Somaliland President Mr. Silanyo while visiting the city of Laasqoray
by Mohamed Elmi
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Somaliland’s leader, Mr. Silanyo’s visit in Laasqoray, Sanaag Region, though was unexpected and shocking to many, it underscores a sinister political agenda. Many members of the Warsangeli community allege that Silanyo’s motive is to frustrate, stop or divert economic development programs currently in progress and some in the pipeline. More sinister, however, is his desire to undermine the capacities of the local populations of Sanaag and Haylan to perform functions of peacemaking and governance. Silanyo also wants to adversely challenge the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)’s mandate on peacebuilding and state-building. Among current initiatives for economic development in Makhir regions, which probably forced the separatist leader to infiltrate and destabilize Laasqoray and mainland Sanaag include:
1. The Ceeldaahir-Badhan-Ceerigaabo road construction project, a huge and costly undertaking (the Makhir community has already appointed a committee for the administration of the funds)
2. The Maakhir University and Garowe Airport projects through a grant by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The airport project includes “building plane runway, passengers building, air traffic control tower, planes parking spots, runway lighting as well as fire and rescue stations.” Likewise the Maakhir project includes, “building campus, lecture rooms, laboratories, sports arenas, libraries, computer rooms, dormitories and other college services.” (KUNA, 2013, Oct. 07).
Destabilization of peaceful regions of Somalia only serves to expose the true colors of “Somaliland” as a rogue and illegal state that’s imposing its will on Somalia in contravention of international norms and obligations. A UN official shared this view on condition of anonymity, “I have a sneaking suspicion that this is all Somaliland wanted at the end. To make the areas seem disputed when they have nothing to do with it, and prevent aid organizations from working there” (personal communication, March 24, 2013).
Why is Somaliland so politically engaged in the regions of Sanaag and Sool regions? A number of contradicting theories have emerged, but the most powerful one is that the elites of “Somaliland” who had led also the Isaq clan’s uprisings against Barre’s military dictatorship are intent on making themselves relevant in the wider political configuration of future Somalia. Saadia Touval (1963) raised in his, Somali Nationalism: International Politics and the Drive for Unity in the Horn of Africa, intriguing questions on the unification of Somali territories. He found that some political groups in Somalia enjoyed a “leadership position in their respective [colonial] territories” and could, therefore, expect political marginalization and neglect. The conspiracy was that the Darod clan would be a minority group if “Somaliland” returns to its old protectorate status. “It was obvious both to the Ishaq in the North and to the Hawiye in the South that their relative weight and political influence were bound to decline if the two territories were merged into a unitary state” (p. 118). Dr. Touval who taught in John Hopkins University was an “expert on mediation issues” according to an obituary by the New York Times. Touval wrote many books in his career in both academia and government; Somali Nationalism (1963) was his first book.
Faisal Warabe’s Call for Ethnic-Cleansing
For many years, Faisal Warabe wastes no time to stir up historical clan rivalry between the Darod and Isaq clans in his capacity as a chairman of Ucid political party in “Somaliland”. His latest diatribe is not unusual, but it could be a harbinger of an ethnic-cleansing campaign; it also speaks volume of the designs of the separatist entity to find ways to bring some territories it covets under its control (directly or indirectly). “Somaliland” has deployed hundreds of militias with armored vehicles at the outskirts of Armaale town near Erigavo, according to SPR. The call by Faisal Warabe’s radical stance to ethnically cleanse the inhabitants of Sanaag and Haylan regions (Warsangeli) should they continue to dismiss “Somaliland”’s right to secede from Somalia resonated well with many separatists and listeners of Universal TV, who called the channel to voice their frustration as to why it took so long to close the artificial borders. It’s a call filled with a foreboding—war, displacement and calamity.
Politics of Clientele
The failure to curb the advances of the secessionists also stems from self-styled leaders of Makhir. As Ali A. Isseh, a regional expert and political economist observed in the past, “When the politics of clientele becomes dominant in the circles of self-interested opportunists, representation becomes a social whore. Opportunists prostitute peoples’ interests, and exchange allegiance for nickels and dim” (Isseh, 2008). Many proud members of this community feel hopeless and powerless as the warnings and predictions of Isseh turn out to be the norm.
Another political quandary is naturally born by the indifference of the educated class of Makhiris and the local media not to isolate, expose and ridicule the self-interested figureheads such as Cali Buureed, Cadami, and the likes. Rather than elevate the local heroes and heroines of Makhir who translate their beliefs of Somali unity, independence and dignity with tangible actions, the local media carries self-defeating stories that glorify agents of “Somaliland”.
As a matter of principle, the distinction lies not in whether an enlisted Isaaq member with a uniform bearing the insignia of “Somaliland” militia is peacefully stationed in Dhahar, Carmale or Badhan or whether an opportunist recruit the local youth to carry out the orders of Hargeisa in their own lands even if such actions lead to instability and/or diversion of allocated funds for economic development. Al-Shabab employs similar tactics to advance its wicked global agenda. Defending one’s land is an honor and obligation. The Makhir leadership shouldn’t shirk its responsibility in exposing the opportunists and shaming them publicly but also defending Makhir territories is an honor and obligation.
Mohamed Elmi
ahafinance@gmail.com
References
Isseh, Ali., & Elmi, Mohamed. (2008). Maakhirian Shift: Pre-empting a Melian fate. The Maakhir Solution. Retrieved from http://geeldoora.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-maakhirian-shift-pre-empting-melian.html
Bernstein, Adam. (2008, April 25). Saadia Touval, 76, Expert on Mediation Issues. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042403637.html
KUNA. (2013, Oct. 7). KFAED to give USD 10 mln in loans to Somalia. Kuwait News. Retrieved from https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2337841&language=en
Touval, Saadia. (1963). Somali Nationalism: International Politics and the Drive for Unity in the Horn of Africa. Harvard University Press.
The Author is in his little own fantasy dream.
let me reveal who youa re first to those who doenot know you. I remember you running for your live more than decades ago when the patriotic noble warrirs of snm forces inflicted that historical military defeat on and all the daarood doofaar faqash militia of Siyad Barre back in 1991. it is the historical defeat which brought down the whatever remained of the faqash socalled statehood of somalia exploited by daarood doofaar tribal agendas. Lasqoray and Buuhoodle as well as Dhahar are part of British somaliland and will remain so for ever and ever no matter how long dogs like you hoplessly bark.. long live snm, long live the noble nation of the republic of somaliland. death of rats like you.
@ Patriot What if those people don't want be part of SNM? You have inflicted no historical defeat on nobody, its the reality. The former government were defeated by all the Somalis including Daaroods, Hawiye. Its best that you allow the man to speak his mind without offending others.
been loow.. The only people SNM xasuuqii Shacabka Gudibiirse.. Ciidamada Siyaad Bare oo uu Hogaaminayey Cumar Jees SNM Ayagoo arkaya ayay howmareen oo waxaay aadeen xamar.. kuli ciidamada siyaadbare SNM uma soo gali kareyn. Markay baxeen kadib ayay lasoo galeen ciidamo xabashiya oo ay Shacabkii waxaan Isaaq aheyn Xasuuq ku sameeyeen.. ee isku xishoo wax ba ma ogide,.. been baad isku sheegaysaa.. Car SNM hada ha u gasho pundland.. Soo Laas qoray iyo Buuhoodle somaliland maha.. go ahead try ..
Somalis are in the feudal stage of politics and thinking Euorpe when through it 500 years ago. God bless you all
I don’t know what was more comical. The irony of complaining about destabilization, while activity encouraging residents of the region to revolt and “defend” themselves from an imaginary ethnic cleansing enemy. Or Mohamed Elmi the writer of the article an opportunistic “whore” living a comfortable life in the west, calling on others to do his bidding. Why doesn’t the writer pick up an Ak-47 himself go to Laasqoray and librate the residents from the up coming “ethnic cleansing” he warns us about.
What a trush article – this garbage writer forgets that those people from Laasqorey are used as a slave by Majeerteen and they are living in a very sorrowful life in Basaso and Garowe. The development they have seen came from Somaliland and it was president Igal who gave $5 million dollar for refurbishment of laasqorey fish factory which has been working for decades. The writer of this garbage is not thinking straight as you can see his words are baseless and full of emotionally blinded and words of typical person of being slaved by Majeerteen
Here we go again! The so-called SOMALILANDPRESS has added again. What in the world were the editors of this website thinking, when they keep on posting articles that were lies and anti Somaliland propaganda?
These is the second time within a week these kind of garbages were posted by this website.
If the editor of this website is a true Somalilander, he or she should immediately delete this nonsense from its website.
The editors removed the other garbage that was posted earlier. I don't think they are proofreading anything posted on this site. As long as it contains the word Somaliland they will post it . They are getting lazier posting lies, propaganda and extremely dangerous rhetoric. Also I object to these writers on purely on literary grounds.
This is a very stupid article. It has all the hallmarks of the more dim-witted little brothers of Majeertenia. Who is developing who?
Puntland is a region in Somalia. You cannot hoodwink anybody on that false ID you wave around anymore. Somaliland is a Somaliland that all the world knows. Who are you?
Your mother, Somalia, should strike your knuckles with a ruler to stop you poking them into affairs that were never yours. Else, you will only have to blame yourself for your actions soon enough, cousin brother. Count on it.
Who world knows Somaliland.. I can’t even get my spell checker recognize Somaliland..Everyone knows you as part of Somalia.. Type Hargeysa Somaliland and google will correct you as Hargeysa, Waqooyi galbeed Somaalia.. go aheah try it…
You should try to visit Boorama instead, see what flag they are flying….go yeah try it….
Oh, by the way, is Somalilandpress a vehicle for articles stabbing at the very core of stability. co-existence and quest for equitable development?
Edit your pages, dudes!
Is this garbage article still appearing at this website? What a shame for the so-called Somalilandpress.
It is advisable if you switch your name to Somalipress instead of Somalilandpress, the name you just use to fool the true Somalilanders with.
Gelle, you get it right. I don't really know who these people represent, but definitely it is not Somaliland, i just answered an abusive faqash who was trying to undermine the integrity of Somaliland without expressing any abusive language like the faqash, but am really shocked to find out these people who administer this site deleting it with no valid reason!
Somalilandpress thanks for posting this article.and opening our eyes. Please ignore the cries of the immature individuals who can not grasp the relevance of posting anti-somaliland articles. These articles are very important as you can learn both the arguments and thinking of your enemies.
The man has the right to say whatever he wants. Somalilanpress should be commended for posting dissenting voices; however, it should not lower its editorial standard and publish such garbage. The writer (if one can call him that) is the worst clanist hiding behind fake nationalism. Unfortunately, most dessenting voices fall in this category. So ignore him and his elks until they come up with a credible narrative.
The mijeerteens are really getting desperate . They cant go back to Mugdishu . The wellfare checks in the west are getting reduced . The Cargo ships are hiring armed guards…no bounty there . So the sky is falling . The only thing left for them is cry Daarood .