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Mohamed Cali Mouse, Ottawa, Canada
The historical Somaliland Presidential Election is an impressive and unprecedented event in the world history and a step in the right direction. In light of the political context and constraints, the electoral arrangements, greater domestic participation, and the monitoring process were unique in Africa’s situation today. Every Somalilander has to congratulate himself/herself on this new political era and to be thankful to those who made this historic reality.
Somaliland was deprived of democracy and economic progress in the reign of the brutal dictator of Siyad Bare. We were deprived of peace and tranquility and our people were killed and forced out of their motherland either to refugee camps in neighboring countries or overseas. We were divided, pitted against each other, and our men and women were either killed, maimed, or raped. Some people used to argue that the Elders who met in Borama, who saved us from a civil war, were stupid and bought with money by some. By God, those were wiser than any politician in the history of mankind. We are now reaping the harvest of that effort and wisdom. If at all we honor someone, it has to be those men. Their names and wisdom must not be forgotten. They have to have a place in the heart of our people. The democracy, peace, and tranquility we have today were the result of the efforts of those men, no matter what their background and clan affiliation. I SALUTE AND HONOR THEM.
Somalilanders have to look to the future, and study the lessons of the past which is full of pain. What so far has been accomplished is the start of our Survival and Freedom. The struggle will be long and progress will be gradual, but we have to persevere. The quest for Equality, Respect, and Dignity must be preserved. The Political stability and inclusiveness can make Somaliland even better. Somaliland will be an example and a case study for other African countries who are brutalized by civil wars. Democracy, good governance, and the rule of law must be strengthened. For the most part, the world is ignoring our right to be a sovereign state, but our persistence will prevail in the end and recognition will follow. WE NO LONGER SING ABOUT WAR, BUT FOR PEACE, UNITY AND THE FUTURE.
The challenges facing our President are enormous but one cannot underestimate those challenges and obstacles. Somalilanders belong to clans and sub-clans. The president has put together a government on the basis of clan system. The president has been elected by the PEOPLE and he should stand for the PEOPLE. He is elected by a general vote and not selected by a GUURTI. I believe the president should be free from clan lobbyists and be fair to even to his own sub-clan. NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND ADVERSITY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN’S CHARACTER, GIVE HIM POWER.
The President must not be unfair to his sub-clan, just because he is a president and his one of them. He should not be ashamed of giving them their share in the POLITICAL CAKE and for that matter the "three ministers for your clan is not prescribed by a doctor". We cannot accept that in the present situation of Somaliland.
SOLUTIION:
Either use the clan system squarely and fairly, or move away from tribalism and do not use the clan structure to divide the political cake, and build the government on merit, education, and experience to help you tackle the challenges facing you.
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