Banana Republics--Who really benefits from a weak Somalia?

[NASSIR]

Ali H. Abdulla is a remarkably brilliant author with farsighted views of our nation and people. He writes with such an ease and flavor but with strong premises, rational thoughts and persuasive appeal, both in emotional and ethical background. His warrant , the underlying stated and unstated belief is that Unity will make Somalia stronger if we care about our children in the future.

 

 

He has raised an important topic "balkanization" of Somalia. This article "Banana Republic", an offshoot to the "Hidden conspiracy to Balkanize Somalia", also sheds more light, to those of us and the narrow minded, of the conspiracy.

 

 

 

 

Banana Republics

Ali H. Abdulla

April 14, 2006

 

 

Who really benefits from a weak Somalia?

 

 

Balkanization refers to the division of a place or country into several small political units, often unfriendly to one another. The term balkanization comes from the name of the Balkan Peninsula, which was divided into several small nations in the early twentieth century.

 

Somalia fits the above description as a place inhabited by one race that shared a lot of the ingredients for the formation of a country. We can compare it to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that was united by King Abdul Aziz Bin Saud to become a modern state. Somali recorded history documents two similar unsuccessful attempts to get united as a country under one leadership. Both attempts were frustrated by foreign powers.

 

The first attempt failed when Portugal used cannons, a new weapon, to massacre Ahmed Gurey and his Somali warriors. The second attempt failed when the British imperialists used air power, another new weapon, to murder thousands of Somali freedom fighters in the north. The scale of devastation and the thousands of death resulting from those air raids bear the hallmark of illegal chemical weapons, which Churchill used against the Kurds as well. Many people believe that British forces resorted to poisoning the water wells used by the magnificent Arabian Horses known to the Somali freedom fighters as Sunari.

 

The balkanization of Somalia started in earnest when the British, the architects of most deadly conflicts raging in the world today, and its allies won the Second World War, and Somali speaking people became united under the British imperialists. Those who argue for a Somaliland based on the borders of former British Somaliland always omit the fact that areas referred to by them as the south were also under British rule from 1941 until 1948.

 

The British ruled the world by using a strategy of divide and rule. It worked for them in India, the Middle East and Africa. As part of that strategy, they chose not to unite the Somali speaking people fearing for their interests after realizing the deeply nationalistic sentiments of the Somali people. The fear of a strong nationalistic and united Somalia controlling the Strait of Bab El Mandab, through which British merchant ships passed, prompted the British to divide Somalia. They allowed the Italian fascists to rule the South again, and surrendered the Haud and Reserved areas to the historical enemies of the Somalis and the Northern Frontier district to Kenya.

 

The foreign Pens

 

The new call for breaking up the Somali Republic is spearheaded by a group of scholars who mostly lobby for the recognition of Somaliland. It is part of the continuing conspiracy to complete the balkanization of Somalia, a task that could not be completed by Britain when Somali Nationalists opted for unity in 1960.

 

Many of us fail to comprehend that people like Lewis promote the policies of their countries. When Lewis spent time in the north, he studied the Somali pastoralists as an anthropologist. The colonial office must have used the data he gathered when drawing the final map of Somalia after realizing the danger posed by these proud and fiercely nationalistic people to its interests. Lewis quotes his predecessor Burton as having said about the Somalis “a fierce and turbulent race of Republicansâ€.

 

Although the British signed the agreement to hand over the Haud and reserved areas to Ethiopia on the 29th of November 1954, the data Lewis gathered after 1954 must have influenced the British colonialists when they finalized their vision for a divided Somalia.

 

The latest addition to the bandwagon of foreign pens is an African Muslim scholar who goes by the name of Ali Mazroui. On a recent visit to Somaliland, he urged the leaders and intellectuals of Somaliland to eliminate the confusion between Somaliland and Somalia and adopt the name of Somali-Stan like Pakistan and Afghanistan. When he arrived at Egal International airport, Mazroui was received like a state president. Three important Ministers welcomed him at the airport and the president of Somaliland attended a state dinner in his honour.

 

The unexpected head-of-state reception for a humble professor must have affected and touched him deeply. The Somali-Stan remark from Mazroui is worth pondering. Did the professor make the remark in a moment of bliss brought on by our dazzling Somali hospitality? Or was he insulting the intelligence of our leaders in the north by suggesting to them to join the “Stans†of this world if they refuse their Somali-ness. If he were sincere in his remark he would probably have suggested removing the name Somali altogether because replacing the land with “Stan†as the professor has suggested does not eliminate the confusion.

 

The tragedy of the matter is that common Somali folks are misled into believing that a few foreign scholars whose carriers are on the wane can attain recognition for them. They come out in droves welcoming them with flowers and folk dances. The mobilization of our kids and women to wave flowers to foreigners who are no-bodies in their own land is demeaning and reminds one of the tactics of the old regime. Would Mazroui receive such a reception in his native Kenya?

 

In a recent rebuttal to “The hidden conspiracy to balkanize Somaliaâ€, someone volunteered to explain what the professor meant in a long scholarly interview in a radio show meant for the masses.

 

It seems that I am not the only person who finds it difficult to understand professor Mazroui. Professor Willia, Ochieng, from Kenya says about the guy “True, he has published immensely. I cannot claim to have read even half of what he has written. What puzzles me, however, is that I cannot remember a single important thing from his material. I know he will respond by claiming that it is not his fault. If I am too dense to understand his writing then what has that got to do with him? But apparently his American hosts also have a problem with him. Despite his many lectures and literature in the United States they do not seem to understand what he says, or wants. Are they also as dense as I am? What exactly has professor Mazrui been trotting around the world telling his listeners?â€

 

You have to read the whole article to understand where professor Willia is heading with this vicious attack on Mazroui.

 

I do not reproduce this piece to attack or demean the famous Mazroui but to remind our brothers in the North that Mazroui is not the right man to lobby for their recogntion. In fact no foreigner has the ability to argue their case.

 

Foreign scholars like Lewis and Mazroui think of us as specimens for their scholarly fieldwork and theories. They benefit from us and do not care much about our future or fate. The half loaf suggested by Lewis and the Somali-stan suggested by Mazroui are sinister new models that if successful will only add to their portfolios.

 

The need for a constructive dialogue

 

 

Instead of using foreginers to lobby for them, those calling for secession need to explain to several million Somalis the real reasons prompting them to run away from their brothers like lepers.; the resons prompting them to behave like an angry Somali husband who yells at his wife “I divorce thee†3 times; the reasons prompting them to consider as taboo the logical task of opening a dialogue with their brothers in the south regarding the future of their mutual country.

 

Democracy is not a selective thing. One cannot choose and pick its tenets to satisfy a certain agenda. The voice of those in the north who are for unity should be heard and allowed to participate in shaping the future of our country. They should be allowed to talk to the people and explain their vision for a united and strong Somalia.

 

We should look at the pros and cons of unity and prepare a balance sheet that lists the assets and liabilities. This should be done after we get rid of the hate and fear. Hate destroys those who practice it and consumes them. They cannot think clearly.

 

We have all suffered under the corrupt civilian government and the dictatorial repressive regime. If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for some of those who govern us today and who were part of the repressive regime, then we should be able to find room in our heart for forgiving our other Somali brothers most of whom had nothing to do with the repression and destruction..

 

I know that wounds take a long time to heal but 15 years is long enough to forget and to embark on a healing journey that brings us all back together under one roof but with different terms. Terms that will guarantee the non-recurrence of the hell that we have all been through. We should learn from South Africa and other countries who managed to heal their wounds. We should seek the help of the likes of Mandela to achieve unity instead of seeking the help of those who are keen on our divison.

 

Given the chaos raging in most of the south, some of us may pose the valid question. Who should we negotiate with? The answer is quite simple and obvious. The dialaogue should not be with those murdering warlords but with the decent peace loving civil society members. We can start by:

 

* Opening a constructive dialogue with members of the civil society groups in the south.

 

* Creating truth and reconciliation meetings under the supervision of prominent figures who care about us.

 

* Introducing Student exchange programs

 

* Initiating a constructive dialogue between the traditonal leaders of the north and the south.

 

* Sending Peace missions to the south to help them put their chaotic house in order.

 

The case for a United Somalia

 

 

One of the most powerful arguments used by the camp opposed to the secession is the fact that Somalia is a homogeneous country whose people speak the same language, worship the same God and pretty much look the same.

 

The most effective rebuttal I have heard so far to this argument came from the President of Somaliland Mr. Rayale, when he remarked at a state dinner thrown in the honour of Mazroui that Arabs too share the same characteristics but are divided into more than 21 countries

 

The rebuttal of our president may make sense to many, but we should not forget that the Arab world used to be one country under the Ottoman Caliphate. When the west started its campaign to loot the riches of the Muslim world, they devised a clever scheme of divide and rule. They divided the Arab world into many small countries making it easy for them to control and siphon off the riches of these countries. It is easy to deal with a population of several hundred thousand than with a population of hundreds of millions.

 

Regardless of the arguments used by both sides, the truth of the matter is that the world is becoming a small global village where the competitive edge belongs to those who are united politically and economically.

 

China and India are the fastest growing economies in the world. Their combined population constitute more than a third of the world population. Their economic boom is a result of their united population despite the different languages and religions.

 

Those who call for dividing Somalia do not realize that they are advocating the creation of small banana republics that are weak enough to be exploited by powerful multinational corporations. The best definition I could find for a banana republic is “a small country (especially in Central America) that is politically unstable and whose economy is dominated by foreign companies and depends on one export (such as bananas)â€

 

Somalia fits this description. Banana and livestock used to be and will probably remain for a long time our main exports. The danger of depending on one commodity for export is made painfully clear by the ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on Somali livestock leading to economic hardship to our people. A united Somalia would be able to diversify its economy and embark on a program that makes it the Singapore of Africa as Ambassador Sahnoun predicted in a Reuters interview recently. Somali people are dynamic entrepreneurs who with unity and good governance will fulfill this prophecy.

 

The other problem with a banana republic is that a few privileged groups enjoy all the benefits of the state while the majority remain in abject poverty.

 

Those who call for division should ask themselves the simple question. Why do western scholars and those emulating them call for dividing us when Europe is heading towards a united entity with a single currency called the Euro, a European Parliament and a European Central Bank?

 

When Europe realized that it lags behind the United States of America and Japan, they decided to unite their economies in order to be able to compete against these economic giants. They realized that unity stands for prosperity, strength and stability.

 

The famous Berlin Wall crumbled and Germany became united again because both sides realized that it was in the interest of Germany to become united. Neither the Soviet Union nor the other European nations wanted to see a untied and strong Germany again. They thought that years of different political and economic systems would be enough guarantee to keep the two Germanys apart but the people of Germany proved them wrong. The Somali people will prove to the world that they can be a united country again. One that has learnt from the past; one that practices free enterprise and a genuine democracry.

 

Concluding remarks

 

We have to make a choice between : a strong and united Somlaia, and small banana republics exploited by greedy multinational companies and powerfull foreign countries that can corrupt our weak leaders to use our country as military bases and dumping grounds for their nuclear and chemical waste. When making this difficult choice, we should think about our future generations who will be affected by these choices. Before we make the choice, we should try to eliminate the hate and fear factors that we have been fed over 15 long and painful years.

 

Ali H. Abdulla

 

aliegeh@gmail.com

 

 

Source: Wardheernews

[xiinfaniin]

This is good one, yaa Caamir.. When the power of reason is combined with that of positive thinking, the effect is imperishable walaahi. Xayaakallaahu yaa cabdallah, I say.

[Gordon Gekko]

A truly excellent article. This is the vision that all somalis should work towards.

[Thierry.]

Asalamu Alaikum

 

A very good article, the dialogue between the south and north must begin ASAP.

Since many of us SOLers classify each other as a civilized bunch, why not discussion issue of unity here. Maybe we can come to a middle ground. ( the middle is always where balance exist).

 

If it is a leadership question then we should know that the one who sacrifices something for something that is greater is the one that is truly brave and wise.

 

If it is racism then know that Iblis refused to bow down to Adam out of pride and the belief that he was superior to Adam, which led to him perishing in hell for ever.

 

If it is anger know that forgiveness is what tranquilizes it and brings serenity

 

Inshallah it should be interesting

[Suldaanka]

Waxa hore loo yidhi, lax dhukani abaar moog.

 

This is a good example of junior high school level sophistry...This is the sort of "emotional rollercoaster" and "wishful thinking" far removed from the realities on the ground that Faysal Diriye was talking about here when he says "...the rest of the article, usually, describes the author's emotions--a river of tears ".

 

He seems to be ducking from addressing key issues as to what led to the downfall of the old Somalia. And he didn't even had the minute to ponder as to what led, the Somaliland people who were once the vanguards of "Somaliweynism" to today totally shun it and instead op for restoring their lost soverignty? Surely it is a big change of heart, and surely it is not something that you can simply brush it aside or reduce it to a simple reasons.

 

And his attempt to present a case for a "united Somalia" is very poor to say the least. What else can he bring to the table besides talking about a wishful "Strong" and "United" Somalia?

 

 

If this guy was trying to reply to Mr. Ahmed M.I. Egal's respose to his early post. Then it looks like Mr. Abdulla has either not read very well Mr. Ahmed's reply or that he is just turning blind eye to the facts.

 

Here is few quotes I want to map between the two articles....

Mr. Abdulla wrote:

We have all suffered under the corrupt civilian government and the dictatorial repressive regime. If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for some of those who govern us today and who were part of the repressive regime, then we should be able to find room in our heart for forgiving our other Somali brothers most of whom had nothing to do with the repression and destruction..

 

I know that wounds take a long time to heal but 15 years is long enough to forget and to embark on a healing journey that brings us all back together under one roof but with different terms. Terms that will guarantee the non-recurrence of the hell that we have all been through. We should learn from South Africa and other countries who managed to heal their wounds. We should seek the help of the likes of Mandela to achieve unity instead of seeking the help of those who are keen on our divison.

Mr. Ahmed M.I Egal wrote:

"Somaliland’s claim to nationhood does not rest upon the fact that it was persecuted by Afweyne and his junta, however, that persecution brought home to its people that recovering their sovereignty required, in effect, the toppling of that evil regime. Indeed, the people of Somalia owe Somaliland a debt of gratitude for initiating the demise of the Afweyne cabal"

Now, one has to wonder... how on this earth can one communicate that to the likes of Mr. Abdulla? cajiib

 

Why do western scholars and those emulating them call for dividing us when Europe is heading towards a united entity with a single currency called the Euro, a European Parliament and a European Central Bank?

Did he ever ask himself that no single EU country was forced being part of the union? Each state joins it willingly, not forcefully. And besides, Mr. Abdulla must realise that although the Europe might be uniting in many ways, yet politically each is soverign of the other. No Englishman will ever secede his soverignty to an French for example or Italy for that matter.

Somaliland on the same token doesn't mind if we have some sort of close cooperation on many fronts including the economy and maybe security... but politically, we will not let ourselves ruled from the South, once again.

 

Those who call for dividing Somalia do not realize that they are advocating the creation of small banana republics that are weak enough to be exploited by powerful multinational corporations. The best definition I could find for a banana republic is “a small country (especially in Central America) that is politically unstable and whose economy is dominated by foreign companies and depends on one export (such as bananas)â€

 

Somalia fits this description. Banana and livestock used to be and will probably remain for a long time our main exports. The danger of depending on one commodity for export is made painfully clear by the ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on Somali livestock leading to economic hardship to our people. A united Somalia would be able to diversify its economy and embark on a program that makes it the Singapore of Africa as Ambassador Sahnoun predicted in a Reuters interview recently. Somali people are dynamic entrepreneurs who with unity and good governance will fulfill this prophecy.

 

The other problem with a banana republic is that a few privileged groups enjoy all the benefits of the state while the majority remain in abject poverty.

Ma talyaaniga mahadiya, tanina waa yaabe

 

So, our rocket scientist, Mr. Cabdulla thinks, "A United And Strong" will fight off the multinational monsters? I would love to know more...

[Thierry.]

Asalamu Alaikum

 

Suldaan Nacasdiid I am in no way a nationalist person, my wishful thinking is on the lines of a more united Islamic state under one Caliphate, but the separation of the two factions in my view contradicts and rather goes on the opposite side of a greater Islamic state.

 

It is true the author does not go into details with regards to the root of the separations and yes he does not address the anger and frustration that all the repressed people under the dictatorial regime went through.

 

However he has a point if the ANC of Nelson Mandela took revenge on the repressive white regime would South Africa be what it is. (I am in no way saying that it is a beacon of success) would it have been worse or better.

A better example did our Rasool SAW take revenge on Quraish’s for the persecution of the Muslims, no he forgave and for that they and the rest of the world admired his mercy, what other human and society are more worthy admiration than Muhammed SAW and the Madineeyts.

 

It is for the sincere Aalims of all parts of Somalia to come to a middle ground through their wisdom.

 

And you know what I take back my suggestion that this should be some form of a platform for discussion

 

PS Pres. Riyale could rule the south too a suggestion

[Suldaanka]

Sheekh Abbas says:

However he has a point if the ANC of Nelson Mandela took revenge on the repressive white regime would South Africa be what it is. (I am in no way saying that it is a beacon of success) would it have been worse or better.

A better example did our Rasool SAW take revenge on Quraish’s for the persecution of the Muslims, no he forgave and for that they and the rest of the world admired his mercy, what other human and society are more worthy admiration than Muhammed SAW and the Madineeyts.

Bro, sorry to say this, but you seem to lack a great deal of backgrounder info about Somaliland. Sxb, if you didn't know, the old regime of Siyad Barre, tried many ugly things. One of them was igniting an ugly clanish war between the different clans of Somaliland, arming certain clans against one clan that opposed that regime.

 

When that regime was toppled, the fervor of clanish revenge was very high. Some wanted "revenge" against those clans that supported the toppled regime. But it was the Somaliland elders and political leaders who said "NO TO REVENGE" and instead opted for a peaceful path. This is the reason why today, Dahir Rayaale is the president of Somaliland. Dahir Rayaale is accused by the likes Mr. Abdulla of being one of the old regime's

"YES MEN". You see, when the people of Somaliland have forgotten about that history, it is the likes of Mr. Abdulla who are never far away from reminding us.

 

Comprison between Somaliland and South Africa is like comparing apples to oranges. One was under minority white rule, the other was under a Dictatorship.

 

Had the White South Africans consituted a majority, it would have been a different story. But, the fact is, the white South Africans are a minority in a Black Country. The two are not the same.

 

Somaliland is about a country that wants to dissolve a failed union that it had with a failed country that existed 1960-1991. And if you look back into the history books, Somaliland never wanted to unite with Somalia alone, in the first place. The union was meant to just be a starter for a greater Somaliweyn. That dream is dead. The union failed. And Somaliland wants to go it alone.

 

PS Pres. Riyale could rule the south too a suggestion

I don't know if you had known this but back in 2000 just before the Artha Peace Conference convened in Djibouti, many delegates from the UN, Arab League as well as delegates from Southern Somalia came to the then President of Somaliland Marxuum Mohamed Hajji I. Egal. They proposed to him to become the head of state of a united Somalia,

 

Whatever he might have felt about the offer, I really can't tell, but he declined it. One of the reasons many cite is that, he didn't want to shoot himself in the foot, knowing that how unpopular the offer was to the wider Somaliland populace.

 

Hence, I don't think the people of Somaliland want to do anything with Somalia. The 30 or so years of union have thaught them a great deal of lesson.

 

"A mu'min doesn't get bitten twice from the same hole"

 

 

ps

Best of luck with your Islamic state

[codetalker]

Comprison between Somaliland and South Africa is like comparing apples to oranges. One was under minority white rule, the other was under a Dictatorship.

I had to laugh @ that!

 

But nevermind me.

[AYOUB]

* Sending Peace missions to the south to help them put their chaotic house in order.

Nice, touchy and feely. Let's climb the mountains, swim the oceans and hug some acacia trees in between.

 

Just one problem though, if we (Somalilanders) got it wrong, why should we be the ones sending "peace missions"?

 

 

The famous Berlin Wall crumbled and Germany became united again because both sides realized that it was in the interest of Germany to become united. Neither the

Soviet Union

nor the other European nations wanted to see a untied and strong Germany again.

Good old Soviet Union, whatever happened it.

[Duco Qabe]

I am really amazed at these Yahoo’s who claim to speak for Somaliland! Don’t you sometimes wonder who called them to action? When would they realize that they represent only one prevailing views in Somaliland. Please stop that nonsense and speak for yourselves.

 

Duco Qabe

[Taleexi]

Mr. Duca Qabe I think these narrow minded people are not on the right side of history and the sooner they figure it out the better of they are

[Suldaanka]

^^ I certainly wouldn't want to be on the same side as the defeated lott and the warlord cheerleaders...

 

I am really amazed at these Yahoo’s who claim to speak for Somaliland! Don’t you sometimes wonder who called them to action? When would they realize that they represent only one prevailing views in Somaliland. Please stop that nonsense and speak for yourselves.

This is what happens when a fool opens his mouth.

 

Please re-read the article once again and tell us who the author is addressing? Which of the views iz he talking to? And comeback and lets know if you were meant to be here in the first place.

[RedSea]

ASSALAMU CALAYKUM,

 

Hello my fadhi ku dirir brothers. Refering to little conversatins you had, I would say it's very important as well as it should be in everyone's priority to have a unified nation that regulates under the Islamic law. I am for that only, any other form of government is in extreme error, and yes that includes the democratic system that many brag about around here.

 

Assalamu Calaykum.

[Suldaanka]

^^ cajiib

it should be in everyone's priority to have a

unified nation

that regulates under the Islamic law

Anagaa wax aragnay...

 

Sxb, if you were talking about a grand Islamic global nation, then yes, Somaliland would be happy to join such a nation. But, Somalia iyo Somaliland, I think they are better off having their own seperate sharii'a government, that is if it had to come to that sort of system.

 

Besides, if you could volunteer and tell us more about your sort of system that you have in mind. Give us a good working example that we can refer to.

[N.O.R.F]

All these theories of who would benefit from the recognition of Somaliland are just lame. Do we have any articles concerning the progress or lack thereof of the TFG? Or the on-going tensions in the South? The failure to resolve problems in the past 18 months or so? Why are the people still suffering from warlordism? Why is peace and stability is still a far cry away? Why is aid to the hungry being taken? Why is there no security? Why is there disagreement? etc etc etc

 

Being pre-occupied with Somaliland will be to the detriment of the so called 'nationalists'. This failure in prioritising and seeking to better the environmnet with which the people are living in, will be the un-doing of the TFG and its supporters. One must create an environment in the hope of gaining some sort of credibility first as there is a distinct lack thereof.

 

cheer on,,,,,,