HARGEISA, 19 November 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Somaliland’s democracy is almost 20 years old yet if you were to ask an average citizen within the country or in the Diaspora for the definition of democracy they would give you several versions of what they perceive it to be. Even though there is no specific, universally accepted definition of ‘democracy’, there are two principles that any definition of democracy includes equality and freedom. These principles are reflected by all citizens being equal before the law, and having equal access to power. At the end of the day this holds true.
Naturally we are a peaceful people but if something was to threaten our way of life we would defend it by any means necessary thus the creation of the S.N.M and separation of the former illegitimate union. Somaliland’s educated youth population is growing in large numbers and they have legitimate questions that must be answered. Why haven’t they received the opportunity to speak their mind? I spoke to a few young people in Hargeisa and asked them what they thought of what’s going on. They were very mindful of their words and thought clearly before replying and I was pleasantly surprised. Maintaining peace was at the top of their list and giving democracy a chance so that the will of the people may be heard.
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The opportunity for the hundreds of young university graduates to gain employment and be able to put into practice what they have worked so hard for. One young lady shared her disappointments of how the intellectuals and academics haven’t been able to act as mediators to help reconcile and map a path to effective resolutions. She sounded like a PhD candidate writing a paper on conflict resolution. Clearly being impressed was an understatement. She was able to not reiterate the problem and give her version of how things went wrong.
Somaliland’s path to recognition is in danger of being derailed and all the efforts and sacrifices of the people would have been in vain. Our political system and constitutional rights to pick a President that is capable of representing the rich and the poor, the franchised and disfranchised, the orphans and physically challenged, and those that sacrificed their lives so that their children and their children’s children live in a free and transparent society.
Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience”, Thomas Merton. There will come a time when those in power will have no choice but to listen to the youth. To understand the problem is to realize there is one. I pray that the solution is one which will help reinstate the good faith of the people and put us back on the path of true democracy and lasting peace.
Yaqub Warsame
Somaliland press Team
The youth of SL need to organize themselves, have clubs, unions, organizations and eventually run for offices. The old ignorant guard will not relinquesh power easily so its up to the youth to win the power from them. 70% of the population is young and can greatly influence the outcome of any elction if they made their voices heard by the power that be.
A well written article brother Yaqub, most Somalilanders are not aware of the potential risk that can come about with too many unemployed youth. We need to invest in the youth before they are turned into Shabaab. When you hear "The children are our future" it is not cliche but a fact.
Cheers
Every year hundreds of students graduate from Somaliland Universities and most of them are planning how to leave the country. And that is not good thing for Somaliland. There is a gap and a lack of educated people growing up between the period from early 1975 to 1991 when Somaliland was oppressed in a state of a turmoil. That is when the most educated, young and old, intellectuals, and all the cream of the crops left the country. They created a vacuum and a situation of 'Brain-drain. We don't want to repeat that. These people are old now and some of them are those in in power today.
We need a fresh mind to replace them. We need our youth to stay home because home is where they will have a compromising future. They are a power and a voice to reckon with. They should raise their issues and problems of unemployment among other things and press the government to get noticed.
Good job Yaqub. I am impressed.
We should help our youths to have jobs in their home. We also need to listen to what they said and act. I also think to have our youths to have jobs it needs more than single group to do it.
Many factors are hindering Somaliland people to have jobs including youths. Aduls who have children also need jobs to support their families. Somaliland government can do its parts but it can’t do alone. We have unrecognized government that has no access to world banks.
Today even United State who is one of the leading country for creating jobs is struggling because of the global downtown;however, we always have this problems unless we collectively do something. The smaller thing we can do is individuals from Somaliland help out by spending money and creating jobs. Their are many Somalilanders who are rich and it their brothers and sisters would have a jobs instead of risking their lives by taking unknown destination it worth it.
Misusing the public money also reduces employment and every dollar someone puts his or her packet kills job creation. All Africans have the same problems with misusing public money.
Mal u fiirso heestan Somaliga ah ee wanaaglamoodaaye laakiinse aan aheyn. Handiyey Macaan Waa Mid Aan Hooy Lagaa Odhaneen Heliyooy. Micnaheedu waxa weeyi cun Cashuurta dhulkaaga waana dhibaatada Africa oo dhan haysata.