Somaliland Showdown and first call for solving the Political crisis!!!
 

I would like to express my cordial gratitude and greetings to all Somalil and communities in Diaspora as well as all other Somaliland individuals and group members for taking the time to initiate and make it possible to have an open communication to help our country and our people at this sadden and dark moment of the history of Somaliland due to the wrong and ill-advised decision of Somaliland House of Elders extended the Riyale government another six months while his legal presidential term has been expired on April 6, 2008. The Somaliland Commission has previously extended the election time up to May 31, 2009 moving from the original date set on March 31, 2009.

In my previous Article named Somaliland needs Reconciliation and new date of Presidential elections.I tried to shed some light on how it is imperative to have all three political parties to sit down professionally and honestly and save the Somaliland Country and their citizens. I am glad to hear that all three political parties will be having a private discussions on this coming Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Somaliland Presidential palace. This is commendable and first step towards mutual respect and understanding the benefit of reconciliation and putting everything first the unity of Somaliland and bringing back to government institutions the structure of democratic process.

Let us be optimistic that all three political Party Leaders will reach a concrete and sensible agreement. But what if it goes the other way around. In my humble opinion, this discussion will not be an easy one, but it is a first step and it will clarify again who is the fault person and who is the genuine and honest leader(s) who are willing to accept what is best for the country and their citizens and not looking for individual gain.

It is clear that Somaliland has many patriotic and national actors who carry responsibility and exercises authority have to respect the same values as a mutual undertaking. I have tried to make the point that the requirements of good governance should not be addressed to one side in relationship but rather be a shared commitment based on mutuality. I want also to stress that in development policy discussions good governance, although definitely related to human rights, does not have the dignity and worth of the human beings as its central focus, but rather the creation of conditions which are favorable to the efficient use of resources. Obviously there is nothing wrong in this particular focus, but we are well advised not to equate the fashionable concept of good governance with the more holistic notion human rights.

There are five aspects to sustainable human development-all effecting the lives of poor and vulnerable.
1. Empowerment 2. Co-operation 3. Equity 4. Sustainability 5. Security.

What, then, is governance? and what is good governance?

The challenge for all socities is to create a system of governance that promotes, supports and sustainable human development-especially for the poorest and most marginal. But the search for a clearly articulated concepts of governance has just begun. Governance can be seen as the exercises of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country's affairs at all levels. It comprises the mechanisms, process and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences. Good governance is, among other things, partionatory, transparent and accountable. It is also effective and equitable. And it promotes the rule of law. Good governance ensures that political, social and economic priorities are based on broad consensus in society and that the voices of the poorest and most vulnerable are heard in decision-making over the allocation of development resources.

Governance has three legs: Economic, political and administrative.

Economic governance includes decision-making process that affect a country's economic activities and its relationship with other economies. It clearly has major implications for equity, poverty and quality of life. Political governance is the process of decision-making to formulate policy and Administrative governance is the system of policy implementation. Encompassing all three, good governance defines the process and structures that guide political and socio-economic relationships.

Governance also encompasses the state, but it transcends the state by including the private sector and civil society organizations. What constitutes the state is widely debated. Here, the state is defined to include political and public sector institutions.

The key question that needs to be address here, is What is United Nation's primary objective interest lies in Somaliland?
The answer is very puzzling, you know why, their primary interest lies in how effectively the state serves the needs of its people. Yet, we as a nation and a country still waiting at least an Emergency recognition. We somalilanders need to do more in order to sell our democratic principles and sustainability to the rest of the World. Having an honest, on-time and ethical Presidential elections following the Municipality and Parliamentarian elections will be the key ingredients of helping our developments and recognition.

 

Regards,

Dr. Mohamed Osman Nur (Shacabi)
shacabi@yahoo.com
California USA