September 8, 2019

For the benefit of those, who are either forgetful of what was happening politically in Somalia during the past two decades, or were too young to know development of major political events, let them recall or know Puntland’s historical two schools of thought along the way over many years:

1. a) To establish Puntland State of Somalia in August 1998, as a first building block towards a Federal Somalia;

b) Not to establish Puntland without the full participation of South-central Somalia.

2. a) Puntland should lead the way for the revival of the failed central state of Somalia;

b) Puntland must leave South-central and Mogadishu to their own devices and to secede from Somalia.

3. a) Puntland should participate in Arta (Djibouti) Conference in 2000.

b) Puntland should not take part in Arta Conference.

After TFG President, Abdullahi Yusuf, resigned,

4. a) Puntland should abandon the rest of Somalia;

b) Puntland must continue fighting for Somalia and strengthening the still fragile federal institutions.

This robust Puntland political debates had suffered setbacks in both Faroole and Gaas presidency -Faroole’s in the sense that he behaved as a strongman and uncompromising politician with unconventional sub-clan constituency mindset to stifle dissent and debate, while Gaas acted indifferent to the important role of Puntland in Somali politics, and because of his attitude of knowing it alone, the use of his position for personal gain, and most importantly, because of his intolerance and lack of respect for Puntland’s intellectuals. Add to this, the lack of vision of both Omar Abdirashid and Abdiweli Gaas as prime ministers of Somalia then.

Poor Puntland representation in Mogadishu Government had compounded the problem of the State losing its sense of direction, political weight and influence.

Now, Farmaajo Government came about and started a campaign of purging Puntlanders from Federal Public Service, on the top of grabing up the constitutional powers from Federal Member States.

Puntland State, however, has no schools of thought any more as to how to address this abuse of federal powers. This is a test for President Deni, among many other challenges Puntland State is currently facing

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September 8, 2019

Strongmen or dictators could appear in societies of laws and strong culture of liberal values, but not for long – at least they don’t leave behind respectable opportunities to their offsprings to inherit. Try to name a dictator whose kid had replaced his father politically in a nation of laws and free choice.

That is because dictators do more harm than good. No matter how benevolent one may claim they were, they had destroyed many good men and people of goodwill, perceived rightly or wrongly, to oppose the whims and wishes of dictators. Still, everyday you could meet people praising a particular dictator in the history of human kind. Whether it is Hitler, Stallin, Siyad Barre or Sayyid Mohammed Abdulle Hassan, there are a few people in the world still fond of good old days with a dictator.

It is a taugh debate to have with such sycophants, participants and parties to repressive regimes. There are still Neo-Nazis in the world. There are people in Somalia still singing “Aabo Siyaad”. What you don’t see, though, is any love or respect accorded to any living relative of a former dictator. Isn’t that true? Does that tell you something fundamental, that dictators don’t leave behind positive historical legacy to be proud of? How you could love your wife while you hate her kids? That is exactly the situation of the people praising “Aabo Siyaad” type of dictators today. They are still talking of “Kacaan” (revolution), not understanding that the word itself means violent overthrow of orderly society and suppression of human rights.

Now, when I hear the slogans in Somalia like N&N, I recall the legacy of the repressive regime that led to the total ruin of Somalia. We couldn’t dig it out of the deep hole. There is still a lot of hard work to do. The regime of N&N is not the right vehicle to ride towards better Somalia. A pity dictator denying basic rights to kids in schools in any part of the country will not lead Somalia to greener pastures tomorrow.

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