By Ahmed M.I. Egal

In a recent interview, Mr. Ismail Hurre Buubaa announced that a group of six MPs of the TFG regime of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed plan to travel to Somaliland ostensibly to promote an agreement between Puntland and Somaliland over Sool & Sanag, while calling for recognition for Somaliland and Puntland. The six MPs are apparently three of Somaliland origin and three of Puntland origin, which is presumably meant to demonstrate their even-handed approach to their self-appointed task.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence and knowledge of Mr. Buubaa will immediately understand the real purpose behind his new-found appreciation of Somaliland’s legitimate claim for sovereignty. Having been excluded from Sheikh Sharif’s government lead by Omar Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, Buubaa and the other MPs of Somaliland origin in Somalia’s Parliament have been cooling their heels in Nairobi since they are too scared to reside in Mogadishu or Baidowa. Having reached the logical and inevitable conclusion of their doomed journey to political oblivion, they are now seeking to re-invent themselves as latter day converts to the cause of Somaliland’s sovereignty and recognition in order to rehabilitate themselves in the eyes of Somalilanders, and return home.

There is certainly nothing wrong with eschewing untenable political positions and perspectives in the light of objective realities, and it is a self evident truth that no one is immune from making wrong choices, be they political or personal. Indeed, we can say that recognizing one’s mistakes and rectifying them is a mark of maturity and evidence of wise reflection. However, Mr. Buubaa’s current antics smack of opportunism, mendacity, self-aggrandizement and the basest evasion of responsibility for his past actions. Let us not forget, that this was the man who, as Foreign Minister and Finance Minister for previous Mogadishu regimes, summarily dismissed Somaliland’s claim to nationhood as “…the empty rants of a bunch of separatists”. Let us also not forget that during his term as Somaliland’s first Finance Minister, in the government of Abdirahman ‘Tuur’, Mr. Buubaa based himself in the Sheraton Hotel in Djibouti and did not even deign to reside in Hargeysa.

If Mr. Buubaa wishes to return home and live in Somaliland as an ordinary citizen, let him come openly and honorably and face the consequences of his willing and voluntary actions. Let him answer in a Somaliland court the prima facia case of treason that seems to exist against him, and accept the judgment of the said court. Let him come without the pretence that he is coming to offer Somaliland recognition and foreign investment. Let him not insult our intelligence and our wisdom with such pathetic and facile charades. Does he really think that the people and government of Somaliland are that idiotic and that gullible? Let Mr. Buubaa and his colleagues in the Mbagathi regime understand that the people of Somaliland are generous and hospitable to their very core, they do not seek revenge and retribution against anyone. Indeed, the towering achievement of the Grand Conference in Borama in 1992 from which flowed all the success and achievements of nationhood, peace and reconciliation was the wise and deliberate decision to eschew revenge and score-settling and instead inaugurate the recovery of Somaliland’s sovereignty with mutual forgiveness and a clean slate for all. However, Mr. Buubaa and his cohorts must understand that this generosity and forgiveness can only be sought through honor, honesty and decency as per Somali tradition. Seeking to sneak in through the back door using mendacity and disrespect will only result in the severest of sanctions and ignominy. Therefore, Mr. Buubaa come openly and honorably through the front door, the back door is closed.

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