Who Is Rolling Back The Frontiers Of Democracy In Somaliland?‎‎

By Ahmed Keyse Ali

In the latest issue of Haatuf, a Hargeysa based Somali language newspaper Abdirahman Yusuf Artan, a Kulmiye Member of Parliament paints a dismal picture about Somaliland. If his conclusions are correct, all one can expect is to witness the gradual unraveling of major accomplishments that Somaliland lobbyists use to convince developed countries that Somaliland deserves to be recognized as a sovereign state.

In his article (Durkinta Musdambeedka Dimuqraadiyadda doorasho daraadeed loo galay), Abdirahman Artan mentions a catalogues of misdemeanors that need to be tackled if Somaliland is to become a state. The only issue I would like to take with some of Abdirahman’s assertions is about his failure to quote from a neutral body that has uncovered the alleged ‘misuse of public money’. “The misappropriation of public money will get worse,” wrote Abdirahman Artan. He attributes the culture of institutional larceny to the former regime of the late Somaliland president, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal.

The government was expected to deal with the corruption at all levels of government, argued Abdirahman Artan. Honorable Abdirahman unwittingly empowers the UDUB government to usurp the judicial powers of Somaliland. Who is behind the alleged corruption in Somaliland? If functionaries are embezzling public money, why are the country’s accountants toothless to spill beans over those who are facilitating Somaliland’s implosion?

It is noteworthy that Abdirahman Artan once headed the Somaliland Peace Academy. The language he uses to analyze president Rayale’s ‘predicament’ is unthinkable: “ Haddii ay ku adag tahay inuu madaxweynuhu iska xoreeyo wasiirada xuurtada ku haysta waxa kaga filan golaha wakiilada oo uu hor keeno.” Is president Rayale a hostage to a group of ruthless politicians who intimidate him?

How can Somaliland succeed if Members of Parliament from a major opposition party resort to writing incendiary columns? Criticism is legitimate right of the any citizen or Member of Parliament in Somaliland. The public has a right to know what information Members of Parliament or party leaders are using to make remarks that can undermine the trust people have in a politicians from a ruling party. But the only question the UDUB leader has to answer is “will you appoint new cabinet members from Somaliland communities in Europe and North America despite their apparent lack of knowledge and competence to work with the constituencies they will be told to represent?”

Ahmed Keyse Ali, Hargeysa, Somaliland

ahmedkeyse98@hotmail.com

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