A Somaliland Blogger Speaks
Written by Editor Thursday, 24 December 2009 21:19
(Warkmamaanta Dec 25, 2009) Increasing Somalilanders both at home and in the diaspora are shifting their support to UCID political party. This bodes well for Somaliland and its young democracy. Read Mohammed Ali on this issue.
Could there be a clear winner in the upcoming Somaliland Elections?
(Medeshi)
( Dec 14, 2009) Current speculation in Somaliland is that UCID party could win the upcoming elections. UDUB party, which has ruled the country since its inception , has failed to define a clear political and economical direction for the country. Furthermore, its dictatorial rule and the imprisonment of journalists and political opponents means that UDUB’s image has declined and it is increasingly unpopular with the public.
Corruption among political leaders, particularly in the Office of the Presidency, is widespread. This has been brought to light by a recent detailed study carried out by Eng. Mohamed Hashi of Qaran Party: See (in Somali) http://medeshi-medeshi.blogspot.com/2009/12/musuqmaasuqa-hadheeyey-madaxtooyadda.html.
The report shows that revenues collected from Berbera port go directly to the Office of the President, instead of to the Ministry of Finance. Maintenance money for Berbera oil tanks, which is estimated to be around $3 million a year, also ends up in the Office of the President. This may be in addition to other financial scandals that are as yet unknown by the public.
On the other hand Kulmiye party is desperately trying for the seat of the presidency at least during the lifetime of its chair, Mr. Ahmed Silanyo. The ailing Mr Silanyo will leave no stone unturned in order to achieve his goal. In a recent short conversation with a Kulmiye supporter, I was told that if ‘the old man’ is not given the chance to run the country at least once, people from the area east of Burao will resort to violence and the Isaaqs will be faced by a permanent division.
In my opinion, UCID, which is led by a charismatic young leader who has clear vision of Somaliland’s future, has the best chance of winning the upcoming elections. The leaders of UCID are also not clannish and there have been no suggestions that they are involved in corruption. Whatever happens in the upcoming elections, Somalilanders need to see new faces in leadership roles who can bring change to this young and undeveloped nation.
Brief profile of UCID’s leader, Faisal Ali Warabe:
Faisal Ali Warabe, or Faysal Cali Waraabe in Somali, is the chairman of the Justice and Welfare Party of Somaliland (UCID). He was born in 1948 in Hargeisa, Somaliland and earned an MSc in Engineering in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), Russia in 1973. From 1997-2001, he was enrolled at the Helsinki University Faculty of Social Sciences, in the Social Policy Department. He was also a regional director in Somalia's Ministry of Public Works in the 80s.
Faisal Ali Warabe rose to prominence in Somaliland politics when he single-handedly opposed appointing the national President in a clan convention (shir beeled), and created the first opposition party in Somaliland. He played a major role in bringing peace after the brief clash of Somaliland’s clans.
Mr Warabe is charismatic politician who is known to deliver powerful and persuasive speeches and to be vocal in opposition to politics based on clans. He travels frequently in support of Somaliland's bid to become recognised as an independent country and is well known as having many connections in Western countries. He speaks Somali, English, Russian and some Finnish.
Mr Warabe is seen as wanting to bring Somaliland into the modern world, rather than wanting power for its own sake. He has been active in humanitarian lobbying for assistance for disabled people and the health system, and often visits orphans in Somaliland. In his role as an outspoken activist for minority groups (Gabooye), he was recently awarded with a medal of honour. Mr Warabe also visits high schools and college students, to inspire them with the hope that they can rely on their country to provide them with employment and other opportunities.
As the Chairman and one of the core founders of the party, Faisal Ali Warabe has shaped UCID into a modern party in the mould of western political parties. UCID are proactive campaigners, who hold seminars to teach citizens about the objectives of their party. Mr Warabe has succeeded in mobilising enough supporters that he is now assumed to win the upcoming elections.
Written by M. Ali
Some of the background information about Faisal Ali warabe has been slightly condensed from the web by the editor
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Comments
HONESTY, STABILITY IN ALL IT'S ASPECTS
HE HAS THE FAR SIGHT, HIS ETHOS IS FAIR AND UPSTANDING AND UN-CORRUPT THIS IS WHAT SOMALILAND NEEDS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP OF SOMALILAND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF A PROSPEROUS FUTURE AHEAD
FOR SOMALILANDERS AND DELIGATES...GOODLUCK.4EQ52
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