April 30, 2008

A word of advice to Somaliland leadership and Its other leading entities

The disintegration of Somalia back in the early nineties gave birth to a multitude of problems including the creation of tribal fiefdoms that are bent to destroy one another. And despite many international trials to cure the problem and put once great Somalia back on track, to date nothing has materialized. And sorry, things in the TFG are not much better than how they were at the height of the downfall of the nation.

However, one area that proved far different and functions properly to date, albeit the current worrisome setback and confusion caused by its leadership… the Gurti, the President and the MPs, is the struggling democracy of Somaliland.

Back in the early nineties, with the help of its war weary and wisdom preferring public guided by its elders and intellectuals, Somaliland established peace and governance thanks also primarily to its veteran politician late president Egal who put together all the basic foundations for a democracy.

And despite all odds, Somaliland made history by peacefully holding Municipal, Presidential and Parliamentary elections all of which seemed to solidify the basis for democracy. And this was despite being a nation with employment of less than 10%, a literacy rate of less than 30% and a completely destroyed infrastructure and a public 70% of who lives on less than a dollar a day! For seventeen long years, despite peace and impressive private sector development, Somaliland had its all doors closed to the international community and cannot even make business with today’s prosperous global village. And for seventeen years, Somaliland depends only on the remittances of its overseas community most of who can hardly make ends meet!

Today, at the end of every month, it is not uncommon to see struggling and visibly shaken mothers queuing at money transfer centers to send their hard won few dollars to their loved ones back home. And it is not uncommon to see men trying to do everything possible to raise a few dollars to send home.

Unfortunately, it seems all the hopes and aspirations of Somaliland …democracy, peace and stability earned to date, seem to be slipping away and with a lightening speed thanks but no thanks to its leadership… the Gurtis, the president, the MPs and the political parties. So, naturally Somalilanders everywhere are apprehensive worried about the unfolding crisis of their country. And it is a high time that anyone who is in a position to do something should do so now before it is too late.

So, my first advice is for the MPs leadership. And I must say to you that you are elected to establish laws that must spell out and ratify all our constitutional rights and rectify those deemed wrong, and but to date you have sadly failed to do so. And therefore, I advise you that you realize that it is necessary you act now, accept accountability and promise sacrifices. I advise you to address the nation on TVs, Radios and other media outlets and confess your failures toward your responsibility. I advise you to establish a weekly parliamentary live debate in which you address all glaring issues. I advise you that it is even necessary you establish a roll call system in which names of MPs who participate in any day’s meetings are published on newspapers, so that people know all indifferent MPs and their constituencies boot them out in their next elections. And I advise you to never close any parliamentary sessions unless the issue at hand is finalized even if like the rest of the world, you have to work late hours without pay.

And finally, I advise you to establish a monthly MPs official gazette in which all issues debated, passed or denied, are published. And I advise you to even account for all the nays and yeahs of all members in every session so that every MP’s record on where he/she stands on national issues is clear.

To the Gurti leadership, I must say that you represent our traditionally accommodating considerate Forefathers who loved all, cared for all and tackled problems immediately solving them under the acacia tree and hence earned Somalis the great name of Pastoral Democracy admired by many.

So, I advise you to be exemplary citizens by acting as the role model of the nation so that others may copy your actions, behaviors and your other good qualities. I advise you to redress your recent decision of giving the president a one year extension without consulting with other parties, by calling for a compromise. Many consider you as above the law kings and therefore, I advise you to regain the trust of the nation by apologizing over your earlier unconstitutional extension of your term and insure the public that your recent decision on the one year extension for president too was not a reward to him for legitimizing your earlier gaffes.

I do even advise you to show patriotism by proposing to half the number of Gurti members to 41 because the country cannot afford two parallel Houses…. America’s Congress the equivalent of the MPs is 535 members when the Senate is only 100 members…the equivalent to the Gurti. And I advise you to equally divide the next 41 members between all clans including those who are not represented today because if you do that you will be accommodating exemplary role models for fairness and inclusiveness!

And finally, I advise you to respect your people who gave you the mandate to act as the supreme decision makers. And I advise you to use that privilege ONLY WHEN THERE IS DIRE NEED TO BREAK A DEADLOCK and ignore false alarms.

To our President I must say you are delegated to lead the nation and take it to land it in the promised future where all enjoy freedom, equality and prosperity. So, I advise him to take the high stand and immediately address the nation on TVs, Radios and other media asking for calm promising to respect what is good for the country.

I advise you to request the three political parties, the Gurti and the National Election Commission to find a common solution to the present crisis and ask all including your administration to respect that. I advise you to accept a care-taker-government come May 15th 2008, if necessary until an elected government takes over. I advise you to leave all Regional and District issues including ratification of old ones to the MPs and other concerned parties requesting them to draft new criteria on qualifications. I advise you to invite the business community to invest in their country so that the private sector thrives because Somalilanders are happy with the successes of the telecommunication companies, the universities, money transfer companies, Daallo airlines, Shaba etc. all of which are a living example of thriving private sector. And I do even advise you to order privatizing all income generating government institutions since that is the only way to combat corruption which everyone says is really endemic in the country. And finally I advise you to sacrifice and accept what is good for the nation and once you do that, I can assure you that your people will either re-elect you or will place you in the great annals of our history.

To the opposition parties leaders, I must say, you plan to rule Somaliland if not today, tomorrow. So, I advise you to act as national leaders who are responsible, caring and accommodating and avoid any regional or tribal controversies. I advise you that when addressing any one, you avoid finger pointing. Rather, it is advisable you follow the constitution that gives you the right to sue any one who propagates smear campaign against you or against your parties. I advise you to remove controversial figures from the steering committee of your parties and apologize on all mistakes made because in doing that you accept being humans who can err. I advise you that without emotions, you talk about issues of national value not of personalities or trivialities.

And finally, I advise you to initiate platforms on which national issues of both the present and the future of the country are debated. And you should support the administration on what is right and oppose it on what is wrong because you are equally responsible.

To Website and other media outlets owners who can make a difference, I must say, you are an important institution and therefore, I advise you that you make your institution an association that has it by-laws and its regulatory body. I advise you to promulgate in your by-laws that your media outlets can publish only substantiated credible stories so that you are a world stand institution. And I advise you to encourage your reporters to demand the government and other public institutions to let them report any credible news with no doors closed to them. I advise you that your reporters must demand the right to interview public officials any time any where. But I advise you to leave the door wide open for any one to sue you for any unsubstantiated reports, defamation or personal attacks because you should be accountable for your actions too. To Somaliland Diaspora, the economic lifeline of Somaliland, I must say that it only with your continuous remittances and support that is the backbone of the nation’s economy as it brings the only hard currency that drives the country.

Therefore, I advise you to never underestimate your place and value in Somaliland. You must wake up before your investments for the last 17 years evaporate. So, I advise you to create an overseas intellectual organization umbrella that is actively involved in the country’s affairs. I advise you to establish offices in Europe, North America and the Middle East where you discuss all national issues. I advise you to hold conferences and symposiums back in Somaliland so that you contribute building the nation and hence have influence all national issues.

In addition, I advise you to appeal to the government and request it to retract its decision to create more districts and regions because doing that is only a recipe for disintegration. Instead I advise you to call for a new whole transformation of Somaliland and suggest dividing the country into three major States: The Eastern State, The Central State and the Western State. And I advise you to call that such division should cross current clan-based Regional boundaries. And I advise you to base your arguments in suggesting that will create three economically viable strong States that compete for economic, social and political healthy competition.

And last but not least, I advise you to put together your know-how, your energies and resources and invest in the country’s trade businesses, light industries, agricultural development programs and in every other sector so that you may contribute toward national development and hence generate employment for our people. And please remember that unless you do that poor Somaliland will remain in the doldrums with no future!