The Silanyo Regime on the Dock: Alarm Bells of a Likely Danger to Democracy?.. Muse Farah Nuur

 

“Our lives end the day we become silent about things that matter”
Martin Luther king Jr.

The expectations that people  had of this government  was perhaps great but short lived. Since it was elected nearly two years ago people witnessed many strange things. The first sign that people noticed was apparent erosion in the nationhood ethos that previous successive Presidents and their  administrations often used to instill in the people.

 The current President, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud, ‘Silanyo’ has no qualms  about what kind of perceptions people make of his administration.
 Immediately, after coming to power he delegated undue powers to his own clans man who was neither experienced in politics nor attained  education. Though initially given the post of Chief of Cabinet,   other Ministers nevertheless queued to his office  because  it was obvious that his office wielded extra powers.  After all, power is about using  it or delegating it. In this case, almost all powers were passed to the Chief Cabinet

When  it   became rather embarrassing  for the Ministers to queue to the Chief Cabinet  the latter was elevated to  become Minister of Presidency so there will be an excuse for the Ministers to seek his audience. He is after all closer to the President than anyone else.

Until now the three Heads of State that preceded President Silanyo refrained from anything that could  be interpreted by the public as  clan favourtism and most certainly were not prepared their clans man Minister wield more power than his colleagues in the cabinet. With Silanyo, new backward  culture has begun. Yet, ironically, the President has more academic achievements than his three predecessor. People noticed this discrepancy just after he won the election and his standing as a statesman received serious dent. The Presidents willful disregard of the sensitivities to clanism  in the context of Somalis is rather baffling.

The President also showed marked preference with people of very low political  knowledge .  As an educated man,  people assumed that he will seek the services of the best and brightest of Somaliland who are surely available in the country and abroad. Nothing of that kind he did. His inner circle are people with the least education. What is the reason for that? Two things comes to mind. He is not the intellectual and cultivated man people thought  he was or he has not enough strength to face  blame for policy decisions  and wants people to  target their anger to  those  that  work for him.

The  actions  of the President  are most probably deliberate. He wants people to blame those around him for all the undemocratic and illegal polices that emanate from his office. Let people blame the ignorance of the  poor Minister of the Presidency for all the ills  could be his strategy. You often hear people saying the President is not aware and all these faults are the work of the Minister.
 But this cannot go on like this, even if the Minister concerned do political debacles,  it is the President that is ultimately responsible. The buck stops at him. He is after all the elected President.

But that also never diminishes the role of Ministers and advisors. If you give money to  a man  with  three years of education  and ask him build  the likes of  Burj of Dubai, you  will surely envisage the likely disaster to happen. But while the disaster  could only be the obvious collapse of the building, before it reaches the second floor, lack of education and experience of politicians who influence the lives of a  whole population  can  be  a  catastrophe   that a  nation cannot  recover. That is why it very important  the most experienced and educated person should be selected to highest political  offices of the country.

Nations who excel in  progress are lead by the most brilliant among their people,  in many cases we are opposite of that.  Just take an  example, when in  2003 the terrorist killed GTZ Kenyan woman and injured a  German man, then the  Minister of Interior accused the people of East Burao as suspects before any investigation was made.  The country was then surprised  when people of East of Buaro  actually caught the terrorist  in Dhoqoshey after  a  serious fighting that took hours.  

A week ago, the present Minister of Interior implied that those who shot the Judge could be ‘those who were talking in the media’. He was referring  relatives of the three officials  sentenced for corruption. What  prompts Ministers jump to conclusions  before any investigation is made? The answer is the Ministers do not understand their role,  that of courts, and police. They do not subscribe  to the idea that man is innocent until proven guilty  by a court of law. In their misguided actions both of these Ministers harmed the cause of peace in Somaliland. But ordinary people are wiser than them.

Another retrogressive policy that President Silanyo embarked  on, is inclination towards satisfying men with money even if  that takes to break the laws of the country. A case in point, was his unlawful granting of monopoly to undersea internet cable to the Djiboutian tycoon, while denying the right of competition  to local businessmen  who unlike the Djiboutian man that was using Djibouti as a base   were  directly bringing the cable to Berbera.

Dahabshiil company owner, hitherto modest and hardworking man known for  accommodating different clan interests is now very much identified with Silanyo  administration and his Minister of Presidency who is incidentally his  own cousin. The name Dahabshiil  comes back in variety of obscure deals that smacks opportunistic use of state powers   

But perhaps still  the most worrying  aspect of Silanyo’s reign, is his attitude to democracy which  he  obviously  used in coming to power. The remark that ‘we shall use the Guurti in our turn’ he allegedly  told former SNM commander Ibrahim Dhegaweyne and others when they  reminded him  of  the expiry date of Guurti term, is very telling about his inner attitude towards democracy he so much talked  about during Rayale regime.

New Registration Committee
Those of us closely watching the events at home where dismayed when President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo created  new committee for the registration of political associations, while the competent Electoral Commission  who  managed the election he won and put him in power  in 2010 were at his disposal. Political observers  of Somaliland who know President Silanyo well, predicted his plans to scrap the  National Commission and replace them with  this newly created  Registration Committee. That predication has not yet materialized but given the way the Registration Committee arbitrarily failed political associations  the suspicion is not farfetched.

Many of the  Registration Committee lacked experience and competence of running serious a job  like creating systems and procedures for approving associations or parties. The ultimate product of their work is now in the news. They made a verdict  which is so messy and which created political  conflict  that is now in  court. Indeed, after they made their  decsion they totally  disappeared and switched off their mobile phones only to reappear after several weeks when their bizarre behaviour became  too embarrassing  for the government.  Even when they reappeared  they did not give enough explanation to the failed  political associations of what they based their decisions.  

While the granting of monopoly of undersea Internet cable was against the law that allows free market, the creation of the registration committee was in its inception at fault with the law that created it. Article three of the law of the organisation of  political associations  and parties says registration  Committee shall consist of seven (7) members and at least one of them must be a trained lawyer. (this law was broken. None of the  registration committee is lawyer. One of them is said to have studied law  for 6 months without any previous background of law)

The laws says members of the committee  ‘Must be educated, at least, to first degree University level (none  of them has any first degree)

The  law says the members of the committee,  ‘Must have a work and administration experience of at least five (5) years;  (many of them  lack that experience)

Fourthly,  the law says The legal scholar  in the committee must fulfill the other requirements for the selection of Supreme Court judges. The  man masquerading as having requirements of the selection of supreme court is not even a lawyer and never finished a university of any kind.

The fifth break of the law is two members of the registration committee were members of political parties in last parliamentary elections of 2005  and as is the practice in Somaliland will replace any of their party member in  parliament who is  deceased and in which by vote number they were next to him or her. In the same article three of  the law, it says “The Republic of Somaliland shall have an independent national level Committee which will be responsible for the Registration of Political Associations and Approval of National Parties’. Can a known party men be independent? There are other places in the law that the committee did not adhere to or simply invented one  like counting supporters of the Political Associations.

Why  President and his advisors create such  registration  committee while independent and competent people can be found all over Somaliland and even abroad or when the present Electoral Commission can easily fulfill the job. The answer can only be that the President wanted a committee  that  he can  manipulate. Nothing else

What sort of parliament will approve of a committee  that have all these contradictions with the law? What kind of President will sign a law that is already broken?. Are there grounds of perjury? A country cannot have law and expect its citizens to follow and another law for the high and mighty to flout as they please. Here  lies seeds of impending conflict if not redressed in a judicious manner. Somalis said long ago  ‘Rag Cadaalad waayaa sidii cawsha kala yaace’   which more or less means  “Men failing to get justice flee  to  different directions  as gazelles do”  The only thing the wise proverb does not add is when these men  flee they come back to fight  on the time of their choice. Injustice breeds conflict. To know that is not rocket science. It is very simple. All people know except those who  are blinded by  their  selfish pursuits

 Unlawful  detentions
A Poet, Haybe Farah Nur  of Gabiley  who used to be in the Somali National Movement (SNM) is imprisoned for producing poetry critical to Silanyo. He is in detention for many weeks now.  This practice of imprisoning poets  belongs to the era of Siad Barre.  It is  really abhorrent and should never be tolerated. The practice is not only  against the constitution of Somaliland that subscribe to freedom of expression but  even against the culture of tolerance of Somalis to poets that predate the UN declarations of rights of man.

Many Somalis will know the encounter between Ismail Mire and Arab Dheere (in early 1920s)  who was colonial  officer  entrusted with duties of suppressing dervish remnants that Ismail Mire figured high.  The latter was invited to a ceremony  to recite his poetry.  He agreed but made it conditional, he recites on his free will and as he likes.  He was  given  the assurances. One of the most famous poem – ‘Ragow Kibirka waa Lagu Jabaa kaa hala Ogaado’  that went into Somali annuls of history was born that day.  The poem was  very   devastating to Arab Dheere who was however,  wise enough to tolerate the expressions of the famous poet and warrior. Arab did not stoop so lowly as  President Silanyo does now. Ismail Mire was not detained or harmed as was the tradition  among Somalis

Faisal Ali Waraabe
Faysal Ali Waraabe speaks straight and loud. Many times off the mark, sometimes on the point. He was quoted as saying “ I bet Silanyo implement ONE election properly  in his term”  There is plenty of things happening now that vindicate the above quote. No other President before him incarnated a traditional leader that long because he said something that is not quite so to him. Sultan Osman Burmadow is now imprisoned for months without any due process. Journalist are also often detained at will in rate that will soon surpass Rayaale’s 7 years also now

 It is true that the practice of journalism in Somaliland is inadequate and   needs  development. Journalism is profession that demands very wide education and technical knowhow. Though in many countries journalism is prestigious profession   many who call themselves journalists in Somaliland  have a rudimentary education and therefore have tendency to abuse the profession for their ends. Yet it is commonly understood  that ‘bad journalism is better than no journalism’.

Somaliland strength has always been about the freedom its people have  to express themselves . The carriers of these expressions where all the time our journalists and especially the print journalists. A country without vibrant journalism cannot build  up democracy. To become high in government  and public place  is to be criticized if there are reasons to do so. Any high official who does not understand  that is missing the point.  Anybody who do not want to be criticized  should avoid public person,  stay at home, and nobody will bother him.

Popularity of Dahir Rayaale
Former President Dahir Rayale Kahin enjoys unprecedented popularity  (though he too risks  squandering that if he does not stop disputes among his UDUB members) that is envy of many politicians in the continent of Africa. Wherever he goes he receives tumultuous applause equal to famous pop stars. Why? He implemented four elections, lost the last Presidential election , made a graceful  exit with a  courageous  speech  of conceding defeat. This struck a chord on the people  Somaliland. After his speech at inauguration many youngsters  were running after his car trying to  touch his extended arm.  That is why he is now welcomed everywhere he goes. The masses are the judge and their verdict is the ultimate. No politician worthy of a  name should patronize them or behave dictatorially.
 
Parliament
 Somaliland  House of Representatives (HoR) is emasculated through the use of small network of friends in the parliament and executive  who despise democracy if it is not serving their purpose.  But the ultimate responsibility of advancing democracy again lies with the President. Undermining the independence of the parliament   will ultimately be the undoing of the regime.

Somaliland people had very high expectations when the present members of the HoR were first elected  in 2005.  The parliament is now completely subservient to the executive body much to the frustration of those that elected them to represent their interests from often predatory  executive powers. All parliamentarians are  not sitting ducks though. Quite a number of them are not happy about the pitiful state that their important House  is transformed into. Three Kulmiye members in the HoR( Saeed Elmi Roble, Ibrahim Rayte and Ahmed Weyne) made a press conference lately  in which they essentially criticized the present regime for intolerance to criticism,  dominating the legislatures and interfering with decisions of courts especially  in regard to the  sentencing of  the three officials accused to diverting food aid   

Opposition
Democracy needs vibrant opposition if it needs to have any meaningful practice. It is incumbent for any government to nurture opposition with constructive criticism. Without lively opposition who will scrutinize its shortcoming? How can  the government  rectify its mistakes? The trouble in Somaliland context is UDUB is still led by the former President who is not behaving like opposition leader. In one of his last press conference, he said  “as former President  he will not put criticism to the government through the media but he will go the President directly  if he see him taking the wrong direction” That is very strange thing for an opposition leader to say. If he prefares that ‘gentlemanly’ position  he should  at least give a mandate to a spokesman who articulate  opposition  policies.

Other political observers give more cynical explanation. They say many UDUB high officials are guilty of  corrupt practices in their past  and therefore are  unlikely take on the government for fear prosecution.

 UCID leader was more vocal than all the opposition people but he too is silent because  his last criticism  of the policies of present-day government  touched the  raw nerve of the President prompting  late night reply. That leaves the new political associations to fill the gap. It looks some of the associations are bedfellows of the government and  therefore  not independent to  air their real  political positions. Those who are genuine  do not want to be strident  until  they qualify as political  parties. There is a fear that if they anger the government badly they would be disqualified.

 The only problem with the lack of confident opposition is it will encourage others fill the void. The  conferences that traditional leaders organize in the regions of late are   the symptom of  absence of  opposition  that  articulate the grievances of the public.
 
Corruption
Another alarming issue about Silanyo  administration is   its tolerance  to corruption contrary  to what most of the people who voted for it including myself thought before the election of 2010. The first test of Silanyo administration was its inability to halt prime land acquisition by certain Somaliland businessmen through shady deals that the previous government allowed. Though appointed committee to investigate these deals in the beginning, the government soon backed down.

 Then the government created anti Corruption Commission. Almost two years after its creation the Commission  is not approved by parliament. Why? The government does not want it. We all know many bills the government wanted were approved in one day. The one about piracy is an example.

The first Minister  accused of corruption was that of Water and Mineral Resources. It was believed that he got $500,000 as a  form of bonus signature from an oil prospecting company.  When then uncorrupt former Minister of Finance asked him  to take the money from his personnel account and put it in the Minister of Finance account,  disagreement began. The Minister of W and M.R. refused. “The money is for capacity building for the Ministry” he argued. The argument went to the cabinet who voted  in favour of him.  

The Auditor General was called to investigate about allegation of corruption in the Ministry of W and M. R.  The Auditor concluded his investigation and absolved the Minister.  Then  the Minister of Finance was dismissed for reasons that are not officially disclosed. After that the Minister of W and M and R  suddenly  presented a cheque of  $500,000 to the new Minister of Finance to deposit. Is this  new money  from another company or the old money that created the controversy? Nobody explained. But whole affairs  looks suspicious.

The former  Director General  of Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused his Minister for pocketing money earmarked for Somaliland ‘embassies’ abroad. Minister denied the accusation despite the Director possessing alleged  evidence. Again Auditor general was called in and again nothing came out.  The Director General was stopped from leaving the country after he was resigned from his post but  after few weeks he was allowed to leave the country

Now the third allegation of corruption concern the airport. There is rumour that Minister of Aviation granted contract to a man related to the President with a  fictitious construction company. The Minister is now said to be gathering  some construction equipment from Djibouti.  The issue was lately in the papers and people are closely watching the outcome of  this rather bizarre saga.

Few days ago, a  trial  of three government officials who were accused of  corruption was concluded with sentencing of two government officials. The three officials were  the governor of Hargeisa, Director General of Ministry of Rehabilitation and  an advisor to the Vice President. The three officials and others were accused of misappropriating food aid from Oman.  There is wide spread believe among the people in Hargeisa that the men  were set up after they stumbled into a wide scale scam that leads to the Presidency offices. The advisor of the  Vice-president is now released after he paid  a fine. He said he will write a book about the injustices visited upon him.

The case revealed that food was diverted but a lot of things are in the dark. What was the original quantity of the food. Who was it intended to? How many tons of the food are missing? Who took it and how much?. All these questions are not answered. Corruption is not only  crime that hinders progress of the society but  it is also against  human rights because  it is all about robbing people from what collectively belongs to them.  Corruption can also be  harmful to Somaliland peace-making as competition to illegally acquire resources breed animosities that leads to conflict   

There is now frenzy for land acquisition in the prime Sha’ab area  which prompted the Minister of Public Works to issue warning to those people  illegally selling government houses in the area or elsewhere. It is an irony that the Minister himself sold government house to a businessman for more than $200,000. True that was during the term of the previous government.  Is he  then the right man to issue warning or head the Public Works Ministry?. The Minister is not the only one that sold government property. The present Justice Minister and another man who is an advisor to the President were also said to have sold government houses during the previous regime. There are surely many other state property that are illegally sold though fortunately all the records are kept

Conclusion
The purpose of this article  is constructive criticism on the political practice of this  government. It is not intended to slander or defame anyone. I suppose the small things mentioned  are the tip of the iceberg and there are a lot of more sinister things going on. I like people to shed their attitude  of apathy and take  actions that prevent politically unwise decision that put us into the road to conflict. We shall not tolerate to all sorts of  dictatorial behaviour, injustices and corruption if we want to make our country a better place

 One thing is clear. If government tampers with the democratic process of the country by rigging votes in the coming local council elections  or even try to interfere with  the work of the Electoral Commission there will be serious problem to the  peace in the country. Respect for the will of the Somaliland people in elections not  enormously contributed to the cause of  peace but pulled the carpet under the potential warlords that often want to resolve disagreements through the force arms

Another flash point for trouble is  if the alleged corruption goes unchecked. Until before Silanyo’s regime the influence of tycoons to the successive administrations before was not noticeable. Former Presidents often dealt with local businessmen and even borrowed money to finance some businesses of state but they always  them  at arm’s length. They never allowed them interfere with legislations of the country or show illegal  influences.

The most frightening thing about Somaliland today is the apathy  that took hold of the people. There is general atmosphere of withdrawal which is dangerous.
There were many associations that were vocal  for the development of Somaliland for the last decade who are now for some  reason or other  silent. These include Somaliland Forum, Somaliland Societies in Europe, Somaliland Democracy Watch, Samotalis, Shuronet, Horn Watch, ISG, Somalilandlaws.org, Haatuf Group and many others. All these institutions together with the all independent media outlets contributed to the building up  Somaliland democracy that we all enjoy today. Their silence  about things that matter is not only morally wrong but great disservice to the Peace and Democracy in Somaliland.

 Those who care about  good governance in Somaliland can choose between becoming silent bystanders who expect  the ‘good things’ to happen or  becoming those who  shape the peaceful  and progressive policies. Failing to address important issues of our time will give a platform to other dark  forces that will undo all the peace and democracy invested in Somaliland.

Muse Farah NUR
Hargeisa