Somaliland First Lady, Huda Barkhad: There is a woman behind every successful man

Somali culture, the ladies play very vital role in the society. The Somali lady is the foundation of the community, where the house is the first school to teach the good behavior. In Somaliland, the man can kill another man if he insults his wife because ladies are the bride of the Somali family; abusing a lady or accusing her badly is redline nobody is allowed to cross it else the abuser should face the consequences.

Ladies play leading role in the Somali culture where they do work hard in supporting the family; the traditional Somali houses "Aqal Somali" is assembled by the ladies only; milking the animals is done by ladies; taking care of the children and households is done by ladies; helping and caring the elderly parents of the family is done by ladies. Somali ladies are the jewel of the Somali culture.

Particularly, when the woman is First Lady of a Nation she is symbol of the all Somali ladies under that government; she is the official representative of the ladies in the county; as first lady, she supports women and advocates for the women rights including the political ones. The role of the first lady is at community services, in addition to promoting peace in Somaliland.

Huda Barkhad campaigns for the children development issues and visits different schools across the country. Huda Barkhad is one of the most active first ladies in the history of Somaliland. The responsibilities of the First Lady are not only caring the private life of the President but as citizen of Somaliland she has to give some of her times to the public mainly the women and children development. Huda Barkhad did that, and Somalilanders are very grateful of such unique care from the first lady.

The First Lady should play role in helping her husband – The President – in the campaign. She should campaign for him in politics. I know, It is strange in Somali culture to see a lady campaigning in middle of the men, but this is change and world is changing, so we should accept. It was excellent step to see the Somaliland First Lady Huda Barkhad campaigning in Gabiley and in Hargiesa too. This is the modernization of Somaliland democracy, which is unique in many parts of Africa.

If we look into American Presidential Elections, The First Lady plays very important role in the campaign, even some of the USA voters support the candidates based on the agenda of the first lady. Michelle Obama published her program, if her husband Barrak Obama wins the US Presidential Election. This is how the modern world works, and Somaliland is part of the ongoing changes around the global.

Unfortunately, the Somaliland enemy and erroneous writer Dr. Mohammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis accuses the Somaliland First Lady Huda Barkhad for baseless allegations. The bogus doctor failed to understand the Somali culture and importance of Somali lady in Somali and Arab culture. Somalis with their Arab roots share similar respect to the ladies with many Arab nations like Arabian Peninsula; the doctor with his little knowledge to Somali culture even went far by describing Somaliland as nation of Huda Barkhad.

Somali and Arab ladies have high position and value in the community unlike their counterparts in Turkey and Greece. The First Lady Huda Barkhad is much respected lady between Somaliland communities. She contributed many good things including support to prisoners in Central Jail and continuous support to Somaliland women organizations. She promotes the women rights in Somaliland; she campaigns against female gentile circumcision in Somaliland and many parts of East Africa; she supports the orphans in the country.

In Somaliland the First Lady is model of good housewife and represents Somaliland ladies. The doomsayer and fake doctor forgot that every successful man there is woman behind him. Somaliland proved the doomsayer wrong in many occasions including his recent articles on Somaliland´s political deadlock over election timetable, and I am sure Somaliland First Lady Huda Barkhad will prove him wrong too.

Arabic proverb says, "The root of the false doesn´t last long". This shows that the fake doctor has no sources in his articles but talks and talks until he barks like dog.

In politics, on 3rd June 2008 Somaliland proved wrong its enemies including the erroneous and so-called Dr. Mohammed Shamdudin Meglooaid. The Ruling Party UDUB and Opposition Parties Kulmiye and UCID signed off deal rescheduling election timetable. This is the unique quality of the people of Somaliland who solve their problems through talk and understanding.

The fake doctor wrote many articles saying that Somaliland is collapsing and it is the end of Somaliland due to the political deadlock over the election timetable. The erroneous writer failed to understand that political differences in Somaliland do not lead to chaos like Somalia.

In other hand, the enemies of Somaliland are taking advantage of the slight differences between the government and some of the independent newspapers; they are exaggerating the difference to the international community and mislead by writing fictitious articles.

In Somaliland, the Press and Publication Law is the limit between the government and the free media including the daily newspapers. Neither the government nor the independent newspapers are allowed to violate the law. Somaliland Judiciary System is the major sponsors of the law.

Somaliland is a nation of institutions and neither President Riyale nor Newspapers can take action without considering the law. Our political and view differences does not reflect out national unity.

Email: az.almutairi@yahoo.com