Somaliland: Not in our name

The Coalition for Justice and Peace in Somaliland

24 May 2005

NOT IN OUR NAME

The Coalition for Justice and Peace in Somaliland (CJPS) condemns, without reservations, recent attempts to use—and misuse—history, to serve narrow political interests. Whether it is the intention or not, the predictable result will be to create conflict, suspicion and animosity among the clans and people of Somaliland, to the detriment of all concerned.

The issue has come to the fore because of clashes between the Chair and Vice-Chair of the parliament, disagreements that have become increasingly bitter and vocal. The feud, which has serious implications for the parliamentary elections due in September, has involved the closure of the parliament, which has been challenged by some parliamentarians. Whatever the nature of the problem, it calls for calm, sober and inclusive political discussions aimed at resolving the immediate difficulties, as well a creating the conditions for on-going peaceful dialogue. Instead, some government supporters, both in the parliament and outside, have resorted to intimidation of their opponents on clan lines, invoking past conflict to justify their actions. Specifically, members of parliament have been warned as Darood about the political risks of challenging the political structures in Somaliland. What is worrying is the failure of the police to take action. As a collective of institutions and individuals working and living in Somaliland, we reject, without any ambiguity, the misuse of clan identity for political ends, in whatever form or shape.

Somaliland itself was very nearly destroyed in the 1980s by a relentless campaign of killings, torture, imprisonment and impoverishment organized by the regime of the late Mohamed Siad Barre, using clans against one another in an effort to mobilize support for its destructive policies. What took place in Somalia in the 70s and 80s was a well-planned series of organized campaigns directed at different clans. It was planned, orchestrated and implemented by a government machinery to achieve its political goals. To this end, neighbours, friends, colleagues and even relativ es were pitted against each other, eventually leading to the disintegration of Somalia as a State and to wars that have killed thousands, displaced millions and which have brought about untold suffering.

History tells us that politics of the lowest common denominator, which in the Somali context means whipping up clan sentiments, can only lead to conflict and create mistrust that may take generations to defuse. Preventi n, rather than cure, is the wiser course, and the reason why we are tod y making this appeal to all Somalilanders, irrespective of politics or clans, asking them to take a stand against the attempts to awaken the demon of clannism which has destroyed us in the past, and threatens our future.

The Coalition for Justice and Peace in Somaliland brings together organizations and individuals that share a common interest in promoting justice, peace, human rights, the culture of dialogue and the establishment of democratic institutions in Somaliland.