     Anonymous | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 10:30 am
Somaliland is part and parcel to the whole problem facing the country today and to insist on its secession and create an independent state in the north is not feasible. It is not an option and will not solve the problems in the north, nor will it stop clan tensions that, have claimed many lives and brought destruction within Issaq sub-clan in Burco, Barbara and Hargeysa. In addition, Somalia will never renounce its rightful claim to Somali-inhabited territories in the Horn of Africa and will continue to promote by legal and peaceful means, the union of all Somali territories with Federal Government in Mogadishu.
The union that, resulted in the formation of Somali Republic came about when USP (Darood) and the people in Awdal region of Gadabuursi (Dir) and Isse (Dir) on one side and SNL of Issaq on the other side; together representing the British Somaliland Protectorate co-signed the Act of the Union with the Ex-Italian Trusteeship Territory of Somalia representatives in 1960. Thus, making all these groups as co-signers of the Act of the Union, which only have a historical significance, but their role and mandate ceased to exist after the union.
Furthermore, Hon. Aden Abdulle Osman (the first elected Presiden of Somalia) cautioned the Somaliland delegation not to sign the Union hastily, but to rethink giving them six months to consider but they all declined and chose to join the union. And through a referendum in 1961 a constitution was adopted which is still bidding. Presently, there are four political clan based groups in the north such as SNM (Issaq-Dir), USP (Dhulbahante, Warsengeli and Gahaile-Darood), SDA (Gadabursi-Dir) and USF (Isse-Dir). Of the five regions in the northern Somalia, Togdheer, Sool, Sanaag and Awdal reject the secession. While the fifth one, northwest, mainly inhabited by Mr. Egal's sub-clan, amongst them, there is sizeable number of pro-unity groups but the majority of Habar-awal are undecided or have no opinion and firmly believe Somaliland, demanding recognition of sovereignty as an alternative is unrealistic.
The current secession movement was the brainchild of Mr. Abdirahman Ahmed Ali "tuur" now a reformed pro-unity advocate " who wanted to form a mini-state for Issaq, and Gen. Aideed who wanted to assume control of the central regions of the country and Col. Mohamed Omer Jess who wanted to extend supervision over southern regions but they all failed to seize power in Somalia. This is because they couldn't agree who would lead the new alliance and as a result couldn't combine their forces under one command, but all agreed to force Siad Barre from power. And the secession of Somaliland was a plan B hatched behind the back of Col. Jess to divide the Darood sub-clans into north and south making them a minority in both parts of the country and relegate them to lower status, where they can no longer be politically effective.
The Somaliland Charter never envisioned separation from Somalia and only then when Garhagis dominated SNM (including 9 former Cabinet Ministers of Siad Barre) allied with Gen. Mohamed Farah Aideed and Col. Jess embarked on the road to secession. Whereas, Mr. Omar Arteh Ghalib (then Prime Minister of Ali Mahdi) and Mr.Mohamed Ibrahim Egal (both Habar-awal) supported Mr. Ali Mahdi's ill-fated government against Gen. Aideed and Abdirahman Tuur. Therefore, the secession's root causes have nothing to do with the atrocities committed against Issaq and I have no doubt that, anyone who is found guilty as a war criminal will be brought to justice, since there is no statue of limitation of crimes against humanity. However, the secession of Somaliland was just a by-product of clash of personalities and this fostered the current forums of dissent against national interests and pursuit of clan hegemony in the country everywhere.
The secession was launched in hurry, allowing no ample time for different opposing sub-clans to be able to develop a comprehensive approach in order to prevent subsequent contradictory stances among the same sub-clans who allegedly endorsed secession. It also, failed to consider all the pertinent facts surrounding the formidable array of problems facing Somalia, to counter the ominous levels at which conspiracies were being hatched to destroy the unity and integrity of the country. As a result, once beautiful Somaliland became an abject failure with no electricity, or running water and is now reduced into destitute camp begging for outside handouts.
Contrary to the claim of Mr. Egal and his supporters, the Burco inter-clan conference of 1991, attended by traditional clan elders, at best was to discuss ways and means for establishing peace and interim administration in the north. In addition, this was agreed in previous conference held in Barbara in February 1991 by all clans in the north. The secessionist group headed by Mr. Egal wants perpetual supremacy and dominance of rival groups within Issaq and other sub-clans in the north. Mr. Egal speaks and acts as legitimate owner of Somaliland and wants to bring all kinds of issues that are divisive and destructive to further complicate any final peace settlement in Somalia. His continuous and vicious attacks on the Somali peace held in Djibouti, the President of Djibouti Hon. Ismail Omer Guelleh, who has no any geopolitical interest in Somalia and now the President-elect of Somalia Hon. Abdiqasim Salad Hassan is out of bound and out of touch. Mr. Egal by issuing inflammatory rhetoric all the time will only shatter chances of peaceful solution for south-north dialogue. There is a clear rule of law recognized internationally for the right to secede for a part of any country whether be Somaliland or other Regions and Somaliland's right to secede still lies within Somali Republic.
There must have been however, a legislation setting out the terms for secession and since there was no central authority in Somalia before Djibouti, participation of Somaliland was must to put forward their motion for secession. Despite this fact, the Somaliland administration refused to attend the Djibouti peace process, missing their chance to put forward a motion for secession and resented those former government officials and representatives of civil society from the north who participated and became members of the new assembly of Somalia.
Mr. Egal the warlord of self-declared "Somaliland republic" and his rubber stamp house of representatives were troubled with the Djibouti peace plan at the beginning without giving the benefit of the doubt and have enacted a law that forbids participation in Djibouti conference at any level, even at a personal level. What they were afraid of to participate is still a mystery, even only to discuss setting ground rules if that is what they wanted for future secession referendum.
For example, why Mr. Egal has jailed the Garad of Dhulbahante, a peacemaker who participated the Djibouti conference and won a seat in the new Somali Parliament and abrogates the democratic rule of law? Where is the freedom of expression, association, human rights, civil liberties and respect individuals' dignity and well being that Mr. Egal preaches? Why would he put now under state of emergency the whole Somaliland and continue to threaten and spell a disaster for the whole of Horn of Africa Definitely, this will not promote communal harmony between Mr. Egal and Harti people in the region and other (Issaq, Isse, Gadabursi) people who chose unity with Somalia nor with the new government in Somalia, which is demanding unconditional release of one of its members. The unlawful arrest and confinement of the Garad could spell disaster for Mr. Egal and more likely will be charged with hostage taking and sabotage. Maybe, Mr. Egal wants to provoke a war over this incident to subvert positive efforts of national reconciliation achieved in Djibouti by arresting a member of the Somali National Assembly. The new President-elect Hon. Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, has the daunting task of rebuilding the country's destroyed public services to ensure clean, honest and orderly steps for guaranteeing basic needs for the people of Somalia and I believe he will not go to war with supporters of Mr. Egal and Col. Abdullahi Yusuf to enforce compliance and to bring unity by force. But he will use his legal authority to speak on behalf of citizens of Somalia (south & north) and will not allow foreigners, international organizations, financial institutions to violate Somalia's sovereignty by entering the country illegally and conducting business in Somaliland or Puntland.
This falls within the scope of his prerogative as a President of Somalia and he will exercise without acting recklessly to curtail the ambitions of secessionists in both regions to ban them from freedom of movement and any foreign support of assistance of money and material they receive to destabilize the country will also be banned. Egal must realize that, now it is the time to seek a recognized legal possibility of negotiated secession Somalia with the new government without wasting with time the U.N Secretary General, the U.N. Security Council and the International Community.
This means he will be required to hold a referendum on secession to separate from Somalia and he will need an amendment to the Constitution and to do that, he needs to negotiate with the government of Somalia, which is formed in Djibouti, which was non-existent before and still long way to go. He has to be little bit more patient and use the transitional period of the current government of three years to prepare Somaliland for eventual separation through democratic process (referendum, plebiscite etc). I have no doubt that, the new government will accommodate Mr. Egal's wishes if he wants to explore fully the right of self-determination of Somaliland to separate from Somalia if agrees in principle to a referendum on accession to sovereignty supervised by the United Nations and results interpreted on the bases of simple majority.
However, there is a big question mark over Egal's ability whether he will be politically strong enough to pull off the secession threat when the majority of the people in the north are opposed to secede from Somalia and want peace to get on with their life. He is mindful that, Somaliland's territorial boundaries would be under discussion in any negotiations of secession and if Somalia is divisible so is Somaliland region.
Mr. Egal knows very well any referendum question to secede from Somalia will fail miserably and clear majority of the people of Somaliland will vote to remain in Somalia and would rather prefer a complete renegotiation of the 1960 Act of the Union for federation, which is most desirable. This is because the average Somaliland people in the north does not share Egal's indignation for Somalia. Otherwise, if Mr. Egal was so popular as he claims to be, he should have had no fear of such a process.
It is unfortunate that, Mr. Egal refuses to meet with the new Somali Government, which promises openness, goodwill and ongoing dialogue to resolve all outstanding political issues. His refusal to compromise for the sake of preserving greater national interests and enter into negotiations on appropriate formula for uniting the country is very disturbing. In addition, the President-elect promises representative government of national unity, regional autonomy, equitable access to national resources, rule of law and human rights.
Egal is the same as Col. Abdullahi Yusuf and the trio of Hawwiye warlords (Muse Saudi Yalahow, Hussein Aideed, Osman Ali "Atto" who have wrecked havoc in Somalia and avoided to participate the Djibouti conference by putting off real peace settlement in Somalia. They are consistently pursuing their own best interests rather than the best interests of Somalia, its unity and are encouraged by such countries as: the United States, Britain, Canada and the state of Israel whom withheld their support to secure wide recognition for Djibouti national reconciliation accord which produced the Transitional National Government of Somalia to ensure the success of the peace plan. Behind the scenes, the United States, Britain, Canada and Israel have had several contacts, deals with Mr. Egal and Col. Abdulaahi Yusuf to the detriment of Somalia. And both have stains in their lives and dubious and corrupt past and are capable of everything. These countries are using Somaliland and Puntland as an excuse to continue the persecution of civilians; the breaches of human rights, showing total disregard of the welfare of the civilian population in the country and are determined to see further fragmentation of Somalia and continued collapse of its state and destruction of its economy.
Certainly, these countries have played part in the collapse of Somalia as a country and have shown now no interest to the suffering, the tragedy and disaster in Somalia.
It is not surprising at this point, that Britain to take such a stand, after all it was Britain which turned the Ogaden to Ethiopia, Northern Frontier District (NFD) to Kenya and Socotra in the Indian Ocean, off the East tip of Somalia to Yemen. In addition, it is also understandable, for the state of Israel, which is still hung-up with Cold War era and fears Moslem and Arab countries and considers them as enemies. But I find difficult for the United States which prides itself of a commitment to work for new world order with a view to promote world-wide stability, peace, democracy and economic development would engage activities that promote war, instability, division rather than reconciliation.
Furthermore, it will mark the first a blow to Canada's recommitment to world peace. I believe if these countries fail to engage in a constructive dialogue with the new government and not recognize Somalia forthwith; Somalia will be forced to severe future contacts and diplomatic ties with these countries. As a result, this will reduce whatever influence or leverage they might have ethnic Somalis in these countries with the new government-elect and indeed it is sad.
I therefore, urge these countries that Somali people would be best served without their meddling and leaving Somali affairs altogether. It is really sad to see a man with the stature of Mr. Egal who was the Prime Minister of all Somalia wants to destroy the country and people he represented by manipulation of public opinion and misinforming and misguiding the Issaq clan through tribal emotional sentiments to stir up sterile confrontations. He must recognize that the calls for arms to protect his interest and willing to sacrifice the blood of issaq clan for the sake of realizing his own material and political ambitions would not work.
It is not more than just a mirage used by other unscrupulous power-hungry before him and I have no doubt the Somaliland people will reject Mr. Egal's callous selfish interests at the expense of peace and national unity and show a sense of responsibility to save what is left of Somalia. |
