Somaliland or Riyaale

Somaliland or Riyaale There is growing evidence that president Riyale is ignoring Somaliland's constitution and endangers security and rule of law. Somaliland's existence or corrupted, president Riyale's wild dreams; the choice is clear!  Written by Abukar Ibrahin H Essa, 01-09-09 London UK. Summary Somaliland enjoyed peace and tranquility led by its people after long armed struggle with the late dictator, Siad Barre's government. Up until now Somaliland has escaped years of bloodshed and civil war suffered by neighboring Somalia. Somaliland also successfully held three different elections within the past decade. But there was continuous constitutional wrangling during the past 18 months which sometimes brought about political deadlock that resulted mass demonstrations by the opposition parties who now enjoy popularity among Somaliland public. There is growing evidence that president Riyale is ignoring Somaliland's constitution and endangers security and rule of law. In addition, his administration's corruption acts are all time high. Now, there is a genuine fear that public's prolonged disappointment and anger erupts into violence without any warning. There are growing concerns that in some areas of Somaliland, land disputes which turned into clan skirmishes, can escalate into full scale fighting. There are also clear signs that majority of Somaliland's public have doubts over the legitimacy of president Riyale's continued rule without clear mandate after he played delaying tactics and postponed presidential elections twice .  Nowadays, President Riyale does not take any move unless that to his own advantage, including removing and filling in public posts and offices; to keep his presidential office whatever the cost and no regard to integrity of his office. though these acts of selfishness are testing Somaliland public's patience, yet it is still not too late to find a lasting solution to the problem.  this paper suggests that president Riyale is longer Somaliland's part of its solution but part of its problems. Somaliland should now be given opportunity to face post Riyale challenges and opportunities because that is nothing more than what this nation deserves. Background  Pictures emerging from Somaliland capital Hargeisa within the last few weeks were worrying and events that took place within the last 72 hours are alarming indeed. Somaliland's elected parliament was besieged by special Somaliland police force second day running. The elected law makers were prevented from entering the parliament building and continue their routine debate by police force under direct order of Somaliland president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, reports coming from Hargiesa confirmed. The report was confirmed by the speaker of Somaliland parliament, Abdirahman Ciro.  This followed days after 20 members of the ruling UDUB party had a meeting with Somaliland president a day before, disrupted the routine parliament debate. 6 members of the ruling party smashed tables and chairs and destroyed the agenda papers, also targeting and verbally threatening the speaker and deputy speaker. This triggered the use of parliament's code of conduct act and the speaker excluded 6 members who disrupted the parliament's debate. But they arrived on next meeting, 29th August with heavily armed police and it has been reported that their ring leaders were armed with pistols. According to the speaker, after he contacted the police commander who was with the armed police besieging the chamber, the commander, Mr Saqadhi told the speaker that this was direct order from higher source, the president, Dahir Riyale Kahin. when asked about this, minister for internal affairs called the speaker "irresponsible who can not mange 82 member parliament", and also accused speaker of unfairly treating 6 members; clear indication that the administration is trying to overrule and overrun the parliament's affairs. Constitutionally, the speaker of the house decides when police are to enter their chamber and the above is direct violation of Somaliland's constitution and abuse of power.  This organized hooliganism is directly led by the ruling party and it is part of new forceful tactics to destroy Somaliland parliament which the only elected chamber in Somaliland. The Guurti chamber's term expired in 2006 but president Riyale wrote what is now known as "the unconstitutional letter "to extend the upper house of Somaliland for another five years. Upper house of Somaliland, in turn, unconstitutionally extended Riyale's term twice. Relationship between presidential office and the legislature House has never been easy one; "House of Representatives has attempted to challenge presidential Prerogatives on important issues, the executive have simply ignored it. The presidency has brushed aside and ignored attempts by legislators to exercise their powers over the Budget. This is an especially important issue since parliamentary oversight of government finances was a key concession made by former President Egal in negotiating the form and Substance of Somaliland's constitution. In 1999 the House of Representatives passed a Nonbinding resolution stating that the entire 1963 Public Order law was unconstitutional, largely because of the president's assertion that it allowed for its use of the Regional Security Committees. The government ignored the resolution and  Somaliland's minister of Justice insisted to Human Rights Watch that it did not even exist", Somaliland "Hostages to Peace" Threats to Human Rights and Democracy in Somaliland, Human Rights Watch.  On 3 three different occasions, mediations between the president who is also chair of the ruling party, Udub and the opposition parties , Kulmiye and Ucid had seemed to have reached political consensus, and in each occasion, a day was set for presidential elections, but agreement was later abandoned by the president by not fulfilling his party's pledge.  There are growing concerns that in some areas of Somaliland, land disputes which turned into clan skirmishes, can escalate into full scale fighting. There are also clear signs that majority of Somaliland's public have doubts over the legitimacy of president Riyale's continued rule without clear mandate after he played delaying tactics and postponed presidential elections twice . Nowadays, President Riyale does not take any move unless that to his own advantage, including removing and filling in public posts and offices; to keep his presidential office whatever the cost. These acts of selfishness are now testing public's patience but it is still not too late to find a lasting solution to the problem.  Somaliland and international community are wary of the possibility of recent never-ending political disagreements can escalate into violence, affecting law and order in Somaliland. This can easily give Islamist militancy in the Southern Somalia, Alshabaab to spread into Somaliland and Horn of Africa to suffer further unnecessary bloodshed.  Causes of the latest unrest The latest disagreements was resulted after the president and four of seven members of National electoral commission discarded recent voter registrations and expelled Inter-peace, which is the body that conducted the voter registration on behalf of Somaliland's western donors. The president and commission believe that the voter registration was abused by people who registered in the system repeatedly, and the technological capability could not catch them by successfully matching finger prints and facial recognition. However, this is widely contested by almost all other stakeholders for this election, including the other two political parties, both house of parliament, Inter peace and Somaliland donors.  As a direct response to discard of voter registrations, European Union believes that "this was a decision with no wisdom". United States of America's embassy to Nairobi has expressed "profound dismay with this decision", and United Kingdom's embassy to Ethiopia had taken similar stand. There is a serious concern across the board about the recent events in Somaliland. For example, the single most important international observer to Somaliland elections recently warned "the prospect of single party system in Somaliland".  More importantly, majority of Somaliland public believe that the president decided to discard voter registration results because he did not see any chance of winning within the registered voting system with clear list of eligible voters. Clearly, these claims have merits as the ruling party's suspicions over voter registration began as soon results appeared from eastern regions; Togdheer in particular, which is where main opposition party leader hails from and enjoy popular support.  Members from the National commission who decided to overturn the voter registration were facing allegation of corruption and mismanagement form Somaliland donors after they could not account for how funds for these sources were spent. It is also worth mentioning that Inter-peace demanded replacement of these members if they have to release any further funds into Somaliland's electoral system. The president and members of the National commission had both seen this illusory opportunity to escape from transparency and accountability. It was win-win situation for both. That is how this latest furor all started. Corruption pandemic  Corruption and mismanagement of meager public funds has reached its peak in recent months. The current president appoints the National auditor, commander of police force, high court judges and all ministerial posts from non elected figures. There a serious question whether these appointed figures merit their posts and they act on his orders otherwise they lose their jobs. With a country of poor nation with over 95% unemployment, it is understandable that some figures in high post would try to get hold of their public offices whatever the cost; including their integrity. For example, in recent editorial article published in Geeska Africa Newspaper (geeska.net) claimed that there are hasty corruption acts within the ministry of public works. The newspaper published this allegation with pictures of public buildings, lands and motor vehicles sold in the black market by the minister for public works. The paper listed all these properties including pictures and plate numbers of motor vehicles. Somaliland's minister for public works is one of the closest figures to president Riyale and it is believed that he is not doing these acts alone.  This is only one example but the use of public funds for political gains is widespread. Indeed, President Riyale does not take any move unless he believes that move will prolong his period of presidency in one way or the other. In Somaliland constitution, there is a clear procedure to tender any public property and this has to be through the national commission of tender. Any resulting sales must be shown within the annual national budget. Contrary to these guidelines, it seems when other revenues show insufficiency and our president, particularly face internal pressure, integrity and honesty is not an issue, but financing his way through is a priority. This includes selling pubic wealth in the black market. Regional commissioners have unlimited power to arrest and imprison media and other individuals and impose fines which are not accounted for. Commissioners are appointed by president Riyale and they are known to serve him more than the needs of the regions they rule. Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag commissioners committed the worst record of human rights abuses so far against media and personnel expressing their point of view. These victimization crimes include long imprisonment without brining prisoners before court of law, politically motivated beatings against opposition party supporters or media personnel suspected of supporting them.  In a recent report from credible source recommends to Riyale to; "Immediately end the ability of the Regional and District Security Committees to order Arrests and detention and impose prison sentences or other penalties. Release all persons currently imprisoned by the Security Committees or promptly charge and try them for cognizable criminal offenses before regular criminal courts", Somaliland "Hostages to Peace" Threats to Human Rights and Democracy in Somaliland, Human Rights Watch.  Conclusion  The growing deterioration of Somaliland's democratization arena and one man's wild and impossible dream to keep Somaliland power whatever the cost, have tarnished Somaliland's reputation. Pictures of special police taking over Somaliland parliament, the cramp and torture of media personnel, selling public wealth through the black market to finance the corrupted regime or the corruption that lost any scale, the expel of Inter-peace and deliberate diplomatic plunders of Somaliland authority to those who assisted Somaliland for long time, does not represent the true nature of Somaliland and its people. Rather it is one short-sighted, self-centered man's dream to keep Somaliland hostage. Riyale and his few mafia-style men know Somaliland public love Somaliland and respect its rule of law and want to maintain peace and security and they continuously test their patience. The irony is that, the love of Somaliland's public of peace and tranquility is somehow working for a bully. Political analysts in Somaliland believe that the current president's chances of winning fair and free election are remotely distant. His popularity plummeted in recent years but it looks like he is doing everything to keep him in office. Somaliland's public are now profoundly dismayed with president Riyale's political and leadership style and ask for quick change of leadership. President Riyale and his scandalously corrupted regime play delaying tactics, and employs an old trick of divide and rule approach. Clearly, Riyale has now lost moral authority and the ability to lead this poor nation into the future. Before it's too late, we have to choose the well being of Somaliland or corrupted Riyale's regime as they cannot almost certainly co-exist. The international community has a role in this; they should continue to support Somaliland democratization process and. Friends of Somaliland should try to avoid to release funds into hands of corrupted officials whenever they can and should deal with civil society directly. Friends of Somaliland are appealed directly to come to the rescue of Somaliland before it's too late. Riyale is longer Somaliland's part of its solution but part of its problems. Somaliland should look into the future to nation-building and should be freed from this quagmire in one way or the other. President Riyale is longer Somaliland's part of its solution but part of its problems. Somaliland should now be given opportunity to face post Riyale challenges and opportunities because that is nothing more than what this nation deserves. References 1. "Hostages to Peace" Threats to Human Rights and Democracy in Somaliland, 2009 2. "The Follies of the Somaliland Guurti should not Cloud the Search for Sustainable Peace WardherNews Editorial, April 06 , 2009 3. Chronic Failures in the War on Terror From Afghanistan to Somalia, London, April 2008 4. Human Rights Challenges: Somaliland Facing Elections http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR52/001/2009 5. 2009 Somaliland budget Review, Ali Gulaid  6. www.geeska.net Written by: Abukar Ibrahin H Essa, Msc, Beng, CCNA Abukar is Golisnews editorial board member and regularly contributes to golisnews.com Feedbacks can be sent to: absessa@yahoo.co.uk