Somaliland’s Shrinking Golden Opportunity
Hargeisa, 15 April 2009 (Somalilandpress) - Lately, whenever I come across news about Somaliland it’s usually something nauseating, like how the elections have been postponed again or how the government is trying to intimidate the opposition. For many Somalilanders, the dream of Somaliland as a democratic and free nation is quickly fading and understandably so: after all in many people’s opinion Riyale is trying to become a dictator.
However, while our government has been busy trying to come up with ways to remain in power forever, the world’s attention has finally come to our shores, literally. Piracy is the hottest news topic these days, and with our neighboring states, Puntland and Somalia being blamed, the world’s attention has turned to East Africa. The global community is looking for a viable solution and this was our “Golden Opportunity” to present Somaliland as a regional leader, and show the world the stark contrast between Somaliland and Somalia. It may have even given us the one thing that we have longed for but that has eluded us for so many years: International Recognition. I speak of this all in the past tense because, thanks to the current administration when the world now looks at us, they will see a country headed down the path of dictatorship and corruption.
All anyone can do now is pray that the government starts putting the people’s interest first, instead of their own.
Source: Somalilandpress
