National Security threat fiasco In Somaliland by AhmedYasin Sheikh Mohamed Jama
As a human and as a country we face many c
hallenges and hardship in life but it depends how we/you challenge it. And after all everything happens for a reason. Unjust destroys families and states. Injustice was the only cause of the destruction of previous nations and kingdoms: { So the people that committed wrong were eliminated. And praise to Allah, lord of the worlds}[Quran 6:45]. In another ayat: Verily Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change themselves(13:11)
There is a great scale of injustice that took place in somaliland recently and still taking place.
We faced many problems in the past and will face challenges and problems in the future.The problems that we have faced in the past were far worse than any challenges that we may have now. We have been through problems such as Siyad Bare’s atrocities, tribal bloody wars, economy problems, recognition problems as well as every other problems under the sun, but out of all the problems we faced as a country, this security threat claimed by the British and the likes seems to be the one that annoys us the most, it is the most terrible issue that we have ever faced in the entire twenty two years that we have existed. It is not that other issues or problems are not important to us or are somehow less annoying; it is indeed, but this threat issue raised by the British is just a complex issue which needs an immediate remedy or attention. After all, this is a national crisis or should I say national disaster. When I heard this threat news I started shaking and trembling with shock, it was like if the whole skies has fell on me. In the end u said to myself, this is a wake up call for us all
However, when there are problems, there are also always a solution. When there is a problem, no matter how big, small or complex it may be, you always assess, evaluate and investigate the problem with an expert to that particular issue or the problem, then in the end you simply try solving the problem.
Some issues or problems are required been solved by, may be one department, ministry or may be the government as a whole but this problem is national issue, therefore requires a unity, whether we are young or old, educated or uneducated, government or a nation. We all need to stand shoulder to shoulder and hold hands …. United we stand divides we fall.
We must forget all our differences for this issue and every issue that may arise as this has directly affected the whole country.
Few days back I was sitting with some friends, they were all from Somaliland, representatives from kulmiye, Wadani and new ucid discussing this so called security threat issue, I was pleasantly surprised that our political parties are beginning to show signs of maturity and started talking this issues openly and with honesty shadowed by true patriotism.. All six of us agreed that is this is a national issue, therefore it requires national unity and working together as one body.. Together we can. So if all six of believed and realised that this is a nationwide crisis, then how come that I see people with a different view and to some extent blaming individuals or the government, my point here is that it’s not a time for blaming, it’s a time to be united and act as one body.
I don’t see this unity taking place in Somaliland as a whole, especially in the government as well as the nation, in fact the government has divided in to groups in the past two or three days for one problem or the other.
I see a government who are busy with some irrelevant matters when the nation is in crisis.
I see a blame culture that is taking place. I see people blaming other people for this security threat issue. Let me tell you something here, the British and USA don’t and will not take information or listen to or from individuals. Even if they do, they will assess, evaluate and investigate thoroughly by an expert and then take action. The British take this issue very seriously and believed the joint amisom and Somali government claim that alshabab has run away in to puntland and Somaliland. But the question that I would like to ask you is, did you see anyone from the government denying this claim soon after this claim was made by amisom and Somalia?. I think the silence on this has led the world to believe that these people who run away from Mogadishu are now in puntland and Somaliland. If someone accuses you for anything or any matter, especially your national security publicly, then you tend to reply it publicly, but if you don’t reply, then I am afraid that is a sign of acceptance. Don’t you think so? We, as well as the whole world know that Somaliland have had relatively enjoyed peace and stability in the past 22 years. As the unexpected happened from the British then perhaps, we need to show the world that we have peace in Somaliland by inviting all the media including BBC and VOA in our country. It’s our responsibility to show the world that the peace we have enjoyed for the past 22 years is still here with us and that as government and as nation will do anything to maintain it.
The other questions that come to my mind or ask myself are as follows
We, all aware that we Somaliland are in a crisis situation but I don’t see the following steps taking place
A. I don’t see a crisis meeting took place at all. The government should have instantly called for an emergency crisis meeting to analyse, asses, investigate and action.
B. I don’t see the two houses, the house of Guurti and the parliament debating on it, all I see is division and punch ups and blame culture amongst us
C. I don’t see the government inviting the international media bodies in to our country to show the world that the peace and stability that we have enjoyed is still here with us.
D. I don’t see our intellectuals, elders, government, and parliamentarian, house of elders debating on the issue. We need to find and agree what steps we should take as nation for this matter
E. We should have Bullet points to identify the key facts and guidelines after the debate.
Without fulfilling the above objectives and steps, then I am afraid that we will become ready meal for anyone who doesn’t like us; especially our neighbours in Somalia who are now attacking us left right and centre with a political game
Message to President Ahmed Siilaanyo, as president of our country you should take every step and role necessary to show your leadership in this regard. As a government you should convince and show the world that peace and stability is our food and drink. You must shine and put the country on its feet again. That history of peace and stability is now under threat. .. We need to have a framework for this issue, we need to think forward and convince the world that peace is still with us.
Message to our nation; United we stand, Divided we fall. Be strong. End tribalism. Don’t worry too much about changing and swapping of the officials as there is a good indication in that. We should be happy for the army ranks; there will be 5000 more official to be announced. It’s good for the country
Message to our neighbours in Somalia. You declared a political war with us and still have the mentality of 1960. Your recent VOA interview, you claimed Somaliland as one of the provinces of your Somalia, Greater Somalia became abortive at the end by your own hands. Your ignorance and arrogance is what makes you believe that Somaliland will be dismantled by calling of Mo Farrah, Fosia and the likes. You are trying to take advantage of Somaliland current problems, the problems that you yourself and your amisom created. You told the world that alshabaabs are in somaliland, you cannot see alshababs in mogadisho who are destroying your state house, vila Somalia where you live yourself, how on earth you can see the shababs who are in Somaliland. Maybe you know because you have sent them to us. Tell us where they are and show the whole world where they are in Somaliland. Let me tell you something, if anything happen in Somaliland, then you are responsible. We will not let you take the advantage; we survived for the past 22 years with little help from outside world. We are stronger now than we were when we kicked the mighty Somali army, so keep singing my friend… It is a question of self-determination of a nation that shoulders its destiny. Somalia and the whole world understand that we mean business. We understand your appointments of fosia and the likes is your self-desperation attempt to make the world believe that Somaliland is part of Somalia.
Somaliland suffered enough aggression and cruelty by you own hands. We will never forget the oppression, the displacement, destruction of our cities, the genocide over 60,000 bodies in mass graves:. We cannot forget the innocent civilians that were taken out of their homes late at night and executed in the years 1984,1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988 because of whom they were.
