Somalia: Row over Mogadishu politicians’ prevention of Puntland scholarships

GAROWE, Somalia July 30, 2013 (Garowe Online) - A group of Mogadishu politicians have prevented 50 scholarships for Puntland students to attend universities in Sudan, deepening the political row between Mogadishu and Puntland, Garowe Online reports.

Sources close to Puntland Ministry of Education and Somalia’s Ministry of Social Affairs Development – which is charged with education matters – tell Garowe Online that the Sudanese government awarded 150 student scholarships to Somalia, giving 50 scholarships each to Mogadishu, Puntland, and Somaliland.

Dr. Maryan Qassim, Somali Minister for Social Affairs Development, wrote a letter to Sudan dated 5 July 2013, requesting the Sudanese government to recognize Puntland educational certificates “because Puntland has a single educational curriculum, a single examination, and an educational policy”.

Minister Maryan Qassim reportedly planned to travel to Sudan, however, Somali Interior Minister Abdikarim Hussein Guled, a close ally to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, organized a delegation to Sudan led by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Nur Ga’al, another associate of President Hassan.

In meetings with Sudanese officials, Mr. Ga’al reportedly “ignored” Puntland’s status as well as the Minister Maryan Qassim’s official letter to Sudan. He returned to Mogadishu with 150 scholarships claiming that the federal government will divide the 150 scholarships in Mogadishu for all Somalis.

Puntland education official Abdullahi Farah Mire tells Garowe Online: “The Minister [Maryan Qassim] tried her best for Puntland to receive its share of scholarships, but she was cheated by the federal government’s delegation that visited Sudan, and the number one person causing problems in Somali Ambassador to Sudan,” added Mr. Mire.

Many fear that if the scholarships are distributed in Mogadishu, only students in Mogadishu will benefit, same with the Turkish scholarships, most of which were given to Somali students from the single clan of President Hassan, Interior Minister Guled and Somali Ambassador to Sudan.

Mr. Mohamed Abdiwahab, Director-General of Puntland’s Ministry of Education, tells Garowe Online that the officials are in contact with Minister Ga’al and other federal officials to ensure that Puntland students receive their share of scholarships.

It is not the first time that Mogadishu politicians have intervened to prevent Puntland students from access to scholarships. In 2011, former Somali Education Minister Ahmed Aideed Ibrahim – himself from Puntland – wrote a letter to Sudan demanding Sudan does not recognize Puntland educational certificates and that Mogadishu distribute all scholarships.

Meanwhile, the federal government in Mogadishu does not have an educational policy in place, lacks a unified curriculum and standardized exams.

Analysts say the row over educational scholarships could deepen worsening relations between Mogadishu and Puntland, as Puntland leaders have rejected recognizing the federal government’s “tampered constitution” and criticized the federal government for not implementing the March 11, 2013, agreement between the federal government and Puntland.

GAROWE ONLINE