Reflections of someone, who attended the conference.
If true, this is criminal, to say the least!
The second day was mostly facts and figures prepared by economists showing the taxes collected from the Awdal region to the tune of $80 million a years. On that huge amount of money only $150,000 is spent in Awdal. Among the $300 million foreign aid given to Somaliland less than 1% had reached Awdal. Imagine a region with no ports or roads is producing $80 million a year. What would happen if we lift the clan blockades , build ports and roads.
WE had listened how the border from Awdal to Ethiopia is closed since 1994. The SNM claimed that Al-Ithihaad movement is crossing from Borama and these region must be closed. After Islamic groups disappeared late nineties they didn't stop there. They said ONLF fighters had used Lughaya and fighters from Eritrea had crossed from Awdal to Ethiopia, so the border region was shut down good by the TPLF. The ruling clan doesn't want anything to cross from Awdal while having over 250 KM of border with the Somali region.
Furthermore, minerals, precious stones and others were looted by foreign companies and other given licenses with zero accountability. Individuals from Mogadishu, India, Burco, and many other places were given licenses to loot the land. You have a Chinese man building a villa near the mining area protected by locals after giving them $80 dollars a month. Sands for construction is collected from Lughaya and Zaylac while the money is pocketed by Biixi family connected oligarchs. More than 28 licenses were given outsiders to mine while chemicals and acid left behind is killing the livestock.
Somaliland system of government, economy and everything it stands were in trail, and speakers found the current system guilty of dysfunction, nepotism, economic isolation, blockade and clannish that could not be tolerated anymore. Other than the $150,000 a year they spend on salaries for the few bureaucrats, there are no government or foreign funded projects.
The current crop of leaders were the same Calan Cas who forced C/rahman Tuur and his deputy to declare secession at gun point without thinking consequences.
After long deliberations the delegates had voted:
1- a charter that stipulated for Awdal to be a sovereign region that is free for its political, economy and culture ( Maamul u madax banaan siyaasadiisa, dhaqaalihiisa iyo dhaqankiisa).
2-The leadership were tasked to achieve these goal by any means necessary.
3-The next Shir should move to the region and bring the locals to the movement
4- The organization shall be called Awdal State Movement (Dhaqdhaqaaqa Maamulka Awdal).
At the end a leadership for ASM was elected comprised of :
A Chairman of the central committee which will be a minimum of 50 and his deputy.
Hogaamiyaha golaha fulinta not a president like before.
Two Deputy hogaamiye ku xigeeno and a secretary were elected by proclamation.
The biggest surprise to many people will be the strongly worded communique that was released in Somali, English and French ( French was the preferred language of our community which is dominants in the bi-lingual capital of Canada).
It should be released within the next hour. Among the highlights were:
Dhaqdhaqaaqa Maamulka Awdal waxa uu ka baxay dhamaan heshiisyadii qabaa'ilka ee la galay 91 iyo sanadihii ku xigay oo maamulka fashilmay lagu asaasay.
Waxa uu dalbanayaa askarta, maxaabiista ah , kuwa dhaawaca, iyo kuwa ku jira maamulka Hargeisa in ay sida ugu dhaqsiyo badan uga baxaan oo degaanadoodi tagaan. and many more.
Dr. Cali Ibraahim Baxar (PHD) was elected hogaamiyaha .
