Somaliland’s Goodwill and Sharif Ahmed’s bad intensions

Abdulaziz Al-mutairi

It’s abhorrent that the President of Somalia’s TFG Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to be the first high ranking to meet the fugitive Somali-American warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed on 12/9/2011. The US authorities interrogated the warlord over his illegal and armed activities in the south-eastern parts of Somaliland including Buuhoodle village.

The FBI accused the warlord of organizing and sponsoring terrorist group “SSC” which is trying to fight Somaliland Army. The group has links with Al-Shabab, where they receive training on explosive and suicide bombing.

In other hand, formation of new warlords in the region will be undermining the efforts of the international community to end the violence and ‘warlordism’ in former “Somalia”. As we know, the international community spend time and money to eliminate the warlords and to stabilize the former “Somalia”. The new warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed is working tirelessly to destabilize Somaliland democracy and security.

“Somalia’s” TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed met the fugitive Somali-American warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed in Mogadishu and agreed upon certain points, which undermines the sovereignty and security of Somaliland. The points include direct relationship between TFG and “SSC”. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed government will provide financial and military aid to the terrorist group in order to disturb the development in Somaliland, particularly its eastern regions.

Moreover, “Somalia’s” Interim Prime Minister AbdulWali Mohamed Ali (Gaas) – who represent bogus “Puntland” interests – was present in the meeting with “SSC”. The meeting, clearly, was an attempt to destroy. However, “SSC” is too weak to carry out its new obligations against Somaliland.

The meeting, also, discussed restoration of failed theory of “Somaliweyn” which is to unite all Somali speaking communities in East Africa under “Somalia”. This theory was first adopted in last century by the “Somalia” government and it led invasion of Ethiopia and bad diplomatic relation with Kenya. According to the theory, Ethiopia and Kenya must give up from its Somali ethnic groups and large portion of their territories. Somali ethnic groups occupy large parts of Ethiopia and Kenya. The independence of Djibouti and Somaliland ruined the theory, as both are mainly Somalis.

Such deceitful meeting between TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and fugitive warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed, who has links to Al-Qaeda’s wing in Africa – Al-Shabab – coincided a time that Somaliland delegates are distributing aid to the displaced people in Mogadishu. The goodwill of Somalilanders led fundraising campaigns to help the Somalians devastated by the hunger.

Somaliland donated $700,000 in aid to the people of “Somalia”, which puts Somaliland at the highest donations between the African countries. The statistics showed South Africa after Somaliland with $500,000.

Unfortunately instead of gratitude and appreciation, TFG President is sponsoring terrorists to undermine the people of Somaliland. The leading regional money transfer company – Dahabshiil who hails from Somaliland – donated $100,000 in the fundraising, which is lifts the total money donated by Somalilanders to $800,000.

The government of Somaliland handed over the money at a time thousands of Somalilanders where in need for aid, but the magnitude of the devastation in “Somalia” was higher compare to Somaliland. The newly elected government of Somaliland led by President Siilaanyo has taken bold political risk in the aid, as the opposition accused of donating while Somalilanders are in greater need.

It is unfortunate and disappointment to the people of Somaliland to realize that TFG President Sheikh Sharif and his prime minister are working on failing Somaliland, where Somalilanders are helping the poor people of their countrymen. As sensible leader, it is your duty to help your people at hard times, instead of betraying those who step forward to help your countrymen.

Furthermore, the supporters of terrorist warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed collected thousands of dollars across the world, in order to fight Somaliland, and did not donate to the people of “Somalia” who are suffering from droughts. The Somali diaspora that supports the warlord called raised money to purchase illegal weapon against Somaliland in the black markets, while people are dying for hunger in “Somalia”.

The so called “Puntland” has revenues including piracy ransom and revenues from Bosaso seaport, however, until today, the region did not help the drought hit regions of “Somalia” – countrymen.

The civilians in Mogadishu, mainly the inhabitant tribes of Banadir region, are very peaceful and thankful to those who help them in the difficult days. The Somaliland delegates were received at the airport with warm reception, which illustrates the appreciation of the people of Mogadishu. It’s obvious and clear to everyone who follow the politics in “Somalia”, that problem makers are mainly from “Puntland” and Al-Shabab, where “Puntland” imposes preconditions to every peace conference and transitional governments.

The people of Somaliland thanked to their brothers in Mogadishu for the reception, and promised to be supportive until the people of “Somalia” particularly Mogadishu get peace and back to normal life. Somaliland could, also, help Somalia in restoring peace if “Somalia” recognizes Somaliland.

The people of Mogadishu know that former leader of “Puntland” Abdullah Yusuf send troops as tool of revenge against the people of Mogadishu, as they know that Somali nationalism is not by words but in heart. The people of Mogadishu realized the hypocrisy of “Puntland”, while the free people of Somaliland are busy with helping people in refugee camps in Kenya particularly Dadaab near Somalia border.

Somaliland is and will always be supportive to the people of “Somalia”.

By: Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
Email: az.almutairi@yahoo.com