SOMALIA: Failure in curbing the advances of the Somaliland secessionists

[NASSIR]

SOMALIA: Failure in curbing the advances of the Somaliland secessionists

 

Mohamed A. Elmi

 

July 5, 2010

 

As concerned Somali expats we are dealing with a complex set of problems in our quest for an ideal future for perpetual peace and prosperity through an overarching vision nourished by benevolent objectives and specific guidelines. We understand and consider the need for further research and study of the strengths of Somali cultural identity, political union, good governance and untapped natural resources. The scientific improvement of such crucial items is knowledgeably impeded by the continual fragmentation of Somalis into clan-inspired mini states and dominions.

 

Looking at the scale of measurement thus far, still running negatives for the indicators of our absolute social values are apparent injustice, cruelty, regressive political expression and self-destruction. That it might take beyond our lifetime to cut the social and economic deficit is a serious consideration unless the international community of states alters its outright negligence about the baleful conditions under which Somalia throttles in.

 

The Northern (Somalia) dilemma

While the South suffers under the weight of proxy wars, the North is routinely classified as relatively calm. Of the recent lopsided coverage of the presidential election in "Somaliland, a new description entered the Somali conflict. For instance, ” Ballots vs. bullets" has been recently coined to draw a stark and unfair contrast between the North and the South of Somalia, respectively, while leaving the dire situation and conflict in Las Anod city and environs out of the spectrum of the political discussion.

 

It is praiseworthy that Prof. Mohamed Said Gees and his highly valued research organization, the Academy for Peace and Development (APD) pioneered and sustained the democratic process of "Somaliland" like the strengthening of the multi-party system, voter registration, constitutional law, how to develop and sustain peace and consensus among Somali communities, but it is not largely enough if it encourages and advances, in its publications, reports and academic books (commissioned by the UNICEF and the UK Government), the dismemberment of Somalia. On the other hand, the political reality in the North (Somaliland) gives us a different perspective. Fascist thoughts and behavior are tolerated and advanced in public spheres, schools and around government circles. For instance, the history of the SNM movement was officially proposed (though later reversed) to be part of the academic curriculum in Primary and Elementary schools. A die-hard secessionist would openly glorify the atrocities committed against the people of much of Sool, Ayn, Haylan, and Sanaag regions by the SNM guerilla fighters as justified means to “freedom”, and to secure the right to secede from the bulk of Somalia. The last authoritarian regime’s resort, however, to brutal force and bad policies had had dire consequences on every Somali citizen in almost equal measure until its collapse.

 

Inspired by a British colonial legacy, "Somaliland" declared an “independence” from itself, but the international media often ignores this fact. It also ignores how this entity emerged from the wreckage of the collapsed state of Somalia and how it superimposes its political aspirations---warped as it may---on the regions of Maakhir Territory (made up of much of Sanaag, Haylan and western Bari regions) without any ground forces to manifest for its bogus claims. Though, always and successfully, challenged, the claim to Maakhir Territory is her propaganda asset in her desire to balance and seek a legal personality status with rights and privileges as a new member of the international community. I am surprised the secessionist "government" is under no international pressure to retreat from its narrow political agenda, which might set a precedent or a "contagion" effect for this volatile, Horn of Africa, region.

 

International Economic Integration

Even though the rise of secessionist sentiments and clamor for statehood in the areas around Bur'o, Berbera, and Hargeisa, a.k.a the Triangle, is well reported, the region has not proven to be economically viable as it lags behind Puntland and the rest of Somalia in trade volume and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the private sector, according to a comparative analysis by the World Bank, collected data of the revenues between the ports of Berbera and Bosaso. With the exception of Sanaag and Sool regions, both of which are well-documented (Somalia, The Petroleum Economist, 1991) to have large deposits of oil and minerals besides marvelous greeneries in the Calmadow plateau, the secessionist-controlled areas are less endowed with such resources. "Somaliland" does not even fit Robert Gurr's 'Global View of Ethnopolitical Conflicts’, which states, "Smallness can be an asset in the division of labor in the modern world, where economies are linked through international transactions.” The secessionist "government" also parlays the benign assistance from the U.N and related aid agencies into serious political advantages. A central government that would have applied a much-needed break against the parochial excess of one-clan secession is long dead, suspended or absent.

 

Moreover, fueling the violence and the anarchy in Mogadisho are part of "Somaliland's" best strategy to dismember Somalia.

 

The Double Standards of the International Action and Media

 

With the exception of al-Jazeera, other major news agencies such as Reuters and AFP rely mostly on local news sites and personal interviews with politicians in favor of Somalia's dismemberment. The al-Jazeera reporter, Mohamed Adow, was reported to have been detained after giving a brief coverage of an armed clash near Las Anod. His story was picked up, distributed and published at several international newspapers. Human rights violations, for instance, is systematically bypassed and news of a voter registrations process (with much irregularity) and presidential polls given credibility. The opinion of various not-for profits European organizations under the role of a self-styled international observers along with "Somaliland" individuals from the UK Somali Diaspora declared the "election" to be free and fair. It was business as usual--new jobs and opportunity to build up their resumes and win potential lucrative contracts from donors and the states in which they are registered. In retrospect, Shameless deals with foreign non-state actors over our national resources for a mere payment--less worth of public expectation--or much lower than the its intrinsic value--have been the "positive" news of Somalia. Unfair deals are traded on popular stock exchanges in Australia and Europe. These are examples of the business of the inevitable third-party intervention in Somalia. The support of one group at the expense of another is how the policies of divide and rule in Africa are still employed and maintained by the powers that be.

 

I recall once reading a good article about Somalia from the Foreign Affairs magazine. It argued for the promotion of a bottom-up approach as a viable solution to Somalia's political and economic crisis. One of its interesting policy prescriptions or recommendations was that it called for either the U.N or the U.S to launch a national deposit fund that doubles almost in half for every dollar every Somali region receives as a remittance from Europe and America. The money will be used to encourage local initiatives and traditional models of governance. At the moment, all the significant financial support and blind attention that Somalia gets have been unfairly given to three entities, one of which is the Transitional Federal Government Somalia (TFG)--the main recipient, while both Puntland" and "Somaliland" have been granted financial incentives to play minor roles for the International Community such as the war against piracy, international terrorism, and the promotion of human rights and democratic principles, though they abuse the responsibility that comes with such collaboration--almost routinely, in their hostile dealings with Maakhir regions.

 

By Mohamed A. Elmi,

ahafinance@gmail.com

San Diego, CA

[NASSIR]

The Double Standards of the International Action and Media

 

With the exception of al-Jazeera, other major news agencies such as Reuters and AFP rely mostly on local news sites and personal interviews with politicians in favor of Somalia's dismemberment. The al-Jazeera reporter, Mohamed Adow, was reported to have been detained after giving a brief coverage of an armed clash near Las Anod. His story was picked up, distributed and published at several international newspapers. Human rights violations, for instance, is systematically bypassed and news of a voter registrations process (with much irregularity) and presidential polls given credibility. The opinion of various not-for profits European organizations under the role of a self-styled international observers along with "Somaliland" individuals from the UK Somali Diaspora declared the "election" to be free and fair. It was business as usual--new jobs and opportunity to build up their resumes and win potential lucrative contracts from donors and the states in which they are registered. In retrospect, Shameless deals with foreign non-state actors over our national resources for a mere payment--less worth of public expectation--or much lower than the its intrinsic value--have been the "positive" news of Somalia. Unfair deals are traded on popular stock exchanges in Australia and Europe. These are examples of the business of the inevitable third-party intervention in Somalia. The support of one group at the expense of another is how the policies of divide and rule in Africa are still employed and maintained by the powers that be.

[Che -Guevara]

I just posted something.It magically disappeared?

[NASSIR]

SOURCE

[NASSIR]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

I just posted something.It magically disappeared?

lol@Che, Even the well-respected Rage Omar showed his biases for his clan's enclave.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

what seems to be the problem dear nassir, so now the media is biased

[Thankful]

Oh no, according to Xaaji the media is not Bias, I guess Fox News is not bias. So when I post horseednet and Garoweonline it's not bias either??

 

Raage is from NW Somalia, enough said!

[NASSIR]

Xaaji, it is about the inevitable third party intervention that adds another layer of complexity into Somali conflict, and the international media, swayed by the influence of the extremists in the south, are swayed by false notions of democracy in the north.

[NASSIR]

There was, for example, the reported distribution of false voter ID cards and widespread underage voting around the town of Borama near the Ethiopian border, home territory of President Dahir Riyale Kahin. There were problems in the regions of Sool and eastern Sanaag, where some clan leaders are unenthusiastic about Somaliland and where Puntland, another part of Somalia that asserts its autonomy, lays claim to territory.

 

Source: The Economist

This is the only credible news from the Economist, and it is still biased in favor of the secessionists.

[Che -Guevara]

OK-I found out why my post was deleted

 

Nassir....I think it's easy to use the clan card as means to discredit anyone in Somalia.Undoubtedly, tribalism plays prominent role in all Somali "politics" but the secessionists have with greater degree of success framed and nurtured a message that depicts secessionist enclave as the ONLY Somali haven where peace and prosperity thrive-bastion of democracy and stability where good governance and the rule of law prevail;where government institutions and private enterprise have taken root; and model of sensible Western democracy beautiful contrast to land ravaged by war and to be engulfed by Al-Qaida style "Islamist". What is needed is well-thought message that repudiates the secessionists' claims on the merits of their movements qualifications which has been greatly enhanced by the latest election; an election widely accepted and certified as being fair and free by those that matter in the greater geopolitical arena.

 

Any counter message must be followed by tangible action.Maakhir to me and I say this with great degree respect to you is just bunch of frontier towns and villages that lack proper administration and security.It is vast and seemingly empty land (compared to urban centers of Hargeysa, Burca, and Boroma) with no real economic viability and security guarantee.A proper administration and uniformed regular security forces are needed to dispel this image. Democratization process however imperfect must be initiated in Puntland. This is palatable alternative and good counter bunch to the secessionist movement.All this must be complemented by move away from "SSC/Maakhir vs. Somaliland, Puntland vs. Somaliland or "Traingle" (read qabiil) vs. Cowke infamous Block to move towards to legitimate opposition to secessionists in Hargeysa within former British Protectorate (legally dead entity that can not be resuscitated) .Any such opposition's message must echo that of the larger Somali population so that this is not just one reer Hebel against the other.

 

Unionists must also identify elements within Somaliland population that oppose secession but are simply afraid or outnumbered to express their views openly.

 

Anyhow to sum it up,the secessionists are learning their BTJX but we are still swinging from tree branch to another.

 

P.S. Rageh is reporter and is always looking for the next great story.Somaliland presents the next opportunity for great story, rather him than some Western report I say. And it should be noted he always present the fact Somaliland is secessionist enclave, that Somalia is his country, and that his family lives in self-declared state.

[NASSIR]

I had a western journalist contact me by e-mail. Won't mention his name but he seems to be pretty much aware of the Somali politics.

 

 

I do understand the clan politics from an overview. Also, I talked to Somaliland's Ministrer of Justice who is Dolbahante from Las Anod, about Sool. And like so many others he said the dispute was inflated by the foreign media. But at the same time, Somaliland took Las Anod by force those months, pointing out that they fear the border issue is the only reason Britain, and others, are afraid to recognize their independence.

 

Like you I worry that any recognition of Somaliland will cause severe troubles for the Maakhir/Sanag and Sool regions.

But at the same time, the Somaliland government has performed so much more responsibly to its people and to its development than the TFG, so they are adamant about forcing their independence. If you're busy, I understand. I mainly wanted another expert opinion on the subject to make sure that as a foreigner I'm understanding the Sanag/Maakhir situation correctly.

Oodweyne and Che Guevara, I'll get back to u later.

[Saalax]

nonsense walle nothing new just another mad rage from allsanaag authors.

[Chief_Aaqil]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

OK-I found out why my post was deleted

 

Nassir....I think it's easy to use the clan card as means to discredit anyone in Somalia.Undoubtedly, tribalism plays prominent role in all Somali "politics" but the secessionists have with greater degree of success framed and nurtured a message that depicts secessionist enclave as the ONLY Somali haven where peace and prosperity thrive-bastion of democracy and stability where good governance and the rule of law prevail;where government institutions and private enterprise have taken root; and model of sensible Western democracy beautiful contrast to land ravaged by war and to be engulfed by Al-Qaida style "Islamist". What is needed is well-thought message that repudiates the secessionists' claims on the merits of their movements qualifications which has been greatly enhanced by the latest election; an election widely accepted and certified as being fair and free by those that matter in the greater geopolitical arena.

 

Any counter message must be followed by tangible action.Maakhir to me and I say this with great degree respect to you is just bunch of frontier towns and villages that lack proper administration and security.It is vast and seemingly empty land (compared to urban centers of Hargeysa, Burca, and Boroma) with no real economic viability and security guarantee.A proper administration and uniformed regular security forces are needed to dispel this image. Democratization process however imperfect must be initiated in Puntland. This is palatable alternative and good counter bunch to the secessionist movement.All this must be complemented by move away from "SSC/Maakhir vs. Somaliland, Puntland vs. Somaliland or "Traingle" (read qabiil) vs. Cowke infamous Block to move towards to legitimate opposition to secessionists in Hargeysa within former British Protectorate (legally dead entity that can not be resuscitated) .Any such opposition's message must echo that of the larger Somali population so that this is not just one reer Hebel against the other.

 

Unionists must also identify elements within Somaliland population that oppose secession but are simply afraid or outnumbered to express their views openly.

 

Anyhow to sum it up,the secessionists are learning their BTJX but we are still swinging from tree branch to another.

 

P.S. Rageh is reporter and is always looking for the next great story.Somaliland presents the next opportunity for great story, rather him than some Western report I say. And it should be noted he always present the fact Somaliland is secessionist enclave, that Somalia is his country, and that his family lives in self-declared state.

A cry for Revolution on SOL?

[Chief_Aaqil]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

Maakhir to me and I say this with great degree respect to you is just bunch of frontier towns and villages that lack proper administration and security.It is vast and seemingly empty land (compared to urban centers of Hargeysa, Burca, and Boroma) with no real economic viability and security guarantee.

I think is insulting and it shows that you do not care about the people of Maakhir, your only interested in bashing Somaliland.

[Xudeedi]

This piece sheds light on many valid pieces and the author did an overall great analysis that highlights the dire need for an alternative administration in the north.

 

While the South suffers under the weight of proxy wars, the North is routinely classified as relatively calm. Of the recent lopsided coverage of the presidential election in "Somaliland, a new description entered the Somali conflict. For instance, ” Ballots vs. bullets" has been recently coined to draw a stark and unfair contrast between the North and the South of Somalia, respectively, while leaving the dire situation and conflict in Las Anod city and environs out of the spectrum of the political discussion.

They "gloom" with the misery of Somalia. Uninformed western media routinely draw unfair comparisons, a methodology engineered by Northwestern clan chauvanist.

 

Very Well Written Indeed