Former Presidential Candidate for Somalia, 2004
Part One: In the past few weeks, the issue of Somaliland’s international recognition attracted the eyes, hearts and minds of many Somalis and Non-Somalis to the point that some laymen thought she has already been recognized.1 However, one must realistically distinguish between the fake claims and facts on the ground, because a misapprehension can never transform by itself to an authenticity. Righteous people do not rely on hallucinations, which are based on that miracles will come from the heaven. But non-righteous may even believe that, as a particular clan or group, they are God-chosen people so that their dreams should come true. Although each and every nation, tribe and clan believes that they are so special, smart, skilful, prestigious, dignitary, and the only God’s people (provided they are not atheists), they work for positive change. Off course, all human beings are God’s vicegerent on the earth2, but it is not that one or two of the vicegerents are above the rest of the vicegerents. In fact, it is not that whatever we love is necessarily a good fortune for us, thus, we should have a clear-cut plan for what we want comparing between everything’s pros and cons. As Somalis, we need to change our destructive behaviour that becomes hindrance to our effectiveness and productiveness; being talkative, while we are layabouts and ideals. We should realize that change doesn't just happen, but we should collectively make it happen.
In this article, I will prove that Somaliland is lacking all the attributes that the rest of the Somali regions are lacking due to lack of functioning government, and that the issue of international recognition being given to Somaliland has no room in our contemporary world; neither legally not logically. In this article, I am trying my best to encourage and inspire the people of Somaliland, but I know in advance that many of them will consider it direct attack against them. Yet I have no choice but to address the truth, reality, impassability, and fact on the ground. I am using the term ‘independence” in my article, because it has been used by the people of Somaliland themselves cheerfully, especially in their annual celebrations of Somaliland day –May the 8th.
In reality, it is shame to state that Somaliland got independence in May 1991, after the fall of the late president of Somalia Mohammed Siad Barre. This makes it the last state got independence and the most backward nation on the surface of the earth, because she has been colonized by their own brethren. On the other side, it gives a historically fake prestige to the Southern regions of Somalia, and Barre’s regime in particular. It makes them equal or more powerful than the Great Britain or, at least, one of the major colonialists in the history. In other words, it denotes that the Italy-Somaliland succeeded in colonizing the British-Somaliland post-colony, and not freed until 1990s – over 65 years after the International Convention of 1945.
Down tracking to the aim of the theme, let me sift and clarify certain elements and verbal statements entertained by Somalilanders to convince themselves that they will soon get a universal recognition, and become an independent country on the Horn of Africa. What a naive dream! Those elements and verbal statements, among others, include:
1. We have recently succeeded in holding a fair and free election on the base of democracy. Silanyo won in the election just because he promised to win bringing international recognition. Remember, he is the fourth candidate to run for presidency with this sole promise.3
This is not factual but merely fabrication based cock-and-bull stories built on tattle-telling for the following reasons:
* The election was delayed for two years because of wrangling over voter registration, convincing people, organizing volunteers, and lack of both resources and manpower to do so.4 A government that cannot even finance and manage its own election is not eligible for recognition period.
* Both the two Darod sub-clans: Dhulbahante and Warsangeli, who are the second majority of the denizens, rejected the election and never casted a single vote. All the polls sent to the Dhulbahante regions were either destroyed or returned to Hargaisa quickly out of fear. Moreover several electoral officers were killed on the spot. The chairman of the electoral committee, Mr. Ahmed Si’iid Ige confirmed for BBC and other media that more than 34 locations allocated for the voting were never reached as the local denizens refused to vote. He openly said that these locations are in the Dhulbahante regions of Sool and Sanaag, especially the districts of Buuhoodle and Ain. Similarly, he said that another 21 voting boxes were returned from Huddun as the local people refused to vote. Over 5 boxes were overtaken by groups he identified street gangs, but deemed be political stakeholders. The Chairman also confirmed that lives and livelihoods were lost in the election process when he was addressing the killing of a prominent officer in the “Kala-bayr” town.5
* Most of the youth and Middle Ages inside Haraisa, leave alone other cities and towns, have never voted. Simply, because they believe that the cessation is impossible.
* Majority of those who casted their votes were reported to be minors under 18 years old and nomadic shepherds. Only paid individuals and power greedy persons seconded them.
* There was extremely low turnout of voters, regardless of long preparation and financial investment including bribing. The chairman proudly mentioned that the vote took place in 1783 locations, and nearly 1, 069, 914. People voted.6 Similar statement was given by the chairman of the election commission.7 (In the next, part of this article, I will examine this report and prove that the voters were not more than 10% of the population). Nevertheless, the above figure indicates that each polling station was allocated for only 60 voters, and no more. From the allotment of this small number we can deduce that all the locations where ballot vote was taking place where unsafe, fearful, unreliable, and unstable areas.
* Luckily, there was no single foreign interference in whatsoever as usually happens in the South. No outsider has tried to force change on them; no-one has meddled with their creation as always happens in the Southern Somalia.8 However, the Somalilanders have never grasped that golden opportunity of lack of foreign intervention and occupation.
* Another golden opportunity that they wasted is their homogeny and countable number of population. In Somaliland if one young boy attempts to rob or assault somebody, almost everybody in the country would recognize him in person, because there, everybody knows everybody. They will all yell at the guy; “You, the son of Mr. X, stop what you are doing, otherwise, we will accuse you to your father”. In contrast to that, Mogadishu is multicultural and overpopulated just like any other main city in our modern world, where nobody knows no body.9
* Finally, consider the Somaliland’s long existence; it is over two full decades that SNM10 is struggling with basic governance system, and yet, has nothing. They cannot yet even form the likeness of early traditional administration systems properly. After twenty years of trial, they are back to square one, just like their brothers in the South.
Therefore, there had never been an openly and transparently free and fair election in Somaliland, and if there is one, or any kind of governmental structure, they are the ones who will sooner or later destroy it with their own hands.
Responding once again to those who repeatedly state that Somaliland succeeded in holding fair and free election, Somalia – in its capital city, Mogadishu was the first African country that ever held fair and free election in 1967. As soon as the result of that election was announced President Adan Adde announced his resignation and smoothly transformed the power to the winner – Abidrashid Sharake. But one question that begs an answer is “what was the major reason which emerged to hold that presidential election in Somalia at that time’? It was nothing but to convince the Isaq clan, among others, who attempted several coups within the few years of independence: The first coup de eta, albeit aborted, was staged by 10 purely Isaq members in December 1961, as the country was still in its cradle stage “infant” and not yet reached at its toddling age. Only one officer of the coup stagers was not from the Isaq sub-clan and he was the one who aborted the coup. That was none, but Mr. Dhillo Casar of the dhulbahante’s sub-clan of Darod.
One of the laymen’s arguments is that Somaliland has fulfilled the criteria of statehood, thus, should be recognized as an independent state. Nevertheless, an apparent question is what are the stipulations to become an independent state? In short, any state willing to separate from another state must fulfill the following requirements among others:
1. Must have certain amount of gold or equivalent value as an asset
2. Must deposit certain amount of money in its treasury in the world bank
3. Must have sufficient populations
4. Must have permanent populations who are all willing to have a separate state, and that should be done through well supervised referendum
5. Must have permanent undisputedly defined land and marine boundaries (if not land-locked state)
6. Must have a divorce letter (certificate) from the country that she is willing to separate from. However, this certificate can be issued through fair and free referendum.11
7. Must be possessed certain sources of income production
8. Must have valuable and permanent economic resources. Since there no state that is ready to feed another state, burdens are not allowed in our modern civilized world. Humanitarian aids provided during calamity and catastrophe is another issue.
9. Must be able entering agreements; show prove of complying conventions, treaties, principles, and memorandums of understandings at both regional and global levels. Practically speaking, Somaliland cannot enforce even the easiest stipulations. Neither sound foreign policy nor pertinent domestic policy can be demonstrated by the current Somaliland so-called politicians
10. Must show certain level of democracy in their governance and legal systems
11. Must have an approved national constitution and clear international political point of view
12. Must have policy, plan, and political standards that go along with the contemporary world
13. Must have permanent peace and stability
14. Must be proven having control over their territory through peaceful means, even if it has been proved through hardship, then it must be transformed to peaceful means and stability both physically and psychologically.
15. Must convince the majority of the states in her geographical continent including the state that she is willing to separate from
16. Must get the approval of the majority of the G20 (the top 20 industrial states) countries. In other words, she must obtain the majority votes of the countries who are permanent or non-permanent members of the United Nations’ Security Council.
In the following parts, I will evaluate the position of Somaliland in each of the abovementioned categories. Please follow the next Article, and closely examine my words.
**Author: Qasim Hirsi Farah
Former Presidential Candidate for Somalia, 2004
Web: www.qasimhersi.com
E-mail: qaasim@mail.com
The opinion above is solely the author's and does not necessarily reflect the views of terror free somalia and its affiliates.
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