Notion of nation: Somaliland versus Somalia;

Notion of nation: Somaliland versus Somalia; By:  Abdi Ali Jama

Arab people constitute one ethnic nation because they share one language, culture and history, but they are not actually one nation state.  Similarly Korean people share all the above mentioned features, yet there are two states for Korean people, North and South. Moreover,  in the case of Koreans, we are talking about one single race compared to Arabs who are one ethnic but not one race. in contrast, there are also many states in the world whose citizens are multi-ethnic, multi cultural and multi-lingual. Therefore, there is no relationship between ethnicity and statehood.

There is difference between sovereign state and ethnic nation. Somalis in Ehiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somaliland make one ethnic nation but they do not practically share one state. The great Somalia was the aspiration for which Somalilanders, in my view, sacrificed a lot to materialize it but in vain. However, in the  context ol geopolitical regional circumstances and failures inherited from the unification, there is no reason Somali people in the South grumble if Somaliland people insist on separation.

However, I am not playing down common denominators that Somali people share as one ethnic nation: Language, culture, religion; rather, I do value them much. What I am trying to elucidate here for Somalilanders and other Somali people is to stop confusing between the issues and to understand that Being Somalilander does not necessarily mean you are not Somali or you have nothing to do with Somalis. In Fact, it is the opposite; we are Somalis more than any other Somali people in Djibouti or Ethiopia or Kenya.

On the other hand, I would like to say to Somalia people In Mogadisho and Bosaso, We are not asking for impossible thing. We would have been by now a separate Somali state like Djibouti, had we not rushed wholeheartedly to Mogadisho for the sake of Great Somalia(the sacrifice, remember).  My advice to you is to accept Somaliland as a separate state.

This is not only for the best interest of Somaliland, but yours also does lie there. Didn’t you know that the rest of the world would not accept one more Somali state for different reasons?   EGAD would not accept three Somali states: Djibout,  Mogadisho and Hargeisa, let alone AU and other circles.  Somalis represented in three states!!!that is what would worry them much!! The representatives from Addisababa and Nairobi might become Somalis as well -if you see what I mean-.  is that a Somali strength or weakness?  It is indeed strength for all of us.  Imagine all EGAD representatives being Somalis except Sudan which happens to be also another brother in many respects. By the way, didn’t you know that there are many international legitimate ways, through which you can speak for and even assist the people you share ethnicity, culture and religion, even if they are citizens to other countries.

In 1960, Somalilanders took the initiative and welcomed the unification with open hands. It is you turn to do the same and welcome Somaliland as a separate state taking into account the difficult changes that Somali people have gone through and geopolitical circumstances that surround us. Wait a moment; shut your eyes--if you don’t mind-- for a while and listen to your feeling; Do you get the hunch that--- in contrast to the independence days of 60s when unification was the popular trend among the five Somalis--- time has now come to get the process reversed and change direction. If you do so, let us get together and design new Somali nation.

This is applicable not only to Somaliland and Somalia, but to all five Somalis across the board.  For instance, as far as I know, even Somali Ethiopians who used to be more enthusiastic in achieving great unified Somalia are far less interested in the idea than never before, let alone other Somalis. I wonder, if Somali Ethiopians ever remember that Hargeisa and Mogadisho sacrificed everything they had for the sake of them and still paying the bill which was so extremely expensive and backbreaking. Dear brothers, Is it fair to just opt out of the dream of Great Somalia and keep silent?. I believe you can help us sort out the problem, simply by saying to Mogadisho and Bosaso guys: no more Greater Somalia; A happy farewell party. FULLSTOP!!!!!

The other choice Mogadisho and Bosaso guys have is to insist on the other way round overlooking the circumstances and where Somali interest lie, getting stuck in short-sighted, non strategic, feud based politics; and hence, we will all end up into lose-lose situation instead of win-win. A  Somali proverb says: Fulayaw guuli kuu dhawaydaa. Another one says: Sidaan kugu lisay, iigu maad hambayn.      

I hope you will opt for the better and save Somali ethnic people from further degradation and ordeal; that is, moving forward in the right side of history and not backward, so that we will be grown up and put full stop to the rudimentary politics that led us to the disgusting ugly face of Somali People all around the world.

 I know this is not easy for you; it is a huge challenge to the traditional way of thinking; it is a change of attitude; but believe me, it is worthy and rewarding to all of us across generations.

Abdi Ali Jama

Hargeisa

Abdirrahman99@hotmail.com