Two weeks ago Abdimalik Muse Oldon, a reporter, was thrown in prison by Somaliland police after expressing concern about Christian missions in the education sector. Since then, the Oldon’s cry for freedom and transparency has been politicized and surrounded by opposing narratives that have revealed deeper issues.
Oldon exposed Abaarso Tech hiring practices and in particular Joy Isa subterfuge, the head of the all female Barwaaqo institute, an Abaarso Tech branch.
The educator from Nigeria was in fact a Pastor from the Elevation Church, an evangelical church in a proselytism mission, as was attested by a now deleted tweet from her congregation’s cheering her assignment in the Somali region.
Since this affair was widely shared and debated, the polemic went in crescendo and divided Hargeisa where the secessionist Somaliland’s administration is based.
Now, the rift keeps widening between those who advocate for Oldon’s release and his right to free speech and those who call Oldon a narrow-minded extremist and view his criticism of the system as a treason.
In this piece, I will try to put in perspective these events in the regional contact and history.
Who is Oldon?
Abdimalik Oldon is a caring and free-spirited person who does not hesitate to touch on issues that others dare not do for fear of the Hargeisa establishment.
Raising awareness on poverty and fundraising made him a philanthropist respected by all. Through his reports, he covered the social problems in the regions of Hargeisa, Burao and Berbera which won him the praise of the population and the anger of the local authorities.
His success in unmasking the lies that everything is well in Somaliland has made him a target of the police state.
Oldon is also an ardent Somali nationalist which interestingly is a punishable offense in Somaliland. he made songs praising Somali cultural and territorial unity, and refused to stand up for the Somaliland flag unlike others.
He ended up being jailed many times in Hargeisa or at the Mandera Prison, near Berbera, infamous for harboring murderers, pirates and terror suspects.
The reporter was also jailed in Puntland and Ethiopia where it was done following request from Hargeisa.
Oldon was vindicated each time and was released.
Christianity in our midst
In all this storm around Oldon, the most conservative section of the society inserted their own narrative of defending Islam against Christian proselytism right on our doorstep.
Oldon’s ordeal has gone viral on social media. Everyone has turned into a holy warrior berating the betrayal of the Muse Bihi regime and the dark foreign organizations he protects.
No matter what some believes Christianity was here in our midst for quite some time.
As soon as the British Empire set foot on Somali lands, Christian missionaries began to convert many children to Christianity. This alarmed Sayyid Mohamed Abdille Hassan in 1897 and prompted him to retake to country from the invaders.
Descendants of this colonial conversion include Lewis Clement Salool, Michael Mariano and Alex Qolqool, three key figures behind Somalia’s independence and unity. The Somali Youth League in tribute to their contribution clearly displayed an interlocking cross and crescent on their flag.
Even today, many do not know that one of the most vocal advocates of northern separatism, Edna Adan, came from a Christian family and had a catholic upbringing. She is considered the “spiritual mother” of Somaliland by her clan and a beacon by Westerners.
Furthermore, thousands of Somalis have either received a Christian education or grown up in a Christian society and are still ardent patriots and with an uncompromising Muslim faith.
So, in Oldon case, Christianity in Somalia is not on trial. Rather, it is these secessionists who present Somaliland as an open society by giving free rein to foreign organizations with dubious intentions and backgrounds to corrupt local customs.
Foreign NGOs questionable activities
Some NGOs like World Vision, ADRA and Diakonia despite their clear missionary purpose operate in Somalia in general as relief organizations even after Al-Shabab threatened them.
Those Christian relief organizations provide highly needed assistance like building schools, medical centers, wells, roads train local personnel and insure their salaries.
Since Somalia’s economy is in shamble and the country politically divided, the central government has limited scope and regional administrations are ineffective and corrupt, these organizations and other foreign presence have almost a free hand on conducting their works undisturbed.
In Somaliland for example, these NGOs and foreign experts, similar to Pastor Joy Isa, have a direct access to local population and have a better understanding of the region than local politicians.
For example, a friend living in the Unites States told me he once worked for Progressio, a British NGO to distribute kits and raise awareness among youth in Hargeisa and Burao on sexually transmitted disease and unwanted pregnancy in total secrecy.
Even when their activities raise local suspicions of transgression or misconduct by these organizations or their foreign workers, Hargeisa administration act swiftly to shield them and harshly suppressing any protest if necessary.
This foreign presence, legit or not, is a lifeline to the so-called “republic of Somaliland”. The sustainability of secessionism in the north is guaranteed by these foreigners who buy local politicians’ silence and complicity.
Fighting anti-national behavior
The case for or against Oldon revelation in Somaliland has either been described a fight for freedom of speech or a support for the administration’s characterization of the case as peace disturbance.
In fact, Somaliland routinely jails reporters, social activists, religious and traditional leaders, politicians and even students for peacefully voicing their concerns on rampant corruption, mismanagement and rights abuses in the secessionist region.
Hargeisa also scrutinizes northern population travels. If you have the audacity to travel south or raise the Somali flag, you run the risk of being detained without warrant under the “anti-national” draconian law.
The list of what the regime considered the crime of “anti-national activities” is long and no one knows what could put someone in the Hargeisa clique’s line of fire.
Somaliland policing has become oppressive chains for those who want to express their opinion or simply redirect the political discussion on the shortcomings of this administration headed by a warlord turned politician.
The police spend their time and resources monitoring activities considered “subversive” and detaining any suspect.
Once an individual is sent to prison, it takes weeks, even months or years, if not never, for him or her to be transferred to a court which usually supports the ruling party.
The use of imprisonment as a tool of deterrence or revenge against opponents or anti-conformists is well known in Somaliland.
However, while this tactic mollifies many, it also toughens many others like Oldon in their search for truth and justice.
In conclusion
Oldon is a first and foremost a self-made reporter who has been covering social issues and other news overlooked by other major news outlet.
No matter how the opposite sides of this debate characterize Abdimalik Oldon, it is not what it appears to be, a case of Christian proselytizing or the dismantling of the secessionist administration but rather a cry for basic rights and freedoms.
Oldon is one of the few who stubbornly stands up to this oppressive administration that has a proven track record in stifling voices in these northern regions while giving free rein on foreign organizations and individuals with questionable backgrounds.
The Oldon affair also revealed Somaliland’s willingness to do whatever it takes to show Europeans and Americans that they are in fact different from the rest of Somalia by embracing liberal democracy and freedom of religion.
These same foreign countries and organizations turn a blind eye to the oppressive nature of the separatists and even, like the UK, actively support its abuses by funding and training their abusive security forces.
