A Shipwreck Named ‘Somaliland’

Every week, every day, every hour, the situation in the ailing breakaway pseudo-state of Somaliland is deteriorating. The decomposition has reached an advanced level, as every village is applying a form of local gerontocracy and the central ‘authority’ of the otherwise illegal state is getting diminished.

When before some months I accused the ‘president’ Rayale, an undeniably ridiculous puppet of the Abyssinian dictator Zenawi, as high traitor, he paid his lewd employees, scribes like Sabeyse, Al Mutairi, and others, to ceaselessly slander me. He thought he would have an impact; he failed, as I have been accustomed this sort of silly reactions, panic and despair that I customarily disregard.

A few days ago, elected representatives of the Northern Somalis attacked him, using the same term as I did; even worse for Rayale, they expressed their will to impeach him. The puppet dictator will have to find more than just scribes and gangsters to effectively address the issue – if he is apt to. Everyone in Northern Somalia knows the great news: his days are numbered.

That’s why the servants of his wife, Huda Barkhad, Africa’s most loathed and despised woman, have been ordered to make preparations in the Cairo villa of the couple, which was bought due to the fruits of Rayale’s corrupt practices and ceaseless embezzlement of the Northern Somalis’ properties.

It is surely understandable that Rayale does not plan to escape to Abyssinia, as he expects the murderous gangster Zenawi to be willing to assassinate him because Rayale did do ‘correctly’ his job.

At the same time, knowledgeable Somalis, like Dr. Mohamed Abdi Gabose from the North of Somalia, write Open Letters to the international donors of the pseudo-state to remind them that every US $ given to Rayale’s gang is a bullet shot at the heart of the Somalis who have been engulfed in the ludicrous puppet’s territory.

On the other hand, shrewd commentators suggest to rename Somaliland as Mugabe-land, because Rayale is definitely a far crueler dictator and a much more loathed thug than the Zimbabwean President.

Finally, other Somali authors find Rayale and his Huda as just a joke, and his dictatorial degree to create six phony regions and 16 districts as a sheer indication of incompetence and political opportunism.

I republish the four illuminating articles, plus an interesting comment of the last article posted by an astute, anonymous reader. They serve as requiem for breakaway Somaliland that could not possibly represent the political aspirations and needs of the patriotic Somalis of the North.

MPs call for Somaliland leader's impeachment

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Legislators_call_for_Somaliland_leader_s_impeachment.shtml

Hargeisa, Somalia July 29 (Garowe Online) - Lawmakers in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland have launched serious accusations against President Dahir Riyale, including charges of violating the region's constitution and high treason.

Legislators in Somaliland's lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, met Sunday in the capital Hargeisa, where 43 MPs opened debate on Riyale's livestock export deal with Saudi Arabian company al Jabberi.

Under that agreement, al Jabberi has exclusive rights to export Somaliland livestock from the port of Berbera. But the deal has angered local traders and lawmakers, some of whom have openly called for Mr. Riyale's impeachment.

"If the House of Representatives wants to gain the confidence of those who elected them, then President Riyale must be impeached," MP Said Elmi Roble said, according to a report by Somaliland newspaper Jamhuuriya.

The lawmakers cited Article 11 from the Somaliland Constitution, which states: "…the national economic policy based on the principles of free market".

The MPs argued that the al Jabberi deal provides a "monopoly" on livestock export for the Saudi company, while neglecting the commercial interests of local traders.

The Somaliland leader was also accused of 'high treason,' which is an impeachable offense under Article 96 of the breakaway republic's constitution.

Somaliland, in northwestern Somalia, has its own government and the region enjoys relative peace but has not been recognized internationally since unilaterally declaring independence in 1991.

Dr. Gabose's Letter To Donor Nations
By Dr. Mohamed Abdi (Gabose)
Chairman of Qaran

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2008/337/30.shtml

We can all appreciate that our previous elections may not having been perfect but it is worth noting that there was a large reservoir of good will among the electorate and the competing parties that facilitate glossing over the difference of opinion and the inevitable resentment generated by the close margin of victory for the current party.

I submit to you that this time the landscape is quite different, after five years of economic stagnation and display of abusive power reminiscent of the old Somali regime, this president and his administration managed to extinguish any hopeful sign for a better life and liberty for the individual to flourish.

People are poorer and with very few prospects to improve their lot, and in this kind of environment when the only source of income is attached to who one knows in government as opposed to what one knows about running a government, there are going to be very few gracious losers in the coming elections. An election that has been postponed three times so far and still likely to be postponed yet again because of the caveats and conditions attached.

The electoral process of Somaliland is terribly broken and has been hijacked by a government intent on remaining in power by any means possible, and opposition parties who are more interested in maintaining their stranglehold on the political process than respecting the laws of the land.

It is distressing to watch the ongoing process and see the manner in which the president extended his term in office by utilizing the Guurti, a very much discredited body whose term was illegally extended by this president. This action was a blatant quid-pro-quo to say the least, not mention outside of the conditions set by the constitution which will allow an extension in office for the president.

It is equally distressing to observe the reached compromise which allowed new election dates to be set with the condition of having the registration completed before said elections are to take place. In other words, elections may or may not take place, and in the event that this new date is reached and the voter registration is not in place, then it is "dayjavou" all over again and the elections will be postpone once again. But the most odious agreement they reached (the three parties) is to hold the presidential election before the local election thereby removing any chance of new entities with fresh and different approaches to emerge and infuse the stale politics of this nation with new energy and vitality. This too is another affront to the law and a recurring habit of constantly changing the rules to suit those in power to remain in power.

Fundamental freedoms endowed in our constitution are being trampled when anyone can get illegally detained for simply forming a political Association like the leadership of Qaran did, and to add insult to injury, we have been also stripped of our right to participate in the political process as ordinary citizens of this country. A country in which we all fought for, sacrificed for its creation, and work diligently in its continued stability and success.

When treating a patient and the available regiment to address the condition is in doubt, and may actually worsen the condition, doctors throughout the world adhere to the true and tried creed of first do no harm. It would be wise for the donor nations to adopt that stance and question the impact of their actions before they enable the cancer of totalitarian rule to mastesize and take root in Somaliland .

In an effort to find a quick and relatively painless solution for the political impasse in Somaliland the International community seems to be willing to accept all the above mentioned insults of disregarding the laws of the nation and abuse of power perpetrated by this administration. Funding a flawed election where all the levers of power are under one entity (the administration) is sure to produce the devil you know, because as it is demonstrated by Mugabe and countless other strong men, dictators do not loose elections.

The question is what happens the morning after?

It is this question and its possible ramifications which is compelling me to write this letter to you so that you give this matter its due consideration, nuance and weight, after all advancing democracy and the rule of law is the object of your contribution in this very volatile corner of the world, and simple solutions and good intentions won't do, because as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

It is my fervent hope that you appreciate the incompatibility of your mission and the inevitable result which you are helping bringing about.

In Mugabe-land, Riyale Murdered Unarmed Civilians!
Northern Somalia "Somaliland" at a Crossroads
By Ahmed Ismail Yusuf

http://wardheernews.com/articles_08/July/Ahmed_Yuusuf/09_Riyale_mudered_unarmed_civilians.html

Bahal Ceedhin madaayo, ninna caadadii ma baajo.
Neither will the carnivores cease eating meat, nor will the indoctrinated change a habit learned.
Somali Proverb!

Let me begin to say that it’s a very, very sad day today in Hargeisa that unarmed civilians are once again slaughtered by callous, cowardice pigs with badges. But one and one man only, is the crown criminal. Dahir Riyale Kahin has blood in his hands! Talk about "oasis of peace!" In March, Riyale bought the "House of Elders" who reciprocated his favor, of course, by throwing the "election" date away! Then two days ago, his henchmen opened fire on unarmed civilians, murdering two and leaving scores laid on their mangled limbs, and listen to this, it was their foul, because "…cidkata oo idin tidhi buuqaa samaya idiinmay tidhin." Welcome to Mugabe-land!

This deception to mislead the public about an idea called "Somaliland" had begun long ago. But to be fair, there was once an opportunity: an opportunity to proceed by broadening the prospect of peaceful coexistence to bring about a better day for all, maybe even a "nation!" That was when the people of that particular world arrived at a crossroad. The crossroad that the northern Somalia "Somaliland" was on was the less chosen and the least traveled path of progress, against the much known and well traveled but littered with losses road. In April 2003, when Riyale arrived at the scene of the seat of power, the northern Somalia was most in-need of a leader who would take the helm and heed the urgent call to address an urgent need; the need to raise democratic ideals from the ashes of what once was a part of a nation. That leader would have healed the wounds of war, unite his people, make the prospect of peace palatable and possibility of business palpable. That golden opportunity to patch the bleeding wounds that the civil-war left gored, and then would have stretched an arching arm to possibly dim the damning fire next door in south Somalia, availed itself in "Somaliland". Alas, that once in a lifetime golden opportunity to see the schism between the failed policies of the past and the vision to chart a bright future on a new chapter was in the hands of Dahir Riyale Kahin!

In April 2003 when the golden opportunity emerged, "Somaliland" had been trundling on a lonely road in search of recognition as an independent nation for twelve years. "Without authenticity, action drifts. Without action, authenticity remains idle conjecture and wishful thinking. Yet there was not a glimmer of hope on the horizon for recognition, but the hot flares of secessionist rhetoric remained blazing in the north while the rest of Somalia stayed mired in a self mutilating war. At least however, the most precious of human dignity, peace, was finally restored in the north, or so we tought, a presidential election was held for the first time in twenty six years and the private sector seemed to be sauntering toward a road of revitalization. Most of all however, the historical significance of this presidential election was monumental. One, despite the difficulty of convincing the rest of world that the northerners were a separate nation, northerners wanted to prove that there was/is a life after Siyad Barre and that they were able to govern themselves with democratic ideals as well as get along with each other. As it looked, the public took an inventory of the political wind and felt the urge to avoid repeating the past. Thus, they rejected the typical clanish status quo for a day and regardless of what the political might, Riyale was elected. People seemed to sense that the "nation" needed a non-Isaaq leader and against the all odds voted for one. The victorious Riyale was less educated, less charismatic and worse of all, was an officer in Siyad Barre’s era with the most hated secret service unit; the notorious NSS (Somali Secret Service) and on top of that was stationed in Berbera, a city that had seen its share of human rights abuses at the hands of the NSS at the peak of the struggle against Siyad Barre. Now however, the majority of the people who suffered under such inhumane treatment still voted "yes" for reconciliation. This signal was very important to the rest of the non-Isaaqs in north. Once Riyale became president, the underlined interpretation of his election was that the Daarood, too, could have a say in their own homeland. How did this opportunity of ushering Riyale in come about and why, then fissile away, one may ask?

It looked that the public was tired of the monopolization, political chicanery and treasury theft of Riyale’s predecessor, Mohamed Ibraim Egal.

Once on the throne however, unfortunately Riyale took the baton at where Egal had left, running away with it but from the greatest opportunity, an opportunity that a catalyst leader would have seized by exhibiting "personal confidence to facilitate and mediate" all the competing, core interest issues and groups. It was soon proven that the urgent call for leadership in the northern Somalia arrived in time but obviously with a wrong person. Riyale would not drop Egal’s contaminated, corrupted baton, thus could not stop time and take the creative, baby steps to conceive a nation. He leaned on the legacy of Egal’s stick that was laden with divisive dirt, damning theft and devious incompetence. "[Vice] leaders are unwilling or unable to employ necessary and appropriate leadership strategies such as envisioning, prioritizing, communicating, educating, inspiring, persuading, mobilizing, organizing, coalition building, listening, adapting, getting information, managing, delegating, coordinating, negotiating, implementing…" He soon saddled himself with all that was vile about Egal, Machiavellian, clannish politics and Siyad Barre boorish arrogance of power inebriation. Riyale began to lie, steal, abuse, ignore and of course was neither fearful nor ashamed of any of his vices. As a matter of fact, he went about his business as though wearing a badge of honor by not missing a beat of straddling himself between Siyad Barre’s pattern of despotism, and the daylight robbery of the meager financial yield of the "nation" of Egal. And worse, Riyale began to murder now!

Part II - Leadership for the Common Vice

Once on power, Riyale soon stated replicating all that was malicious and mean about Siyad Barre, short of mass graves (which may be coming), and all that was baleful and beastly about Egal. He began to build up the pile and in fact passed by them both with his luxurious villas around the globe and the lavish Mobutu-like mansions. And just like his predecessor, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, Riyale has yet to pass or implement a single meaningful, public policy change .

"Incompetent leaders [are] bad at meeting challenges…coping with complexity…[and] managing change". Every University built in the north has been raised from the dust by private donors. Nothing has been added to the only three semi-highways in the entire "Somaliland" that were paved in Siyad Barre’s era, and even these three are decaying with disrepair.

Amnesty International and the Paris-based Reporters without Borders have been quite alert and vocal about the perilous time that "Somaliland" journalists have been facing as well as the other human right abuses. This "government" that has been trying to portray itself as champion of democracy, has been the worst enemy to itself, for it kept on stepping on mines that it had laid. In other words, it has been attracting all but negative news to itself. And now that it is murdering unarmed civilians, it will get worse!

The "government" of "Somaliland" is very keen to bankrupt businesses that do not fall inline with their bribery. For example, the economic backbone of the whole "nation" depends on livestock exports (sheep, goats, camels and cattle). The only port equipped to accommodate both shipping and unloading livestock is in Berbera, the ancient city hugging the Gulf of Eden. Millions of livestock heads that are shipped to the Arabian Gulf, have become the cash cow for Riyale and his cronies. The tax currency collected from the port goes directly into Riyale’s hands. In addition, last year Riyale issued a presidential decree giving exclusive rights (a complete monopoly) to sell and buy all Somaliland livestock to a Saudi tycoon. Furthermore, he set the price as well, interrupting the flow of economic growth and stifling the competition.

As a result, I reasonably argued that in "Somaliland," that the claim of a viable democracy is just a vacuous rhetoric. "Somaliland" has not put foreword a legitimate argument to deserve the United Nation’s recognition as an independent nation. The people of "Somaliland" are being misled by inept, clan politicians who have packaged the same old illness--clan politics allover again. And worse, the man in charge of "Somaliland" today is a man who has learned from the past masters of malice and has been trapped in that mindset.

Thus, when an opportunity to lead arrived and offered a golden choice against the gruesome past, regrettably Riyale chose the crowded, much traveled road of the past where leaders of the common vice littered it with lamentable losses: losses of time, lives and opportunities. Alas Riyale could have taken the less traveled road of hope. He could have opened the clogged corridors of hope by letting the business minded bunch bring about ideas of commerce and create camps to cultivate capital investment. He could have let the press pursue their interest, freedom to express their opinion. He could have let the court calm the whole "nation" with courtesy of law. And he could have called all the northerners to his corner by uniting columns of clannish enclaves, showing that they all share the responsibility to rebuild a "nation", neighborhood by neighborhood, school by school and city by city. If these steps were taken he could have invited southerners, too, to Berbera’s peaceful beaches to begin the process of reconciliation!

Regrettably as Farah (the well known Somali writer) would note that "…we know that great many of the men at the helm of the continent [of Africa]’s power do not have the people’s mandate to be their first place and have no self pride nor foresight," within the arena of leadership. Riyale’s leadership validates the theory of leadership for the common vice. He lacks the catalytic vision to inspire a cause for the common good for he is clueless to the common vice by following the same road that the previous "incompetent, rigid, intemperate, callous, corrupt, insular [and] evil" leaders like him paved. For that "Somaliland" is a lost cause. The recognition that the northerners have been searching for is an illusion, illusion that the public has been riding on the back of a parasitic, vice leadership that also just begun to murder unarmed civilians, too.

It’s not only Siyad Barre of 1982 allover again but painfully and poignantly so prophetic, that it is the Mugabe of today. Unarmed civilian were murdered, for they dared to challenge Riyale’s illegitimate and ill-conceived "I, I, I, me, me, me," narcissistic, nebulous and nescient personality.

What a gimmick? What a Joke?
Rayaale’s dictatorial degree to create six phony regions and 16 districts is the mother of all incompetence and political opportunism
By: mu Category: Editorial

http://saylicipress.net/2008/03/28/what-a-gimmick-what-a-joke-rayaales-dictatorial-degree-to-create-six-phony-regions-and-16-districts-is-the-mother-of-all-incompetence-and-political-opportunism/

This gimmick, this phony, one man decision and meaningless action must be reversed and immediately ended. Lowly actions must be something in the past. This is the case of a flaming dictatorial act simmering inside a leader coming out in the open. Clearly actions like this are the reflection of the powerful dictatorial urges of the old guard, the remnants of the now extinct, corrupt regimes of the past. This is a vivid depiction that old trades won’t go away easily no matter what. This president forgot that he is at the helm of a democratic country.

Apparently the despotic genes of the old discredited leaders took over, despite the rejection and repudiation of that era by the people. This also accelerated the urgency for a new leadership. Dr Martin King once said and I quote"I can not wait due to the fierce urgency of the time." Again the huge need to change the old guard is necessary and urgent.

Clearly this cotire currently ruling the country are out of touch with reality, and do not have the ability to lead a modern country in the 21century. These people are enmeshed with the failed policies of 20th century. They are so embroiled with the politics of slash, divide and conflict creation. Rayaale is from a group of politicians who thrive on conflict creation, and the creation of warring factions. They create an atmosphere of us against them environment.

They are the architects of a policy of endless of finger pointing and gridlock. Rayaale is from the school who think they are entitled to the leadership. His policies indicate the profile and cynical mediocre leader. The people of Somaliland must reject this kind of leadership. The people of this country need to elect new leaders who are in tune with the 21st century. It time to vote this kind of leaders out one at a time.Their understanding of leadership, what are the right things to do and how to help the ordinary people of their countries is wrong.

The policies of this kind of leaders is unpredictable, outlandish and revolves around their political survival and keeping their positions, no matter what. Everything he and his species of politicians do is about politics. He is good at this thing. Rayaale and like species are so skilled on the policy of division, the policy of creating conflicts between people using the curse of our times, tribalism, clannism and religion.

This kind of poor leadership is a major reason, why so many countries in the third world and especially in the Horn of Africa failed and keep on failing. The disgusting policies such as the awarding people with meaningless regions and districts, is a glaring example of the political expedience regarding this political coterie. Their way of helping people is awarding empty and meaningless things to people.

These are a group of shameless charlatan who offer citizens imaginary things. Real rewarding of all citizens and the country is the building of roads, schools, hospitals, clinics. Creating jobs, helping small farmers, and finding clean. It is time the new generation, people of good will, pragmatists and patriots start a peaceful revolution.

Peaceful revolutions do not start overnight, the rewards of social revolution are not a short time proposition.

They do not also come on the cheap. It is along time process, which needs huge grass roots organizing, logistics, hard work, persistence, sacrifice and what have you.

Mr. Rayaale forgot the country is a democratic country where important issues must be discussed in the Parliament, political circles, in people kitchens, and public gatherings. Important political decisions should not be the domain of one person, who is facing a very tough presidential elections in just few months. This is nothing less than a suicidal move, which may make many people repulsed and gave the reason to vote out this kind of a politician.

Actions like this blur the boundary between private and public domains. How come a presidential election can write dictatorial degrees? This authoritarian degree is illegal, immoral, blatant and must not stand. People must repel against such incendiary decisions. The two houses must not keep silent. They must come out and rally against this kind of mindless arrogance. Mr. Rayaale do not know, the country do not belong to him.The country can not be used for his personal gain. This shameless action must be confronted with a furious opposition but peaceful opposition.

The awarding of regions and districts must be a national decision. It must be something which is meticulously discussed and debated. It must also be based on a reality, it must be based on something that makes sense. These kind of secisions must be done out of a huge necessity revolving around decentralization, justice and civil rights. It should out of correcting past injustices and civil rights violations. These kind of action must be geared towards the creation of an efficient and responsive government.

Creating six meaningless regions and sixteen districts by the stroke of a dictator’s pen must be rejected. This signifies the actions of an absolute dictators using the country as a personal property.

Hallo, master dictator, the country is not yours. You do not have the power to award and assign regions and districts on your narrow mind. This is a huge decision. Regions and districts should not be used as a reelection chip.

The country have cut a lot of mileage towards a fully recognized, independent, and sovereign state.

The people of this beautiful and blessed land have made huge sacrifices to make their country the envy of a more potentially richer countries in Africa, the Arab world and around the world. A huge amount of the credit will go to the people of Somaliland. It is the people of Somaliland who forced their leaders to take a path of peace, reconciliation, conflict resolution and peaceful discussion of matters dear to the people. It is the people of Somaliland who transcended tribalism, clannism and hatred and in its place, choose a nation where people can join non tribally-based different parties which give everybody equal opportunity.

These sacrifices, the resilience of the people of this land, their philosophy of self-reliance has attracted the international attention to the people of this land.

These qualities have made Somaliland the talk of many circles around the world. Politicia like Rayaale can not grow from the old policies of using every means to stay in power. Look at Robert Mugabe, and how he dragged a once prosperous and beautiful country down the drain. Look at Ghadaffi, Zinawi, Bashir, Afwarghi and many others and how they keep their countries in an endless political gridlock and under development.

This shocking decision is nothing short of a blunder. This is the most inept decision ever made be a politician.

Rewarding people with imaginary boundaries, to vote for him is a political expedience of astronomical proportions. The people of this land must not vote for this kind of leader.

This is a reflection of poor and incompetent leader. Mr. Rayaale surely lives in the past and do not belong to the 21st century. This the signature of a leader who can go to any length to get elected. Some of the so-called regions and districts he talked about are not bigger than small hamlets and villages.

What Mr. Rayaale is a gimmick and fantasy of epoch proportions which is needed to be reversed and soon. This man must be voted out. That is the only way we may go forward.

Saylicipress Editorial

Comment
qoslaaye Says:

Clearly the decision by Rayal to designate The SALAL region is to indirectly tell all Mahad-case of samaroun, with the exception of reer Maxamad, to get heck out of Awdal and go back to Saylac and surroundings where they belong….and although it might seem bitter to swallow but it has that tinge of truth. so GO GO GO to Zaylac before your INAN LAYAAL takes over and make you homeless.

Note
Picture: Somaliland is this: a useless shipwreck abandoned and demolished in a desert coast of Northern Somalia.