By Mohamed A.awale

According to the latest quips on Somaliland political twist, god has bestowed it with either half-naked kings or an empty royalty wardrobe that its rightful aspirant has yet to be found nowhere. By all accounts, at least that joke seems fitting when it comes in the recent much hyped and over-blown Kulmiye’s convention in Hargeysa.

To be fair, I am not and have never been fervent enthusias of Kulmiye or its enigmatic leadership outfit and the same goes for Udub, but according to some non-partisan and keen observers of Somaliland political dynamics this gathering has raised more eye brows, if not nagging questions, than the other way around.

Questions of competency, integrity and true colors of the party leadership and/or the inner circle personalities toward maturity of important issues, which are deemed to be sine qua non for the inner working and sustainability of progressive body polity in SL, are up in the air. Also, issues regarding to the commitment on transparency, fairness, politico and social equitably among citizenry and diverse communities were pushed to the distance back seat in exchange for perverted nepotism and personal loyalty, or at least it seems so now.

If the leaks circulating in the cyber-world or even anything closer to it for that matter prove right, the essence of SL party politics and particularly Kulmiye's as a viable, alternative entity may unravel sooner than later.

If prognosis of some well-informed pundits to go by, business of politics will likely revert into the nasty old days of clannish rivalry, fist-fights and mujahidism melancholy under which shameless fanatism flourishes with unmatched intrigues and fever. Gone will be the era of civic debates and consensus on issues that have national prominence. The days of genuine, progressive political environ will be irreversibly eroded forever. God forbid!

Given the personalities with checkered track record including has-beens, chronic guerrilla hangovers or other controversial figures and populist pseudo-intellectuals jockeying for the top echelon of the leadership positions, the said scenarios cannot be ruled out easily.

There are also possibilities that moderate forces and noble reasons led by Dr Ahmed H. Isse and associates, though out-foxed and swamped by foot soldiers, could prevail in the end and pull the base of the party from hangovers and fringe status into something more palatable and credible player in the mainstream politics.

Finally, whether affiliated with it or not, let us keep our fingers crossed and hope an outcome of the latter case or at least something closer. No doubt, it will immensely cement the harmonious co-existence and democratic foundations of Somaliland and its stakeholders for the better.

As per for the unclaimed royalty garment, let us hope the best qualified candidates with just, vision and noble intentions claim its ownership sooner than later.

Mohamed A.awale

Moe-awale@hotmail.com