By Ahmed Aideed

Rumors about an impending reshuffle by Riyale are running wild in Hargeisa and may be a reality by the time this piece is published. However, what is of interest is the signals it will send to the general public and even Somaliland's international friends.

Riyale's Achilles Heel has been largely his bloated ineffective and sycophantic cabinets. His decisions to appoint so many lackluster characters may have been dictated by a need for loyalty or irrational clannish calculations. These inevitably may have predisposed him to individuals whose only claim to high office is alleged clannish credentials or sycophantic oratory.

Given the fact that his administration is at its dusk, a reshuffle based on similar irrational consideration will be the last nail on the coffin of what is increasing a beleaguered administration. Riyale needs to pull a massive trick and give the country a cabinet that will not only save Somaliland from the current inertia but also give him a decent shot in the offing elections

It will be dishonest to paint his entire cabinet with the same stroke, the holders of the foreign and defense portfolios have been exemplary. The rest of the huge cabinet has relatively remained nameless to the country that is apart from their immediate villages and hordes of hanger on.. The worst of this ineffective lot is perhaps the Minister for Finance. He not only flouts all existing constitutional requirements of his position but insanely demands a knightly reception on his return from his frequent MIA. The economy of the fragile nation is in virtual stagnation as a result.   

Will Riyale be attempting to discard the unfruitful extra luggage in his cabinet? Will he be seeking out for skills which are chronically missing in his administration or stick with individuals who cannot tell their right hand from their left? Will he be reaching out to his disillusioned voting base through credible opinion holders or will he cozy up with sycophants whose only addition to his electoral chances are a bunch of busy body suckers?  Will the whole cabinet reshuffle be a myopic rush to irrational clannish calculations that will boomerang on him? Well let wait. It is judgment time. There will be no more excuses and scapegoats.

A failure, on Riyale's part, to grab this chance will not only consign his political career to oblivion but risks wiping UDHUB from the political map. He owes it to UDHUB and Somaliland democracy to provide the ruling party with a descent chance, in the least to remain as a potent political force. A cabinet that will attract ridicule rather than serious commentary will cement the growing disillusionment with the ruling party and thus mark the genesis of its demise as a potent party.

While at it, lets us make it openly clear that a meaningless reshuffle that will re-arrange the proximity of tired sycophants to the high table will send the remaining UDHUB supporters off in search of credible political umbrella. No amount of clannish cajoling or jester will stop the mass exodus from the ruling party. Mr. Riyale, you have a choice of either sticking with indolent sycophants or demonstrate leadership. Time is not on your side.  

For a clue, take your two principal assistants in the Foreign and Defence dockets as the benchmark of working individuals and make sure anything less promising, however their oratorical skills, will not wash. We are past the years of café verbosity. The country is in desperate need for economic revival and you can at least show us you appreciate the reality by giving us individuals who will help your administration come up with sellable policies not those who advise you to jail and gag dissenting citizens.

ahmed.aideed@gmail.com