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By Amin Ali
First, I would like to express my solidarity with the people of
Somaliland and specially with those who took their grievance and anger
to the streets! Mr. Riyale, READ the FINE print and not the small one! I
hope he cares enough to read the fine print.
The righteous rage in the streets of Hargeysa, and others big cities, is
familiar to everyone. They recall their own demonstrations that doomed
the despotic and tyrannical Siyad's regime almost two decades ago.
Somalilanders, hopeful and sympathetic, see lessons in their past for
the demonstrators in the capital Hargeysa. Although, there are not
substantive and striking similarities with the former bloody dictator,
there is still some paralls to be drawn. The non-respect of the
constitution and the curb of the free media are some of the threats that
our nascent nation is facing of late! But yesterday, the demonstrators
were unified against a common cause. The inability of the current
president to hold a free and fair election triggered their anger and
their disgust! With the current political debacle, it was nevertheless
welcome to cast their feeling and take it to the street.
The president and his appalling government must be thinking about the
odds of such protest! If it has, probably, inspired the opposition it
might have planted fears and doubts into the hearts of the ones in
power! The president, yesterday, must be wondering what went wrong after
glancing through his many windows! If he's more assertive than
unassuming in his analysis of the circumstances, he should be aware how
"power to the people" can sometimes beat extraordinary odds, and NOT
discounts that the odds of those demonstrations can lead to the
crumbling of his weak government.
As the presidential election is fast approaching, the Somaliland
president Dahir Riyale is showing signs he fears losing his grip on
power. As a result, the recent bold but controversial and ill-advised
decision to cancel the voter registration list and the ousting of the
Interpeace agency officer Mr. Ruben Zamora explained his deeper concerns
over voter turnout in the opposition's favor!!! Since his numerous and
illegitimates extensions by the Guurti, the mood, at Somaliland in
general, suggests that Mr. Riyale remains poised for ultimate defeat.
Some seven years into Mr. Riyale's reign, nothing much had changed. And
to openly declare he no longer has what it takes to lead this great
nation would NOT require bottle, honesty and a great degree of
integrity. It's plain to see!!! In fact, bottle and honesty and
integrity are Qualities which, amongst cash and power obsessed African
leaders are in painfully short supply. But qualities which, thankfully,
we can still find in our nation to force him to leave as he continues to
undermine us. Mr. Riyale’s name in Somaliland is synonymous with chaos
and failure in a massive scale.
Those coordinated moves reflect the president attempts to derail the
election and plunge the country into a turmoil! Many believe this will
be Mr. Riyale last two months in charge of the country. He has not only
lost the momentum but also the support he afforded last election as
public anger mounts over the rife corruption, and the slow and illusive
pace of securing our recognition!!! He has failed to produce the answers
to the country's long-standing aspirations and hopes. His mind games are
up; the public and the world are incredulous at the president's ability
to hold a fair and peaceful election. Perhaps Mr. Riyale has a dream
that the Guurti will keep him out of trouble and one step ahead of
turmoil again. Then, again, it is all dreams for Mr. Riyale. Somaliland
Parliament ruled unlawful a joint decision by Riyale administration and
National Electoral Commission’s to attempt to suspend the voter
registration list in the upcoming presidential election. This decision
has flown straight to the president's face and calls for an end of Mr.
Riyale's mischiefs. He has long taken for granted for being at the helm
of the country and must have now realized that his reckless behavior is
coming to an end! What self-delusion from his part! He has reaped the
rewards of the late president Egal after his sudden departure and
instead of redeeming himself from his not so glorious dark past, he has
unfortunately chosen to carry on the same path! He has been trusted with
the highest job in the land. I bet he has never given it a thought, let
alone entertain it! Not even in his wildest dreams of being the head of
this state! how can Mr. Riyale be ungrateful and stupid but also the
same people he has betrayed still has a tiny faith after seven years and
nothing to show for is beyond anyone and defy our common sense!!! It's
shocking!!! Let’s not make the same mistake! He does not deserve the
benefit of the doubt and should be shown the door without remorse’s.
It’s all over for this government, they are beyond saving and are now
destined for the scrapheap where they belong.
Him and his government failed spectacularly to live up to our
expectations but not to their reputations! Let’s make sure there is not
a last shot at redemption. They had and chose to ignore it. Fair and
square! The bottom line is to give Kulmiye and his leader a crack at it.
Success in Somaliland for Mr. Riyale and Udub will change nothing much
and would come as a nasty shock to everyone who believed we had turned
some dramatic corner. And more dramatically Somaliland as an independent
nation would seem as distant a hope as it ever was and perhaps will kiss
it goodbye!
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