Opening Speech to the NPGM '06 by the Vice-President

H.E. Ahmed Yussuf Yassin

A great deal of efforts has been invested in producing the work of the entry points, which are being presented in this NPGM.

The democratization process went through difficult stages from its inception in June 1999 to the final implementation of the parliamentary elections in September 2005. All Somalilanders, young or old, are expected to contribute their ideas to conclude the Guurti elections. An electoral law, which governs the Guurti in the long term should be drafted. We have two Houses and the representatives in the House of Guurti should be elected by an indirect election. Therefore, a legal framework should be established on which this should be based. If the Guurti members were to be elected by direct election, two elected Houses would not have been required but only one house comprising 164 MPs.

In addition to the natural resource-based problems, which have resulted in desertification caused by cutting and burning of trees, formation of gullies, and soil erosion, , the natural resources in the seas also encounter serious problems. If these problems persist and are not controlled, the natural resources of the seas will be depleted. The Academy for Peace and Development should also include in its research activities the problems of the natural resources of the sea.

The election of city councillors was a good step. The procedures in the next election of the city councillors should be improved by electing economically better-off people, who focus on the priorities of the communities that are electing them.

There is great deal of confusion over the role of Islam in public life. Young people are misinterpreting our religion. The Academy should include in its research agenda in the near future this important issue - the role of Islam in our public life - which has recently surfaced in the Horn of Africa. Since the Academy for Peace and Development is neutral, it should, along with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, organize a meeting for religious leaders. The result of these public discussions could be to reach or agree on a common understanding on this relevant issue.

Somaliland people have lived in this region hundreds and hundreds of years, but there have never been any disputes with regard to the role of religion.

To come back to the Sharia: When the members of the two Houses of Parliament were taking their vacation on March 29, 2006, I outlined the need to review the multiple laws that are being applied in Somaliland courts, including the penal code that was ratified before 1960. But before we change the penal code we have to have the Sharia law codified by our religious scholars (Ulimaa).

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