Awdal State President Rashid Aw Nour Hirsi has finally raised the game for Awdalstate followers, but it is up to them to face the reality and to accept their leader’s sensible conclusion. Mr. Rashid’s latest decision to have a dialog with the Republic of Somaliland has already enhanced Awdal State’s legitimacy and it has improved the image of the barely existed dream which President Rashid has finally marketed in Somaliland.
I had vigorously opposed the principle and the formation of Awdalstate, when those who are against President Rashid’s current political judgment were electing him to lead Awdal out of Somaliland.
But for me, it has never been personal to disagree with President Rashid and the fictional State that many Awdalists had fell in love with, but I always knew it would be failure to generate an idea which would be insult to the dignity of our people.
And I am quite relieved that President Rashid has finally realised that Awdal belongs to Somaliland rather than sharing ties with far away administrations.
However, there are times that I had crossed the line in order to prove my points, and many of my fellow Awdalites who had supported Awdal State of Somalia at the time were offended about my views of Awdal State.
I fell out with friends and family members over this issue. And people I could rely on anything had been offended about my views of Awdalstate at the time.
But again my argument against Awdalstate of Somalia was always simple, because I knew all along what president Rashid has finally realised today and to some extent I feel honour to be proved right.
On the other hand, looking back Mr. Rashiid’s tireless attempts to sale Awdal State to the world of Somali politics, one can only appreciate his current conclusion, because the very idea behind Awdal State scheme itself was a bird without feathers. And this absurd idea should never have been invented in the first place by the very people who their forefathers contributed to the restoration of Somaliland sovereignty.
Having said that, I never thought Awdalstate would one day gain such publicity and recognition in Somaliland, nor did I contemplate the level of respect that Somaliland government is giving the Awdal State delegation led by President Rashiid Aw Nour. But it is obvious that Mr. Rashid made a clever political calculation when he decided to go down this road.
Whatever his opponents would like to think about him, I believe President Rashid has shown a leadership style during his presidency”but only if he had a real State, no doubt he would have been a successful leader
Mr. Rashid’s current move is indeed a significant goal for Awdalstate followers, and it is time they should all obey their elected president’s decision without making any hasty and inflammatory actions, because this is the best and the only rational move that the Awdalstate factions have ever made since Awdalstate was formed. And in fact it is more than what they could have hoped for since they have all failed to have any influences over the regions they claim to represent.
It is undeniable fact that Awdalites belongs to Somaliland, and they are in fact the true bearers of all the beautiful things that exist in Somaliland today “Peace” “Rule of Law” “Democracy” and all the rest of it. And it will be tragedy if few people succeed to destroy 22 years of outstanding legacy.
Many Awdalites including myself had came out against Awdalstate when it was first formed and there were bloodbath type of arguments at the time, and it will take long-time to undo the lack of trust that this blunder has created within the Awdal community. But I am also glad to say it is the end of a bad dream, and for that reason I applaud Rashid Aw Nour Hirsi and his followers.
Rashiid Aw Nour and his camp this time around have shown bravery, because they probably knew when they decided to bury the hatchet with Somaliland they would be subject to insult and abuses as we are already witnessing, but history always blesses the honest man, and there is no doubt in my mind that President Rashid will one day be appreciated by all Awdalistes for restoring our dignity.
Abdale Farah Sigad
Facebook/Cabdale Sigad