First and foremost, I wish to commend you for your gracious words regarding the Isaaq and Sadaat people of Somaliland. It is indeed accurate that the animosity between Somalis and Ethiopians was largely propagated by Somalilanders. During the conflicts of 1964 and 1977, the primary defensive positions of the Somali nation were situated in Somaliland, spanning from Wajaale to Kala Baydh and other border regions. Esteemed officers from Somaliland, such as Colonel Asker and General Ali Hussein, played pivotal roles in leading these efforts. Your acknowledgment of these contributions is greatly appreciated and deserves recognition.Murax wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2024 6:15 am Avoiding the FKD frame Skywalker put this in, Original Dervish is dead wrong with insinuating Isaaq were not an integral part of many positive aspects of Somalia’s history. My Dad who was a young man at the time told me how no other clan bled more for Somalia and ironically DDSI in particular than Isaaq. To discount this is silly.
My only gripe with Isaaqs is they strike me as very emotional sometimes and not clear thinking. What do I mean? They don’t realize that instead of begging these gaalo for ictiraaf they won’t do it if they haven’t done it by now in 40 years. Why not walaaliin IRIR (Hawiye) wax la qeybsatiin and get full 100% autonomy and end this never ending cycle?
Furthermore, it must be stated unequivocally that we in Somaliland are not seeking favours; we simply demand what is rightfully ours—diplomatic recognition. We have built a nation from scratch, without external assistance, and it is high time this achievement is recognised. Frankly, there is no functioning Somali state in Mogadishu that can offer us anything beyond hollow promises and the empty ideology of Somaliweyn, which they themselves scarcely believe in. Their primary concern lies in aid money and similar benefits.
In the absence of sincerity and political honesty on their part, and given that they have nothing of value to offer us, there is no basis for meaningful dialogue. The so-called talks between Somalia and Somaliland were insincere, aimed merely at wasting time and negotiating from a perceived position of strength. This strategy has backfired, as Somalia has grown weaker, with numerous states now pursuing their own foreign policies.
Regarding the notion of making peace with our so-called Irir brothers, it must be clarified that there is no such thing as an Irir identity from a clan perspective. The Memorandum of Understanding has revealed this truth. The Hawiye have been particularly disturbed since its signing, not out of a sense of Somali nationalism or allegiance to Somaliweyn, but because they resent the advantages we stand to gain from our deal with Ethiopia. They are now pleading with Ethiopia to take Hobyo, leaving little room for genuine dialogue.
Your argument advocating for full autonomy is equally flawed. Somaliland is already a de facto state, and there is nothing to be gained from an autonomous status. On the contrary, it would be a significant downgrade from our current position. We already receive aid from numerous European countries, and recognition would only enhance our capacity to attract investment. Even without recognition, we have secured a half-billion dollar port investment. Therefore, what benefit would autonomous status bring us?
Finally, it is important to note that all African nations that have fought for independence have ultimately achieved their goals, such as South Sudan and Eritrea. Somaliland’s case for independence is even stronger than theirs. South Sudan was never a state with colonial boundaries, and Eritrea was part of Abyssinia prior to Italian colonisation. In contrast, Somalia and Somaliland never shared a unified country prior to colonialism. While Eritrea did develop a distinct Italian colonial identity, it was part of Abyssinia before the Italian occupation, with its lords paying tribute to the Abyssinian kings. Somalia and Somaliland, however, have always been distinct entities, never sharing a nation before 1960 and certainly not before 1884.
