June 18, 2008

Somaliland, The World’s Superlative Democracy..!!!

Somaliland is a forgotten nation in the Horn of Africa. When the Republic of Somaliland - named after a territory known as British Somaliland before its independence on June 26, 1960 - was born 34 countries recognized it during the rush of independence in Africa in the Sixties.

Somaliland, with a population of 3.5 million and an area of 68,000 square miles (135,000 kilometer square), joined the Italian Somaliland on July 1, 1960 to form the Somali Republic. The unity loving community of Somaliland worked hard to see a united and democratic Somalia and achieved their dream of establishing a Somali Republic by merging British Somaliland and Italian Somalia territories.

Somalia started as a democratic country according to an agreement between the British and Italian Somalia. Unfortunately the democracy ended when General Mohammed Siad Barre, a strongman from the south staged a military coup. Although, Somalilanders protested against power sharing before Siad Barre, but remained within Somali Republic to save the unity.

General Barre ruled Somalia for 25 years at gun point. He used his so-called national army forces to destroy major northern cities such as Buroa, Berbera, Borama and the current capital of Somaliland Hargiesa. Aircrafts taking off from Hargiesa International Airport bombed Hargiesa City leaving behind more than 50,000 women and children dead during 1988.

In response to General Barre’s atrocities an armed liberation resistance group called SNM (Somali National Movement) consisting mainly of Isaac tribe was established.

Beginning of Somaliland:
SNM launched armed struggle against Barre´s regime and his henchmen – mainly Mareehan and Ogaden tribes. After waging a costly armed liberation war with the Said Barre regime, the dream of Somaliland became true and established Somaliland Republic. Many members of current Transitional Government of Somalia in Mogadishu are considered War Criminal in Somaliland including General Morgan.

SNM’s struggle lasted for three years after when Barre´s so-called Somali National Army were driven out from the former British Somaliland in 1990. Since then Somalia has been facing an endless civil war until now.

Elders of former British Somaliland met in the eastern city of Burao on May 1990 to announce the establishment of an independent Republic of Somaliland on 18th Nay 1990, ending 26 years of occupation by leaders mainly from former Italian Somalia. They formed the first the transitional government of Somaliland with Abdurrahman Ahmed Ali as its first president.

Mr. Ali’s government completely restructured the functioning government departments — including the National Army, Ministers Cabinet, Parliament, Legal and Justice Departments and local Municipality. During its first four years Mr. Ali´s government focused on security and stability.

Somaliland’s Justice Department functions independently with courts in different levels — including regional civil courts, criminal courts, and the Supreme Court.

Somaliland’s first step into democracy:
When President Ali completed his four-year transitional term, he was succeeded by President Mohammed Ibrahim Egal, who was elected by the Elders Council and Parliament. Mr. Egal was won two successive terms and led Somaliland for years until his demise during his second term in 2003 at the age of 78. A national funeral was held for Mr. Egal at the port city of Berbera- his birthplace.

According to the constitution of Somaliland Dahir Riyale Kahn, who was Mr. Egal´s Vice President, completed the remaining period of Mr. Egal´s second term. In 1997 Somaliland held a referendum, which was monitored by UN and South Africa, on the national constitution and 97% of the voters gave a YES vote to the constitution and independence of Somaliland.

In 2004 Somaliland successfully held Presidential, Parliamentary, and Municipality elections under the supervision of UN. Although these three elections highlighted Somaliland´s deep rooted democracy to the international community, but the response and reaction were only empty promises.

Currently Somaliland has three political parties – including UDUB, the ruling party, and KULMIYE and UCID which are strong opposition parties and have majority in the parliament. When the results of the presidential election were declared, UDUB emerged the winner and the Supreme Court invited Dahir Riyale Kahin to form the government. UDUB won in very close margin only 80 votes over the strong KULMIYE Party.

Former Vice President Riyale Kahn was elected as the third President of Somaliland in 15-years of Somaliland independence.

However, the opposition parties worked-hard and won the parliamentary elections by capturing 120 out of the 210 seats. Senior Member of UCID Eng Abdurrahman Erro and current Speaker of the Parliament was nominated to chair the parliament. Here, it shows the balanced democracy of Somaliland, where opposition controls the Parliament House.

The ruling party – UDUB – leads the Municipal Council at Capital Hargiesa with 65% of the seats. Somaliland enjoys warm relations with member states of IGAD.

Terrorists attacks in Somaliland:
In 2003, a group of gunmen linked to Al-Qeada in east African attempted to ambush the first Presidential Election of Somaliland, after the gunmen entered the capital, Hargiesa, and fired the police men.

Somaliland Police killed and arrested the others in three hours battle at the capital. The public helped the police to identify the hide outs of the terrorist.

In 2004 during terrorist attacks, the two British citizens, the Principal of Sheikh Secondary School and his wife, were murdered in cold-blood inside the school campus. However, Somaliland´s Special Task Police (STP) captured the terrorists, and the dangerous terrorist are serving life term sentence in Central Jail of Hargiesa, Somaliland Capital.

At the same year, Kenyan aid worker killed in the road between Hargiesa and Berbera but gunmen infiltrated the country across the border with Somalia in the east. But unfortunately after murdering the aid worker they escaped.

In 2007, Puntland militia kidnapped a German citizen at Sanaag region of Somaliland. Somaliland Police supported by Army Forces freed the German citizen in very exceptional and well-planned operation.

During the last two of years Somaliland intelligence agents (Criminal Investigation Department) picked up over 15 jihadi terrorists with links to al-Qaeda as a part of the international war on terror.

Security Service in Somaliland:
The Somaliland Coastal Guard (SCG) frequently cooperates with the US and other international peace keeping forces stationed in Djibouti. SCG hunts Somali pirates at Somaliland water to ensure trouble-free movement in the region, particularly World Food Program (WFO) food aid to Somali refuges.

Both Ethiopia and Djibouti have diplomatic offices in Hargiesa. Somaliland recently signed a remarkable economic agreement with Ethiopia to allow the latter to use its Berbera Port. Ethiopian trucks carrying Ethiopian commercial goods pass through Somaliland territory peacefully.

In other hand, Hargiesa International Airport receives some 25 commercial aircrafts a day — including Ethiopian Airways and Kenyan Regional Airways besides Somaliland owned private airlines. The airport authority in Hargiesa provides safety and security according to IATA regulations.

Somaliland has entire different departments of security including Home Land Security, Police, Jails Authority and Armed Forces.

Somaliland President Dahir Kahn delivered a famous speech in the House of Commons in London. He is the second Somaliland President address the British Parliament following Mr. Egal’s address in 1960 in search of independence. Besides the British Parliaments, President Kahn has also addressed the Ethiopian and Djibouti parliaments.

In 2006, Somaliland President visited London and Washington and signed many MoU and agreements with Washington and London Administrations. To read more on the visit: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/58737

Human Rights in Somaliland:
In Somaliland, no body is above the law including government officials, where elected parliament is major monitoring body in the country against any human rights violations and corruption.

Somaliland citizens and expatriates in Somaliland have equal access to Somaliland Courts and other Judiciary System, besides the social services like education and health services.

Somaliland Education syllabus is fully directed to the development of human right and dignity to promote the human respect as fundamental principle. It promotes understanding, tolerance and friendship among all its inhabitants regardless of religion or ethic. Parents or guardians have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Somaliland completely implements entire paragraphs UN Human Rights Declaration in Geneva. Somaliland is establishing it self as most peaceful nation worldwide. Minorities and Women get full rights as the constitution of Somaliland grants extra protection to women and children.

Diplomatic embargo alienates Somaliland from the World:
Although Somaliland managed stability and continuity through its democratic policy, its foreign policy has been paralyzed by diplomatic embargo against Somaliland, where the international community realizes process, democracy and statehood in Somaliland but still remains blind and even refuses to hear the Somaliland voice of freedom.

For further information about how the international stubbornness on Somaliland paralyzed the human rights and democracy process, Please read the article:
http://www.somalilandpatriots.com/news-3779.html

Somaliland democracy is patiently waiting the international community support before it is too late. Somaliland does not need financial support from the world but to accept their existence. Somaliland is working for creating better African in economy and environment. Somaliland is living without no loans from international donors, and they are planning to see Africa free of Loans.

Africa is reach continent with large of natural resources, Somaliland wants to lead Africa in utilizing their natural resources and stop waiting aid from outside world. Human rights are another factor of Somaliland, where Somaliland constitution implements Geneva declaration to assure that every human being gets enough care.

References, Qarannews, Somalilandpatriots and Somaliland Times.