An Open Letter to Johnnie Carson

NSUM	Ass. Secretary for African Affairs : Stirring Hornet’s Nest in “Somaliland” By Osman Hassan Northern Somalia Unionist Movement Nov. 08, 2010

Mr. Assistant Secretary

We are writing to you as the Northern Somalia Unionist Movement (NSUM), whose members are mainly from the regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC), in NW Somalia (former British Somaliland). The absence of a functioning Somali government since the collapse of the Somali State in 1991 has led to the formation of a plethora of organisations dealing with various burning issues that are of particular concern to the whole country or to specific regions or clans. Our movement, for its part, is dedicated to conflict prevention and resolution in our own region and above all the defence of Somalia’s unity in the face of one clan which, through its hegemony, occupation and use of force, is imposing its unilateral declaration of secession on all the other peace-loving unionist clans in the region.

All Somalis believe, other than the secessionists, that the only sustainable solution for Somalia’s long-standing conflict is one that seeks to bring about a united, democratic, federal state that could live at peace with itself and also with its neighbours. Any other policy pursued by outsiders, be it the USA or others, that is not consonant with these objectives, is bound to backfire as happened in the past, with detrimental consequences for Somalia as well as for outsiders, including the USA.

Turning to your vision for our country, we have learned- both with optimism and trepidation- of your briefing on Somalia on September 24th in which you enunciated your government’s two-track policy towards our country: one directed at the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and the second aimed at the self-proclaimed self-administering northern regions of Puntland and “Somaliland”. It is the track towards “Somaliland” which is of particular interest or concern to those who of us who hail from the area. Before we air the pros and cons of your new initiative, it is essential that you are under no illusion about what this “Somaliland” you are about to engage actually constitutes.

A. The fallacy of “Somaliland” AKA ISAAQ

The first fundamental fact the USA should bear in mid , if it is to avoid another failure in Somalia, this time in its “Somaliland” track, is that there has never been -now or in the past- a distinct country or people by the names of “Somaliland” and “Somalilanders ” as the secessionists claim. The curve-up of the Somali homeland in the Horn of Africa in the 19th Century by European powers and Abyssinia has created five territories, four of them bearing the name “Somaliland”. Each of these Somali-inhabited territories has an equal claim on the name “Somaliland” and for its people to be called “Somalilanders”. These names are our common heritage and not the preserve of a particular group.

The second fact about the major Somali clans in the Horn is that each clan is found in more than one specific “Somaliland” territory. This is the case with the clans which inhabit the NW region (former British Somaliland). The only common denominator among these clans that would distinguish them from other clans in other Somali territories is that they were once under British colonial rule and nothing else. When it comes to loyalties in the Somali context, intra-clan ties are, for better or worse, at the top of the pecking order and trump relations with other non-kindred clans. All, however, profess to put the nation above all else, though in practice it is the clan that counts.

Given their social structure, the Somalis may have been at one time separate clans leading their separate existence as they were before and during colonisation. However, they chose to become a nation on the first of July 1960 when former Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland united and became the independent State of the Somali Republic. Unless it is referring to the defunct former British colony, the secessionists’ “Somaliland” is a fallacy concocted as a ploy to solicit sympathy and support from Britain, the former colonial ruler, and, through them, other western governments.

B. Support for the Secession

The most important fact about “Somaliland” is that the secession was declared by one clan, taking advantage of the collapse of the Somali State, and under the illusion that recognition would be forthcoming if they were to occupy or coerce all the unionist clans, revive and adopt the territory’s former colonial name and reclaim its transient four-days long independence meant as a prelude to join the unioin. Conversely, the secession is opposed by all the clans in the region except the secessionist one. The support of the international community for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity has not wavered since the separatists secession declaration.

The SSC regions and clans, though occupied for refusing to embrace the secession, consider themselves as part and parcel of Somalia and are recognised as such by the international community including your government. Indeed, in their desire to distance themselves from the secessionists, they cofounded the establishment of the Puntland Regional Administration in which they continue to be a member despite their occupation by the separatists.

In case you may not be aware, a low-level armed struggle is already underway in the SSC regions and unless the secessionist occupation ends, it could dangerously escalate, not only sucking in Puntland or its member kindred clans but most likely the Islamists. It is our hope that your government would not add fuel to these flames by providing unconditional support to “Somaliland” which can only serve to succour the secession and sustain the occupation of our regions.

C. The Pros and Cons of the Somaliland Track

Turning finally to your “Somaliland” track, most people in the region would welcome, your belated attention to our part of Somalia and your readiness to provide humanitarian and development assistance. But whether such aid contributes to peace and development would critically depend on the modality you choose to deliver it, and the conditions you attach to it. Channelling aid through one-clan based rebel entity, albeit one masquerading as an all inclusive sovereign country, is bound to have counterproductive toxic fallouts. For one thing, such aid is bound to be used as a weapon of denial, control and coercion against other clans.

Secondly, it would be seen, rightly or wrongly, as aiding and abetting its hegemony, buttressing its secession, and nourishing its intransigence not to return to the union fold. Thirdly, conferring de facto recognition on illegal entity will inevitably alienate other clans in the area, if not the rest of Somalia. In the worst-case scenario, those alienated could become easily receptive to Al Shabaab’s ideology and its likely call for Jihad against Somaliland and its supporters.

To stave off possible worst case scenarios, NSUM would urge the US Government to provide its aid directly to the respective regions/clans such as SSC, or through CARE or other credible NGOs with proven track records, but never through an entity they consider as their occupier and hence enemy. Since you are providing aid directly to regions and clans in central Somalia which are not under Al Shabaab’s control, there is no reason why a similar approach should not apply to the SSC regions.

Finally, many Somalis see your aid to the region as secondary to the overriding objective of your strategic shift to the area which is the containment of Al Shabaab. Widespread apprehension persists that, in your eagerness to secure “Somaliland” as “bulwark” against the Islamists, your government might sacrifice Somalia’s unity and give “Somaliland”, as quid pro quo, the recognition it craves. Such fear is not altogether dispelled by your muted low-key denial in this regard during your briefing.

If the USA were to recognise Somaliland, or to be seen to be covertly or overtly in league with Ethiopia in its relentless “fragmentation”, and “Bantustanization” of Somalia, your government will be repeating once again its past failed interventions in the south – the result of short-sighted, single-issue objectives based on woeful miscalculations or disregard of the dynamics of Somali society.

The Al Shabaab you fear and want to contain is, in the first place, a product of your own failed interventions in the south and not to any significant level an outgrowth of our internal conflict. Similar misguided actions in the north would only enhance Al Shabaab, who, exploiting public outcry against Ethiopia’s hegemony over these regions, already enjoy considerable support in both Somaliland and Puntland.

Whether you succeed to contain Al Shabaab, or whether despite your efforts it extends its control to the north, will depend on what kind of policies and approaches you adopt in the north. Addressing Somalia’s inter-related problems, revolving around the issues of mal governance, self-serving foreign interference and interventions and above all “Somaliland’s” secession, leading to the achievement of a united, democratic federal Somalia, is the surest way to drain the support that nourishes and sustains Al Shabaab. If you share these objectives, your two tracks for the north would need to be consistent, mutually supportive, and all inclusive, empowering all the clans and regions in the area.

Last but not least, the USA has considerable financial and diplomatic leverage at its disposal to persuade the secessionists, if it so wished, to take their place in the new federal Somalia where each clan/region is guaranteed their autonomy. It is in everybody’s interest that you do so.

Please accept Mr. Under Secretary, the assurances of our highest considerations.

Yours Sincerely
Osman Hassan
Spokesperson, NSUM

E-Mail: ohassanomar@yahoo.co.uk

CC: HE. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Prime Minister of Somalia

CC: HE Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, Kenya

____________

Northern Somali Unionist Movement (NSUM) is a grass roots Somali organization whose members and supporters hail from Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions in the Northern regions of Somalia(formerly British Somaliland) and whose clan in these regions do not identify with the one -clan-driven secession calling themselves” Somaliland”. NSUM stands for the promotion of peace and unity among the long-suffering people of Somalia.

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Abdirahman Warsame is the Executive Director of the Terror Free Somalia Foundation.a national grassroots organization that opposes terrorism and supports democracy in Africa. regular contributor American Thinker http://www.americanthinker.com/abdirahman_warsame/  . .Pajamas Media  and .other American conservative organization

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Divide and conquer 21st century style – By Eng. Raghe M. Jama

Recent 2009 thesis by Somalia Prime Minister appointee has created discussion among the Somali Diaspora community. After 20 years and five failed Somalia Transition federal governments. I, very much came to the conclusion, that we as Somalia Diaspora community did not gain any knowledge from the inept and incompetent past leadership which we entrusted to unite, protect, and defend our nation from the enemy. 

Every day that goes by Somalia territory integrity cease to exist and with political forces deliberately dividing this nation in to multiple tribal territory borders with reminiscent of local government that look like the following:

• Somaliland
• Puntland
• Galmodugland
• Central Somalis state l
• Hiiraan-land
• North-Shabelle-land
• Banadir-land
• South-Shabelle-land
• Juba-land
• Bay-land 

Ask yourself, will these transformations bring safety and security to the Somali nation. The answer is no, because we presently lost control of our political discourse from outside groups where their interest contradicts the aspiration and the unity of the Somalia people:
Outside groups interest:
- Divide Somalia in to Multiple Federation
-  Actively engage local politics
-  Share national resource
-  To place U.N trusteeship to the Somalia nation (not on paper but closely looks and feels what we have at the present time.)
Indeed, this phenomenon threatens the characterization of Somalia unities and surely aids those among us who like pursue to divide Somalia in a multiple federation.
Therefore, it is high time to the Diaspora community, to move forward and leave the narrow past tribal interests wake up and move to salvage what remains for Somalia national units by supporting our newly  appointees PM and help his cabinet with a bold idea that could transform the political discourse of our nation.
Eng. Raghe M. Jama
raghe@1computerservice.com