|
Somaliland can benefit from the strategies that have helped
the State of Israel to prevail against enormous challenges
over the past few decades: the constant security threat from
neighbors, terrorism against innocent civilians, lack of
diplomatic relations with many nations, and unreasonable
demands by the international community (UN, EU, OU, and Arab
League) are some of the challenges that Israel had to
overcome in its modern history – despite the
discrimination in Europe and genocide committed by Hitler on
Jews. The Republic of Somaliland and its people have been
facing the same challenges from its neighbors and
international community. Somaliland survived the massacre
committed by former dictator Siad Barre’s regime. The
biggest security threat to Somaliland’s existence today
comes from its neighbors – particularly Somalia.
Somaliland is surrounded by nations that do not recognize
its existence and are determined to destroy it, such as
Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have
been waging a diplomatic and economic campaign against
Somaliland interest.
The international community such as UN, AU, EU, Arab
League etc places unreasonable demands that are constantly
hostile to Somaliland interest, such as numerous UN
resolutions that call for the unity and territorial
integrity of Somalia, which denies the existence of the
Republic of Somaliland. Egypt has used its influence with
Arab nations to isolate Somaliland presumably to protect
Egyptian interest by ensuring the unity and territorial
integrity of Somalia, which Egypt believes will neutralize
Ethiopian influence in the region. Saudi Arabia has banned
livestock imports from Somaliland, which devastated the
local economy in Somaliland. Djibouti and Eritrea have
committed to protect the unity of Somalia, and have trained
militia that attacks Ethiopia from Somaliland borders, fully
aware that Somaliland does not have the capacity to stop all
of them at its border. The terrorist organization called Al
Jihad organized terrorist cell in Somaliland who murdered
five foreign nationals in Somaliland. Fortunately those
terrorists were apprehended by Somaliland security and are
currently on trial in Hargeisa (Somaliland capital). The
international community particularly the United Nations had
been demanding Somaliland should negotiate with and
reconcile differences with murders, warlords and thugs who
do not respect and value the human life, many of whom are
responsible for the death of tens of thousands of Somaliland
people. This is similar to asking the people of Israel to
negotiate and reconcile with the remnants of the Hitler
regime.
Somaliland is desperately in need of a friend in the
international community that can help with the security
threat from its neighbors, economic embargo imposed by Saudi
Arabia, and recognition for the Republic of Somaliland. The
people and the State of Israel is a suitable friend for
Somaliland. It is incumbent upon the Somaliland leaders
(government, opposition parties, traditional leaders and NGO’s)
to work diligently in seeking to establish opportunities
that would facilitate relationship with the State of Israel.
The Ambassador of Israel in Ethiopia have arranged a
humanitarian assistance for young Somaliland boy to have
heart surgery in Israeli hospital about a year ago and the
entire nation of Somaliland and its people have showed
gratitude and appreciation for the gesture. The response
from the people showed the positive attitude of the
Somaliland people towards Israel.
The people of Somaliland are convinced that the Arab
countries in the Middle East, Egypt, Djibouti, and Eritrea
are committed to do everything in their power to prevent
Somaliland recognition. My hope is that Israel will be open
to establish friendship and provide security assistance to
the people and the Republic of Somaliland. The people of
Israel should know that Somaliland had not forgotten that
Israel was the first nation to recognize the independence of
Somaliland from British Empire on June 26, 1960. Somaliland
is once again looking at Israel to lead the international
community and offer friendship and security assistance to
the Republic of Somaliland. The State of Israel would gain
the friendship and the gratitude of the people of Somaliland
for decades to come, not to mention the strategic value that
Somaliland (access and control of red see) will provide to
the interest of Israel. It is incumbent upon the Somaliland
leaders (government & opposition parties) to work
diligently in seeking recognition from the State of Israel
by taking concrete steps to establishing long and lasting
relationship with the people and the State of Israel.
Somaliland is the Israel in the horn of Africa in terms of
the challenges that are facing her today. Needless to say
Somaliland needs a friend in the international community and
Israel will certainly appreciate the predicament Somaliland
is faced with, considering the history of the State of
Israel with the same international organizations such as the
United Nations and Israel will likely be more accommodating
than Egypt and Saudi Arabia in helping Somaliland. The last
two Somaliland administrations have both expressed the
desire to establish relationship with the State of Israel,
but have not done enough to follow it through with their
expressed desires. At the same time it is time the
Somaliland Diaspora makes contact with the people of Israel,
NGO’s, and the diplomatic offices for the State of Israel
and encourage them to establish official diplomatic
relationship with the Republic of Somaliland.
It is time Somaliland seriously evaluates its long term
foreign policy in the middle east in general and
particularly Israel to protect the interest of Somaliland.
Rashid Nur rashidnur@hotmail.com
|
