Resolve Ogaden Coalition advocates for the rights of the Somali people in the disputed Ogaden region of Eastern Ethiopia. As advocates for human rights, we feel it is equally our responsibility to voice our concerns over the inhumane brutality of Somaliland forces that for the last two weeks have carried out extensive military operations in the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) against a pro-Somali unity movement and the civilian population in those regions. The attempt by the Administration in Hargeisa to suppress the people of SSC by force while claiming to be struggling to achieve independence and secession from Somalia is very hypocritical and politically immature. Situated in northeastern Somalia, Somaliland declared its independence from the rest of Somalia after the fall of the Somali government in 1991. However Somaliland has failed to gain international recognition as a sovereign state.
Nevertheless, news reports from the SSC regions of northwestern Somalia have detailed massive strikes against SSC residents, particularly in the city of Buhodle, where pro-Somali unity forces have carried out military operations against Somaliland forces that have forcefully sought to govern the region.The Somaliland administration bases its borders on antiquated colonial-era boundaries drawn by the British colonial forces, Italians, and French who partitioned Somali inhabited regions among themselves. Shortly after obtaining independence in 1960, British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland joined together to form the Somali Republic. However, the inhabitants of northwestern Somalia (Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn) desire very much to safeguard Somali unity and have on numerous occasions voiced concern over the forceful division and occupation of the SSC regions by Somaliland forces, who seek to secede from Somalia. The attempt by pro-Somaliland clans to force the other clans that want to stay with their Somali brothers has no legal or moral basis and must be condemned by the rest of the Somali people in Somalia.
As stated in the past, Resolve Ogaden Coalition advocates for the right to self-determination for the Somalis of the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia. We also strongly advocate for the rights of oppressed people and nations throughout the Horn of Africa. In that same manner we strongly support the universal rights of the Somalis of SSC, which includes the right of assembly, free speech, and the ability of the people of SSC to determine their own destiny. These are human rights, and they cannot be denied through violence or suppression. Furthermore, it must be noted that the forceful expansion into the regions of SSC clearly violates the basic rights of the residents of SSC, who have made it clear that they want no part in Somaliland’s ideology of secession.
The Somaliland administration must recognize that unity through force cannot and will not bring about peace and stability in the region and will certainly not lead to Somaliland recognition. Furthermore, the people of SSC are entitled to their right to remain with the Republic of Somalia. Somaliland is urged to halt its military operations in the region and to adopt peaceful and democratic measures to resolve the conflict in the SSC regions.
Finally, trying to use the Ethiopian card by claiming that people from the Ogaden are involved in that fight is pathetic, shortsighted, and baseless. Such ill-though utterances will further exacerbate an already murky situation. Therefore, RESOLVE strongly recommends to the Administration in Hargeisa to stop widening the circle of hatred among the Somali people and deal with the issue that is facing it, instead of looking for scapegoats elsewhere. ROC will continue to monitor the situation.
Abdul Ali
External Affairs
Resolve Ogaden Coalition
http://www.resolveogadencoalition.org
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written by Abdulrahman Ahmed, March 15, 2011
Somaliland, the oasis of democracy in Africa, is an independent nation regardless of international recognition because its people voted 97% YES to disintegration with former Somalia during 2001 Referendum. I beleive all the regional authorities, civil societies and organizations need to respect the desire of 3.5 million people from Zayla City to Tuugo Raq Village.
Somaliland established democracy, good goverance, remarkable human rights record, good education, excellent social services, and many other factors that available in the developed world only. This is what united Somalia could not do in fifty years, but Somaliland did in less then two decades. Today Somalilander students are graduating from their homemade universities without outside help.
This showcases the unity between Somaliland and Somalia will create problem and push the country into poverity similar situation from 1960 unity until 1991. The people of Somaliland suffered under brutality of Somali regimes from 1960 until 1991 including the civilian administrations, where their share in the government is been misused and they left empty handed, where the Somalis from other countries like Ethiopia and Kenya gets bigger share in the central government of Somalia eventhough they dont have considerable presence inside Former Somalia.
All in all, the Somalilanders decided to restore the lost sovereignty in 1st July 1960 from Somalia. The question is: Somalia failed from last twenty years, and it does not have any signs of recover, How can we save the Somali power in the region? Will another unity bring prosperity to Somalis? Will another unity liberate the missing parts of Somali Speaking population? Is it required to think liberating them? Will Djibouti be part of such Somali speaking population, which to be liberated? These questions need answers which are very difficult.
Bitish Somaliland and Italian Somalia united to search the missing three parts (Eastern Ethiopia, French Somaliland - Today's Djibouti, and NFD of Kenya). This was the major policy behind the unity of these two parts. This policy led many instablity in the region and wars with Ethiopia. Unfortunately, all Somali were enthusiastically waiting independance of French Somaliland, but after Djibouti was announced and they rejected to unite with Greater Somalia disappointed all the parts.... Here the ideology of Greater Somalia failed, and even the 1st July 1960 unity principles vanished, which led the people of Somaliland to consider withdrawing from the unity, as long as it failed to achieve its objectives.. Also, the brutality of the military leader Mohamed Siyad Barre (Who was from Eastern Parts of Ethiopia but mistakenly became the leader of Somali Republic) increased the ideology of restoring the lost unity.
Finally, I beleive the Ogaden does not have the legimate right to take the incidents inside Somaliland, and surely that people of Somaliland will solve their differences in peace, as usual. Somaliland is one country and dont have history of separation like Somaliland and Somalia. So, I recommend that Ogaden group need to respect the integrity of each country.
Somaliland established democracy, good goverance, remarkable human rights record, good education, excellent social services, and many other factors that available in the developed world only. This is what united Somalia could not do in fifty years, but Somaliland did in less then two decades. Today Somalilander students are graduating from their homemade universities without outside help.
This showcases the unity between Somaliland and Somalia will create problem and push the country into poverity similar situation from 1960 unity until 1991. The people of Somaliland suffered under brutality of Somali regimes from 1960 until 1991 including the civilian administrations, where their share in the government is been misused and they left empty handed, where the Somalis from other countries like Ethiopia and Kenya gets bigger share in the central government of Somalia eventhough they dont have considerable presence inside Former Somalia.
All in all, the Somalilanders decided to restore the lost sovereignty in 1st July 1960 from Somalia. The question is: Somalia failed from last twenty years, and it does not have any signs of recover, How can we save the Somali power in the region? Will another unity bring prosperity to Somalis? Will another unity liberate the missing parts of Somali Speaking population? Is it required to think liberating them? Will Djibouti be part of such Somali speaking population, which to be liberated? These questions need answers which are very difficult.
Bitish Somaliland and Italian Somalia united to search the missing three parts (Eastern Ethiopia, French Somaliland - Today's Djibouti, and NFD of Kenya). This was the major policy behind the unity of these two parts. This policy led many instablity in the region and wars with Ethiopia. Unfortunately, all Somali were enthusiastically waiting independance of French Somaliland, but after Djibouti was announced and they rejected to unite with Greater Somalia disappointed all the parts.... Here the ideology of Greater Somalia failed, and even the 1st July 1960 unity principles vanished, which led the people of Somaliland to consider withdrawing from the unity, as long as it failed to achieve its objectives.. Also, the brutality of the military leader Mohamed Siyad Barre (Who was from Eastern Parts of Ethiopia but mistakenly became the leader of Somali Republic) increased the ideology of restoring the lost unity.
Finally, I beleive the Ogaden does not have the legimate right to take the incidents inside Somaliland, and surely that people of Somaliland will solve their differences in peace, as usual. Somaliland is one country and dont have history of separation like Somaliland and Somalia. So, I recommend that Ogaden group need to respect the integrity of each country.
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a collective people from the hands of external forces, but sadly the last several
decades we have become our worst enemies in a ugly tribal card game. We can't determine
which clan we are born into or which war criminal we relate in respect to clan! But we
can take responsibility for our own actions! In these harsh times which
Muslims are increasingly under attack and discourse planted within the peoples by
evil external forces, as the Mighty Koran has Warned use. Irregardless to ISSAQ,HAYWIYE,DAROOD etc.
We make up a house one or more missing components we fall victim to the extreme elements.
For the sake of our children and * Decency* we shall swallow all pride leave wrongs committed or was Perpetrated on us to Allah or Forgiveness! We must not hold our self's in a bitter cloud of hatred that seems to cycles which Rottens our hearts and minds! We are stronger and better then that For Goodness sakes don't we have decent Somali men and woman left whom can see the bigger image of this world besides skin deep Clan? Qabil is not the evil its what we make of it. We can turn anything into a weapon. Or we can make something positive out of it! Hate completely corrupts but love completely liberates the soul and eases the mind!