Minorities' Rights

Rights of Minorities

Somalis have long since been represented as a homogenous ethnic society with a common myth of origin (patrilineal descent from a common ancestor), a common language (Somali), common religion (Sunni Islam) and common customs (particularly related to pastoral-nomadism and camel husbandry) (Lewis 1961; Laitin and Samatar 1987). Reviews of a list of literature have shown that the country’s economy, politics, and social issues have been controlled by the ordinary Somalis whereas minority communities have been marginalized and sometimes even oppressed and exploited to take part in the decision-making process, state building, and elections in Somaliland. The study focused on the issues of identity-based politics on minority groups in Somaliland for their political participation, job opportunities, marriage, and the right of property.

Introduction

Although minorities love and consider Somaliland as their country, their identity as minorities continues to see them excluded from politics and socio-economic empowerment.

The minority group in Somaliland includes Gaboye Yibir Tumal and others. These minority communities continue to live in conditions of high poverty and suffer numerous forms of discrimination and exclusion and above all identity-based politics has appeared in modern days in Somaliland towards minority communities. Minority communities are considered inferior, without full rights in Social, political and economic sectors in the society. In addition to that, minorities were systematically excluded from the mainstream prominent positions in government and the few minorities who held public office positions had no power to speak on behalf of their communities and their families.

Furthermore, as a result of their minority identity, some minorities have suffered systematic confiscation of their property and lands. Based on the understanding of identity based political and social problems towards minority communities.

Understanding minorities in Somaliland

The situation of minorities must be considered in the context of Somaliland in the last 50 years and during state collapse, which Somaliland has experienced a civil war, drought, humanitarian disaster and massive violations of fundamental human rights that have affected all Somaliland, majorities and minorities alike. However, after state collapse in 1991 the international community, human rights organizations and the UN organizations gave much attention on the issues related to minorities in Somaliland because minority groups have been suffering inadequate protection, employment, education, property land and massive discrimination in Somali for decades.

The Somaliland’s lack of minority rights and inadequate attention from the government to their existence made them more vulnerable and in danger. Concerning Martins argument about minority communities seems essential, he said that the social, cultural and traditional clan structure formed by the majority clans in Somaliland continues to exclude minority communities from inter-marriage between majorities and minorities, political participation, education discrimination and employment; and even limits their access to justice where abuse has been perpetrated against them in recent years. (Martin hill 2010)

The origin of minorities

Considering Somalis academic literature and other scholars who studied Somali state identity haven’t been agreed on the concept of the origin of the minorities in Somalia. Some have argued that minorities are originally from Somalia, and they are Somalis but socially structured propaganda made them minority,

Identity-based problems towards minorities in Somaliland

Prohibition on inter-marriage: Despite the customary prohibition by the majority clans on intermarriage with a minority communities, the relationships have historically probably always taken place. This restriction on intermarriage between minority communities and majority clans has excluded minorities from forms of clan support or advancement through marriage ties. Nowadays there are very few civil society organizations and minority activists advocating and trying to remove this culture of a prohibition on inter-marriage but, still there are not many improvements made.

Economic exclusion: Economic dominance is one of the most severe socio-economic problems facing the minority communities since Somaliland got its independence in 1960, the major clans at the expense of minority groups have dominated social and political affairs of the country.

The Majority clans control all airport and seaport commercial activities. Those who do not belong to these majority clans work only as underpaid servants. Moreover, "Somaliland '' Hargeisa(the capital city of a self-declared republic) there are nearly five telephone companies, five money transfer companies, big hotels, several light industries, transportation and construction agencies and ticket printing companies; all of which create hundreds of job opportunities. The minorities’ communities claim that these job opportunities are offered according to the clan identity of the individual. The minorities have no access to these jobs because of their minority identity (UN report 2002).

Educational discrimination:

In the educational system, due to discrimination minorities are unable to send their children to school and since 1991 minorities become unproductive. A survey found shows that less than 20 percent of children of the minority families interviewed send their children to school while the remaining 80% are unable to send their kids to college. (VOSOMWO’s 2006)

The rule of law:

The rule of law is one of the most important principles of good governance, In this case there is no separation of power between and among them.