Somaliland: the last bastion of Somali liberty
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Abdulkadir J. Dualeh
The civil war ravaging the country of former Somalia was ignited by an insurrection of free people fighting against the abuse of power, privation, oppression, outrage, and tyranny. The people of Somalia have sacrificed limb and property to destroy a tyrannical government, and to regain their god given right to live free as human beings, and not as beasts of prey.
Somalis welcomed civil war because their government decided to enslave them and because they, as human beings, are guided by the proclamations of John F. Kennedy when, 1960, he professed the following statements:
“The rights of man come not from the generosity of governments, but from the hand of god. The common enemy of man is tyranny”
These words are as true today as they were in 1960 when Kennedy delivered this memorable and inspiring speech. Even though, these words were directed at the American people, their value transcends geography and borders. After all, we are all human beings who cherish the same aspirations and liberties.
To this date, tyranny still remains the most dehumanizing cause for the degradation of the human spirit. Tyranny is still the chief cause of diseases, refugees, poverty, human rights violations, artificial famine, and all the other affliction that degrade humanity. It remains the number one enemy of man.
When Kennedy uttered these words, large tracts of humanity were under the grip of communist tyrannical regimes, financed, armed, and instructed by the KGB of the former Soviet Union.
However, certain portions of Kennedy’s speech were specifically directed solely at the newly liberated nations of Africa. Kennedy was giving these new African nations a prudent and wise word of advice, and a warning. He pleaded with these new nations not be fooled by evil men, by slogans, by promises of utopia. Instead, he counseled the people of these new nations to insist upon consensual governments, the rule of law, and on liberty. Here are his words:
“To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a more iron tyranny.”
What Kennedy was saying is that the face of tyranny adapts and changes with time and with place. Tyranny transforms itself from the inquisitions in Spain, to socialism in Russia, to claims of sovereignty of the new tyrannical nations. In all cases, however, tyrants hide behind a noble idea to justify outrages against humanity
In 1960, the populace of the newly liberated nation of Somaliland did not heed Kennedy’s wise council.. Instead, the newly liberated nation of British Somaliland voluntarily chose to hastily form a new union with its newly liberated brethren in the former Italian Somaliland. At the time, this decision seemed manifest destiny. However, this unholy and unwise union ended up in death, destruction and in disillusionment.
Tyrannical regimes, more cruel than the colonial masters, have, indeed, replaced colonial control.
D-Djibouti, another Somali colony of France, did heed Kennedy’s wise warning. They decided to remain separate from their brothers until they see a value in a new union with their kin. How wise and how prudent! Alas! For Somaliland, colonial control was, indeed, replaced by a more evil and crueler tyranny.
Somali Landers of today, however, are far wiser and far more careful than their forefathers. We now know that tyranny is color blind; that a man sharing the color of your skin, the creed of your theology, can be as evil as colonialists. Today, we have learned to rely, not on shared kinship, but on the more solid ground of Justice, the rule of law and consensual governments as the only guarantors of progress and of prosperity.
The current generation of somalilanders is shaped by a new set of hard experiences. They have learned the old lesson that unfettered power in the hands of few can be as deadly as colonialism.
Somalilanders of today are committed to jealously guard their liberty and are no longer willing to consummate contracts that can be teared up at will. Again, John Kennedy articulated this point more effectively than I can. He said the following:
“ the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness, or to permit, the slow undoing of those human rights for which we are committed”
Yes! A new generation of Somalilanders, born in the last decade in a refugee camp, tempered by the hell of war, disciplined by depravation, detesting tyranny, tasting the benefits of freedom in foreign lands, is no longer willing to permit, or to accept, a new and more sinister face of tyranny.
Though we cherish the common heritage of our kin in southern Somalia or D-Djibouti, though we wish them all the best, we are not willing to join in a new, futile, and self congratulating union that can potentially., and most likely, end up in a new round of tyranny. Instead, we seek something higher. We crave consensual governments.
The issues that ignited the current Somali civil war i.e. Abuses of power, centralized power, lack of independent judiciary, absence of rule of law, are still present today. Tyranny has changed its cloth but not its goals. The personages of the new, illegitimate governments have changed. The system, however, remains as illegitimate as before. The changes are superficial. In other words, a pig with a lipstick is still a pig. A hyena sending love letters to sheep is still a carnivore.
When will we be satisfied
The supreme law of self preservation is more fundamental and more natural than kinship, common religion, and common flags. The right to self determination of humanity precedes and supercedes all other covenants and all other contract consummated with your fellow man. We intend to invoke these rights.
What happens if somalilanders are denied the right to self determination
Again I quote John F. Kennedy:
“ let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to insure the success and survival of liberty”
In conclusion
The day will come, when all Somalis, in D-Djibouti, in Somaliland, in Southern Somalia, in Somalis everywhere else, will join hands and chart and, together, chart a new course to prosperity. This day will come when all Somalis, in all geographies, insist upon the rights to freedom and liberty. When freedom rings from all conners of Somali lands, the future will be bright and the hope and the dream of greater Somalia, strong, and living in liberty, will come to fruition.
To Melese Zinawi
To the strutting, grand, midget, tyrant of Ethiopia, his excellence Meles Zinawi, We like to remind him of the advice slaves whispered to the ears of the Roman conquerors that “All glory is fleeting”.
To my fellow disillusioned Somalis tired of warlords
We remind you that the government of Siad Barre has killed 100,000 people, more than the combined sum of souls murdered by all the warlords. A despotic government with the instruments of destruction is far more dangerous to your life than a petty warlord. The TFG has devised a new stratagem, a brutal and treacherous maneuver, to steal away your liberty and to relegate you to a new set of dark ages
To the Embaghtti government
“ Those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside.” the fate of Said Barre and his hatchet man is a testament to this fact.
To Somalilanders
You are the last citadel of liberty. You have chosen the noble path to stand up for security, tolerance, freedom, and the rights of citizens.
This is a tall order in our neighborhood. Always remember, though, that freedom is not offered for free. It has to be earned. You may be beleaguered by the dark forces of evil and tyranny, but let me remind you of the utterance of the champions of freedom from the past.
Winston Churchill was faced with a Nazi Juggernaut that vanquished large tracts of Europe, and committed to ushering a new dark ages to all of Europe. Some friends, in Churchill cabinet, have counseled him to make a deal with Hitler. They have asked him to be reasonable, to face the facts, to yield, to negotiate with the Hitler. Winston deliberated his friend’s advices, but he decided to follow his own council. He issued the following proclamations:
“ We shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessity alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of his majesty’s government”
Amen to the great man
Here is my favorite part of the beleaguered Winston’s perorations:
“ Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen and may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, what ever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight on the fields and on the streets, we shall never surrender. We shall carry on the struggle, until in god’s time, the new world, with all its power and might steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old”
Liberty could not have found a better prophet and a better champion. Hail to the lion.
Winston added the following:
“ We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask: what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all the might and with all our strength that god can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask: What is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is no survival…. “Come then, let us forward together with our united strength””
HAIL TO THE CHAMPION OF LIBERTY. THIS IS A DANIE OF MANKIND. HE PROFESSED: LIVE FREE OR DIE.
Somaliland’s rendition of this principle is as follows:
“ Hadaad dhimato, geeridu mar bay nolosha dhaantaye. Oo ay dimasjo iyo kaa yahiin Dhaqaso xaaraane . Nin Dhirbaaxo quudheed dugsadey, daqayadeed nmaaleye. Dhashaaday sugtaa xaajadaad dhowrataa abid e.”
The credit to this Somali wisdom belongs to the great Somali Poet by the name of Salaan Arabeey, may god bless his soul
We paraphrase his words as follows:
“Death is sometimes preferable to slavish existence. In those times, fear of death and the accumulation of wealth are a heinous sin. Those who accept the slings and arrows of contemptible living will inherit the sour fruits of their folly to their offspring. The offspring will pay dearly for the sycophancy of their forefathers”
This words are inspiring and we are, indeed, inspired. You are a dead human or a living beast. Choose your side.
What happens if Somaliland fails
Once again, we defer to the genius of liberty to make our case. We quote Winston Churchill. He said the following:
“ Hitler knows that he has to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into the broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, the whole world, including the united states, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark ages made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its common wealth last for a thousand years, men will say, “ this was their finest hour””
Amen!
Fate has now entrusted Somalilanders to play the role of Winston Churchill, to salvage, and save all Somalis from the abyss of a new dark ages. Even though, large tracts of Somalia are now under the grip of the Tigrian Gestapo, this must be our finest hour.
A word to the United Nations
We politely request that you live out the true meaning of your creed, and to fulfill the noble goals of the men who have created you.
As John Kennedy has said:
“ The united nations must not become a forum of the invective. It must strengthen its shield of the new and the weak, and to enlarge its writ may run”
We warn the United Nations not to become a new league of nations, strutting, fretting and fussing in front of the blackmailing tyrants. We council the united nations to desist from being an emergency team manning an ambulance unit designed to gather the injured and the slain when the damage has been done. We council the United Nations not to become a soup kitchen to feed the displaced and the down trotten. We council the UN not becomes a paper tiger that issues lame press releases to beg for the release of dissenters and political prisoners.
You can do better than that. You can be a force for prevention.
It is time the United Nations stop financing and comforting tyrannical regimes. It is time the UN stands with the dispossessed, dispirited, disillusioned, tortured, and yearning to free themselves from the manacles of ignorance and despotism. This, my dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, is your mandate.
The UN should use the power of its purse and the power of legitimizing governments to demand consensual governments. Offering legitimacy to any tyrant is folly and it is cruel betrayal of freedom fighters. The badge of civility and membership in the United Nations shall be made contingent on consensual government. Most African states are dependent of the support of the UN. If the UN uses its moral powers wisely, it can be a force for the good.
Finally,
We close this short article with a quote from one of the books that guided Mohandis K. Ghandi view of the world, the Bhagavad-Gita. We quote the lamentations of Arjuna forced to face a battle with his kin. Arjuna said the following:
“Alas! What a heinous sin we are prepared to commit in rising to kill our own kinsman through greed for the pleasures of sovereignty”
God bless you all, and good luck.
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