The proposed visit of the Somali Regional President, His Excellency Da’ud Mohamed Ali, to the Regional Diaspora communities in North America, and the recent call from the Head of the Security and Justice Bureau of the Region, His Honorable Abdi Mohammed Omar, upon all Regional Diaspora communities to come back and help the development initiatives undertaken by the Regional Government to deal with poverty’s multidimensional nature, are truly clear indications that Somali Regional State is headed to the right direction, cooperation, peace and prosperity, in which the Regional Diaspora, throughout the world, must and should standby.

The Regional Government has now fully recognized that the Diaspora may have an active role to play in the development process underway in the Region. The government has very well acknowledged that the Diaspora communities are not only a source of funds; that they are also a rich source of skills and know-how.

For that, we, the Somali Regional Diaspora Forum (SRDF), urge all the Regional Diaspora communities to stand up to contribute their share to ensure the development of the region, and lend a hand to the Regional Government to deliver the basic services and combat insecurity in the region, so to not allow Eritrean agents and its collaborators (ONLF) to hinder the current ongoing positive initiatives.

We, the people in the Diaspora, must now step in. History has proven that unless the people involve, neither meaningful development nor reliable security will ever take place. If we are satisfied with the current Eritrean game in our region to keep us in the status quo, then yes, we can reject Regional Government’s call to be part of the Region’s future. However, if we are not satisfied with what Eritrean agents and its collaborators are doing in our Region, then it is time for us to make our move. Somali Regional State will not move forward unless we train ourselves to take courageous and definite stance without fear or hesitation.

Somali Regional Diaspora communities have three choices, (1) do nothing; (2) do the same thing; or (3) do something different. If we do nothing then we can expect nothing. If we continue to do the same thing, then we can expect the same results. Our clear and undisputable choice here is to seek out a different strategy that will help our people in the Region receive undisturbed access to basic services and push our Region into marking real progress.

The people in Somali Region are simply tired of Eritrean agents and its collaborators hindering their attempts to better life. They want us to stand up for what is right for the Region. We are well aware that ONLF takes us to be fools and will always keep calling names. However, we should all know that such absurdity would only come from self-centered elements with one objective: personal aggrandizement. Its leaders utilize the blood of our people in the Region to maintain their lavish lifestyles in London and Melbourne.

We must set precedent against would be troublemakers so as to keep our Region on a path of everlasting peace and prosperity. The calls of Regional Government and our people must not fall on deaf ears. It is time for all of us to stand up and participate in the ongoing development endeavors, let us put our Region first above all else

Somali Regional Diaspora Forum (SRDF)
Minneapolis, MN
USA