OPINION
By Abdirahman Mohamed Dirye
mrdirye@gmail.com
Since London Conference, there are inconsistent policies, and contrasting remarks coming out of the presidency in Somaliland, “we will talk to Somalia…,” whatsoever that entails. If the talks can achieve our long-term goal: outright independence, why not we do it earlier? And why we insist on being in the state of denial of the political reality in Somalia. Why we aimlessly travel to cities and spend our trivial, meager resources levied from poor street vendors whose livelihood was destroyed by immoral Mayor Jiciir under pretense of city beatification? However, a dialogue either with the TFG or Khatuma or is best solution forward. Again, talks is the least costly, smarter approach in real politick to waging wars to achieve political ends. So we should be ready to willingly talk to Khatume/Buhodle rather than killing people for the sake of controlling a dark corner, backwater village where its residents are surviving. Talking to Somalia, not Buuhoodle, is discriminatory behavior.
Yesterday announcement of peacemaking mat by group of Sultans in Hargaysa revealed how far Somaliland current administration is out of touch with the reality on the grounds “the matter is a political one instead of tradition” that is my belief; therefore, demands a political solution. “We should politically reconcile within ourselves now and do the necessary reforms before sitting with the TFG or its replacement” Osman, the former water and mining minister during Riyaale’s administration called during his stay in Addis Ababa. His statement refers a fair distribution of power among Somaliland regions to strengthen national consensus and to speak in unified voice against Somalia to secure independence.
Upon his return to the capital, President Siilanyo stated “we will talk to Somalia, not on unity (a thing of the past), but Somaliland VS. Somalia on split of the country..,” this is pretty good. But Somaliland current administration has the habit to exaggerate diplomatic gains and underestimate costs “ let us talk to everyone provided that we get something at the least out of them” I believe so. But after lobbying to convince the president of the AU, Mr. ping, to talk to Somaliland official, only taking photos with AU head without introducing oneself to the chairman is not only ridiculous, and misleading but also unpatriotic.
Plea for genuine master blueprint.
Intellectual Somalilanders wants to engage TFG or its replacement next August despite its suspicion, but they are quite worried about who will lead Somaliland delegation during the negotiation, a tricky task that requires capable hands to handle carefully, do we trust the few inexperienced individuals whose credibility is somewhat questionable for our own fate? I do not think so, before August, the president should prepare an overall blueprint and team of experts in their respected fields or ad hoc committee to navigate safely. We made a grave mistake in the sixties, and we cannot do it again. As we are in critical juncture now, we should slowly walk the landmines. Seeking the advice of all walks of life is also needed to “look before we leap”.
Little History
When we all suffered for the political mistakes of few individuals that took Somaliland into Somalia without single document of agreement, we realized “we sold out” however, I was in the opinion to blame southerners who accepted our given independence as a gift to them without forcing us. However, in the past two decades of international blockade that followed twenty more years of genocidal wars and organized displacement it become clear Somaliland past generation in the sixties are responsible for the our failure and ongoing misery contrary to the previous thinking. We lack vision as we are emotional people, we lack prudence?
As next talks are at the hand, the individuals in power are less educated and less experienced than those in the sixties who led us to nowhere but to death, destruction as well as ill-fated disastrous union with Somalia. So is Somaliland in capable hands now than in sixties? Probably not, are our counterparts in Southern Somalia are less experienced and educated than us or than they were in the sixties? Look at Abdiwali, the prime minister of Somalia is fighting for his home region, Puntland, he signed oil drilling with major oil firm on their behalf. His expertise and education of JFK School enabled him to serve flawlessly and unknowingly to his people in Puntland.
However, talks either to Khatumo or Somalia are a dangerous political game that cannot be rectified again once done, therefore, we must send the right team to do so regardless of being a minister or not. As the current cabinet ministers in Somaliland government are lacking charisma and other leadership traits, I wonder which traits they are dispossessing: prudence, wisdom, prior knowledge, and etc, we should prepare the right team to outmaneuver negotiators from Mogadishu in August.
Since talks are open window for all, we should always prefer it over other options including waging costly
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