Ardaa’s Call For “Home”: We all Know That There is Nothing Like Home, But The “Home” They are Talking About is Different From my Home “Awdal”.

Reading ARDAA website and browsing through it, I found it very interesting to see many contradictions on ADRDAA as non-profit organization based on North American Organization systems. It reflects many similarities of the organizations in which some of us work. It does not seem an agency for Adal Community. On the contrary its mission and objectives are widely seen as an international organization with wider programs to fulfill. The objectives are far from my contemplation as limited to Awdal. The writing in the website is mindboggling and far from reality on Awdal ground. The programs mentioned in the website are intended for all DEVELOPING NATIONS in the world and in Africa and in particular East Africa. There are a multitude of programs ranging as quoted from the ARDAA website:

1. Provide relief food and shelter to families in stressed regions in East Africa, and help their children to access education.

2. Promote health, engage in research on tropical diseases, and provide training to public health workers in Somaliland.

3. Build, maintain, and operate community health centres in areas of Africa affected by diseases such as Malaria and HIV/AIDS.

4. Train nurses and paramedics for emergency situations involving victims of violence, abused women and children.

5. Dig wells and establish water treatment system for rural communities in East Africa.

6. Supply water to remote and dry areas by trucking drinking water on regularly or as-needed basis.

7. Build water holding reservoirs to collect and keep rain water for drinking as well as irrigation needs of the rural communities.

8. Train members of the rural communities on water preservation, treatment and prevention and control of water-borne diseases.

9. Train farmers on the best methods to irrigate their farms to prevent cyclical draughts and famines.

10. Conduct research on best methods of farming especially in very dry situations.

11. Develop land use zoning to protect agricultural and forestry

12. Advocate for the promotion of access, equity, human rights, and good governance.

13.  Promote and establish healthy public and community relations

Conduct training on:

A.  Farming.  -   B.  Irrigation.  -   C.  Planting trees.  -  D.  Best farming methods.  -  E. Preventing soil erosion and desertification.

I know that developing countries need all those services and Somalia and Somaliland are some of them. I know for sure that in order to get funds from agencies, governments, and individuals is to show an authentic program which looks in writing to the programs they already know. However, the devil is in the details. We have been talking about Awdal and its needs and all of a sudden we are in all over the world and in every developing country. I am worried the agenda of the Awdal people is hijacked by individuals with obscure and long range agenda and not focusing the real and doable programs in Awdal. Its success or failure depends on baggages some people will bring into the meeting.

It is equally surprising that the fact that ARDAA has a website, the News and Information tap is empty and even the proposed General meeting in Ottawa is not posted. I have seen a flyer in Harowo.com. The contents in this flyer are amazingly far from what I read from ARDAA website. The agenda in the flyer is vague and abstract. The flyer and the agenda of the meeting are supposed to be posted in ARDAA Website instead of asking others to post for them. I would like also to take some writing from the Flyer and post here for Awdalites to read and compare what is in the website. The theme of the convention is: You can buy a house but not a “home”. Is the home they are talking about is Awdal, Somaliland, or Somalia? Time will tell. The theme also contains: The models for historical unity and leadership. I suspect some people in ARDAA have another agenda. What those agendas are will be in the details when they speak out in the convention.

The well organised items in the website are, I think, only exist in imagination and comparable to day dreaming. It is the kind of agenda only functioning governments and international agencies can implement. I thought ARDAA would take small, doable, and fundable items. The notion that we can afford or even strategize these programs is out of reach within our limits and boundaries.

I am wondering also that the agenda in the flyer has been intentionally averted from the mission of ARDAA due to some obscure agenda which remains to be seen. Besides, the continuity of targeting certain families in the Awdal communities for being against ARDAA and putting the blame on these parties is not helping our unity. I thought that membership was on voluntary basis and anyone who can afford the time and the money can join it. I still believe that it is better to keep the membership through voluntary and avoid creating misunderstanding among our dear brothers and sisters. I know that some of the people coming to the convention advocate for Somalia which has been buried with Siad Barre. So I would like to ask how our brothers who are divided on politics and on Somali issues will work together on ARDAA agenda. We have different aspirations, ambitions, and interests. Even we are divided in Somaliland politics and some of us who pretend that they are advocating for Awdal interest are seriously against Somaliland and cannot even discuss the issues facing Somaliland.

Brothers and sisters, we have to discuss where we are standing on Somali politics and let us not blindfold our people and hide behind false programs and agendas by coming up with workshops, presentations, fancy websites that have no place in our society. The mindset of the people who are spearheading ARDAA is focused on far reaching interests. Whether those interests will benefit them or Awdal region can be answered in the coming convention. They have not mentioned Somaliland in anywhere in their writings. We are in confusion state of mind and cannot figure out what is in the minds of those ARDAA architects who filled pages and pages of well constructed but no-substance ideas. Soomaalido waxay ku mahmaadaa “bal an eegno uuraysataye waxay umulidoonto.”

We all know that there is nothing like home. But the “home” they are talking about is different from my home. Awdal is my home and Somaliland is my home land. Nevertheless, some of us do not believe that Somaliland is their home country but preparing themselves for the day Somali people come together and join hands in determining the revival of Somalia. The double standard of some people who would like to help Awdal and at same time hate to hear Somaliland is unjustifiable. Awdal is part and parcel of Somaliland. You cannot have on both ways, period. I bet you all that Somaliland will never come back into Somali folds unless miracle happens and Somalilanders are destroyed and the remains in coffins are brought to Mogadishu. Better for those of you who are set their minds in participating in the Somali unity to think twice and join hands with your Somaliland brethren?

Whatever special interest is there, there should be something common we have to share with each other and work on it. But under the present scenario, the commonality is in danger because of so many things that we have witnessed recently in Somaliland politics. Every one of you is aware of the real truth and facts about where I am heading to. I do not have to explain to you the goal of each clan of us whether in politics or in Awdal development or even in personal ambitions and interests shadowing the unity in the community. Let alone everything else but even taking part in remembering the death of our elders together has become a political issue. Recently we have lost an elder, a politician, a nationalist in Somaliland, freedom fighter, and a statesman: Hon. Abdi Hassan Boni, God Bless him.

Xuskii tacsidii Marxuum Cabdi Xasan Buuni ee Lagu Qabtay Ottawa

I have found that a remembrance and condolence gathering was held in Ottawa. Strangely enough the picture I saw in Saylicipress.net speaks volumes. Sure, some have organized the ceremony and reached out to particular groups from certain clans in Ottawa. I believe that we all lost our brother and some people even lost him badly. Mr. Abdi Hasan was self made like many of our people. However, there is a cause and effect in everything we do. In order Hon. Abdi Hassan to be in involved in Somali politics and to be successful was partly because of his efforts and partly because of the first parliamentary elections in Awdal (hopefully, you are aware of who gave the biggest support). Those in the picture I have referred to are all aware of the past. I won’t go into details of all facts, but I dare say that the people who arranged the gathering has vaulted and insulted our people’s tradition and we owe them an apology in the highest level.

The reason I have mentioned the event is in two folds. First, it was time to reflect and pardon each other and bring the community together. Secondly, it was time to share our grievances and sorrows on the loss of our brother. In these times, healing is the utmost goal to be achieved. Some of us have intentionally done the damage and politicised the condolences. I should not say that all people in the picture slices are friends and closer to each other more than any others. In any case we should be thinking of the consequences of the gathering before taking the phone and making calls and posting the pictures on the internet.

The same mistakes which were criticised in the creation of ARDAA have come to live again in the name of holding condolence ceremony. I have been arguing that the same elders in the pictures and others who were absent were brought together and discuss the ARDAA chapter in Ottawa. If we want to succeed, we have to find out the culprits who did this very unfortunate outreach and destroyed one of our common bonds in our history. The people who came together for the purpose of the condolence did not come out of the thin air but it is sure some have organized the event and have chosen the gathering not be inclusive. We will find out the culprits who did this intentionally and who destroyed our tradition on remembering our beloved people. It is smelling fish…….

I love you all and God bless us all:

ILAAHAY HA INA WAAFAJIYO RUNTA IYO RUN ISU SHEEGA……

Mohamed Mousa is based in Ottawa. He is a regular contributor to Awdalnews Network.

Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial.

© 2008 Awdalnews Network.