U.S policy is destabilizing Somaliland, should be rethought

    10 Sep 10, 2007 - 1:32:16 PM

      A popular theory in the Arab media that purportedly explains United States policy in the Middle East is called chaos theory. What is meant by this is that although the U.S often claims it wants democracy, peace and stability to prevail in the Middle East, its actual policy is to incite war and chaos, so that Middle Eastern countries would then have to depend on the U.S for arms and protection. One does not have to be an ardent believer in such theory to recognize that there is an element of truth in this theory, at least when it comes to U.S policy toward Somaliland. Granted that Somaliland does not have the financial means to buy arms from U.S manufacturers, nevertheless, U.S policy (or non-policy) toward Somaliland is a destabilizing factor. Why do we say this?

First, there are three major players in what used to be the Somali Republic: the warlords that banded together under the Transitional Federal Republic of Somalia (Puntland is part of this group), the Islamic Courts, and Somaliland. By throwing its weight behind the TFG without addressing Somaliland’s concerns about the security imbalance that would ensue, the U.S has created a perception among Somalilanders that it is not concerned about the security and stability of their country.

Second, the U.S spends millions of dollars on its base in Djibouti, a few miles from Somaliland’s borders. The activities of these troops whether it is by air or sea is targeted at Somalis, including Somaliland. The fact that the only side of America that Somalilanders experience comes in the form of constant air and naval surveillance as well as the occasional land forays, has reinforced among Somalilanders the sense that the U.S does not take their interests into account.

Third, the U.S has been very generous with the dictator of Djibouti, Omar Guelleh who does not even hide his links with the same Islamic Courts that the U.S has branded as terrorists, whereas the U.S has not taken a single initiative in support of Somaliland, even though Somaliland has dismantled several terrorist networks affiliated with the Islamic Courts.

U.S policy toward Somaliland is unfair, irrational and counterproductive. It is creating a lot of hostility for the United States and is destabilizing Somaliland; hence, it should be changed, unless spreading chaos is actually U.S policy.

Source: Somaliland Times (Editorial)