SSC TRADITIONAL LEADER GARAAD ABDIRIZAK SOOFE’S SPEECH ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF PEACE BETWEEN SSC-KHATUMO AND SOMALILAND, BETWEEN A SEPARATIST ENTITY AND A UNIONIST, BETWEEN ARROGANCE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
As a peace delegation from Jigjiga held meetings with SSC-Khatumo traditional leaders, Garaad Abdirizak Garaad Soofe gives the delegation a background of the hostilities and a briefing of what is at stake in northern Somalia.
After thanking the elders for their peacemaking efforts, Garaad Soofe reminded everyone that SSC-Khatumo’s travel and transportation ban against Somaliland is still in effect, and the traditional elders from Jigjiga had to come through the long and arduous Buuhoodle border crossing with the Somali State.
SSC TRADITIONAL LEADER GARAAD ABDIRIZAK SOOFE’S SPEECH ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF PEACE BETWEEN SSC-KHATUMO AND SOMALILAND, BETWEEN A SEPARATIST ENTITY AND A UNIONIST, BETWEEN ARROGANCE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
As a peace delegation from Jigjiga held meetings with SSC-Khatumo traditional… https://t.co/1Agzar5vsb pic.twitter.com/hFHe64bhm4
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Garaad Soofe then explained the purpose behind the arrival of the elders from Jigjiga. He said the elders “came here with an offer of peace. They informed us that they bring a pledge of peace from Somaliland. We accepted their peace call and pledged to accept peace and to make sure the other side will be safe and secure of any hostilities from our side.”
Garaad Soofe loudly proclaimed, “Hear us loud and clear people of Somalia; this peace delegation and the people of the Somali State, please hear us loud and clear; and the folks of the Isaaq clan also hear us loud and clear: We pledge peace. We want peace. We want nothing but peace and peace we pledge to this peace delegation.”
Renowned for his eloquence and oratory skills, Garaad Soofe then goes straight to the nitty-gritty and the details of the kind of peace the people of SSC-Khatumo seek.
He continued, “As we always say, both speech and teeth should be as bright as can be. As such, let all know that the peace we seek is one of equal footing. It is a peace that no one dictates the terms to the other party. It must not be a peace to be sought from arrogant men full of hubris. It must be a peace that everyone’s rights are respected and no one is denied of their fundamental rights. Please make a good note that this is the peace that you should be seeking for us.”
SSC TRADITIONAL LEADERS READY FOR A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT BUT PEACE CAN ONLY BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE TWO ADMINISTRATIONS OF SSC-KHATUMO AND SOMALILAND
Garaad Abdullahi Garaad Saleebaan Garaad Mohamed responds to the peace call by a delegation of traditional leaders from Jigjiga,… https://t.co/XBeoQgYngn pic.twitter.com/uBYgp9iTp1
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With the kind of peace SSC-Khatumo seeks from Somaliland fully explained to the peace delegation from Jigjiga, then Garaad Soofe provides the background of what is at stake between the two administrations and tells them that while the region’s clans have always lived side-by-side and resolved their local issues peacefully on their own, “What is at stake today is politics. You have to understand this. The President of the Somali State and his cabinet must understand this. The folks of the Isaaq clan must also understand this. People of Somalia must understand this. The international community, too, which is said to be involved in these issues, must also understand that this is politics. It is politics that trace back to the collapse of the Somali state, when our brothers claimed to have seceded from Somalia. That is one issue, and it is their choice. We have no qualms about that with them. They can go their separate ways if they want; they can also opt to stay in the union if they so desire.”
WILL CEERIGAABO RETURN TO PEACE AND CAN PEACE PREVAIL BETWEEN SSC-KHATUMO AND SOMALILAND?
A peace delegation that includes traditional leaders from Jigjiga who earlier have stopped by Hargeisa have arrived Laascaanood in a peacemaking effort.
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Garaad Soofe added, “Once they opted to secede, they then forced others in the region to comply and join in their secession. Pay attention to my words. Our people have been slaughtered because they wouldn’t join the secession. Our cities have been demolished because we refused to comply. Secession is their core ideology.”
In concluding his remarks, Garaad Soofe tells the delegation, “They [Somaliland] can believe in whatever they want, but they can’t force us. We say no to secession.”
He then rhetorically asks, “Why would we secede from the rest of Somalia to only join the three regions of Togdheer, NorthWest and Awdal? We won’t.”
Garaad Soofe concluded, “Let the delegation know that this is the politics behind the separatists, and we want no part of their agenda; however, my advice to them is don’t run away from your people.”
> Daljir Media | Contributed by Daljir staff in Garoowe.
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