Saudi livestock move boosts Somaliland economy

[Saalax]

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

 

 

 

 

HARGEISA, 10 November 2009 (IRIN) - Days after Saudi Arabia lifted a nine-year ban on livestock imports from Somalia, the market in Hargeisa, Somaliland, has seen a 10-fold increase in sales, according to local traders.

 

"One thousand five hundred sheep used to be sold in the market before the recent announcement... compared to more than 16,000 animals in the market daily in the last few days," Jama Farah Du’alle, a middleman (`dilal’) in the market, told IRIN on 7 November.

 

Livestock keepers in the self-declared republic of Somaliland, whose mainstay is pastoralism, said they were beginning to see a change in their fortunes.

 

 

"In the last nine years I used to earn 5,000-10,000 Somaliland shillings a day [uS $1.6 - 3.2] but by Allah’s mercy in the past few days I have been earning 60,000-70,000 a day, which has really improved my life," Du’alle said.

 

Somaliland’s livestock minister, Idiris Ibrahim Abdi, announced the Saudi move on 5 November. Imposed in late 2000, the ban followed an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in the Horn of Africa region.

 

RVF is an acute viral infectious disease of humans, cattle and sheep, which usually occurs during the rainy season. Clinically it is characterized by fever, loss of body coordination and sudden death.

 

Saudi Arabia, which used to be the biggest buyer of Somali livestock, said it had lifted the ban to coincide with the `haj’ pilgrimage later in November.

 

Better days for Berbera

 

The decision allows livestock keepers to ship animals to Saudi Arabia through Somaliland's traditional livestock port of Berbera. In the past, the port also served livestock trucked from the neighbouring Ethiopian regions of Somali and Oromiya.

 

Berbera had been losing its importance as a business centre since 2000. Thousands of people there moved to other towns such as Hargeisa and Burao.

 

"[Most] of the young men who used to work in the livestock export business as animal herders on vessels heading to Saudi Arabia, have moved to Arab countries or other urban centres within Somaliland," a local resident said.

 

The Saudi decision, according to local pastoralists, has renewed hope that Somali livestock can fetch a good price. "We have suffered in the last few years because of the ban; our animals had no value in the market.

 

"For example one lamb was valued at only about US$20, which is much less than the cost of foodstuff," said Rashid Haybe Illeeye, from the Lebi-Sagaale region along the Somaliland-Ethiopia border.

 

"Today I came with four lambs as usual - to buy food - and three of them were bought at $40-50," Illeeye said.

 

A local journalist based in Burao told IRIN that the lifting of the ban was a boom to all. "The market has not seen such activity for nine years," he explained. "The whole of Burao - from tea ladies, truckers and nomads, to porters - is doing a booming business."

 

 

http://hiiraan.com/news2/2009/Nov/saudi_livestock_move_boosts_somaliland_economy.aspx

[Duufaan]

Somaliland as we known has very few livestock,, all the 90 % all livestock's sold in Somaliland market comes from other region through ssc region and the ****** region. this shows their dependent of other Somalis but they have not appreciated. dealing with Somaliland , the ONLF and SSC must look careful this.

[Mintid Farayar]

While some are begging the international community for funds that will never materialize,

 

the money will roll in....

 

 

Berbera Cadey

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Saudi livestock move boosts Somaliland economy

Misplaced title. It says right on the beginning of the news article:

 

"Days after Saudi Arabia lifted a nine-year ban on livestock imports from Somalia..."

 

So the lifting of this ban boosts overall Soomaaliya economy, not only Waqooyi Galbeed, because same can be said in Boosaaso port.

[AfricaOwn]

Originally posted by Duufaan:

Somaliland as we known has very few livestock,, all the 90 % all livestock's sold in Somaliland market comes from other region through ssc region and the ****** region. this shows their dependent of other Somalis but they have not appreciated. dealing with Somaliland , the ONLF and SSC must look careful this.

But I thought the "ssc" depends on that other port? :confused:

[Mr. Somalia]

^^

NO. You "thought" wrong! Only the Ethiopian government uses the port in Berbera, whilst the rest of the people in Somalia, including the folks in Burco, use the port in Bosaaso.

[Som@li]

Good news for Somalia

[Che -Guevara]

LooooL@Berbera cadeey

 

 

Good for moryeeleey.

[Jacaylbaro]

Good for Somaliland. I'm glad even IRIN is finally concerned about Somaliland's economy.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar:

quote:Saudi livestock move boosts Somaliland economy

Misplaced title. It says right on the beginning of the news article:

 

"Days after Saudi Arabia lifted a nine-year ban on livestock imports from

Somalia..."

 

So the lifting of this ban boosts overall Soomaaliya economy, not only Waqooyi Galbeed, because same can be said in Boosaaso port.

Miskin what about just say nine years ban on livestock imports from somaliland and Somalia Aka Koonfuria Boost both Countrys Economy

[Qudhac]

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf:

quote:Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar:

quote:

---

Saudi livestock move boosts Somaliland economy

Misplaced title. It says right on the beginning of the news article:

 

"Days after Saudi Arabia lifted a nine-year ban on livestock imports from

Somalia..."

 

So the lifting of this ban boosts overall Soomaaliya economy, not only Waqooyi Galbeed, because same can be said in Boosaaso port.

Miskin what about just say nine years ban on livestock imports from somaliland and Somalia Aka Koonfuria Boost both Countrys Economy

he is not intrested in this good news wuxu ka xunyahay the fact that you said somaliland economy, dagaal hoose ayuu ku jiraa, oo ma cadaysto

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Qudhac anigu dadka ma fahmo Bal somaliland maxay umada uu dhintay bal, ma qasto afareheeda ma gasho dawladiina shaqo kuma laha , laakin aad bay uga xunyihin laakin somaliland uu joojin mayso waxaas

[Qudhac]

xaji waligaa miyaanad maqal xaasid ma xasilo, just look around. dadkani maaha dadka iyaguna wax isu ogol adna wax kuu ogol ee haku daalin sxb

[NGONGE]

^^ If you leave them to it, they normally find a way to cancel each other out. Can't you see one saying the life stock comes from other areas whilst another replies that the Berbera port is only used by Xabashis?

[Qandalawi]

This is good for the skinnies in the region, the money made in the south or north, is at the end of the day a Somali money.

 

I hope Saudi Arabia stops playing with our resources, they ban and unban as they wish, that is disgrace now when they need it because of the Hajj and Eid Al-Adha in the corner they unban.

 

Why did Al-jabiri signed a contract with both Puntland and Somaliland if he can't negotiate taugh with his country and stop this indiscriminate Saudi ruling on Somali livelihoods.