HARGEISA (Halbeeg)- The breakaway Somaliland has revoked all licences granted six Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in Northern Somalia.
Hargeisa administration extended the crackdown on aid agencies suspected to have links with Southern Somalia.
Hussein Ibrahim Buni, Somaliland Minister for Planning who spoke to media on Sunday said Somaliland authorities terminated and cancelled licences of six organisations based in Hargeisa town.
“We have revoked and cancelled licences of the aid organisations after they breached Somaliland Constitution, therefore, those organisations should stop operating in Somaliland forthwith,” Buni said.
The agencies affected include Somaliland Lifeline Organization (SLO), Jubba Foundation (JD), Himilo Organization for Development (HOD), Active in Development Aid(ADA), Somali Relief and Development Action (SRDA), Agency for Peace and Development (APD).
“Initially the organisations had been operating in our neighbouring country, Somalia and even they were formed there before moving to Somaliland,” he stated.
He accused the NGOs of working closely with the Somali federal government.
“We will allow any NGO registered with Somalia to operate in Somaliland areas. They have been working with a foreign country while operating in Somaliland,” he noted.
This reminiscent of an earlier ban of aid agencies operating in South and central Somalia from Somaliland territories that, was imposed in May this year.
Dozens of International and local NGOs which operate in Southern Somalia have their main offices in Hargeisa, the administrative capital of Somaliland.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in the 1990s.
Despite relative stability and commendable governance, the region has not yet been recognized by the international community.
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