Mogadishu- 16-Marso-2008- Somchess.com

As Somalia 's sport is reviving from 17 years of armed conflicts, the Somali Chess Federation President Dr. Ahmed Abdi Hassan widely known as “Wataac” has initiated Chess development programme for schools in Somalia's lawless capital Mogadishu .

During a high-level ceremony held at the compound of the Somali Chess Federation, President Ahmed Abdi Hassan “Wataac” unveiled one hundred chess boards with their chess pieces and then distributed them to the principles of 50 primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Mogadishu so that they can be used to develop chess in schools.

“At least 2 persons in every family go to school each morning and we want them to bring back the knowledge of chess to their families so that at least one person experienced in chess may be found in every house,” the president told the gathering on Saturday.

Somali Chess federation President Ahmed Abdi Hassan Wataac.

“This is a program where e intend to develop chess in schools in the capital and then we will take the next step of doing such program in schools in 14 regions throughout the country,” the president added.

Affiliated to the World Chess Federation in 2002 and Arab Chess in 2003, the Somali

Chess Federation is one of Somalia 's most hard working federations and is the first to commence a school development program.

“One of the most ravaging civil wars in the world devastated our country and we intend to use the sport as a device of ending the long running wars and we hope our chess federation will lead the new initiative,” the president said.

In a joint communiqué the school principals thanked Mr. Wataac for buying the new equipment from his own pocket and for his initiative in establishing the development programme.

“He is dedicated to progressing Somali chess by investing much money and according to us, he is deserved to be named as the pioneer of schools sport development initiative in Somalia ,” the communiqué decreed.

Meanwhile in May this year the Somali Chess Federation will hold regional chess games in which 14 south-Central Somali regions will take part.

“Four regions in the break away Somaliland republic will not take part in the games, but are under the process of joining us," Mr Wataac explained.

Somaliland declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991, and still has not received international recognition, but is stable and more peaceful than the other parts of the lawless nation of Somalia .