Does The US Have Anything To Offer Somalis?

EDITORIAL

With the dislodgement of the Islamic Courts from many of their strongholds in the south, many people were wondering what is the US policy in Somalia going to be and how that is going to affect Somaliland? Well now, after several months those people won’t have to wonder. For it is clear now that the US policy towards Somalia is the same as it was before the invasion of Somalia by Ethiopian troops, namely to fight terrorism, to help in humanitarian efforts and to encourage stability. From a Somaliland perspective, these three principles have had little beneficial impact on Somaliland. First, if we take the anti-terrorism issue, Somaliland has broken more terror networks and apprehended more terrorists than many countries, but although Somaliland has paid dearly for its efforts and exposed itself to retaliatory attacks by such outfits as the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the west and especially the US never even said thank you to Somaliland, let alone reward it economically or militarily.

If we look at the humanitarian issue, Somaliland has been for the most part free of major humanitarian disasters. So it is not a big recipient of US humanitarian aid.

Finally, when it comes to stability, Somaliland has been stable for a decade and half with little outside help. It could actually be argued that US policy in Somalia is undermining Somaliland because it is trying to impose Abdillahi Yusuf’s dictatorship on Somalia.

As it stands now, the answer to the question does the US have anything to offer Somalis is: little that is good for Somalis, and nothing that is good for Somaliland.

Source: Somaliland Times

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