Somaliland’s Unity is at risk if Kulmiye is re-elected

[Deeq A.]

 

The unity and the cohesiveness of the peoples of Somaliland are at risk for the first since 1991, if Kulmiye was to re-elect for the upcoming election! Without trying to bore you much of the history of Somaliland, it is worth saying that Somaliland had its fair share of the terrible that engulfed in Somalia since in 1990s. However, it has managed to overcome much of its mayhem, unlike the rest of Somalia. It has been argued, the stability that existing in Somaliland is down to its inhabitancies that have chosen peace over turmoil.

 

Although, many Somaliland people are living an abject poverty and they don’t even have sufficient clean water, better health care system and good education system. Nevertheless, people were always hoping for better future. Much of this optimism has changed since Kulmiye was elected into power in 2010; hence, the incumbent President took office.

 

Historically, the Somali people have very strong tribe affiliation but it is the duty of the incumbent government to try to keep people together in order to create a civil pride. It has been said by many commentators that never in the history of Somaliland, we have seen a government that is willing to divide its people rather than bring them together as one nation. For instance, looking back for the first cabinet that the incumbent President has appointed were mainly filled by people from two tribes (Habar awal and Habar Jeclo) whilst leaving no political representation in the cabinet foe the inhabitancies of Sool and Awdal regions. Even other people within Isaaq tribes were feeling that they have been marginalised politically for the first time and they too felt that they didn’t have a stake from their own country.

 

Likewise, majority of government contracts were given to people close to the President’s own family, for example, the Somaliland government has procured up to 9 million dollars from the government of Qatar after the President was elected in 2010. This money was meant to be spent on building the country’s infrastructures such as airports. Instead of dividing the money according the needs of the country, the government says that they are going to build Hargeisa and Barbera Airports. Hence, the contract was given to someone who is close family to the incumbent President. The man who the contract was awarded was not a qualified Engineer nor has built anything in his life, let along building Airports. Instead, he got Engineers from India, he also bought equipments such as bulldoze and other equipments with the money he got from the government. It was said, this man has spent much of the 9 million before he even start the project.

 

Equally, the government stated that they have built up to 200 water wells since 2010 but much of these wells were built the president own region. Indeed, this has created animosity among the people who have for the first time start questioning direction their country. Subsequently, massive number young people have started leaving the country in search for better life. Under Kulmiye, the country has experienced lack of leadership and the President’s duties were taken people who have not been elected by the people of Somaliland such as the Presidential Minister Mohamoud Hashi and the incumbent President’s wife Amina Waris who have been running the nations for the past 7 years. It the first time that a Minister or the wife of the President was firing hiring Ministers, this is completely unconstitutional.

 

The people of Somaliland are already divided through tribe affiliation and it can’t afford to have a leader who will be dividing them even further. The country needs someone who can unite the nation and tapping the aspiration of the people so that they can achieve their full potential without being subject to prejudices that comes with tribe affiliation. The unity and harmony of the people Somaliland are at stake if Kulmiye was to re-elect the upcoming election at the backdrop of recent tribal conference that was held in Buro. People won’t be accepting as their President someone endorsed by two tribes rather than the wishes of majority of Somaliland.

 

A government lead by Mr Bihi will find hard to govern the country, and many people will resent the idea of President Bihi. Somaliland is undoubtedly in a cross road now and by electing a divided figure will lead a period political turbulence, and I don’t think Somaliland will be able to survive a political unrest now given the current political situation on the horn of Africa.

 

Abdi Adan

UK