Friday, March 29, 2024
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Hargeisa’s Isolation & Idiosyncratic Presidency in the South: A Fool’s Errand!

By Ali Bahar, PhD

From a bogus democracy to a creeping dictatorship, Somaliland kept itself in a self-imposed isolation for the last 23 years, claiming to be a democratic tribal land, Africa’s best kept secret. We’ve heard this kind of chatter all the time from some hardliners in Hargeisa, ignoring the ever looming danger giving way to the rise of tribal militia operating both in Khatimo state and Awdal state. What we see now is the eruption of an angry public expressing hostility towards the government. The government refuses to back down, and it uses an ironclad army whenever she faces masses’ uproar where the public demands justice. For those who long argued Somaliland practices inclusive democratic systems must think again. In fact, the manner democracy is being throttled on now in Somaliland brings back the sad memories of military rule. Even elections set to take place have been put on hold indefinitely. “The thrill is gone”, as the late B.B. King used to sing!

Silanyo-Saleebaan gaal
President Silanyo and the chairman of the GUURTI, Mr. Suleiman Gaal

The “GUURTI”, another unelected government branch of corrupted men (No Women), has become a supreme power that sells votes to the highest bidder, the president. The GUURTI has been in power for 23 years, and have never been elected to start with-that is the lifetime of the majority of the young people in Somaliland. It has been reported more than 75 members of the original GUURTI have either died or been debilitated by age and bad health… becoming absolute. However, each one replicates himself when time comes, and produces his own replacement… his children- a “Wink of Royalty”. The rest extend their term in office by extending the president’s term of office-“scratch my back and I scratch yours.” They did for President Dahir Rayale and they are doing the same for President Ahmed Silanyo. The chairman of the GUURTI, Mr. Suleiman Gaal, scored one for the “Gipper”, president Silanyo, few days ago by over ruling the Election Commission’s proposal, and forcing the extension of the president’s term in office indefinitely; that equally gives the GUURTI more power to illegally change the constitution as they go. More importantly, Suleiman Gaal affirms the protection of the royalty and solidification of power in the hands of the family—his family. At least for now!

The government justifies its actions as issues of national security, ignoring to address the prevalent injustices. This put seeds for anti-Somaliland militias now operating in Awdal at full scale, and it has been an everyday occurrence in Sool (Khatumo state) for decades. Equally frustrated are people in Maroodijeex, expressing their displeasure with how the government is trying to stay in power illegally. What’s different this time is the young generation, the Millennials (generation X), who wants answers for the future they are faced with. There is an emerging rebellious group of young people everywhere, who are well connected to the world social media. They are yearning for democratic systems to participate, fair and square, and this is not just spontaneous impulses. Most of these young people in Somaliland are not interested in joining Al-shabab and destroy their own future; they want to build opportunities for themselves. They want to rebuild an ambitious society that loves one another and creates a prefigurative system of politics—participatory democracy that embraces the notion of striving for building something bigger than one’s self and better than his/her own clan- a sovereign nation for all.

They understand that failure is eminent where tribal agenda is the vision for a nation, and Somaliland’s case is no different. It fails to protect the happiness for all—and the collapse of democratic systems lashed out the people’s hope at the end. It also needs noted that, for all its claims on having successful elections and multi-party (three) systems, Somaliland is no different than other X-lands. Albeit attempts of distancing herself from the rest, the similarity is all there. The only notable difference is that Somaliland made peace with Al-shabab; at least for now. However, the government is trying to silence the masses by putting advocates of justice in jail. What happened to the Wadani political party in Hargeisa was nothing less than usurpation of the government forces over the party property, locking out the party members and forcing the public demonstrations to fizzle and disappear quickly. Clearly, the government has been embittered by the voices asking for justices. Instead the government chose to treat the public and the opposition parties with disdain and with confrontation-silencing them. For how long, one wonders? The Genie is out of the bottle, anyway, and no one should attempt silencing them. The world is watching!

On the up side, one senses this could be a turning point for the Somaliland people. There is an enormous appetite for debate and for mutual enlightenment. Exchange of opinions is taking root in Somaliland, thanks to Milennials awareness of the world around them. And even if all their efforts don’t produce immediate consequences, or don’t impact the current government, at least they developed social consciousness. It is just a matter of time before things unravel to their likings. They understand real strength of democratic systems lies less in the hands of a dictatorship and totalitarian system than it is in the hands of the public… we the people. The masses smell blood and they want a change. The struggle in their own generation carries their own name, and investing in their own struggle for rebuilding their future got to be the driving impetus. Equally important is that all young Milennials everywhere in Somalia must join hands in the face of evidence that now stands against their expectation, must kick out the old guard of tribal segregationists, and figure out how to save this country from further humiliation. There is still hope for the union-the nation- in whatever form it may come back. It is up to them.

What is clear from the preceding observation, nonetheless, is that Somaliland is just another tribe -dominated region where non-SNM tribes are doomed to a minority status. However, equally failed are all XYZ-tribal lands, and I am not asserting in here there exits democracy anywhere in Somalia. Far from it, democracy faces a mortal threat everywhere in all tribal enclaves in the country, evidenced by this idiosyncratic presidency in display in the South—four presidents all claiming their legitimacy; it is laughable. Political royalty and tribal dominances are the main driving impetus as we see in all other tribal regions. All blame Al-shabab for their shortcomings.

Kerry Somalia visit
Secretary Kerry with President Hassan and the Somali regional leaders

Maximizing tribal agendas can only sustain the happiness of the few in power for a short period, but it entails practical difficulties for the masses. Something is fundamentally wrong in our society. Rigging elections or buying votes, political persuasions and coercions, imposition of unpopular presidents, subversion of the constitution and mass imprisonments, are all becoming common practices in these tribal enclaves. The result is atrophy of democratic systems and a fatal threat to any hope for rebuilding a nation. Where is a military coup when we need one? But that won’t happen either. All major tribes have their own military forces to suppress the rest, lest others attempt crumbling the tribal Royalty. But don’t let their appearance fool you; their worst fear eminently follows them wherever they go.

Idiosyncratic presidency in South Somalia is in display in here. Three and half presidents claimed their legitimacy, but wait! More are yet to come. A “Wink of Royalty”, nonetheless,-each one sizing up the others and pronouncing, “I am my own man and I can do more mess than you make. My tribe is bigger than yours.”

Silanyo Somaliland
President Ahmed Silanyo of Somaliland

No doubt, royalty and power grabbing are taking root in all X-lands, dominated by the four major clans. Nothing to be ashamed of there! One cannot help but see each president wants to impress Secretary Kerry in here, telling him he is the one to talk to about Somalia. Each one thinks only the country he represents (tribal region) can deliver Somalis back together, if Ethiopia and Djibouti let him do it. So, I was wondering why president Silanyo was not in the mix when all other Somali presidents were rubbing shoulders with Secretary John Kerry in his recent hasty trip to Mogadishu airport.

The country with multiple presidents! It could have been a picture perfect if president Silanyo (another Somali president) joined the group. Four (4) of the 4.5 Somali tribes could have been pictured together in one place-a telling sign that the 0.5 people can sell their votes to the higher bidder, but they should forget becoming one of the presidents.

The sad thing about all of this, they don’t even talk to each other or trust one another. You see them nervously worrying about what one of them might foolishly do… one will never know these days. But I suspect Silanyo was probably the fly on the wall, too, listening what was being discussed and watching in case Secretary John Kerry gave away some candy, as usual, ordering them to put their hands in the candy jar and grab what they could for their tribes. But watch out! It could be deadly!

In short, I am not here to advise them on how to expand their royalty, but I kept wondering if they could debate in public and tell us why they think the country needs multiple presidents. I don’t mind them calling themselves state governors, if even that, but calling themselves presidents is mind boggling. These are men who never had to face public challenges, elections and scrutiny to clear their names, or defend their plans for the nation, if they even believe in building a nation. All of them are involved in the business of buying votes, from the parliament, of course. However, they have yet to cower in the face of possible public criticism and tell the truth about what they have been accused of: on corruption, money imbuement, or killing innocent people-present or in the past- and all ever more questions Somalis have for someone claiming to be a president. But that will never happen. Maybe they will build libraries and raise funds to eradicate hunger, illiteracy and poverty, or build leadership building institutions after they leave office, –if they ever leave office. And that, I am certain, will not happen either.

Good luck nation!

Dr. Ali Bahar,
Email: [email protected]


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