Yusuf Garad; A Biased Man Not To Trust
Doubtless most of Somaliland readers thought Yusuf Garad’s article of one of compliment, but it wasn’t, in my readings in Yusuf Garad’s article was fully descriptive about the recent, fundamental concessions and compromises Somaliland has made since its creation of two decades ago and the subsequent loopholes, while many innocent readers took the opposite for seen a man whom they mistakenly thought Mr. Garad has praised. Unfortunately, his propaganda against Somaliland has been unwittingly spread in Somaliland newspapers by naïve guys in my judgment. Let us take his chronology seriously for the sake of argument, his comparisons of different foreign ministers who had worked in different situations and circumstances is like comparing chickens with onions, however; the analogy of foreign ministers was utterly disgusting because they have no similarities at the well, but the whole point of his article, I think is to portray to digestive readers of how far Somaliland has conceded her so called principles: No Talk To Somalia or Sitting in Conference With Somalia, his article also hinted Somaliland to sit down with Puntland is not impossible. He also revealed Somaliland is about the individualistic attitudes of the ministers that guides the nation rather than a blueprint of foreign policy or constitutional law
Like The Three Nos Conference which held in Khartoum after the State Israel is created, and the birth of PLO, but as the time went by, the Palestinians unbelievably compromised everything they preached or claimed to own to an extent close to surrender when they hit a brick wall, in fact, his prejudiced article was leading us to believe the same notion. “Somaliland ex-foreign ministers used to disdain to sit with Somali officials” is utterly absurd. Somaliland ex-administrations had no opportunity to talk to Somalia as they mired in chaos and bloodshed and the absence of legitimate representative for all Somalis internationally. That is a raw fact.
Little history about Yusuf Garad, a diehard unionist with strong tribal tendencies, a notorious for championing for his tribe’s warlords over the legitimate government of Abdilahi Yusuf, who, in his capacity as BBC Somali editor, waged the most wicked media campaign against Somaliland ever met using the two innocent Professors, the Samatars as instrument to achieve his sinister: long term political goals: to devour Somaliland and reduce to minor region like Bidoaland. His damages are beyond repair and his hostile slogans like “self-declared republic” still haunts us. His ill feeling against the self-determination right by Somaliland public was clear in his tone till to this day, and I think Mr Garad seems unbelieving of his tool Prof. Samatar converting to a cause they spent so much time to hate, dismantle ,and avow to reduce to nothing! But, God Willing, Somaliland still here despite media campaign from the biggest and most respected radio Somalis believe its broadcasting. Yusuf Garad’s hostility towards Somaliland came to light when he dared to utter foolishly that Southern Somalis who fled the Ethiopian military campaign in Mogadishu to their brotherly people of Hargeysa, are regularly oppress in Somaliland to tarnish our image! The myth he was trying to make was that Somaliland is hell for Somali asylum seekers which is not true. If war broke out in Paris, French refugees would be welcomed despite religious difference. At this moment, Syrians had flooded to Somaliland and no one harms them.
His saying Somaliland officials accepted to sit with Somali counterparts is open to many negative interpretations and myths.
MYTH # 1. Somaliland ex-foreign ministers looked for diplomatic solutions beyond Mogadishu thinking Somalia dispensable but the incumbent party officials finally realized no more options and all ROADS GO TO MOGADISHU.
MYTH # 2 his referring to Asmara talking Addis or Juba to Khartoum and replica solution is the only exit solution for Somaliland was very selective but deliberately ignoring of East Timor case which the West not just told Jakarta to pull out her forces from the territory but her senior military commanders be accountable to atrocities they committed during the campaign. No one certain Somaliland-Somalia Talks will have happy ending for both sides. It is impossible the talks please both sides. And already it pleased Mogadishu when tiny office of joint airspace under the name of Somalia is based in Hargaysa.
MYTH # 3 Knowing the cesspool of tribalism had cracks as a result resurfaced when the tribe-led Kulmiye won but Mr. Garad made look better when it already rotten, therefore; he made dishonest analogy of foreign ministers just to create further clannish discord to make the matters worse, the least important wicked intention he could do.
MYTH # 4 talks became productive, and conclusive, so the recognition is imminent with next Talks in Turkey which is may not be true, in fact, the opposite is very likely, because the outgoing foreign minister mislaid the foundation of a fair game and incoming foreign minister has a lot to do if in charge of bilateral negotiations which I think he is not.
MYTH # 5 hypocritically displaying himself as someone concerned with the well-being of the Somaliland public, which again he is not.
However, imagine Yusuf Garad, who dismissed Awke, and Adisalan Harari, senior journalists at the BBC, due to ethnic hatred, being president of Somalia. What would happen to us? Who will survive? Everyone knows who Yusuf Garad is unless you are naïve. When I saw his article in our little world and so called editors unquestionably published it like a great piece of work, it turned my stomach. But I know Yusuf is a great scholar and seasoned journalist who is capable to make you believe every word he says “… Reading is an act of engagement and participation. It also, simultaneously an act of clarification and discovery” Jeffery D. Hoeper, but do not take everything for its face value.
By Abdirahman Mohamed Dirye