Somaliland's Dilemma in Dealing with Djibouti Following the Fall of Somali Republic
They say, “When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Ismail Omer Gelleh is out to cripple Somaliland foreign policy as always. The black fox is meddling in the internal affairs as well, and the Ethio-Egyptian troubled diplomatic relations over the Nile caused emotional incontinence, stress buildup and frustration in Somaliland’s authorities.
The tiny neighboring city-state (Djibouti – formerly French Somaliland) is at the throat of Somaliland ever since the declaration of withdrawal from the unsuccessful unification with Mogadishu and now it intensifies its efforts to destabilize Bihi’s government.
Somaliland is the icon of democracy in the black continent and the beacon of Africa for succeeding how to make conflict resolutions to achieve a lasting peace in the Horn of Africa region plagued by warring tribes and civil wars mainly caused after the fall of late General Mohamed Siyad Barre of Somalia.
Somaliland witnessed mass killings against the civilians, businessmen/women, intellectuals, and the people who lived in the Northern parts of the now defunct Somali Republic. It was a governmental war against its own people. Survivors and the injured are still suffering from emotional and psychological trauma of what had happened to them and to their loved ones back then.
Risen from the ashes of the war in 1988, Somaliland achieved peace and prosperity by the endeavors of the elderly, the heads of tribes known as sultans, and the victorious Somali National Movement (SNM) by signing an accord to establish a shared government. This was a historic moment for Somaliland to deal things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. Everyone was on boat and within a short period of time the people chose their first head of state without bloodshed and no opposing parts.
The world expressed warm approval and admiration for Somaliland at the same time. Praise be to God and to the people of Somaliland who had a tradition of solving their own problems.
However, Ismail Omer Gelleh, once a goon, always a goon, was always there more vigilant than a vulture soaring in the sky looking for prey. Ismail Omar Gelleh – who in this short article is referred to as the black fox in the coastal barren lands and burned black mountains of Djibouti – is trying to put Somaliland in a hellhole deep of thousands feet. Though it was not an easy task in the era of former presidents – Mohamed H. Ibrahim Egal and Dahir Rayale Kahin – malicious intentions of the goons in the French Somali coast were never materialized, but rather curtailed and kept his mission close to impossible. Everything was filtered out. The Secret Service Department was more productive comparatively. That is the magic?
As the economic development in Somaliland is taking baby-steps to maintain the payroll for civil employees, the security forces including the military, the police, and to run the daily activities of the government; many of the willy-nilly elected representatives became a shadow of their former self. Almost half of them and many former and present ministers, traveling on Djibouti diplomatic passports, are on the payroll of Djibouti National Security Service.
Djibouti is milking the law makers of Somaliland. Can you imagine? How does this happen?
Yes, the upper echelons of the government and many of the famous sultans are cooperating with the thugs running the government of Djibouti. And many of those – sold-out to Farmaajo – have guilty conscience barking Somaliland is not doing enough, while aiding and abetting a crime against their own people for day’s lunch and hotel room for a night. The government of Somaliland is too weak to talk about what is necessary to the fox hole, and has no balls to say, “You are either with us or against us,” to those who betrayed Somaliland and the Djibouti goons.
Can you believe the tears on the crocodile eyes who is hosting Somaliland-Somalia mediation talks? Gelleh denied the existence of Somaliland while he was born in a barrio of Hargeisa in the coastal region of Zeila. Gelleh earned a sizable mass of people in Somaliland by offering them Djibouti citizenship to increase his influence in the region and gaining a lot of voters in Somaliland in his favor. Thousands of ballot boxes are sent to Somaliland to be filled out for Gelleh in his re-election bid each time. That is why the president of Somaliland was invited to Djibouti after six long years of border closure as Gelleh’s re-election is coming very soon. Therefore, who needs who? Something is not right!
Gelleh is a terrible nightmare to Somaliland and to his own people. Djibouti has tons of spy agents from Somalia (NISA) pissing in Somaliland’s backyard and Gelleh is telling president Bihi that it is raining outside. Djibouti turned into a pigsty of all sorts. Call it a sixth sense, anxiety, or fear. The people of Somaliland have been raked on the face by Ismail Omar Gelleh nearly three decades. Djibouti has been at proxy war with Somaliland, but one thing is true that president Bihi is unlike the late former president Egal who closed the border for three months after Hassan Gulaid Abtidoon announced that the ban of travelers to and from Somaliland has been lifted.
Erigabo and Sool regions are always hotbeds for possible skirmishes of tribal wars over disagreements on whose side they are. What is happening in Dhulbahante land is freaking out Somaliland. President Saeed Deni of Puntland was summoned to Djibouti a while ago to stir fry sauce in the eastern regions as Somaliland is getting ready for elections this year. Garoowe of Puntland is already inside Somaliland changing the map of the Horn of Africa. There are series of events that will undeniably lead to war between Somalia and Somaliland. Somaliland should take sides over Egypt-Ethiopia row. Now the Egyptians are asking Somaliland for help and it is high time the authorities in the Somaliland Republic stop blabbering foolishly about the troubled diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt. It looks like the Egyptians are coming out of deep sedation to establish a relationship with Somaliland. This is all about interests and Somaliland knows well where Egypt stands on Somaliland’s sovereignty. Egypt is another black fox out for hunting. One day, it will cost dearly Somaliland politicians lying to their own people. Arab spring is not over yet and Bihi should clean his house before it is too late so the people may not paint bullets on his palace.
Finally, Somaliland has been swimming with snakes for a long time now. War is a war and the blood will spill where it has to. This is where Somaliland has to weigh options to resolve the problems of the black fox without jeopardizing both sides of the border and make sure the bitch’s tongue is tied to the roof. They say, “When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.” That is what is expected of Bihi of Somaliland. Fear not for Somaliland, but rest assured, the 43-year old family dynasty of Hassan Gulaid and Ismail Omar Gelleh is coming to an end soon.
About the author:
Mohamed Shiine
Minneapolis, Minnesota
USA
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.