Why Repeat Another SOPRI Conference Without Purpose?

By Abdi Goud Musa, Connecticut, USA

A call for another SOPRI conference in Washington, DC, USA on September 8-10, 2006 is announced on many Somaliland Websites. I intended to go first, but I am undecided now. I am reluctant to go for three main reasons: the firing of Minister of foreign affairs of Somaliland the honorable Adna Adan Ismail, what I observed in last year’s SOPRI conference that was held in Los Angles, California, USA, and the lack of substantive out come of last years SOPRI conference.

To begin with, I was shocked and saddened by hearing that the only decent, trust worthy, educated, internationally and nationally known and respected face in the Somaliland current administration was fired. Adna had made more contribution in last year’s conference than most of the dignitaries invited to the conference. I hope the organizers of the SOPRI conference to invite her so we benefit from her knowledge, experience, and advice.

Since the theme of this year’s SOPRI conference is to sell Somaliland to the Western countries in general and to the United State of America in particular, President Rayale’s firing of Adna Adan Ismail is disservice to that cause in the short term and to Somaliland for the long term. The honorable foreign Minister Adna Adan Ismail made a lot of friends and sympathizers for Somaliland. Many International dignitaries respected and admired her. Her firing is uncalled for and unacceptable at this juncture of Somaliland situation.

Secondly, as I posted on some Somaliland Websites in July 2005 organizer’s of the 2005 SOPRI conference did disservice to themselves, to the Somali Landers from all walks of life and all ages who come from all the corners of the world by giving too much time to the three Somaliland political parties: UDUB, UCID, and KULMIYE. Political party representatives high-jacked the conference. They turned the conference into political squabble.

Thirdly, though I am one of the few who enjoyed the social aspect and the opportunity of meeting many people, whom I have high regard for, at the 2005 conference, there is nothing substantive came out of it. Worse than that very few people saw the report and the out of come of that conference. In addition to that there was no follow up.

Lastly, though I have never been good at it, let me try to be diplomatic today for a change, I never understood what use these conferences have except for elite consumption and elite gathering.

In conclusion, the firing of the only Somaliland cabinet member of high integrity I know of Adna Adan Ismail and President Rayale’s move to surround himself with cronies of his instead of naming people of high caliper in knowledge, experience, and integrity for cabinet and other higher governmental positions the efforts of the organizers SOPRI conference in particular and the efforts of the Somali Landers in general to sell the image of Somaliland wherever one may be is discouraged and hampered.

agoud22@cox.net

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