In Depth Analysis of the Recent Political Milestones in Somaliland

Short Poem "Again the Republic of miracles did it again. The Republic of miracles delivered again, the phoenix beat all the odds again and marked another impossible marathon. The Republic of magic did another mystery out of the realm of possibility one more time. The cosmetic Republic struck again. The Republic of hope attained another milestone. The Republic of Enigma wrapped in the riddle pulled off another Houdini (famous magician) from its book of magic. Surely as they did before they will do it again, deliver their promises to the public and overcome all the challenges. With their magic bullet they will beat corruption, cronyism, clannism, the mentality of who you are and who you know and change it to what you know, lethargy, abuse of power and the rampant embezzlement of public funds will be a page in the past. The Republic of high expertise in conflict resolution, peace-keeping and peace-making has cut another mile. The Republic of reality jumped over another river, waded through another challenge, another obstacle."   Background Information Recent events in the country will significantly enhance Somaliland's case for recognition. Somaliland case for recognition was always based on the right for self-determination. The opposition to Somaliland's recognition was always political but not legal. Somaliland has fulfilled far beyond the basic principles and protocols for recognition, and the conditions for a state (according to Montevideo protocols) which was an entity with permanent population and delineated borders. In addition Somaliland through out its history was a separate state, and also enjoys an internal legitimacy from its people. The people are invested in the state, the people has a stake in their government a feature absent in most African and Middle eastern countries. Somaliland is already a defacto independent state who has been successfully running its affairs for the last  20 years. The only missing piece is a dejure recognition which is not mostly based on political realities, but instead determined by outside actors. Most of the recently independent countries in Africa and Asia were recognized due to mass decolonization process ostensibly to remedy hundreds of years of European colonialism. These states were given blanket recognition even before most of them were born and no questions were asked. Almost all African independence was based in that wrong and flawed philosophy. This is one brand of recognition which revolves around a process of decolonization. That type of recognition has serious flaws, for example many African countries were recognized without any conditions, such as viability, ethnic mix, racial, boundaries, tribal and linguistic considerations which are critical factors for any successful and a viable state. Serious issues such as the above listed ones were overlooked, ignored and never tackled or talked about. Those problems came back to bite Africa big time. They already are haunting so many countries around the continent, and are one of the major factors driving the chronic instability, multiple armed insurrections, separatist movements, economical, political stagnation and the failure to build and develop democratic institutions around the continent.    Many people in the area are hoping this Republic of miracles, to transfer a piece of their magic to the neighboring states of the Horn of Africa  region. They hope a piece of this miracle may one day trickle down to their violent plagued, and dictator infested states. They were desperately wishing that one day out of miracle their fertile ground for power abuse, money embezzlement, mismanagement and the dark ages may one day see the  day of light. The Republic of Somaliland was born in 1991 following a long and sustained armed struggle in which it re-acquired its independence with high cost of blood and treasure. At the same time the country was in ruins and hundreds of thousands of people were residing in Refugee camps in Ethiopia. They immediately picked up their pieces  came together in Burao, Sheikh and Borama and declared the Republic of Somaliland. Somaliland's declaration of Independence was basically similar to the written American declaration of American independence which was inscribed in a written document and its contents are as follows: "For Truth to be self-evident, all people are equal for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness."  In the same token Somaliland's second Republic has promised democracy, equality, peace  and fraternity for all the people of Somaliland. According to the unwritten Somaliland's declaration of independence, the second Republic will strive hard to make social justice the center piece of the nations' political philosophy and orientation. That was the glue that galvanized the people of this land together. That is the reason the Republic has survived,  relatively thrived, prospered, and withstanding the tectonic plate shifts and the seismic tremors, political hurricanes plaguing the Horn of Africa. Out of this marathon came five elections declared free and fair by credible observers from the international community. All these miracles have practically happened without outside help. Chronology of Events The political tug of war and the heated political contest started in 2007 when Rayaale's presidential term expired. As soon as that happened Rayaale uttering differing excuses has demanded extension of his term and, the upper house of parliament-the Gurti has extended his presidential term to one year. After the one year, citing some reasons the former president asked for more extension. The second demand for presidential extension has also been extended for him, but touched off a political fire storm. The two opposition parties has mobilized their supporters, issued press releases, conducted political rallies and issued statements regarding their vehement opposition to another presidential election extension. The government responded the opposition fury with an iron hand, they cracked down on the press, imprisoned many people, blocked legal opposition parties rallies and meetings. The government's disproportionate reaction to the opposition activities has galvanized Kulmiye parties supporters all over the world. The opposition bug has bitten the Diaspora who started conducting endless meetings, teleconferences, and fund raising sessions. Opposition from the Diaspora has flooded the media. They have formed e-groups where diehard Kulmiye supporters were relying life events of the government crack down on the opposition. The amalgamation of former president's demands of illegal presidential extensions, the disproportionate crack down on the opposition and the government attempts to muzzle the media has significantly strengthened the opposition inside and outside the country. That afore-mentioned combinations has build up a well-organized and a well-funded opposition against the government. Some in the international community intervened in the political stand off. They recommended the former Election Commission to disbanded, and a new Commission was appointed, a new company was hired to bring in new Somaliland I.D. cards for the election, and the old server which was a focus of contention to be discarded. The mediating group has issued some protocols, principles, and informed the parties to adhere to those guidelines. One of the principles and most important feature of that valuable recommendations should not be share with anything related to the presidential elections in public. From the day things has calmed down. The new Election Commission hit the road, the server of the new I.D. cards arrived in a couple of months. for some time The opposition party and the public were anxiously waiting the Election Committee, to mark a specific date for the delivery of the Somaliland I.D. cards, and election day and election results declaration day. In April 2010 the election committee has declared  May 18 to be the day of the distribution of the election cards to the citizens. Immediately after the completion of the delivery of the election cards, 26 June was marked as the day Somaliland presidential elections will take place. They also marked first July as the day of the declaration of the election results. The election was held on 26th of June, 2010 the election results were declared on July 1st , 2010, and the inauguration was conducted on the 27th July, 2010. In Depth Analysis  All those promises were kept. The I.Ds were delivered on the said day, the election was held on the day the commission was set for it, May 18, 26 June . 1st July was the day the results of the election were declared, and 27 the of July was the inauguration day. May 18, 26th June and 1st July were all eventful days, and especially the first two days were eventful days in the history of Somaliland. May 18 was the date Somaliland was re-required its independence, 26 June, 1960 was the  day the first Somaliland Republic(British Somaliland protectorate) achieved its independence from Britain. The 64,000 question many are asking is why the election commission has chosen those days? The election commission only know the real answer, but led many to throw around some speculations. Some people think marking the 26 June and first July as the election day, and the election results declaration days respectively was an attempt to erase those two once glorious but now infamous days from the memories of Somalilanders. Others believe if that may be true for 26th June and 1st July, It is not true  in this case for May 18, which is the birth of the second Somaliland Republic. In conclusion those conspiracy theorists have came short in this case.  What Can our New President Can Do About former Italian Somalia? I believe President Ahmed Mohamud was elected by the people of Somaliland and his mandate is to lead Somaliland in this juncture time when the Horn of Africa is turmoil as ever before.  The people of Somaliland unanimously voted for him that he is the right person to effect a real change in the country. I think there is nothing he can do about the Somali quagmire.  Since the successful multiparty presidential elections has successfully conducted, voices have been raised urging the new president to do something about Somalia. Ironically Some of the leading voices in that chorus were the most ardent anti-Somaliland critics. Of all people these Somaliland haters and deniers are calling Somaliland to do something about Somalia. That itself is a real paradox, and a strange development. For the last 20 years, I am not naming names, but these harsh Somaliland detractors were belittling, ignoring and spreading fabrications about Somaliland. It is really amazing to hear them calling Somaliland to intervene, and constitutive the former Somalia. Can you believe, these personalities from hell, these lone wolves asking Somaliland, asking the nation they hate so much to intervene in the intractable Somali conflict? They are the least credible to raise these voices. What they have been writing and saying about Somaliland is a public record. The president and Somaliland should not heed these dishonest and hypocritical calls coming from these arm chair experts. What this means? (1). It means their utter failure to do anything for the former Somalia. (2). They were always wrong and their recommendations were off base and wrong. (3).They lost hope with their grandiose fantasies to build a Somalia that can be very strong, and prosperous that can re-invade Somaliland and force them to unite with them. (4).The international community has already lost interest with Somalia and their failed outfits. I have to acknowledge the people of Somalia(Central, and Southern part of Italian Somalia) and especially the civilians have tremendously suffered. For the last  20th years they saw no peace and normality. For the last 20 years the theme was the same, foreign engineered and created illegitimate outfits called governments who were imposed on them. There was no time these outfits went of the ground. They were always parachuted in without the consent of the indigenous people. Their parachutes were never properly unfolded and landed on the ground. I could equate those out fits with flying saucers. They were just as alien and as mysterious like flying saucers. The difficulty to decipher mysteries about UFOs and flying saucers plagued mankind for the last fifty years. These outfits never became real governments doing what governments are supposed to do. They were shadows or fictional characters If you will who only exist in conference halls, foreign embassies and United Nations corridors where they persistently solicit money. I think the solution of the problem must come from inside Somalia. This chronic problem which has metastasized,  metamorphosed and has many faces  needs indigenous hands and intervention. half-hearted foreign interventions with their vested interest has miserably failed. They have our prayers and we are hoping them the best, but I think the problem can only resolved by them. Therefore, I strongly believe our new president his Excellency Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Mohammud has to stay away from this problem. As I said earlier, the problem needs a local intervention and a local reconciliation.  Saylicipress Editorial

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