{"id":16010,"date":"2025-02-02T05:23:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T05:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/?p=16010"},"modified":"2025-02-05T05:32:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T05:32:12","slug":"somaliland-shuts-down-key-livestock-facility-over-export-deal-with-somalia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/2025\/02\/02\/somaliland-shuts-down-key-livestock-facility-over-export-deal-with-somalia\/","title":{"rendered":"Somaliland shuts down key livestock facility over export deal with Somalia"},"content":{"rendered":"

HARGEISA —<\/strong> The Somaliland government has revoked the operating license of a major livestock inspection facility in Berbera after accusing its Arab owner of entering into an unauthorized agreement with the Somali federal government, a move seen as a threat to the region\u2019s vital livestock export industry.<\/p>\n

The facility, operated by businessman Abu Yaasir, was one of three quarantine centers in Somaliland that inspect livestock before export to major markets, particularly Saudi Arabia. Somaliland\u2019s Minister of Livestock, Omar Shucayb, confirmed the shutdown, saying it was necessary to protect the region\u2019s economic interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter discovering the businessman\u2019s involvement in a deal with Somalia, we decided to shut down the facility,\u201d Shucayb told BBC Somali. He added that Somaliland officials had previously summoned Yaasir to Djibouti, urging him to withdraw from the agreement. \u201cAlthough he admitted wrongdoing, he refused to reverse the deal, leaving us no option but to revoke the license,\u201d Shucayb said.<\/p>\n

Berbera, a key hub for livestock exports, plays an essential role in Somaliland\u2019s economy. Millions of goats, sheep, camels, and cattle are exported annually from the region, with Saudi Arabia being the primary buyer. The port\u2019s quarantine facilities ensure that livestock meet international health standards, making them critical to maintaining Somaliland\u2019s access to lucrative Gulf markets.<\/p>\n

The monopoly granted to Abu-Yasir has triggered\u00a0widespread condemnation\u00a0from nearly 100 Somali lawmakers, who accused the federal government of jeopardizing a sector that supports 60% of the population and generates $1.07 billion annually. Lawmakers warned that excluding local traders from export markets could lead to job losses, corruption, and long-term economic instability.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers have\u00a0vowed to summon\u00a0senior government officials, including the Minister of Livestock, for questioning once parliamentary sessions resume. \u201cThis is the first time in Somalia\u2019s history that a single individual has been granted such control over a vital economic sector,\u201d said MP Mursal Mohamed Khalif. \u201cThe decision endangers our economy and pushes thousands of herders, brokers, and transport workers into financial uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Somaliland officials view the federal government\u2019s decision as part of a broader strategy to undermine the region\u2019s self-declared autonomy, which has been in place since 1991. \u201cThis monopoly not only disrupts trade but also infringes on Somaliland\u2019s right to control its economic resources,\u201d said Minister Mohamed.<\/p>\n

Abu-Yasir, who has a controversial reputation, has been accused by lawmakers of exploiting local businesses and defrauding Somali traders in the past. His monopoly has also led to a two-week halt in exports at Berbera, leaving herders unable to sell livestock needed to sustain their families.<\/p>\n

No immediate response was available from Somalia\u2019s federal government regarding the accusations.<\/p>\n

Source: HOL\u00a0 \u00a0 Origin: view original<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HARGEISA — The Somaliland government has revoked the operating license of a major livestock inspection facility in Berbera after accusing its Arab owner of entering into an unauthorized agreement with the Somali federal government, a move seen as a threat to the region\u2019s vital livestock export industry. The facility, operated by businessman Abu Yaasir, was …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1],"tags":[1604,1603,1605,35,348],"class_list":["post-16010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-food-security-cluster","category-news","tag-export-deal","tag-livestock-facility","tag-shuts-down","tag-somalia","tag-somaliland"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16010"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16013,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16010\/revisions\/16013"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}