In Support of Somaliland: An Open Letter to General Secretary of GCC

In Support of Somaliland: An Open Letter to General Secretary of GCC
Abdulazez Al-Motairi

(Medeshi)August 13, 2008

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established on 25th May 1981 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. These countries established open economy and common political agenda. This agreement came after all members agreed fully the terms of the agreement including defences.
The GCC is also part of Arab league located in Cairo, Egypt. Similar policy applies to Somaliland, which shares culture and language with Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. The aforesaid common features cannot be the uniting factor, because the uniting people should accept each other. GCC States run their internal affairs independently same as Somaliland with Somalia.
Republic of Somaliland, located at northern part of former Somalia, won independence from Britain on 26th June 1960. 34 countries recognized Somaliland as an independent state. Four days later, Somaliland joined Italian Somalia, former Somalia, on 1st July 1960 to form Somali Republic. The main reason behind the unity was to bring Somali-speaking population in Horn of Africa under one government.
This failed after Djibouti, with 70% Somali-speaking population, rejected to join Somalia after 1977 independence. Also, the Somali-speakers in Ethiopia and Kenya remained under their governments and turned down the offer to join Somalia.
However, Somaliland stayed under the failed unity for 21 years until the last hope of the objectives of the unity ended in 1988 after Somalia Air Force and Military bombed and killed the civilians in Somaliland. Afterwards, Somaliland decided to go alone on 18th May 1991.
Similar to GCC countries, the unity comes with agreement of the uniting parties. The GCC states are planning common immigration and common currency. This is how the healthy unity works, but not forcing the people into corrupted government.
The unity between Somaliland and Somalia took place without pre-agreements; it was an enthusiastic union. There was no study on the best way that people can unity; there was no real understanding to the unity; the illiteracy rate was very high during the unity in 1960.
The people of British Somaliland suffered under Somali government; they lost all their rights and share in the administration; they were killed in organized genocide by the Siyad Barre (ruler of Somalia 1969-1991) government in Mogadishu. Somaliland brought 50% of the Somali unity in 1960 but got nothing in return; Somalilanders neither got high profile post in the Somali governments nor the capital of the country. Everything went to former Italian Somalia (Southern Somalia).
Even, the international media reported public killing against Somaliland people at Jazira area in Mogadishu during 1980´s; the media estimated the victims in Jazira area about 200 civilians from northern regions of Somalia (Now Somaliland). Jazira area is located at the coastal line of Mogadishu.
Today, Somaliland is willing to live peaceful side-by-side with their Somali brothers in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. The international communities realized that forcing Somaliland into unity with Somalia will not be fruitful and will add insults to old injuries.

More than 3.5 million Somalilanders voted in favor of independence from former Somalia in 2001 with 97% YES Vote. It is teachings of democracy to accept the voice of the public.
The GCC, Arab League and African Union should support Somaliland similar as EU and America support to Kosovo. GCC and Transitional Government of Somalia (TGS):Recently, The TGS asked the GCC countries not to do business with any part of former Somalia without consulting it. This form of hypocoristic policy is to damage economically the stable parts of former Somalia. Somaliland had historical trade with GCC states including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman in more than four centuries like livestock exports.
Also, the leader of TGS Abdullah Yusuf convinced many Arab states to force Somalis living in their countries to use his new passport instead of old Somali passport, which will have negative influence in livings of the Somali people because 90% of the Somali families inside Somalia and Somaliland receive financial support from their relatives working in Europe, Northern American and Arabian Gulf.
Knowingly, TGS does not control Somalia in general; even Mogadishu is not under TGS control. The supporters of TGS are mainly from "Puntland" due to the leader of TGS is former President of "Puntland".
Today, the residents of Mogadishu are fighting against TGS and Ethiopian invasion into Somalia and even Somaliland does not have good relation with TGS authority. Ethiopians brought the TGS and if Ethiopia withdraws then TGS will go with it too.The international organizations and NGOs like UN deal with Somali groups independently because the situation is very complicated. Also, GCC states should follow similar procedure.
The Arab countries, in general, should play neutral policy in Somalia. Somaliland is quite different from the rest of Somalia because they have elected government and parliament. There is law and order and the government is the decision maker; there is human rights respect and democratic process.
The government of Somaliland controls all its territories starting from Sool region in East to Awdal region to west. The Opposition Parties control the elected Parliament, and monitors the government activities. The entire legislation process should win the majority support of the parliament.
Somaliland is country with complete democratic institutions. In 2003, Somaliland held Municipal, Presidential and Parliament elections in a row. The international election observers declared the election free and fair.Finally, in order to serve the Muslim people in East Africa, we call the GCC to respect the integrity of Somaliland because it came with desire of 3.5 million people.
The GCC Countries should avoid dealing with one warlord in Somalia like Abdullah Yusuf, who doesn´t control even Mogadishu.The people of Somaliland are very grateful for continuous support of GCC charity organizations.
By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi