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NASSIR

How the UK gov't supports the secessionist authority against the wishes of Katumites and Makhiris

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NASSIR   

The main reason why Khatumo and Makhir states have been in predicament..

 

We also strongly object to the channelling of the allocated fund for the
Sool and Sanaag regions
through the secessionist authority of the north-west. By doing so we feel that UNOSOM violates both United Nations
Security Council resolution 897 (1994)
and the recommendations of the donors at the fourth humanitarian conference held in Addis Ababa in December 1993.

UNOSOM’s response
concerning this subject was that
it was pressured by the United Kingdom Government
through its mission at United Nations Headquarters.

Source: http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/missionreports/1245e.pdf

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NASSIR   

February 10, 2011.

The armed clashes at Kalshaale between Sool, , Sanaag and Cayn pro-union supporters and Somaliland’s pro-secession forces coincided with the publication in the Daily Telegraph of Wikileaks cables about UK ASSISTANCE TO POLICE SPECIAL PROTECTION UNIT AND COAST GUARD in Somaliland . “The UK is funding training to the Somaliland Special Protection Unit (SPU), a branch of the police force, at the level of GBP 375,000 (USD 600,000) in the current fiscal year and GBP 230,000 (USD 368,000) in the next. In order to increase the UK’s and international community’s ability to access Somaliland, the UK is providing training to the Somaliland Special Protection Unit (SPU), a branch of the police force. The UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) personnel will focus the training on 450 police officers and will implement the training in three phases. Phase one, beginning in March 2010, will train approximately 40 officers in Ethiopia for five weeks.” wrote a Robin Quinville, a political counselor on 2/12/2010.

 

The British policy towards Somaliland is in sharp contrast with America’s dual-track policy of engaging the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and autonomous administrations such as Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug and Ximan iyo Xeeb. Before the publication of Wikileaks documents on Somaliland, the funder behind Somaliland forces being trained in Ethiopia was unknown. Prime Minister Meles Senawi of Ethiopia pledged support for Somaliland security forces when Somaliland president, Ahmed Silanyo, paid a visit to Ethiopia last year.

 

Britain hosts more than 200,000 Somali refugees and a large community of Somali-born British citizens . Pro-union and pro-secession communities constitute a large number of the Somali Diaspora in the United Kingdom. “ I believe the British government is not evenhanded in its support for people in what was known as British Somaliland. Has Somaliland made assurances that British aid will not be used for clan warfare?” asks Ali J. Hassan, a pro-union Somali from Sool region in northern Somalia. “We will write to our MPs to ask for clarification about the British taxpayers ‘money for Somaliland whose forces attacked peaceful civilians,” says Ali.

 

In another Wikileaks cable on Somaliland dated 8/8/2008 and posted on the Daily Telegraph website on 4/2/2011, political counselor Richard mills wrote: “ There is no evidence to indicate that HMG[ Her Majesty’s Government] will recognize Somaliland as an independent nation, especially with HMG officials focused on promoting a foreign policy that will help stabilize south Somalia and support the Djibouti Agreement.” The only flaw in this Wikileaks quote is that Djibouti Agreement was not existence in August 2008. Talks between Transitional Federal Government and a wing of the Asmara-based Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia were being organised.

 

Foreign and Commonwealth Office faces the task of ensuring that British assistance for Somalia’s regions is not used for clan warfare.

 

Liban Ahmad

libahm@gmail.com

 

Liban Ahmad is the author of Map of Confusion: Somaliland, Puntland and people of Sool region of Somalia (2006)

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NASSIR   

Che, The UK government seems , at the time, to be receptive to a new beginning from its old ways, but we won't forget and forgive what it has done to our regions.

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The UK has not done anything to 'your' regions that hasn't done by 'you'. Every Somali is in the predicament that they are in today because that's where they want to be. We really give the foreign powers more power than they actually have.

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NASSIR   

Che, You should know better given its colonial history and present involvement of the northern regions. HOWEVER, Makhiris are in between anarchy and secession. They are quite holding the torch of Somali unity and the main force opposed to the principal of Somali unity intact (History teaches us that British Somaliland came into political and administrative region right after protection treaties).

 

To forestall anarchy and entrenched distrust btw Somalia's clans and STOP the secession, Makhir proponents promote federalism. Some of us argue Puntland is where they can achieve this noble national objective. Others like I campaign for an independent Maakhir State whereas other individuals are in the middle or lean towards the secessionist authority in Hargeisa. On the other hand, Maakhiris' support and strategic alliance with their closest kith and kin (that means Puntland) have inevitably led to obstacles and internal issues and regional adversaries such as Ethiopia

The dual-track policy proposed by the United States could still serve as the basis of a noble goal worth pursuing. And it might give a better chance to the new polity of Somalia away from the current hopelessness and undemocratic centralization.

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The Sage   

Che -Guevara;788189 wrote:
The UK has not done anything to 'your' regions that hasn't done by 'you'. Every Somali is in the predicament that they are in today because that's where they want to be. We really give the foreign powers more power than they actually have.

Got to agree with Che on this. What's happening today is not their doing. Trying to find a scapegoat for one's problems isn't the best way to find a lasting solution.

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NASSIR   

The Sage, You should know 40% of UK's aid to Somalia goes to Hargeisa. If that is not tipping the balance in favor of the secessionist authority I don't know what it is.

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NGONGE   

NASSIR;788187 wrote:
Che, The UK government seems , at the time, to be receptive to a new beginning from its old ways, but we won't forget and forgive what it has done to our regions.

Nonsense. The UK government, if anything, is carrying on with its old policy of assisting Somaliland but waiting for others to recognise it first. In fact, looking at the recent debate in the UK parliament and the exchanges that took place between the MPS (with mostly pro SL MPs having the lion share of the discussion) it seems that the UK is about to spring a surprise in this upcoming conference.

 

- The British FM has confirmed that the newly appointed ambassador to Somalia has no business to do with SL and that things will still remain to be done through the embassy in Addis.

 

- The British are happy to make a distinction between SL & Somalia when discussing both sides.

 

- The British confirm that the only thing stopping them from recognising Somaliland are accusations of colonialist meddling and insist that African countries should be the first to do so. However, what's the betting that they'll take the opportunity to convince, pressure and persuade some of the 50 countries attending the conference to look sympathetically upon the SL case?

 

- The British set up the Somaliland Development Corporation and (for maximum publicity and reach) will launch it a DAY before the conference commences.

 

The coming days will show what the British government has up her sleeve. If the publicity for the conference (which is bound to be intensified as the date approaches) portrays SL as a progressive, peaceful and a promising democracy then we’ll know that the inevitable stitch up is on the Somali Republic. However, if it at all mentions the temporary meteor showers that are Khaatumo, Awadal & Maakhir then the stitch up may just be on the Somaliland Republic. As things stand though, I would bet on option one being the correct one.

In addition, with the expected bickering between the many Somali factions attending this conference SL has a great opportunity to maintain its aloofness and subtly point to the collection of primitive partners the world is forcing them to work with. Furthermore (and with the possible assistance of the Brits and others), it can mingle amongst the many invited guests and build up a contact list that may help it in the near future (and the Turkey conference) if not in the immediate future.

 

All in all, the signs are much more positive than many of the naysayers think. Don’t let the recent sparks mesmerize you just yet Nassir. SL is in a very good place, fellow citizen.

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Taleexi   

Reviving and breathing life into a dying ideology clearly a zealot would obtain from a temporary comfort but all the signs show that the political landscape of the north has been altered permanently and resetting to its former state is like a girl who lost her virginity yet longing to restore it.

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Mario B   

The UK government, if anything, is carrying on with its old policy of assisting Somaliland but waiting for others to recognise it first.

 

-------------

 

They're waiting for who? The Dutch, Ethiopia... Israel? Ha ha ha .....

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