Is the ONLF tolerating intolerance? Response to Ayuub Mohamed’s The ONLF-has it failed the Somalis? By Sadiq A. Abdirahman

Sadiq Abdulahi Abdirahman
Dec 27, 2005

A couple of days ago, I read the above article with a great pleasure, and in the process somewhat gained a profound respect for the author. I have never had the need to respond to any article(s) via the internet before, nor have I ever had the desire to take the time to put my personal critique on them. My primary reason for doing so, and responding to this particular article, is to help the author become more versatile on the current affairs of the region and to help him develop the skills needed to become a well rounded individual who can examine the truth from both sides of the spectrum, while offering a none biased opinion to further assist a lasting solution for the complex history of this particular area of the world. I felt the article only gave away one-sided perspective and it came up little short on what the author could have accomplished. However, after finishing his summary, I picked out a couple of things from his main points. First, the author has great discontent with the name “Ogaden” and the ONLF for the same reason, which to him reflects the predominance of the Ogaden clan in the region and the support that the ONLF draws from most of its membership. The second thing he has issues with is the lack of qualified leaders/leadership within the Somali Region of Ethiopia. And finally the author acknowledges the need for unity amongst the Somali people in the region to come together and work for their regional interest.

It is not the first time, and of course, it will not be the last time, when someone will supposedly try to justify a case against the “Ogaden” name without any base or merit. One need look no further then this same article as an example to how difficult it is to find a reasonable justification to bury the name, while on the other hand trumping up a non existing one to the top. As a Somalian, I am always for the future name of Western Somalia, and of course, I can understand it gives a greater appeal and meaning to the whole region, especially for those who are not from the Ogaden clan. Furthermore, I would one day like to see greater Somalia become a reality. I am also not opposed to seeing a greater Horn as one country, if it is done, tastefully. That said, I subscribe to the realist point of view, and what I am trying to contradict here has nothing to do with my sentimental feelings of what we Somalis like to crave for, that is to envision no existing part of our country called “Westerner Somalia”. No matter how much I like to support that idea and dream about it, we must keep in mind at this time that frame of mind was, and still is a premature way of thinking, since this part of our country is with Ethiopia and cannot be called “Western Somalia”. Coming back to the author’s contradictory statements about the regional name, I will point you to some sentences from his intro- paragraph.

The Author states, “We need to look into the complex history of the region also called “Ogaden”. A name that hails from colonialism” The author here admits the name Ogaden is a relevant to depict the region as its name but writes it in a way that shows it is secondary to some other name which he does not tell us. He clearly indicates “The region also called the Ogden” What other name is it known for? Well, according to the author he does not address it at all except he chooses to say this “Somalis have lived in “Western Somalia” in the last 1000 years and Somali clans inhabit the Ogaden region” I am baffled about the contradictory meaning of these two sentences. Which is it? Did they inhabit the Ogaden Region, or they lived in the Western Somalia in the last 1000 years? If so, where is the Western Somalia the author envisions?

In a similar fashion there are so many contradictions against the ONLF and I am not sure why the ONLF does not take the time to rebuttal this type of misinformation that is being spread around by those who have a limited understanding or access to their organization. This reminds me of a proverb which says “It is hard to judge a book only by its cover” This may be true in this case. The author should not have judged the ONLF only for its name. Simply, the truth is their heading does exhibit the Ogaden name, but the author should have give them a chance to asses a fair input within his own article to examine their side too. Every story has two sides and I feel the author has overlooked and abandoned one side, creating lack of balance within his coverage. He has failed to view that the context in which the ONLF is fighting for is greater than the name it carries, and its universally accepted principle which all of the civilized nations, including Ethiopia, had pledged to uphold and respect for the need to attain freedom and justice for all its citizens. Those are the principles which are the beacon of hope and the driving force for the ONLF and the backbone for their desired change. I am of the mindset that the ONLF has other reasons it could be criticized for and they should always welcome it and take as sign of a good gesture or an opportunity for self- improvement or betterment. But others who criticize the ONLF primarily for its name are only doing so because they themselves are not able to see beyond their clannish mentality, which they lavish on the ONLF. I have always wondered if these people had ever tried to join the ONLF and if so how have they been treated? Why not try and see, and then write about it with informed facts imposing authority?

The ONLF came to being not because it fell out with the former Somali Government but because it understood, however painful it may be, the struggle for complete independence can only be attained by a self-representation of the Somali people in the Ogaden Region. This was seen as a direct challenge and contradiction to the policies of former Somali Government who wanted to dominate in good faith every aspect of the liberation front; whom it organized and equipped to further its own interest, a goal that the ONLF and others did not share with the Somali Government. Instead, they felt this unintended mishap provided a dangerous victory for Ethiopia who then succeeded to define the problem from an internal war for self-determination to a boarder war with a neighboring country Somalia who wanted to take away an Ethiopian land.

The ONLF has aged well, since the last time when both Somali Government and it is Ethiopian counterparts have tried to eliminate its independent activities by arresting its members at home and confiscating their passports overseas. The fact that we are here and discussing the ONLF is testimony in it self and unlike the author’s description as a meaningless hit and run organization that poses no serious treat to Ethiopia. I am not sure, if the author has visited the region or is aware of the recent peace initiatives undertaking by the Ogaden elders? Or if he has, listened to the numerous discussions from the Ethiopian or Somali communities in the Diasporas? About a year ago the Ogaden elders initiated a peace initiative between the ONLF and the Ethiopian government. I will not get into detailed accounts since this was a widely covered through media outlets and it would be a self-defeating purpose if I have to repeat it again. But the reason I have chosen to mention it is that the BBC Somali Services had conducted an interview with the ONLF leaders while they were in the region. What surprised anyone who might have listened to that coverage was the whereabouts of the leaders only 25 km away from Dhagaxbuur. This was a great accomplishment for any organization to achieve and a proof to their detractors to show them how well the ONLF can protect its leaders without any incursion from the Ethiopian Military. Furthermore it showed the manpower developed by the ONLF is far from a clan based that even the Tigray military loyalists, particularly their generals, are weeping from their graveyard.

It is hard to swallow from the comments coming from the ONLF opponents in the Region who are trying to use a smear tactics to alter the truth. The truth is this simple, The Ogaden and Ogaden National Liberation Front are two different entities regardless of their common name. It is true and no one here is to deny that the majority of the ONLF members or leaders do come from the Ogaden clan. And before one jumps to the conclusion let me say that at the same token, the majority of the ONLF adversaries are also from the Ogaden clan as well. The greatest obstacle to ONLF existence is from the Ogaden clan. Not from the other Somali clans in the Region. Comparable, the greatest obstacle to the other Somali clans is not the ONLF but their lack of constructive engagements on their own affairs and to further explain/understand what they really want without remaining an idle observer to their struggle. They must come up with clear objectives like the ONLF and for once stop bowing down to a brutal government who treats them no different from the ONLF supports. I have said it earlier, never judge a book by its cover. In order to seek truth one has to take the time to open the book and read its context. I feel if the Ogaden clan alone was united in their supports for the ONLF, Ethiopian troops would not have lasted a day. And likewise, if the other Somali clans residing in the region are able to draft a plan on their own accord and save some of their gas to metabolize badly needed oxygen to burn Tigrinya occupiers and watch their buds burn like a charcoal, that too would have worked wonders.

The difference between the Ogaden clan and the ONLF is that they follow two different concepts and systems. The latter has developed and followed its own constitution where the officers of their organization are elected through a democratic means of representation. Where the Ogaden clan is governed by its traditional clan personalities like the rest of their Somalia counterpart clan leaders do not have to undergo any type of checks and balances. Therefore some of these clan leaders of course not all, are ignorant about the purpose of the ONLF. Some clan elders are even far off from the radar and feel that the rights ONLF advocates to replace the current Ethiopia colonial system of government would also mean curving some of their own authorities. A few leaders, not all are fearful of the law. This is because it appears to them their services might not be needed anymore, which is not true at all. The people are grateful to their traditional leaders and they will always have a place in their heart. But now it is clear to all of us would be in favor of the rule of law over the traditional penal code. We are all tired of the abused and misused traditional clan system. They have broken our trust, taking away our dignity and sold it to Black Colonial the author refers to.

In contrary, the ONLF would like to reach the opportunity to give a self-determination vote to get hold of, where all Somalis in the Region can line up to exercise their god given rights and cast their veto on the behalf of their future. If the people then chose to be with Ethiopia then that would be up to them and it would mean the end of ONLF. If the people decide to succeed from Ethiopia then the ONLF has also done its job. But regardless of the outcome, they have attained their principle to give a voice to a voiceless society. I hope they would not have the desire to keep the name Ogaden since attaining their goal means one has the rights to govern and pick out any name they like to use. It is note worthy, that the ONLF willingly proposed a nine member committee from the regional parliament led by MP. Mahdi Ahmed Warsame who hails from “Shinnile” and was a member of the Issa and Gurgura Liberation Front. The committee was tasked to come up a name acceptable to the people, this happened first ever regional council meeting held January 21, 1993 at Diredewa. Even though, the ONLF had won the majority of votes and could have easily picked any name. The Somalis in the region should also know that they must also work same way. By sitting out and watching the struggle from their comfortable zones would be a grave mistake since the ONLF could simple secure its zones and request other to liberate their zones as well? Remember the Zones that would serve the most confrontational are not of those the Ogaden clan resides. Therefore, the other Somalis cannot expect to sit out the struggle now and expect the ONLF to secure their areas without lifting a finger, even though the ONLF is a nationalist organization and will never abandon any area belonging to Somalis.

Both the ONLF and the Ogaden Somalis have stayed away from Somali conflicts, while Somali clan warfare continues. Early on they have realized that Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopia is the heart of the Somali and Ethiopia’s problem and he too can be defeated. Regardless of its dominations or if any of their Somali counterparts do not join them the struggle to defend their country, they would still fight for and will not tolerate any of his regime’s brutality. By doing so they have decided to navigate peacefully between the Ogaden extremist who would like to see the ONLF change its approach and stop fighting against their own administration in the Somali Region, since almost all of the past and current elected regional presidents came from or belong to the Ogden clan. This is another proof to those other Somalis clans who have depicted the ONLF as clan based organization. Please ask yourselves, why in the world would the ONLF fight anyone including Ethiopia if their clan resides the largest territory within the Somali Region and they make up the single largest people in the area and the Government of Ethiopia has sought their help and even given them their preferential treatment to rule the region for the majority of times? Well, here is another reason why the book should not be judged on its cover. Because the ONLF is not a clan based organization and is not fighting for clan ideology and almost always are in contradiction to those of their own clan interest and some of the other Somali clans in the region who think along the clan mentality. The ONLF is motivated by the greater calling, a principle that speaks beyond both their clan interest and other Somalis limitation to appreciate the sacrifice made on their behalf. The ONLF has refused to bargain with their freedom and liberty for personal gains or clan interest. Regardless if anyone is listening. I am surprised how little these people are commended for their vision and struggle to achieve complete independence for all.

The Author also falls into pitfall of this type of mentality without doing his homework. He says “The dogmatic ONLF approach to the Somali masses in Somali Galbeed should really be questioned. No political organization has a right to hijack the struggle for freedom in Somali Galbeed” It is hard to swallow an educated individual who is head of his own class and a role model for others in his organization has lamented unfair criticism without clearly thinking through the awesome responsibility the ONLF has tried to shoulder, to carry forward what all Somalis have failed to do together, to defeat Ethiopia and liberate future home of Western Somalia. I am truly bothered by the fact that none of these people are willing to stand up and be brave enough to make one of two choices, either join the Ethiopian government and forget about freedom and liberation, or else join the ONLF and put them to the task and see first hand if this organization has any clan outlook or even tolerates it. If one really cares about their homeland they can form their own organization and develop a relationship with others who are like-minded. It is hurtful to speak ill of these brave souls who have refused to fight against their brothers and sisters of the Somali descent and after years of yearning for peace and prosperity from the Ethiopian government could no longer tolerate its human rights violations that exist until today. The Qabridahare and fooljeex incidents are still fresh in our minds since it accrued just last two month. The Regime’s brutality is now reached it worst, by shooting people even in Addis for all to see.

I agree with the Author that the leadership failure of the Somali Region is one of the primary concerns to all of us. It is a big factor on why the region is behind in every aspect of the socio-economic development and sustainable growth factors. Not to mention the lack of other necessities like enough trained Doctors who can provide a medical attention. Equip schools for the children to gain a valuable education needed. These factors did not just come around by itself. It is a systematically and constructed method developed by the central government of Ethiopia and applied by force. The recent election conducted in August this year is a testimony to the truth and basis for facts, as it has been reported by the EU and Carter Center there were no free and fair elections that took place in our region. The lists of wanted names were hand picked by the government Rep. Garbewahid. Just like the previous elections that took place in the region this one ended similarly as planned by Meles & CO. I also agree with the author that the Somali people in this region have to put their differences aside and work towards the betterment of their people. After all, a Somali is a Somali. We have to realize divided we fall, united we succeed. I hope you will take the time to not judge anything by its covers and read, analyze and evaluate beyond the covers and open a new chapter for those who are ONLF, which I feel they are being wrongfully criticized by both direction of the clan mentality. It is also my hope that the ONLF will better explain their position and reach out to the other Somalis in the region.

Good luck to you all,
Sadiq Abdullahi Abdirahman
Apple valley, MN.
Email: samericaano@yahoo.com