Hiiraan Online
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Somali government presenting Population Estimation Survey data
MOGADISHU (HOL) ---- Somalia's new population estimate data has reignited a controversy about whether its official statistics can be trusted, with experts argue the likelihood of making such estimation at present time.
After decades of war in the horn of Africa nation, Somalia's government has unveiled a new Population Estimation Survey data last week, paving the way for an official 2016 census in a country where militants still control large swathes in Somalia.
The survey which was said to have started in 2013 concluded that the country's overall population is 12.3 million people, provoking questions about whether the reality is worse than the government is
letting on."It's more of an imagination than meticulous statics," said Ali Haji Musa, a former officer for the international planning and corporation minister who worked under Siad Barre's government,
"This result is skewed to show a lower number of populations that actually exist." He told HOL.
Most of the experts who spoke to HOL expressed doubts on the likelihood of population estimate data this time, given that the Al-Qaeda linked militants are still in control of key towns with a
considerable number of populations.
"I don't think this estimate has added those people into the account - this must be a computer-generated propelled with an inventive figure than an official one." said Qadra Haji at the Population Research Centre's Portland state university.
However, presenting the survey, Abdirahman Aynte, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation who is believed to be the brainchild behind the survey said that his ministry acted upon a critical need to obtain basic information and bridging the information gap, so that their plans should be based on the real situation/
As critics seem to be firing haunting criticism, Somalia's government failed to put the controversy to rest, prompting more accusations from authorities in Somalia who accused the government of 'faking' the new population estimate data.
Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia has frowned upon the estimation, calling it 'inaccurate'.
Ali Ahmed Fatah, Puntland's international planning and corporation minister lambasted the estimation termed the development as 'ridiculous', showing a matching figure which indicates discrepancies involving the two studies.
Mr. Fatah has principally noted that Somalia's government has lied about Puntland population's estimation which he said is estimated to be 4,284,633, differing Somali government's estimation which gave a smaller population figure.
"He hastened to this laid-back survey." Mr. Fatah said of Somalia's planning and international corporation minister Aynte.