History stands as both judge and executioner, demanding that the Ogadenis face an unavoidable truth: Will they shield the fragile peace nurtured over the past six years or gamble everything by slipping back into the abyss of war? Their journey has been long and harrowing, marred by displacement, death, and shattered dreams that linger like echoes from a distant storm. Now, standing at the threshold of progress, the choices made today will shape whether the future blossoms in peace or withers in ruin. But this moment is not theirs alone. The Kuumade, their kindred, in lineage and principle, along with other tribes of the Somali Region, must decide – will they watch in silence, waiting to see how the elephant in the room moves, or will they rise, speak, and stake their claim in the fate of the region? To remain passive is to leave their future vulnerable, for the ripples of today’s decisions will inevitably touch them tomorrow. Their voice in this moment is not a luxury but a necessity.
Jigjiga’s Drama: A Stage Set for Lies, Betrayal, and Chaos
The recent meeting in Jigjiga was meant to be a defining moment—an opportunity to forge a unified Somali Agenda that could guide the region toward shared purpose. Instead, it unraveled into a spectacle of confusion, betrayal, and manipulation. Lies ignited like wildfire on social media, twisting truth into elaborate fiction. In this theater of deceit, people spoke with the arrogance of gatekeepers, as if they alone possessed hidden truths, yet most had no understanding of the dialogue’s purpose. Rather than fostering unity, the spectacle sowed division, birthing dangerous narratives that even our enemies had not dared to imagine.
The commission’s platform was never designed solely for the Somali Region nor the interests of any single group – it is a national dialogue meant to encompass the nation’s collective voice, even though several armed oppositions have refused to participate. If there are hidden agendas within this process, they belong to the national landscape, not to specific groups or regions. Yet, those who spin these narratives do so without understanding, unwilling even to read the full framework of the dialogue. When will we sit down and read so that we may understand before we react – before we give space to those born to twist everything into the mystery of their own fantasies, fantasies that will not only harm the people of this region but also hand ammunition to those who have long awaited the chance to wipe out the people of this land? Criticism of the process is valid and necessary, but it should not become a weapon to target individual politicians or groups. To do so is to corrupt the very spirit of dialogue, turning it into a tool for division rather than a bridge toward understanding.
The Silent Suffering: The Wounds of Our Mothers and Daughters
The past is written in blood, in the silent suffering of our mothers, sisters, and daughters. They bore the horrors of war – torture, rape, and displacement – while the world looked away. Their scars run deep, and their dignity is shattered by the cruelty of conflict. How dare we even entertain the thought of reopening that door to darkness? War is a beast that feeds on the innocent, and once unleashed, it does not discriminate. It devours the helpless and leaves the powerful untouched. If we forget the suffering endured, we do not merely fail in our past; we gamble with the future of those who remain.
Falling into the Abyss: Reckless Words and Dangerous Rhetoric
Reckless words are as dangerous as unsheathed swords. The recent missteps in framing the Ogadenis’ situation threaten to plunge us back into the abyss. Divisive rhetoric – spoken without care – will not heal the fractures in our society; it will deepen them. The Ogadenis have been guardians of this land, protecting it from enemies whose minds are set on our annihilation. Their legacy is not without mistakes, but it is also a story of vigilance and sacrifice. To speak against the tribe recklessly is to invite calamity, opening doors that should have remained sealed and dismantling the trust that holds us together.
The World Is Watching: Peace as Our Greatest Investment
Beyond our borders, the gaze of the international community rests upon the Somali Region with growing admiration – a rare beacon of peace and stability in a country that has weathered storms. Among the chaos that engulfs other parts of Ethiopia, the Somali Region stands alone, enjoying an uncommon tranquility that has caught the world’s attention. In a landscape where uncertainty reigns, we have become an oasis of possibility – a place where investors, diplomats, and international partners see not just a region but a promise: a land ready for progress, worthy of trust, and ripe for investment. This perception is more than fleeting; it is a testament to what peace has built and what stability protects. The world watches with hope, seeking safe harbors for their investments, and the Somali Region has become that harbor. We cannot afford to squander this rare opportunity for what others wish they had we already hold in our hands.
To gamble with this peace, to risk what others can only dream of, would be nothing short of folly. The international community sees in us not just a region at rest but a land poised to rise. Opportunities for development, trade, and foreign partnerships are now within our grasp. But these opportunities are delicate – they are courted by progress yet easily scared off by the specter of instability. The world seeks regions where safety breeds success, where peace is not a luxury but a foundation. If we falter now, we not only betray our own future but close the doors of investment that are just beginning to open. While other regions struggle to find their footing, we must stand firm, knowing that what we possess is rare – and if we protect it, prosperity will follow.
The Light of Truth: Transparency as the Path to Redemption
If the ONLF wishes to retain its moral authority, it must walk the path of transparency. Words without clarity become mere whispers in the wind. The people deserve to know what the government fulfilled, what remains undone, and what efforts were made to address the gaps. Transparency is the light that dispels doubt and builds trust. Without it, grievances – even legitimate ones – risk being dismissed as hollow complaints.
A war that is not yours is a war that must never be fought. Whatever has not been honored in the treaty can be negotiated – so long as peace is preserved. Progress, however imperfect, is a treasure that must be protected. Reckless decisions threaten to unravel everything we have built. Through clarity, dialogue, and accountability, solutions can be found, ensuring that frustrations do not ignite new conflicts. Peace is the strongest shield, and progress is the only path to lasting hope.
The Mirror of Progress: Reflecting on the Unseen Achievements
Before rushing to judgment, let us stand still for a moment – let us reflect deeply, as one who pauses to hear the faint echo of truth carried on the wind. In six short years, the Somali Region has accomplished what the past 30 years, perhaps even the last century, could not deliver. While other parts of Ethiopia collapse under the weight of war and discord, our region has become a beacon of what peace can build. Under the stewardship of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, stability has flourished where despair once ruled, and growth has taken root even as other regions fall to ruin. The specter of destruction, death, and displacement no longer prowls our streets as it once did. We are no longer a people living on the edge of survival – we have been granted the rare gift of breathing space, a moment to gather strength and rebuild from within.
But let us not be deceived – if promises remain unfulfilled or opportunities lost, the fault is not beyond us but within. We must stop searching for blame in distant halls of power or in the hands of the central government. The truth, sharp as a blade, must be faced: it is we who may have missed the golden opportunities placed before us. Time, relentless and unforgiving, is not on our side. Every chance that slips through our grasp tightens the noose of regret, and if we do not allow this truth to sink into our hearts, we will be left holding nothing but shadows. We stand at a crossroads, and the future waits for no one. The question is not what we have been denied but what we failed to seize when it was within our reach.
No, we did not achieve every dream we carried, but we were granted something far more precious – the space to reflect, reset, and rebuild. What remains undone is ours to pursue with renewed vigor, for it is in the unfinished work that our potential lies. Though the past ten months have brought storms we did not expect, they must not blind us to the light that still burns beneath the clouds. Progress is not perfection – it is a fragile flame, one that must be guarded with care lest it be extinguished by the cold winds of doubt and disillusionment. Yet, how quickly we have fallen into the trap of negativity, giving our ears to those who peddle destruction disguised as truth. And those few who speak of the storm gathering on the horizon – those who warn us of the peril ahead – find themselves without an audience.
God save us from ourselves, for if we do not awaken from this slumber, we will be led into a ruin of our own making, a ruin from which there may be no return. Time is not the ally of those who delay; history is not kind to those who ignore its lessons. The future will not wait – it stands impatient, ready to crown those who act with wisdom and abandon those who falter in doubt.
The Fragile Glass of Peace: A Call to Unity and Vigilance
The chaos that erupted in Jigjiga is a stark and sober reminder that peace is as delicate as glass – without constant vigilance, it shatters into irreparable pieces. We stand on a fragile foundation; one built not for those who thrive on discord but for those who understand the sacred duty of unity. The abyss of division beckons like a shadow, waiting for our missteps, but we cannot afford to fall. Our strength lies not in the spectacle of drama but in the quiet power of unity. The Ogadenis, along with every tribe in the Somali Region, must awaken to a profound truth: Our cultural identities are not burdens – they are blessings. They enrich our Ethiopianess, weaving us into the broader fabric of this nation rather than diminishing our place within it. True inclusion is not a token gesture; it is our rightful place at the table where decisions are made, where futures are shaped, and where legacies are forged.
Together, we must write a new narrative – one where resilience rises from the ashes of suffering and unity triumphs over division. This is our moment to reject the politics of chaos, to stand resolute against those who would exploit our differences for their gain. It is a time to build a legacy rooted in cooperation, courage, and unwavering hope. The path ahead will not be easy, but it is the only path worth traveling – the path toward peace and shared destiny. Our fate is greater than any individual or faction; it is a destiny preordained by forces far beyond us. Yet within that destiny lies the gift of choice – the choice to walk the right path or be seduced by the wrong one.
Our relationships with our kindred tribes in neighboring countries should guide us toward the right course, strengthening bonds that uplift us, not manipulating us as pawns in the dangerous games of distant powers. These foreign entities – whose hidden agendas serve only to divide and destroy – seek nothing but harm for our nation. We must remember that what harms the nation also harms the Somali Region, for our fates are intertwined. We cannot allow any group among us, knowingly or unknowingly, to lead us toward ruin by falling into the snares laid by our enemies. We must guard against their traps, for to falter now is to risk everything we have built.
By Mohamed Ahmed Cagaweyne
