Opinions
What if Somaliland does unify with Somalia
January 26, 2012 · 37 Comments
The following piece is part of our continuous coverage on the upcoming conference on Somalia in the British capital. Our policy of encouraging free and open discussion of the issues or presentations of all facts and opinions is always open to all regardless of view/political affiliation or beliefs.
OPINION | JANUARY 26, 2012
By Ali Dhimbil “Burao”
In politics anything could happen, I think already pressure is mounting on Somaliland these days regarding how to unify the whole country as one entity. Considering a major conference is going to take place in London, on mid February. Both Europe and the United States are sending high level delegations to Hargeisa, in order to persuade Somaliland to join the talks in a more positive manner, instead of being politically-isolated. So, I think anything could happen, and there may be possibilities that Somaliland may join Somalia after all. When we analyze the whole situation I think the agenda coming from Europe, the US and the UN is as follows:
1. They want to see a unified government in Somalia where both Somalia and Somaliland will have a fair share of a newly-formed central government.
2. Possibly Somaliland will be given the lead role to form the new government, in order to make them happy.
3. They might propose a new constitution which will pave the way for Somaliland to go its own separate way should it be displeased with the union, provided they should go through referendum.
4. Possibly within ten-to-twenty years time-frame, if the marriage of Somalia and Somaliland doesn’t work out, Somaliland will have the option of leaving the union.
5. The international community would provide billions of loans and grants to rebuild the new unified government, which hopefully will create a viable new state which will benefit all Somalis concerned.
5. Terrorist elements like Al Shabab and maritime pirates should be eradicated by the new unified government with the help of international community as soon as possible.
I think these will be the main options that are already presented to both Somalia and Somaliland government. Already Somaliland government is discussing this scenario. Personally speaking, if these are what international government presenting to the Somaliland, I don’t really see it negative after all, rather may we should take, and give it a chance for a lasting peace in Somalia and Somaliland. After all, there’s no need to be so rigid about Somaliland, if you have a better deal.
Ali Dhimbil
ali.dh@hotmail.co.uk
Tags: Conference, England, Hargeisa, Mogadishu, Somalia, Somaliland news, UN, USA
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…and then you woke up.
Not possible Mr, Dhimbil, the train you speak of has left the station!
Dont go beyond step no.1. The agenda coming from EU,US,UN and all others including
the AL/OIC, who are running the affairs of the failed Govts.of Somalia's warring warlords
factions since 1991 to cuurent should have no bearing powers to force the Somaliland's
democratic functioning Govts. during the same periods. When Somaliland since 1991 have
4 elected Presidents and their Govts. changed hands through franchised peoples voter elections,
with all the Governmental institutions and the country's constitution in place, Somalia upto now have
none of what Somaliland achieved. Notwithstanding Somaliland's achievements since 1991
todate, it should not also be forgotten that Somaliland since gaining Independence from Great
Britan in 1960, is indeed A DEJURE Sovereign State and not A DEFACTO part from Somalia.
Faced with this Somaliland criterion, and the hopeless current Somalia situation, It would be
unlikely for the Somaliland to be jeopardized into such negative scramble of Somalia London
Conference on 23 Feb 2012. Without the Somaliland recognition put into proper context
I don't think that the foresaid agenda will work from the Somaliland side.
Cheers.
Nothing positive will coming out of rejoining with Somalia, we dont speak the same language, we dont even behave the same way, but we can still coexist as separate nation by offering solutions to their problems that is why we must go and offer solutions that are relavent to their problems. We have been that road, and based on many experiencies, these people repeat the same grave mistakes over and over again. We will be enbroiled in their nonsense interclan fighting and deep hatred.
Last I checked, every Somali spoke the Somali language. Masa af kale ayeey reer Somaliland ku hadlaan? Listen, I understand from your comment your a hardcore Somaliland and obviously from your comments a hardcore anti unificationist saying things like "we dont even speak the same language" is really going overboard my brother. No need to go to those extremes lol
I think they speak chines don't they! IDIOT
what you mean we don't speak same language, you don't speak af Somali? maybe you don't know. Somalia whole speak same language but we have different dialog.
We are one nation viva Somalia Republic.
In the words of a dear but little off friend who stated that she would rather sacrifice body parts than unite with Somalia. I would donate a testicle to that story!
Bad idea! The south and anti-somaliland forces have done nothing except threaten and try to destabilize the region over the past 20 years. And this is all happening under the current political atmosphere. So what do you think these wicked people will do once they have grown back their teeth? Probably invade under the guise of supporting "oppressed" Somalis in the SSC. Rubbish!
Bad Idea VETO!
The current administration including Silanyo does not represent the interests of the US,UN,UK or the international community at large. The president is the head of Somaliland; which means he was elected to represent the interests of the people. The majority is pro-secession and the minority is pro-unification. And so he should respect the wishes of the majority in cases where the 2 valid alternatives are mutually exclusive choices.
If Silanyo betrays his mandate and wishes of the majority then he should be sacked and any illegal agreements be made null and void. Somaliland is a democracy!
Mr Ali the idea you are trying to suggest will further divided the the people of somalia, put somaliland aside, how do you want to achieve peace with artillaries and mortars by suggesting eradication of shabab sxb unless the idea of shabab is put into consideration the is no prospect of peace in somalia. Unison of greater somalia(somaliweyn) i.e putland, ogadenia, N.E.P in kenya and somaliland can be accomplished by first pacifying the choictic/anarchic somalia.
One thing we need to clarify guys. The people of Somaliland want to see a strong and peaceful Somalia. but not at the expense of Somaliland. We must recognise that we are all Somali BUT unification isn't the way forward for both Somalia and Somaliland. we must know that some of the world love to seeing a chaotic Somalia to benefit them. If we Somaliland don't support Somalia (BUT not to our loss). WHO WILL?
ETHIOPIA? – when they committed atrocities in Mogadishu. US? – when have they ever worked in the interest of the people?
Emotions aside, in all honesty, I have to say this is by far one of theeee worst articles I've ever seen on Somalilandpress. The author presents no hard evidence (data) to support his premises and claims.
The nonsensical content of his article reminds me of what philosophers call the Red Herring and Slippery Slope fallacies.
Simply the article is just not worth responding to, there is nothing to refute.
Awdal and ssc are somalis and somalia is for Awdal and ssc they are inseparable muslim brothers. No one cares if somaliland aka "Hargeisa. Barbara. Burco" are Succession or unify with us.
While I respect Mr Dhimbil's opinion, putting forward his view without extreme measures like we see from people from the south, I have to say first of all Somaliland won't go back to famine, destruction, piracy, extremism, rape, suicide, hunger or civil war because thats all Somalia stands for. Nor does Somaliland wants to be part of the world's biggest refugee camps namely Dadaab and Badbaado. Not for us, not for our kids or mothers.
Somalia offers nothing but war. Somalilanders would rather be three people but living in peace than to be among Somalia's twenty million who are all homeless in Kenya and Ethiopia, fed by aid agencies, which they often kidnap anyways.
loser:p
There won't be any union again because that union failed terribly and we have chosen peace and this is the most important thing for our people and children. You say issaqs are power hungry but let's be honest if we were power hungry we could have played your game far better than you and with Issaqs in Somalia there would have been no puntland by now after the overthrow of barre, have u forgotten S.N.M and U.S.C, issaqs is a huge clan good with politics and quick in forming partners so cut your "we will rule you again" cr.p obviously we decided that hunger for power and dirty game was not worth it and staying out of Somalia and their vicious games was the only clean and peaceful solution. We have only taken back what we've sacrificed, sat down with our people and agreed upon separation and that agreement cannot be broken by few clan-minded Diasporas. Plus Allah sees who is for peace and who is for other evil agenda. So forget about Somaliland and sort Somalia out and serve the people democratically like Somaliland, because that one clan domination was dead with siyad barre and I can ensure you it will never come back.
smart girl! i feel a little jealous though^_^
loool joker :p hehe
that was for the hardcore Somaliland haters who think the union is the resurrection of the so-called daroo.d rule and as for the author, that is his opinion and i respect that but it's our citizens who decided and even if our leaders desire union our citizens won't allow it because peace is qaali and it comes first and this is what we'll protect. Peace is what Somalia needs and not just unification with Somaliland and we are ready to assist but not on the expense of our hard work and God given peace. I understand what he means about withdrawing if the union fails but why risk it again. haven't we learn that mistake already. If Somalia had a decent, working, and democratically elected government and they approached us maybe things would have been different but the tfg and all these xaasid and sick people buried whatever chance of unity ad now the trust is dead. So what is the solution when there is no trust? unity by force will only exacerbate the Somali problem
Ali Dhimbil, that is your personal opinion and we can respect that, but no thanks. We have been there and done that. We made big sacrifices when we run to Mogadisho and took our flag and freedom there with sisterly love. Look where it has gotten us today, a complete destruction our country, loss lives, livelihood and 50 years backward. Just imagine, where Somaliland would have been today in development and progress if they did not joined the ill-fated union.
"… Somaliland will be given the lead role to form the new government, in order to make them happy …" is an underestatement. Somaliland is did not retreat from the union for the Presidency chair, Somaliland retreated from the union to take its country back. They did and that is final and that is not negotiable in any shape or form. Somaliland's stand is to normalize hostility with Somalia, live side by side in peace and full cooperation between the two countries. Somalia should stop clinging to Somaliland and give their blessings. Too many things has gone under the bridge and there is no turning. Somalia has to understand and respect that.
True, i think they just underestimate Somaliland unfortunately. They need to understand that we don't want their chair or the lead but we want to be left alone to our state. It's Somaliland who united with them before and has the full right to withdraw. Somaliland and Somalia will benefit from each-other being partner states and not one state with two conflicting regions (Somaliland/Somalia) and the sooner they understand this the sooner they will focus on solving their problems instead of spending their time and energy to bring back a county who has firmly decided to withdraw into failed union and anarchy. Somaliland reached a no turning point and they can never be forced to unite. Somaliland is here to stay
Is anyone of you guys who knows this guy? Is he Somalilander? I don't think a sane Somalilande will ever think of what he said. He is out of this world.
Somaliland will not ever join Somalia, even 100 years to come.
Omer Hussein Dualeh, I don't think so. You can read between the lines where he is going with this. Somaliland has do what it has to do and that is to protect its own interest, regardless what anybody thinks or says.
Somalis are not sincere and international community isn't either. Somalia doesn't exist as a country in the real sense and discussing Somaliland is rather luxury when you see the troubles somalis have. I was a believer in Somaliweyne and somali nationalism but that was before i understand the nature of somali people. Somali people lived as rival clans for many centuries and it seems nothing much has changed since the arrival of europeans in 19th century and independence. HE WHOM IGNORES THESE FACTS IS NOT SINCERE!
Mr.Dhimbil is just like those Russians in Moscow who are propogation for the re- instatament of the X Soviet Republics.
Somaliweyn is dead and let us just"Samir iyo imaan Allah hay naga siiyo"
SOMALILAND AND SOMALIA ARE 2 DIFFERENT COUNTRYS WHEN WILL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT!
Somalia is a country and Somaliland is region with in Somalia learn before you say some.
I don't think there is any advantage in joining the south. Even if you want to negotiate, who you gona negotiate with. Let them first get their act together and fix the problems they created. Otherewise, they will drag us down with them. They are all dreaming about one united Somalia, yet they couldn't unite and stablish one single government in the south for the past 20+ years. Wake up people and give yourselve a shake. We should only consider to negotiate if they have one representative goverment and show some noteworthy progress and stability for number of years.
EU, US and the UN shouldn't waste our time here. Who they want us to negotiate with? Puntland, Mogadishuland, Al-shabab…They should focus here in uniting the south first. I see it little two early to invite Somaliland government if the discussion is about unity.
I will hope organizers will come up with a meaningful, practicle and realistic solutions that will address the current situation on the ground.
Don't delete my comment is free press?
Somali Republic is failed state . that is a fact . if international Governments and bodies . want sotution for south somalia they have to give recognition to somaliland. and federalism they talking about has to be between two Government s of old somalia. like north korea and south korea. that my opion. recognising somaliland will give a shock to the unbehaving TFG and puntland .
thats so true.by recognising somaliland will the rest of somalia wake up.
THIS THE TIME THAT SOMALILAND WON"T STUMBLE AND FALL! SOMALILAND IS IN THE RIGHT PATH TO RECONNECT……………………………., AND TRUST ME THE WHOLE WORLD WILL JOIN TOGETHER TO RECOGNISE HER!
i guess u dreaming mr dhimbil
wake up man , stop smoking , u are high may be !!!!!
people what is wrong with u look at china for thousends of years they been fighting with each other every tribe had a king but one man united them under comunist we should unite under islam we are one people with the same religioun same skin colour and we speak the same languege wake up the somali people im from hargaisa but the day i see greather somalia including the 5 parts greather somalia unite thats day we wil become super powers lets wake up and stop hating each other lets do it for our childeren we need PEACE for all of our people
KHADAR, I AM SOMALILANDER, I WANT PEACE FOR ALL SOMALI'S . let all the other 4 part of somalia unite then let them convince somaliland to join them till then, somaliland will stand alone