There is an irony in Somaliland’s current political storm: The man in the middle, Mr. Adirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, is a problem solver, not a troublemaker. The people of Somaliland are, therefore, well advised to take a hard look at the man himself.

Abdirahman’s CV, as already publicized, stands quite resplendent.  Whether the scope of his academic and professional training alone gives him a clear edge over his rivals I don’t know.  What I do know, however, is that few can boast the depth of his well-balanced character.  He is very brilliant yet very pragmatic; soft spoken yet very sharp with words; mild mannered yet with a solid core of steel; rich in ideas yet humble and unassuming.  He will never trip over his own ego, the disease that claims most of the Third World’s brilliant minds. Most important of all, he is fair and decisive.  Those who have elected him for some ulterior motives will soon find their hopes dashed.  Those who are opposed to him for concern about impartiality will have nothing to fear.  The young man I knew as a classmate will be nobody’s rubber stamp.

True, I have not met Abdurahman since we left Sheik Secondary School in mid 1977.  Also true, a lot could have happened in that span of time.  But the little I have heard of him since has only solidified the highly favorable opinion I had of him in our youth.  I have no doubt that our mutual schoolmates in Sheikh Secondary School (Abdi-Sayyid, Mohamed Sh. Dalmar, Mohamed Abbokr Dabagaalle (naanaysta xaal baan ka baxshey), Amir Abdirahman Sh. Bashir, Nuh H. Ali Shireh, Abdalla H. Ali Shire, Harun Issa Mire, Camankolay (naanaysta xaal baan ka baxshey), Aden Ibrahim Ali, Ahmed Haybe, Maadhiin and many others) will agree with me in this short assessment of Abdirahman.

In an atmosphere of aging demagogues and charlatans posing as bona fide leaders for Somalis everywhere, Abirahman’s ascendancy to power is a breath of fresh air, a shot in the arm, and a beacon of hope.  Somali masses should take heart.  Warlords should take heed and see the writing on the wall.  Abdirahman is just the type of leader Somalis sorely need and deserve to have. 

Mohamoud A Gaildon
Medical Physicist
Atlanta GA
E-mail: [email protected]