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Edna Takes Quest for Recognition To the Air waves In California
Los Angeles, October 9, 2003 – Somaliland Foreign Minister Edna Adan Ismail went into the airwaves of California on Sunday in an effort to familiarize Californians with the people of Somaliland.
In an hour long interview with Radio Station KFPK’s weekly program " Spotlight on Africa", Edna told listeners, whether in the living rooms of their homes, in cafes, barbershops or cruising in their cars on the streets or along the spacious freeways of the state, that Somaliland is different from Somalia. "Let me make the record straight," the Foreign Minister told her listeners, adding that Somaliland of today used to be under British Protectorate while the Somalia of today was under Italian colonial rule. Somaliland was the first to gain independence on June 26, 1960 because its people were the most educated and had most interactions with the outside world. That was why they campaigned for the independence of the Italian Somalia. When Italian Somalia was granted independence, the two sovereign states united on 1st July 1960. But it must be remembered, she noted, when Somaliland achieved independence, 35 members of the United Nation plus the Security Council recognized its independence. So Somaliland was a recognized sovereign State when it united with the former Italian colony of Somalia.
Edna reminded the audience that the union between Somaliland and Somalia was hasty and based on emotions. Just because the two peoples shared a similar language, it was thought everything would be all right, and no consideration was given to the long, different, colonial experiences of the two nations, as well as, the different official languages and administrative systems. It was a union fraught with problems from the outset. Disenchanted with distribution of power and resources that was blatantly skewed in favor of the former Italian colony, a group of military officers from Somaliland attempted a military coup in Hargeisa, Somaliland, only 18 months after the two sides were united, she said.
The injustice and oppression to which the people of Somaliland were subjected was elevated to new heights when the Marxist dictator, General Siad Barre, unleashed the might of his army on the civilian population in Somaliland, she said. During this military campaign about a quarter of a million Somalilanders were killed, and Somaliland's cities were destroyed. It was because of these murderous actions of the Siad Barre army, that the armed liberation struggle was born, Edna pointed out.
Edna told her audience that when the forces of oppression were defeated, there were 10,000 Siad Barre troops in Somaliland. She added that the people of Somaliland gave safe passage to these troops. This reflects the civility and respect my people have for the right of others, the foreign minister emphasized. She said since liberation, Somaliland is the only nation in Africa where its people are coming from the outside world to build their country. As a result the economy is booming, she said. The country is self-sufficient in food, there is peace, democracy and respect for human rights, she added.
Edna reminded her audience that article 10 of Somaliland's constitution condemns terrorism. She said the article was inserted into the constitution before 9/11, because of the horrific experience that the people of Somaliland had with the terrorism of the Somali government. Somaliland, she said, is the only country in the world where condemnation of terror is enshrined in the constitution.
When the foreign minister was asked how come Somaliland is peaceful and booming and Somalia is mired in violence, she replied the people of Somaliland have a national consciousness that transcends clannism, while there is only individual greed by the warlords in Somalia.
When the foreign minister was asked what passport she is using in her travels, she replied, " Somaliland passport". She said during her short tenure as foreign minister, she traveled to many African and European countries, as well as the United States with Somaliland passport. The interviewer’s reaction was, " that constitutes tacit recognition. Right?"
The foreign minister is touring the United States with the minister of commerce and industry, Eng. Mohamed Hashi Elmi. Their tour was sponsored by the Somaliland policy and Reconstruction Institute, in collaboration with the Somaliland Communities in United States.
Adan H iman
Somaliland Policy & Reconstruction Institute ( WWW.Sopri.org)
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