Former Somaliland President Ahmed siilaanyo and longest snm chaiperson dies in Hargeisa

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Inaalilaahi wa inailaahi rajiicun may allah rest his soul 

[Qurac&qansax]

inaa lilahi wa inaa ilayhi raajicuun.

 

xaaji what was his legacy???.

your people to elect you for their president is an honour, it is not an entitlement. What you left behind is what counts.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

The accomplishments of President Siilaanyo were  many, so much so that it is difficult to know where to begin. In the early 1990s, he dedicated himself to the advancement of Somaliland and the unification of its people. He was instrumental in organising numerous shirs and even authored a meticulously drafted power-sharing constitution for Somalia and Somaliland in 1990, although it ultimately did not materialise. You can find it on the internet.

During the tenure of the late President Cigaal, he served as Finance Minister, a role in which he contributed significantly to Somaliland’s foundational years. However, his legacy extends far beyond these contributions. During the darkest  hours  of the 1980s, following the assassination of the SNM chairman, mujahid Abdulqadir Kosaar, Siilaanyo assumed leadership of the SNM and steered the movement with extraordinary vision and resilience. Under his leadership, the SNM evolved into one of the most sophisticated liberation movements in the region, leading major offensives in 1987 and 1988.

Once Somaliland was liberated from the regime of the late General Afweyne and declared its independence, Siilaanyo played a pivotal role in the post liberation period he did indeed very great. He organised and facilitated the historic SNM conference where  Mujahid Abdurahman Tuur was elected chairman in 1989. He also established numerous commissions aimed at fostering peace between war affected regions, particularly in the eastern areas of our Somaliland Republic.

His legacy was further cemented when he contested the presidential elections against Dahir Riyale Kahin back in 2003. Despite losing by a narrow margin of just 80 votes, unbelievable, Siilaanyo chose peace over conflict, declaring that no fighting would ensue  not on his watch and pledging to try again and he was a great opposition leader. True to his word, seven years later, he was elected President of Somaliland. by the people.

As President, his achievements were remarkable. He increased Somaliland's budget from $80 million to $450 million and oversaw both local and presidential elections, ensuring their smooth execution. He established the Kulmiye Party in 2002, now the oldest political party in Somaliland alongside UCID, and proposed Muse Biixi as the party’s presidential candidate. he secured allot of investments  the only downside of his legacy was  he started talks with the koonfurians , the failed talks with the Bunker was the only bad thing he ever did.

President Siilaanyo made education a priority, introducing free primary education for all Somalilanders. He also launched numerous infrastructure projects, including bridges funded by the European Union and Arab nations, and oversaw the expansion of Berbera Airport. Most notably, he secured Somaliland’s first major foreign investment through the DP World partnership, which significantly enhanced Berbera's port.

I think that is his legacy and SL should name the berbera airport after him.