Suldaanka Posted October 31, 2005 Somaliland (PANA) - Registration of small arms by civilians in Somalia's self-declared republic of Somaliland is underway in Burao, headquarters of Togdheer region, after a workshop jointly organised by local authorities and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative was discussed at the three-day workshop in Burao, which was attended by representative from the government, clans, civil society organisations and women groups. Togdheer governor, Abdi Hussein Dheere said some 300 people who registered their weapons in the past few days, had been issued with firearms certificates. According to Kayse Adan Ismail, a director at the Interior Ministry the idea of registering arms received an overwhelming support from the workshop participants. UNDP officials, supervising the exercise said the campaign had produced a positive impact, although much work was required to rid the regions of illicit arms. "We are encouraged with what we have seen, this is small portion of the whole (process) we are embarking on awareness creation in the other remaining regions," said Sidi Zohabi of the UN agency. According to Zohabi, with the demobilisation of former combatants of the Somalia National Movement (SNM) and clan militiamen, coupled with the surrender of heavy weapons, a favourable environment now exists in Somaliland for dealing with the issue of small arms. A former British protectorate, Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from mainland Somalia following the 1991 overthrow of President Mohamed Siad Barre, who died in exile in Nigeria in 1995. While Somalia has been battling to restore order, the international community has yet to recognise the independence of Somaliland. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
