Remembering, Reconciling and Rebuilding New Democratic and Peaceful Somalia
When did the Somalia’s troubles begin? Section: 1. Findings. By: Cabdullahi Dheel Washington, DC.
abdullahidel@yahoo.com As we all remember, the Somali people have been one of the most peaceful communities living in the horn of Africa. Allow me to say that the four and half groups constituting Somalia were not distinct from each other; they lived in the same hills, valleys, and shorelines. They intermarried and shared the same cultural values, language, and religion. This historical cohesion was disturbed by the colonial policy of divide and rule. In 1884, the colonial powers decided to partition Somalia into five parts. More than 186 years of colonization passed before we earned our sovereignty only 45 years ago or from one generation ago in 1960. The colonial powers unleashed mercilessly their demoralizing divide and rule policy between the Somalia clans in order to maintain control over the country. Ever since, this divisiveness between the Somali clans and its negative effect has become imbued into the mind of Somalis and scars the entire region. Perhaps, the subsequent governments in the postcolonial era have failed to address this issue. Instead, these governments have continued to implement the same policies of divide and rule in order to stay in power, in addition to a culture of impunity and human rights violations. The negative affect of divide and rule policies continue to diminish the desire of the Somali people to achieve the important goals of preserving national unity, maintaining peaceful co-existence, patriotism, and respect for the rule of law. Now, this divisive ideology continues to threaten the unity and the existence of our nation. Its dogmas ultimately lead the Somali people plunged into civil war for more then decade and half. Without a doubt, since 1884, the Somali people have not experienced either long-term peace or stability between themselves or with their neighbors. Because of the imposed, haphazardly drawn boundaries and the unsystematic application of ill prepared, transplanted institutions inherited from the colonial powers, Somalia lacked the mechanisms to fully integrate all of this with the local indigenous institutions that had pre-existed. Consequently, these transplanted institutions have failed to offer the much needed lasting peace and stability in Somalia, nay, the entire region. As we recall, that this policy of divide and rule was a method that was used to subjugate and weaken our unity. In this regard, we can blame the colonialists for sowing the seeds of hate and for spreading the ideology that entrenches division and differences between the Somali people. We cannot, however, blame them for all the ills that continue to afflict on our nation. I call upon the Somali people to rise up and take their national duty by breaking this vicious cycle of divisiveness. We can no longer be excused for our unruliness that threatens the stability of the region and the security of the world. We must be determined to uplift ourselves from this deep chasm and strive to rebuild a new peaceful Somalia, a state that is economically stable and fit for all of us. | 
