Exploring Somalia's Natural Resources - A geological perspective

[miles-militis]

Dr. Osman S. Hersi (PhD)

Quebec Geoscience Center, Quebec

Email: oshersi@yahoo.com

 

Abstract

 

Somalia is that part of the northeast Africa sometimes termed as the Horn of Africa. The country has a land area of 637,540 square kilometers, a coastal line of 3,025 kilometers long, and a population of about 7 to 8 million. Hot, arid to semiarid climate prevails in most of the country with a rainfall less than 600 mm/year.

 

The natural resources of the country can be generally divided into

 

1) Marine resources (fish and salt)

 

2) surface resources (e.g., forests, wild life, frankincense and Myrrh, surface water, etc), and subsurface resources (e.g., rocks and minerals, fossil fuels, and groundwater).

 

Rocks and minerals that are known to exist and available for exploitation include Tin in the Majiyahan - Dhalan area (south of Bosaso - Ceelayo costal strip), Uranium in the Galgadud and Bur Hakaba areas, Sepiolites of Ceel Bur, Iron-ore in the Dinsor district, quartz, granite, marble, limestone and gypsum in different regions of the country.

 

These natural resources include primary row materials for various kinds of industry, e.g, cement industry, industry for prefabricated walls, roofing, floor and wall tiles, aggregates and concrete production, and industrial minerals. Minerals with high potential include gold, zinc, lead, manganese, aluminum, and graphite. Existence of good petroleum indicators has been known for a while, and recent data highly encourage the exploration potential of the country. Water resources are the most need commodity in Somalia, and many areas with promising considerable groundwater accumulation have been identified.

 

Since we have so many surface, subsurface, and marine resources, then why are we starving? The answer could be summarized as follows:

 

1- Lack of technology, security, and political stability.

 

2- Scarcity of professionals and skilled people, and struggle for survival for those few available

professionals;

 

3- Mismanagement and/or lack of sincere, capable, and responsible administration.

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

TO THE SOMALIS:

 

1- TRUST THAT WE HAVE AMPLE NATURAL RESOURCES;

 

2- IMPROVE OUR SKILLS AND PERFECT OUR PROFESSIONS;

 

3- INFORM OUR RICHNESS & THE NEED FOR A GOOD GOVERNANCE;

 

4- DATA COLLECTION.

 

 

TO THE FUTURE SOMALI GOVERNMENT

 

1- SOMALI REGIONS / STATES SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THEIR TERRITORIES;

2- GOOD FOREIGN POLICY, FACILITATION OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS, REPATRIATION OF THE SKILLED SOMALIS, ETC.

 

 

TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

 

1- HELP SOMALIA MORALLY AND MATERIALLY TO ALLEVIATE THE WOUNDS OF THE CIVIL WAR AND TO ESTABLISH GOOD GOVERNANCE;

 

2- HELP DATA COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION;

 

3- AT THIS CRITICAL STAGE, CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOST-NEEDED NATURAL RESOURCES: THE WATER;

 

4- SUPPORT THE STABLE REGIONS TO DEVELOP THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES;

 

5- ACCOUNTABILITY.

 

 

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The above is the abstract of a major paper presented at the conference Rebirth of the Somali State-Policy Options and Programme Opportunities for Canada, sponsored by the Som-Can Institute for Research and Development (SCIRD) in collaboration with Partnership Africa Canada (PAC). The two-day conference was held at Parliament Hill's Railway Committee Room and at Carlton University's Southern Hall, Theatre B.

The main objectives of the conference were:

 

To inform the Canadian Government, NGOs and the International community about the current political changes with respect to Somalia.

 

To present some lessons learned from the Somali peace process.

 

Discuss how Canada, International community and the Somali Diaspora can play a role in the reconstruction of Somalia.

 

Invitees included representatives from the following:

 

Canadian Government

 

Canadian NGOs and other institutions

 

Somali NGOs and Civil Society

 

Somali Diaspora in Canada, including youth representatives

 

United Nations

 

Media

 

 

PROVISIONAL CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

253D Parliament Hill, Ottawa

 

Friday, November 3, 2000

 

Session 1

 

Rebirth of Somalia State: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

 

9:00 am-12:00pm

 

Welcoming/Introduction

 

Chair: Mrs. Idil Salah and Mr. Ahmed Yusuf

 

Speakers:

 

Mr. Ahmed Dahir Shell

Title: The Cry of Somali Civil Society for Peace

 

 

Prespectives from the Recovery Zones for Lasting Peace

 

Mr. Ahmed M. Haji-Jama (Northeast Regions knowns as PUNTLAND)

Title: Puntland State Rejects the Outcome of "Arta(Djibouti) Process" As it was Undemocratic, Unrepresentative and Illegal

 

Mrs. Zaynab Aden (Northwest Regions known as SOMALILAND)

Title: Somaliland Does NOT Recognize the Transitional Government Appointed in Djibouti

 

Questions/Discussions

 

11:00-11:15 am Break

 

Strategic Planning: Concrete Recommendations from within on

 

" How can Somali Diaspora community contribute to strengthen the Somalia Peace and Development".

 

Session 11

 

1:30 Registration (Cont):

 

2:00pm. Introduction: Mrs. Ebyan Salah, Executive Director

Som-Can Institute for Research and Development (SCRID)

 

2:15pm -6:15pm

 

Key Note Speaker

 

Mr. Eugene Bellemara

Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Cooperation

 

Theme: The Political Achievments and the Challenges Ahead

 

Chairperson: Mr. Ahmed Abdi Hashi Hashara

 

Speakers:

 

Mr. Rooble Colhaye, Djibouti Ambassador to the UN

Title: Djibouti Peace Initiative for Somalia

 

Mr. Ahmed Dahir Shell, Co-Chair Technical Committee for Somalia Peace Conference

Title: Peace From Within

 

Dr. Babafemi A. Badejo, Senior Political Advisor, UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)

Title: Somalia, the United Nations's Role in the Somalia Peace Process and Future Commitments

 

4.30 pm Coffee/Tea Break

 

5pm-6.15pm Questions period, Discussion and Recommendations

 

6.15pm Concluding Remarks: Mr. Bernard Taylor, PAC

 

Saturday, November 4, 2000

Carlton University's Southern Hall, Theatre B.

 

9:00-12:30 Theme: Strengthening Somalia's Public and Private Sector

 

Chair: Mrs. Idil Salah, Development Anthropologist/Consultant

 

Mr. Mohamed Dalmar MBA, Settlement Counselor

Title: Monetary Experience of Somalia: What can we learn from the past mistakes?

 

Mr. Abdishakur Abdulle, MA/PhD Candidate/ Research Scientist

Title: Prioritization and Investment for Health and Education_a Path to Social Development for Somalia

 

Dr. Osman Salad Hersi (PhD), Geologist and Researcher

Title: Exploring Somalia's Natural Resources_Geological Perspectives

 

Mr. Mohamed Elmi, Managing Partner with potfolio of Director of Sales/Marketing and Customer Relations of HornAfrik Media Inc

Title: Communication as a Symbol for the Enterprising Private Sectors

 

10:45-11:15 Coffee/Tea Break

 

Discussion and Recommendations

Concluding Remarks