(Borama) About two years ago I wrote some opinion pieces on these pages on how the Somaliland project is not viable. It is obvious to anyone who is paying attention that the Somaliland borders are disputed from all sides. If there is one iota of dispute with un-demarcated borders and the rest of Somalia is unable or unwilling to cede any land to this secessionism project, then the prospect of recognition is far-fetched.

In essence, Somaliland as envisioned by the secessionists exists only on paper. Specifically, the borders on its East and the West are both in dispute and undetermined. While many knew the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn were not practically and politically part of Somaliland and geographically hotly contested, they did not know that the region of Awdal was in a similar bind.

Allow me to quote one of my opinion articles two years ago, “If Dahir Riyale Kahin who hails from Awdal is removed from his leadership in the current administration whether by the ballot or by the bullet and especially if Somaliland was recognized, the Awdal region will undoubtedly seek a separation.” Well, Somaliland is still unrecognized but within a year of my writing, Riyale Kahin did leave by the ballot. Almost immediately, Awdalites who were not sold to the secession project all along saw the true face of the separatists. For many years, the Awdalites were complaining publicly and privately about the underdevelopment, underrepresentation, polarization, encroachment, nepotism, corruption, injustice, undemocratic values and many other ills you can imagine. When the new administration was formed in Hargeysa in mid-2010 all the maladies of the secession project came to the fore. The simmering tension in Awdal and many other places came to a boiling point. The Awdalites felt that the little respect and representation they had while one of their own was leading the Hargeysa administration, evaporated almost overnight.

The Awdalites have a rich and proud history. They belong to one of the oldest empires in the world covering a large swathe of the Horn of Africa. Just like the Kurdish and the Ogadenis were geographically divided by powers past and present, the inhabitants of Awdal suffered through the hands of colonialism and neo-colonialism. They had a functioning system of government and a prosperous sultanate more than a thousand years ago. It is my belief that Awdal is not only the birthplace of the Somali people but also the incubator of Somali nationalism. The Awdalites brought us Ahmed the Left-Handed who is in my opinion one of the founding fathers of the Somali nationality. While Ahmed Gurey as he is known was more of a Muslim warrior than a Somali one, nonetheless he has inspired countless freedom fighters throughout the centuries. The Awdal region is both rich in resources and has rich cultural significance to Somalis and Muslims as a whole. Let us hope that a future Somali government will protect the heritage sites in Awdal most notably the ruins of the Muslim sultanate of Adal including some of the oldest mosques in the Muslim world.

Earlier this year, the North American Somali Diaspora from Awdal gathered in various cities and declared the birth of Awdal State — a regional administration that is part and parcel of the Republic of Somalia. They shunned the idea of separatism and ridiculed the concept of a Republic from the former British Protectorate as dead on arrival. Almost immediately there were proclamations of Awdal State in many cities around the globe. There were even demonstrations in support of Awdal State in the region of Awdal itself. The Hargeysa administration was in a panic mode. They dispersed the demonstrators and arrested several people. They pressured the local Awdal politicians and traditional elders to pledge allegiance for the secessionism cause. While some politicians on the Hargeysa payroll did affirm their support for Somaliland, many traditional elders refused to dismiss out-rightly the Awdal State movement. Since the Somali Diaspora from Awdal almost in its entirety is in support of Awdal State, the elders were wise enough not to burn their bridges.

As usual for an occupier, the Hargeysa administration and its cohorts abroad overreacted after the formation of Awdal State. They dismissed Awdal State as a fantasy and the creation of a few restless youth in foreign lands who have no connection to the region they purport to represent. When the Arab spring was in a full swing earlier this year, their autocratic leaders made similar diatribes in order to discredit the revolutionaries who were crying for freedom. I believe that with the birth of Awdal State, it is the beginning of the end for autocrats, despots, and dictators in Somali lands (no pun intended). This is the dawn of the Somali Spring. It will also create a chance for the reformulation, reviving and reunion of the Somali nation state. If I may quote again another piece I have written, “There is a huge talent and intellect in Northwest regions of Somalia. These talents played a gigantic role in the creation and independence of Somalia. They will no doubt play even a bigger role in reviving and reuniting Somalia.”

The era of oppressive and out of touch regimes that perpetually stomped their feet on the average man is (almost) over. This is an era of justice, freedom, democracy, accountability and self-reliance. It is time for communities to start developing their own lands, exploiting their own resources, building their own infrastructure and setting up their own administrations. History and recent experiences has taught us that top-down approach to politics and policy-making in Somalia will not work. The new order that is sprouting all over the world is the bottom-up approach where policy and decision making is made at the grass roots level. There is a common phrase here in America that states, “All politics is local.” Meaning that local communities and constituencies will choose their leaders based almost entirely on the local issues that affect their everyday life, such as healthcare, education, economic development or employment, and infrastructure.

A few weeks ago, the Awdalites from all corners of the world and from all walks of life convened in London to elect the leadership for the new State. I wish them well. I pray that the new administration will free their people from the shackles of injustice and the cycles of poverty. I hope that they will serve their people justly without fear or favor. When they install the new administration in their homeland, they should create a system where every Somali is welcome to live and invest in the State and every individual is treated equally in the eyes of the law.

The new leadership should go to Mogadishu as soon as is practical and gain the recognition and respect from the Federal Republic of Somalia. They should also go to Nairobi and meet diplomats from the EU office and the Western countries (U.S, Canada, U.K, Italy, Scandinavian countries), Arab League representatives and member States (U.A.E, Egypt, Saudi Arabia), and AU and some member States (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, South Africa). Last but not least, they should pay a visit to the United Nations Political Office for Somalia. Believe it or not the Capital of Somalia as we know it is Nairobi and the above mentioned actors or stakeholders control almost exclusively the politics, the policies, the borders, and the economy of Somalia. It goes without saying that you meet and greet the Somali Diaspora as a whole in select cities around the world and most of all, go to the homeland and mingle with the people you are suppose to serve. Good luck.

ByZakaria Farah

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