Egal decries international "imposition" of aid

President of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, Mohamed Egal, on Saturday hit out at the international community, saying that while the territory appreciated the "crumbs" it was being given, the aid was being imposed without the involvement of local people which it was intended to benefit. Speaking to journalists in Hargeisa, after the launch of a capacity-building project for Berbera municipality through UNCHS (Habitat) and the European Commission, Egal said: "Nobody asks us what we need or how we want to be helped. For example, this particular project is very much appreciated, but we don't know anything about it." "We are very grateful for the crumbs we are given here, but it is not benefiting us: it is being imposed." Egal urged assistance for the further stabilisation of Somaliland in order to put in place a sold administration. "Heaven knows, we need help to rebuild this country. We have stabilised it, we have pacified it, we have disarmed all the tribal militia without any assistance from anybody," he said. [Full interview issued separately by IRIN on 18 May]