Somaliland: Democratic Resolution Of Political Issues

Recently, whilst listening to Radio Hargeisa (now available across the Horn of Africa and elsewhere), and watching Somaliland television channels on satellite, I couldn't help but marvel at the progress of Somaliland. Here is a poor nation, as yet without international recognition, striving to achieve so much through the efforts of its people. These valiant people hold the key to Somaliland's success. It is thanks to the people's sacrifice and vigilance that Somaliland has avoided becoming a "basket-case" like other parts of the region.

Somaliland has overcome many hurdles since reclaiming its sovereignty within the international recognised borders of the Republic of Somaliland on the 26th of June, 1960 and will no doubt continue on its path to democracy and good governance.

Yet, there are those, growing fewer with each passing day, and at times, so hysterical they lose all sense of objectivity and argument, and point to every political issue in Somaliland, such as the recent disputes between the Somaliland political parties with regard to forth-coming Presidential elections slated for the 26th of September 2009. And when the political leadership and the people of Somaliland resolve these issues through dialogue, discussion and consensus, these hysterical opponents fall into silence.

The people of Somaliland are the key to international recognition, and it is the wish of the people of Somaliland to maintain their sovereignty.

Even though opponents of Somaliland would like to see the nation follow the anarchic examples of other parts of the region, this will not happen. The people of Somaliland are far too mature to squander they hard won sovereignty. The people of Somaliland will resolve any issues through dialogue, discussions and consensus. The elections will be held, and any transfer of power will be peaceful and orderly, in other words, it will be democratic.

The reality of Somaliland´s existence is that for eighteen years it has remained stable.

Somaliland has withstood many challenges, so a few angry voices in the wilderness spouting the same, old failed policies is not a serious threat to its sovereignty, however, the people of Somaliland will respond to these naysayer through democratic principals, economic development, through peace and stability and by continuing to resolve all issues through dialogue, discussions and consensus.

Furthermore, Somaliland´s inevitable international recognition will not be delayed by the need to resolve the mayhem in the region, because the international community is beginning to realise that the other groups in the region have nothing to offer their suffering and displaced citizens.

At the present time, politics is been keenly practised in Somaliland. Keenly, but, democratically, and all remaining issues will be resolved through dialogue, discussion and consensus. The amusing thing is that the opponents of Somaliland start to perk up whenever they notice something their construe in their narrow thinking as a political crisis. And time and time again, once these issues are resolved through Somaliland's tried and tested formula, dialogue, discussion and consensus, these opponents become depressed.

Well, once again, any political issues in Somaliland will be resolved peacefully, and once again, Somaliland's opponents will carry on using their own peculiar formula, of anarchy, destruction and death on their long suffering citizens. What a pity.