By: Osman A.M.
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Commemorations marking 23 years of self governance since seceding from “Greater Somalia” despite lack of international recognitions were celebrated all over the world in different continents & countries with population of Diaspora communities affiliated to Somaliland in a way or another.
In London, Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation Minister Mohamed Bihi Yonis led Association of Somaliland community in the city in celebrating the historic day that they stood on their own as a nation after bearing hefty looses in liberating themselves from chaotic & despotic regime that reigned them for close to 30 years by the dictates of the gun.
The Minister gave assurance before exultant & colorfully dressed countrymen & women that international community was satisfied in granting recognition to the nation as it has fulfilled the benchmarks of attaining that status.
Foreign Minister further narrated the historical genesis undergone by the country to celebrating crowd; that upon securing independent the nation chose to voluntarily enter into marriage with Somalia in creating “Greater Somalia” but not before being recognized by 35 member states of UN including all the five permanent members of the Security Council consisting of USA, China, Russia France & UK.
Bihi noted the union his country entered into led to unequal distribution of natural resources & political power, inhuman treatment of citizens coupled with historical injustice and atrocities committed against the civilian population that eventually culminated in aerial bombardment of Hargeisa where more than 50,000 people lost their lives while another 500,000 were displaced.
He also highlighted on recently concluded Economic Forum in Abuja in which he participated by representing the Government where hosting Nigerians & 35 Government representatives underpinned Somaliland’s unique case after inquiring how it has achieved the success in a region where anarchy, civil war & terrorism are the orders of the day.
The Foreign Minister being amongst the longest career diplomats to have worked with UN was optimistic that international community is treating Somaliland’s case on its own with developed nations insisting that Hargeisa should first exhaust seeking the blessing & the nod of the continental body (AU) as well as the approval of regional grouping of IGAD composed of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan whose diplomatic ties are in the good books of Somaliland foreign policy.
He reminded London based Somalilanders that Kenyan authorities are eager of establishing a consulate office at Hargeisa to safeguard their interests while an envoy has been named & dispatched to Turkey where it is expected Ankara to reciprocate the same in the near future.
In Qatar celebrations were held in the capital Doha where Somaliland people across the country assembled for the events in more or less similar fashion observed elsewhere.
At Helsinki, Finland, political party discrepancies were forgotten at least for a while when representatives of both Kulmiye & UCID parties organized the events leading to celebrations of 18th May side by side. The former leader of Somaliland Diaspora Group Suleiman Mohamed, the chair of UCID’s chapter in Finland Jamal Mohamed & Kulmiye’s Finnish chapter chairman Mohamed Abdillahi organized an international status event with Finnish political leadership in attendance at the celebrations.
In Minneapolis Presidency Minister Hirsi Ali Hassan led Association of Somaliland Diaspora Community in North America to vividly remember the day where he took the podium to distinguish the difference between Independent Day from claiming back our autonomy-lessons resourceful to younger generation born after the historic day that we are commemorating 23 years later.
Hirsi also exploited the chance in urging North American based Somalilanders to financially take part in Erigavo road construction whose kits were recently procured thus initiation of the construction work.
