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Somaliland's Deepest Gratitude to King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Kingdom of Saudi AraSample Imagebia took productive step by allowing
the livestock exp orts from Somaliland and Somalia. The
livestock exports are economy backbone for both the countries, and
90% of daily income of Somali families is from livestock revenue.
The Somali people at the horn of Africa cheered the decision of the
kingdom to end the nine years old ban.
Historically, the Arabian Peninsula unveiled the importance and
commercial quantity of Som ali livestock during 19th century,
after British Empire supplied meat to its military at Aden, Yemen,
from the horn of African region, which caught the attention of the
Yemeni traders, who later started exporting the meat and livestock
from Somaliland to Saudi Arabia. The ex port of livestock by
Yemeni traders was from the horn of Africa, Yemen and to Jeddah, Sau
di Arabia.
In 1956, the first Somali businessman called Sufi Hassan exported
from Berbera to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia directly and without Yemeni
traders. The livestock business continued betwe en Saudi
Arabia and Somaliland without health certificates and laboratory
checkups, until recently after Rift Valley Fever was discovered in
the region, and Saudi authorities banned the livestock from the
region.
Somaliland and regional health authorities announced that animals of
the region are not sick and there was no Rift Valley Fever, instead
there is political propaganda to disable some of the fast-growing
economies like Somaliland. However, Saudi Arabia continued listening
to such propaganda and ban lasted for nine years.
Late 2008, Somaliland authorities and Saudi businessman Al-Jabiri
joined hands to restore this traditional livestock trade between
Somaliland and Saudi Arabia, and Quarantine Center at Berbera City
was construction in coordination with Al-Jabiri. The center won
international quality and standard accreditation. The nine year long
ban on Somali livestock exports to S audi Arabia damaged the
income of the average Somali families across the region.
After the Saudi government led by his highness the King Abdullah Bin
Abdulaziz restored t he trade link and lifted the ban, the
entire Somali people in the region welcomed the decision because for
them it was between death and life. The people of Somaliland thanks
to the King Abdullah and Ministry of Livestock of Saudi Arabia for
the humanitarian and courageous de cision.
The Saudi government realized that lifting the ban from Somali
livestock exports will be more valuable to the Somali people than
the millions of dollars in aid. The people of Somaliland pra
ised Saudi authorities for distinguishing between the trade and
politics in Somalia.
The Saudi authorities should know that Berbera port is the major
export center for Somali livestock, and newly constructed quarantine
center is to ensure the safety of the animals according to
international standards. Bosasso Port of Puntland comes to second
inline in export business.
Again, the people of Somaliland and Somalia are thanking to his
highness the King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz for lifting the
ban.
By - Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
Email:
az.almutairi@yahoo.com
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