BURAO, Somaliland (Horn post) Somaliland authorities on Saturday officially opened a national conference on environmental protection and wildlife conservation in Burao, bringing together senior government officials, police commanders and regional leaders as part of efforts to strengthen environmental law enforcement and safeguard the country’s natural resources.
The two-day conference, running from June 20-21, 2026, was organized by Somaliland’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and focuses on improving environmental protection policies, wildlife conservation and stronger cooperation between security institutions, the judiciary and regional administrations.
Speaking during the opening session, Somaliland Minister of Environment and Climate Change Abdillahi Osman Geeljire warned that environmental awareness remains dangerously low across Somaliland, saying stronger legal expertise is urgently needed to address growing environmental violations.
“Our society still lacks proper understanding of environmental protection. We are planning to train judges who will handle environmental cases so they fully understand the value of natural resources and can make fair decisions that protect both citizens’ rights and the national interest,” Geeljire said.
The minister said the government is preparing specialized judicial training programs designed to ensure courts can effectively handle cases involving illegal tree cutting, environmental destruction and crimes affecting Somaliland’s ecological future.
Also addressing the conference, Somaliland Deputy Police Commissioner Brig. Gen. Abdi Ahmed Tiir said the Somaliland Police Force remains fully committed to enforcing national laws and will play a central role in protecting the environment and wildlife.
“As police, our responsibility is enforcing the country’s laws and regulations. We will work closely with the Ministry of Environment to ensure environmental protection laws are fully implemented across Somaliland,” Tiir said.
The deputy police chief emphasized that environmental protection has now become part of broader national security responsibilities, adding that law enforcement agencies will support government efforts to preserve Somaliland’s natural resources for both current and future generations.
Officials attending the conference included senior representatives from Somaliland’s Environment Ministry, police leadership and regional governors from Sahil, Sanag, Togdher and Awdal, alongside local authorities from Burao.
The conference comes as Somaliland intensifies efforts to tackle environmental degradation, climate-related challenges and wildlife protection through stronger institutions, public awareness campaigns and improved legal enforcement mechanisms.
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Prepared by:
Horn post staff
Hargeisa, Somaliland
