An Open letter to the leaders of Somaliland
Some Preliminary thoughts on responses to the Taleex and
London conferences.
What are the purp oses of the two conferences? How should
the Government of Somaliland respond?
The Taleex conference: The Taleex Conference highlighted
a challenge Somaliland faced through mo st of the last
twenty years: the perception and reality of Somaliland
as an Isaaq/SNM Project, and the reservation and
opposition of non-Isaaq communities particularly the two
subclans in Eastern part of Somaliland and some of the
Diaspora from Boramo district/ Awdal region.
The Taleex conference is also part of a new Somali
phenomenon: substitution of clan-based factions that
sought to take control of the central authority in order
to control both domestic resources an d external aid with
lineage-based cliques with territorial ambitions. But
like the factions, they seek a role in the UN-sponsored
road map and a share in the new FG and its parliament.
The London Conference: The London conference similarly
highlights the international reservations and
unwillingness to endorse Somalilands unilateral
separation. The British and other western coun tries want
Somaliland to join the current road map and plans for
replacing the TFG. The invitation is also an
acknowledgement that Somalilands absence weakens the
efforts of the international comm unity to find a lasting
solution to the collapse of the state.
.
The Taleex conference proclaimed the establishment of
the Khatumo state of Somalia. Indoing so, the organizers
and participants of the conference have rejected that
the Dolbahante subclan are part of the Somaliland or
Puntland. The organizers and participants included
groups that were amo ng the founders of Somaliland and Puntland, but concluded that the establishment of their
own sta te is politically more advantageous and enhances
the role and opportunities of their leaders in the new
federal government.
The Khatumo state and its organizers and supporters have
chosen to confront Somaliland. Both So maliland and Puntland formally incorporates the Dolbahante
communities in their political and gove rnment
institutions. Puntland is willing to shift its
territorial dispute and contest for the control of the
the Dolbahante districts to Khatumo. It will continue to
formally claim Dolbahante as part of the Puntland
subclans. The Taleex conference therefore puts
Somaliland and Khatumo state on a collus ion course. This
has already triggered violent confrontations in Bohoodle
between Somaliland forces and militia of the clans
supporting Khatumo.
An agenda and a strategy for action
The two conferences both pose threats to the legitimacy
of Somaliland. The outcome of the Taleex conference
poses immediate threats to the security of Somaliland
while the outcome of the London Conference could
undermine the legitimacy and long-term stability of
Somaliland. The two conferenc es create conditions
similar to those in the rest of Somalia and will
therefore undermine Somaliland successful resistance to
the Shababled Insurgency. Greater instability in
Somaliland will increase th e risks of external
counter-terrorist intervention and justification for
unilateral interventions. Hence, the two Conferences
constitute serious challenges to the immediate security
and stability of Somaliland and its goal of
independence.
The Somaliland Government must act and act strategically
to confront and neutralize the threats and develop
strategies for dealing with the new political
environment in a manner that recognizes the radical
changes in the regional and international conditions.
The leaders can not afford to remai n aloof from
developments in Somalia and the region and the growing
international determination to confront the threats of
piracy and terrorism that the collapse of the State in
Somalia represents.
Somaliland needs to prevent the escalation of the
strife. It also needs to safeguard the democratic
achievements of its people while acknowledging the
challenges to the security and stability of Soma liland
and Somalia are intricately connected. .
What are the strategic options of Somaliland?
Somaliland and its leaders must choose among several
options.
Option A: Stay the course
• mobilize forces and the public to confront and defeat
the plans for the establishment of the Khat umo;
• Decline to attend the London Conference and restate Somalilands position: Somalilands independ ence is
irreversible and Somaliland will only enter into a
relationship with Somalia as two separate and sovereign
states;
Option B: Pursue no unity, no recognition path,
• attend the London conference and seek international
support for Somalilands security and reco nstruction and
international support to limit the hostilities with Khatumo State;
• Present concept paper to the conference on
prerequisites and strategies for security and
recons truction in Somaliland.
• Organize an inter-clan conference of all Somaliland
communities along the Boramo- Burao model and ask the
conference to reaffirm or modify Somaliland
independence.
Option C: Join the process but insist on impendence and
present Somalilands election plans for local government
councils and parliament and seek international
endorsement for these elections as par t of parallel
transition in Somaliland and Somalia.
Option D: Join the process
•Propose interim joint arrangements cooperation with
Somalia and the possibility of a reunification after an
internationally-sponsored coordinated transitional
process;
Option E: Seek immediate long-term solution
• Acknowledge and accept Khatumo state and seek
dialogue between Dolbahanta supporters of Somaliland and
Khatumo; and
• Join the road map and seek revisions to the transition
in conformity with Somaliland constitution:
• Propose a confederation with or without Khatumo
Mohamud Jama
January 28, 2012
New York,
Jama11432@Yahoo.co.UK
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