Somaliland Case: Is It a Lost Cause or a Neglected Endeavor?
Was Somaliland aiming to be in charge of it’s resources, reclaiming its boundaries, running it’s municipalities governments, appointing it’s provincial governors, and electing it’s administrative Government?
Or the aspiration of the nation is to exist as a full-fledged sovereign State that is much more precious than those? Where does Somaliland stand today in terms of that ambition?
Is the Somaliland case a lost cause or a neglected endeavor?
Decade and half ago in the international stage, the enthusiasm and the interest for the Somaliland case has been flying high despite the fact that Somaliland was much vulnerable for internal disputes and economically weaker in all respects. Right at this very moment, it is at its lowest point where one hardly hears any development or discussion on it. It can be argued that, if this is the reality surrounding the utmost priority of the nation, then what is the need for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and is it not a liability that just drains a valuable budget from the nation? The goal of this nation was never and will not be ever to settle for De facto instead of De Jure recognition.
“Precisely an endeavor without a leadership and a blueprint”
I did not take the pen to offer either a definitive response or a viable solution through this rhetorical question in this piece, but my intention is to get this poorly managed and dying endeavor out to the public for critical debate that might inject fresh thoughts into it.
“The current feud for clannish interests has adversely impacted the case and let it sunk to the bottom of our priorities list”
Keep in mind, in the history of the African continent and that of the colonized countries around the world, Somaliland is the only country whose independence has been subjected to questioning. The prescription for Somaliland to overcome such difficult challenges is if a sense of belonging and bonding replaces the allegiance to the Clan Constitution among the Somalilanders.
Because Somaliland Republic currently facing tough hurdles in the quest of selling its case to the world and trying to dismiss and discredit the scrutiny over its sovereignty, it is absurd to engage in a behavior worshiping the clannish mindset on the part of the Somaliland people and not devising a well thought path for realizing this cause on the part of Somaliland government.
A few may believe it as a lost cause like those opportunists defecting to the South for personal political gain, but definitely Somaliland people firmly believe it has been neglected by the government and the public as well.in different ways.
In its narrow meaning, the Somaliland case may refer to the efforts aiming at the realization of an international recognition for the nation as a sovereign state. However, the literature and facts put forward by the international scholars indicate otherwise and interpret the case in its much broader implications that encamps the events after the independence in 1960 as well as the various efforts Somaliland encountered in its state building journey.
That fabric of the unity and patriotism, which helped Somaliland navigate through the turbulent times in the past, seems to be thinning out because of the rising culture of adhering to the Clan Constitution and the Polarizing Politics.
Actions of the very forces – that were expected to advance it – are strongly undermining the Somaliland case: fragmented media outlets advocating for clannish interests, incompetent councilmen and representatives taking refuge behind clannish veils, and national political parties catering for clannish agenda.
The Somaliland Diaspora’s political debate and a significant number of people at home concentrate on how the country’s democratization process and clan constitutions clash head on, as the values of Western democracy are blurred with a clan coalition that serves only the interests of small groups of exploiters seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of the public.
The nation is still trying hard to harmonize and strike a balance between the centuries-old devotion and dedication for clan constitutions, prevalent among the different constituencies in the country, and the Western democracy form of government that the country has embarked upon to adopt. This provoked a contentious discussion between the more youthful ages and Diaspora individuals – who first-handedly saw how this form of government functions in their host nations – on one side and the traditional seniors and older generation on the opposite side, who thusly each believes they are destined for success and following their course is in the interest of the country.
Clan constitution has a great influence on the culture and life of Somalilanders and is highly respected when it comes to solving problems or caring for the needy. It is a social contract between community members living together and with their neighboring tribes.
Although it does not exist in a written format, clan constitution is a long-standing tradition passed down from generation to generation. By the time the European colonists came to this land and most of the people had settled in cities, the law was then in force and still applies today.
After all, the Clan Constitution can’t be minimized as an obsolete idea that is not welcome in the present-day Somaliland. In the fallout of the Somali state and the resulting civil war, clinging to and respecting this clan constitution spared Somaliland as it additionally separates Somaliland from Somalia. At the point when Western scholars address the distinction between Somaliland and Somalia, they frequently underscore and stress what they call “Clan Democracy” upheld by the Clan Constitution. However, it should not be allowed to call shots beyond its scope.
The democratization process that Somaliland embarked when it recovered its sovereignty in 1991 is certainly not an absolute ideal type of governing system that is free from kinks and deceptions, despite the fact that it makes perfect sense for Somalilanders to resort to it as they have emerged out of an abusive and oppressive regime full of dictatorship and injustice.
For nearly 30 years, Somaliland has been attempting to set up a smooth democratic system of governance in the country and much has been accomplished while significantly more stays to be done. This form of governance is most common in North America, Western Europe, and a couple in far East Asia and South America. In contrast with different types of governance, for example, dictatorship, communism and monarchy, which right now overwhelm in a large portion of the world, it has come out somewhat as a leader that won the trust of the governed, given the positive and promising pictures regarding the development and living standards of the countries that practice it, despite the fact that misfortunes and setbacks actually exist inside those societies.
Statutory Commission for Sovereign Recognition Search
Shockingly, successive governments in Somaliland have never built up a comprehensive plan for the Somaliland’s quest for recognition, and the default game-plan ended up to become dependent on the desire and the wishes of the administration in power. For right around 30 years, this has left the Somaliland case to a great extent unaddressed in the hands of politicians who have only been busy trying either to hold on to their positions or to get to be elected.
The influence of the political party that succeeds in the elections consistently shapes the manner in which the government carries out its commitments and obligations. In this climate, the administration just listens and is responsive to the perspectives and assessments of the individuals who support it – a mindset that purposely eliminates the need for the opinions and the input from the opposing camp.
The Somaliland case is a national priority that does not need to be politicized in a stage at. It requires the full undivided attention and advice of all different segments of Somaliland society. A statute dealing with the case must be enacted. Having a Statutory Commission as the final authority for both decision making and laying down the path for the endeavor has many benefits over exclusively delegating this task only to the will of the executive branch. Opposition parties have repeatedly complained about the lack of consultation relating to the Somaliland case on the part of the government and its intention of polarizing it.
On the other hand, a powerful and lethal force that can greatly advance this cause is the Somaliland Diaspora in the Western Europe, in North America, and in the Horn of Africa. However, these communities don’t live in a vacuum but rather pay close attention to the political climate in the country. Any tension and polarization that flares up in the country creates friction and discomfort among them. This constitutional commission handling the case and keeping it away from the government makes perfect sense for the opposition parties as well as to the Somaliland Diaspora.
As the government officials and politicians are consistently vulnerable and make concessions for political gains and ambitions, The commission can be a barrier and deterrent insulating the case from foreign hands and interference with a vested interest, as the government officials and politicians are consistently vulnerable and make concessions for political gains and ambition.
The sole responsibility of the government would be implementing the agenda laid down by the commission.
Fragmented Media Outlets
The media assumes a significant role in promoting good governance, in enforcing the country’s laws, in strengthening social cohesion by spreading both local and regional news, in observing and uncovering the bad behaviors of legislators and government authorities. Amidst doing these social commitments, the media must stick to the morals of news coverage and ethics of journalism by conveying precise and quality news without exaggeration and distortion for gaining the trust of the public in general and for avoiding reports full of bias and one-sided stories.
With the exception of few, most online news sites, YouTube based channels, and TV outlets share divisive stories and narratives on tribal lines. Such outlets became the sole source catering information in a polarized manner to different communities in the country. The sentiment in the nation also brews and supports such media sources pitting one community against another, while disguising as a bargaining power for and the mouthpiece of the clan and their politicians, when consciously trivializing the disastrous impact of this on the fabric of the nation.
Despite the growing tribal outcry gushing out of these clan media outlets, this has also resulted in the ideas, experiences, and valuable opinions of Somaliland intellectuals to become scattered across hundreds of tribal media sites, rendering them to be only available and accessible to few.
Single online reference resources – setup by the Somaliland government or the Somaliland citizens – providing adequate information on the Somaliland case does not exist at all, when enormous time, talent, and energy is devoted to tribal –based media outlets.
The Intellect and efforts exerted in the clan media should be directed toward the Somaliland case to make it a success endeavor. Uniting and pooling Somaliland media talents under a few banners would definitely serve the interest of the nation in defeating its enemies and advancing its case to the world.
Clan Loyalist Intellectuals
An intellectual is a learned person who is guided by knowledge and is always committed to the well-being and development of the people in which he/she lives with. Intellectuals are rational people rather than emotional for the most part. They have played a vital role in every radical change and revolutions over the last few centuries in the world, including our own struggle that resulted in the withdrawal of Somaliland from the failed union with Somalia in 1991.
After recovering from the effects of the war with Siyad regime and the ensuing civil war, at a time when the nation was ripe to tap into the potential of Somaliland intellectuals for making significant contributions to the promotion of state governance, economy, and the quest for the Somaliland recognition, unfortunately, they embraced clannish ideology by melting with their respective clans.
National parties are constitutional institutions that act as entryways to political establishment in the country and an instrument to introduce diverse national policies attempting to tackle the issues facing the nation from different perspectives. National political parties must always have a clear political platform that isolates them from their opponents and clan affiliations should not be the main qualification that sets them apart.
There are always setbacks and roadblocks when moving from one system of governance to another. One of the biggest challenges on the part of the public as well as the government in any nation is the fundamental need to have the basic knowledge about the newly adopted system. This kind of civic education removes the traces and the mindset of the old form of governing and stills a sense that the power to direct and control the government is always in the hands of the people.
This sort of education were supposed to have come from Somaliland intellectuals, prominent figures, and civic as well as religious leaders in the form of independent neutral non-partisan organizations, reflecting Somaliland image from East to West, that are engaged in enlightening the public about the principles of democracy and detriment of clan influence. Such organizations would be the forum, the venue and the voice that sorts out the politics from the policies when the nation finds itself in political stalemate.
Favoring Clan Over Competent Candidates
Political career is a profession similar to other professions in the law or in medicine that demands a solid background in public administration and understanding of political science with leadership skills, and politicians are always expected to abide by the law of the land, be it in Somaliland or in the rest of the world. This is not the case in Somaliland as the ultimate law that governs Somaliland politicians and is widely trusted by the people is the Clan Constitution, which has left the country in ruins on all fronts. If history is a guide, the Clan Constitution was intended neither to become a substitute for the constitution of the country nor a system that runs a government.
It is very depressing when the narratives of the politicians are at a stage where they want the public to believe that their inaction is a direct reflection of country’s status of unrecognition., and that the faith of road repairs, government services, and the excessive unemployment would remain unchanged so long the country continues to be unrecognized.
With the exception of the capital Hargeisa, which has lately grown significantly attracting all flavors of Somaliland society, it is an undeniable reality that Somaliland society is naturally compartmentalized in different geographical regions, creating bubbles in which one clan always constitutes the majority.
This dilemma can be solved by first drawing national electoral districts in the country based on parliamentary seats and then electing members of parliament from such districts, while the current system is for each clan to nominate a member for the parliament.
Shooting long range missiles from time to time, like the one that recently landed in Taiwan, keeps the Somaliland case floating in the world stage but would not aid Somaliland’s quest for recognition. Short range missiles focused on African continent and the African Horn region are the ones that might secure closer to home allies if they could not deliver the desired goal.
If the tide is not soon reversed, the Somaliland case would eventually end up as a lost cause.
About the author:
Ahmed J Yassin
ajyassin4@gmail.com
Clinical Laboratory Professional
Jacksonville, Florida
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author/authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Somaliland Intellectuals Institute (SII), its partners, or sponsors. SII is a non-partisan organization that seeks to publish well-argued, policy-oriented articles on Somaliland foreign policy and nation's priorities in education, healthcare, economy, energy, and infrastructure.