The Other Horn of Africa By A. M. Silyano

[Wiil Cusub]

 

HARGEISA – Drought, famine, refugees, piracy, and the violence and terrorism endemic to the shattered city of Mogadishu, a capital ruined by civil war: these are the images that flash through peoples’ minds nowadays when they think of the Horn of Africa. Such perceptions, however, are not only tragically one-sided; they are short-sighted and dangerous.

 

Behind the stock images of a region trapped in chaos and despair, economies are growing, reform is increasingly embraced, and governance is improving. Moreover, with Yemen’s government imploding across the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa’s strategic significance for maritime oil transport has become a primary global security concern. In short, the Horn of Africa is too important to ignore or to misunderstand.

 

Of course, no one should gainsay the importance of combating famine, piracy, and terrorist groups like the radical and murderous Al-Shabaab. But, at the same time, we have seen my homeland, Somaliland, witness its third consecutive free, fair, and contested presidential election. And Ethiopia has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with GDP up 10.9% year on year in 2010-2011, rivaling China and leading Africa. Indeed, Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world poised to meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals on time and in full in 2015.

 

In the wider region, too, things are looking up. South Sudan gained its independence this July at the ballot box. And Uganda has discovered large new deposits of oil and gas that will help to lift its economy.

 

All of these changes reflect the fact that the Horn of Africa’s peoples are no longer willing to be passive victims of fate and their harsh physical environment. On the contrary, they are determined to shape their destinies through modernization, investment, and improved governance.

 

After decades of stable enmities, the peoples and nations of the Horn of Africa are learning how to cooperate and align their interests. For example, Somaliland and Ethiopia are collaborating on the construction of a gas-export pipeline from Ethiopia’s ****** region, promising new jobs and income for people in one of the poorest and least developed parts of the world.

 

Although there is much that we can and will do to help ourselves, the Horn of Africa can still benefit from international assistance. But the international community needs to do more than provide food and medicine to victims of famine and drought. Necessary as that is, we need pro-growth investments that will help provide jobs for our peoples and products and resources for the world. That means focusing on promoting market economies and stable government, rather than subsidizing failure and failed states.

 

Unfortunately, at least with respect to Somaliland, this is not the case. For 20 years, ever since we re-established our independence – we had voluntarily joined with Italian Somaliland to form Somalia in 1960 – the international community has closed its eyes to the successful democracy that we have built. Even more perverse, it appears to be demanding that we abandon the peaceful, tolerant society that we have established and submit to the control of whatever government – if there even is one – rules (or misrules) the remainder of Somalia from the rubble of Mogadishu.

 

Our successful democratic experiment is being ignored in part because of a hoary ruling a half-century ago by the Organization of African Unity, the precursor to today’s African Union. Back then, with the recent demise of the colonial empires stoking fears of tribal rivalries and countless civil wars, the OAU ruled that the frontiers drawn up by the imperial powers should be respected in perpetuity.

 

That taboo still claims routine support from many African leaders. And yet Eritrea’s secession from Ethiopia did not lead to other breakaway movements in Africa. Likewise, South Sudan’s peaceful, and internationally supported, separation from Sudan has not led to new calls for Africa’s borders to be redrawn.

 

A 2005 report by Patrick Mazimhaka, a former AU deputy chairman, cast heavy doubt on the application of this rule in Somaliland. As Mazimhaka pointed out, the union in 1960 between Somaliland and Somalia, following the withdrawal of the British and Italian colonial powers, was never formally ratified. But his report has been left in a drawer ever since.

 

So when should a people be able to declare their independence and gain international recognition? The Palestinians’ decision to take their case to the UN has put this issue on the front burner. International law is of no help here; indeed, the World Court has offered only scant guidance.

 

The basic principles that I believe should prevail, and which Somaliland meets, are the following:

 

· Secession should not result from foreign intervention, and the barriers for recognizing secession must be high;

 

· Independence should be recognized only if a clear majority (well over 50%-plus-one of the voters) have freely chosen it, ideally in an unbiased referendum;

· All minorities must be guaranteed decent treatment.

 

All three of Somaliland’s parties adamantly support independence, confirmed overwhelmingly by a referendum in 2001. So there is no question of one clan or faction imposing independence on the others. Yet, although Somaliland is deepening its democracy each day, our people are paying a high price because of the lack of international recognition.

 

World Bank and European Union development money, for example, pours into the black hole that is Somalia, simply because it is the recognized government. Somalilanders, who are almost as numerous as the people of Somalia, are short-changed, getting only a fraction of the money invariably wasted by Somalia.

 

Justice demands that this change. The national interest of most of the world’s powers requires a Somaliland willing and able to provide security along its borders and in the seas off our coasts. Our people are willing. But, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, give us the tools, and the international recognition, so that we can finish the job.

 

Ahmed M. Mohamoud Silyano is President of Somaliland.

 

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011.

www.project-syndicate.org

[Yunis]

Wiil Cusub;752461 wrote:

And Ethiopia has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with GDP up 10.9% year on year in 2010-2011, rivaling China and leading Africa. Indeed, Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world poised to meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals on time and in full in 2015.

 

Somaliland and Ethiopia are collaborating on the construction of a gas-export pipeline from Ethiopia’s ****** region, promising new jobs and income for people in one of the poorest and least developed parts of the world.

 

rules (or misrules) the remainder of Somalia from the rubble of Mogadishu.

 

World Bank and European Union development money, for example, pours into the black hole that is Somalia, simply because it is the recognized government. Somalilanders,

 

You have admire Odagan waa true politician. 1/3 of the article was clear intent to pay homage to the Master of Ethiopia. The rest is Israel's play book of we are the only light in the midst of darkness...its shame all this effort is waste

[Wiil Cusub]

Yunis you see only durkside why about Israel?? what he said about Ethiopia is true

 

Ethiopia was the fastest-growing non-oil-dependent African economy in the years 2007 and 2008.[85] In spite of fast growth in recent years, GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the world

 

source wikipedia

[Abtigiis]

Why is the name of the author given as A.M Silaanyo. It is Matt Bryden. It shows.

 

Silaanyo can barely put togather two coherent sentences in his native somali, let alone in the queen's language!

[Wiil Cusub]

Abtigiis;752508 wrote:

Why is the name of the author given as A.M Silaanyo. It is Matt Bryden. It shows.

 

Silaanyo can barely put togather two coherent sentences in his native somali, let alone in the queen's language!

Abtigiis ma markuu odaygu qasanayo ee Faysal ka cadhaysiiyo ee uu UFFF ku waasho ayaad aragtay, miyanad ogayn inuu shahaadad ka qaatay Mother queen.

[xiinfaniin]

This shows the level of desperation from the secessionist camp. When rejected in the relevant regional assemblies, separatist supporters resorted to incoherent, meaningless opinion papers to persuade the world .

 

The name of the game is political stability and legal precedent. Overcome that ya guxuush

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Well said president Siilaanyo

[NGONGE]

xiinfaniin;752586 wrote:

This shows the level of desperation from the secessionist camp. When rejected in the relevant regional assemblies, separatist supporters resorted to incoherent, meaningless opinion papers to persuade the world

.

 

The name of the game is political stability and legal precedent. Overcome that ya guxuush

Like Sheikh Sharif did with the UK's Times & Guardian?

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/07/somalia-failed-state-al-qaida

[xiinfaniin]

^^There is no question in my mind that Sharif's knowledge about the world could be vastly improved

 

But his is a credible propaganda, and not like the weak argument Siilaanyo presents to the world

[Abtigiis]

Wiil Cusub;752579 wrote:

Abtigiis ma markuu odaygu qasanayo ee Faysal ka cadhaysiiyo ee uu UFFF ku waasho ayaad aragtay, miyanad ogayn inuu shahaadad ka qaatay Mother queen.

I didn't doubt Silaanyo's shahaado nor his wisdom. I just said he hasn't written that article. Not all those who know english or any other language can articulate their ideas very well. Hadalka waa lakala odhan og yahay, qoraalkuna waa sidaa.

[NGONGE]

^^ Hada ma Shariif ayaa kiisa qoray? Few leaders write their own stuff these days.

 

Xiin, you need a new crash course in political propaganda, saaxib. Kii barigee hore lago baray waa "out of date".

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Lool Abtigis saying Siilaanyo can't write a simple article in the queens Language this is the president of Somaliland you are talking about not some illiterate warlord

[Thankful]

That taboo still claims routine support from many African leaders. And yet Eritrea’s secession from Ethiopia did not lead to other breakaway movements in Africa. Likewise, South Sudan’s peaceful, and internationally supported, separation from Sudan has not led to new calls for Africa’s borders to be redrawn.

What ridiculous points to make. All these countries were in bitter wars that were fought for decades. Yet it was only until Ethiopia or Sudan were able to agree on letting the others side go that independence given to them. Now if the counter-argument will be that there is no government in Mogadishu who the secessionists are able to negotiate with - well that is even more reason not allow independence of breakway area's until you have a functioning government.

 

The basic principles that I believe should prevail, and which Somaliland meets, are the following:

 

· Secession should not result from foreign intervention, and the barriers for recognizing secession must be high;

 

· Independence should be recognized only if a clear majority (well over 50%-plus-one of the voters) have freely chosen it, ideally in an unbiased referendum;

 

· All minorities must be guaranteed decent treatment.

Whoever Siilaanyo sent this letter to is probably having a really good laugh. To be completely honest without I am almost certain this has nothing to do with the NW Somali leader. It was probably written by someone claiming to be him. It has to be!

 

Can you imagine if all you needed was "well over 50%-plus-one of the voters and all minorities be guaranteed decent treatment (whatever that means)"? I guarantee to you if it was this easy President Faroole and other regional leaders could persuade their populations to seek independence. With the help of influencial people, elders and the diaspora I am certain many areas in Somalia could meet this ridiculous criteria.

 

Everyone could just by pass the TFG.

 

Fortunately, the AU, UN and U.S (who has veto power) have made it clear. The decision must be agreed upon by both sides.

 

It quite obvious that this is the only way to avoid a domino effect.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Somaliland fought for decades two for their independence Somaliland comparable to Eritrea and South sudan the people and the government of Somaliland cannot help if Somalia turned into turmoil post 1991 that's something they need to solve.The problem with you thankful is you view the TFG as a legal entity we don't, we see them like how the international community sees them as a western backed proposed transitional government for Somalia. Somaliland dejure recognition will come from the African states and not from the failed state who as we speak are being invaded by another African neighboring country.

[Thankful]

Ok Xaaji. So lets take the TFG out of the equation and consider them as a non-legal entity.

 

I can't speak for President Faroole but from what I see, with the new Puntland flag, songs, banning the TFG officials and meeting members of other governments. It looks like he is leaning towards more autonomy for the state. I am almost certain if your enclave was recognized or even being considered, then Puntland and other area's would follow the exact same route. If these area's started holding so-called elections and others measure set out by the international community, shouldn't they be given the right for independence? The bottom line is this, if your enclave is ever even consider for recognition, then there will be many more area's in Somalia and Africa demanding the same.

 

Somaliland dejure recognition will come from the African states

Please, it will never come from African States and you know it! Those African states are coexisting with multiple ethnicities, religions, languages and races. These governments are the number one obstacle to your dreams! Because they know that the flood gates would open within their own borders.