Somaliland – AU and IGAD need to engage with preventive diplomac

[Jacaylbaro]

Somaliland has made notable progress in building peace, security and constitutional democracy within its de facto borders. Hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people have returned home, tens of thousands of landmines have been removed and destroyed, and clan militias have been integrated into unified police and military forces.

 

A multi-party political system and successive competitive elections have established Somaliland as a rarity in the Horn of Africa and the Muslim world. The African Union (AU) needs to engage in preventive diplomacy now, laying the groundwork for resolution of the dispute before it becomes a confrontation from which either side views violence as the only exit. As part of the process to achieve free and fair elections, Somaliland Election Commission is registering the voters electronically using biometric technology. This will eliminate the possibility of duplicate in the elections.

 

Somaliland is committed to democracy development, but how long will Somaliland keep upgrading democracy without diplomatic support from AU and IGAD? If the world recognizes Somaliland, then Somaliland will contribute in democracy building, human rights promotion, and war on terror and better civil societies.

 

AU and IGAD need to play very positive role in Somaliland democracy building, and grant diplomatic recognition, because Somalia failed and there is nothing to hold back Somaliland. World, including USA and EU, expressed their interest in Somaliland, but maintained their policy of not recognizing any African country before AU does. US Assistant Undersecretary for African Affairs Dr. Frazer expressed her country’s interest in Somaliland.

 

"We are very interested in working with Somaliland authority but AU is the right body to decide the faith of its member – means Somaliland – and USA will only recognize Somaliland if AU does." Dr. Frazer said during her visit to Hargiesa, the Capital of Somaliland.

 

Meanwhile, AU and IGAD are trying to install government in Mogadishu, Somalia for last 20 years. AU organized 14 Peace Conferences for Somalis to settle their differences but all these ended with failure. So, how long will AU and IGAD hold Somaliland hostage for failed Somalia? Somalia is in Comma, and Allah knows when it will recover.

 

According to AU and IGAD, Somaliland should wait Somalia until coming back from the comma, even if it takes another 100 years. This is not fair judgment, in which AU and IGAD should recalculate their plan.

 

IGAD member states have interest in Somaliland; Ethiopia has diplomatic office in Hargiesa, Ethiopian Banks are functioning across Somaliland, and even Ethiopian Government utilizes Berbera Port as their major access to the Sea. Ethiopian Banks connect Somaliland businessmen to outside world, because Somalilanders cannot do business with rest of the world due to diplomatic embargo on Somaliland by AU and IGAD. Also, Djibouti, with its blood and cultural link to Somaliland, enjoys very warm relations with Somaliland authorities. Both Somaliland and Djibouti authorities exchanged diplomatic missions, and Somaliland has diplomatic Office in Djibouti and vice versa too.

 

Stability and security in Somaliland helped UNDP and UNHCR to relocate thousands of Somali refuges into Somaliland, in coordination with Somaliland Rehabilitation Ministry. Somaliland secured its regional sea water, as there are no pirates in Somaliland water unlike the neighboring Somalia, in which piracy is most lucrative business. Somaliland cooperated with US and International Forces in the region to destroy the piracy in the region, including intelligence information exchange.

 

Somaliland formed flourishing economy, where thousands of livestock are exported to Middle East and Europe, in addition other locally produced goods. Somaliland have trade link with majority of IGAD member states and Arab countries. However, lack of diplomatic recognition disabled the trade and forced many Somalilander businessmen to market their goods using the name of Somalia, and even travel with Somali Passport and Ethiopian Passports in many occasions.

 

Remarkably, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed Somalilanders to use Somaliland Passport during pilgrimage.

 

The freedom voice of Somaliland demand fair and free treatment from AU, IGAD, UN and Arab League, to look into their case fairly. It is not literal to hold Somaliland hostage for failed Somalia.

 

 

 

29/10 Attacks in Somaliland = 1998 US Embassy Bombing in East Africa:

 

I strongly believe that mighty of Somalilanders will triumph despite the enemy’s attacks in Hargiesa. Democracy will grow and accelerate faster, because the people of Somaliland will understand their enemies better. The attack was awakening alarm and to defuse future attacks. The system of government will build stronger and bolder from the enmity, attacks and critics.

 

The three terrorist bombings in Hargiesa on 29/10, which targeted the president, UNDP office and Ethiopian Commercial Office was planned terrorist attacks similar to that in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

 

Somaliland government suspended voter registration for ten days and declared holidays to schools and other public areas, in order to avoid further massacre in another terrorist attacks. This step is similar to that of USA during 11/9 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The terrorist can strike once in Somaliland, but will not be allowed to repeat the same.

 

Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya Arabic News Channels broadcasted video clip of suicide bombers at their residence in Hargiesa, the suicide bombers were brain-washed teenagers in mid 20’s. Some of Somali clip viewers said that suicide bombers were from southern Somalia due to their language accent.

 

The suicide bombers were very young teenagers who are been brain-washed by the terrorist masterminds including Al-Shabab top leaders. These leaders don’t carry out operations by them selves instead use the underage children to die. These leaders use these teenagers as bridge to achieve their personal interest.

 

The people of Somaliland are recovering from the destruction by the Somali government in Mogadishu in 1988, which completely destroyed the infrastructure of the country including hospitals, schools and all civil societies. 50,000 innocent citizens of Somaliland were killed by air bombing of Somali Army, and other 2 millions were displaced from their homes to UN Refuges Camps in Ethiopia.

 

Today, Somalilanders reestablished fully functioning democratic state from scratches without international and regional financial and diplomatic support. Somaliland got strong experience and capabilities to defeat terrorists, and will go after them even in Mogadishu.

 

As known, British Somaliland (Republic of Somaliland) joined Italian Somalia (Republic of Somalia) on 1st June 1960 without preconditions to form united, democratic and peaceful Somali Republic. However, such theory failed due to military coup by General Mohamed Siyad Barre (1969-1991), in which Somalilanders suffered a lot under Barre’s regime. The children, women, elderly and religious leaders were killed and displaced. Somaliland brought 50% of Somali Republic, but they were deceived in their share and got less in power sharing in Mogadishu.

 

 

By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi