By Saeed Osman, London, UK

Today people are talking about why the informal group leader Rayaale and his left hand man Saleeban Gaal extended the ‘Guurti’/ or ‘The House of Elders’ mandate for another term without consulting the relevant people. Needless to say, they even fail to acknowledge, the opposition parties or the legal elected parliament in what is considered as the major determinant of Somaliland recognition case in the international opinions.

However, whenever people question about Rayaale rationale, they are ignoring important facts and figures. I would rather be more in tune with notion that questioning since when the Rayaale administration were consulting anybody and respecting the LAW of the land? We know well it became norms for this ill mannered and destructive administration to decide whatever they like to do just like his former boss Siyad Barre until the day Somaliland was liberated, the former ruler of Somalia, i.e. a 100% dictatorial regime that has no place in our constitution, as well as relevancy in today modern world accept Somaliland and few other places.

The Somaliland nation knew all along that the Rayaale administrations were too busy in destroying the nation within if they could succeed. We deliberately crowned him as president ignoring the facts and concerns raised by countless number of Somalilanders including the opposition parties that Rayaale was not capable man or his own man in any criteria be it educationally, integrity, or otherwise a character wise which he was not suitable candidate to run the country. We ignored all that realities and placed him to our head of state. It was our fault to legitimize the unconstitutional when accepted the defeat in General Elections, and I would blame in this case neither the Rayaale administration nor the ‘Guurti chairman’ Salebaan Gaal for their current attempt to extend the ‘House of Elders’ period in unlawful approach. We knew that this government could not deliver any policies that serve the nation interest in any shape or form, but we let them get away with the continuous spate of sins, corruptions and crimes committed against the nation both prior to Rayaale presidency term and post Rayaale presidency.

Worse than that we knew the Rayaale administration did not had the appetite and stomach to improve the nation building causes, economic and political advancement of Somaliland, despite that we let them on continue to abusing the trust, and promoting miscourages of justice and if ever someone speak out; here we go again we call them unti-Somalilander. But that days are gone forever Mr. Rayaale and your world is ever getting small and shrinking.

Right from the start Mr. Rayaale cabinet was a deliberately made more than 50 Ministers. What was the need for a country with populations of well under 3 million people, and annual budget of less than $30 million dollars to have all these useless ministries? And why someone couldn’t stand up for the nation and say no means no, you can have Mr. Rayaale all wasteful departments? I remember, back the very few people who openly rejected the government proposals were treated like they were committing an act of crime.

We all along knew the idea behind the large number of ministries were just to measure the public reactions. They knew if they could get away with this large number of ministers then, the rest would be the easiest part. Once their dream became reality, the reality of genuine Somalilanders became wishful dream.

Ever since then, the drama continues unfolding events after another, and the whole nation paralyzed and in saga simply for the wrong reasons. If we took the much-needed action at the right from the start, believe you and me the Somaliland today would have been in different league and among the members of the UN.

I personally believe that the Rayaale administration already masterminded the tact’s of manipulating people’s minds, and anything they did/or and will do after the General Election were in fact following the original path. The government action doesn’t surprise me today more than it made thinking urgent solution and end to the saga. For example one of the things that come to my mind was this question, is their case for overthrowing this administration and the likelihood consequences of taking such action. One thing I know for sure the situation cannot continue indefinitely and in one way of another it got to be reversed. The public of Somaliland knows there are better way to end this misery because the gangsters would not care what would or will not happen, and I don’t see no perfect situation of ending Rayaale rule other just stop right there, since they do not understand the language of politics, respect and values of our nation.

What Somaliland needs to do today?

Toady Somaliland need a top to bottom change in the way it governed. It doesn’t matter how that can be achieved, whether its impeachment, or otherwise, a quick change is required. We can call it any names we wish to or maybe use mixture of different tools so long the end justify the means, which is sucking Rayaale administration in which we all agree and it’s now or never. The country has legitimate elected members of parliamentarians. We also have in place two major opposition parties as well a high proportion of the UDUB party members of the parliament who are eager to get rid of these thugs just like any other good citizens of Somaliland. I have many friends in UDUB party, where I regularly discuss the Somaliland problems today with these groups, and they tend to agree with the wider public of Somaliland that issue isn’t about the party politics, but the future of whole Somaliland at stake, and Rayaale administration couldn’t care less what happen to Somaliland next.

To start with, more than ever before, the majority of Somalilanders are asking themselves what was the wisdom behind the long bloody war we fought in with dictatorship Siyad Barrie. I am one of those questioning our motives if the alternative were to enrich Rayaale and his thugs who we know their background, and their long resistance when it comes to the SNM, the organization that liberated Somaliland. We have sacrificed so many lives for this freedom and purpose were if I am not mistaken to improve the living condition for our nation in the future, as well as our independence as nation.

The opposition parties, and the new parliament must utilize the powers they have given. This is where a majority rule minority in democratic means without hindering our much-achieved efforts. They should come together and form a unified frontiers, if not then, the consequences will be much worse than today, bearing in mind that the spell over of the southern Somalia civil war is probable, if not a real possibility and that is the wish of Rayaale administration if we simply use our knowledge of predicting events, as well as logic and common sense as human.

I think Somaliland need today people with real convictions, not simply highlighting the corruptions and malpractices of the current regime. A word of caution to the opposition parties’ chairmen, and of the whole new parliament including parliament chairman, the nation has giving you a real mandate to decide our future and to determine the future of Somaliland. The people of Somaliland are not asking you to reward them back anything more than their democratic rights to self-determination. We, as nation do not want a dictatorship of yesterday, if not, then what was the logic behind the destructions we made to our land, and killing of our loved one’s.

The Somaliland parliament chairs, and parliamentarian alike should lead the motion in equal foots, and the opposition parties must fellow the advise of their parliamentarians. The disgraced ‘House of Elders’ should be discounted and disregarded in any negations and consultations. Be it impeachment/ or any other deemed legitimate action necessary to rescue our country. We, the nation of Somaliland cannot and will not accept any more of this crap. The nation is fade up and crying for a change, but the question is; will the opposition parties take the necessary action to fulfill the people of Somaliland wishes?

I also would like to say to political parties leadership, and the new parliament, its best to take a painful actions now today rather than regretting tomorrow. We know it doesn’t need a major war to implement this course of action, simply because the military and police are aware of the acuteness the sensitivity surrounding and will put Somaliland cause before Rayaale benefit. So you should fight harder to achieve the; ‘impeachment’ if you cannot do that as parliament, then you must seek plan B to end the Rayaale administration and his colleagues in peaceful manner. Furthermore, you must continue exploring all options available until you reach the optimal solution of freeing the nation from the siege imposed on the poor by the Rayaale gangsters. We know it doesn’t it require all out war, more than it require a courage and clear conscious as it within your democratic rights as parliament and opposition parties. Its also the wishes and interest of the nation because without this, the nation will join the fourth corners of Somaliland and no secrets since our initial aim of forming Somaliland was not to enrich Rayaale and his Gangsters.

Therefore, as a nation we should empower, and support the legitimate leaders of the oppositions parties to do whatever necessary they feel will be beneficial to the rescue of the country from these hijackers and gangsters. Each citizens of Somaliland must also ensure that they support their own elected members of parliament morally, and materially because they are the legitimate people we have elected who can help Somaliland in these difficult times if not, the blood of your hero’s will be in vein and no use. They just died to help the causes of these gangsters to inherent the nation resources.

It’s about the time the Rayaale administration and Guurti are sidelined. In fact it’s been long time overdue, and I wished it came sooner rather than later. Its about time they are not consulted in any due process, what should be or should not be done simply because they are excluded themselves in the political process of Somaliland.

Word of caution, the parliament particularly should take a firm stand/ or action of not allowing these gangsters to maneuver, especially when we know Rayaale will try so hard to split the parliament if he could do so. I think the members of the parliament should also monitor themselves as its important that good character counts in the next parliament elections. The people of Somaliland have invested in you so heavily for one simple reason, which is to adhere the rule of law of nation and to solve political conflict arising in any circumstances such as the current crises. So we are watching you to deliver much needed changes and god will guide to do what is best for our nation.

  Moreover, if the president we elected is acting like a group leader, and simply doesn’t understand the difference between a gang leader and country leader, and furthermore if he take every little opportunity to derail, and disrupt the nation ambition of becoming and acting as sovereign state, then that has one meaning; he’s liability to the cause of Somaliland and he should therefore GO no matter how.

Finally, if the president we elected is taking no chance of respecting the law that brought him to power, then this has one meaning and that is before you break any more rules, the nation will break your heart a pieces Mr. Rayaale simply because you don’t deserve our respect, and therefore you must GO. If the President of the Country does not belief in the Constitution that brought Him to power, then he NO LONGER has a Mandate to lead Somaliland and cannot expect courteously and respect.

Today the game is no longer in the Rayaale court, if our society has learned anything up to this moment. The law of common sense would dictate that the power has shifted into the hands of the elected members of the parliament. The honey moon and melodrama is over, because the president Rayaale was given a fair chance to prove his innocence, but he fail and time and again and therefore, its about the time Somaliland was also given a fair chance to prove itself as country.

P.s

Faarax Omaar: oo ahaa aabihii Somalia, iyo dadkii ugu horeyey ee isticmaarkii engriiska la dagaalamay, oo ay ku welheliyaan arintan M Gandi oo isna ahaa   aabihii India xiligii adkaa gobonimo doonka waxaa laga qorey markii isticmaarka dadkii ka raacay: ‘‘ Allow dadkayga maxaad sidayda uga dhigiwaydey, ama aniga sidooda iga dhigiwaydey…’’

Saeed_osman@msn.com