(Part Two)

by Qasim Hirsi Farah**
Former Presidential Candidate for Somalia, 2004

Continuation from Part One:

      Part Two: Evaluating Somaliland’s quality and quantity, there is no sign of progress leading her to statehood. Even though citizens are generous, patriotic, sincere, united, and activists in tying diplomacy connections (the latter attribute is exclusive to the Isaqs), it seems unachievable for them to separate from Somalia. Down tracking to the point, none of the stipulations narrated in part one has been found in Somaliland. To break it down, let me begin with the definition of her population:

    * Somaliland do not have fixed population: despite lack of any census over the last two decades, Somaliland advocators state that her population is approximately 3.4 million persons. However, they rely on no official census. As a matter of fact, there have never been a random statistics ever conducted since 1988 when the Somali national census was conducted.1 In that census, the population of the North-West Somali regions – the today’s self-styled state of Somaliland was estimated to be 2.2 Million.2 Right after that census, more or less all the population of Somaliland evacuated the country to Ethiopia, Djibouti and other countries. Hitherto, approximately half of the above stated population have not yet returned to the country. Many still remain in Dul’ad and Hashin refugee camps in Ethiopia or surrounding nomadic communities. Many others finally succeeded in reached for re-settlement in some other continents of the world (by land, sea or air). Added that, as a matter of fact, is that such long lasting emigration still continues, where almost everybody is on journey to anywhere in the globe just to escape from the hell-fire going on in Somalia/Somaliland.
    * Somaliland’s population has never been disarmed, and local militias have never been demobilized. All the rival sub-clans3, groups and individuals are armed to the teeth. Thus, war could erupt at any time over any issue in any location. Moreover, the citizens of Somalia, especially those of Somaliland, are mostly in high and quick temper.4 Any misunderstanding that may arise between two or more5 could create a destructive and long lasting conflict between two or more clans or sub-clans.

     * Public consent has never been sought as a referendum, let alone to be obtained. The majority of the estimated population in Somaliland is made up of 4 sub-clans of 2 clans6: 1) Dir: Isaq and Gedobirsay, and 2) Darod: Dhulbahante and Warsangeli. The third group consists of collections of other minority clans who are undermined by both the Dir and Darod. The two Ds unlawfully deprive the minority’s political, social and even economic rights. The two Darod sub-clans have never entertained the Isaq-led sucession from the rest of Somalia. Similarly, the Dir sub-clan of Gedobirsay has never seriously accepted the sucession agenda. None of the three sub-clans and minorities trusts the Isaq who could, in one way or another, dominate the rest by intimidating and abusing them if Somaliland is recognized. That is why the Darods formed autonomy of their own known as Puntland state of Somalia.

     Recently, there is one of the worst Somali civil wars and clan cleansing going on in the Dhul-bahante inhabitant regions: Sool, Sanaag and Cayn. The conflict between the Dhulbahante and Isaq may be extended further if not curbed soon. For instance, the other sub-clan of Darod known as Warsangeli may not be free from making interference into the matter at any point. The Gedobirsay is in critical situation of pressure; if they refuse the Somaliland’s self-declared separation from the rest of Somalia, they may face mass killing or subjugation by the Isaq clan. Moreover, since there is no Somali central government functioning and there is prolonged civil wars based on undefined clan and sub-clan ideology in the country, they have no choice, but to seek the best scheme to live in peace and harmony with their neighbours.

     Therefore, they still remain in the political policy known as ‘wait and see’. That is the only game they can play in this critical circumstance. Yet, there have been chains of civil conflicts between them and the Isaqs. The latest was the protest in Borame, right after the election and was continuous up until August 4, 2010. Unfortunately, several civilians were shot to death by well armed military-men as they tried to demonstrate a peaceful protest. Following that, the District Commissioner of Borame has resigned from the office, while saying that he cannot tolerate to receiving orders from military commanders sent from Hargaisa. From this reading one can comprehend that the so-called Somaliland is purely a one clan owned administration; that is none but Isaq, sub-clan of Dir clan family. It is worth to mention that Somaliland’s law indicates the colonialism philosophy of “majority rules”7.

     Mr. Riyale, the former president who was non-Isaq was given the power in order to avoid conflict between Awal and Garhajis sub-sub-clans of Isaq, but look at his cabinet. Only 10 out of 50 cabinet members were non-Isaq. That is exactly what Somalis call as the share of the wolf and the lion. In short, almost, each of those sub-clans in Somaliland nurses some forms of odium, enmity and anger against the other that could emerge at any time for one reason or another. But still, there is one glimmering hope at the end of the tunnel. The young generation’s education and civilization may deny any further conflict in the region. Nevertheless, an apparent question is “can Somaliland’s self-styled politicians let alone the young generation learn, civilize, socialize, and exercise their capacity of knowledge”?

     So far, the obvious answer to this question is “no”. Neo-politicians waste the youth’s time, energy, minds, hearts, and efforts to old historical misrepresentations and impracticable mirages. That is what lured me to conduct this study and write this article. Unfortunately, the so-called politicians teach the young generation certain subjects which are irrelevant, impolite, inhumane, and absolutely useless. Among them is the falsified history of Somaliland from 1960 – 1991. In this course, they fill enmity and envy in the hearts and the faculty minds of the young clean and innocent youths by inspiring them that their parents were colonized or killed by the people of the southern Somalia. Even if that is true (it is very far from reality), they should not tell such kind of mischievous and malevolent stories based on ignorant era’s ruthless animosity to the purely innocent ears. This horrific misleading will not only lead the youth to revenge (and revenge never lasts) philosophy, but would also divert their ambition from development to destruction. Youth need to have a clear-cut vision and mission in order to achieve some tremendous goals for the betterment of their future. In contrast, it is a great felony to spoil the innocent and clean minds of the young generation by teaching them illicit lessons. Similarly, it is another transgression to misinform the young generation by telling them that they have been under colonization, and that the state will soon obtain a nationwide recognition.             

Continuous; please follow the 3rd part of the study.