The concurrent disparaging incursion of the Ethiopian forces – the overlords of Somalia – in to the peaceful town of Buhodle that resulted in an all out massacre of multitude of innocent civilians and Somaliland militia’s savage hammering of Widh-Widh district with the sole aim of forcing unwilling people to vote for the ruling party (UDUB) has come at the least desirable time. This military action is ill-timed as the region is in the run up to the long awaited election and thus can neither afford to give any ropes to the weak and bewildered opposition that has no viable agenda, nor to disappoint the international community that invested heavily on the election project, who are watching from afar. In times of confusion and civil war, history teaches us that the extremist ride on the back of the society and if this policy of belligerence is not tamed rapidly it will certainly backfire to UDUB who so far glided Somaliland through perilous times in which the opposition were prepared to stage pointless civil wars. Attention of the leaders should always focus on the fact that Somaliland’s fragile economy can’t sustain an open ended war of aggression against the SSC – the SSC is the third administrative region in Northern Somalia besides Somaliland and Puntland.
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It is very plausible that the opposition will use this unfortunate aimless militarism to their advantage if they play their cards right. The opposition is bound to depict (UDUB) as undemocratic and corrupt administration that is using- the funds the international community donated to Somaliland’s administration to conduct safe, fair and peaceful election - to start wars in the neighbourhood to uproot civilians from their towns. The current policy of militarism has the potentiality of tainting the success UDUB party is expected to reap from the ballot box which is due to take place very soon as the opposition is in no position to throw out a significant challenge other than to cry foul and claim the vote was rigged. To score few political points, against the insane and far right opposition that live in the days of the now defunct and controversial SNM that has no relevance to the current situation except in the minds of the out-of-touch opposition, isn’t worth derailing the centrist UDUB party.
In the eyes of the students of Somalia affairs this untimely running battles in Sool amounts to desecration of the good name of Somaliland’s people that prided themselves as the bearers of the banner of peace and the undisputed pioneers of bottom up local reconciliation which was and is truly an envy that the rest of the Somalis would wish to emulate. This policy of hostility and intolerance in place of the traditional negotiation based culture of Somaliland carries a potent warning sign that clearly paints a picture of mystified administration and a weak opposition that hijacked the lofty goals of Somaliland’s people – this dents the future confidence of the international community that would like to see Somaliland to march further in the way to democratic culture.
In the eyes of the students of Somalia affairs this untimely running battles in Sool amounts to desecration of the good name of Somaliland’s people that prided themselves as the bearers of the banner of peace and the undisputed pioneers of bottom up local reconciliation which was and is truly an envy that the rest of the Somalis would wish to emulate. This policy of hostility and intolerance in place of the traditional negotiation based culture of Somaliland carries a potent warning sign that clearly paints a picture of mystified administration and a weak opposition that hijacked the lofty goals of Somaliland’s people – this dents the future confidence of the international community that would like to see Somaliland to march further in the way to democratic culture.
Somaliland and SSC’s polity subscribe to unionist and secessionist agenda, albeit to different degree, but the divide should be best left under key and lock in view of the real serious security threats Puntland, SSC and Somaliland are facing – The Islamists onslaught which is spreading like bush fire. Brotherly people (SSC & Somaliland) must be fused together by the fear lest the wretchedness that crippled the rest of Somalia comes to roost in their back yard. Somaliland and SSC people among the Somalis are like twin brothers that speak the same dialect and have the same values in every aspect of social life which even makes Puntlander’s, next door neighbour, appear in the eyes of both group’s minds, foreigners from a far away land. In thin and thick and where ever they go the SSC and Somaliland people are attracted to each other to the exclusion of other Somalis which demonstrates that natural affinity and instinct is at play.
There is no homogenous society, as far as unionism is concerned, on either side of the contending parties of this soon to smoulder house (Somaliland/SSC) which, if not quickly put off, will have a devastating effect on both groups –the right time to wash everybody’s laundry in the streets is yet to arrive. Societies that have shared centuries old culture and blood ties ought to have the same destiny so the preservation of the common umbilical cord should be paramount and at all times hoisted above the infantile question of Unionism VS secessionism in which the Hawkish politicians from both sides are tirelessly fishing in to reach their unholy goals.
The Somalis are indebted to the SSC people for the exemplary role they played during the liberation wars led by Darvish movement that put Somalia in the history books. It’s stamped in the hearts and minds of all Somalis where ever they are and will remain so with the future generations – the price the SSC people paid for the cause of Somali nationalism is the only unparalleled historical treasure that Somalis collectively claim to own and as such will transcend generations.
Having said so, I believe the SSC’s love for Somali nationalism is once again needed to play a constructive role that can reshape the whole of northern Somalia for the good of all. The geographical location of SSC and the rich diversity of its people hold the key that can safe Somaliland/Puntland people from eternal underdevelopment. Being in the hinterland, SSC can serve as a bridge that can create a healthy and booming commercial competition between the ports (Berbera and Bossaso) that has the potentiality to generate employment opportunities and development for all which in the end can cement the stability of the whole of Northern Somalia as no stake holder can contemplate of killing the gees that lays the golden eggs – cooperation and negotiation is the only game that can rescue the suffering people of Northern Somalia irrespective of their political orientation.
As a concluding remark I say “Seize opportunity by the forelock, for behind she is bald” – Somaliland and Puntland must stop patronizing the SSC people and start helping them in the establishment of their legitimate administration in their own land as SSC is neither Puntland nor Somaliland but an entity that has noble history. The myth of the colonial boundary is a dream in some of Somaliland’s politicians because the SSC people never accepted then and will never accept now – the tribal boundaries set by the British was the epicentre of the 21 year long war waged by the SSC people against the British colonialism and to expect the SSC people to embrace the same colonial and irrelevant boundary now can only be possible when a camel passes through the eye of the needle.
Abdikarim Buh Political analyst E-mail :abdikarimbuh@yahoo.comThere is no homogenous society, as far as unionism is concerned, on either side of the contending parties of this soon to smoulder house (Somaliland/SSC) which, if not quickly put off, will have a devastating effect on both groups –the right time to wash everybody’s laundry in the streets is yet to arrive. Societies that have shared centuries old culture and blood ties ought to have the same destiny so the preservation of the common umbilical cord should be paramount and at all times hoisted above the infantile question of Unionism VS secessionism in which the Hawkish politicians from both sides are tirelessly fishing in to reach their unholy goals.
The Somalis are indebted to the SSC people for the exemplary role they played during the liberation wars led by Darvish movement that put Somalia in the history books. It’s stamped in the hearts and minds of all Somalis where ever they are and will remain so with the future generations – the price the SSC people paid for the cause of Somali nationalism is the only unparalleled historical treasure that Somalis collectively claim to own and as such will transcend generations.
Having said so, I believe the SSC’s love for Somali nationalism is once again needed to play a constructive role that can reshape the whole of northern Somalia for the good of all. The geographical location of SSC and the rich diversity of its people hold the key that can safe Somaliland/Puntland people from eternal underdevelopment. Being in the hinterland, SSC can serve as a bridge that can create a healthy and booming commercial competition between the ports (Berbera and Bossaso) that has the potentiality to generate employment opportunities and development for all which in the end can cement the stability of the whole of Northern Somalia as no stake holder can contemplate of killing the gees that lays the golden eggs – cooperation and negotiation is the only game that can rescue the suffering people of Northern Somalia irrespective of their political orientation.
As a concluding remark I say “Seize opportunity by the forelock, for behind she is bald” – Somaliland and Puntland must stop patronizing the SSC people and start helping them in the establishment of their legitimate administration in their own land as SSC is neither Puntland nor Somaliland but an entity that has noble history. The myth of the colonial boundary is a dream in some of Somaliland’s politicians because the SSC people never accepted then and will never accept now – the tribal boundaries set by the British was the epicentre of the 21 year long war waged by the SSC people against the British colonialism and to expect the SSC people to embrace the same colonial and irrelevant boundary now can only be possible when a camel passes through the eye of the needle.
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