UnitedNations Meddling Threatens Somaliland Sovereignty

But the United Nations is using aid as a ploy tobring Somaliland under its control. And if the Somaliland people and theirelected leaders cave in to the UN’s manipulations; Somaliland as we know mightcease to exist.

However, Yonis is right that Ambassador Kayissues a  quarterly report about the intractablecondition of Somalia for the Secretary- General of the UN. But if you lookclosely at his report and compare it with the old reports about Somalia from 20years ago, nothing has changed. And nothing will change about Somalia (SouthSomalia), as long as the United Nations and other international aidorganizations promise and deliver more aid to the Southern Somali clans, who areinterested more in receiving aid than peace and reconciliation.

Last year, President Silanyo showed guts forrefusing the United Nations mission in Somalia with its acronym UNSOM, to openan office in Somaliland. But the blunder of his foreign Minister, Yonis, a formerUN bureaucrat himself, inviting his old friend Ambassador Kay back to Somaliland,is sending a mixed message.

What has changed politically over the year?

As far as we know, the UN still clings to thefiction that Somaliland is a part of Somalia. And the UN is obsessed withprotecting the sanctity of the territorial integrity of a war torn countrywhere billions of US dollars in training and financing of Somali and Africantroops from eleven countries thus far have failed to impose order.

In fact, the UN is actively forcing Somalilandboth politically and diplomatically back into a dysfunctional “United” Somalia.The UN does not care about the Somaliland’s people aspiration for nationhood. It is not interested ourconstitution, government or what we have achieved for the last two decades. Itis hostile towards to our cause. And, it views Somaliland as an obstacle to itsown plan in Somalia.

Somaliland is at a crossroads. The Somalilandpeople cannot go about business as usual. We have to make a tough choice: weeither defend our freedom and independence or submit to the demands of the UNbureaucrats. Somaliland’s independence cannot survive if we follow to the UNSOMpath. The path our foreign Minister, Yonis, is advocating in backroom dealsunder the guise of bringing aid.

The real purpose of the UNSOM isnot to advance peace, rule of the law and human rights in Somaliland.Somaliland already has law and order. In May 2001, the will of the people wassupported in a referendum by more than 90 percent of the population. Somaliland is a sea of calm in a region infested withbloodshed, violence, bad governance, and terrorism.  Somaliland does not want UNSOM nor does itneed its aid.

But whatthe Somaliland people want is the UN to follow its principle it was createdfor—preserving world peace and stop taking sides in Somalia’s multifacetedpower struggle, by backing one faction of Somalia’s civil war, under the guiseof defeating the extremist group, al-Shabab.

Moreover,Somaliland’s independence is legal because self determination is thecenterpiece of international law. In fact, The Article I of the United Nations Charter states clearly that the main purpose of the UN is to“develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle ofequal rights and self determination of people,”

The UN’sactions in Somalia make peace and justice a mockery. As Lenin said before,“Words are one thing. Actions are another.”

The UN needs to understand thatSomalia’s (south Somalia) Clans need a massive genuine political reconciliationbefore they need a UN drafted constitution, fictional federal states,President, Prime Minister and parliament. A quick political fix, foreignmanipulations, and aid dependency will not work.

During a visit to Somalia’scapital, Mogadishu, Mark Lyall Grant, Britain’s UN Ambassador, said,“Members of the security expressed their expectation that the Somali governmentwill urgently establish an independent electoral commission, lead process torevise the constitution, hold a referendum on it by the end of 2015,”

After that referendum, if ithappens, would the UN Security Council recognize the results by the 4 millionSomaliland people to determine their own political future democratically by aballot box in 2015?

Indeed, Somaliland also needs achance to decide its own fate and opportunity for investment and trade, andbetter life for its citizens.

For two years, Somaliland andSomalia held endless talks—which went nowhere–to decide on their future relationship. Somaliland also cooperated with the UN, butit has achieved nothing politically in return.

For now, it is time forSomaliland to stop engaging with the UN and the Somali government it isbacking. But when the UN and the Somali government and its western backersaccept the rights of Somaliland to decide its own political destiny—if thathappens–Somaliland should talk with them. Neither the UN nor Mogadishu isready for a peaceful and sustainable diplomatic solution for Somalia’sconflict.

Why should the UNbureaucratics determine the future of Somaliland?

That future, if the UN’s ‘RoadMap” for Somalia succeed; Somaliland would come under the rule of a puppetgovernment in Mogadishu—where chaos and corruption prevails. It is risky.  President Silanyomust stop the charade before it is too late.