Abdillahi Geeljire and his weekly satirical, albeit polemical, dialogue he writes from Canada is now widely read on various websites and Haatuf newspaper in Somaliland. Geeljire craftily presents his piece in the form of a conversation between his two main antagonists, Dube and Dolaal.
The setting is a Merfrish where Dube and Dolaal frequent in the afternoons to socialize by chewing the narcotic leaves of Kat.
Dolaal supports the government and defends it by questioning Dube on his two cents. He paints the picture of a man who is satisfied with the direction things political are going in Somaliland.
In contrast, Dube represents the political opposition and always finds fault with the government, questioning its motives in every move. He is very incisive in his analysis of the political developments on the ground in Somaliland.
The piece is highly entertaining and informative. But the story does not stop there.
To appreciate the piece more, let us look at the writer.
Mr. Geeljire is a very educated man who is originally from Hargeisa. Like many individuals in positions of power in Somaliland, Mr. Geeljire lived long years of exile in Canada. He was among droves of exiles who flew all the way from Europe and north America to live the 'Somaliland dream' , after peace returned to the area.
The prolonged civil wars and poverty in Somalia forced great number of Somalis to seek asylum in Europe and North America. Many of these exiles failed to fully integrate into their host countries because of cultural barriers, discrimination, lack of enterprise and, perhaps, sheer laziness on their part. As a result, many work in menial jobs or live off the unemployment and other welfare schemes in their host countries.
When multiparty election was introduced in Somaliland, many returned home to join the newly established political parties and participate in the government.
When Mr. Geeljire arrived in Hargeisa, he joined UDUB political party and become one of its greatest campaigners and party activist. He was one of the luminaries who were responsible for election of the incumbent president of Somaliland, Mr. Riyaale. Mr. Geelire remained as one of the favorite sons of UDUB, until the parliamentary elections of May 2005 in Somaliland.
When the parliamentary election approached, Mr. Geeljire hoped, with a good reason, that UDUB will return the favor and include him in their party candidate lists. However, as they say all politics is local but Mr.Geeljire failed to realize this.
As we remember, in the last and the only parliamentary election in Somaliland, submission of candidates to political parties was the responsibility of the tribes of the respective candidates. This was the case because the people in the country vote on the basis of tribal allegiances more than anything else. Abdillahi Geeljire failed, unfortunately, to win the ticket of his tribe. For reasons known only to themselves, they selected a fresh face from Bristol as their candidate in UDUB and gave Mr. Geeljire the boot.
Soon after, Geeljire joined the opposition KULMIYE political party and started to play 'DUBE', seeing evil in every move of the UDUB-led government in Somaliland.
I enjoy reading Mr.Geeljire's weekly Daljire dispatch, but always with a pinch of salt
The setting is a Merfrish where Dube and Dolaal frequent in the afternoons to socialize by chewing the narcotic leaves of Kat.
Dolaal supports the government and defends it by questioning Dube on his two cents. He paints the picture of a man who is satisfied with the direction things political are going in Somaliland.
In contrast, Dube represents the political opposition and always finds fault with the government, questioning its motives in every move. He is very incisive in his analysis of the political developments on the ground in Somaliland.
The piece is highly entertaining and informative. But the story does not stop there.
To appreciate the piece more, let us look at the writer.
Mr. Geeljire is a very educated man who is originally from Hargeisa. Like many individuals in positions of power in Somaliland, Mr. Geeljire lived long years of exile in Canada. He was among droves of exiles who flew all the way from Europe and north America to live the 'Somaliland dream' , after peace returned to the area.
The prolonged civil wars and poverty in Somalia forced great number of Somalis to seek asylum in Europe and North America. Many of these exiles failed to fully integrate into their host countries because of cultural barriers, discrimination, lack of enterprise and, perhaps, sheer laziness on their part. As a result, many work in menial jobs or live off the unemployment and other welfare schemes in their host countries.
When multiparty election was introduced in Somaliland, many returned home to join the newly established political parties and participate in the government.
When Mr. Geeljire arrived in Hargeisa, he joined UDUB political party and become one of its greatest campaigners and party activist. He was one of the luminaries who were responsible for election of the incumbent president of Somaliland, Mr. Riyaale. Mr. Geelire remained as one of the favorite sons of UDUB, until the parliamentary elections of May 2005 in Somaliland.
When the parliamentary election approached, Mr. Geeljire hoped, with a good reason, that UDUB will return the favor and include him in their party candidate lists. However, as they say all politics is local but Mr.Geeljire failed to realize this.
As we remember, in the last and the only parliamentary election in Somaliland, submission of candidates to political parties was the responsibility of the tribes of the respective candidates. This was the case because the people in the country vote on the basis of tribal allegiances more than anything else. Abdillahi Geeljire failed, unfortunately, to win the ticket of his tribe. For reasons known only to themselves, they selected a fresh face from Bristol as their candidate in UDUB and gave Mr. Geeljire the boot.
Soon after, Geeljire joined the opposition KULMIYE political party and started to play 'DUBE', seeing evil in every move of the UDUB-led government in Somaliland.
I enjoy reading Mr.Geeljire's weekly Daljire dispatch, but always with a pinch of salt
No comments:
Post a Comment