Recognition of “Somaliland” Will Surely be a Factor of Onstability in the Region

For the last 20 years this clan enclave had spared no effort of selling their secessionist agenda to the international community. Fortunately not a single country has ever bought their proposal despite of the high costs paid by their leaders in every dimension. They harbored enmity and deep hatred for the Somali southerners falsely blaming  for massacres against Isak clan in 1980s They crushed out every voice that challenged their desires for breakaway entity in their tribal homeland even if they belong to their kinsmen.

They occupied towns and villages of pro-unionist communities in northern regions of Somalia to forge support for their baseless claims, either through forced consent as happened in Awdal region or by capturing villages and towns through the barrel of the gun as in the case of Lasanod, or through fighting  a dirty ethnic cleansing war  to displace local clans from their bases as occurred in Kalshale of buhoodle region this year.
One sided interview

On Friday 20th May this year, their purported anniversary for dividing beloved Somalia, Yusuf Garad of BBC hosted two commanders of SNM who took part on Hargeisa and Buroa raid in 1988 on a debate among others. Both of them had been used earlier by the then Military regime to defend its grip of power. They carried out numerous deadly attacks against civilian population, ordering military regiments under their command to silence popular opposition in central and eastern regions in late ‘70s and early ‘80s. In those attacks they destroyed berkedo (water reservoirs) of local inhabitants and demolished homes for almost entire villages and towns in addition of shooting innocent youth. These same two commanders and their likes have switched sides but this time they joined SNM that pledged not only to demolish homes and Berkado but to destroy a whole nation.

Most listeners to the program felt disappointed with how the facilitator failed to ask them a one single significant question that could lead to a broader explanation of the atrocities committed earlier and the real motives behind it like: Do you feel responsible for invoking all the loss of life that accompanied in the attacks of Hargeisa and Burao?  Or do you share any responsibility for all the disaster that was caused by your rebellion?

Some estimates say about 50,000 innocent lives were lost in the aftermath of those attacks while thousands more demised on crushing revolt in central and eastern regions on their hands before it? Or whether they ethically feel accountable to the ongoing destruction and loss of lives that is still continuing in the South?

Again most listeners felt irritated of how this senior reporter as well as facilitator treated with the only one participator in the debate who was directing genuine criticism on how the politicians in Hargeisa managed the crisis after the fall of Siyad government. He repeatedly cut short his contributions that explained his opinion while on giving his turn he was sometimes calling to him “Ibrahim Hebelow” in an apparent disrespect to the participant’s name despite giving the other four of pro secessionists’ agenda all their time needed in order to argue their point with utmost ease and bias.

Belief of democratic principles in “Somaliland” is phony not a fact

The way that most of those participated in that debate expressed their views regarding the political atmosphere in that part of our country, including the chief cabinet of “Somaliland” president showed their zero tolerance to the opposite opinion.

Anyone who advocate against breakaway stand should have no place to stay in “Somaliland” even if he is native from Hargaisa or Burao they all concluded. Furthermore, in the occupied town of Lasanod, people are daily killed, jailed or harassed for mere expression of their political aspirations….no welcome for secessionist’s agenda in Sool region….free our town from your forced occupation.

On the other hand, recenly Somaliland Justice Minister has publicly attacked through the media to those behind the idea of forming Awdal State in the future, threatening to throw them to prisons. He promised that they will build more detention centers even if the existing ones were filled to the end.

In summary, the idea behind the clan enclave’s separation agenda is solely based on getting a platform to exercise majority clan politics over others in “Somaliland” regions in order to steer the power house for political leadership for ever and bottle up opponents. If not the case and if they firmly adhere to democratic rule why do they suppress or hijack opposition voices in northern regions against their will? Or in other way why do they not embrace to be part of a democratic political game exercised across whole Somalia? Of course for the latter they could not ensure a positive outcome for their feel of clan superiority.

In fact, what they call “democratic” processes under way are just hollow activities that were designed to lure international community for recognition but actually serve only for those who believe the secessionist agenda while harboring enmity for all other Somalis including our state nation of Somalia.

Growing frustration and discontent in most Somali regions towards Hargeisa Authority

An increasing number of Somali’s feel suspicious towards endless campaigns of seeking recognition for “Somaliland”. They believe that sovereignty of this enclave will dismantle all tribal structures that are closely interwoven and tear them apart across zones. Consequently this might endanger  in erupting a full scale  inter clan fighting among the different tribes that are living side by side in northern regions  and who are already holding previous grievances against each other as a reflection of  their  rejection in case of favoring Isak clan over others in recognition issue.

Furthermore people of Nugal region will never accept a new border at Yoo’a point, only 5 kms from Garowe. Similarly inhabitants of Mudug, Karkaar and Bari regions will not entertain new check points at Agaaran, Alhamdulilah and Qow villages which are so close and considered parts of their neighborhoods and villages for those regions respectively. In consequence this may fuel clan alliances that blow up fight in the whole zone.

In addition the disintegration of Somalia will further galvanize Al Shabab movement in the South and that will surely spread instability in the region that might last for another 20 years to come.

IGAD stand on Secessions Issue

Igad has thus far taken a positive stand on attempts for breaking up the Somali Republic. Recently Ethiopian foreign minister was quoted as saying that the issue of secession is solely a Somali issue and no one else has the mandate to interfere. We hope the same stance would continue unchanged in the future to protect our region which is already laden with numerous crises.

However there is certain mistrust between Somali’s and British government about their actual intentions toward that clan enclave. Following that, the traditional issimo of Sool, Sanaag and Ayn have filed a complaint to British Ambassador to Kenya in his recent visit to Garowe, capital of Puntland. They protested against British support for authorities in Hargeisa at the expense of other Somali communities. They added that those assistances are used to fight against them because they favor union over separation from Somalia. Though he reassured to them that British government does not provide military assistance to that zone and in no way play favoritism among Somali clans, yet they have to provide concrete proof for their neutrality to the Somali crises in order to remove the current ill will and doubt from the hearts of millions.

Said Farah

Email: inasanweine@gmail.com