Liban A.D. Obsiye, London

I was deeply saddened and taken back to read the fantasist Yassin M. Ismail’s opinion titled, “Imagine Somaliland as an offshoot Republic of China in Africa,” in the Somaliland Times. Perhaps, I wondered the honorable gentlemen has little or no knowledge of international relations, political ideology and Chinese political-socio economic history, as had he been aware of any of these, he would have been extremely cautious to associate Somaliland with China in anyway, shape or form.

I agree that the Somaliland community is becoming frustrated and disheartened by the UK governments refusal to lend support to our quest for international recognition but it does not mean that as a result of their refusal, Somaliland should turn its back on the EU, in particular the UK and form an alliance with China.

China may be an emerging world superpower and may bring financial investment into Somaliland but it cannot enhance our political goals because as vast as it may be and as economically powerful as it may appear, it still does not have any political credentials on the world stage due to its poor record on human rights and its unwillingness to move into the new millennium by ditching its one party Communist rule. What Somaliland and its government must realize is the fact that any political alliance with China will only force us and our struggle for independence into international isolation and into the political wilderness as some of the Liberal nation Sympathizers like Sweden, may withdraw diplomatic support due to fears of our nation turning into another Communist satellite State planted deep into the most strategically important part of the Horn of Africa. If Somaliland turns to China, it will become another Communist puppet State governed from Beijing by unelected autocrats. It appears from reading his opinion, as stated previously, in the Somaliland Times, Mr. Yassin Ismail would not mind if the above did happen as he even suggests replacing our nation State name with, “the Chinese Republic of Somaliland.”

I, like the vast majority of Somalilanders, want a free, independent, self governing Somaliland but I want it won with pride, integrity, as well as respect and not as a satellite puppet State for an undemocratic Chinese State hoping to get a foot hold in Africa. The Somaliland people are struggling for self governance and if we politically aligned ourselves with China, not only will we be facing an international support deficit but a new future of Chinese economic, political and social colonization.

To conclude, it is understandable that the Somaliland communities around the world are angry with Tony Blair’s refusal to recognize Somaliland despite a petition signed by thousands of Somalilanders in the UK been delivered to 10 Downing Street, but it is imperative that we remain calm, focused and above all, patient. If in our anger and frustration we turn to China, we will be abandoning not only the support of the UK but that of the EU and more worryingly, who is to say China will come to our aid anyway? Somalilanders have worked tirelessly to create a peaceful, democratic, functioning State which is the envy of all of Africa and we must refrain from ruining this by aligning ourselves, economically as well as politically with China.

Good things usually come to those who wait and if we wait just a little longer we will be able to witness the fruits of our labor. Our many years of toil will be rewarded but we must be patient and to those who do not trust neither the West nor the East, I say this, it is better to deal with the devil you know than the one you don’t.

libanbakaa@hotmail.com