November 5, 2007

Dr. Mohamoud Tani is one of the Leading Thinkers of Somaliland, not an Apologist

In a note recently posted on some websites, someone called Markhati Cadde, has accused Dr. Mohamoud Tani for misleading the public by praising the incumbent Somaliland administration on a number of policy areas of paramount importance to the nation.

It is the inadequacies in the substance Mr. Markhaati has used for his critique that has prompted my reaction.

Firstly, the writer has condemned Dr. Tani for “swinging between KULMIYE and UDUB. I am not sure if that is the case. However, if this criticism has any relevance, the writer’s party of preference, KULMIYE, has got a lot to answer for. KULMIYE has had its fair share of people switching parties at a very high level. Mr. Fagadhe, the party’s vice chairman, Osman Hindi and Abdi Haybe are examples of people who have shown a change of heart against KULMIYE at a very critical time. All for their own reasons - some for being selfish, others for political or ethical reasons. Mr. Markhaati, as a Kulmiye supporter, can not criticise anyone for switching parties.

Secondly, the writer has picked up one of the past articles by Dr. Tani that show his good ideas and sharp critical analysis, and then went on to use it to justify his attack on Dr. Tani. I thought this was a self suicidal act and a display of lack thought to the matter by the writer. Mr Markhaati has accused Dr. Tani for saying “ I am a member of UDUB party, and I support so far the presidency of Mr. Rayale. However, we should not be silent and party to an action that is blatantly wrong and mismanaged”.

Dr .Tani’s critical remarks were a response to Mr. Rayaale’s abuse of power in the face of Haatuf saga, when the editor and reporter of the Somaliland daily were given an arbitrary imprisonment and denied a fair and fair trail. Dr. Tani was among the view Somalilanders, seen to be close to UDUB, who had publicly denounced this act and called for the release and the journalists. He took higher moral ground and rose above the partisan feelings often observed in Somaliland politics. For this, a lot of Somalilanders have taken their hats off to Dr. Tani.

Surprisingly, the writer of the note being discussed here has a different interpretation for Dr. Tani’s remarks. The writer suggests that (quote) “Dr. Tani seemed to be supporting the opposition parts, particularly KULMIYE, where his old friends are”. This seems to me a bizarre and misplaced explanation of Dr. Tani’s views.

Thirdly, the writer criticised Dr. Tani for his recent judgement relating to the performance of UDUB government. Although, I disagree with some of the claims made by Dr. Tani in his report, I don’t think he is an apologist falling into the trap of partisan reasoning, as the writer of the note seems to be suggesting. I believe Dr. Tani has expressed an opinion which he had arrived at by making some assumptions. But, I am sure a lot of people including myself will question the validity of those assumptions. Dr. Tani’s frames of inquiry appear to have been designed to produce a calculated outcome. Also, Dr Tani’s self- formulated targets for the government performance are not critically evaluated in both breadth and depth. As a result, the values attached to his rating and conclusions stand on a shaky ground.

However, I have to say , Dr. Tani is a man of integrity in par with other Somaliland’s leading thinkers including Dr. Abdishakur Sh A. Jawhar, Dr. Mohamed A Omar and Bashir Goth, whose ideas and views always capture the public imagination and convey deeper meaning. These highly regarded Somaliland intellectuals and others inform our public opinion by analysing issues facing Somaliland from a range of perspectives through their superb use of semantics, style and substance. Therefore, I am not convinced that Dr. Tani is an apologist or someone who support a party for a partisan reason only. His history contradicts that.