Guban View: Egal was a Patriot, Statesman
I have written this note as a tribute to our late President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal. Twenty years ago, on May 03, 2002, the late President Egal passed away at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. He was 73.
Egal was my hero, a patriot and Wiseman. He was an elder statesman, with good judgment, and the courage to make tough decisions. He was a gifted leader, and a fighter for Somaliland cause.
While the U.S., United Nations, and others failed to recreate Somalia; Egal restored peace and stability and set up the functioning government structure and democratic institutions in Somaliland. Egal was a nation builder. He led our young nation during the most turbulent time in our history. He knew well the political dynamics of the clans in the region , and he worked so hard for the the cause of peace in the Horn of Africa region.
In fact, Egal was the architect of Somaliland’s referendum for independence in May 2001, an event that i took part, during my first visit to Somaliland. But Egal did not live to see his dream realized. During his leadership he brought cohesiveness, peace and stability to the nation. As the result, Somaliland had achieved, albeit imperfect, development in the areas of public safety, education, and basic services. But still a massive work needs to done on human development area in our country. He believed a true free market economy.
But he was not a flawless politicians. In summer of 1960, Egal dithered to take a decisive action on restoring the newly liberated Republic of Somaliland after a minority but a vocal , ignorant mob hijacked the aspirations of the people and united with Somalia without any conditions. They were self centered, greedy, who did not take an interest in anything that does not involve their respective clansmen.
They were ignorant about a sovereign nation and constitution. They were ignorant of how the world works, ignorant of the inner workings between governments.
Because of Egal’s dithering, Republic of Somaliland become a region of Somalia, and the people lost their sovereignty and freedom just like that. We know the ultimate price people paid after they easily gave up their own freedom.
Now, we got fraud leaders and those who hate Somaliland the most and scream the most and use religion and clan identity to gain political power are ones that get the most attention.
I am afraid if Somaliland people and their leaders did not put aside their differences and unite, and work toward for the common purpose, we might lose our freedoms again as it happened in 1960.However, this time we might not even get the speakership position as the Burao/ Las-Anood faction did in 1960.
While hosting a State Dinner at the Whitehouse in honor of Prime Minister Egal, late President Johnson said, “No statesman is struggling harder today to realize the dream of democracy for his own people than the man that we honor tonight, Prime Minister Egal.”
Johnson also added, “After our talk this afternoon, Mr. Prime Minister, a friend told me of an old Muslim saying that I am sure you know. It says: “There are four things which can never be retrieved–the spoken word, the sped arrow, times past, and the neglected opportunity.”
“Mr. Prime Minister, you have practiced the wisdom of that proverb. Your words have always served the cause of peace.”
So far, we do not have anyone from Somaliland or even Somali peninsula politicians who can fill the vacuum Egal left.
Let’s pray for Allah to open for us the gates of paradise and meet him there.
Amen.
Ali Mohamed
Founder and Editor
Gubanmedia.com, an online source of news and commentary about the Horn of Africa.
He can reached @ aliadm18@gmail.com
