Hassan Istiila
Friday July 14, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) in Somalia on Thursday, underscoring Somalia's commitment by announcing the allocation of $10 million to enhance resilience against climate-induced shocks.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Khadijo Mohamed Almakhsoumi, along with officials from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the United Nations, and international partners attended the launch event in Mogadishu.
"Today, we officially launch the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) in Somalia and announce our financial commitment of $10 million, which will be part of our country's allocation from the adaptation fund in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development," stated President Mohamud.
"Somalia's accession to the Great Green Wall Initiative is a significant milestone in our country's commitment to addressing climate change and environmental degradation that has inflicted so much suffering on our people," added the President.
Following the launch, Somalia becomes the newest member state of the African Union to join the GGWI, which already encompasses 36 countries from the Sahara, Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Southern Africa drylands.
The Great Green Wall initiative was established by African Heads of State in 2007 and has evolved into a regional vision for sustainable landscapes that generate multiple economic and environmental benefits while enhancing resilience. The program aims to combat desertification, climate change, and biodiversity loss through a broad belt of green projects from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa.
The National Agency for The Great Green Wall welcomed Somalia's membership in the initiative program and commended the Horn of Africa's commitment to climate-induced shock resistance.
Coordinator of GGWI, Elvis Tangem, described the launch as historical, emphasizing that Somalia joins its neighbors Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea – founding members of the initiative – in combating the effects of climate change.
"It is now time for action. We want to see all other restoration initiatives by private individuals, NGOs, and the government implemented collectively under GGWI Somalia," noted Dr. Tangem.
GGWI is expected to bolster President Mohamud's "Re-greening Somalia" Initiative, launched in October last year, to plant 10 million trees to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience and combat recurrent cycles of devastating droughts in the country.
African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Police Commissioner Hillary Sao Kanu stated that ATMIS, with support from UNSOS, has already pledged to plant 30,000 trees around 58 Forward Operating Bases before their final exit next year.
"At the mission level, ATMIS has resolved to integrate environmental issues into all its operations. This decision aligns with the commitment made by ATMIS and UNSOS (United Nations Support Office in Somalia) during the 23rd session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency held in Abu Dhabi earlier this year," observed Kanu.
Somalia's Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Khadija Al-Makhzoumi, expressed hope that the program would significantly assist Somalia in addressing its challenges, including deforestation and the climate crisis.
The launch event took place a day after Minister Almakhsoumi presented the Environmental Protection and Management Bill in the Upper House of Parliament. The bill had previously received approval from the Lower House on March 8, 2023.
The bill's approval would enable the Somali government to collaborate more effectively with international organizations dedicated to environmental conservation. The Minister believed the bill holds potential for impactful environmental protection and attracting investment to the country.
She emphasized that the proposed bill aligns with Somalia's constitution and international agreements for environmental preservation and climate change mitigation.
Somalia actively participates in several critical environmental protection agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Somalia has recently faced its longest drought in four decades, marked by five consecutive failed rainy seasons. The previous drought in 2016-17 resulted in damages and losses exceeding $3.25 billion, requiring $1.77 billion in support. The country has also witnessed severe flooding and locust infestations, with projected long-term climatic shifts, including temperature changes and rising sea levels.
Last May, floods forced nearly a quarter of a million people to flee their homes after the Shabelle River in central Somalia overflowed, submerging the town of Beledweyne. This occurred amidst the country's most severe drought in four decades, as reported by the government.