Since the dawn of history, Somaliland nation has been shaped by outside forces and faced ever since a constant intervention from outside antagonists, at regional and international level. Somaliland’s declaration of independence was under constant threat right from its birth. This is a common known fact. On May 18th 1991, the Republic of Somaliland stepped on to the world stage with its hands tied. It was as if Somaliland was joining a game in which all the competitors had been in the highest division for a long time, had set the rules of the game, and had all the best training facilities. Somaliland was joining this game with broken arms and legs; but with a brave heart, unbroken sprit and a rock-solid self-confidence!!
The current state of affairs with regard to Somaliland’s statehood and its quest for recognition has entered a critical phase as the weak government of Somalia, under the leadership of Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, pushes their agenda to convince the international community about the virtues of their claim on the Republic Somaliland. The beleaguered government of Somalia still clings to an absurd notion that the Republic of Somaliland should rejoin its wayward and unruly neighbour Somalia, which is far from logic thinking.
Somalia, often taken as the prime example of a failed state, has for more than two decades exemplified the deficiencies of statelessness. The government of Somalia has failed to create and develop a rules-based system to protect and promote the peace, security and socio-economic well-being of its population. Paradoxically, some of the worlds’ leading developed countries, the international development partners as well as the UN are increasingly focused on and giving preferential treatment to a country that failed to meet even the most basic criteria for statehood!!? It is absolutely beyond the grasp of the common sense how the International Community can trust on such people who are not even able to guarantee a peace and security for their own people!
Union with Somalia-Italia: the prime source from which all Somali tragedy started!!
The people of Somaliland had not only rendered the biggest contribution to the independent struggle in the colonial era, but they also surrendered everything they cherished most for the sake of Somali Union, including the hard-won independence on June 26th 1960. For many years, the people of Somaliland were subjected to a brutal oppression and systematically ethnic cleansing campaign at the hands of the former cruel dictatorial regime and its ruthless army gangs. Whenever they reflect on these atrocities, it is still burning into their hearts & minds as the model for the highest degree of terror against the humanity.
In contrast with Mogadishu government’s absurd and ill-fated desire to realize what appears to be unrealistic, history is our indisputable witness that the union between the two Somali Regions (1960-1991) was an indisputable failure in every aspect. The people of the Republic of Somaliland are still deeply traumatised by the historic and costly mistakes by joining (without condition) a union with Somalia and thereby sacrificing the hard-won independence and sovereignty for the sake of an unfruitful and counterproductive project concept of Greater Somali State.
The illusive union between the North and South had caused nothing else but a total destruction and lost opportunity for millions of Somalis. The hasty union between the two Somali inhabited regions caused nothing else but an unprecedented scale of destruction, loss of state assets, uprooting and eradication of public resources and civilian belongings. The fictitious union had also caused a devastating civil war in which many innocent Somali civilians had lost their lives. It is an indisputable fact that the union’s catastrophic consequences are now visible in all areas inhabited by Somali ethnic populations. In fact it was the cause of all misery and countless problems which many Somali people are now dealing with.
Final thoughts:
The people of Somaliland have tested the real benefits and values of the independence, freedom and democracy. The people of Somaliland are well aware of the fact that the hasty and ill-considered union with Somalia-Italiano was in fact the prime source from which all Somali tragedy had started!! And this is the uncompromising reason why the people of Somaliland will not, cannot and must not make another historic and costly mistake. They will never fall again into another trap of their own making by sacrificing the costly freedom, independence and sovereignty which our people have reclaimed for the sake of an unproductive and problematic concept of the Greater Somalia.
The bottom line is; it is our people’s right to decide what they want their country’s future to be; it is our people’s challenge to achieve their self-determination by the unyielding nature and incredible perseverance of the Somaliland nation. It is our people’s challenge to realise their ultimate independence goals by the force and wisdom of our curious situation and angle. From our naturally born entrepreneurial art to business, the resilience and creativity of Somaliland people, that will help us to overcome the challenges.
To put in a nutshell, the Dignity and Self-determination of the people of Somaliland HAVE NO PRICE!!!
God Bless the Republic of Somaliland and its Noble people.
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The Author: Eng. Hussein Adan Igeh (Hussein Deyr); currently based in Hargeisa, Republic of Somaliland is a regular commentator on issues Somaliland
