APD Team Visits Sanaag and Sool Region Capitals

On the 17th of July 2009, the APD team made the long arduous journey to Erigavo, the capital city of Sanaag region. Because of the failed spring rains, there was limited pasture for the livestock and huge whirl winds of dust sprang everywhere along the plains of Ban’ade and Karamaan. The Team received reports from the regional authorities who underlined the difficulties livestock herders were facing at this time of the year. They noted that a single rainfall in the past week around the Erigavo plateau generated an influx of many herders to the areas causing clashes at some of the enclosures.

The APD team was received by the governor of Sanaag region Mr. Ali Abdi Hurre and later by the mayor of Erigavo Mr. Ismail Haji Nour.

	Naasir Osman, APD researcher and O ar Aadan, Burao Office program coordinator interviewing with the mayor of Erigavo Mr Ismail Haji Nour		APD team meets with political representatives of the region		APD team with the youth members in Erigavo district

APD Team listening the governor of Sool region Mr. Ali Mohamoud Ahmed (Sandule) report.		APD team met with the army force commender (far left), police commissioner, custodial corp chief and regional education officer		From Lef:Osman Yusuf Nour, commandar of the regular army force and Mohamed Saleeban Ahmed, Police commissioner of Las'Anod

Overall, reports on security matters from the authorities showed significant improvement on the general peace among different communities in the region. The police, particularly, reported on their efforts to cope with the huge expanse of land with their limited number of vehicles and personnel.

Some of the senior authority members such as the mayor of Erigavo suggested that it would be worthwhile to have a representative office of the Academy established in Erigavo. The mayor emphasised that such an office will help the region in resolving many of the conflicts issues and in making known some of the pertinent matters in the region to the central government and the wider world.

Besides the meetings with goverment authorities, the APD team held seperate interviews and consultation meetings with the various civic society representatives.

The team’s visit to Las Anod began meetings with regional governor Mr. Ali Mohamoud Ahmed (Sandule) and other high ranking officials such as the Mayor, the police commissioner, the commander of regular army forces and the custodial corps chief. Other officials representing different department coordination heads such as education, public services, the demining commission was also present. They reported on an improved security situation and extensive efforts the government is making in social service provisions.

Some of the events noted, specifically with respect to the security included the public torching of close to a hundred daggers and machetes on the public square. The officers reported that there is an alarming drought situation in the region bringing about the scarcity of water and pasture.

Following their encounter with the government bodies, the team met with the civic society groups and other social organisations such as the women and the youth.

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