In Somaliland, Political Legitimacy Comes from Contributing to Peace - The World Bank

[Jacaylbaro]

"I am selling my ears" (Dhagahaan iibinayaa), Abdillahi says, laughing.

 

The sharp light glimmers through the small opening in the tinted window, the wind is audible. It is early morning in Hargeisa, the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland, occupying the north-western territory of what the international community defines as Somalia. Somalia and Somaliland could not be further apart in conflict resolution experience and relative stability.

 

Abdillahi is still looking at me, his smile widens, his eyes sparkle. Chuckling, he leans towards me to emphasize his point. He had been telling me about the peace conference between the Somaliland clans in Borama in 1993, and had interrupted himself with the expression about selling his ears.

 

"That is what we say today about daily allowances from donors," he explains. "Our society is built on contribution, people here gets legitimacy through contribution. Everyone donated to the Borama peace conference. I gave 2,000 blankets. The clans competed over who could contribute the most militias and weapons to the new Somaliland army. We did it by ourselves. There was nobody to sell our ears to."

 

FULL STORY

[LANDER]

love this article kudos to the lady who wrote it.

[The Sage]

Great stuff. Although I'm not the biggest fan of the WB, it's nice to see they acknowledge success and encourage more countries to follow in SL's footsteps

[Jacaylbaro]

They aknowledge if people want, they can do it without them.