Somaliland Vice-President Speech on Somali Unity:
Misinterpret One
The people of the Republic of
Somaliland reasserted their independence at a Grand Conference of
the Somaliland Communities on 16th May 1991. For the people of
Somaliland, this marked the end of the union of the State of
Somaliland (the former British Somaliland Protectorate), which
became an independent state on 26 June 1960, and Somalia (the former
Italian colony and trusteeship territory), which became independent
on 1 July 1960.
The Conference, besides endorsing the declaration of independence,
resolved that an interim government headed by a President and led by
the Somali National Movement (SNM), should be built and should hold
office for a period of two years. Then Chairman of the SNM, Mr.
Abdirahman Ahmed Ali (Tuur) was endorsed as President and Mr. Hassan
Essa Jama as Vice-President by both the SNM Central Committee and
the Conference. Putting behind them the long period of dictatorship
and near-genocidal war of the 1980s, the Somaliland people than
started concentrating on their efforts of building peace through
grassroots initiatives which started even before the May 1991 Grand
Conference, and then moved on to rebuilding state institutions.
Borama Conference on 1993 was finally settled and constitution was
agreed by all Somaliland communities from Sool to Awdal regions.
This conference established political consensus and power-sharing
arrangements that provided the foundations for new state structures.
There was also a strong desire, as later expressed strongly in the
preamble to the new Somaliland Constitution, to break away from the
past injustices and tyranny.
Somaliland independence is public decision and neither Vice
President nor President or any other political party can hijack the
public into another dark unity with Italian Somalia. On 18th May
1991, the people of Somaliland primarily decided to recreate the
lost nation of Republic of Somaliland and during 2001 Referendum;
they reassured to the world that Somaliland independence is public
but not political.
The recent speech of Somaliland Vice President Ahmed Yasin was
misread by the opposition parties in Somaliland for political gains,
the Vice President meant that Somaliland government will not impose
restrictions on business, trade and immigration between Somaliland
and Somalia. But there is no way, that Yasin can consider uniting
the failed Somalia again.
The recent statement of Somaliland Vice President Ahmed Yasin, say
"Somali speaking people need each other" was misinterpreted by media
and politicians, to achieve political gains in this hot political
season where the presidential election is in less than two months –
29th March 2009.
Somalia websites circulated the speech along with Somaliland
opposition parties, for political again in the upcoming elections
against the ruling party UDUB. This is signs of healthy democracy,
where free competition is the backbone of all time. UCID and Kulmiye
opposition parties, criticized the statement and demanded the
resignation of the Vice President Ahmed Yasin, and asked the
President of Somaliland Dahir Riyale to disown the statement of his
deputy.
Somaliland had history of stamping out politicians who call for
unity with Italian Somalia. In 1993, former President of Somaliland
and Former Chairman of Somali National Movement (SNM) Abdurrahman
Ahmed Ali joined federal Somalia government led by General Mohamed
Farah Aideed, and later he was deported from Somaliland. Former
Ministers of Somaliland like Ismail Buubaa and Jamac Yare have no
access to Somaliland cities. Every person who wants to join these
illegitimate leaders in Mogadishu should pack up his belongings
before the decision, else will rest in Prison like Tuur.
The current stability, economic development and excellent education
system in the country is result of public demands, who worked hard
with the government to achieve what Somaliland is today. Every tribe
laid down their weapons for the sake of creating stable and strong
Somaliland, and supported late former president Mohamed I. Egal.
The Vice President Yasin
corrected his statement, and accused the media for misinterpreting
him.
By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
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