Kulmiye Struggling With Siilanyo Declaration

After the aftermath of Mudane Silaanyo’s damaging remarks on Voice of America, Somali service and on another website radio service, in which he stated, twice, his commitment to the “federal Somalia” agenda, the Somaliland opposition party, KULMIYE has been scrambling to diffuse this politically dynamite declaration. The first attempt was to accuse the incumbent Somaliland government of threatening to bar Mudane Silaanyo, chair of the KULMIYE party, from returning home. A ludicrous and desperate ploy. In spite of his recent faux-pas, or perhaps the revelation of his true feelings about Somaliland, (depending on the reader’s political allegiance), Mudane Silaanyo, is first and foremost a Somalilander, and a respected member of the society.

Mudane Silaanyo was considered by some as a politician with ideas and vision, which makes his recent announcement even more disappointing. To even consider a new “union” with a “basket case” of anarchy, murder and mayhem (Somalia), is very short sighted indeed. There is no denying that severe damage has been done to the credibility of both the party and Mudane Silaanyo’s stature.

The second effort to try and make the people of Somaliland forget about Mudane Silaanyo’s comment was an attempt by the deputy-chair of KULMIYE, Mr. Muse Bihi.

In a press conference to rebut President Rayale’s recent address, Mr. Bihi stated that a certain congressman from the United States, whose virulent anti-Somaliland stance has not gone unnoticed by any Somalilander, was in “fact a supporter of the Somaliland cause”. This particular congressman recently hosted Mudane Silaanyo in Washington, DC.

Naturally, the congressman in question put Mr.Bihi out of his misery, and remarked in a recent interview that he “never was and never shall be a supporter of the Somaliland’s cause”. Strike two!

Strike three came the other day, when Dr.Gabose, a “federalist” if there ever was one, criticized the new National Elections Commission (NEC) for being too methodica, astute and deliberate in making sure that everything is in place for the forthcoming Presidential elections. The NEC to its credit decided to ignore him.

KULMIYE is going through a kind of a crisis of its own making, and by the unravelling of its leadership. One thing is certain, KULMIYE is not made up of Mudane Silaanyo, or Dr. Gabose, alone. There are other leaders in the party. Leaders with charisma, ideas, action and vision, but above all, a true commitment to Somaliland. We all know who they are, it is time they stepped up and rescued their party from political oblivion.

One thing is certain, the continued lack of clarification from the leadership of KULMIYE on Mudane Silaanyo’s stand on “federal Somalia” is slowly eroding away its credibility, and effectiveness as a serious political party.

Written By Cali M. Abokor

Email: ruraledcomm@yahoo.co.uk