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THE BLAME GAME IN THE AWDAL REGION: A 62-YEAR SAGA - BREAKING THE CURSE By Samaron Robleh

In Awdal, it could be argued that a blame game has persisted for 62 years, with 31 years under Somalia's rule and another 31 years under the current system of Somaliland. It is not important for me now to highlight or list them here but in all those years, individuals and groups, clans, subclans and communities from this region have continuously pointed fingers at their politicians, elders, Sultans, educators, teachers, sheikhs and other tribes attributing their own shortcomings to them. This culture of blaming others has become deeply entrenched in society, hindering personal growth, social cohesion, community integrity and obstructing the search for meaningful solutions.

 

According to psychologists, blaming others may bring temporary relief, but it ultimately allows individuals to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. This behaviour not only hinders progress but also fosters an atmosphere of mistrust and defensiveness. Rather than taking charge of their lives and political goals, the people of Awdal have developed a habit of attributing their failures to external factors. This mindset impedes their ability to take the necessary actions for self-improvement.

 

There is a prevalent tendency to attribute positive accomplishments to ourselves, but when things go wrong, however, we tend to shift the blame onto others. This is known as the self-serving bias, where individuals credit themselves for successes but attribute failures to external circumstances. Unfortunately, this bias only serves to perpetuate the culture of blame that is deeply ingrained in society. While it may be natural to blame circumstances in some instances, assigning blame to people and other clans, especially those who are close to us, including our neighbours, can have negative impacts on our relationships, families, society, and political strategies.

 

Moreover, the continuous cycle of blaming politicians, elders, educators and other clans in Awdal has proven to be counterproductive. Holding individuals in positions of power accountable is important, but relying solely on blame as a means of seeking change does not yield positive results. Instead of fostering collaboration and collective responsibility, the blame game only exacerbates division and stagnation. 

 

Breaking free from this cycle of blame is crucial for the people of Awdal. It requires avoiding emotional manipulation and recognizing the futility of the blame game. Progress of any type cannot be achieved by solely pointing fingers at others. Instead, it necessitates a collective effort to find meaningful solutions and foster unity among all clans in the region.

 

The Gadabursi people have a rich history that includes both successes and setbacks. Rather than using this history to foster hatred and resentment, it is important to study it and gain valuable insights into the root causes of past events. These insights can then be used to develop effective solutions to address the challenges faced by the community. With Gadabursi people residing in Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Djibouti, it is essential for them to unite when it comes to achieve development and progress. Most important of all, it is crucial for those in #Somaliland, #Harowo, or #Djibouti to show respect for each other's political decisions and goals, this can only be achieved by not imposing yourselves upon your fellow people on the other side.

 

Some groups have a tendency to demonize the governments of Somaliland, Ethiopia, or Somalia when they fail to achieve their political objectives, such as securing ministerial positions for their "Jilib" within these governments. They often exploit genuine grievances of the people to pressure the respective presidents into granting them a position. However, once they achieve their objective, they conveniently forget past injustices and restart the cycle when they lose their position. It is regrettable that this pattern of behaviour continues, despite its detrimental effects on the political stability and progress of the people.

 

Furthermore, it is contradictory to call for the unification of Somalia while overlooking the importance of unity within the Awdal and Harowo communities, as well as among the broader communities in the North. Therefore, prioritizing internal unity is crucial before seeking broader unification efforts.

 

To move forward, we must shift our focus from the illusion of the #Bluebullshit and instead work towards nurturing peaceful relations with our neighbours, fostering greater internal cohesion and justice, and promoting personal accountability rather than blame. As part of the Northern Somali community, we have a responsibility to strive towards a just system that benefits all communities and clans in the North.

 

This system should not discriminate against any tribe and should not allow any group or tribe to monopolize all the benefits. We should aim for an oppression-free system where each community has a voice in the decisions of the state and where power is not centralized in one city. This system should unite us all, and we should take the initiative to achieve this by channeling our energy towards the common good of the Northern communities.

 

Only when the Northern communities reach a level of maturity and unity can we then talk about reuniting with the South. We should not allow any tribe or group to lead us anywhere without first achieving unity, a just system, and justice for all.

 

Additionally, there are thousands of people in other regions of Somaliland who share the same responsibility and aspirations as us. By working together, we can start anew and strive towards a better system that is worth fighting for. The current system of Somaliland is not worthy for the northern communities, and we rightly so, deserve better. We can achieve a system that is just and equitable for all, but the divisive #BlueBullshit from Mogadishu does not deserve fighting for.

 

The Awdal region has immense potential to break free from the cycle of blame and create a brighter future by taking responsibility for our actions, leading in example, working together, and seeking meaningful solutions for ourselves and the broader communities in the North. By doing so, we can embark on a path of growth, unity, and progress that benefits everyone. 

 

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NOTICE: This article is independently written by Samaron Robleh 
Contact: https://twitter.com/AwdalEye  
 



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