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By: Ahmed Hashi (Dhimbil)
Hussein Bulhan’s recent article – I believe this is his first article that I have seen in the newspapers, correct me if I am wrong (see Somaliland Times most recent issue) – is a refreshing if not sobering account/judgment of the record of this government and the slippery slop we are all in when the government of the day loses its sense of direction. This sense of direction being, metaphorically, the very essence of sagacity and wisdom; for, without the judiciousness of that intrepid individual whose search for greener pastures entails the large questions of life and death for the pastoralist family, greener pastures and the eternal search for the promised land would amount to no more than that false image of a mirage. This sense of direction then, culturally, and the in lore and poems of our people has enormous value and indeed represents the symbols of leadership and good judgment.
This is in essence the accusation leveled at the government, the use of the words ‘sleep’ or ‘sleeping’ does not necessarily mean that the government is ‘in slumber’ rather, Hussein points to the lethargy and inaction that seems to characterize the government these days. In a word, the government is not necessarily sleeping with the enemy, rather, and more importantly, the government has lost direction and thus what remains of the day are the many un-fulfilled and un-quenched issues that confront us as citizens.
I agree with much that Hussein has articulated however I believe he has missed the point entirely. I believe that the government knows exactly what is going on; understands the consequences of its actions; knows full well the array of threats and concerns that confronts Somaliland: the question lies not in the slumber of the government, nor the answer in its awakening, indeed, I suggest, the government is shrouded in the culture of secrecy and in the concentration of power in a few hands. The government simply needs to ‘open up’ the decision making process to stakeholders while reserving ultimate authority to decide and govern. This will create more informed choices and dissident voices that can warn the government on any consequences on the horizon. Governance I believe is the crux of the issue here, but this is to anticipate.
What do I mean exactly? Hussein Bulhan suggests to us that our path to democracy and the rule of law is threatened by the looming image of our government as our rights and freedoms are continually eroded by the government’s unwarranted entry into the realms of our free speech and assembly rights guaranteed in the constitution. Hussein is right, however, the answer that Hussein missed was implicit in his piece, and here it is.
Somaliland has chosen a checks and balance system as a form of government, what we are experiencing is the cobwebs of our transition where the executive does not have a countervailing power to curb its excesses. I mean that, the executive is currently the only part of the government where legitimacy flows, that is, it is elected. When the parliament is convened and sits as an elected body there will occur in Somaliland a shift of power as parliament moves to exercise its power through the elected parties. What is occurring is ominous, unwarranted, but I believe predictable as Somaliland continues its experience with democratic politics.
The judiciary, the other part of government will also benefit from the rise of parliament in our politics, the executive will not have the luxury of stacking the system with its lackeys as is now. The parliament will be able to vet and better scrutinize these judges and the better for the candidates and ultimately for our burgeoning democracy.
The coming of these institutions are closer than the horizon and I believe the coming together of all these parts of our form of government will tip the balance of our political forces in favor of the check and balance system as opposed to the unvarnished authority that the executive has today: the recent arrest of a local journalist in Hargeisa showing the ugly side of this imbalance.
Does this forgoing explanation excuse what is happening? Not in the least, Hussein is correct in asserting that civil society groups and the larger public must be activist in defending their rights from government encroachment, indeed, counter to the governments banning of the discussions about Mbagathi, the government would have won more political points by seeming relaxed and acting in a more sophisticated way, I for one have told them – as a supporter of the ruling party – that their knee jerk reaction and bad public relations cost them when it should not! However, it is the culture of secrecy that I find, fundamentally, as the raison d'être of the government’s wrong-headedness, and lack of direction, and yes, slumber, may cause those who fill their rights have been abrogated to go underground: this being the mother of all rebellion.
Hussein’s warnings though are clear, the people of Somaliland have to understand that until such time that our system begins to work favorably, I mean here by favorably that the system ought to work for, by, and in the peoples interests, all politically oriented groups ought to test the judges of Somaliland by making sure that the government is taken to court and morally defrocked when it exercises its power in the wrong way. For example, the arrest of the recent journalist with reference to the right of habeas corpus can be exercised when groups come together and petition the judges who will be forced to issue judgments witch have the value of exposing those in bed with the government. If we want to build systems we need to challenge them, to set precedence this is how we build things.
Finally, the age of our government and our path to democracy including the paucity of resources has also much to do with this substantive lack of commitment of democratic politics. The answers to much of the issues raised here is in the building and agitating for elected institutions that can legitimately confront presidential powers or presidential decrees and indeed overturning them when they are illegitimate. This will take time; however, this “time” should not excuse our right to be vigilant as Hussein Bulhan has pointed to. I still believe that my party UDUB is still the choice for government, this however should never stop its supporters from challenging the government when it is wrong, and this shows that we care about the larger picture and not simple factionalism.
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