Wasted votes
It is a relief to know that the international community from whom Somaliland desperately seeks recognition is keen on the upcoming elections. I am sure that if the five point agreement between Rayale and the two main opposition party's is implemented swiftly enough, that the members of the international community, especially Great Britain, will be more than eager to assist in setting up the logistics, including the independent international monitors required to carry out and legitimise the voting process. However, I wonder where this sudden urgency and new found determination among the international community that a free and fair election should take place came from? Do members of the international community actually believe that any change will accompany the elections whenever they may be? Or is the election in Somaliland another mediation success they can boast about at home? I do not know the answers to these but I know this much: there is very little to celebrate about the up coming election in Somaliland because like all the other elections before it, it will lead to absolutely no change.
The reasons for my beliefs are many but they are all based on the fact that the Somaliland political process has no ideological direction nor policies that can be implemented to create meaningful change which addresses some of the core issues facing the Somaliland electorate such as poverty, housing, employment and land grabbing by relatively wealthy members of the Diaspora. Instead of appealing to the electorate through their ideological vision and solutions to the many problems faced by the Somaliland electorate, all of the three main political party's' are guilty of employing tribal division and scaremongering tactics to win over voters. So in essence, what ought to be an election based on ideological political affiliation has in the past been turned into a contest of tribal weight and numbers. This I am afraid is not the hallmark of a democratic state or one seeking the status of statehood from the international community.
The traditional conservative Somali psyche enforces that elders know best and it is this flawed belief that has also heavily contributed to my personal belief that this election, whenever it takes place, is going to create absolutely no change whatsoever, regardless of the Party that wins. The old guards such as Rayale and Silanyo who govern the politics of Somaliland and who were the architects of the destruction of Somalia through their self centred qabilist politics, are strangling the hopes of the younger, more liberal and educated generation by their greed, political illiteracy and ignorance. The election of any of these Siad Barre regime leftovers will contribute nothing of political or social value to the nation other than more division as their main source of power stems from manipulating tribal differences and grievances. This claim is backed by the little they have already politically contributed between themselves in the form of policy since Rayale took over as President after the right Honourable late former president Egal. Silanyo for all his rhetoric of wanting progress and ending the Rayale era has come forward with nothing of political substance that can be used to formulate the kind of policies required by the people of Somaliland to better their social and economic position and Rayale has had nearly two terms to make a difference BUT his legacy is marred by the lack of Freedom of Press, alleged corruption involving him and his wife and fruitless foreign diplomatic travels which have yet to result in recognition. Some of the old timer's argue that rayale's policies have been successful in keeping the peace in Somaliland which is leading to it's prosperity but the question is which policies? Before we reach the policy analysis stage to determine success or failure, we must assess whether the "policy" was formulated at all or whether it was an accident born out of the people's determination to work their way out of poverty and the difficult economic position they found themselves in. I suspect the latter but even where policy is formulated the entire process of its creation and implementation is heavily controlled by private political and tribal interest and not necessarily the interest of the people the government has been elected to serve.
The traditional conservative Somali psyche enforces that elders know best and it is this flawed belief that has also heavily contributed to my personal belief that this election, whenever it takes place, is going to create absolutely no change whatsoever, regardless of the Party that wins. The old guards such as Rayale and Silanyo who govern the politics of Somaliland and who were the architects of the destruction of Somalia through their self centred qabilist politics, are strangling the hopes of the younger, more liberal and educated generation by their greed, political illiteracy and ignorance. The election of any of these Siad Barre regime leftovers will contribute nothing of political or social value to the nation other than more division as their main source of power stems from manipulating tribal differences and grievances. This claim is backed by the little they have already politically contributed between themselves in the form of policy since Rayale took over as President after the right Honourable late former president Egal. Silanyo for all his rhetoric of wanting progress and ending the Rayale era has come forward with nothing of political substance that can be used to formulate the kind of policies required by the people of Somaliland to better their social and economic position and Rayale has had nearly two terms to make a difference BUT his legacy is marred by the lack of Freedom of Press, alleged corruption involving him and his wife and fruitless foreign diplomatic travels which have yet to result in recognition. Some of the old timer's argue that rayale's policies have been successful in keeping the peace in Somaliland which is leading to it's prosperity but the question is which policies? Before we reach the policy analysis stage to determine success or failure, we must assess whether the "policy" was formulated at all or whether it was an accident born out of the people's determination to work their way out of poverty and the difficult economic position they found themselves in. I suspect the latter but even where policy is formulated the entire process of its creation and implementation is heavily controlled by private political and tribal interest and not necessarily the interest of the people the government has been elected to serve.
Having heard first hand Rayale's speech at Chatham House, which is internationally reknown for its expertise in Foreign policy, one can honestly say that it was tired, boring and non inspirational as it dwelled too much on the past and omitted to discuss any policies aimed at the progress of the nation he has been elected to lead out of the political wilderness. No wonder nobody wants to recognise Somaliland, Rayale sounded like a broken record without any ambition and vision for the country. I doubt very much that Silanyo or the UCID leadership could have done better than Rayale and as a result it is fair to suggest that the old political guard that dominates Somaliland politics are the real roadblock to reform and progress for the country and voting for these old timers is a waste of a vote and an insult to the democracy we aspire to in Somaliland.
In a true democracy the people who are best able to serve and represent the interests of their electorates are elected as Members of Parliament but currently in Somaliland the list of political candidates is fixed by tribe and old tie networks. What is needed in order to rebuild confidence in the political process is radical reform of the system of electing MP's and a candidate list that includes more women, independent and younger candidates. Age does not necessarily bring political wisdom and as a result the electorate must be taught the importance of voting for political candidates based on their ability and not on their age or tribe. By having a diverse group of representatives especially those that are of a younger generation and of differing sexes we may be able to re-inject some excitement and hope for real change in policy and within the policy process in Somaliland.
Not only in Somaliland, but the entire continent of Africa can no longer be ruled by a bunch of old men who have no political sell by dates or who extend their sell by date by force or corruption. Africa and Somaliland deserve a chance at progress and this progress can only come from the election of a younger, more politically and socially aware group who have until now been denied this opportunity by an older political elite who rule through false promises and division. If the people of Somaliland and Africa value change, progress and social justice, they are encouraged to invest their vote in the leaders of tomorrow today.
Liban Obsiye,
Bristol, UK.
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