Well done Mr Riyale
Mohamed Yabarag
Dec 6,2005
The president of Somaliland, Dahir Rayaale Kaahin, has saved from Somaliland and its people from what could have been a long-drawn out battle between the opposition, who have a majority in the legislative house on one side, and the party of the government, UDUB, on the other by accepting the recommendations of House of Elders. Mr Rayaale has surprised everyone, including some stubborn ministers in his cabinet by fully accepting the proposals put to him by a committee from the House of Elders headed by its chairman, Sulaiman Mohmoud Adan. Being one of his critics, I have to hold up my hands and give the man the credit he deserves. Somaliland leaders, who have known for their steadfast and cool-headedness, have once again come up with a trump card to stabilise a situation which could have damaged the good reputation this young country had been enjoying since its inception. It was fingers crossed for most of us who were worried and anxious about a potential trouble looming in the horizon and the consequences that might have brought to our nascent democracy.
The president could have manipulated this unfortunate episode to his advantage by using a delaying tactics, but this time he chose to side with the majority of Somalilanders and their representatives and hence overruled his greedy ministers who allegedly wanted to continue the status quo. In no uncertain terms, the president said to a big NO to his vice president and a numbers of cabinet ministers who wanted to derail the will of this nation.
To the surprise of many Somaliland observers, the president has shown that he can become a pragmatist when the stakes are very high. Anything other than accepting the recommendations put to him by the leader of the House of Elders, Sulaiman Mohmoud Adan and his aids would have created a period of uncertainty and caused an incalculable damage to Somaliland, which has never known a period like this since the beginning of its democratisation process. President Rayaale’s possible rejection to the proposals and recommendations of the aforementioned committee could have brought masses of demonstrators and counter demonstrations to the streets of Hargeisa and elsewhere, which could have kick-started a process of undoing all the good things we have achieved together as Somalilanders. All our past efforts masterminded by our late honourable Egal could have been undone by moments of madness by Rayaale and his government on one side, and the opposition and their supporters on the other. Thanks to the Almighty that did not happen.
Somaliland and its leaders, not to mention its leader, have once again shown how cool heads and consultation between all its constituents can avert disaster and unnecessary long-drawn out squabbling between the government and the opposition. Let us hope the opposition parties conduct themselves in similar manner to the president’s. Let us hope the new parliamentarians - both the opposition parties and the government’s party - put the nation’s interests first and work together constructively, where necessary, for the advancement of their country.
Long live Somaliland
Mohamed Yabarag
myabarag@yahoo.co.ukLondon, UK
