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Somaliland:Can President’s Invocation of Veteran’s Advice Reverse the Minister’s Damage?

November 1, 2012   ·   369131 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsomalilandcan-presidents-invocation-of-veterans-advice-reverse-the-ministers-damage-36913Somaliland%3ACan+President%E2%80%99s+Invocation+of+Veteran%E2%80%99s+Advice+Reverse+the+Minister%E2%80%99s+Damage%3F2012-11-01+08%3A45%3A56SomalilandPresshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D36913

 

Despite his claim of having doctorate from UK, Somaliland’s foreign secretary’s both educational and working background is still mystery. Nobody knew of what he was doing in his stay in the UK, there is great doubt surrounding his professorship or lectureship in the UK, a country known for quality education. During his work as minister of foreign affairs, the international institutions he met, tried to decipher him to screen his files and found him a former foreign secretary of Kulimiye but nothing else! Many Somalilanders found how he fooled them to become minister in the first place a quite shocking. He is cocky, hoarse, deluded and with very little talent; he brought Somaliland’s diplomacy to knees. But the president woke up very late and found himself obliged to reverse the little minister’s disastrous damage of Somaliland foreign policy by invoking an advice of veteran, key diplomat, Ambassador Hussien Duale “Awil”, to reinvigorate dwindling ties with Addis Ababa as well as Mogadishu’s stalemate talks according to local press.

 

The president’s suggestion of seeking consultation from the seasoned man, though not yet confirmed, has afforded the former nation-wide credibility. Political unwillingness of nomination of cadres in diplomacy and international affairs led to Somaliland’s absence of recognition so far, but the country proved to the world that they can be economically viable. Therefore; the amassing of radical mullahs in the ministry of finance from Customs to Ports to secure short-term interests is unnecessary and un-pragmatic.  It is the high time to concentrate on external ties. Until yesterday, Somaliland’s foreign department was not seen equally important as finance.

 

The country is facing great diplomatic challenges as Mogadishu government passed the status of transition while its unofficial ties with the outside world is all time low.  Mogadishu administration will deploy massive diplomats to many countries very soon which are threat to our survival as independent nation. Juba, South Sudan, for instance, has received Somalia’s ambassador who opposed to Somaliland’s cause. So the little minister is less equipped to resist the upcoming storms, and therefore; I think he should vacate the post and not waste the country’s meager resources on family visits back in the UK and trivialities. When Somalia revived, Somaliland encountered sharp decline in terms of security and foreign policy.

 

Somalilanders harbor a deep distrust of Dr Abdilahi Omar’s activities of merely meeting dignitaries to get memorable snapshots without any tangible outcome! Ever since he took over, Somaliland overseas missions from South Africa to Addis Ababa turned to dysfunction and cafes for ex-Kulmiye fans.

 

In his trip to Cairo, he returned to Somaliland empty-handed.  And his declaration of Turkish deputy premier’s arrival to Hargeise still ringing in our minds, all he wants to boost his image at the all costs and feel closer to the inner circle (Hirsi and The First Lady) of the government. But his mistakes go far beyond repair.  His speeches are monotonous and trite “it is first time we participated in x summit and we are going to join y club” his speeches sound more like Kulmiye’s spin doctor instead of national diplomat.

 

For the past two years, we’ve seen upsurge of Arab charities of Basmati rice in Somaliland; it is true the “thick bag of Arab diplomacy” may dilute one’s faith and cause shifts. But one should hold one’s feet to the ground. The relationship with neighbors is strategic and indispensable.

 

Having wide range of experiences, Ambassador Awil can change effect and reverse Dr Omar Abdilahi’s gaffes to minimum.  Under the latter’s leadership, Somaliland’s foreign policy took hit and suffered a lot.

 

By:Abdirahman M. Dirye

 

 

Dirye is Somaliland Activist and Volunteer: mrdirye@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

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By SomalilandPress

Tags: Dr Omar, foreign policy, Somaliland