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By Mohamed M. Adan, Oslo
What is the image of Somalia in the western world?
People in distress, people fleeing from civil war, hunger and disease, a country caught in unbreakable downward spiral, a country decoupled from the global community, a country which is marginalized politically and economically. This is the picture of Somalia portrayed by the western media and often accompanied by statements from the experts that Somalia is a lost cause and cannot be saved. The question is why should the world care? In a post- cold war situation Africa is no longer of importance, be it in political, strategic or economic sense, they postulate. The answer that the west has to their question about Somalia is “let Somalia drift in its own sea of misery and hopelessness. It is no concern to us – the world”.
Somalia’s problem is pushed to Africa, and Africa has three sub -regional organizations, ECOWAS for west Africa, IGAD for east Africa, SADC for southern Africa.
The capability of these bodies to make peace is overwhelmed by the logistical, political and financial challenges they encounter, and IGAD is the weakest. It has complicated rather than solve the problem. The member states of IGAD don’t even have a shared understanding of the Somali crisis, let alone necessary resources. IGAD produces new warlords and hosts the marauding bandits. All the Somali war criminals are in the so-called peace conference in Kenya with IGAD. The victims and the aggressors cannot live in the same room unless justice is served.
The poor Somalis are expecting more harm than good from the conference
The future of Somalia is dark, and the only light in the tunnel is Somaliland, which in contrast to Somalia has shown the world a new method of solving armed conflict and got up from the ruins of war without help from the outside world. Somaliland is enjoying peace and has reversed the situation. Somaliland has created a solid base for social, economic and political justice, after securing peace and stability in the country.
We urge the world community to recognize Somaliland as sovereign state. Recognizing Somaliland will help end the human suffering of Somalia. There is no other way out.
Allah blesses us all.
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