All Lascanooders are winners

All Lascanooders are winners


Finally the exciting news we where hoping for come through the
newsfeed early morning. Laaska was finally free. But sadly, one more time,
Majertenia ragtag tag militia terrorized my birthplace before fleeing.
Two weeks ago, two civilians were killed in the aftermath of their bloody
defeat at the hands of Sool freedom fighters and Somaliland national
army . Today, Garowe militia bullet sprayed Xaabsade house located in a
densely populated area of Lascanood.

My sincere congratulations to the Sool freedom fighters and
Somaliland national army. Also to those who kept the hope alive, Fuad Aden
Cadde, Ali Sandulle, Dhakool, Baashe…

To my fellow Lascanooders, I would like to say that we are all
winners. From now on, our men will not be killed inside Garowe jails and
murderers let free. From now on, our natural resources will not be sold out
to obscure Aussie companies and the proceeds help build Garowe
airport. From now on, taxes will not be collected in Lascanood and devoted to
build Bossaso airstrips. From now on, local NGO operating Lascanood
will not receive confidential notes telling them not to hire Sool
inhabitants. For all the above reasons, we, Lascanooders, are all winners
today.

Dear fellow Lascanooders, liberation, no matter how joyful, should
not obscure the difficult road ahead. Years of Majertenia occupation have
ruined the city and corrupted our soul. For example, Lascanood is the
only Somaliland city were people are roaming the streets with guns and
differences settle sometimes at gunpoint. Schools are crumbling,
hospitals inexistent, once wealthy rural areas vacated. I call on Somaliland
government to create a need assessment commission and to follow up with
concrete measures. Our youth should have better hopes that serving as
foot soldiers to the dictatorial fantasies of Abdillahi Yusuf. The road
ahead is long but let’s get started.

Mohamed Sougal

www. soolsomaliland.blogspot.com