Somaliland: Awil - The Finance Minister Is he the right man at the

I am Somalilander, a home grown graduate and Hargaisa resident, for the past years I was closely studying and keeping my eye on a very controversial figure in Somaliland politics - Hussein Ali Duale best known as ambassador Awil.

Since I am one of the generations that grew up in Somaliland Republic, I can tell you that Awil was never a popular figure in Somaliland during the 90s - as he was not appointed in any government posts during Abdirahman Ahmed Ali's era and not even by president Egal, who was veteran politician.

Mr Awil was first seen in the political stage of Somaliland after the death of Ibrahim Egal. Personally the first time that I saw him was the beginning of 2003. One night, while I was watching Hargaisa TV currently known as Somaliland space channel - Mr. Awil's press conference was broadcasted, in his speech Mr Awil has accused the political party of Kulmiye that a particular tribe in Somaliland does not include Kulmiye, this didn't attract my attention but Awil was later asked why he came to the country - he replied that he came here to prevent Silanyo from presidency, when asked why he said that, "I sworn that Mr Silanyo will never become in command a place that I am present".
I wondered the hatred feeling and enmity from that man to wards silanyo, I tried to know a persuasive reason behind this antagonism, but there is nothing more than personal antipathy.

After the election and UDUB's controversial victory. Mr Awil has officially entered the political scene of Somaliland as a finance minister of the cabinets of the president elect Dahir rayale kahin.
In his first months in office Mr. Awil has accused the Kulmiye chairman for masterminding the assassinations of Adan-Shine and A/kadir Kosar, former SNM veterans, that was a big accusation which Awil has failed to prove. In a response to that Mr. Silanyo has said Awil is a miracle and liar.

The first two national budgets of Somaliland while Awil was in power where ambiguous, but it was ratified by the parliament who was representing the government instead of people, but Awil's 2006 national budget plan was strongly opposed by the elected representatives, they transformed it by adding 30% salary increase for the government staff and soldiers. Awil and the government have ignored the constitutional right of the parliament of ratifying, endorsing or opposing the national budget by resisting that they will adopt their own budget.

In a press conference at august 1, 2008 the minister has promised that in every few months he will inform the people what his ministry has accomplished. The minister added that he will also acknowledge the people the businessmen who fail to return their tax liabilities. that was nothing more than a promise which was not fulfilled. Mr. Awil's ministry of finance has failed to formulate a systematic plan to collect taxes and particularly business income taxes which is fully evaded taxes. Tax evasion is common here due to government's lack of action and people's lack of trust towards government due to a corruption and minimum tax return.


Awil's 2007 national budget has also lacked any meaningful allocation at the sides of social and economic development required in the country.
A lot of money were allocated fuel, stationary and the salary of the president and vice president. In that budget amount of money was allocated to use for changing Somali Shillings in Burao and money which was intended to use or the elections which was scheduled at 14, April, 2008. Once again that budget was transformed by the parliament by reducing the salaries of the president and the vice president, and allocating it for education and health. But Awil and the government refused to accept the endorsed budget and tried to bring it back to the parliament and thus the Awil and the government has violated the constitution. Awil has dropped the budget and said the country is working 2006 national budget.

This escalated the tensions and conflict with in the government institutions of Somaliland. And then after the mediation by independent intellectuals including sheiks, poets and scholars tensions were eased; unfortunately awil and his allies insisted that they will not fully adopt the 2007 budget; instead they will take two heads from that budget which was changing Somali Shillings, and election expenses. But Awil and the government failed to fulfil neither. Burco's old Somali Shilling was not changed and there were no elections in that year.


Disgraced Somaliland Finance Minister - Hussein Ali Duale (Awil)
Some one asks where about that money? Who knows!
Finally Awil's 2008 budget was once again included money which was allocated for Burao Somali shilling, unfortunately Mr Awil has once again failed to fulfill his Promise.

In June of last year in an interview Awil has promised that his ministry will change Burao's Somali shilling in the next week, again Awil's promise was not accomplished. Few days before last Ramadan in an interview Awil has condemned Kulmiye for how they organized it's central council session, in that interview Awil has assured to the people that his Udub party will hold its general assembly meeting after the Ramadan, almost 5 months later we Somalilanders are still waiting Awil and Udub.

Mr Awil has yet failed to formulate 2009 national budget for the country and he was supposed to submit it to the parliament during past December.
The worst thing is Awil's closest ally, the general accountant has failed to bring any actual closed accounts in front of parliament for six years! Dear readers where is accountability and good governance.

In one of his latest interview with the so called Somaliland national TV Mr Awil has re iterated his will and hope for his party to remain power for the coming 5 years, in that interview Mr Awil was asked whether victory of the opposition will become set back for Somaliland's recognition issue, in a very comfortable way mr. Awil has said yes, before he continued his speech I asked my self how? Oh my surprise the minister said because the faces of the new leaders are not familiar to the international community, I was amazed and asked my self who had known Mr. Rayale when he inherited the power, even in Somaliland the majority of the people did not know him, that is why Mr. Rayale has introduced his name to the people in his first presidential degree, the president was introducing his name to his own people, what about the international community! And I am also astonished to read Raila Odinga saying that he believes Edna is the foreign minister of Somaliland, where are the popular faces that Mr. Awil is talking about? And when the minister is saying such ruthless things for me it seems that he I not respecting the people who are watching him.

Despite of these failures I still see Awil from the television screens speaking in a very comfortable way, full of pride instead of feeling shame and humiliation for his failures.

After all these I asked my self who is Awil? Why is he failing to fulfill his promises? To day to find information about some one is not difficult, immediately I discovered that Awil has his primary schooling partly in public schools during the British protectorate in Somaliland and partly in Eden south of Yemen, before he went Eden, Awil was expelled from Sheekh secondary school after he failed his secondary exams and then Awil ended up in London where he failed to become dentist, then he joined a group of Somaliland cadets who in 1960 were undergoing 6 months training course at a military school in united kingdom. That is Mr. awil, but the question why is he failing to fulfill his promises? The answer is simple he is a man who failed to fulfill his exam requirements so how can we expect more from him!

In conclusion Somaliland has a lot of scholars who have different degrees, good personality and are capable to come up a strategic economic plans, sadly how can a failed student become a finance minister?!

 

Ahmed A. Duale
Hargeisa-Somaliland