President Silanyo: Somaliland’s next dictator
in the making
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana
Text Box: Certain democratically elected leaders transform gradually
into dictators. History has repeatedly attested the blueprints for
turning a democratic system into dict atorship. Such blueprints have
been employed recurrently in different shapes and forms, some of
which are gorier than others. Notwithstanding their brutalities,
dictators have distinct characteristics. Generally, they rule with
an iron fist: they suspend the constituti on, invoke a petrifying
internal foes, cultivate a gangster caste, create surveillance
syst em, harass citizens, employ arbitrary incarceration, terrorize
prominent figures, oppress the media, chastise dissent, et cetera.
Psychologically, they are exceptionally egocentric, narcissistic,
pathological liars, coldhearted, cunning/crafty, vain and possess an
unlimit ed craving for power. Dictators associate themselves with a
close-knit bunch of respe ctive family/clan members.
Somaliland has witnessed the emergence of such a dictator –
President Silanyo – who ex hibits all the aforesaid comportments and
characteristics without exception. He strives to cling to power by
any means necessary rendering him a
democratically-elected-turne d-dictator. He utilizes varied and
numerous ghastly methods aimed at prolonging his posi tion of power
indefinitely. There are various despicable schemes adopted by Silanyo aim ed at intimidating and eliminating his contestants, e.g.,
military, police, Rapid Response Unit (RRU), secret services,
security apparatus, courts, etc. In addition, Silanyo uses the
misappropriated public funds to not only bribe his cronies but also
sabotage the politics of the country. Furthermore, Silanyo has
earned the reputation of oppressing the mass media by censoring,
bribing, threatening and arresting journalists in order to avert
cont enders from gaining foothold – an obvious insignia of vindictive
psychopathic megalomani a. A series of gradually repressive and
undemocratic undertakings by Silanyo’s administr ation has triggered
the fear that Somaliland’s democracy is under siege. The recent
seizi ng of the House of Representatives demonstrates vividly Silanyo’s dictatorial ambition.
On Nov. 13th 2014 Silanyo deployed police officers at the House of
Representatives’ com pound to replace the House’s especial police
unit by force. The chief aim of the deployme nt was to coerce
unlawful “motion of no confidence” against the most prominent
candid te from the opposition bloc, Horn Abdirahman Mohamed
Abdillahi (Irro) – the Speaker of the House of Representatives as
well as the Chairman of WADDANI National Party. Speaker/Chairman
Irro was not permitted to enter the House of Representatives’
comp ound by the police and was not allowed to conduct his
constitutionally assigned duties. Taking over the House’s compound
was a clear violation of Article 37, Sec. 2., of the Con stitution,
which stipulates: “ . . . Each branch shall exercise independently
the exclusive powers accorded to it under the Constitution.”
Although each branch of government is independent and has its
respective functions, Silanyo usurps the functions of the House of
Representatives branch by force.
Occupying the House of Representatives was not enough for Silanyo's
dictatorial ambit ion. He had the audacity to give the police the
green light to detain legislators. Five legis lators were detained,
investigated and interrogated by the police, which is a clear
violat ion of Article 49, Sect. 3., of the Constitution, which
stipulates: "No member of the House of Representatives shall be
investigated, questioned, arrested, imprisoned or otherwise
subjected to any other acts relating to punishment without the
consent of the House of Representatives." Again Silanyo violated the
parliamentary immunity in which the Consti tution grants legislators
immunity from detention. Before arresting any legislator, his/h er
immunity should be removed by the parliament. Legislators’ granted
immunity aims to reduce any possibility of pressuring members of the
parliament to alter their views/vote due to fear of prosecution.
However, in order to pave the way for his dictatorial ambiti ons, Silanyo endeavors to suspend the Constitution gradually.
Silanyo’s dictatorial aspiration rears its ugly head when he ordered
the RRU and police to fire live ammunitions against defenseless
protesters without warning. Peaceful anti-esta blishment protestors,
who rocked Buroa, Erigavo, Hargeisa, etc., were brutally beat en and
killed. The RRU and police fired live rounds against civilians
indiscriminately; killing a young innocent girl and scores have been
injured.
Silanyo’s modus operandi compels us envisage what’s in store for
Somaliland: the emer gence of a brutal dictator - Silanyo - a replica
of Siad Barre, if not worst. The aforesaid ghastly trend will
continue provided Silanyo remains in power. Therefore, we – the
peo ple – should vote Silanyo out of office.
We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation!
Abdi Hussein Daud
Minneapolis, MN
USA
The author has obtained BA in Political Science & Global Studies at
University of Minnes ota, Masters in Health and Human Services
Administration at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and currently
pursuing PhD in Clinical Psychology. He can be reached at:
abdihdaud@yahoo.com
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