Somaliland : Hargeisa club to re-open with extended pub and dance hall

(Medeshi)- Our sources from Hargeisa have reported that the old Hageisa officers club is soon to be        re-opened with a pub - spirits and beer sales counters with a dance stage . The  club has  originally been built by the British during colonial era and was accessible only on membership basis .

It was later changed into military officers club with limited access to the civilians by the socialist military government of Siyad Barre after the 1969 military take over . Lodging areas were also added during the early 1980s after the Somali tourist agency was given the lease to run the club.

Vintage Hargeisa club 1966 (Flicker )

After secession from Somalia , Hargeisa club was turned into a hotel and leased to the private agencies by the Somaliland  government.

Religious leaders in Somaliland will object to the opening of  a dance hall  in the country let alone opening a pub. The only dance hall that had existed for months was located at Ming Sing near Hargeisa club but was attacked on several occasions by religious leaders with the help of the local police. The hall was eventually closed by the management of Ming Sing restaurant after continuous harassment and night raids .
Alcohol is prohibited in Somaliland although it is sold by smugglers through the out country in the black market . Most of the black market alcohol comes from Ethiopia while some legally come from Djibouti for NGOs , diplomatic missions and the elites.

Hargeisa club attachment in its original condition (Flicker)

Our sources have reported alcohol selling  points next  to Hargeisa main police station , Darooraha and the Sha’ab area. Police often ignore  the illegal dealers with in the capital  because of clan protection but clients taking away  alcohol from the illegal sales points often get caught and are imprisoned for the minimum of 6 months. Those who can afford get home delivery through mobile taxi services while some travel to the Ethiopian side of Wajaale 40 minutes away from Hargeisa for weekend socialising and beer drinking.

Hargeisa club - the main hall (Flicker)

However it may come , it is obvious that opening Hargeisa club with alcohol services is a distant future regardless of the rumour of it's opening. Alcohol and non Islam religious propagation in Somaliland is currently a crime offence in the country unless new rules are introduced to change that. A case that is currently ongoing at Hargeisa courts against 3 Ethiopians accused of spreading Christianity in Somaliland reflects on how Somaliland will not tolerate  any one trying to spread other than Islam in the country . Anything similar could anger  the religious  leaders throughout the country .



Source: http://www.medeshivalley.com/2013/05/somaliland-hargeisa-club-to-re-open.html#comment-form