At Umhlanga
Somaliland statistics at a glance
Capital: Hargeisa (independence not recognised internationally)
Population: 3.5 million
Major languages: Somali, Arabic, English
Major religion: Islam
Currency: Somaliland shilling
Somaliland is an autonomous region in northern Somalia, which broke away and declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
No foreign power recognises Somaliland’s sovereignty, but it is self-governing with an independent government, democratic elections and a distinct history.
One Dr Adali Warsame, who is a Somalilander, wondered what the BBC journalist had hoped to achieve with his tweet.
“Are you a serious BBC journalist, or a childish juvenile troll? Grow up dude,” he remarked.
He was joined by his fellow countryman identified as Faqashlaaye, who tagged the BBC in his tweet, where he asked if the broadcaster was aware that some of its staff members were promoting racist stereotypes about Africans.
SPREADING RACISM
“I find it unacceptable that a public service provider and national broadcaster of the United Kingdom is spreading racism,” he said and further made the journalists aware that he had filed a complaint with his employer (the BBC) whom he hoped would take the necessary steps.
Fruit of the S.N.M Seed also came hard on the journalist for what it said was unacceptable behaviour and hatred.
“BBC, this is the behaviour we will not accept. Spewing hatred and calling it humour. Do something about your staff and we expect a formal apology to Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs minister and the good people of Eswatini. BBC do you actually have these people who mock African people’s cultures in the 21st Century as paid staff? We will make sure to spread the news of the hatred people in your payroll spew. Somaliland is not Somalia and we will not stand with the views of your ignorant staff,” the account tweeted.
A pro-Somalia Twitter account
using the handle @Independentmi20 tweeted a thread about the minister’s visit and its views about not only the Reed Dance Ceremony but other Eswatini cultural practices in relation to the Islam religion.
“The so-called foreign minister of the separatists’ entity called Somaliland in North West Somalia went to Eswatini and participated in pagan rituals (which is forbidden in Islam) in his quest for diplomatic recognition,” the account wrote.
It alleged that Eswatini has ‘multiple pagan ceremonies’ such as the Incwala ‘where the participants thank the ancestors for good harvest and rain’ and said ‘this ritual is clearly considered shirk in Islam and is therefore absolutely forbidden’.
TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES
It continued to allege that Eswatini had many traditional ceremonies ‘which have pagan origins and meanings’, which are for spiritual healing and good luck.
“This obviously is forbidden in Islam and that’s why Somali politicians never partcicipate in such ceremonies,” the account tweeted.
It then posed a question on whether the Somaliland minister, by participating in the Reed Dance Ceremony dressed as he was dressed, had not participated in a pagan ceremony.
The account then uploaded a video of the Incwala Ceremony and said the minister was dressed in the same clothing as those seen in the footage.
“Essa Kayd’s participation in pagan rituals should be very worrying considering the fact he allegedly represents an entirely Muslim population whose faith clearly prohibits any participation in pagan rituals, which is why you will never find a Somali politician ever doing so,” the account wrote.
It further posed another rhetoric question on why the Somaliland minister decided to dress and thereby logically participate in such an event yet his colleague from Taiwan decided not to participate in such fashion but merely attended the ceremony.
The account then reached an ill-informed conclusion as it said the Somaliland minister had participated in the Incwala Ceremony yet he took part in the Reed Dance Ceremony.
Here is the inaccurate conclusion: “We don’t know to what extent Essa Kayd performed the Incwala ritual but I can tell him it won’t get him any recognition whatsoever! All that moves and all that is created is being sustained by the mercy of Allah.”
MIXED REACTIONS
This was received with mixed reactions and the Somalilanders jumped in to defend the ‘diplomacy at work’ done by their foreign affairs minister.
“Dr. Kayd keep doing the job, don’t listen to Somaliland haters of failed state. 20,000 foreign troops are securing them and they appointed an envoy to beg for them. Shame on you beggars,” wrote a Somaliland medical doctor.
The doctor went on to question whether it was allowed in Islam to kill, rape, loot and terrorise others but wearing other nations’ clothes considered haram.
He alleged that Somali was filled with crime such as terrorism, rape and murder, which they should be focusing on instead of playing holier than thou.
Government Press Secretary Alpheous Nxumalo weighed in on the exchange and said the Somaliland minister did not commit any crime and, therefore, should not be attacked.
He said what the minister did was a diplomatic gesture and nothing more.
“He came here to cultivate mutual diplomatic ties between the two countries. He arrived at a time when the country was celebrating the Reed Dance Ceremony and he participated. He was not ratifying or endorsing a certain specific dress code but simply performed diplomatic courtesies, which is acceptable,” Nxumalo said.
He said His Majesty King Mswati III once performed a similar diplomatic gesture in 2003 when he returned from Saud Arabia wearing Muslim outfit and this provoked speculation that he was about to convert to Muslim.
“People later got to understand that this was all about diplomacy and nothing else,” he said.
Nxumalo said there were many other foreign dignitaries who came to Eswatini and were presented with traditional regalia which they wore as part of diplomacy.
“Our foreign affairs minister may also reciprocate this gesture when she visits Somaliland. She may be given a Muslim outfit and that would be a diplomatic gesture,” the government spokesperson said.
He added that the Somaliland minister did not even take the Eswatini traditional attire with him but left it behind when he left at the conclusion of his visit.
DIPLOMATIC TIES
The Somaliland minister met with his Eswatini counterpart, Thuli Dladla, to discuss the establishing of diplomatic ties between the two countries who are the only African States that have established ties with Taiwan.
In his Twitter page, the minister said he also had a one on one meeting with His Majesty King Mswati III after the Reed Dance where ‘we discussed the future of our two nations’.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 and has no formal diplomatic relations with any nation.
Islam reportedly reached Somaliland in the early 17th century and has since played a major part in the day to day life, law and order of the Somaliland people.
What is unique about Somaliland’s Judiciary branch, as stated in the government website, is that Sharia law serves as the guiding principle Somaliland law cannot contradict.
However, there are reportedly no formal Sharia Courts in Somaliland.