We put too much faith in oral. The written or ethically spoken word seldom says exactly what the person is intending to say out. At times it is not said is sometimes more powerful than what is told. However, I may not be economists neither an expert in investment and Port management, rather An Environment and Social Development expert but this issue -DP World’s investment in Berbera Port is very loud. It needs to be looked as critical and economically sensitive subject. However, over the last two months, there has been a critical dissident discussions and controversial about the DP World investment in Berbera Port-Somaliland. The elites in the region including officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia have talked about this investment. This has been stressed out by the leaders in diplomatic and curtailed way. Unequivocally Ethiopia has clearly supported this investment because due to its need to have additional and alternative port for it to import more food aids and cargos. In Somaliland this unprecedented Investment has become a subject on which most of the people discuss on Social media, parlors and other places that society do meet.
On this subject, people have in lined themselves into two groups; there is a group of people who have supported this investment whereas other group have clearly quashed. These groups have been blindly and muddle-headedly propping up their arguments. However, it is apparent that any investment is a throttle which boosts up economics- though the extent of the economic thrive within which that Investment conveys could vary.
DP World investment in Berbera is unprecedented opportunity in the region, and at the same time it conveys huge profits to DP world Company, Ethiopia, Private shipping and logistic companies and the region at large if it managed symbolically. But it is clear that this opportunity has not been pearly and sagaciously introduced. Transparency and Inclusiveness are absence in this contract. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parts is not appreciated by the tremendous local Economists and indigenous local community. The Principles and implications of the Joint Venture of this Investment were not clearly expelled out. Everything which may unexpectedly go through into inappropriate path could end up at Wrong, but there is no doubt that the contract is full of inconsistence and oligarchy, and this impedes the sustainability of the contract.
The Joint Venture Deal
The principles which will be guided the Joint Venture are not clearly stated out by Government of Somaliland. It was one week later when local media found the agreed tentative deal, but still there are a lot in hidden. DP world argues that Berbera Port operates low cargo shuttling, and it occupies a small distance. It is true, Berbera Port is not yet modernized and it operates Low cargo shuttling, but we must stand up and be counted that the Port is paramount strategically and economically for Somaliland and across the region. It cannot be valued just 442 million dollars. Ports are normally valued on the basis of their strategic and logistic essentials. Berbera port has magnanimous value when it comes to strategic and logistic value. It connects together Horn and East Africa with Middle East and Gulf of Aden. This strategic value cannot be just rated with 442 Million dollars. About 65% of the profits gained from the Port will be taken by DP World whereas 35% goes to Government. This ratio has to be revisited.
Despite this, Somaliland is juvenile country; It has not yet been recognized by the United Nations as Sovereign state; It does not have strong and reliable diplomatic and economic ties with rest of the world. Reports were stressed out that Ethiopia informed Djibouti for its involvement in Berbera Port; this shows that even Ethiopia do seek diplomatic consent from Djibouti for her to involve in that harbor. However there is high tendency of Conspiracy and egoism in this contract.
Traditional Tensions
We cannot turn off eyes from growing strikes of which local people have been carrying on. The indigenous people in Berbera and across Somaliland have been ruinously boycotting to this investment through organizing meetings and strikes within which they decry DP world’s Investment in Berbera Port. The entire Somaliland people do rely on Berbera Port in one way or another. They normally think that any foreign involvement in Berbera Port could hamper their livelihood sustainability. This would have not been taken place if massive sensitization and mobilization were carried on by Government. Government of Somaliland was not willing to sensitize local people neither to look for acceptance from the indigenous people. As African we are in standstill on our traditional commends. The Views, needs and feelings of the local people cannot be neglected otherwise price will be paid.
Despite this, in the normal course of any developmental initiative, before the investment is kicked off pragmatically, the social developmental projects on Educational, Economic, Health and Infrastructural sectors are implemented in an attempt of getting support from the local people. The social utilities of the local people should be developed before the project gets started. Unfortunately, DP world and Government of Somaliland neglected this, and thus has been engraving more tensions.
Managing the Port in 40 years!!
According to reports from reliable sources and the tentative singed consents, DP world will be holding its license for it to operate in Berbera Port in 30 Years to come. 10 years will be added if DP world needed. We are so conditioned to look for this to happen. It is not advisable for a young state, not yet recognized to let this company to manage the port in 40 years to come; I cannot reject the investment, but the time frame should be shorted.
Environment issues
We do assess things wrongly based on their immediate economic opportunities. We don’t consider the ecosystem and environmental values which take pivotal role in sustainability of human race. However, if Berbera Port become a very busy hub for logistic and cargo shipments, this will have an impact on aquatic ecosystem. The continuous in and out follow of the huge ships, destruct the coral reefs and other habitats and this ensues several fishes and aquatic organisms to migrate from our sea, and eventually this impedes ecosystem and biodiversity.
As the Aldo Leopold who was a great Naturalist said, a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.
The Misuse of Authority
The need to examine why we do things and how we do is very important for development. A group of Somaliland citizens who talked their views about DP World investment were jailed illegally. Each and every Somaliland citizen has the right to speak up, and share his/her ideas with the rest of the society. The follow of information and communication among community must not be hindered by the Government. It is not advisable for a Government to perpetuate with traditional Commend and Control mean of Governance; this will further escalate the tensions and reluctances. I have remembered the Tennyson’s Poem
“Theirs not to make reply
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die”
Very often the withholding of part of formal authority is done in the name of Control; no one speaks up! Keep moving. The authority should be exercised with the respect of integrity and human right otherwise it will be so intricate Government and its people to move together, and this will profoundly sabotage development initiatives.
Conclusion
I personally do support this investment to take place because I’m aware about Economic imperatives it conveys, but we need number of measures to be taken. Government must protect and keep up Human right. No one must be jailed on the basis of his/her ideas and views. The entire Somaliland people and the region at large do rely on Berbera port directly or indirectly for both commercial and economic/subsistence purposes, therefore there is need to have Transparency and Inclusiveness in the arrangement. The Concession Agreement must be forwarded to the House of Representatives, and they have to peer into it and critically analyze. Where it necessary amendments and rectifications have to be made. Say should be given to indigenous academicians/scholars include me, and their views have to be considered. Local people should be sensitized, and prior developmental projects have to be implemented as soon as possible.
Peace and Prayer
Sharmarke Abdi Musse
(Bsc, Msc)
Email: jamaal_77@hotmail.co.uk
Phone: +25263-4449356
About the Author: Sharmarke Abdi Musse, he is academician who grew up in Berbera district whereby he went his Quranic, Primary and intermediate school. He later joined 26 June secondary school-Hargeisa, and eventually he pursued his Bsc and Msc at Kampala International University-Uganda. He also did number of Accredited Courses at Makerere University-Uganda. He is writer of tremendous articles in different subjects.