"I have a dream"
Someday Somaliland will Emerge Strongly in
Africa
Somaliland is a victim of unspeakable horror of African Union
diplomacy, where diplomatic connections and unwritten traditional
codes are strong; Somaliland Cause of independence is facing a
significant obstacle from the union. The African leaders failed to
hear the voice of freedom of the people of Somaliland in last 19
years.
Surprisingly, Somaliland struggle for freedom and liberty within
African Union is much difficult than that of 20th century against
the white British. Somaliland, a former British Colony, won
independence on 26th June 1960 from Great Britain, and mistakenly
united with Somalia on 1st July 1960, just four days later. Thirty
four African countries recognized Somaliland in these four days, but
today after 19 years of struggle to get back its independence from
Somalia, The African Union look very stubborn toward Somaliland
independence without having proper reason.
The African diplomacy is overlooking the democracy and social
progress in Somaliland, in which Somaliland achieved without the
support of African Union and International community. However, this
is against the charter of African Union, which assures fair
treatment and handling to all African issues.
As Luther Martin King Jr. said, "let us not stumble in the valley of
despair. I say to you today, my friends, so even tough we face the
difficulties of today and tomorrow." I still have dream that
Somaliland will be independent one day, and children/citizens will
get back their lost diplomatic rights and will freely move across
the world with bride and dignity.
I have a dream, that Somaliland Passport will be most beloved travel
document. Somaliland citizens and businessmen will trade freely, and
students will join international universities with Somaliland High
School Certificates. Somalilanders lost all these rights due to
African Union´s illegal diplomatic embargo on Somaliland.
African Union should stop alienating Somaliland and grant rights of
life liberty to its citizens. The union, which is neutral to all
Africans according to its charter, should look into Somaliland cause
without considering the traditional AU agenda of not accepting new
members.
African Union protects the colonial border, but in other hand,
rejects Somaliland based on colonial border. Is this logic? Can the
union respect colonial border across the continent except
Somaliland? Somaliland government submitted membership application
to the African Union, and waiting a positive reply from the union.
Somaliland is demanding restoration of its colonial border.
Somaliland fulfilled all requirements of nationhood according to
African Union and United Nations charters. However, it remains
victim of no-reason because neither African Union nor United Nation
is giving Somaliland clear reason to reject Somaliland´s statehood.
Some illogic people believe that the ´failed state of Somalia´
should not be divided or separated. But currently there is nothing
called Somalia, and country fall into knees in more than 20 years.
Somalia set an example of failure, without any sign of recovering
from the failure. Somalia felt into endless comma, so why African
Union is forcing Somaliland to wait Somalia until waking up from the
comma? Will AU continue to force Somaliland to wait even next 100
years?
Current diplomatic embargo on Somaliland by the African Union,
alienated it from the rest of the world, and transformed Somaliland
into jail. No freedom of movement, education and travel for
Somalilanders due to the wrong African Union policies towards it.
The Somalilanders are forced to take-up foreign passports in order
to travel freely across the world; the students cannot join
international universities like Harvard and Oxford Universities with
Somaliland Passport. This is result of diplomatic embargo on
Somaliland by the African Union, who overlooked Somaliland demands
of independence in last 19 years.
The qualified English-speaking professionals of Somaliland should
identify them selves as citizens of Somalia, Ethiopia, or
Djibouti…etc in the international job markets because their country,
Somaliland, is not recognized diplomatically by African Union. This
is creating mistrust in the hearts of these young men and women
towards AU. What is their mistake? Why they don´t have right to say
their true identity as a Somalilander? This is the unfair treatment
of African Union and IGAD on Somaliland and its people.
Moreover, these misjudgments did not change Somaliland´s commitment
towards better Africa; Somaliland is cooperative with all African
countries and organizations. Many African countries have offices in
Somaliland capital – Hargiesa, including Ethiopia. Somaliland has
trade links with others.
"I have a dream" that Somaliland will overpower the poor policies
and diplomatic discrimination by the African Union, and will create
brighter future in its part of the world. "I have a dream" that
Somaliland will be an oasis of peace and democracy in Africa, and an
example to all Africans in development.
Today, overlooked minorities of USA – The African Americans, are
making long waited history and occupy the highest post in the
country. Barrack Hussein Obama is making history. And for
Somaliland, the time will come that Somaliland will occupy the
highest post in African Union – Chairman of African Union.
By: Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
|