Halkan Ka Daawo Sawirada Ardaydii Ka Qalinjebiyay Jaamacada Hargeysa
Somalia: To Succeed We Have to Look Forward!
HARGEISA, 20 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – The past is not a home to dwell in. The living must keep on living. To do so the living must also move forward. Looking back to a difficult past is a costly habit which is only holding our nation back. Let us remind ourselves that if we continue to indulge in hovering around the graveyard of past governments, past leaders and a dead manifesto, we will never succeed.
Bashing the past by itself does not say about a wish to a better future. The past is what it is: past! We need to draw a line under the past. Surely, the past of one-people Somalis cannot be more painful than the past of black South Africans who had to put up with decades of brutalization and who found the way to live together with their white compatriots in harmony.
Every community (ethnic group) within a nation is an important component to the success of its society similar to the components of a factory which must work together for the common good and purpose. It is the Almighty who loves diversity who made people into nations, clans and groups to belong together to different countries so that they may appreciate one another. All we need to do to know why the Almighty loves diversity is to look around us.
Those who care about their homeland cannot despise one another. It is the nation which will suffer as illustrated by Somalia. A nation is like people travelling together on a boat and an attack or a dig on any community is similar to a stab on the boat.
Love of country involves love of its people. It is the love of country which teaches us to love our compatriots otherwise despising one another makes a mockery of a nation to be laughed at by other nations. It needs to be said that for too long our people have played football with our harmony and cohesion which are important for the wellbeing and existence of the nation.
As though clan is a political party which sits together to reach political decisions — slugging communities because of what a politician(s) did or didn’t was one of the crimes committed against our harmony and cohesion. It needs to be said that a clan is a social structure of people who share common kinship. It is no crime if Somalis from any clan engage in social activities to help one another. However, if there are clans whose members take together political decisions, this is clannism and stretching the role of clan to dangerous levels which proved disastrous for Somalia. Politics is about compatriots from different backgrounds (communities) coming together, discussing, engaging or promoting the interests and wellbeing of their nation, region, city, town etc.
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Harmony and social cohesion are non-negotiable factors for the survival of any nation. These two factors are as vital as the flag to any nation. The source of much of our woes is spite. An inept government can create its people to see one another with green eyes if individuals are given unearned position or wealth. Such are some of the things a government should be careful not to undermine its society. However, hate consumes a lot of time and energy. It also devours the person. To move on for our own sake and for the nation’s sake, we need to forgive our past leaders. We also need to forgive the warlords. We have to let bygones to be bygones. It is for this reason that black South Africans have made the choice to move on and benefit from one another rather than allow to be consumed by the past.
There is another important factor which makes different peoples to live together in peace and harmony within a nation. It takes vision and leadership. In South Africa, it was the vision and leadership of Nelson Mandela, which made possible the people of modern South Africa to look forward not backwards, respect one another and live together in harmony.
From inception modern Somalia has had an unfortunate journey which came to nothing. As is the case, a nation is solidified or made shaky and unhinged by the vision or lack of it, of its founders. Vision is the mileage a nation needs for its journey. Unfortunately, from the way Somalia has fallen apart, there was little vision involved in the founding of modern Somalia otherwise it would not have crumpled like a house of cards at the young age of thirty.
The past is important to learn from it so that it is never repeated. History shall record that Somalia has been destroyed not by foreign enemy but by individual Somalis who were born and bred within our country. However, pointing fingers shall impede the task to move forward and rebuild the nation. One day, the nation shall appoint a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” not to punish but to get to the bottom of what went on and why a nation of one-people had to tear one another. We have to let the Almighty punish those who have sinned, the ones who took lives and those who unleashed wanton destruction on their own nation.
There are things which are stopping us from moving forward. One such thing is negativity which we can ill-afford. We need a lot of positivity to permeate our troubled society. A positive person can see something good in garbage, while the negative person sees something bad in gold. It is positive energy that can move mountains which we need to rebuild the nation. We know many Somalis have already given up on Somalia. We also know that they are dead wrong! We have no reason to give up on our own nation. For starters, there is no-one occupying Somalia. What is hampering the return of a functioning and prospering Somalia is merely our own people’s lack of ample care for the nation.
One concept which must be abandoned is the notion within individual Somalis (by itself one of the legacies of the civil war) which says that ‘an idiot from my clan is better for me to lead the nation than the wisest person from another clan.’ There is a time-honoured wisdom which has it: A wise enemy is better than the kinship of a nitwit. At least a wise enemy knows and respects a common humanity. A fool has no comprehension of kinship. We need to remind ourselves what we Somalis share is equivalent to 99%. One wonders, what are the demons which make our people magnify and cling on to 1% difference?
Uganda and Burundi have sent troops to respond the call to aid our nation re-establish its. The two nations have done more than their share of sacrifice for Somalia. However, they can only do so much. You cannot ask someone more than to die for your country. Nonetheless, there are things no amount of outside aid can help a nation. With a sizeable population of over ten million, Somalia is not the small island of Samoa which has a tiny population of 219,000. Uganda and Burundi are greatly appreciated. Uganda’s lead role to rush come to the rescue of Somalia and its good treatment of our community on its soil is unforgettable. The two nations must be wondering why the Somali people are not fighting for the TUG. The ability of a government to make things happen can make its relevance felt by its citizen.
Everything has its time and everybody knows the beauty of time is the future comes one day at a time. Nevertheless, the most important thing for a lawless nation is peace and security. When that day comes, it will take capability and leadership to establish peace and security and rebuild the nation. We need to sow the good within our people to revive our nation’s harmony and our people’s sense of nationhood. Not to mention the time has come to end the wasteful wallowing about the past. To succeed we have to look forward!
Abdullahi Dool
Hornheritage@aol.com
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Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial
Somaliland Will Not Be a Banana Republic
HARGEISA, 20 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Of late, there has been a great hue and cry about the Election Commission’s bold step that invalidated the voter registration administrated by the Interpeace experts, of which the Somaliland people had initially thought to have given no hostages to fortune and hassle free, but it conversely turned to be a harbinger of doom.
In the wake of the President Riyale’s original five year term elected came to an end, and turned to be failure on every front- the incumbent administration had been given unwarranted two year extensions by the Somaliland Council of Elders, who themselves are sitting illegally; the Elders were believed to have been in receipt of large amounts of kick backs and other fringe benefits by the President of Somaliland in a bid to continue to remain in office for a period of time. However, the opposition parties, as well as the different quarters strongly protested the extensions awarded to the President, and described the Elders’ moves as unconstitutional and unwarranted; even the Global Community described the Elder’s moves as undemocratic, which could jeopardise the democratization process of Somaliland.`
Immediately after the extensions have been made, specifically, the recent past extension given to the incumbent regime – a political stalemate had developed, street protests were ensued, and became order of the day. The political stand off had dragged on for along, and the President of Somaliland completely failed to come up with mutually acceptable solution; the oppositions pressed on to argue that the extensions granted to the President was inconsistent with the constitution of the country, and that the President is not diametrically conversant with the constitution of Somaliland. And that he is dictated terms by his cohorts remnant of Siyad barre’s toppled regime, who are currently in his cabinet. Consequently, opposition parties, and the Riyale administration remained at each other’s throats for a period of time, without reaching consensus on the matter that prompted the acrimony.
Somaliland is unlike the neighbouring failed state of Somalia, which characterized by a political turmoil and internecine warfare that became order of the day. When any political deadlock emerges in Somaliland its traditional leaders along with sagacious people immediately keep it at the bay, and bring the matter under control before it is too late.
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In order to salvage the country to not slid into civil conflict, the Somaliland’s learned, the religious leaders, and the other intellectuals were orchestrated themselves to act as mediators, and bring the disputed sides to the negotiation table in a bid to overcome the political impasse. And they successfully shuttled between the President on one side and the opposition parties on the other. The mediators brought the President of Somaliland, who had been in reluctance mood on board in order to get him sign a number of clad iron rules or terms cogitated earlier by the both sides in the presence of the opposition high commands as well as the mediators, and the political differences were ironed out thanks to the mediators.
Following the political deadlock had been hammered out, the political parties had unanimously agreed that a voter registration be conducted throughout the country in order to ensure a free and fair Election be held, and at the same time and avoid any sort of poll rigging and multiple voting as happened in the previous polls. Interpeace – techno-experts – had been invited to assist the Election Commission of Somaliland with the Electronic voter registration, which has been the first of its kind in Africa at the large; the voter registration was invested in large amounts of money by the International Community, and went on for months.
During the voter registration, there were scanty complaints that overshadowed over the process of the voter registration, and were later on resolved by the Somaliland National Election Commission with the help of the techno- experts of Interpeace.
Once again the people of Somaliland, and the Global Community are kept on the tenterhooks, whether the Presidential contest for which scheduled for September 27 would materialise as intended, on account of the uncertainty surrounding the polls. The discarded Electoral list came in for International and domestic fulminations. And the incumbent President was asked to reconsider his unwarranted verdict, which could lead to the derailment of the Somaliland’s democratization process, which had embarked in the aftermath of the adoption of the multiparty system.
The World Community which is interested in the incipient democracy of Somaliland, has ever since at the start of the Somaliland’s democracy been training its eyes on the democratization process – and appealed to the Riyale administration to renounce their outlandish decision, and at the same time ensure a free and fair polls be conducted across the country.
The most recent nullification of the voter registration on which millions of dollars had been spent, and the subsequent expulsion of the Interpeace organization, the lone organization, which has been working with the Election Commission of Somaliland on the Electronic voter registration, has drawn a Global condemnations; the President and his cohorts were called on to abdicate their decision for which they repealed the voter registration, and ensure that a free and fair Elections be conducted throughout the country.
In the meantime, the opposition parties unanimously agreed in a joint press conference held in the Somaliland capital Hargiesa that they won’t run for the Presidential contest scheduled for September 27 in the absence of the voter registration which was initially agreed to be used for the polls. The political leaders ruled out the participation of the Elections, and called upon the President to give up his verdict and accept the voter registration be used for the forthcoming polls as it was agreed previously. In their news conference, the opposition leaders appealed to their respective supporters and the people of Somaliland in general to come out on the streets of Somaliland, and protest against the revocation of the Electoral list.
The opposition leaders also put forward in their news conference that the President be impeached by the legislature of Somaliland if he continues to defy to their calls, and that of the International Community, and a care taker government be installed in the meantime.
Knowing that Somaliland people had witnessed civil wars; the people of Somaliland took the arms in the aftermath of the genocide and the other atrocities meted out them by the deposed repugnant regime of Siyad barre. Of late, what Somaliland is experiencing is unbearable, and the main objective that the SNM fighters lost their dear lives in the fight against the military regime of Somalia, was their sons and daughters to live in a free and democratic country called “Somaliland”.
There is a doubt in my mind that the President of Somaliland has never read or heard of the history of this country, and that he needs to be told that the people of Somaliland had witnessed untold hardships and massacre. But the question I want to ask the readers is – how long are we going to be hostages to peace? We should know that Riyale and his henchmen is not the custodian of Somaliland’s peace, and they use this for political ends. The President is not beholden to any one even the people who voted for him; he is now the tallest man in the country.
In conclusion, if President Riyale and his henchmen continue to defy to the calls of the oppositions and that of the Global Community, then the only way to get out of this Electoral crisis precipitated by him and the Election Commission of Somaliland is, that the people of Somaliland take to the streets across the country in protest against the nullification of the voter registration, which is merely for delaying tactics, which the incumbent wants to stay in power.
Knowing that the people of this nascent country witnessed genocide, and other atrocities during the reign of the military regime of Somalia. And that countless people lost their lives in the emancipation struggle. I, therefore, prevail on the peace loving people of Somaliland to not bow to the President’s will which he wants to impose upon us, and bear in mind that people power should prevail as it happened in many countries across the world. And we should be of the opinion that Somaliland won’t be a banana republic at the hands of the Riyale’s failed administration.
Mukhtar Mohamed abby
India, Karnataka State
mukhtarcabi@hotmail.com
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Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial
Anti-government Protests Begin in Somaliland
HARGEISA, 20 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Hundreds of people have taken part in an anti-government demonstration in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland as part of what opposition parties say will be a day of protest across the country.
The protesters are waving anti-government slogans and chanting “Down Rayaale Down” in all the streets in the Sha’ab area where most of the governmental offices are located. Hundreds of security forces were put on standby and available across the city.
Although it is too early, no gunshots are heard so far and despite the huge number of protesters there are no clashes between the police and those demonstrating.
The opposition leaders are expected to give speech at the Khayria part later in the day addressing their supporters about issues concerning elections and corruption.
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This comes when a high level delegation from Ethiopia arrived the country yesterday. The Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign affairs of Ethiopia came to Somaliland yesterday in a trip some said he will try to mediate between the two sides. Other delegations from the European countries are also expected in the coming few days.
So far, no reports from the other regions if such demonstrations took place or not. Somalilandpress will update you shorty about any developments to the issue.
Ethiopia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tekeda Alemu meets with Somaliland president.
Hargeisa, Aug. 19,2009 (SomalilandPress)-Somaliland president met with Ethiopia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Tekeda Alemu today in Hargeisa. Dr. Alemu and his delegation were welcomed at Egal International Airport by Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdullahi Duale, Minster of Aviation Ali Waran Ade and Interior Minister Abdullahi Ciro.
Dr. Alemu first congratulated the people and the government of Somaliland on their enormous achievement of success that the country has gained since his last visit to Somaliland back in 2006.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed cooperation in areas of trade, investment and security between the two neighboring countries. Dr. Alemu also spoke about Somaliland upcoming election and how Ethiopia is ready to support a democratic Somaliland.
The Vice Minister and his delegation will be in Somaliland for few days where they are expected to meet with the election commission and the opposition parties.
The Turmoil of Somaliland Political arena
The play witnessed after the expulsion Interpeace in early August offered a glimpse into the expected explosive debate the upcoming campaign will show.
All but one, who participated greatly the heated debates, was abroad.
The lead actors on the government side included, president Rayale, foreign minister abdillahi duale, finance minister Awil, public works Saeed and recently promoted presidency minister Hassan Ma’alin.
Leading opposition offensive were, Faisal Ali Warabe, Mohamed Rashid, Ahmed Sillanyo, Kayse Hassan, Abdiasize Samale. The outsider was the articulate intellectual Kulmiye’s secretary of state Dr. Mohamed Omar. With the benefit of sharpening their debating skills of political arenas, regardless of their ideas this group put up energetic and vivacious show
The opposition leaders miserably failed to produce: like mir Hossein Mousavi, the candidate who officially lost last month’s Iran presidential election, who announced his intention to create a “large-scale social movement” to oppose the government and press for a more open political system.
President Rayaale, after seven years being the top seat in Somaliland and successive defeat of his political foes but now it looks as if the age of untouchable UDUB government conceivably is closing.
Dr. Mohamed Rashid, the vice president candidate of UCID party argued convincingly, that the current government is not only, “out of touch but also whose thinking is beyond the known Somaliland philosophical and political consensus”.
Faisal is leading the opposition alliance at least in the eyes of the ordinary people.
He electrified the opposition supporters and jetted both Nairobi and Addis ababa to persuade the merits of his argument and the international community warmly welcomed him at least for a while
When Richard Holbrooke was negotiating with Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic to the Balkan war in the mid 90s he earned his nickname, “the bulldozer”, by threatening to bomb Serbia if Milosevic did not come to the bargaining table and unlike Holbrooke faisal is determined to force the current Government to either accept the voter list and electoral commission reform or public rallies and house impeachment will show them the door but only time will tell whether he will earn “the bulldozer” or not.
His well attended press conferences and highly prepared speeches made his political foes sleepless. he electrified the race, inspired and energised many voters.
Though the foreign minister countered two press conferences, one interior and one president held but so far the Government is losing the battle of minds and hearts of both ingenuous people and the international community.
Last week the House of Representatives held stormy debates characterized by innuendo, emotional outbursts, witch-hunting and rumours but finally, the opposition dominated house defeated the Government supported MPs with ease and the August House once again, Passed a resolution which was critical both the president and, the loathed and besieged national electoral commission and went short of promising impeachment.
More over, despite the horrendous challenges that Chairman Faisal faces, he is indisputably the most imperative leader around, more secure, more articulate and more politically savvy then any of the two others.
To be credible, the opposition parties have to create a frame work which their alliance will work and the ways and means and their methodology.
President Rayaale’s untimely, ill-advised and marvel invitation was skilfully calculated merely buying time to let the national anger and uncertainty dissipate before he could take a harder line.
Finally, the opposition parties should be realistic enough and they should ensure the acceptance of the voter list as per published by Interpeace and the reform of National Electoral Commission but they should also payback limited extension of president and vice president term. They need to lead rallies from the front and to champion the rights weak, underprivileged and the populace at large. Stakes are high and the country is in crisis.
Yassin abdillahi ahmed
yassin_abdillahi@hotmail.com
Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Drought fuelling rural exodus in Somaliland
NAIROBI, 17 August 2009 (SomalilandPress) – Some rains have fallen in northern Somalia, but this has not stopped an exodus of drought-affected people from rural areas to urban centres in Somaliland, local officials said.
“We know that hundreds of thousands have [been] displaced to urban centres,” said Abdihakim Garaad Mohamoud, Deputy Minister at the Somaliland Ministry of Resettlement, Reintegration and Rehabilitation.
“Every city in Somaliland has a huge number of displaced people because of the recent drought,” he added. “It has affected 60 percent of the rural population, whether they are pastoralists or agro-pastoralists. From east to west, south to north, every place in Somaliland has been affected.”
Across towns in the self-declared republic, such as Burao, Berbera, Erigavo, Las’anod and Badhan, temporary shelters have sprouted as rural dwellers arrive from the countryside.
“The government has planned to deal with the problem, but our capacity is limited,” Mohamoud told IRIN in Hargeisa. “Sixty percent of animals have been lost. One [man] who had 200 sheep has lost 110-120, and one who had 20 camels lost half.”
The governor of Togdheer region, Jama Abdillahi Warsame, said his government, with local NGOS, was trucking water to 78 villages.
“We estimate [that] more than 8,000 people moved to Burao [the main livestock market town] from rural areas,” he told IRIN.
He named the most vulnerable districts in Togdheer region as Hod, Ina Afmadobe, War-Imran, Ilka-Cadays, Bali-Hiile, Suryo, Lebi-Guun, Adow Yurura, Isku Dhoon, in Burou and Qoryale, as well as Qori Dheere in Ainabo districts of Sool region.
Late rains
The deputy minister said some rains had started in most of Somaliland, but the emergency was continuing. Prices of food, for example, had remained high.
“Some rain has started, but animals and people are so weak and [may not be] able to survive the wet situation,” he added. “We are calling on the international community to help the drought-affected people.”
Business people in the port city of Berbera said sugar prices had increased by about 70 percent in the past few weeks.
Mohamed Ahmed Imbir, owner of a food store in Berbera, told IRIN: “We were selling one sack of sugar at US$28, but now we are selling for $34.” He did not know why prices had risen.
On 22 June, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) warned that the drought in Somalia’s central region had extended northwards into the key pastoral areas of the Sool plateau, Nugaal valley, and Hawd livelihood zones.
The situation threatened more than 700,000 pastoralists and a significant number of urban households, whose income and food sources are strongly linked to livestock marketing and trade.
Source: IRIN, August 17, 2009
Does the World come out the Recession or it’s an Artificial Recovery?
HARGEISA, 18 Augusut 2009 (Somalilandpress) – The last ten years China showed the world double digit growth, and a lot of countries are willing and aiming to learn how they did it. China is world’s 3rd largest economy after U.S and Japan. China production spread everywhere in the world, for example Wall-Mart is the worlds’ largest retail company, and every eight dollar ($8) they sell one dollar ($1) is from Chinese product.
Economic well-being is measured by the quantity and quality of goods and services enjoyed by a nation, and this is basically refers to the production activity in the real sector. China economic is doing well, when we look the side of the construction or real state development that became nowadays’ economic focal point.
The eyes of the economic recovery, is once again in China and the current economic figures from China statistic bureau propelled those assumption (economic recovery). As we all know bad news spreads like wild fire or virus, and destroys everything that comes its way; but when it comes to the good news it spread at slowly base. That is why a lot of economists view the current figures as a slide fraction of a huge mountain or an Ice-Berge. Reawaking the trust is important to solve the current financial crisis.
Financial markets’ success depends on regulation success, and the decision makers have to prevent the economy to generate evil stories in order not to affect long run to come.
China is export oriented country that is why China lends money to U.S, in order to help them buy their products. China owes 80% of U.S debt treasure, and if U.S dollar drops its luster further more, it will be lose to the creditors (China). On the other side, if U.S debts to the foreign countries are equally divided to the worlds’ population, each person even recent born babies they will get $150 (hundred and fifty U.S dollar).
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China, India, and South East Asia they form more than 2/3 of worlds’ population, but when it comes to the consumption expense they can’t replace U.S market, because in 2007 U.S consumer expense it was more than $10 trillion; while China it was $1 trillion only, since they are saving oriented society.
However, the current figures don’t spell the end of the journey. A lot is needed to be done; and every country’s participation is significant, especially leading countries in order to ride out the world the financial crisis storm.
The stimulus package from Chinese government has a lot to do with the current results (from July economic activities). And a lot of changes are they way to happen, hopefully in positive trend.
Despite the China economy, latest figures show other countries are coming out of recession, including Germany, France and Hong Kong, that indicates the global slowdown is easing. Seijiro Takeshita, director of Mizuho Financial, Japan’s second largest banking group, told the BBC that the Japanese economy was now performing a “true comeback”.
“We are definitely getting out of the excessive pessimism that we have been seeing… however; a lot of big questions remain, namely private consumption,”.
France and Germany economy grow and show same figure (0.3%), and they are the biggest European economy, and that sign (growth figure) it will help Britain a lot, because they are export leaning country and their main market is other European countries such as Germany and France.
The main factor that contributed, the current unexpected growth percentage was the stimulus package that the each government provided or pumped to its economy, in order to ride out of the storm rapidly.
Recent economy figures that each government demonstrated, was beyond the expectation of economic expertises. Bear in mind, in order that remedy to work it probably and take the right course, it is necessity to merge it with cautious steps and to think beyond the box.
Although many analyst talk about the end of the financial crisis, and out of the dark tunnel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned of excessive optimism about the end of the financial crisis. And most of analysts mention it is an artificial growth and if the decision makers did not handle it probably, it may harm the economy again.
Conclusion: The sense of uncertainty in the market (the slowdown or the red color in international financial markets) it is clear evidence, that world need more than the current economic figures. in order to get the ball rolling and bullish economy sign, strategies and tactics must now be designed and implemented sooner rather later. I believe it is significant to examine the current economic figures in dispassionate way, to put aside ideology and to look at the evidence before making a decision about if the world is out of recession and its way to recovery.
Amina Zahra Sheikh Omar Mohamud
E-mail: aminafurso@gmail.com
A Crucial Week For Somaliland: A Time For Action
HARGEISA, 18 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Today Somaliland is passing through a critical period since its existence as a separate state.
First, there is a president and his regime whose priority is to remain in power, whatever it costs, the president’s term in office was extended several times and now the president is entertaining the illusion of getting another extension.
It is apparent that the president and his advisors never take seriously their responsibility that they are the servants of the people and they are in power because of constitutional reasons. Their action, purpose and intend have been geared to frustrate other stakeholders, such as the parliament and the political parties.
They also do not give the attention required by law and ethics of governance to give attention to the interest and feelings of the people.
Here is a president and his aides who are out of touch of the Somaliland unique present situation in terms of history, international context and above all a society urging for regime change.
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Second, there are opposition political parties who have been patient for a long time with the present regime. The opposition parties accepted several times the almost unconstitutional extension for the regime for the sake of the Somaliland people. Furthermore, the opposition parties feel strongly that there are no national partner to deal with, but instead a president and a regime whose thinking is beyond the known Somaliland philosophical and political consensus. Now this regime who has worn “a dictatorship coat” disregards any other argument and idea.
The opposition parties have been pushed to the world and God knows what their final actions would be if the president does not listen and return to the legality.
Third, we have a society (Somaliland) who is not fully aware of their constitutional rights and who are not equipped consciously, educationally and economically to pursue their rights. For example, they seem to be not ready to come forward to fight for their rights that the present regime of Somaliland has denied of them for a long time.
Today a unique opportunity has appeared for the people of Somaliland. It is the first time that the parliament has taken a courageous move and action to restore the law of the country. The parliament has to be congratulated but that is not enough. The people of Somaliland both inside and outside the country have to come together to give full support to the parliament’s action and to say no to the president’s tricks to sabotage the constitution of the country.
Today the population of Somaliland is divided into two main forces:
(1) Democratic force fighting for regime change, good governance, maintaining for peace and working for the recognition of Somaliland and that Somaliland gets its right place in the community of nations;
(2) Dark force who are undemocratic, ridden with clan self-centered reactionary ideology, selfishness and political and economical interests. These forces are preoccupied with the advancement of their economical interests and with retaining power, by all means, regardless the consequences of their actions.
The future of Somaliland is in balance. It is the time that the people of Somaliland should wake up and give support to the opposition parties so that the people’s vision of Somaliland is realized. This week is a crucial week for the history of our people. Either we will regret the opportunity that we have missed or we will push our rights to achieve what our people deserve, which is a free and fair election and that the election must take place as it was fixed on the 27th of September and that we have a new government and new rulers.
By Dr. Mohamed-Rashid Sheikh Hassan
Is Puntland a Clan Enclave or a Viable State of Somalia?
One consequence of the collapse of the Somali nation-state was the creation of political fiefdoms under the tutelage of powerful militias and warlords. Some of these entities unilaterally declared independence, while others claimed to be, at least in theory, to be part of Somalia. One such entity that claimed to be part of Somalia is the self-styled “Puntland State”.
The creation of Puntland eleven years ago, just like Somaliland a few years earlier, was the result of the never-ending scramble and partition of Somalia. While many people did not welcome another creation of a micro-state in Somalia, the founding of Puntland was a noble idea for various reasons. First of all, it stressed the concept of one Somalia and never advocated for secessionism in one form or another. Second, it acted as a catalyst or a bulwark against the secessionist creation of Somaliland. The founding of Puntland has without doubt put into disarray Somaliland’s ambition of receiving a speedy recognition. For better or worse, Puntland added an extra layer of complication to the geopolitical landscape in Somalia. Third, the creation of Puntland at the height of the Somali civil war should have made life easier for Somalis everywhere who were looking for a safe, stable, peaceful, and prosperous place to settle or invest. Fourth, the creation of Puntland at a time of brutal clan warfare should have been the harbinger of clan harmony and the peaceful co-existence of Somali clans and sub-clans. In addition, it should have heralded the revival of Somali patriotism and nationhood.
While I was on the process of writing this essay, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) released a damning report on Puntland, titled, “Somalia: The Trouble with Puntland”. The report largely centers on the issues of insecurity, piracy, and governance. The report states, in part, ‘Puntland’s founding a decade ago was an ambitious experiment to create from the bottom up a polity that might ultimately offer a template for replication in the rest of the country, especially the war-scarred south. But Puntland is no longer a shining example, and its regime is in dire straits, with most of the blame resting squarely on the political leadership. In a major shift from the traditional unionist position officially adopted in 1998, an important segment of the Majerten elite is pushing for secession. If a wide variety of grievances are not urgently tackled in a comprehensive manner, the consequences could be severe for the whole of Somalia and the Horn of Africa”.
While some of the things mentioned in the report are things that should concern every Somali, most of the report misses the mark. The ICG’s expectations of Puntland or its recommendations are ambitious, and in fact, unrealistic. For example, does the ICG really expect free and fair elections in Puntland anytime soon? Do they really expect an independent judiciary, an independent electoral commission, or an independent anti-corruption authority competent to investigate and prosecute officials? Do they really expect an accountable and graft-free system in Puntland? Tell that to Kenya or Nigeria. Kenya and Nigeria are just two examples of countries in Africa that after nearly half a century of self-rule are still reeling from corruption, dictatorship, cronyism, nepotism, favoritism, tribalism, and so on and so forth.
While the aforementioned are scourges that afflict the entire African continent, they are not things to be proud of or to be excused. The point I am trying to make is that the trouble with Puntland are much bigger or deeper than those mentioned by the ICG or those that affect other parts of Africa. The main trouble with Puntland is the lack of political recognition and territorial integrity, coincidentally, the same predicaments faced by their brethren in Somaliland. Some might see Puntland as a reality on the ground, to others it is just an imagination of the mind. I will come back to the issues of recognition and border disputes later. First I want to address as to how Puntland went astray from the original ideals I mentioned earlier.
First, Puntland is endangering the concept of one Somalia. While in previous years the leaders and officials in Puntland never wavered from the concept of a unified “federal” Somalia, nowadays there are whispers or even threats of secessionism. In addition, while Puntland claims to be a “State” within a Federal Republic of Somalia, modeled on the likes of the United States and Australia, in reality, it acts as if it were an independent country. For instance, have you ever wondered, if Puntland is a province or a state within Somalia, why does it have a “president”? Also, aren’t immigration, foreign affairs, and defense portfolios reserved for a Federal Government? Does Puntland realize that a Federal constitution supersedes a state constitution? Then why does Puntland deal with these issues and draft a constitution that seems to undermine a future Somali constitution or contradict the concept of Federalism?
I know some people will claim that since there is no strong Federal Government in Somalia, Puntland is forced to deal with these issues for political survival. While that may be a legitimate claim, Puntland is not putting any effort, at least publicly, to strengthen the feeble federal government that exists today. In fact, it seems Puntland is trying to sabotage the weak government in Mogadishu. For example, does Puntland have the right to enter treaties and agreements with other nations, or oil concessions and contracts with international companies without the knowledge or approval of a Federal government? In recent years, the Puntland authorities tried to give oil concessions without even the consent of the local population. This kind of greed and arrogance creates animosities and mistrusts among various clans and sub-clans and fuels the next clan warfare. The second reason as to why Puntland is deviating from its original ideal is closely related to the first. Puntland was supposed to act as a catalyst to a secessionist Somaliland, now it is more like a counterpart to Somaliland. The same reasons that made Somaliland a pariah amongst most Somalis, is being stealthily treaded by Puntland.
Thirdly, the creation of Puntland did not make life any easier for Somalis who wanted a safe, stable, peaceful, and prosperous place to settle and invest. Puntland, for the most part of its existence, failed to live to this ideal. Puntland, while relatively calm compared to the chaotic South, never enjoyed long term stability, and is not safe, peaceful or prosperous. Almost everyday, there are political assassinations, clan inspired killings, and other unexplained murders. Gangs and unregulated militias roam the towns and villages unabated. At the same time, brazen criminals hit their targets with almost certain impunity. Just recently, a senior government minister was assassinated and within days a group of Pakistani preachers were massacred inside a mosque in Galkayo. The contemptuous disregard for the rule of law has strengthened the clan allegiance. Put it another way: the loyalty for clan rather than state has weakened every law on the books. The lack of safety and security is made even more pronounced by the chronic unemployment, the ubiquitous economic recession, and the near-permanent hyperinflation. The fourth deviation from the ideal in the creation of Puntland is that rather than creating an atmosphere of unity and co-existence with the rest of Somalia, the policies and the administrative system created a wedge among Somalis. The politics of clan identity is more apparent in Puntland than anywhere else in Somalia. In Puntland, it is not “What you know” rather it is “What clan or sub-clan you belong to”.
Another issue that has created a rift among Somalis is the practice of Puntland authorities and their counterparts in Somaliland of handing political refugees and economic migrants to Ethiopia. These individuals are mostly Somalis who will be certainly jailed, tortured, or even killed. Are they not aware that it is against international law to forcibly return refugees to country of origin especially when it is certain that they will face persecution or death? Even if the individuals returned are suspects of crime, there is no extradition treaty between Somalia and Ethiopia. Puntland or Somaliland for that matter is not, as far as I know, an Ethiopian protectorate.
In reality, Puntland is a state without territory, borders, or political identity. While Somaliland claims its borders are based on colonial era British protectorate, the Puntland borders are even more precarious since they are entirely based on clan identity. These claims of Puntland have created a political impasse and strange phenomena of divided regions and towns in Somalia. For example, parts of Sool, Sanaag, and Togdheer are claimed by both Puntland and Somaliland. Similarly, one part of Mudug is claimed by Puntland while the other part is claimed by a clan. The weirdest of all, is the divided city of Galkayo.
If Puntland wants to become a viable State in Somalia, it has to abandon the idea of clan-based politics. For example, any Somali citizen of any clan or sub-clan whether born in Bosaso, Berbera, Boston, Bonn, or Bujumbura should be able to become a leader. In the United States, for example, it is very common to see individuals who were born in one state becoming a governor in another. Only short term residency is required. In fact, in some cases, individuals who were born in another country are elected governors as long as they are citizens of the country and a resident of the state. A good example is here in California, where the governor was born in Austria. Another example is the current governor of Michigan who was born in Canada. I know there is more democracy in the U.S and a two hundred year history of political maturity. The point is that if Puntland wants to become a State within a Federal Somalia, it has to act like one. Puntland is not even recognized by most Somalis let alone the international community. The best way for Puntland to garner the trust of the Somali people everywhere and gain the confidence of the outside world is to change not only its ways of doing business but also its ways of thinking.
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Zakaria Farah