Introduction

In 1960, Somaliland, a British Protectorate, and southern Somalia, an Italian trust territory, both gained their independence. Only days later, the two regions merged, forming the Somali Democratic Republic and a representative government was installed. The Somali people experienced only nine years of civilian multi-party democracy before the system was abolished.

In 1969 marked the beginning of the Somali dictatorship under General Siyad Barre, then, Somalia became involved in Cold War politics in the 1970s. In October 1970 Siyad Barre declared Somalia a socialist state and embarked on a range of socialist economic programmes, with the support of the Soviet Union.

Between 1977 and 1978 Somalia clashed with Ethiopia over the Ogaden Region. The Somali government withdrew once the Soviet Union turned its support to Ethiopia. 1980 saw Somalia strengthening diplomatic links with the United States and receiving economic and military aid in return for US access to the port of Berbera. In 1982, under pressure from Western donors, the Barre government abandoned socialist policies and adopted an International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment package.

In the 1980s, frustration in the north-west reached boiling point, especially for the Isaaq clan-family that had experienced blatant discrimination. Collaboration between Isaaq communities in the Gulf and the United Kingdom led to the establishment of a dissident group, the Somali National Movement (SNM) in April 1981. The government responded to this by unleashing a campaign of repression.

The civil war in Somalia broke out in 1988. In May of that year, the SNM briefly captured Burco and Hargeysa. Fighting came to a head as Barre’s troops responded to the SNM’s activities indiscriminate aerial bombing raids, demolishing cities such as Hargeysa, Burco and Berbera, killing thousands of civilians.

As the conflict between the SNM and government forces escalated into civil war, people were forced to flee, seeking safety in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Yemen and further a field in the Gulf, Western Europe and North America.

In the following years several other armed factions joined the SNM in their campaign against the regime. By 1990 the central government was under attack on several fronts. In December 1990, the Government forces lost control over most of the countryside and the United Somali Congress (USC), (which was formed in Rome in January 1989), entered Mogadishu. Two months of fighting in the streets of Mogadishu followed.

By January 1991, the USC forces had captured Mogadishu and Siyad Barre was forced from power

Somaliland Political Stage

Somali land became an independent state in 1991 and has been stable now for going Sixteen years but remains unrecognized state.

After few years of SNM administration Somaliland people elected President M.H. Ibrahim Egal in Borama conference and few years the country has been under Egals rule To make my long story short, President Rayale tried many times to take step forward under the most difficult condition, with major problem and obstacles from Political parties and some of Misleaders of S/land.

In these days Rayale, his decision to replace some of the ministries of S/land was a significant forward step, for instance the Manager of a Company knows more about his staff, and similar to this Rayale is Manager who knows his staff better than me.

But the question is in which rate can S/land politicians have access to adjust the world political system? Since the world is changing within minutes, imagine in 2001 when Twin towers were crashed, within few minutes the world political system changed into another direction, imagine now what is going on in Lubnan, American and Britain were very busy about the Uranium issue of Iran before, but now they are very busy on Lobnan, Hezbollah and Israel fighting, after Hezbollah kidnapped two of Israel Soldiers and changed the Political in to another direction, these issues and other important issues were raised by Mukhtar Hassan Maidane, a talented senior Amoud graduate, after sharing ideas and views in Oriental Hotel Hargeysa. Mr. Maidene issued and important inquiry of what do you think that it’s a risk against S/land? Several reasons & answers were issued by A/rizak Suge, Bashir M. Aden my classmates, I and of course Mukhtar him self. The reasons were include:

These issues were the top to discuss

Uneven Development among S/land Districts:

As we are all familiar the country is imbalance, according to the infrastructure, other activities For instances Borama will became soon an isolated city, for several reasons, for one thing the roads are very rough from Dilla through Borama and its link districts to Djibouti, the government and the president Rayale didn’t pay more attention, it’s the worth area in the country in contrast to Bur’o, Barbara and Hargeysa.

On the other hand Youth, (Local Non-governmental Organization) and Women Organization in Awdal region have difficult with getting funds from International agencies and UN Agencies, as result of bad communication for both human and physical distance, for instance, HAVOYOCO an international NGO, established in Hargeysa and KAALMO LNGO established in Borama in 1992, which have same background, but have no same capacity, since KAALMO stands the same level of their establishment, so that the question is why? Secondly SAYS (Somaliland Association for Youth Salvation)and AYODA (African Youth Development Association) which has been established in 2002 and 2003 respectively in Borama with contrast of TRG (Training Research Group) which has been established by a group, in Hargeysa in 2005, have now more capacity building, and more projects, so again the question is why? You don’t have to confuse these and other things, rather than two factors, which is 1. Human Distance and Physical Distance, Physical distance means that they have access to reach easily to International and UN Agencies, while Human distance is in which they have the same background of IO & UN Staff.

It is recommended that the Diaspora to support local Youth and Women organizations in Awdal region.

Suldaan22@hotmail.com

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