“I was a Member of the Silanyo Family Years Before his Presidency”
Amb Bashe Awil
Hargeisa (TNN) :- In an exclusive interview, H.E Amb
Bashe Awil Omar, Somaliland’s newly appoi nted Representative to the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) candidly speaks to the Somalilandsun
a bout his personal life, challenges of being son in law to the
Somaliland first family and his new d uties and diplomatic posting.
During this interesting and captivating interview, the first since
his appointment to a public offi ce, Amb. Bashe Awil Omar who is a
petro-chemist turned politician said that he married his spou se and
daughter of president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo 20 years ago, hence a
long time before his father-in law’s Presidency in Somaliland thus
effectively negating misconceptions about his app ointment being
courtesy from his father-in-law. Below are the verbatim excerpts of
the Intervi ew:
Somalilandsun: Excellency, thank you for accepting our request for
an interview and taking time off from your important and busy
schedules in which you also agreed to speak candidly and with out
reservations
Amb Bashe Awil: It is indeed a pleasure for me not only to have your
media house interview me but for you, a site dedicated to Somaliland
especially its advancement through perfect portrayal
internationally, being the first to interview me since my
appointment as the first Somaliland Repr esentative in the United
Arab Emirates.
Q: To begin with, can you kindly brief us on your personal life as
it relates to marital status, educ ation and work experience?
A: I was born in in 1972 in Hargeisa where my father worked as a
senior official with the central bank. I am married and blessed with
3 children, two daughters and a son. My eldest is aged 18 and the
youngest 7 years. I began my schooling in Mogadisho where my family
moved to follow ing my father’s transferred to the Somalia Central
Bank headquarters. I undertook my primary schooling at Sheikh Madar
School before proceeding for my O”Level studies at the Casa
Di’Popul are School both in the Hodan district of Mogadisho.
Ten days following the infamous Jazeera massacre of northerners by
the regime of dictator Siad Barre, and the increasing persecution by
the regime, my family flew initially to India where we were on
transit and ultimately settled in the United Kingdom where I joined
the Hackney College in East London for my “Ä” levels . After
excelling in Sciences in my A’ level examinations, I was admitted at
the University college, London where I studied Chemistry and
obtained my first B.Sc. degree.
Upon my B.Sc. graduation, I got a scholarship to Manchester
University where I graduated with an MSc in Chemistry and to tell
you the truth political life at that time was never part of my
pla ns.
Upon my M.Sc. I was employed as a lab analyst for eight months by
one of the biggest sugar co mpanies in the UK (Tate and Lyle) before
proceeding to the State of California in the USA as a research
scientist for a scientific instrument company where I served for
Eight years both in the USA and later in the UK.
Q: When did you join politics since you are no longer active in your
career of training?
A: While I was in California and around 2002, I got involved with
mobilising for the then just la unched Kulmiye, political party in
which my father in law and current President of Somaliland, H.E
Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo was founder and chairperson.
In 2011, I resigned from my job and relocated together with my
family to Nairobi Kenya where m y children went to School , while I
pursued interest in international business which also afforded me
the opportunity to engage in my political trajectory in support of
the Kulmiye Party, which w as then dorminant official opposition in
Somaliland.
Q: Mr. Ambassador, if I may ask, Do you think you are qualified for
your newly appointed duties as the Somaliland diplomatic
representative in the United Arab Emirates?
A: What exactly do you mean by qualified?
Q: As in relation to your education, experience, skills and
political acumen? And inside deep with in yourself do you have
confidence thus feel capable?
A: Definitely Yes, If I did not believe am capable, I would not have
taken up the job at all. During my past employment I had the
opportunity to handle portfolios that entailed interacting with
di verse global institutions both private and public that gave me a
feel reasonable feel of diplomacy which is increasingly becoming
characterized by economic and commercial interests hence the focus
of the new global order is economic & commercial diplomacy..Thus,
with this background that I am confident and abundantly hopeful, I
have the necessary education and experience to handle the challenges
of my appointment and posting as a key diplomat in a strategic
country.
Obviously, the lack of international recognition remains a critical
challenge not just to me in my new posting but to all our able
diplomats across the spectrum. But I am seized with with this and
other challenges and my work is clearly cut out for me in my role to
project and promote Somaliland’s interests in the UAE and to
strengthen, deepen and expand the existing cordial relations between
my host country and Somaliland.
I am therefore qualified, competent, and eligible as a citizen and
professional to be appointed to this position regardless of my other
coincidental circumstances arising from my marriage status within
the first family.
Q: How difficult is it in Somaliland to be the son-in-law of the
President?
A: Very Interesting question, Actually it has many challenges thus
not many people know about me personally being neither a government
official or such which has resulted in me being an easy pick solely
on the basis of my being the son in law to the first family. And
though I was married to the daughter of Silanyo 20 years ago, out of
love at that and long before her my father in law became president.
It is unfortunate that some people choose to view others, as in my
case, from the prism of whose daughter I am married to. Whilst I
must admit that the undue and un-necessary attention this attracts
discomforts me, I understand that sometimes we have, I guess to live
with this and move on andto focus on what is more important in our
lives.
Q: Being very intimately aware of status within the first family,
what is your take on the oft rep eated rumour that president Silanyo
is not in control of ongoings within his administration?
A: This is an absurdity mostly from naïve politicians. If H.E the
President, if is not in charge as alleged, then who is? Personally
am surprised that this notion is entertained, considering the
achievements made in all spheres of socio-economic and political
development by the administration in the five years under the
leadership of president Silanyo
While there isn’t a measurement apparatus that can be used to
ascertain the exact achievements of the Kulmiye party under H.E
President Silanyo led administration in terms of its election
manifesto, I believe 85% has been attained.
Q: Being very intimately aware of status within the first family,
what is your take on the oft repeated rumour that president Silanyo
is not in control of ongoings within his administration?
A: This is an absurdity mostly from naïve politicians. If H.E the
President, if is not in charge as alleged, then who is? Personally
am surprised that this notion is entertained, considering the
achievements made in all spheres of socio-economic and political
development by the administration in the five years under the
leadership of president Silanyo.
While there isn’t a measurement apparatus that can be used to
ascertain the exact achievements of the Kulmiye party under H.E
President Silanyo led administration in terms of its election
manifesto, I believe 85% has been attained.
L R Amb Bashe Awil Omar and his father in law President Ahmed
Mohamed SilanyoSo in a nut shell Ah
Whilst it is not in order to discuss the physical health or fitness
of any individual, much less a lea der and Head of State, but
because, you have raised this as a consequence in your question, I
would like to categorically state without any fear of contradiction,
that the President is as it as a fiddle not withstanding his age and
the toll that political fatigue has on its players of many dec ades.
You saw him am sure swim long distances at Batalale beach, and his
frequent road travels across the lenghth and breadth of the country
on very rough terrain.
Away from the physical drills, you have seen the significant
achievements in education both in terms quality and quantity of
students and teaching staff in addition to the introduction of free
primary education. In addition, when he took over, there were around
50 water boreholes in the country owned by the public ,to date there
are over 150 distributed equitably in all corners of the country,
what of Maternal and Child health Centers , the same case of
increment thus avail ing citizens ease of medical attention.
What of the road network in the country, obviously on the blind has
failed to notice the improve ments mostly asphalt all over the
country but more so the now ongoing construction of the 370 kms
Erigavo- Burao road to link Sanaag region to the rest of the country
soon.
Who can justify these gigantic achievements by an administration
whose elected chief Executive is not in control , in the contrary
this has been possible because of the tight ship that President
Silanyo Captains and being one who delegates to his appointed
officials which to the naïve may be construed as being absent from
the driver’s seat.
I could go on and on, but in the interest of time, let me stop here.
Somalilandsun- Thank you very much, Ambassador Bashe Awil Omar, for
your time and candid thoughts
Amb Bashe: You are welcome Its been my pleasure talking to you.
Source:Somaliland Sun
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