Edna’s Foreign Ministry: Any changes or business as usual?

[Gabbal]

Edna’s Foreign Ministry: Any changes or business as usual?

 

On the morning of augus t15, the premise of the ministry of foreign affairs of Somaliland was a busy place indeed. A dozen or so ‘senior diplomats, ministers and parliamentarians’ met in the Ministry, to ostensibly analyze the ‘foreign policy’ of the republic.

Analyzing the foreign policy of a country assumes, however, the existence of such a policy in the first place, which, in turn, begs the question what is the ‘foreign policy’ of Somaliland at its present condition of non-recognition from the international community?

 

It is obvious that Somaliland’s’ foreign policy currently focuses on securing international recognition. It is equally obvious that this does not require the bringing together of a dozen or so ex-diplomats of the defunct regime of Siad Barre, to point the way ahead.

 

The confusion following the exercise was epitomized by Edna’s angry rebuke of one of the reporters of Jamhuuriya newspaper, when the reporter asked Edna how her ministry could reconcile the foreign policies of the Somali state, which the diplomats who met in the ministry long espoused, and the current ‘foreign policy’ of Somaliland. Edna retorted to the reporter ‘do not ask me that. If you [the reporter] are looking for an information, I gave you all that I had, otherwise go and write whatever you want to write in your paper’.

 

This latest exploit by miss Edna is anything but another of Edna’s emotional travails, which characterized her style of politics, since her nomination for the key post of the foreign ministry.

 

After her nomination for the foreign portfolio, many people argued, including me, that Edna was misplaced and that, as a British trained nurse, Edna could have done as well with the ministry of health and labor. However, this was not to question Edna’s talents, her strict work ethic, her mastery of several foreign languages and her humanitarian activities.

 

Since her appointment, Edna rehabilitated and painted the former NSS building of the ministry (She painted it with a white a color; a color Edna has it painted also on her private Maternity Hospital in Hargiesa). The ministry also received some personal computers form donors. However, no attempt was made to evaluate the 36 or so employees, including those in the liaison offices abroad. And as there is no much to do in the offices, many of the employees in the ministry come to office only at the end of the month, to collect the meager salary.

 

Nor are the employees in the liaison offices abroad appointed in any way on the basis of merit, experience or education. Rather they are appointed on the basis of their tribal affiliations to the president or to the ministries. Recently, for instance, Dahir Riyale appointed, to the amusement of many, a Gadabursi relative as an agricultural attaché to the Somaliland Liaison office in Ethiopia!!

 

As foreign minister, Edna clearly lacks even a rudimentary understanding of international politics and diplomacy in this twenty first century. In an IRIN interview on July this year, Edna undiplomatically declared that Somaliland is going to be recognized before the year is out. By speaking in this bold manner, Edna unforgivably put her credit on the line.

 

The high level delegation to Ethiopia led by Riyale in August, which also included Edna, was a diplomatic disaster in terms. While the delegation was still in the Ethiopian capital, the Ethiopian minister of information, in an interview with IRIN, said that ‘Ethiopia’s interests lie in unifying the war ravaged state’. In diplomatic terms, this was a clear humiliation for the delegation and a complete U-turn of Ethiopian foreign policy towards Somaliland, that is, if there was such a separate policy in the first place.

 

Recently, there were speculations to the effect that South Africa is going to recognize Somaliland. As a student of international relations, I highly doubt that South Africa can even afford to contemplate such a controversial step in African diplomacy. If anything, there is the female sympathy that the South African Foreign Minister (or is it the vice- minister?) has for her female counterpart in Somaliland, and no more. Needless to say female sympathies never led to recognition of states in history.

 

Any changes? Not much to speak of, I am afraid. It is almost business as usual in the ministry.

 

Mowliid Abdillahi

[Gabbal]

Sorry to say dear Oodweyne no recognition is coming now that that the U.S has made it's position clearer.

 

 

 

Press Statement

Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

Washington, DC

September 22, 2003

 

Somalia Peace Process

2003/948

 

The United States commends the ongoing work of Somali leaders and civil society representatives to achieve reconciliation through the Somalia Reconciliation Conference hosted by the Kenyan government. Events over the past week have demonstrated that Somali leaders have the ability to work through their differences and achieve workable compromises. Much more remains to be done to develop a lasting peace and sustainable government, but reconciliation at this time will ensure the development of a representative parliament as a critical step in the process.

 

The United States urges all parties to continue advancing the reconciliation process in a real and meaningful way. The United States further urges all participants to ensure those critical activities in the process, especially the selection of members of parliament, be carried out in a transparent manner.

 

 

[End]

[BN]

Originally posted by Mr Oodweyne.:

 

In, conclusion, dear hornAfrique, rest assure, that somaliland will be receiving it's bilateral legal recognition on the Autumn of this year from several countries, at precisely in November of this year, I even know the name of the first country, the exact date in that month of november that this will be announce, at even the name of the minister of that country that will announce the recognition of his country towards Somaliland Republic, I even know at which city he will be in when that said minister announce that crucial information (it will be in Hargeisa!!) as well as how many nation in total that will be recognising the somaliland statehood all in all within this "Autumn" of this year.

LoL. You sound very sure of yourself. Shall we start calling you "Ms. Cleo"? I'll be sure to hold you to that claim. And what will you do if this scheduled recognition does not take place?

[Gabbal]

You flatter me dear Oodweyne , I live in Seattle, Washingtion, U.S.A, although I believe we've striked a good enough (as the english would say) bloody relationship, haven't we?

 

Fair enough I will wait untill the middle of November to see if Caano iyo Malab has fallen from the sky for "Somaliland" and you

 

Although I am curious to ask, will I be invited to your exclusive " recognition Independence Day bash?

 

Just wanted to add that I loved your metaphor here;

 

your desire for the "Retention" of greater somalia state ideology is so encompassingly overwhelming, that you're seriously in danger of loosing the trees for the woods!! in a broad day light under the searing sun

[rudy-Diiriye]

gentelmen! all i see here is regional cheer leaders! i just dont get this concept of dizzing each other like this! we are all grown up ppl! and u see what is going in the rest of the world!

germany become nation! which is correct i believe all germans should be one nations. so let me ask u folks, why cant we, as somalis, become one nation and fuss like lil kids! r u folks talking heads, meaning paid to be a spinner

for certain politicans!! i am confused so help me out! all i am saying is this, forget about this corrupt bs politicans and think about your ppl... its has been over a decade since the old regime went away, and all i see here is the same ole game in rotation!...let get real if we care about our ppl and do the right thing. by the way,

i will protesting mrs adna's visit to la to let her that i am satified with her govt..peace