Somaliland keen to host US base, hopeful on Oil

[Jacaylbaro]

HARGEISA, April 9 (Reuters) - The ruler of the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland said on Wednesday he wanted the United States to put a military base there and had high hopes for finding oil.

 

Dahir Rayale Kahin, president of the former British protectorate that broke away from war-torn Somalia in 1991, told Reuters he would seek a second -- and last -- term in presidential elections scheduled sometime after October.

 

Kahin, whose main goal is to win international recognition, said priorities this year were smooth elections, fighting Islamic militants and an auction for oil exploration licenses.

 

"The major thing is the election. We're also trying our best to fight the terror -- We're the only Muslim country that has that in the constitution," Kahin said in the city of 800,000 where goats roam the centre and trees are decorated with discarded plastic bags swept up by desert winds.

 

Kahin said he had offered to host a U.S. naval base at the port of Berbera as part of efforts to win recognition. Kahin, who visited Washington and hosted the top U.S. diplomat for Africa early this year, did not say how his offer was received.

 

A planned auction of oil licenses will give priority to U.S. oil companies holding concessions from the 1980s, he said.

 

Somaliland, a region the size of England and Wales in northern Somalia, has been doing all the right things to please the West with democratic elections, a free press and passing on scraps of information on Islamic militants, said Peter Pham of James Madison University, ahead of the Kahin interview.

 

"If the elections are held and are perceived as legitimate and fair, that will be a major step toward recognition," he said.

 

Somaliland's accidental president, Kahin took office when Somaliland founder Mohamed Ibrahim Egal died in 2002. Kahin, from the minority Gadabursi clan, was elected the following year with a margin of just 80 votes out of 490,000.

 

Clean 2008 elections are key, especially as Kahin faced criticism last year after three journalists were thrown in jail for defamation, as were three politicians who tried to set up a new party in violation of the constitution.

 

Kahin, 56, arguing that the politicians and journalists were convicted by the courts, said he had since pardoned them.

 

His 4 million people have had peace for almost two decades but are poor, and the economy is mostly powered by $450 million a year in remittances from diaspora. His government's annual budget is $40 million -- an amount the U.S. government spends every six minutes.

 

 

OIL HOPES

 

One answer is oil. Kahin, who says he's paid $3,000 a year, said he was "very hopeful" a survey being wrapped up by oil consultants TGS Nopec would show oil and gas deposits -- an extension of Yemen's oil basins across the Gulf of Aden.

 

Oil majors such as ConocoPhillips , BP Plc , Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron staked out claims in the 1980s but suspended operations when Somalia imploded.

 

"We'll invite them and they'll have priority, but we'll give the concessions to whoever is ready to invest," Kahin said.

 

Small producers such as Ophir -- an outfit backed by South African businessman and veteran ANC politician Tokyo Sexwale -- have staked out new claims.

 

Resource-hungry China has taken an interest, too, with oil exploration firm CNOOC <0883.HK> signing a production deal with Somalia's interim government in 2006.

 

"It's a false agreement," Kahin said of the CNOOC deal. "People who do not govern an area cannot sign an agreement."

 

If anybody does strike oil, lawyers will be dusting off old agreements. For now, the majors stay put, said Monica Enfield of industry consultants PFC Energy ahead of the Kahin interview.

 

"Being in a place that doesn't have sovereignty will be the biggest concern. The second is violence," Enfield said.

 

Kahin's overtures to attract petrodollars such as Dubai World's $800 million investment in neighbouring Djibouti have failed so far. "Somaliland is facing a problem because of the lack of recognition" he said.

 

Somaliland already looks like an independent state. It has its own currency, army, flag, national anthem and tourist visa.

 

Recognition, though, would give it access to capital markets and investments. And it would solve its biggest gripe: That the world recognizes the failed state of Somalia.

 

"Somalia doesn't exist. The reality is that there is a functioning state in the North and a non-functioning one in the South," said Kahin.

 

The West wants the African Union (AU) to take the lead on Somaliland, but many African leaders are reluctant to open a Pandora's box of ethnic groups redrawing the continent's colonial borders.

 

Kahin doesn't buy that. Somaliland is not redrawing but reinforcing the historic British Somaliland border with Italian-ruled Somalia, he said.

 

"Countries tell us: `We won't be the first but we'll recognise you second," Kahin said. "But we're not interested in your being second."

[N.O.R.F]

I'm getting concerned with all this talk of American base in Berbera.

[Jacaylbaro]

Me too

[AfricaOwn]

The main focus is the elections. Although I'm not supportive of Kulmiye party. I want them to win with UDUB and UCID forming a coalition government. We can have Kulmiye in charge, so they can stop crying once for all with a limited power.

[Jacaylbaro]

Are you sure they will ???

[AfricaOwn]

Originally posted by J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o:

Are you sure they will ???

The people of SL respect the SNM vets, but having SNM credentials shouldn't give you an automatic seat in the Government. I agree with Faisal western style of government.

[Fabregas]

quote: We're also trying our best to fight the terror We're the only Muslim country that has that in the constitution

 

 

Ayan Dhow He might even say Osama is in Berbera.......kalaya nala qabta! Maxa Muslimki ceeb haysta!

[LANDER]

Originally posted by Abu_Geeljire:

quote: We're also trying our best to fight the terror We're the only Muslim country that has that in the constitution

 

 

Ayan Dhow He might even say Osama is in Berbera.......kalaya nala qabta! Maxa Muslimki ceeb haysta!

lol. You like that peace of *** kissing eh ? I thought that was pathetic too.

[Jacpher]

"The major thing is the election. We're also trying our best to fight the terror -- We're the only Muslim country that has that in the constitution," Kahin said in the city of 800,000 where goats roam the centre and trees are decorated with discarded plastic bags swept up by desert winds.

Talow haduu u sujuudi lahaa miyey aqoonsan lahaayeen? Intuu gaalo dabo-orad iyo aqoonsi ayey hilmaamsiiyey dadkiisa.

[Jacaylbaro]

It is called politics sxb ,,,, you've to live with it

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

"Countries tell us: `We won't be the first but we'll recognise you second," Kahin said.

Also dukaan owners back home in Xamar used to say, "Deen maanta maya, beri haa." If only tomorrow came.

 

Madadaalada caalamka kuu haayaan meesha kasii wado Ina Kaahinoow.

[Som@li]

Tacaal bukra,

[Ibtisam]

Someone get ride of this fool :rolleyes: Issh HE is getting worse.

 

The worse thing that can happen to SL is for America to turn up in Berbera.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

America needs to recognize somaliland as Independent country then we will invite dem in saaxil berbera

[Koora-Tuunshe]

Though this approach of seeking recognition is flawed, is it not outright immoral to kill and displace people for this unworkable PR strategy?

 

Does Somaliland have anything to offer to the West? There is no proven reserves of oil?

 

America would probably accept this proposal for the simple reason that if you don't do it someone else will, but to implement it is to undermine her security interest in the overall Somalia. Will majority of Somalis in general who are pro-union vote for a new referendum that asks for the partition of their country.

 

How in the world would the U.S government maintain a foothold in one country divided into two or three states by its own people?

 

The best solution is to fix the center, Mogadisho and pursue a national reconciliation. If this doesn't work in the future, there will still a little chance to partition our country into two or three states.