Written by M. Jama
Jan 02, 2008 at 01:31 AM
The following is a response to Mudane Artan's article "Can Somaliland achieve peace by securing its border?"
The answer to this question is a resounding, yes. Having said that let me go into details. First of all the translater of the article is well known to many Somalilanders. He is a man whose is clutching at straws, is running out of arguments against the existence of Somaliland. He is the kind of person who if he reads that a car has run over a goat, would then blame "Somaliland secessionist elements". The straws that he is currently graspong are in this article from a Somaliland MP, Mudane Artan.
Somalilanders appreciate and defend the right of each to their opinion, however incorrect, misguided or seditious. But, Mudane Artan is an MP, and no doubt with his own strong views, which are sadly full of assumptions and skirt the obvious reality in Somaliland.
So, I have taken the liberty of taking the bodies of Mudane Artan's claims and responded with my own thoughts. Most would agree with me , and some will not, but that is the glory of Somaliland.
Somaliland: A brief background
Somaliland is a poor county that lacks recognition. Its 2007 budget was $30 million only. It is a country with a single commodity: live animals that have lately suffered from a litany of problems such as export bans. It is a country that suffers from widespread unemployment and its people can barely make ends meet. The most important source of income is the remittances sent by expatriate to their families in the country. This shows that Somaliland is a fragile country.
Somaliland is a fragile nation which spent 31 years in futile union. Its infrastructure, talent and assets stripped and finally its land mined, towns bombed to smithereens and its people murdered. Yet, most people overlook at all the success of Somaliland and its people. Look at the rebuilding of the country, which has given work to skilled Somalilanders. Look at the thriving economic and education sectors. Look at the nascent progress of a society built from scratch. Look at the organisation of our armed forces and finally look at the potential of Somalilanders and its future generations. All these things and more are overlooked by "pseudo Somalilanders"
Somaliland: A hidden Miracle
The above picture shows that a country with that background does not stand on solid ground (feet). However, Somaliland is a bastion of peace in which all differences it faces are resolved with consultations, give-and-take negotiations, and respect for the other side, good neighbourly relations, and peaceful co-existence. Somaliland also embarked successfully on the building of a government structure that works. It did not stop there but held a referendum on a national constitution based on democratic institutions like political parties, a parliament, municipal councils, a national election commission that enables qualified citizens to run for the highest position in a democratic fashion. Currently we are preparing for the second phase of the elections. The international community is ready to help Somaliland to conduct a smooth and successful election.
Friend and foe alike are puzzled by the secrets of our successes. They ask themselves the reasons behind the ability of this poor country to escape from the conflicts afflicting the other parts of Somalia, and at its ability to manage achieving all these good deeds with such meagre resources. These reasons are still being researched.
This is not in dispute, but I would like to mention the fact that Somaliland has achieved all this through dialogue, discussion and consensus. The ability of this poor country to escape from other conflicts in the region is due to its citizens, their faith and lessons learnt from years of neglect and prosecution. No need for research, the truth is there for all to see
How did the International Community view the Sool and the Eastern Sanaag Issue before the Conflict?
Before the brief struggle in which Somaliland reasserted its auhtoirty in the city of Las Anod, the International Community took a clear stand that favoured Sool and Sanaag becoming part of Somaliland. The International Community worked diligently towards achieving that goal. The proof of this stand is based on the fact that the share earmarked by the Donor Nations for Sool and Sanaaag in the Reconstruction and Development Fund for the coming 5 years (2008-2013) falls within the $550 million that Somaliland will manage.
Sool and Sanaag are Somaliland. They are within the borders demarcated at the time of Somalilands's independence from the United Kingdom, on June 26th 1960. This has never been in doubt. Contrary to what many may think, the first duty of the Somaliland government is to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the country.
Kinship is one thing, Patriotism is another. The myth of Greater Somalia is and was a mirage. Somaliland and Somalia are two separate nations, divided by ideology and political tradition. Granted we all speak Somali and are Muslim, but politically and ideological Somaliland and Somalia have always been going different ways, democracy vs dictatorship, inclusion vs exclusion, collectivism vs clannism.
Somaliland has long been attempting to resolve the issue of Sool and Eastern Sanaag peaceably, but found it hard to reason with an entity that used force to invade the areas, discriminated against the residents, neglected the development of the area, used the revenue to fund wars, conscripted the youth of the area to fight in distant places. Until the residents of Sool and Eastern Sanaag, themselves, said enough is enough.
The donors hoped that Somaliland would not use force to control Sool and Eastern Sanaag for the following reasons:
The use of force could only make things worse and would never solve anything; it would send the wrong signal to many people in Sool
It is the people of Sool themselves who took the initiative to drive out the Puntland militia.
Somaliland could not economically sustain a prolonged war
This was never in doubt, but right is right. If Somaliland needs to go war to defend its democracy and territorial integrity then it will.
A military operation would adversely affect the road to democracy in Somaliland
Democracy must be defended.
It would damage the peace that Somaliland has become famous for and transform the region into a conflict zone
No damage was done to Somaliland's peaceful progression towards democracy and development. The cause is right, and Somaliland was within its rights to take the course of action it had taken.
Now, the question that needs to be asked is: what forced the Rayale administration to capture Las Anod when the way the donors handled the situation favoured Somaliland by giving it better leverage in the standoff?
The answer to this question is simple. Las Anod is Somaliland. Would any other Somaliland leader do anything else?
Why did the Rayale Administration refuse to take into account the support of the International Community and use that advantage to bring Sool into the fold of Somaliland peacefully? What forced it to wage a war with unpredictable consequences?
Somalilanders appreciate the support of the international community. But, once again, all of Sool and Eastern Sanaag are Somaliland. As for a war with unpredictable consequences, the only unpredictable thing was how fast the militia fled from the region!
Honestly speaking, some of the goals of Somaliland are
To safeguard the stability and peace required by the democratic process taking shape in Somaliland , to advance and strengthen the Democratic Process and to secure the international borders Somaliland has with others
The biggest obvious worry is that the government has consolidated its mental and financial ability to achieve the 3rd goal endangering in the process goals number one and two; these first two goals being the ones that made Somaliland a success story. The long term tackling of the issue of Sool and Eastern Sanaag should have been the responsibility of the new administration that Somaliland would elect, because securing the borders depend on the sustainability of the peace, and the success of the democratic process in Somaliland.
All three process go hand in hand, and I am amazed and dismayed that a Parliamentarian should ever forget this. How can you have peace and progress when some of your citizens are under occupation? How can you maintain and progress democracy when some of your citizens are disenfranchised? and finally, how can you claim to be sovereign nation if you can't secure and protect your territorial integrity?
The situation being so, what should the leaders of the country do about the territories of Sool and Eastern Sanaag?
No matter how long it takes, Somaliland should seek to secure its borders peacefully and practically demonstrate to the clans of Sool and Eastern Sanaag that their interests are tied with Somaliland
This has always been the case with Somaliland. Never for a moment did Somaliland abandoned the regions in the east. And may I point out that it is only Las Anood and parts of Eastern Sanaag that have been an issue in this case.
The clans of Sool and Eastern Sanaag can choose between interest and Kinship. If they see no benefit in joining Somaliland, they are then obligated to join their kinsmen
Kinship will never a base nor a key element in nation building. We all have a first hand experience of that. Those who practised it and those who it was practised upon. Neither has emerged unscathed. Kinship and clan are part of Somali culture, but Somaliland and Somalia are and have always been two totally different nations.
The attempt to solve the problem of these territories by force is tantamount to sabotaging Somaliland and undermining the successes achieved by its people in nearly 18 years. The attempt to manage the conflict in Sool by force is detrimental to the stability and peace, and the democratic change that has successfully taken shape in Somaliland; and endangers the interests and existence of the country.
The author states that Somaliland use of force is damaging and will undermine the successes. Where is the damage? Where is the undermining issues? The news of Las Anod liberation was a reason for celebration from East to West, North to South. The evident support for the people of the affected areas in the East is glowing tribute to the patriotism of Somalilanders.
The International community has thus far avoided commenting on the issue of Sool, and I don't like to put words into their mouth, however if the author has some concrete proof, then let us have it. The issue of funding to these areas have always been resolved through Somaliland. I am sure that the international donor are relieved to know that any funds for these areas will be going to its intended recipients and will not be miss-appropriated.
Somaliland has never attempted to foster hate or resentment. The national premise is one of inclusion, and I agree that matters can be resolved via dialogue, but from a position of advantage. Somaliland is an inclusive nation, and I have no qualms about any Somalilander aspiring to the highest office in the land. But, Somaliland's sovereignty is not negotiable.
The administration has always given priority to peace and stability, the election will be on schedule, and I am sure the author will be answering some direct question from his constituency, and the National Election Commission will fulfil its mandate with the support of the international community and without any internal interference.
The Views of those involved in the Las Anod Problem
The objective of this article is to demonstrate to the people of Somaliland that the forceful occupation of Las Anod is not in the interest of Somaliland. Those who appreciated this action are either not it touch with reality, or are opportunists/cowards going with the crowd turning a blind eye to the reality on the ground and the potential dangers such action poses to Somaliland.
The objective of this article has failed in its premise. The majority of the resident's of Las Anod want to be within Somaliland, and democracy is about the voice of the majority. Those who appreciate the existence of Somaliland will celebrate the liberation of Las Anod and its environs.
The people are more perceptive that Mr.Artan gives them credit. The only consideration of future implications is when a Las Anoder becomes the President of Somaliland.
The opposition are thrown into confusion. They have long clambered for a resolution to the issues in the region, and having seen their thunder stolen, are in dire straits.
I often read and hear about "the government has dishonest agendas, etc", and all I see is contrary to those views. When I see Somaliland official, both from the government and opposition, I see loyal,patriotic, intelligent and driven men and women doing their best for their country. I wish I could say the same for Somalia.
The Garads of Sool are no different from any traditional chiefs in Somaliland. They work for peace and progress. I am sure that they will take a look at the interest of their respective communities and understand that Somaliland is the future. The past is the past, and the future is Somaliland.
Ahmed Kheyre
London, UK
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