Somaliland And Our Arab Nations Brothers

By Ahmed Kheyre, London, UK

One of the most compassionate yet fractious relationship is the one between siblings. Somaliland seems to have a love-hate relationship with our brother Arab nations, we love them, for some reason they seem to hate us.

Personally, and this is my own opinion, I am not an Arabphile. As a Somalilander, I am able to   trace my ancestry to the Arabian peninsula.   I am   Muslim, I am African,   and to a lesser extent pseudo   "Arab". Pseudo "Arab" in the sense that I am not racially Arabic, but I am sure my ancestor came from that region centuries ago.   

Having said that, I am can understand and speak some Arabic. I have   even been to Arab nations, and I know a lot of Somalilanders and Somalis who have worked, were born, and   expelled from Arab nations, particularly   the Gulf nations.

But, Somalilanders as a whole   have nothing but a fraternal love for their "Arab" siblings, and all we get in return is scorn and negligence. Somaliland is a democratic republic, not many of our "Arab" brothers are. Somaliland is a poor country, whilst our "Arab" relatives   are rich. Yet, not only does Somaliland get a meager assistance from these nations, but, its primary source of revenue, livestock experts is   subject to an unfair embargo.  

At this time, I don't wish to generalize, because, there are Arab nations, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, who are more than willing to do business with Somaliland. There are also several businessmen and women from the Arabian   peninsula who are conducting their   own private business in Somaliland, but two of the most powerful nations in the Arab world Egypt and Saudi Arabia remain implacably opposed to Somaliland. Why?

Let me take the case of Egypt. Egypt is worried about Ethiopia and the Nile. Well, Ethiopia is occupying Mogadishu, and yet I don't see Egypt doing anything about   it. Somaliland on the   other hand has stable and normal relations with Ethiopia. Is this   not the same Egypt who was ostracized from the   Arab League for dealing with Israel? Is this not the same Egypt which dissolved   the United Arab Republic union with Syria? The double standard and hypocrisy towards Somaliland is staggering. But, frankly, I am not concerned about Egypt, because Egypt is not a democracy, Somaliland is a democracy.

Let me turn to Saudi Arabia. The   Saudis are known for their generosity and the religious role they play in the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia is the custodian of the   holy places of Islam.   Saudi Arabia has been known for its generous support of the   poorer Muslim nations. However, if the Saudis let the   oil companies explore for Oil in Sudan and Somaliland in the 60's and   70's,   these countries wouldn't be so poor!

In terms of the Somaliland and Saudi Arabian relationship which is nascent,   I can only make the following comment. If   Saudi Arabia refuses permission to thousands of Somaliland pilgrims because of their   nationality and passports, then it is un-Islamic and the height of hypocrisy.

As I said, I am not an Arabphile, nor am I an Arabphobe, but when I see Palestine and Iraq, all I see is much ado about nothing. I am a Somaliland patriot, and I have seen Somaliland's efforts to integrate itself with its "Arab" brothers, in spite of the role these nations played in supporting the Barre regime, the current indifference to the slaughter of   Muslim brothers and sisters in Somalia, and still nothing.

As a patriot, I have come to the conclusion that the path of Somaliland's success   lies with our African brothers, the Commonwealth, Europe, and the   rest of the World,   not in the Arabian peninsula. I am not saying we should ignore our "Arab" brothers, but if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath.   If you doubt my veracity talk to the Palestinians and the Iraqis.

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