Limited information could be found on the composition of the Somaliland government.

According to various sources, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal is president of the unrecognized Somaliland government (Africa Confidential 22 Sept. 1995, 8; Horn of Africa Bulletin Sept.-Oct. 1995, 24; The Indian Ocean Newsletter 13 May 1995, 3; Guardian Weekly 3 Sept. 1995, 13; New African June 1995, 31). In April 1995, Agence France Presse reported that Egal's term as president was extended that month for 18 months by the House of Representatives and the House of Senators; the latter body consists of chief clan elders (20 Apr. 1995).

In September 1995, Africa Confidential listed the following ministers of Egal's government (clan affiliation between parentheses): Abdurahman Aw Ali (Gadabursi), Vice-President; Musa Bihi (Issaq/Habr Awal), Interior Minister; Mohamed Mahamoud Farah (Dolbahunta), Fisheries Minister; Colonel Abdi Shire (Dolbahunta), Chief of Staff; Mohamed Ali Yussef (Warsengeli) Deputy Defence Minister; Mohamed Abdi Dimbil 'Galbeyti' (Gadabursi), Foreign Affairs Minister; Yussef Sheikh Ibrahim 'Gurab' (Gadabursi), Posts, Telecommunications and Public Works Minister; Abdullahi Mohamed Dualeh (Habr Jallo), Presidency Office; Solomon Adam Gaal (Habr Jallo), Finance Minister; Abdullahi Hussein Iman 'Darawal' (Issaq subgroup-Arab), Defence Minister; Jama Kheire Weis (Issaq subgroup-Arab), Education Minister; Ali Mohamed Waran-Adde (Garhajis/Habr Younis), Health Minister; Mahamoud Mohamed Ismail (Garhajis/Habr Younis), Livestock Minister (22 Sept. 1995, 8). For additional information on the composition of the Somaliland government, please consult the attached articles from Africa Confidential and Guardian Weekly.

Regarding the government's relations with opposition groups, The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) and Agence France Presse (AFP) reported in October 1995 that treason trials had opened against the former president of Somaliland, Abdurahman Ali "Tour" (or "Tur") and some associates (21 Oct. 1995, 8; 18 Oct. 1995). The accused are charged with "leading a guerilla movement against the present government" and "of opposing Somaliland's self-declared independence" (ION 21 Oct. 1995, 8). Tour, also a member of the Somali National Movement (SNM), is now a member of General Aideed's unrecognized government in Mogadishu (AFP 18 Oct. 1995). For additional information, please consult the attached articles. Another attached article from The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) reports that a treason trial opened against Ahmad Hassan Assi for being a member of the Somali Democratic Alliance, a Gadabursi group opposed to the SNM (ION 10 June 1995, 5; Political Handbook of the World 1994, 795).

Throughout 1995 various sources reported that armed conflicts occurred between government forces and militias from the Issa clan, as well as rebel SNM units. These articles, as well as articles describing the activities of the government are attached to this Response.

For a detailed account of the situation in Somaliland, please consult the report by Matt Bryden attached to Response to Information Request SOM21804.E of 6 October 1995, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Africa Confidential [London]. 22 September 1995. Vol. 36, No. 19. "Somaliland: Limited Powers."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 18 October 1995. "Trial of Somaliland's First President Begins." (FBIS-AFR-95-202 19 Oct. 1995, p. 8-9)

_____. 20 April 1995. "Somaliland President's Two-Year Term Extended." (FBIS-AFR-95-077 21 Apr. 1995, p. 5)

Guardian Weekly [London]. 3 September 1995. Jean-Pierre Tuquoi. "Somaliland Struggles with Independence."

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. September-October 1995. Vol. 7, No. 5. "Egal Receives Visiting US Delegation."

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 21 October 1995. No. 690. "Agenda: Abdurahman Ahmed Ali "Tour"."

_____. 10 June 1995. No. 675. "Notes: Somaliland - Treason Trial."

_____. 13 May 1995. No. 671. "Somaliland: Peace Committee."

New African [London]. June 1995. No. 331. Alan Rake. "Fighting Flares in Somaliland."

Political Handbook of the World: 1994-1995. 1994. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Attachments

Armed Conflicts

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "Assembly Speaker Says Only Mopping-up Operations Continuing in Hargeisa," p. 23.

_____. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "Hargeisa-Calming Down," p. 23.

_____. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "An Overview of Developments in Somaliland," pp. 23-24.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 4 February 1995. No. 657. "Somaliland: Guerissa Region Sees Combat," p. 4.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series. [Oxford]. 23 March 1995. Vol. 32, No. 2. "Somaliland Fighting," p. 11799.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 25 March 1995. No. 664. "Somaliland: The President's Strange Missive," p. 2.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. March-April 1995. Vol. 7, No. 2. "Issa Militias in Clashes," p. 24.

_____. March-April 1995. Vol. 7, No. 2. "About 60 Killed in Fighting in Burao," p. 25.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 8 April 1995. No. 666. "Somaliland: Anti-government Attack," p. 2.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series. [Oxford]. 23 April 1995. "Somaliland," p. 11834.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 13 May 1995. No. 671. "Somaliland: Peace Committee," p. 3.

New African [London]. June 1995. No. 331. Alan Rake. "Fighting Flares in Somaliland," p. 31.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. July-August 1995. Vol. 7, No. 4. "Somaliland: Clashes: Issa Rebels Clash with Somaliland Troops," pp. 21-22.

_____. July-August 1995. Vol. 7, No. 4. "Somaliland Troops Attack Rebels, Government Radio," p. 22.

_____. September-October 1995. Vol. 7, No. 5. "Somaliland: Somaliland Radio Reports Clashes with Militia on 15th August," p. 24.

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 21 September 1995. "Somalia: Fighting Reported Between Egal, Issa Forces." (FBIS-AFR-95-184 22 Sept. 1995, p. 2)

Government

Africa Confidential [London]. 22 September 1995. Vol. 36, No. 19. "Somaliland: Limited Powers," p. 8.

_____. 31 March 1995. Vol. 36, No. 7. "Somalia: Holding on in Somaliland," pp. 6-7.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 18 October 1995. "Trial of Somaliland's First President Begins." (FBIS-AFR-95-202 19 Oct. 1995, pp. 8-9)

_____. 20 April 1995. "Somaliland President's Two-Year Term Extended." (FBIS-AFR-95-077 21 Apr. 1995, pp. 5-6)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 20 April 1995. "Egal Promises Elections Within 3 Months." (FBIS-AFR-95-077 21 Apr. 1995, p. 6)

Guardian Weekly [London]. 3 September 1995. Jean-Pierre Tuquoi. "Somaliland Struggles with Independence," p. 13.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. September-October 1995. Vol. 7, No. 5. "Egal Receives Visiting US Delegation," p. 24.

_____. September-October 1995. Vol. 7, No. 5. "President Egal Announces Action Over Currency in Bid to Control Inflation," p. 25.

_____. July-August 1995. Vol. 7, No. 4. "New Constitution: Egal Says New Constitution Should Be Completed Within 12 Months," p. 23.

_____. May-June 1995. Vol. 7, No. 3. "Somaliland: National Salvation Conference Ends," p. 23.

_____. May-June 1995. Vol. 7, No. 3. "Somaliland: Egal Calls For Peace," p. 23.

_____. May-June 1995. Vol. 7, No. 3. "Answer from Opposition," p. 24.

_____. May-June 1995. Vol. 7, No. 3. "Somaliland: Treason Trial Opens in Hargeisa," p. 25.

_____.March-April 1995. Vol. 7, No. 2. "Somaliland: Administrative Work in Berbera District Proceeding Smoothly," pp. 23.

_____. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "Somaliland: President Imposes State of Emergency," p. 22.

_____. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "Somaliland: General Administrator For Awdal Region Appointed," p. 22.

_____. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "General Administrator of Berbera District Appointed," p. 23.

_____. January-February 1995. Vol. 7, No. 1. "Aydeed and Tour," p. 23.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 21 October 1995. No. 690. "Agenda: Abdurahman Ahmed Ali "Tour"," p. 8.

_____. 10 June 1995. No. 675. "Notes: Somaliland - Treason Trial," p. 5.

Radio Hargeysa Voice of the Republic of Somaliland [Hargeysa, in Somali]. 29 August 1995. "Somalia: US Delegation Visit, Meets With Egal." (FBIS-AFR-95-175 11 Sept. 1995, p. 8)