Issue 225

The following story is not a fabricated one. It is a true story that took place in Somaliland and is in fact a reflection of the current situation prevalent in our country. So, this letter is an appeal to overseas Somaliland citizens. It emphasizes the need to re-evaluate ourselves, analyze realities and find a credible solution to this catastrophe! It also advocates the need to assess the problem, initiate sacrifices and take concrete steps to reverse the endless exodus of our country! We cannot remain apathetic, indifferent and hence continue to be the laughing stock of the West! Friends, let us stand shoulder to shoulder and sing Mr. Faisal's masterpiece "waxaad doonto lagama waayi jirinee wacanaa waddan aad u dhalata!" for united we can make a difference, but split we remain weak!

Mr. Farah is a great Somali Lander friend and works here in the Emirates. And although he is truly a self-made mechanic, he works only as a laborer and had it not been his tireless efforts to excel, he would barely make ends meet because his pay, as often the case for most here, is very low. So, as an ambitious, strong hardworking personality, he has a catering side business. And since he neither drives nor has a car, he is heavily dependent on his friends and of course pays them for their invaluable services.

My friend's day is usually long because it starts at 4:00 a.m. and his first shift ends at 12:00 noon. But as soon as he is through with that, he heads to catch the second and keeps running that until 10:00 pm, seven days a week!

It is also out of his hard work and determination to succeed and make a comfortable life for his family that Mr. Farah has a decent home with all amenities including color television and Internet services for his family in Somaliland and sends all his children to the best international standard private schools that amazingly thrive in the country!

Moreover, fortunately, Borama where Mr. Farah's family lives is the center of education and access to higher institutions of learning run by distinguished Somaliland teachers who believe in excellence, is easily available. In fact, currently, one can even earn masters degree through long distance learning financed by the African Development Bank thanks to the sacrifices of Friends of Amoud University who played a major role to make this dream come true. It is also the invaluable sacrifices of Friends of Amoud University that helped attract both local and international attention to that great institution; and it is their tireless efforts and support that gave this great institution a chance to stand on its feet. So, I do always say bravo to Friends of Amoud University, the saviors of our community back home and the Messiahs sent by the Lord, the Almighty to make a difference!

In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that Amoud University today is the center of inspirational hope. A hope that lit the torch of knowledge which today magnificently glows in the Horn Of Africa; a region that in recent decades has been devastated by famine, hunger, wars, death, destruction and all kinds of human misery perpetrated by the ruthless dictator who ruled once grand Somalia!

However, despite Mr. Farah's impressive ability and achievement, it is unfortunate that he recently told me he called his family to say, "Hello, my lovely family, I just called to say, I love you!"

Unfortunately, he was shocked when his high school daughter answered the phone and said "aabbo! agoon iyo eey ayuun baa dalkan ku hadhay "…dad, only dogs and the dispossessed orphans, are left in this country…. "Cidii wax ka naxa lahaydse way isaga tegeen"… everyone else who had anyone who cares is gone. "Maxaad Mareykan noogu diriweydey?" Why can't you send us to America? "Waan ogahay oo na dirimaysid" I know you will not send us. "waayo nagama naxaysid"…..you just do not care! "Dabadeedna, baroor bay iska qabsatay." Then she burst into hysterical cry!

Caught off guard, shaken and devastated, my friend called me asking for my advice. In fact, I could truly feel his frustration and I know Mr. Farah does not deserve that! He is a caring person who goes the distance to make his family, relatives and friends happy!

Realizing the enormity of his problem, I had to console him. But it is strange and in fact depressing that I also know some other disturbing and surprisingly similar Somali stories that take place at the other end of the world; in this case, America and I am sure at every where else our people live! In fact, Mr. Farah's troubling story has its parallels and precedents because having a family myself in the United States of America, I know my children who are born and raised there and rarely saw elsewhere, prefer and plan to leave America for good once they graduate! They truly hate the exhausting and elusive life back there and that of the West as a whole! Believe me, they can hardly wait to graduate and go with no return!

In addition, it is equally true that every one I know who lives outside our country, whether born in it or in the West, yearns for home and likes to go to sweet home; a home that really needs our sacrifices. Most of those people if not all look forward to see the day when they will realize their dream of coming home and resettle even if some have to forgo their high paying jobs because they believe that there is no place better than home!

My dear friends, call me naïve or nostalgic, but in today's world one is worth what one has or can offer. And "haybad waxaad ku leedahay dalkaaga hooyo, waana lama huraanee hagar lii' wax ugu qabo" (you have honor and integrity only in your own country. So, sacrifice to contribute toward its development); and certainly many of us may have had experienced this live!

Friends, we should realize that America and the West as a whole are sick and tired of us; and believe it, it is true that they consider us the natural liars of the Dark Continent and the ragtag of a failed state at the Horn of Africa.

Fortunately, my rough estimate puts overseas working Somalilanders at 100,000. Imagine, out of nowhere, we all decide to repatriate our families and each parent sends his/her family only $400 a month. This would amount to $40 million per month. And assuming this comes true, my small hometown of Dila alone could make at least $160,000 per month; an impressive investment that could turn the whole environment to a paradise within months. And fortunately, today, the infrastructure of the country as a whole is now in place; the graduate teachers, the bankers, the doctors, the engineers, the nurses etc. and so within months our fledgling democracy could leap-frog into the top most developed countries of the twenty first century.

My dear friends, I know that this is only a sweet dream and hallucination on my part, but it is not impossible. So, let us ask: does any one of us have any pride any more? Do any of our once great slogans that gave us self-esteem still hold? Weren't the following statements once our reputable proverbs? And what has changed ever since?

Cad quudhsi lama qaato!... you better never take a denigrating offer.
Haddaad dhimaysid dhareerkaa la iska duwaa! even if you are dying keep clean
Waan baahanahay looma bahallo cuno.. never eat everything just for you need it.
kitaab galkiisii laga saaray sayax Allaa baday!... a holy book out of its cover can be wetted by any thing… or any one out of his home country is worthless.
Ayro xeradeedii ka baxday, magaceed bay ku dambeysaa... any honorable person out of his country becomes anonymous (alien and unknown).

My dear overseas intellectuals, despite current stark realties, it is unfortunate that instead of addressing and debating over the major problems facing our country such as:

1. The desperate exodus of our people to a West or Arabia that no longer accept them and in fact only make mockery out of them

2. The failed Embegathi resolution that openly shuns Somaliland sovereignty and hence intends to keep our country in the doldrums till it is forced to submission

3. Initiating reconstruction projects, development, repatriation and rehabilitation of our country and people

Propagate sensational stories that exaggerate trivial issues and inflame passion that eventually may have the potential to derail Somaliland hard-won democracy, peace and stability
Post biased articles in our decorative websites in defense of our perceived "glorified personalities"
Propagate articulate honey-coated writings that aim to spread an "us versus them syndrome" which is unfortunately also supported by many

In addition, it is strange that some clan chauvinists want us to believe that a president elected on a popular vote actually represents a clan and his executive orders are therefore approvable/annullable by them only…. an argument that holds no water and contradicts all the principles of a free democracy. It is crazy that many want us to believe that their vilification of certain clans for failing to rein in "their" president is tantamount to sabotage and hence deserves subversion and an immediate uprising.

But it is also unfortunate that such people fail to understand that there is a fine dividing line between a constitutional democracy and clan-based political system such as the one those people seem to have in mind! And sorry, they fail to realize that such writings have the potential to damage our country's standing because in the eyes of their readers, they only portray negative connotation which certainly can back-roll our country’s hard-won great achievements.

My friends, it is true that criticism is part-and-parcel of any free democracy. However, one should know that one should defend a cause by criticizing professionally and it would be silly, on the part of any one concerned, to defend a person especially when such a person is a leader or wants to be.

Our politicians and government officials belong to no clan and represent no one single region either. Rather, they represent all "you and me" whether we vote for one or for the other! And as citizens of the country, we have the right to criticize any one because all are accountable for whatever they do or don’t. That is what a true democracy preaches today and had always preached!

1. Although we know that in our country it still rains and when it rains, it still roars, we fail to understand, appreciate and utilize that by growing fruits and vegetables in our great fertile lands.

2. But what kind of an intellectual is one who abandons his country and people at their time of need especially when their homegrown peace and tranquility bear fruits?

3. What kind of a journalist is one whose media mission is to fan hate within his community that only needs the daily bread?

4. What kind of a journalist is one whose glittering website specializes only in insulting the honor and integrity of his fellow people and country?

5. What kind of a writer is one who cannot see the other side of his story, evaluate things and accordingly adjust his arguments?

6. My fellow countrymen and women, as overseas intellectuals, it is time that we sacrifice and play a constructive role in stopping our people’s tragic exodus.

8. And it is time that we respect each other’s views, ideas and integrity for I suppose at the end of the day, no one is prepared to wreck the boat because together we are in it!