Dear Servicemen and Servicewomen

You are sincerely saluted for your noble service for
the people and for the country of Somaliland, and for
your patriotic allegiance to the cause of Somaliland.
Somaliland people thankfully appreciate your deep
nationalism of defending Somaliland independence as
well as keeping the internal security of the country
without having satisfactory salaries for the basic
needs of your families or of you at this difficult
time.

Colleagues; you are well aware of the political
turmoil in our country these days. It is a situation
that calls on every Somalilander, whether in the
country or expatriates, to understand the roots of the
political impasse and to take the required role. This
political deadlock has been created by President Dahir
Riyale Kahin after purposefully delaying the
constitutional presidential election that would be
held in April 2008 with the intention of establishing
another senseless dictatorship in Somaliland just
following the footsteps of Siad Barre. What is
happening in Somaliland to day is a struggle between
democracy and dictatorship, between a repressive
government led by ungrateful Riyale who wants to
return Somaliland to the dark years of dictatorship
and pro-election, democratic movement led by
opposition political parties and civil society who are
committed to lead Somaliland to brighter, and
prosperous future. It is also believed that the
emerging dictatorship is a part of a wider plot
conducive to civil strife designed by Riyale and his
loyalists to damage Somaliland image around the world
to undermine its independence and derail its
recognition.

You all know the many problems created by president
Riyale during the six years (2002-2008) he is in the
office. The most notable ones of these problems are:
• Sidestepping the constitution and the laws of the
country to grab the powers of the three branches of
government sliding the country into dictatorship.
• Creating security crisis and an atmosphere of
intimidation and fear to threaten opposition leaders
and officials, democracy activists, and change-seeking
masses.
• Committing human rights abuses by detaining or
imprisoning opposition officials and dissidents,
killing innocent civilians, cracking down freedom of
independent press, speech, assembly, and blocking
peaceful demonstrations.
• Undermining the democratic process of the country by
repeatedly delaying elections to pave the way for
totalitarian, repressive and suppressive regime. 
• Entering into unilateral international agreements,
creating new provinces without studying their
demographic, economic, and administrative eligibility,
and raising taxes and tariffs without being debated
all and passed by the legislative branches. The
creation of the new provinces to court votes is the
height of irresponsibility, and entering into
international agreements and raising taxes are signs
of selfishness and greed to steal more public funds.
Raising taxes and tariffs at this time of severe
drought and global crisis of food and oil is cruelty
beyond imagination.
• Crippling national economy with widespread, massive
corruption of public funds without transparency and
accountability. The country has both substantial
revenue and foreign financial aid. Half of this money
goes into the pockets of the top government officials
and is spent on private buildings and businesses
abroad and in the country while the remaining half is
spent on divide and rule policy or on bribes like the
money given to some of the Council of Elders (Guurti)
to extend term for Riyale illegally. If Riyale and his
government were honestly and decently serving for the
people and the country, some of the national funds
would be used to subsidize the skyrocketing prices of
food and fuel while the rest would fund maintaining
old roads, constructing news ones, improving water
supply, health, and education, improving the living
standard of the government workers, police and armed
forces by raising their salaries and benefits, and
creating jobs for the youth of the country.
• Discouraging the public sector of the country and
crippling Berbera Seaport with high tariffs, which is
the lifeline of Somaliland people.
• Dishonoring and demeaning the heroic, armed struggle
of SNM (1982-1990) that led Somaliland to salvation,
national reconciliation, and restoration of its
independence of 1960, demonizing its veterans, and
denying martyrs` widows and orphans of recognition and
basic benefits.
• Employing disgraceful, faithless cabinet ministers
who publicly demonize opposition leaders and
officials, and insult tribes through public radio and
pro-government press to please their tyrant, Mr.
Riyale. It is an offensive to government ethics.
These are all crimes committed by president Riyale and
his cronies and are typical characteristics of a
repressive, criminal dictatorship. 

Esteemed patriotic men and women; we are in the first
decade of the 21st century. The era of military
dictatorships and repressive regimes, of tribal rule,
of divide and rule policy, of destructive tribalism
and regionalism, and of arming clans against each
other to seize power or stay in power is over. The era
of using police and army as instruments of fear,
intimidation, and imprisonment to silence or chock
opposition and democratic forces for progress is over.
The era of defending and dying for brutal, repressive
dictators or reactionary regimes to prolong their rule
through victimization of dissidents and forces of
change is over. We are in the era of people’s power
who understands that the government belongs to them
and that they have the right to elect who they want to
lead the country locally, regionally, and nationally.
Somaliland people know that their interest, progress
and prosperity of each person and each clan in
Somaliland, and peace and stability of their country
lie in president and government officials elected by
the people through democratic, clean, and transparent
elections.

Respected compatriots; you all know that president
Riyale gathered you and your weapons recently in the
major cities of Somaliland, Hargeisa and Burao, to use
you for intimidation and engage you in criminal and
repressive acts against opposition leaders and
officials, traditional clan leaders, politicians,
civil society, and masses who are all seeking
political change, and to stifle independent press so
he could eliminate presidential election to remain in
office indefinitely. President Riyale and his inner
circle are also widely believed to be behind the
recent explosions that rocked Hargeisa to get false
justification or pretext to blame and target
opposition party leaders and officials to preempt
elections. 

President Riyale and his cronies want to treat you as
tools used for their own benefits to stay in power
just as Siad Barre did. They will create security
crisis situation in the country and will make you
believe that the leaders and officials of the
opposition parties (Kulmiye, Ucid, and Qaran), and the
independent press are behind it. They will give you
criminal orders to impose curfew in major cities to
target these leaders, officials and press, and to
terrorize the civilian population. In such situation,
remember that you took oath to defend the country and
protect the lives of the people and their property,
not to defend oppressive, repressive clique. Remember
that you are from the people and for the people and
for the country. Remember that your dress, ranks,
salary, weapons, transport, training and barracks are
all paid for by the people of Somaliland. Remember
that killing, wounding or detaining innocent people is
like killing, wounding and detaining your children,
wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.
Remember that you and your families are too suffering
the same way the people of Somaliland are suffering
from the current harsh living conditions caused by the
injustices of the government. 

Do not break your oath; do not betray your people and
your country. Be on the right side of history; do not
take orders for repressive or criminal acts, support
and work with the opposition and with the people
fighting for change. Do not listen to Riyale`s
Siad-like speeches who blames opposition while he is
the real problem in the country. Remember that you are
not a clan militia but the police and the army of a
nation; do not lose that pride and that dignified
status of belonging to a national police or an army.
Refuse the divisive, ill-advised tactics of President
Riyale and his loyalists in the police and in the
army; their days are numbered. With the help of the
army and police, many African dictators were
disgracefully ousted. Be part of the forces of change
for better future for your people, for your children,
and for yourself. A few of you will surely stain their
name for siding with the repressive, suppressive
clique and they will go down in history as despot
supporters bearing serious consequences in both
worlds. 

Fellow countrymen and fellow countrywomen; you all
know that the presidential term of president Royal
ends on May 15, 2008. Somaliland National Coalition
Government is expected to be formed after this date.
If President Royal and his cronies insist on rejecting
the decision of the National Election Commission and
the three National Parties (Kulmiye, Ucid, and Udub)
to hold presidential and local elections in October
and December of 2008, the calls of the international
community to respect that decision, the voices of the
change-yearning civil society, masses and forces, and
the formation of National Coalition Government after
May 15, 2008, but, instead, starts cracking down
Opposition Parties, pro-election movement, independent
press etc, then president Riyale declares himself an
absolute dictator. Hence, the people of Somaliland has
the right to topple president Riyale through popular
uprising led by the Opposition Parties after May 15,
2008, when his term expires and he is no longer lawful
president of Somaliland, to prevent another atrocious
dictatorship in Somaliland. Your support, the army and
the police of Somaliland, to the toppling of Dahir
Riyale Kahin, not president any more after May 15,
2008, is crucial to uphold the constitution of the
country and the will of the people for which you took
the oath. 

After toppling Riyale and his group, a civilian
interim government is required to be formed
immediately to pave the way for democratic local and
presidential elections as soon as possible. There are
no reasons to postpone presidential election other
than dictatorial ambitions. The Opposition Parties and
National Election Commission should not let president
Riyale entertain the nation and the country with more
promises, talks, and agreements that he breaks each
time testing the people` patience to prolong his
repressive rule. The opposition parties, the people
the army, and the police must prepare for the
contingency of toppling Riyale. Watching passively the
development of another tyranny in Somaliland is not an
option; it must be eliminated on time. Dictators much
more powerful than lion-skin-wearing Riyale were
brought down. The heroic people of Somaliland know
that there is no freedom without sacrifice. Long Live
Somaliland. 

Best Regards,

Ibrahim Hassan Gagale