Commentary

By Idris A. Ibrahim

A prominent scholar in Somaliland affairs confided me once in a friendly chat at Maansoor Hotel over a dinner some three (3) years back that Somaliland has evolved into a giant that even the most severe political blows would not cause a dent to it. By this statement he meant that it has passed the tests of time with distinction and that the fear that it may back-pedal into anarchy is no longer valid.

Since its reinstatement, however, Somaliland had overcome a succession of hurdles. These included the effects of the 14 conferences sponsored by the international community in its attempt to find a long-lasting solution to the Somalia proper crisis; the military intervention by the multi-national forces to firstly open corridors for the Somalis dying for hunger in certain parts of the Somalia proper and, secondly stabilize the country to pave the way for the formation of a central government; the terrorist activities masterminded by the defeated Union of Islamic Courts, which resulted in the killings of foreign expatriates; the empty rhetoric of UIC that it would bring Somaliland back to the fold by force.

Yet, there remains another hurdle relating to the impending reconciliation conference by the Impagathi regime that we ought to overcome.

With the exception of the impending reconciliation conference, all the other hurdles enumerated in the preceding paragraph are in the past and no longer trouble or haunt us. But what matters most is the so-called reconciliation conference scheduled to take place in Mogadishu ( Somalia) under the auspices of the Impagathi Regime. How much effect this conference will have on Somaliland is a question that every Somalilander will have to ponder.

As the news of the holding of this conference has been released, there was a feeling of surprise and agony that bewildered the psyches of many in Somaliland. In certain quarters, it was a piece of news that has been received with great awe, leaving almost all sensible Somalilanders quipping with alacrity.

One may wonder why such a mixed feeling given the fact that Somaliland has overcome similar hurdles on its way to the present. Prudence dictates that any underestimation of an imminent threat can lead to grave consequences of great magnitude. So it is important that we should adopt a conservative stance towards any issue whose repercussion(s) is unfathomable and dangerous.

In this article, I wish to discuss two issues, namely: our impregnable foreign policy and the possible ramifications of the recently announced reconciliation conference to which Somaliland is said to be invited to participate in.

I. Our Impregnable Foreign Policy:

History has taught us many lessons that we ought to adapt to the current situation.

Somaliland is now mired in an untenable situation politically, socially and economically- a situation that could, if not handled properly, catapult the country into much deeper crises.

Politically, Somaliland is in the throes of gaining diplomatic recognition from the international community. Attempts to do so are the monopoly of the Executive. And, they hardly tally with the expected results.

One may attribute such an unfavourable variance to factors ranging from the adoption of a faulty strategy in the quest for recognition to the reluctance on the part of the Rayale Administration to make missions highly inclusive with the Who-is-Who in Diplomacy/ International Relations arena forming the core. Whichever, the fact remains that we are miles away from getting where these attempts would bear fruition.

For 16 years, we have been crying for recognition in the highest pitch of our voices, yet the world seems oblivious to our wishes. There are many questions that we should ask ourselves as to why the case is so. Aren’t we able to get the message across that what we yearn for is nothing short of a diplomatic recognition? Aren’t we sincere about the whole undertaking? Are there forces that prevent us from uttering the rightful two-word statement, that is, diplomatic recognition, which the public do not know but need to know? Aren’t our missions to foreign capitals capable enough of selling the idea of recognition to their counter-parts?

The answers to these questions are crucial to our understanding of the exact nature of our foreign policy. I had better leave them to the gatekeepers of our foreign policy to present convincing answers to the disgruntled public, like me, for I am baffled by the hackneyed statements that the government issues any time a delegation concludes a mission. We have raised the recognition issue with the foreign officials we met, and they received it warmly with the promise that they would follow it up in the impending national and international forums” is such a standard statement. The question is: How long will the government keep entertaining us with such a hollow statement? Would it not be a better idea to include former diplomats, notables in the diaspora, MPs, Political Parties, Elders, etc., along with Government Ministers in any mission to foreign capitals in the quest for diplomatic recognition for Somaliland? Why wouldn’t we target the former British colonies with whom we share similar colonial experiences rather than taking the trouble of knocking every damn door, which has proven futile, for our cause?

I think it is time that the government should reassess its foreign policy directed towards securing international recognition for the Somaliland cause and the strategies adopted to realize it. Otherwise, continuing on this ill-fated policy and the guiding strategies towards the recognition goal not only will produce no results but also will dry up the taxpayers’ money in the government coffers.

Moreover, in my opinion, an important key to overcoming such a hurdle in our foreign policy is the need for turning our attention to our internal problems taking the view that once we are through with them nothing will stand our way to becoming an internationally recognized nation. Self-recognition is critical to gaining recognition from others.

Our internal problems are multiple, multi-pronged and varied in their perceived effects. The unresolved standoff between President Rayale and the House of Parliament over a variety of issues that have bearings on the Constitution is a case in point. The further this standoff drags on, the closer the country will plunge into an abyss.

Besides, there are other internal problems that, though of less intense, are of social and economic nature. These problems continue to hem us in with no way- out in sight. Among these include: the government’s reluctance to improve the provision of the basic public services in the face of the growing concerns for the gradual depletion of the existing services; the waning organizational performances of the public institutions to be up to their tasks; the mishandling of the livestock issue whose negative economic repercussions are widely felt; the trampling of the only “Magna Carta” we have: the Constitution, allegedly by the President; the rising cost of fuel; the government’s failure to harness the run-away corruption, etc.

These and many others are gaining strength and may soon develop and become a critical mass whose implications will cause an implosion with incalculable aftermath if the government fails to take the necessary actions to solve them.

With these dire predictions, the reader may be forgiven for his assessment about me that I am an avid pessimist, at best. On my part, neither I want to be a pessimist nor be seen as one. Pessimism is not part of my lexicon, for I hate those who are. But looking at what is happening around I can’t help carrying the label of a pessimist, like it or not.

There is a Somali saying “ Runtu Kuma Disho ee Way kaa Nixisaa”, which when literally translated into English reads like “ Truth Never Kills you but rather Gives You a Shock”. This is a mere call for those who argue that everything is fine in Somaliland to wake up to the fact and think twice!

II. The Likely Effects of the So-called Reconciliation Conference for Somalia Proper on

Somaliland:

To come to the second point of my article regarding the likely effects of the so-called reconciliation conference for Somalia proper on us, I wish I could couch it in a way that would help me present a logical argument succinctly, but the fact that to do so requires eloquence, which I am deficient in, the following brief presentation about it, though one may see it as falling short of being impressive, is all I could improvise unsparingly:

The so-called reconciliation conference to be held in Mogadishu- Somalia-mid-June, this year and to which the Chairman of the Organizing Committee invited Somalilanders is no different than those held in Djibouti and Arta (Djibouti), Bahar-Daar, Sodare, Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia), Eldoret and Impagathi (Kenya). This will hopefully meet the same fate that others did. But to be realistic, such a wishful thinking may turn out hollow and reality may reign supreme.

However, to be on the safe side, let us draw the worst scenario by assuming that the conference got underway with participants from Somaliland and the international community granted its backing to the resolutions. What would be our reaction to this development besides the commendable move by the House of Elders to renew the law banning any participation in reconciliation conferences for Somalia proper by any Somalilander? Would it be regarded as Déjà vu worthy of no action? Would the government put its house in order first to free itself up for dealing with the ensuing negative fallout? Would the masses be mobilized so that the tremors they create reverberate through the length and the breadth of the Earth? Would there be other means to stem off such a tide, come June 15 th?

In fact, it is not my intention to speculate on any of these eventualities in this article, yet what I meant by raising such hypothetical questions is to urge the audience to think over and share among them and then come up with the best means by which these eventualities could be handled.

Despite the assurance given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in a recent Senate (Guurti) hearing that Somaliland is sound, safe and free from any threat, yet my concern is that the waning resolve of the government may succumb to a possible threat from Abdillahi Yusuf and his cronies backed by the US and UN. The analogy that Dog eating Dog can never repel a Hyena rings true here. And, unless we put our house in order the quest for recognition will continue unheeded for many years to come.

All these anomalies, shortcomings, misfortunes, etc., require strong and effective leadership with the vision and wisdom to tackle them, which Somaliland lacks in at the present time.

Conclusively, I wish to reassert my claim that Somaliland is lodged deep in my heart and that any action leading to its betrayal surely hurts me. Life is too short to be of any significance to your ambitions. Never let yourself be carried away by its temptations but rather focus on what you can do for your country so that you’ll have a space reserved in the annals of history for your name and legacy to appear for a wider

readership. This piece of wisdom runs counter to the mind-set that enriching yourself through swindling, embezzlement, conspiracy, sabotage, betrayal, etc., at the expense of the public will keep you proud and worthy of imitation. History is and will be the judge and, mind you, you will be the villain for such behaviours in this court – a sad ending of a lifetime that you may have found joyous.

Somaliland is for those who care!

Idris A. Ibrahim

Hargeisa, Somaliland.

idrisi_idrisi@yahoo.com