natural Resources_Geological Perspectives Mr. Mohamed Elmi, Managing Partner with potfolio of Director of Sales/Marketing and Customer Relations of HornAfrik Media Inc Title: Communication as a Symbol for the Enterprising Private Sectors 10:45-11:15 Coffee/Tea Break Discussion and Recommendations Concluding Remarks 12: 30-1:00 Lunch/Prayer/Networking