My people of Togwajale:
It’s time for change

I glanced at an article which was written in one of the Somaliland’s website named Long live Somaliland regarding a demonstration. This demonstration had taken place in Togwajale last week and I initially thought that it was against injustice, corruption or simply against skyrocketing food prices. That was not the case. The demonstration was based on tribal complaints and had taken place because of opposition against the newly nominated District Commissioner the Vice DC and their Secretary. One of the elders narrated ‘None of the above mentioned staff is Reer Cumar’and therefore opposed working with them. I could not believe my eyes when I read this.

During my school time in the 1970’s Togwajale was the most tolerant town where many Somali’s of different tribes were living side by side without any problems. Although we as Somalilanders endured many difficulties, such as genocide and civil war we managed to overcome these hardships and are now pursuing one common interest. Somaliland is most definitely enjoying the rules of law and according to the South African academic Iqbal Jhazbhay, our country is said to be ‘Africa’s best kept secret’. Hence we can not let tribal differences undermine our future to succeed.

We have to evaluate the personality, ability, knowledge and the vision of that leader or official, not which tribe he or she is from, in order for us to move forward. These officials own a great deal of responsibility in taking care of their communities without excluding people that are not claiming to be Reer Cumar or Reer Yoonis.

Surely one would find it difficult to believe that my daughter was working in a law firm for the former British Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair. This was due to the fact that she was given the opportunity solely based on her capability and not, because of her ethnic background.

Modern democracies encourage equal opportunities for all people, men, women, disabled people and the elderly. This is the form of governing we should strive for and in order to accomplish this objective we should ignore tribal backgrounds.

A very important election is rising from the horizon and the national registration is under way. Therefore I vehemently urge my people of Togwajale and all Somalilanders to unite in our similarities and not divide in our differences. The whole world will be watching us and this event can be compared to the chemical litmus paper test. However, the real test for us will be whether we as a nation can conduct this election in peaceful and democratic manner.

Conclusively this should be a time of unity, brotherhood and change, not a period of nepotism and tribal conflicts, since it is exactly that that kept us backward all those years. The thoughts and poems of the great poet Mr. Abdillahi Suldan Timacade were always against tribalism. So, never forget:
 

By: Jibril Ali Akli