BY ADAN I. IMAN

 Mr. Mohamed Hagi Ibrahim Egal, the President of a self-declared Republic that is neither recognized by a substantial segment of its inhabitants, nor the international community, paid a visit to Borama, the capital of Awdal Region, last month where angry demonstrators threw stones at his motorcade. Following this open repudiation of his so-called breakaway Republic of Somaliland, he initiated a crackdown on the region in general and in particular the leaders of the region. Those transported to, and incarcerated in, Hargeisa solely for their political beliefs are: 1. Colonel Mohamed Maidhane warsame (2) Adan Dahir Obsiye  (4) Fahmi Abdi Bidar (4) Rashid Mohamed Ali and (5) Hussein Muse Ahmed. Mr. Egal, who himself spent over a decade in solitary confinement as political prisoner under Siad Barre, has obviously found it morally appropriate to imprison people solely because of their political beliefs! Additionally, he closed the border with the Republic of Djibouti and accused the government of Djibouti of aiding the rebellion. By pointing the finger at Djibouti, he is using a diversionary tactics aimed at deflecting the attention from the reasons behind the anger and demonstration. It is important to note that the border with Djibouti is the main thoroughfare through which food supplies unloaded at the port of Djibouti reach Awdal. To close this border means a deliberate attempt to deny food supplies destined for children and women.
We all remember very vividly what happened in Bay region in 1992 and the hundred of thousands of people who died as a result of the closure of the port of Mogadishu. Clearly, Mr. Egal has become a new warlord. The people of Awdal are not prone to violence " seef la bood".  They are known for being restrained, for tolerance and for preferring to settle disputes peacefully. Why should the people, with those noble qualities, uncharacteristically go into streets and burn tires along the route of the motorcade of a visiting dignitary? This is an attempt to pry into the reasons why:

Several years ago, Mr. Egal gave an ultimatum to all the staff of non-governmental organizations: eith- er leave the self-proclaimed Republic all together or move all your staff and operations into Hargeisa.  The significance of the presence of NGOs to the local economy can not be overstated. In addition to the benefit of the project itself, each expatriate NGO staff rents a bungalow for about $1,000.00 and employs a driver, a translator and security personnel. This inconsiderate action has obviously denied the local economy of Awdal Region much needed infusion of money.

Early this year, Mr. Egal named two of his kinsmen as governor and police chief of Awdal region. Given what had happened when Siad Barre transferred Generals Morgan and Gani to Hargeisa in the late 1980s, this action must have been a calculated step aimed at laying the infrastructure for the abuse the Gadabursi people are being subjected today.

A new region was formed with Berbera, his hometown, as the capital.  According to reliable sources, before he declared the decision, the elders of Awdal region implored him, for the sake of fairness, that if ever he was going to form a new region with Berbera as the capital, it must not, as he envisioned, be solely at the expense of Awdal, but also include parts of Burao and Hargeisa regions. But he ignored their counsel.  The region he created extends along the Red Sea deep into Awdal.  From the point of view of the people who inhabit those areas, he has given his own Isse Muse subclan to rule over a large swath of territory inhabited by Gadabursi and Isse peoples while he refrained from extending their rule into the territory inhabited by Isak subclans. When questioned during his recent visit to Washington D.C. about the new region, he replied that all he has done was to restore boundaries that were created by the British colonial administration. In his mind his sub-clan, Isse Muse, ruled over the Gadabursi and Issa clan in colonial times and it ought to stay that way. Anybody in his right mind would find this ludicrous. The hostilities that his actions will cause between those people will last for generations. What legacy of hatred he will leave behind. You know when I visited the region in 1993, there was a rumor to the effect that Mr. Egal pledged that when he is firmly in control and gets some recognition he " would put the Gadabursi, Dhulbahante and warsangali people where they belonged in the past".  Six years later that is exactly what he has tried to do.
Incursion of Ethiopian forces into Amud: There are no bases operated by Islamists in Awdal . Yet a mechanized 500 -man Ethiopian force made a hostile, unwanted entrance deep into Awdal territory. Who provided this baseless intelligence information to the Ethiopians? Many people are blaming Mr. Egal for this.

The rationale why taxes are imposed on citizens are so that the proceeds are used for  the general good such as public health, education, infrastructure etc. It is sad that none of the taxes collected from the region, especially the busy border town of Lowyada, is not reinvested back into the community. People resent this.

Mr. Egal's actions had, therefore, a detrimental effects on Awdal region and its inhabitants: a large portion of their territory had been expropriated; its people denied the financial help of the NGOs; its tax base misappropriated and outside rule imposed to suppress and abuse its people. This man who is committed to driving the Gadabursi to serfdom was, ironically, crowned in Borama in the spring of 1992 with the overwhelming political backing of the local elders. Back then, he was perceived as an elder statesman who would preside over  a new era of peaceful coexistence, tolerance, understanding and mutual respect in the internal affairs of each group. But he happened to have become someone with outdated ideas; someone ignorant enough to go against the march of history; someone  willing to tell different things to different people; someone willing to divide people in order to rule them. But at the dawn of the 21st Century, these anachronistic tactics are doomed to failure. 

For the Somalis across the country who see him as the hope to bring the Somalis together, this man is no solution. He has already helped deconstruct what would have been an incipient  state: first leaders of the Garhajis  subclans denounced him and defected to Mogadishu. Then the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli, disassociated themselves from Somaliland and joined their brethren to form Puntland. Now, the Gadabursi are pulling out. If he has failed to hold this group together, it is inconceivable that he would hold a more discordant group.

However, let me be very emphatic about this: the Isak people have nothing to do with the problems created by this man. Over the last several years, they demonstrated a genuine desire to coexist peacefully with their neighbors who have accordingly reciprocated. The challenge is for all those who want to live in peace together and nourish their children with love never to let one single man sow seeds of distrust and hatred between them.  _______________________________