To Awdal Region
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Mowliid Magare – Seattle, USA
Hargeisa was the middle ground for all the three politically
contested parties in the presidential election, but AWDAL and
TOGDHEER became the decisive regions. These two regions are proven to
be crucial to UDUB and KULMIYE, respectively, for any election for
that matter.
Though I avoid to be caught in the middle of Somaliland “gutter
politics”, I am impelled to write, this time, about the discontent of
Awdalians with President Rayale's government, and the cloak of
disappointment that hangs over them – which certainly could have an
impact on the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Much has been said in the local newspapers about Rayale
administration ineptness to resolve the debilitating political
situation of Seylac district of Awdal. Seylac district is getting
politically isolated and seems to be cloistering itself with
Djibouti. President Rayale has failed to fully confront the severity
of the political crisis facing this region.
Months ago, Mr. Abdirahman Abdullahi – Awdal's Regional Commissioner,
in his visit to Seylac district for supervision and to foster
relations between majority Samaroun and minority Issa in the
district, met with stone-throwing demonstrators, spearheaded by the
Mayor of Seylac district. Mr. Abdirahman (Awdal's Regional
Commissioner), on several occasions, hosted conferences for all
district mayors; only Seylac's mayor did not attend these
conferences. This defiance is clearly an attempt not to be under the
Awdal regional administration. But whether this is a coercion from
Djibouti administration or not, remained ambiguous at the time.
“President Rayale did not try to solve the conflict. He stood by
while it continued to foment,” said one of Awdal elders.
Awdal elders and intellectuals at home have shown concern and worry
in a letter they sent to the president. In the letter, they had
appealed for an immediate attention to the situation and to reprimand
Seylac district administration, who they believe are acting as proxy
for stirring discontent among the people in the district and whose
intentions, have always been to drive a wedge among the clans - who
have been peacefully co-existing for centuries in that district.
Awdalians have long alleged Djibouti administration's influence in
the district, even before Djibouti's minister of interior paid visit
to the district. And now, Awdalians has seen this cross-border visit
(unofficial) as a pretentious claim to Seylac by Djibouti
administration, and a token of an unprecedented cross-border
influence to meddle in the internal affairs of an independent
Somaliland.
Another palpable and bigger issue was the lack of support from
Rayale's government to the district of Lughaya, when recently
rainfall flooding caused a lot of property and material damage to its
residents. Even the road connecting Borama, the capital of Awdal, to
Hargeisa district as the ONLY economic aspiration for the region,
while the road to Djibouti is unusable, remains a daily challenge for
traders, businessmen, and women. Whether Awdalian discontent with
Rayale’s government means more votes for Kulmiye and a blow to UDUB
remains in question. Awdalians have already shown to be a core UDUB
constituency, but if these concerns– still simmering, remain
unattended to before the election, I think Awdalian votes will
shift away from UDUB party – and that will give Kulmiye chance to
defeat Rayale in his own region in the upcoming parliamentary
election.
I personally view Awdal Region as the pillar to Rayale’s party (UDUB)
– and his abandonment policy towards this crucial region as a snub to
all Awdalians.
“He doesn’t realize how many Awdalians he is thumbing his nose at,”
said a friend, who recently returned from Awdal.
It is important for President Rayale and his party to avoid having
huge turnouts in favor for Kulmiye in this crucial region, if he and
his party want to survive.
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