An immense stockpile of military hardware was just one of Gen. Siad Barre's legacies to Hargeisa. And outside, there are thousands of disused mines lying in a heap in the sun. It's very dangerous indeed. A host of non-governmental organisations have returned to assist with the reconstruction of Somaliland. Health services are being resurrected.
Work is under way to repair the mains water supply.
Storm water drains are being cleared of refuse. Roofs are being replaced. President Abdirahman admits that Somaliland is starting from scratch, but feels the British colonial influence on his territory has been an important factor in the progress made so far. The old colonial boundaries, which divided British Somaliland from Italian Somaliland before independence in 1960, have been redrawn by the SNM in creating their new republic, and President Abdirahman says that despite a lack of international recognition for Somaliland yet, there will be no reunion with the rest of Somalia.