EDITORIAL (Halbeeg News) – In 2011, Somalia and Somaliland had started talks to decide their fate barely 21 years after Somaliland declared to have seceded from the rest of Somalia.
Nine years down the line, no tangible progress has been achieved by the sides yet.
The process of the talks had been on and off for all those years, having impact on the outcome of previous talks.
Topics discussed by the sides in the sessions before the government of Farmajo in came to the power, were limited, according to sources privy to the discussions.
Among things avoided to be discussed is issues related to the session of Somaliland and Somalia’s re-unity. That why many believe this undermined the progress of the talks as the sides did not negotiate over their differences.
Cause of Somaliland’s severance
In 1991, Somaliland announced to have broken with Somalia which formerly consist of former British Somaliland Protectorate (northern) and former Italian Somaliland (southern).
The factor that influenced Somaliland to declare Secession was said to had been caused by alleged mass killing by Mohamed Siyad Barre’s region. But the massacre was deflected to had been executed by the southerners.
While others believe that factor of the secession was not caused the alleged massacre but was caused by ill power sharing between the southerners and northerners.
Some politicians and analysts in Somaliland argue that southerners politically marginalized their counterparts in North of the country with some northerners deeply disappointed at how the power and resources were shared among the regions but this could not be the major factor of the secession thought it could be one of the factors forced the northerners not think about the re-unity after 30 years hiatus.
Therefore, it could be said that the secession by Somaliland is a message informing the southerners ‘Remember what you did to us.’ On the other side, the leaders of the southerners had not yet realized to feel sympathy for their counterparts by mulling their concerns.
The former Italian colony (Southern Somalia) attained its independence on July 1, 1960 and on the same day it merged with the former British Somaliland Protectorate (northern Somalia), which had obtained independence five days earlier on June 26. Northern did not table any condition over merging with the rest of Somalia.
The main aim of politicians and freedom fighters from the northern was to see unification of the greater Somaliland – Somalia’s northern, Southern, Djibouti, Somali Western region (under Ethiopia), and northerners Frontier Districts (under Kenya). Therefore, it was reported the northerners did not negotiate with their southern counterparts over power sharing.
However, the leaders of the southern allegedly took the top positions of the government including the president and the prime minister, leaving their northern brothers with nothing.
This incident made the northern to feel being marginalized and henceforth not satisfied with feedback of what they offered to their southern brothers.
Combination of alleged marginalization and anger had culminated in the birth of Somali National movement (SNM) IN 1981, which started armed movement against the government led by then president Mohamed Siyad Barre. After the fall of the military regime led by Barre, the northerners then declared secession.
Solid talks
The alleged massacre in Somaliland could be resolve, should the sides focus on real dialogue. Meanwhile, the sides are also needed to underscore a factor which could have future impact on both sides, “power sharing”.
However, the current government is trying to carry out alternative method to resolve the difference between Somalia and Somaliland.
The government wants the dialogue to focus on the status of Somaliland and Somalia. Farmajo’s administration had discussed the issues with Somaliland’s closest Ally, Ethiopia.
According to sources privy to the development, Ethiopian Prime minister, Abiy Ahmed who had been struggling to iron out the conflict in Horn of Africa region had severally discussed with Farmajo over the re-unification of northern and southern Somalia.
On 11th February, President Farmajo had met with Somaliland leader Muse Bihi in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The two discussed on the process of dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland.
On 13th February, President Farmajo publicly apologized to the people of Somaliland over massacres by former autocratic regime of Siad Barre in the late 1980s in an unprecedented move not before taken by former presidents.
Farmajo said the atrocities committed by Siad Barre regime should not be construed as an act by the south or clans therein but rather one by the then government. Days later, the move was welcomed by the leader of Somaliland.
Plans to reunite, to forge coalition rule
The following week, reports confided by reliable officials indicated that president Farmajo would visit Hargeisa along with Ethiopian PM to pave the way for the talks but later on, another confirmed that president assigned PM Hassan Ali Kheire to lead the process to hold talks with Somaliland leaders.
On 18th March, PM Kheire travelled to Addis Ababa to discuss with his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Abiy Ahmed over his country’s role in the talks between Somalia and Somaliland. The leaders also talked about means to convince Somaliland in acceleration of the re-unification process of the two regions.
The plan of the government is said to be bringing Somaliland stakeholders on board by giving them of one the top seats, whether it is the presidency or the premiership, in order to iron out the concern of Somaliland.
Source add that to fulfill that either the president or the PM will step down to give chance Somaliland and the re-unification of the country.
Some of the perceptions propose that Somali leaders to conduct power sharing with Somaliland before re-unification and all concerns by Somaliland to be resolved within two years.
During a meeting in Hargeisa attended by all leaders of ruling and opposition parties, Somaliland stakeholders discussed the existence of Somalia-Somaliland talks brokered by Ethiopia.
Somaliland leader, Muse Bihi had recently weeks been busy holding meetings with the region’s traditional elders by telling them the progress achieved during talks with Somalia.
Sources also said Somali PM, Hassan Ali Kheire and Somaliland Muse Bihi regularly hold call conference.
Conclusion
Should talks between Somalia and Somaliland successfully complete before Farmajo’s term lapsed, it would be a major milestone and one main political achievement secured by Nabad & Nolal.
It also will play very important role in completion of the provisional constitution of Somalia. The re-unification would make the country complete and strong one.
On the side of Somaliland, the challenges affecting the future of the region’s youth would come to an end. Despite relative peace and good governance, Somaliland has been effective by international sanctions on Somalia.
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