There is something special about being Somalilanders; we ought to fight for what we believe in!

There is something special about being Somalilanders; we ought to fight for what we believe in!

By:  Eng. Hussein Adan Igeh |Hussein Deyr |UK|

I believe there is something special about being Somalilanders! The spirit of Somalilanders and social togetherness, the capacity for common and shared destiny that allows us to pull together in times of challenge and times of adversity is something special! The true nature, power, moral fibre and quality of the people of Somaliland manifests when we are united and when we stand together- not when we are a splintered, quarrelling and polarized nation.

The festivities of 22^nd Anniversary of Somaliland’s Independence Day (May 18^th 2013) were a well-expressed, admirable and powerful worldwide national event. It was indeed a clear message to the outside world as well as to Somaliland’s antagonists.  All in all, the way in which the Somaliland people have fulfilled their civic duties and the way in which we celebrated, commemorated and gave an expression of our people’s pride in this very special day; it was a wonder worthy phenomenon in the entire African continent.

The people of the Somaliland Republic have shown to the outside world their values, belief and exceptional quality with respect to their independence, freedom, aspirations and self-determination for statehood. The cheerful and high-spirited celebration style of our national independence and showed nationalistic sense of togetherness among the Somaliland’s population is something special! Somalilanders are the only nation in the African continent who is actually quite capable to celebrate their independence day at global level. The 18^th May of every year has become a worldwide event. This is what makes Somalilanders quite exceptional and a unique population.

As a citizen of the Somaliland Republic, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and say thank you to my beloved fellow Somalilanders for their endeavour and determination in defending of their independence, freedom and their universal rights for self-determination.

2.0   Somalilanders are still traumatised by the Historic Mistake

For many years, the people of Somaliland were subjected to a brutal oppression and a systematically ethnic cleansing campaign at the hands of the former cruel dictatorial regime and its ruthless cohorts. Whenever they reflect on these atrocities, it is still burning into their hearts & minds as the model for the highest degree of terror against the humanity.

It is common knowledge that the Nobel people of the Somaliland Republic had not only rendered the biggest contribution to the independent struggle in the colonial era, but surrendered everything they cherished most for the sake Somali Union, including the hard-won independence on June 26^th 1960. These facts are not in dispute, though rarely acknowledged by the people of Somalia.

Somalilanders are still deeply traumatised by the historic and costly mistakes of their own making by joining (without condition) a union with Somalia and therefore sacrificing the hard-won independence and sovereignty for the sake of an unfruitful and counterproductive project concept of the Greater Somalia. They will never forget the atrocities and destruction they suffered at hands of the people they (Somalilanders) considered as their real brothers. The people of Somaliland will never join again whatsoever a union with the failed state of Somalia at the cost of their freedom. They have tested the real benefit and value of the independence, freedom, rule of law and democracy.

The current government of Somaliland should realise that our society’s rules and governance must be based on and derived from the ideals that are believed in and lived by our people. A social justice and equality applied in every rank of Somaliland people has to manifest and reflect the values and history of our great nation. The Somaliland citizens must also have the rights to exercise fully their constitutional rights and ability to speak their mind and have a say in how they are governed; they should have confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice.

As a nation, we share the same roots, history and values as we also cherish the same fate and future. Therefore, the things that unite us and keep our people together as a nation are far more important than those factors that divide us or create social disagreement. When it comes to the existence and sovereignty of our country and the aspirations and self determination of the people of Somaliland, we all know it’s the simple and only thing that counts among many other things that we may hold a different view. The future is as bright as we make it! We ought to fight for what we believe in!

God Bless the Republic of Somaliland and its Nobel people

By:  Architectural-Eng. Hussein Adan Igeh |Hussein Deyr |UK|