By: Mohamud Aden Samatar
Somaliland welcomes the waves of political change taking place in the Horn of Africa, the democratization of Ethiopia spearheaded by Dr Abiy Ahmed and the normalization of relation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and also the easing of the alleged accusation of Somalia about Eritrea supporting Al-shabaab terrorist .
For a long time and centuries hate and mistrust where put among the people of the Horn by the European colonizers, religion leaders, feudal and dictators , which have caused killing, atrocities and death of thousands of innocent people among the people the Horn. The only reason why hate and mistrust was put among the people of the Horn was to prolong rule and to held on to power at the expense of killing and destruction of innocent people.
The main reason why the Somaliland people joined Somalia and scarified their nationhood was driven by the Pan African nationalism movement in 1950s and 1960s against the European colonizers to unite the Somali ethnic separated by the boundaries created by Italy, England and France. Somaliland was the only country in the world which had rejected the boundaries created and put between the Somali people by the European colonizers, but instead joined Somalia on July 1, 1960, five days after Somaliland gained its independence from England on June 26, 1960. No Arab country or African country dared or even digested the thought of uniting with its neighboring Arab or African country days after gaining independence.
The Somaliland people joined Somalia in search of a dubious Great Somalia. In return the Somaliland people were cheated off their independence and nationhood, instead of fair power sharing Somalia leaders took most important government positions, like presidency and premiership, late Aden Abdule Osman was elected president and Abdirashid Sharmarke was nominated prime minister both from Somalia , where non essential cabinet positions were given to Somaliland leaders. Late Muhamad Haji Ibrahim Egal who was leading the Somaliland delegation was nominated defense minister of Somalia, fake position controlled by Italy trained Somalia officer, while his colleagues took non important positions.
After a widespread of distortion, discrimination and injustice against Somaliland representatives , it led to aborted military coup against Somalia by Somaliland Military officers in 1961, which was the beginning of Somaliland people struggle to reclaim the lost nationhood and independence on June 26, 1960.
Beginning of 1980s until 1991 Somalia late dictator Siad Barre executed and buried in mass graves as many as 200, 000 men, women and children in retaliation against the SNM, Somali National Movement, formed by elite Somaliland military officers, including current Somaliland president Muse Bihi to topple the dictatorial regime of Barre. Which led to the ouster of Siad military regime and the declaration and re-claim of Somaliland independence on May 18, 1991 lost in 1960 for a dubious Great Somalia.
The Somaliland people were killed and massacred by Somalia government of Siad Barre, in the name of “The sovereignty and the territorial Integrity of Somalia is sacred”. Today the people of Somaliland are saying ” The sovereignty and the territorial Integrity of Somaliland is sacred”
Again today the nephew of Siad Barre, Farmajo, Somalia president is beating the drums of same slogan “The sovereignty and the territorial Integrity of Somalia is sacred” with the help of Qatar and Turkish government training, re-building his military infrastructure and personnel to wage a proxy/clan war against Somaliland from Puntland, near Somaliland/Somalia border Tukaraq to sabotage the peace, and the DP World, Somaliland and Ethiopia joint agreement to develop and invest in the Berbera Port of Somaliland located in an strategic location of Gulf of Aden, which Turkey is eyeing to take control like Mogadishu port and Mogadishu Airport to limit the access of the Arab world to the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and Horn of Africa.
The current Somali State ruler of Ethiopia , Mustafa Omar, is also trying to follow his predecessor, Abdi Illey by playing clan card and sent Liyu Police to Sool, Somaliland in the name of stopping clan militia war in Sool , Somaliland without consulting or asking permission the Somaliland Authority before crossing the border. Again Mustafa invited clan elders of the warring clan militia to Jigjiga because of clan affiliation , instead of supporting the peace and the mediation which Somaliland authority and clan elders have already extended to the warring clan militia and their elders.
The Somaliland people and authority have never intervened or crossed the Ethiopian border illegally when Abdi Illey was slaughtering Somaliland clans men in Jama Dubad/Hawd and Reserve Area respecting the integrity of the Ethiopian border.
The Somaliland people’s freedom, democracy and independence didn’t came on a silver plate, but came with heavy price of sacrifice and bloodshed, like the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea paid heavy price and sacrifice for their Freedom and Independence against the colonizers, Feudal and dictators.
Again Somaliland welcomes the good relation established between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. But sincerely asks Dr Abiy, Ethiopian PM and president Isaias of Eritrea to respect the wishes and territorial integrity of Somaliland until the UN or AU solves the separation of the two countries to their original status before the union.
Mohamud Aden Samatar samatarapt@gmail.com
Phoenix AZ, USA
![British Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks on, at Number 10 Downing Street, following the results of the election, in London, UK, July 5, 2024 [Kevin Coombs/Reuters]](https://i0.wp.com/www.horndiplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-05T115520Z_52034812_RC2ZO8AP0G9J_RTRMADP_3_BRITAIN-ELECTION-1720202222.webp?resize=100%2C70&ssl=1 "New PM Starmer names first cabinet after landslide win")
