Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Saturday abandoned her customary criticism of Israel and instead emphasized another top priority: the well-being of her people in her homeland of Somalia, ethnic homogeneity and border security.
Translated footage of Omar’s speech – in which she allegedly begins by identifying herself as Somali and claiming what “the United States” would do [Somali Americans] There’s nothing I want.” Word quickly spread, sparking criticism at home and abroad.
speech
Omar gave me
Speech at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis on Saturday. As part of Somali-American events celebrating January 8th re-election Saeed Abdullahi Deni, head of Puntland state in northeastern Somalia, said:
Excerpts of Omar’s remarks are captioned with translations, and while she and others have criticized their sincerity, the Radical Democrats say, “We love each other as Somalis.” .There are also areas of friction…that led us.” The purpose is to kill each other, but in reality we are an organized society, brothers and sisters, people of the same blood, people who know that they are Somalis first and Muslims second. These are people you know. ”
After failing to weave America into his apparent identity hierarchy, Omar said members of his preferred kinship identity group “protect each other, help each other, and help other Muslims as well.” He is said to have gone on to suggest that he was aware of this.
“Many Somalis have called me personally and encouraged me to speak with the U.S. government. [to thwart the Jan. 1 2024 Ethiopia-Somaliland memorandum of understanding] And help Somalia,” Omar said behind a podium adorned with the state flags of Somalia and Minnesota, which are now stylistically similar.
A memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi on January 1 gives Ethiopia access to Red Sea ports, in part on the recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state. allowed access.
report BBC.
court news
report “We are certainly troubled by what’s being reported right now,” White House Press Secretary John Kirby said weeks after the agreement. [in the deal.]. ”
“We support Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which must be respected,” Kirby added.
Regarding the agreement, Omar told assembled Somali Americans on Saturday: “My answer to the Somalis was that the U.S. government would only do what the Somalis in the United States told them to do! They “They just do what we want and nothing else. They have to comply.” Our command is how we protect Somalia’s interests. ”
According to the translation, Omar emphasized: “We Somalis must have the confidence to call for shots in the United States…As long as I am in the United States Congress, Somalia will never be in danger, its waters will never be in danger. do not have” [Indian Ocean] It won’t be stolen by countries like Ethiopia. The US would not have the courage to support anyone against Somalia. ”
Later in her speech, Omar reportedly said, “Somalia belongs only to Somalis,” and that all five former Somali territories would be reconquered, a statement that one of her defenders also said was not translated. That’s what I did.
African studies researcher at Obuda University in Kenya. Conceded a point It was accurate.
reaction and repulsion
Omar responded after the video racked up millions of views, saying that his interpretation of her remarks was “not only biased but completely off base, but I can’t expect anything less from these propagandists.” ‘ he claimed.
“No nation-state can survive if states begin to engage in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal government,” Omar said.
I have written “Somalia and Somalis in the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment or lies will ever change that.”
Omar has criticized U.S. efforts to secure the U.S. border and build a southern wall.
Reshared the post “Somali people have a responsibility to protect their country by any means necessary,” he said.
Rhoda J. Elmi, deputy foreign minister of the breakaway nation of Somaliland, responded to the video, saying, “We are very surprised and surprised to learn of the comments made by Representative Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota during the recent election. I was even shocked,” he wrote. Public forum. ”
“The language she used was unfortunately inappropriate for the office she holds and the constituents she represents,” Elmi wrote. “Her expressions lacked common sense and revealed a severe lack of understanding of basic facts, particularly in Greater Somalia, which has caused so much death, destruction and conflict. or her efforts to revive Somalia Wayne’s once violent and dangerous ideology in the Horn of Africa. ”
The deputy minister suggested that Omar used “ethnic rhetoric” and “ignored the cooperation between the United States and Somaliland in the fight against malpractice and piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Berbera.” .
somaliland chronicle
was suggested Omar’s rhetoric and references to “lost lands that we must reclaim” were reminiscent of “the restorationism of the Siad Barre dictatorship, which contributed to the collapse of the Republic of Somalia.”
Mr. Guled Bihi, Member of Parliament of the Federal Government of Somalia, was suggested The controversy surrounding Omar’s remarks is “the language she used and her unique stamp of identifying who is Somali and who is not! This is a threat to her social status and to our unity. It is associated with “having a negative impact.”
But the controversy was not limited to Omar’s identitarianism.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) seized on Omar’s apparent desire to protect Somalia’s border, not America’s.
“Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar says this in her own words: Somali first, Muslim second. She never mentions America. What is a danger to America? She is using her position as a member of Congress to show off protecting Somalia’s borders while a million illegal aliens violate our borders.”
I have written green.
Other critics argue that Omar admits to foreign allegiances and uses her position in government to put foreign countries first.
Violation of oath clause Or maybe rebellion.
In criticizing the long-standing alliance between the United States and Israel in 2019, Omar denigrated Jewish Americans and criticized their allegiance to a foreign country, which he apparently boasted about over the weekend.
“I want to talk about the political influence in this country where it’s OK for people to seek allegiance to a foreign country.”
Said Omar.
On the other hand, the Omar family exiled Omar, who was expelled from the House Foreign Affairs Committee last year for anti-Semitic comments, remains on the House Budget Committee and serves on two subcommittees of the House Education and Labor Committee.
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