Ignoring Somaliland’s Interests Damages US Interests

[Jacaylbaro]

In order to get an idea of what is wrong with US policy towards Somalis, one only has to look at the title of the congressional hearing that took place on the 25th of this month: “Somalia: Prospects for Lasting Peace and a Unified Response to Extremism and Terrorism.”

 

Three problem areas immediately jump out of this title. First of all there is the obvious problem of whether there is a coherent entity called Somalia that can be approached as a single unit. For anyone who is familiar with the Somali situation, the answer is, of course, there is no such entity. The Obama administration often ignores this glaring fact, which gives its overall Somali policy the quality of being based more on wishful thinking than on reality. What is that wishful thinking? It is that there is a unified country called Somalia, with a legitimate government called the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) that governs all over the Somali territory, when in fact there is neither a unified country nor a legitimate government.

 

The second problem is that of peace. Clearly there is no peace in Somalia. So if the US says it is interested in bringing peace to Somalia, it is a rational even admirable thing. But the question that US policymakers have to answer is if they are really interested in establishing an enduring peace among Somalis, why they have not helped strengthen the peace in Somaliland by extending development aid to Somaliland and thereby showing all Somalis that indeed there is a peace dividend for those who take the path of peace instead of the path of the war?

The third problem is the problem of terrorism.

 

It is this issue that is really driving US policy toward Somalis. But here, too, the US wants Somalis to protect US interests without any regard to Somali interests. As a matter of fact, it could even be said that the US wants Somalis to participate in their own disenfranchisement. This is clear from US policy toward Somaliland for the last two decades, whereby Somaliland has assiduously contributed to anti-terrorism, peace and democracy in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa region without reciprocation from the US when it comes to development assistance, recognition, or even political engagement at a level commensurate with the growing geopolitical weight of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa.

 

The net result of this US policy of wishful thinking has been failure on two important fronts: it has failed to defeat terrorists in the south and has alienated many people in Somaliland. The invitation of both Somaliland and Puntland to the latest congressional hearing is a somewhat tacit admission of the failure of the previous approach of focusing US policy only on the TFG, but the fact that the US is still insisting on a “unified response” even at this late stage of the game, shows that the US is still attached to the previous policy though with some modification. That modification is not enough for Somaliland, and that was probably why Somaliland declined to attend the congressional hearing as well as whatever talks that were scheduled behind the scene. As a democratically elected government, Somaliland’s government cannot allow itself to be perceived as one of the parties in Somalia’s conflict, because such behavior is unacceptable to Somaliland’s people who consider their country as sovereign country, not part of Somalia.

 

To make a long story short, US policy toward Somaliland whether in its previous form or in its latest modified form has been harmful to both Somaliland and the US. This policy does not take into account Somaliland’s interests. If the US wants to protect its interests in Somaliland, then it must also take into account Somaliland’s interests. Otherwise, the US may soon have a problem in Somaliland in addition to its big headaches in Mogadishu.

[General Duke]

interests. If the US wants to protect its interests in Somaliland, then it must also take into account Somaliland’s interests. Otherwise, the US may soon have a problem in Somaliland in addition to its big headaches in Mogadishu.

Can you clarify this for us kind sir?

[Jacaylbaro]

It is clear mate ,,,,, it is very clear ,,

[Gheelle.T]

What would be the US's interest in a country that doesn't exist? mm

[Jacaylbaro]

the same interest that you are here to talk about it ,,, i'm sure you're not talking about a non-existing place ,,

[Thankful]

HAAA

 

Sometimes I just want to forget about NW Somalia and let them choose what they want. But then these threads come up, that are just so ridiculous. Like US has an interest in breaking up Somalia, so there's another African country they need to pour aid into. It's almost as ridiculous as Oodweyne saying that Mr. Payne would have lunch with the ambassador of NW Somalia and staighten out their problems.

 

the invitation of both Somaliland and Puntland to the latest congressional hearing is a somewhat tacit admission of the failure of the previous approach of focusing US policy only on the TFG, but the fact that the US is still insisting on a “unified response” even at this late stage of the game, shows that the US is still attached to the previous policy though with some modification

The second problem is that of peace. Clearly there is no peace in Somalia. So if the US says it is interested in bringing peace to Somalia, it is a rational even admirable thing. But the question that US policymakers have to answer is if they are really interested in establishing an enduring peace among Somalis, why they have not helped strengthen the peace in Somaliland by extending development aid to Somaliland and thereby showing all Somalis that indeed there is a peace dividend for those who take the path of peace instead of the path of the war?

So basically they want to be seperate from Somalia, but want the US to use their region an example to peace to other Somalis. Aren't they doing that with Djibouti already? Aren't they using Djbouti to fight terrorism, piracy and anything else?

[Jacaylbaro]

Sometimes I just want to forget about NW Somalia and let them choose what they want. But then these threads come up,

Hmmmm ,, that explains a lot

[General Duke]

JB: adeer dont duck the question. Why all the panic from the secessionist, they tried to play down this issue and now are making dark predictions that the "US will lose its interest", what on earth are you people on?

[Jacaylbaro]

It is an issue between two governments adeer. I can see you are already beginning to get confused.

 

The US knows its interest in Somaliland so we are ,,,,

[General Duke]

The US knows its interest in Somaliland so we are ,,,,

lol. The issue here is clear, you are still reeling from the shock of a few days ago. Adeer I hope you recover soon.

[Jacaylbaro]

Just let the two governments settle the issue ,,,,,

[General Duke]

^^^lool. There can not be an issue between a super power and an unrecognised region of the poor country in Africa. So try again.

[Jacaylbaro]

Really ?? ,, and what was all that fuzz about Pyane then ?? ,,,

 

 

don't feel insecure now sxb ,, you can still win the game ,,

[Thankful]

Fuss? If it is an issue between two governments, then why won't they invite that government. Why are they just inviting local admims under the Somalia. The whole issue here is that they refuse to acknowledge NW Somalia.

[General Duke]

^^^JB: You are not making any sense, there is no fuss about Payne, he just told us what we all knew. Since the war Somalia has three regions, Puntland, Somaliland and the South. He also stated that the region of Puntland and the reps of the south want US support and assitance and it seems the other region wants to be a spoiler and isolate themselves. That he will help that region isolate itself. so whats the fuss?