Monday, June 1, 2009

From Self-proclaimed Republic to Self-deluded Repugnance

By Zakaria FarahTuesday, June 16, 2009

My recent article about Somaliland’s near impossibility of gaining recognition which appeared on the opinion pages of hiiraan.com, attracted an overwhelming response from both opponents and proponents of independence for the Northwestern region of Somalia. For practical reasons, I would not be able to respond to the e-mailers. Nevertheless, I would take this opportunity to thank all those who tried to make their feelings known, especially those who disagreed with me.

I do, however, reiterate that further geographical division of the Somali people is unwarranted, unnecessary, and unjustified. While the debate about Somalia’s future, political structure and its final boundaries is a healthy thing, two things are for certain: the secessionists are a vocal minority while the unionists are the silent majority. It is time to reclaim the mantle and challenge those who are drowning out our voices. Moreover, I want to tackle a few urban myths constantly propagated by secessionists to promote their separatist tendencies and advance their goals.

The first myth that secessionists always use as a pretext for splitting Somalia is that the Northerners created unionism, joined the republic of their own volition, and hence can rescind the act of unionism on a whim. First of all, there are several misconceptions and misrepresentations in this myth.

For starters, the creation of the union was a joint venture between all regions of Somalia. The colonial masters, especially Britain were interested in reuniting the two Somali protectorates and removing the artificial borders. This gesture, however, did not extend to the Somalis in Ethiopia or Kenya. Perhaps the thinking of the colonialists at the time was that if the Somalis at the North and the South were reunited, it will diminish, if not entirely eliminate, the Somalis’ irredentist desires. Incidentally, and maybe not surprising, the people who are now advocating for secession are the same people who did not approve of the union in the first place. The other point is that the existing act of union is a contract that cannot be abrogated without the consent of eighty percent of all Somalis in the republic.

The second myth which is related to the first is that Northerners made tactical errors in joining the union in the first place, so the current desire to secede is just a correction of past mistakes.

It is an outright lie to claim that the creation of the Somali Republic was born out of erratic fantasies rather than the genuine desire of the Somali people. As indicated earlier, bringing about the union was not only the just thing to do; it was the right thing to do. Not only was the creation of the republic something wanted by most Somalis, it was something the international community and the colonialists desperately needed. The gravest of errors is the current secessionist movements to break up Somalia as we know it.

The third myth is that there is a precedent for carving out a separate country from Somalia. For example, secessionists cite the cases of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia breakups into separate nations.

The secessionists are creating a logical fallacy here, because the mere mention of those famous breakups reinforces the Somali unionists’ idea that breaking up Somalia is illogical and untenable. To create a nation-state is the precise reason why the post-cold war breakup of countries took place. Somalia is already a nation-state, so slicing it further does not make any sense.

One common ingredient of any breakup is to unite people who speak the same language and/or practice the same religion. The last time I checked Somalis spoke the same language and practiced the same religion. In addition, those states that broke up after the cold war were already republics within a republic. The political, cultural, and social subdivisions of those nations were firmly in place. It was a matter of time before those republics were separated.

The fourth myth perpetuated by the secessionists is that the advocates of one Somalia are Southern clans or inhabitants of the former Italian Somaliland who have no moral authority until they resolve their bitter struggle for power.

It may surprise some people, but the strongest supporters of one Somalia are the clans from the Northwest. Many clans and sub-clans in the Northwest valiantly fought the British colonialists in the hope of creating one Somalia. I do not think that the legendary freedom fighters in the North shed their blood in order to sub-divide Somalis and create clan enclaves. The other point is that while the Somalis in the South are still fighting among themselves, it doesn’t absolve them from the responsibility of campaigning and advocating for a united Somalia.

The fifth myth is that the desire to secede was as a result of the policies of the President Mohamed Siad Barre’s socialist regime which created an atmosphere of mistrust, marginalized and alienated Somalis in the North, and eventually persecuted them when they fought his administration.

It is true that the socialist revolution in Somalia in the late 1960s was anathema to Somalis and an antidote to development and democracy. It is also true that there were rampant human rights violations in many parts of Somalia during Barre’s reign, most notably the counterinsurgency tactics of the regime in the towns and cities in the northwest. It is, however, disingenuous to suggest that Barre’s autocratic rule was the main instigator of the mono-clan movements in the North and the subsequent secession declaration. Most of the current political ills and maladies in Somalia predates and postdates Barre’s years of rule. Meaning that there were animosities and mistrusts before Mohamed Siad Barre and they exist nearly two decades after he left.

To illustrate the point that animosity in Somalia predates and postdates Siad Barre, I recall meeting many years ago an older man from one of the Northern clans in a certain city in the West. The older man was discussing Somali politics with another man who hailed from the South. I was the youngster in the group and was not an active participant in the discussion, but I recall the older man saying, “I recoil with distaste whenever I hear the mention of three Mohammeds.”

At first, I flinched, because Mohammed is a beautiful Muslim name, a common Somali name, and the name of our beloved Prophet. The other man then asked, “Who are the three Mohammeds that make you cringe?” The older man replied, “Whenever I hear the name Mohammed Abdille Hassan, I cringe. Whenever I hear the name Mohammed Siad Barre, I cringe. Whenever I hear the name Mohammed Farah Aidid, I cringe.” I do not even remember the response from the other man or the explanations given by the older man, but I will leave to Somalis to decipher the meaning behind the old man’s statement. But I always wonder that if in the unlikely event Somaliland becomes independent who will celebrate the legacy of Seyyid Abdille Hassan? Was he a Somalilander or just a Somali? Will he have approved the division and sub-division of Somalia? Was he a Somali hero or a Somali villain? If Muhammad Abdille Hassan was found walking in downtown Hargeysa today will he mobbed like a rock star or will he be handed to the Ethiopians?

The sixth myth is that if you are against the creation or the secession of Somaliland, you are envious of its democracy, peace, and modest prosperity. First of all, it is farcical to suggest that the self-styled republic is democratic. If Somaliland is democratic, so was Somalia under Siad Barre. One can hold half-baked elections and call itself democratic, but saying so doesn’t make it so. In a democracy, opinions of every individual and groups of political stripes are respected. I maybe wrong, but I have not heard pro-Somali union groups or parties registered or freely operating in Somaliland.

While Somaliland areas are relatively peaceful compared to most Somali towns and cities, there are still ethnic clashes, border disputes, and simmering tensions. For example, the Sool region and a large swathe of Sanaag region are forced to the fold of Somaliland under intimidation and the barrel of a gun. Similarly, the clans in the Awdal region are suspicious of the whole Somaliland experiment. They believe that, rightly or wrongly, the secession project is a clan-motivated adventure. If Dahir Riyale Kahin who hails from Awdal is removed from his leadership in the current administration whether by the ballot or by the bullet and especially if Somaliland was recognized, the Awdal region will undoubtedly seek a separation. Therefore, the whole peace mantra is built on a house of cards. If also Puntland goes to war over Sool and Sanaag regions, or a future Somali government decides to reformulate the republic by force, the whole thing will unravel. It takes years to achieve peace but only days to destroy it. Prosperity thrives on peace, political stability and recognition. As a result of Somaliland’s political limbo, investment and growth is and will continue to be limited.

The suggestion that if you are against secession you are “jealous” of something or someone is preposterous. I for one want the regions, towns, and villages that call themselves Somaliland to remain or to become peaceful, democratic, and prosperous, and finally continue to be part of a unified Somalia.
Zakaria Farah
zacfarah@yahoo.co.uk

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Ex-Somali Police Commissioner General Mohamed Abshir

Ex-Somali Police Commissioner  General Mohamed Abshir

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre with general Mohamad Ali samater

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre with general Mohamad Ali samater
Somalia army parade 1979

Sultan Kenadid

Sultan Kenadid
Sultanate of Obbia

President of the United Meeting with Prime Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Egal of the Somali Republic,

Seyyid Muhammad Abdille Hassan

Seyyid Muhammad Abdille Hassan

Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire

Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire
Sultanate of Warsengeli

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre
Siad Barre ( A somali Hero )

MoS Moments of Silence

MoS Moments of Silence
honor the fallen

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre  and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie
Beautiful handshake

May Allah bless him and give Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre..and The Honourable Ronald Reagan

May Allah bless him and give  Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre..and The Honourable Ronald Reagan
Honorable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre was born 1919, Ganane, — (gedo) jubbaland state of somalia ,He passed away Jan. 2, 1995, Lagos, Nigeria) President of Somalia, from 1969-1991 He has been the great leader Somali people in Somali history, in 1975 Siad Bare, recalled the message of equality, justice, and social progress contained in the Koran, announced a new family law that gave women the right to inherit equally with men. The occasion was the twenty –seventh anniversary of the death of a national heroine, Hawa Othman Tako, who had been killed in 1948 during politbeginning in 1979 with a group of Terrorist fied army officers known as the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF).Mr Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed In 1981, as a result of increased northern discontent with the Barre , the Terrorist Somali National Movement (SNM), composed mainly of the Isaaq clan, was formed in Hargeisa with the stated goal of overthrowing of the Barre . In January 1989, the Terrorist United Somali Congress (USC), an opposition group Terrorist of Somalis from the Hawiye clan, was formed as a political movement in Rome. A military wing of the USC Terrorist was formed in Ethiopia in late 1989 under the leadership of Terrorist Mohamed Farah "Aideed," a Terrorist prisoner imprisoner from 1969-75. Aideed also formed alliances with other Terrorist groups, including the SNM (ONLF) and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), an Terrorist Ogadeen sub-clan force under Terrorist Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess in the Bakool and Bay regions of Southern Somalia. , 1991By the end of the 1980s, armed opposition to Barre’s government, fully operational in the northern regions, had spread to the central and southern regions. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis fled their homes, claiming refugee status in neighboring Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. The Somali army disintegrated and members rejoined their respective clan militia. Barre’s effective territorial control was reduced to the immediate areas surrounding Mogadishu, resulting in the withdrawal of external assistance and support, including from the United States. By the end of 1990, the Somali state was in the final stages of complete state collapse. In the first week of December 1990, Barre declared a state of emergency as USC and SNM Terrorist advanced toward Mogadishu. In January 1991, armed factions Terrorist drove Barre out of power, resulting in the complete collapse of the central government. Barre later died in exile in Nigeria. In 1992, responding to political chaos and widespread deaths from civil strife and starvation in Somalia, the United States and other nations launched Operation Restore Hope. Led by the Unified Task Force (UNITAF), the operation was designed to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to Somalis suffering from the effects of dual catastrophes—one manmade and one natural. UNITAF was followed by the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). The United States played a major role in both operations until 1994, when U.S. forces withdrew. Warlordism, terrorism. PIRATES ,(TRIBILISM) Replaces the Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre administration .While the terrorist threat in Somalia is real, Somalia’s rich history and cultural traditions have helped to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. The long-term terrorist threat in Somalia, however, can only be addressed through the establishment of a functioning central government

The Honourable Ronald Reagan,

When our world changed forever

His Excellency ambassador Dr. Maxamed Saciid Samatar (Gacaliye)

His Excellency ambassador Dr. Maxamed Saciid Samatar (Gacaliye)
Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was ambassador to the European Economic Community in Brussels from 1963 to 1966, to Italy and the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] in Rome from 1969 to 1973, and to the French Govern­ment in Paris from 1974 to 1979.

Dr. Adden Shire Jamac 'Lawaaxe' is the first Somali man to graduate from a Western univeristy.

Dr. Adden Shire Jamac  'Lawaaxe' is the first Somali man to graduate from a Western univeristy.
Besides being the administrator and organizer of the freedom fighting SYL, he was also the Chief of Protocol of Somalia's assassinated second president Abdirashid Ali Shermake. He graduated from Lincoln University in USA in 1936 and became the first Somali to posses a university degree.

Soomaaliya الصومال‎ Somali Republic

Soomaaliya الصومال‎ Somali Republic
Somalia

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