Less than 3 months ago, most Somalilanders would have agreed that in the event Somaliland came under attack by a foreign aggressor, KULMIYE's leaders would have fared better in defending the country than those of UDUB. Indeed, KULMIYE as the main opposition party in Somaliland, has always not only condemned Abdillahi Yusuf’s policy of aggression toward Somaliland, but also criticized President Rayale’s government for lacking resolve in defending the country’s territorial integrity against the frequent incursions into Sool and eastern Sanag by warlord Abdillahi Yusuf's militia. However, following the recent escalation in tension between Somaliland and Abdillahi Yusuf, as a result of the latter’s invasion of Las-Anod, the response of KULMIYE's leaders has so far been an expression of lukewarm support mixed with disdain for the government’s new-found zeal in challenging Abdillahi Yusuf’s adventures in eastern Somaliland.

In practical terms, the public pledges made by KULMIYE's leaders to rally to the Somaliland government, have yet to be translated into action. In fact, when met in private, KULMIYE's leaders do not convey the impression that they will anytime soon take a pro-active approach with regard to the government’s current efforts for regaining control of Las-Anod and re-instating full sovereignty over the country’s eastern borders. On the contrary, some of the party’s articulate leaders behave in such a manner as to suggest that they would rather be delighted to see the government fail than win the campaign to drive Abdillahi Yusuf’s militia out of Somaliland’s boundaries. That some of KULMIYE’s leaders are even suspected of harboring such tendencies is disturbing and sad. It is disturbing and sad because this is after all a party whose leadership hierarchy is dominated by veterans of Somaliland’s liberation war. It is just unbelievable that individuals of such caliber would resort to political opportunism with the single aim of scoring points against the incumbent government while the country is facing an external aggression. Unfortunately, there is evidence that some of KULMIYE's leaders are still bitter about the party’s loss of the presidential election held in April 2003.

Fortunately, such bitterness is not shared by the majority of the people who voted for KULMIYE in the last presidential election. Today Somalilanders are more united than ever, and the country is experiencing a spirit of unanimity to bring Abdillahi Yusuf’s menace to an end, for good. There is broad agreement now that the Somaliland government’s policy of restraint, coupled with tightening the noose around Abdillahi Yusuf’s neck, is making good results. By contrast, Puntland's warlord is on the retreat in eastern Sanag and Sool, while his regime is crumbling from within.

The leaders of KULMIYE have to understand that this is not the time to indulge in taking delight in pouring scorn on the government. This is not the time for ducking national responsibilities because of elections lost through the ballot box. Instead, this is the time for such a promising political party as KULMIYE, to show a greater sense of leadership, responsibility and patriotism, which is the crucial prerequisite for scoring points against and unseating the ruling UDUB party in the next election. KULMIYE has to catch up with history before it is too late.

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