The author originally wrote and published this treatise in the summer of 2007. As the Awdal State project becomes more of a reality, the author decided to republish it.

Baki (Sunatimes) To my fellow Awdalites, a semi-autonomous Awdal province (emirate or state) is the only solution to enhance our standard of living. Economic development is impossible, unless we control our destiny. It is time for the worldwide Awdal community to realize this undisputed truth and push forward for a plan: the Awdal Movement.

If Somalia were a tree, than we, Awdalites, are the roots. The whole world knows about our previous civilization, the glorious Awdal Empire (Adal or Adel Empire). This was the first documented history of Somalia. Prior to the Awdal Empire, there was a land that Pharaoh Hatshepsut called The Land of Punt, which geographically lies in what would become the historic confines of the Awdal Empire. If she, Hatshepsut, or our beloved forefather, Sultan Ahmed Guray, were capable of seeing our current situation, they would be disgusted!

Why would they be disgusted? Reason being, a once proud and prosperous people are presently at the margins of history. How did we reach such inferiority? There are three main reasons. First, the Awdalites are disunited; bickering over petty inter-tribal problems (what I call Micro-Tribalism). Second, the Awdalites are unorganized, unable to move forward with a coherent plan for self-improvement. Third, and most importantly, the Awdalites have yet to be free to control their destiny.

After our glorious empire fell, we were viciously colonized. After that, we became the most ignored region in the Somali Republic, and presently, we are the poorest region in the unrecognized, separatist entity, colonial inspired, “Somaliland ”. We Awdalites love to brag about our intellect and how we are the most educated region. Some might even say that we are the highest per capita degree holders. But what good is knowledge when you are not conscious!

Comrades please do not misinterpret me, I am a huge fan of education, but what sense does it make to be educated and not truly conscious? Any economist will tell you that the most educated classes are usually well off, and conversely, the less educated are poorer. The more educated one becomes, the higher his income will be, and vice versa. So why does this economic law differ in Awdal? The answer is simple, presently Awdalites are second class citizens, and semi-autonomy is the only solution to fix our numerous problems.

As aforementioned, Awdal is currently the least developed province in the colonial inspired “Somaliland”. “Somaliland” is not recognized by any nation in the world, and rightfully so. International recognition is not only given to countries, but is also given to provinces and cities within countries.

Since “Somaliland” is not internationally recognized neither is Awdal or any cities within our province. What does this mean? This means that Awdal is hindering her economic development for the sake of the SNM agenda. How many Awdalites have died by the hand of the SNM, and how many women were raped? And we are hindering our economic development for the sake of the SNM, shame on us!

We all know about the human rights violations the SNM has committed against the humble people of Awdal. Every Awdalite has a family member who has died in the SNM “War of Atrocities”. We all know about the SNM inviting the Ethiopian enemy for assistance to rape our Awdal women and kill our Awdal children. We will never forget the ignominious invasion! So I ask again, why are we Awdalites hindering our economic development for the sake of the SNM and its agenda?

What is the SNM agenda? The SNM agenda is the colonial inspired “Somaliland”. The flag, army, institutions, and ambitions of “Somaliland” are those of the SNM. “Somaliland” is the SNM and the SNM is “Somaliland”, this is fact accepted by every conscious Awdalite. To “Somaliland”, the SNM are heroes, but to conscious Awdalites, they are war criminals. So readers are you conscious or still asleep?

The proponents of SNM/”Somaliland” say that they have a right to independence because they were attacked by the Barre regime. In that case, so does Awdal! Was she not attacked by the SNM? To say she does not deserve independence and “Somaliland” does is hypocritical. And if any Awdalite disagrees, than I charge him/her with flamboyant cowardice!

There is another reason why the proponents of SNM/”Somaliland” claim independence. This reason is based on the British ordaining the jurisdiction. So my African brothers are using European Imperialism as justifications, how shameful. Nothing more needs to be said.

In conclusion, Awdal will never reach her potential and she will remain impoverish as long as she remains a “slave-province”. Slaves never reached their potential, not because they did not want to, but because their masters would not allow this. We must break our chains and free ourselves from the masters that lie in Hargeysa. We must only give our tax money to Borama (our capital and the “heart” of Awdal), never to Hargeysa. From this day on we must only follow Borama, never Hargeysa. Awdalites must become conscious of their situation and start to look after their interest. Hargeysa will never build a port in Awdal, they will never build a road in Awdal, so quit begging them like cowards! We must build roads connecting Awdal cities and towns to each other and the rest of Mother Africa. We must build a port in the “pride” of Awdal, Saylac. We must look within! We must declare Awdal to be semi-autonomous!

In Solidarity,

Aman H. D. Obsiye

*** Food for Thought ***

Currently, the UN, AU, and all international organizations and ever country officially sees Awdal as a province in the Somali Republic. We cannot get any international aid or assistance as a province in a “make believe country”. We must declare Awdal a semi-autonomous province (emirate or state), within the Somali Republic. By doing this, we can lawfully secure loans, aid money, and international assistance, to help enhance our living standards. If we try to do this under the guise of “Somaliland”, we will be denied, because this will go against international law and regulations. Awdalites do not destroy the future of Awdal and her children for the sake of the SNM and its agenda!