“Let those who are singing Somali unity know that we will never
reunite with those who made our people refugees and that the blue
flag will never again be hoisted or see the light of day on our soil”
Faisal Ali Waraabe Chairman UCID opposition party April 3, 2013
“Hargeisa’s foundations are now built on top of the skeletons of it’s
massacred citizens. Neither London nor Ankara can change the will
of the people”. Mujahid Ali Gurey Vice Chairman UCID Opposition
party April 3, 2013
- It has been reported Somaliland is under intense pressure to negotiate a federation with Somalia. We do not know if these stories are factual but what we know is anything can be reported even though each side continues to stick to its own interpretation. Somaliland is insisting the talks are about formalizing the divorce while Somalia is insisting the talks are about maintaining and reinvigorating Somali unity. However, what every fool understands and knows is at the end of the day what will reign supreme is the reality on the ground.
It must be a mirage and the height of absurdity to think that president Siilaanyo has the power to negotiate a federation with Somalia. The reality is Somalia is day-dreaming as Siilaanyo can never negotiate a reunion with Somalia because he does not have the autonomy as articulated in article one subsections 1 and 2 of the constitution of Somaliland.
It should be understood sovereignty resides with the people and the people of Somaliland have spoken and adopted a constitution on May 31st, 2001whose autonomy rests with the people and is protected by the opposition parties. It is why Siilaanyo always invites opposition parties to participate in high stakes negotiations with Somalia government to assure the electorate that Somaliland’s sovereignty is not negotiable.
Siilaanyo has been invited to Ankara in Mid April and to London this coming May, 2013 to attend Somalia Conferences at his weakest moment when all the domestic problems created by local government election results, manipulated by his thugs, are dividing and pulling apart the cohesion of the people of Somaliland. This domestic weakness has the effect of emboldening him to take the appropriate position people entrusted him with – Not to surrender our sovereignty and to stand tall with the people of Somaliland. It is common knowledge and characteristic of weakened leaders to seek consensus from the ruled on matters of national importance to the nation.
What is also interesting to note is that any leader like Mr. Cameron and Mr. Erdogan know and recognize the dynamics and the role of domestic forces in influencing international relations. The fact that President Siilaanyo is characterized by shared authority [emphasis deliberately added] and lacks the autonomy to negotiate federation with Somalia is an asset in disguise. It can not be more clearly demonstrated that the idea of reunification is a pipe dream and Somaliland will never willingly reunite with Somalia let alone be forced to.
It is high time the United Kingdom and Turkey stop dwelling on the fiction that Somali unity can be repaired. The United Kingdom should realize it is about time they started campaigning for the recognition of Somaliland because of its energy resources and more importantly its strategic location on the red sea corridor keeping in mind any prolongation of recognition might eventually force Somaliland to look for alternatives in the east should the west fail to act quickly on recognition of its sovereignty. The U.S Pentagon has already realized the facts on the ground and the strategic importance of Somaliland recommending to President Bush its recognition. Because Somaliland is in the British sphere of influence Britain interfered and protested the Pentagon’s recommendation for recognition of Somaliland. Egypt and Saudi Arabia alone would not have been able to influence Mr. Bush over the Pentagon’s wish.
To commence a campaign and a winning strategy for recognition President Siilaanyo urgently should consider employing British lobbyists who are experts in African affairs and security – Men who advised Tony Blair and Gordon Brown would be a good starting point in this new endeavor. It must be understood that Britain still retains hegemony over Somaliland and Somalia and that the Italians were pushed to the side lines as they no longer have the resources and capacity to maintain hegemony over any state.
Saeed M. Timir
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