ISSA, ISSAQ, OGADEN and TPLF (Match Made in Heaven)‏

[The_Emperior5]

ISSA, ISSAQ, OGADEN and TPLF (Match Made in Heaven)‏
By Diriye H Abdilahi
August 30, 2011


If TPLF is the Killing Machine; ISSA is in the driver seat, Ogaden is the Fuel that keeps the engine running, isaaq is the Mechanic that maintains the engine and the rest are busy paving the road. The political order of the day in region five ( Somali region) is to stick by the tribal elected official at all cost. The unconditional support for an elected official who has not produced a single quantifiable policy with positive impact on the region is intolerable. The failure of the tribe elders to hold their representatives accountable for their inaction is immoral.

The Issa leadership has spent more time dealing with issues that concerns Djibouti - Ethiopia relations than addressing the plight of its own community in region five. Electing individuals to serve Djibouti’s interest has been the biggest political miscalculation of the Issa community since the election of Mohammud Dirir. The continuation of a strategy that only benefits few hundred thousand in Djibouti at the expense of millions of people is simply illogical and unsustainable. The failure of this strategy can be seen in the case of Dire Daba, a historically Somali city which has been neglected as a result of regional bickering and inept leadership.


Mohammud Dirir President Ghele of Djibouti
The Issa community has failed to reclaim the birthplace of its political and spiritual renaissance and has accepted the realty of being relegated to a second class citizen in Dire Daba. The community’s living standard has deteriorated year after year, its political influence has been marginalized and its intellectual’s side lined. The demise of the Issa community can largely be attributed to a leadership lacking any sense of appreciation for its cultural and traditional history and yet the community remains silent and supportive of these common thieves. Some within the community might argue that Mohammud Dirir and his gang are TPLF appointed individuals and they do not have the luxury of enjoying the support and admiration of the community. The assertion of silence as a form of protest can no longer be used as an excuse, simply because it has been infective form of dissent when dealing with immoral and unconscionable officials. It is time for every member of the community to question him/herself as to why they have consistently supported a leadership that has willfully failed to meet its constituent’s hopes and aspirations. The community both at home and in the Diaspora must take a strong stand against those who have failed to uphold its name in the highest regards. While the community has had some success in serving Djibouti’s agenda it has botched miserably the opportunity to serve its own people in region five. The advent of his majesty has brought a glimpse of hope for the future of the community and I truly believe Xeer issa is in order.

The Isaaq leadership in region five has ruined its community through its anemic policy of excessive lobbying for Somaliland to the detriment of its community. It has compromised its integrity and undermined the community’s ability to contribute to region five political growths. Its unconscionable Obsession with Somaliland –Ethiopia relation has devalued its political capital in the region and needless to say it has not managed to affectively create a single policy which can justify its disastrous obsession. It has isolated itself from the same communities which have supported the liberation of Somaliland through its uncooperative stands.


President Silanyo, of Somaliland
The formulation of its policy based on Somaliland directive has turned an entire community into a burden among the citizens of region five. The thought of turning an entire community which has played a vital role in regional politics into the political mouth piece of Somaliland is travesty. To accept TPLF heavy-handed policy in exchange for an inadequate support of Somaliland is inhumane and dishearten. The future of pro- Somaliland policy in Ethiopia rest in the strength and influence of the Isaaq community in the region and the amount of influence it can have on regional politics will depend on its willingness to speak out against injustice in region five. It can no longer be consider a political door mat For Somaliland external political agenda at the cost of the community in region five.

The Ogden leadership to certain degree has been consistent with regards to opposing TPLF and its policies. While the rest of the communities in the region were either sleep behind the switch or simply positioning themselves to benefit from the arrival of TPLF, the Ogden community had the political aptitude to see right through TPLF and sounded the alarm. However, the inability of the community to maintain a unified voice and regional strategy against TPLF dictatorial behavior has created unnecessary limitation on building a formidable opposition. The lack of regional support and the expansion of exclusive policies has isolated it from the vast member of the regional community and thus rendered its oppositional drive unsuccessful. The influx of external elements into the movement has also force the regional communities to view the ONLF with some reservation. It is evident today that its brand of politics has had unintended consequences on the movement and the region. The Ogaden National Liberation Front can be described as a fine organization in pursuit of justice through a misguided policy. It is safe to say the Ogaden community alone will not bring democracy and justice to region five. It is also accurate to assume the destiny of the Ogaden community rest in the fate of the region as a whole. If the ONLF declares its self of fighting for the Ogaden community I would accept it, since there is no other viable option against TPLF dictatorship. However, to insist on fighting for the region under a policy and strategy that is selective is simply dishonest and misleading.


Abdi M. Omar, the current president of Somali region Mohamed O. Osman, ONLF Chairman
Many supporters of the movement have responded unfairly to any concern about the intent of the movement. To simply say the use of the ONLF name is to generate international support is intellectually dishonest and neglectful of regional support for a genuine struggle. To label any critic of the ONLF as an undecided, uninformed and EPRDF sympathizers is disallowing the opportunity for severely frank but amicable dialogue. While I am compelled to note the fact that many of regions five Somalis are involved in the restoration of justice and equality for our people, it should not be used as prerequisite for speaking out against reversal of fortunate. How can the Supporters of ONLF insist on using a name that has agitated and isolated the very people it was created to liberate for the sake of meager international support. Simply because non-Ogadan individuals aren’t part of the ONLF movement does not mean they are absent from any substantive effort to bring about democracy and justice to the region. I find this logic somewhat puzzling and counterproductive. The WSLF has been the most formidable movement the region has had and its demise can be attributed to Siad Barre and his regime for high jacking a Nobel movement and turning it to a vehicle for Somalia’s proxy war. There is a reason why the regions human capital and precious resources were committed to WSLF and the ONLF remains tribe based movement. The region is not an Ogaden region and the movement cannot be an Ogaden Movement if we wish to establish a peaceful and democratic Somali region.

To the many individuals who have attended Abdi Mohammud Omar recent visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota. I ask you to justify your presents at that shameful night. Were you there for the music, food or perhaps you were paid handsomely for your untimely appearance? I hope you understand every step in your dance that night was a bullet in the heart of a child in region five. Every time your two hands unceremoniously met to ­­show your love and admiration for Mr Omar, you have silenced the voices of justice and democracy in region five. Every smile you cracked at the camera was an acknowledgement and acceptance of TPLF genocide. The blood of our people shall rest in your soul for eternity. I beg you to justify your presents that evening in that fancy Hotel.

[Oxidant]

The name Ogaden is not the problem. It was a name given to the region by colonizers. When you want to secede in Africa, you must use colonial borders and this is exactly is what the ONLF is doing. Also Ogaden name is not a problem since the only fair election held in the region, 85% of people living in the region voted for the ONLF and the Ogaden make 50 to 60% of the population.

[samatar133]

The name Ogaden is not the problem. It was a name given to the region by colonizers. When you want to secede in Africa, you must use colonial borders and this is exactly is what the ONLF is doing. Also Ogaden name is not a problem since the only fair election held in the region, 85% of people living in the region voted for the ONLF and the Ogaden make 50 to 60% of the population.

lool, Ogaden is only one zone of the current somali region of eithiopia. According to colonizers specially for Britain, Hawd had never been part of Ogaden, or called Ogadenia nor was Shiniile zone or Jijiga zone. ONLF is the only group that call the whole place Ogadenia. saasaan waligay u haystay ee bal sxb hadii aad wax evidence ah oo taa ka duwan haysid soo daa. About ellection, do you seriously believe there was any credible elections in ethiopia ever?

[2ndtoNone]

I have some questions for Diriye H Abdilahi, are ISSA, ISSAQ, OGADEN the only somali clans in 'region five'? if the leadership or the policies pursued by these 3 clans are detrimental, ineffective and immoral, would you enlighten us what the other clans' (the mareexan, gadabuursi, gurgure, the Hawiye clans, and all the rest) positions, policies on the issue of 'region five'? and lastly could one be right to say that other somali clans or their leadership are sitting ducks?

By not mentioning the position, the policies of the other clans in the region I suspect this mr abdilahi has an agender.