History will repeat itself in this country again by electing Dahir Rayale Kahin President of the Republic of Somaliland. This realization has caused fright and panic in the opposition. President Rayale has campaigned on the issues; on the record of the government; and he has personally put his life on the line for Somaliland by nearly being assassinated by terrorists from Puntland. In one the most un-gentlemanly remarks in recent politics in this country, the opposition has accused the president - in a whispering campaign - of creating an elaborate plan to "stage an assassination attempt" in order to cause sympathy for himself and from Somalilanders in order to win votes.
The opposition has not stopped there; they have ridiculed, insulted, and generally trashed the President as illiterate, in-experienced, and altogether unsuitable for the presidency. The opposition, having focused on the man rather than the office, have gone on wild goose chase of allegations and innuendo.
The President of Somaliland is also the president of the opposition, and they ought to recognize that. Claiming that the president is playing a game of deception and fraud with the national security of Somaliland borders on the dangerous and is not part of a legitimate campaign. No wonder the president does not call on the opposition for consultations, why should he? Respect is a two way street.
As well, the opposition should stop making these wild comments about Mr. Rayale’s trip to Las-Anood, for they play into Somaliland’s enemies, and they embarrass Somaliland. The great people of Las-Anood and the leaders of Sool were generally not part of the government’s agenda in the past administration.
Dialogue and negotiations were started by President Rayale who asked the Guurti to begin broad discussions on the question of Sool. The President’s representatives resolved a civil situation in Las-Anood; they have started and will continue the constitutional rapprochement with the leaders and people of Sool just as those in Eri Gavo, Burco, Berbera, Borama and Hargeisa.
Those who believe that Sool should be left to its own devices are cutting Somaliland’s nose to spite its face. Sool is an integral part of the Republic of Somaliland. UDUB believes in directly engaging it’s people in debate and dialogue. The benign neglect of Sool is what has led to this state of affairs; it is the root of the problem. Whenever dialogue has been started, the people of Sool have shown enthusiasm and clear willingness to participate in the development of Somaliland. The opposition wants us to send Sultans and traditional leaders to solve what is a serious political problem that has nothing to do with peace between the inhabitants of Sool and the rest of Somaliland. It is the vocation and mandate of the administration of Somaliland to directly engage in talks with the political leaders of Sool on the future of that province within Somaliland. The opposition, in its continuing and puzzling failure in politics, claims that the question of Sool is a "traditional" purview! Are we at war with Sool? I am continuously amazed at the continuing political dysfunction of the opposition, yet these folks want us to give them the reigns of power!
Another trip that the opposition seems to delight in speaking about is the Presidents journey to Djibouti. Somaliland and Djibouti have differing opinions on politics and strong dis-agreements on our political relationship. President Rayale’s trip to Djibouti was a diplomatic breakthrough. If the opposition doubts that, I challenge them to take their criticism to the district bordering Djibouti and let us see what reception and votes they get there! The opposition should ask the people who have benefited from the trade that has been re-established, which has brought needed income to a people whose livestock has been under international ransom from Saudi Arabia. If the intransigence between Somaliland and Djibouti is needed: Somaliland is larger than Djibouti has more political experience and got independence earlier. Djibouti’s nervousness is a reflection of our weight and history, their opposition to Somaliland is natural and we should allay these fears rather than stroke feelings of animosity.
The opposition should thank the President for his trip and for opening our relations with Djibouti. We cannot choose our neighbours and we ought to live with them in respect and peace. One dark preposition is the un-spoken yet clearly present fear of the opposition about President Rayale himself, as if to question his loyalty to his country.
A wild comment from the leader of UCID recently sums up the inexperience of the opposition. This leader’s comment that he would not go to Djibouti first but to Ethiopia is unnecessary and simply degrades his image as a politician. In foreign relations a diplomatic gaffe like this is simply not excusable for a leader of a political party. I wonder what will come out next from the leader of UCID?
The opposition in Somaliland is shaken. Their self-importance has been transformed into political fear as Dahir Rayale Kahin and his political machine UDUB, romped home to victory in the last municipal elections in Somaliland. Their defeat in the municipal elections has raised alarm bells in the minds of strategists of the opposition, raising the political temperature in the country to levels not seen before. These strategists are wondering aloud these days what they are going to tell their candidates when they lose the election.
It is simply astonishing that the opposition believes that they are capable of governing Somaliland when they cannot govern themselves. They have failed to bring all the leaders of the opposition together for an alternative to Somali Landers, something that the people of this country have a right to.
They do not have the votes, and they do not know where the votes are. The intelligent people of Somaliland are playing their cards well. No one knows what they are going to do. One of the opposition candidates knowing full well the implications of the municipal elections keeps asking the people of this country, "Do you know that you are electing the president of Somaliland"? What arrogance! The people of Somaliland are the ones who holds their future in their hands. They will vote their political feeling and they will vote for the party that looks like them, talks like them, knows them, has worked with them, and has represented their feelings. That party is surely nowhere in the opposition.
One particularly un-fair characterization about the policies of the Government of Somaliland is the in-sensitive remarks by a pundit on Dr.Dixood’s - recognition czar - disability. Blindness is not a curse, nor is it a flaw. It is a disability and should not be made fun of. One can disagree with the policies of Dr.Dixood. I disagree with many of them. However, it is callous to connect the blindness itself with the blindness of the policy. I believe these to be discriminatory remarks against the disabled in Somaliland, who it should be remembered are a sizeable vote given the many veterans disabled by the liberation war. I believe that this is just one example of bad language and insensitive politics that has invaded the public discourse. It is unfortunate that opposition pundits from the diaspora are at the centre of these ‘American style’ commentaries.
In the end, the people will elect the party of their choice. I believe that they should choose UDUB. I believe it to be in the best interest of the country at this critical time. That is why my candidate Dahir Rayale Kahin is running, run Rayale Run!
Long Live Democracy
A.M.Ali Hashi "Dhimbiil"
Dhimbil@lycos.com
Ottawa
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