As I drive home through the streets of a city in a country which has
enjoyed and continues to enjoy abundant reserves of Oil, I cannot but
think that all this could one day be replicated in Somaliland. Now,
although I want what is best for Somaliland, the country I am currently
residing in isn’t the glitzy U.A.E nor is it the up and coming Qatar. I
am in a country that has, in my opinion, failed to fully realise it’s
developmental potential after more than 50 years of oil exports.
From dilapidating roads, buildings and infrastructure to non-existent
public transport, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is slowly realising that
it must invest in key areas to not only modernise the country with
railways, light rail, larger airports and an integrated public transport
system but to also provide more employment opportunities for it’s
citizens and diversify it’s economy. The reasons for the country’s
inability to modernize it’s infrastructure over the years are many but
the few I have observed in my short residence here relate to a
fragmented country development strategy coupled with inefficient local
authority control. For example, how can Jeddah’s airport be so small
with the millions of Hajj and Umrah visitors every year (resulting in
long delays at the airport) whilst at the same time building additional
hotels in Makkah and Madina (therefore increasing Hajj and Umrah
traffic)? There have also been cases of corruption where those
responsible for upgrading infrastructure pocketed millions. The flooding
in Jeddah in 2009, where hundreds lost their lives due to projects
designed to stop flooding not being done, come to mind. A lack of
accountability and transparency at local government level is to blame.
Thankfully, the country is now moving in the right direction.
Today, Somaliland is standing at the cross roads of its destiny.
Close to exploring potential oil and gas reserves as well as making a
strong case for international recognition, if either or both come to
fruition, Somaliland would start it’s journey of real, tangible
development. If Somaliland and it’s people wish to avoid the same
problems experienced by Saudi Arabia as well as the potential for local
disputes in the future, then it must get it’s house in order now. A
strategic and coordinated national and local development plan must be
drawn up and steps taken to implement it. I am aware that such a plan
may exist and I am in no way criticizing the government, but we need
this to be reviewed, discussed, explained and understood by all for it
to work for the benefit of the country.
We all want the same thing. A secure, economically strong and
developed nation. The question is how do we get there and with what? The
first step is to establish the demographics of the country through a
census. Secondly, a full review of the country’s infrastructure and
services needs should be conducted thus establishing what will be
required in each region in terms of health care, education, local
services etc based on the results of the census. Thirdly, a mechanism
ensuring income is spent proportionally to the demographics of the
country must be developed and agreed upon by all stakeholders. This
process would leave little room for ambiguity and would satisfy the
citizens of the country that their best interests have been considered.
At local level, coordination strategies between the government, local
governments, municipalities, road authorities and utility companies
must be developed along with building regulations and financial
management strategies thus ensuring coordinated design and construction
as well as robust management of finances reducing the risk of
irregularities.
We must be proactive in how we wish to develop as a nation and avoid
sleep walking through it by always reacting to something going wrong or
someone abusing his position. Rome wasn’t built in a day but the vision
was there on the first day.
Written By: Abdi Y Abdi
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