Hello… Let me introduce myself… I am a Turkish citizen who is a good reader of politics and had an education in political science. I am curious by nature and have great interest in Somalia and its politics, development and future.
I can safely say that, I have read everything on internet about Somalia and Somalis. (When I use the term Somalia, I mean Country in broader sense, including all Country). Having read all corners of forums, news, NGO articles etc. I decided to write something about Turkish Aid and Turkish perspective on Somalia and my hopes-predictions for future Somalia.
May be it will not fit in one post but I will talk about:
1. Turkish motive and cultural codes on aid tradition
2. Development of State and Civil Society and stages
3. Social implications of Development
4. What future holds for us?
Let me start.
1. One needs to understand facts and phenomenon in correct perspective.
Let me talk about Somalia first. You all know last 25 years of turbulence and destruction. There is not much to talk about it. I want to talk about Somalia before. Somalia was a country with a great intellectual human potential, self-sufficient economy and strong security institutions. Try to think of 1970s, this was unusual and uncommon in African politics. So after everything happened, all intellectual human resource and financial capital of country has scattered around the world. We Turks are accustomed to this situation and sympathize with diaspora people who craves their old homeland, fighting to preserve their culture and keep their children not to be assimilated in host societies. At the same time, children brought up abroad grown critical on extremes and have less appreciation of Somalia as a country and society. This is a tough problem to be addressed some time in development timeline.
Now some words about Turkiye. Turkish people is proud to have a “statehood” tradition of more than 2000 years and played important roles in world history. As “defenders of islam” they engaged expeditions of vast scales and formed an empire that covers almost all North Africa, Sahara, East Africa, Arabia, Balkans and Caucasus. So, among this rich history, there is a culture that associates this expansion. Although Ottomans had a moderate interpretation of islam, as holders of caliphate, Turkish state assumed role of defending muslims all over the world and did everything possible to expand islam to new territories. There are muslim countries in Europe (Bosnia, Albania, Kosova etc) that practices islam over 7 centuries. Also, in West and Saharan Africa and East and South Africa. These are results of these “expansionist” policies. Ottomans was not an empire in European sense. What I mean by this is the Islamic principles that guides these policies. Ottomans believed to set an example of peace and justice to show new lands islam’s offer of peace. Yet they did not force islamization and were practical to continue trade and development even if these lands don’t turn to islam. When you think of it, if Greeks, Arabs etc still exist today that is because of this Ottoman tolerance. Ottomans had the power and means to wipe them out, assimilate etc. But they didn’t. Another aspect of Ottoman rule was development. Conquered lands were built, trade and commerce expanded. All these at the expanse of Turkish mainland (Anatolia). After arab betrayel and collapse of empire, All Turkiye left was underdeveloped Anatolian lands receiving refugees from all over the world.
Later, we had war of independence during 1920s. We fought with all existing super-powers combined and Turkish Republic emerged. So when you talk about colonialism, imperialism and western attitudes, believe me we Turks know this story. Coming decades, we had huge reforms on economy and social spheres and joined Western Block, European institutions and NATO. Please don’t take this lightly, being a player on these leagues is a difficult task. You coexist with allies that behaves like your worst enemies. That’s another long essay topic.
Turkiye struggled economic crisis and turmoils until 1990s. After that we had 2 catastrophic earthquakes. Eventually, Turkiye reached to a stable economic status of being 17th largest economy in the world and having the largest army in Europe.
One last cultural ingredient to understand Turks: Practicality. Having an imperial background, an average Turk would expect excellence in all services or products, yet expects it fast. So a business or a government service in Turkey operates in an environment running against time and having criticisms from all around. So, when Turkiye engages in these projects in Somalia, there is nothing new to us. When president says that we will build 20.000 homes in 24 months, this could sound crazy to a westerner, but believe me it could be done. This is Turkish style.
I was laughing when I read comments from old Turkish ambassador to Somalia. UN-rep and a westerner journalist says to him that Turkish Aid is not coordinated with other Aid organizations etc. He replies: “Sorry I don’t have time to fly back and forth to Nairobi to attend to meaningless meetings. We have job to do in Mogadishu”. This is not a political stance, a typical Turkish attitude to have the job done.
After setting the facts, with this economic confidence Turkiye started today’s aid campaign. Turkish aid reaches to all over the world from Haiti to Africa, From Africa to Far East. Regardless of religion or cultural affiliation, Turkiye tries to help to people in need. This is not different from Ottoman motivations: try to set up a good example for islam and have prayers of people in need in return.
At times I see forum comments on how Turkiye is after Somalia oil and resources etc. It is funny yet at the same time sad to see such comments. Turkiye is buying almost all grain, corn from Russia, paying money. I would love to see one day we buy our agriculture needs from Somalia. This is not exploitation, this is trade among partners. On oil and energy, we buy %60 of all Russian gas, also from Iran and Azerbaijan. Notice those countries are in close proximity to us, it is economically viable to buy from them instead of drilling in a place 4000kms away. So Somalia resources is not economically meaningful to us. Rest assured, please. Especially in today’s lowest oil market, believe me you are better off not to drill any energy source except for country’s own use.
I hope I have provided some insight about Turkish attitudes and about our culture. It is normal to see envious criticism from Westerners and Chinese, but it is also sad to see undermining comments from Somalis from other regions.
2. As mentioned, we Turks have long history of statehood. As saying goes:”Ya devlet basa, ya kuzgun lese”, meaning “either a state on your top, or a crow on your corpse”. So state, social union, participation etc have strong meanings in Turkish culture.
Don’t get me wrong but, as a friend, let me say this. On population perspective, whole Somalia is smaller than a district of Istanbul. To built infrastructure, or maintain projects on this scale is not a big deal. Also, Somalis should refrain to see themselves in a place where they are not. Scales are known, geostrategic is known, economic necessities are known. In the grand scheme of things, these are not impossible tasks or most important task in the world. So please, eye on the prize: priorities and targets.
What Turkey provides a holistic approach. That means, you need to incorporate today-tomorrow on what you are doing. Also you should follow a rational path to built a state. That’s why Turkish state and ngos are investing in hospitals, orphanages, ports, schools, which are todays immediate needs. Yet at the same time, Turkey renovates all ministries, providing equipment and training to personnel, providing scholarships to thousands of Somalis. Those will be the building block of future. On order of things, strategy of Turkey is to follow “Relief, Restoration, Security, Economy” order. Thankfully, we have passed Relief stage. Famine had disappeared, water projects finished etc. Now we are on Restoration of government stage. With all its institutions. On this perspective, as a Somali you should be a little patient around 3-4 years. These things don’t happen overnight. But be sure, in 3-4 years, Somalia Government will be fully functioning with its services, tax collection, regulatory bodies, social security etc.
Next stage is security. I have read the news and comments about new military bases, production facilities etc. I should mention here that if we Turks are good at one thing that would be military professionalism and discipline. This base mentioned is not a Turkish base by the way. As Turkish military delegation explains, this base is a Somali Army base. We are building it for Somali Army, not for Turkish Army. Secondly, commander says there should be many things done about basics, clothing, barracks, sanitation, small armament etc. As being served in Turkish Army 2 years myself, I can say that with little training offered by US, EU or African Union, you can’t say that there is an army there. Army means, you need to have people who accepts this as their profession, having a lifelong training, obtaining highest discipline and moral attitude etc. So accept that news as a start but in a very short time, with facilities and Turkish training, Somali Army will be at world standards. I will elaborate this later.
After Security next stage will be economy. This stage has a potential of creating a lot of social turmoil. Having in mind bad tribalism attitudes, remnants of corruption from UN mandate, diaspora effect, etc etc. At the moment government is financing everything with aid, they are struggling to find financial aid from wherever they can. Government is trying to keep everything afloat with no income at hand. You do now that there is no one in Somali paying any taxes at the moment, right? So it is sad to see youngsters criticizing government about “begging” and stuff like that. On the contrary, What I would love to see would be social campaigns to support government. Voluntary tax of 1 US per month for example. If every Somali in and out of country would do that, government would earn tens of millions every month to pay wages, to buy equipment, to provide services etc. Anyways, this stage will be painful as I mention, we will see about it in coming days.
Another under-appreciated aspect of current government is about democratic attitudes. So far, presidents and parliament has shown an unexpected democratic and civil attitude on conflict resolutions. Considering tribal fault lines, economic hardships etc, this is a very promising indicator about Somalia’s political culture. I think civil society should follow governments lead on this. To achieve tasks in baby-steps without resorting to violence and conflict. Always maintaining minimum agreements instead of maximalist jumps.
There are much to be mentioned here, lets save them to another article.
3. Every transition bears fruits of confrontations. As in this case, developing Somalia as a state and society is an enormous and potentially troublesome process. Now at this stage fault lines lie between regional/tribal differences, urban/rural imbalance, domestic/diaspora relations, security/personal freedoms aspects.
Most and critical problem is about tribalism. To one extend regional politics is understandable on municipal and local cultural perspective. But tribal divide in Somalia is a serious phenomenon. It intrinsically has a danger potential. I hope you realize that these divides are fueled by UK, Arab countries and Chinese. Their motivations are to create spheres of influences to keep Somalia in manageable portions. We fought with China for 1000 years and English around 200 years. So Trust me, we know what we are up against. I hope every Somali in this world should understand the importance of one strong Somalia State, which would be there to protect them in times of need.
Urban and Rural divide is also important. Rural aspect is Somalia’s best and worst potential. What I mean is Somalia has potential of being Africa’s and Middle East’s food basket by investing in rural development. Yet at the same time low education makes rural population prone to more propaganda and manipulation. Realize elshabab receives support from most underdeveloped rural parts and tribes of Somalia. So, projects like Agriculture School in Mogadishu, Rural water projects, Scholarships to rural children are at great importance.
Diaspora is also important potential. Both positively and negatively. Think of locals that experienced worst of worst in country, yet struggled and survived. Then all of a sudden some guy pops up in chick jeans, money in pocket, opening up supermarkets, banks, shops around. You see what I mean, I believe. Diaspora, while being very important to revive economy and commerce, has a potential of confrontation with relatively poor and war torn segments of society. On this issue, I would like to give my humble advice. Instead of complaining about impossibility of having Somalis as workers, how city and country sucks, etc etc., diaspora people should empatize with what happened on the ground while they safely escaped and experienced relatively safe environments in West. Every uneducated person educated, every poor person made self-sufficient is a gain for country. There could be no greater patriotic deed that you could make for your homeland. So, support every-single-individual around. If not, there won’t be a safe future for you also.
About security and open society, one should keep in mind one bitter truth. Elshabab will not disappear. Top terrorist will be killed, land will be regained but remnant will be living in society for a long time in future. After all, those people didn’t came from space. Before they were recruited/forced to be a terrorist, they were ordinary people of Somalia. This will always be an obstacle for personal freedoms in foreseeable future. This a long term problem to be addressed with scholars, theologians and good practice examples of islam. Please remember my word of advise on this thing: if a person is using religion for its personal, economical or political gain, that is the person doing most damage to religion itself. This goes for the government also. So a good muslim should always refrain from setting up a tiny bad example in the name of Allah, Quran and religion. Use these concepts very carefully please.
4. Final section about future predictions. I am an optimist myself and I have great confidence in Somalis. So future seems very bright to me.
With Turkish support, government will be up and running very soon. Also, in middle term you will have a great army. Economy is reviving already; with further investment projects it will flourish. Let me elaborate on these a bit.
I know that there is a huge generation gap with old Somali people and younger generation. Younger generation is more open to world, uses internet heavily, sees world examples and demanding much. This is a huge potential for Somalia. One important aspect those young generation will contribute would be “open society”. When I see Ted-talks, anti-trialism movement, maternal education initiatives from young people, I get so excited and hopeful. This should be the way forward. Please teach your elders to get in touch with the world more. Help them to create a transparent government and governance practices. But please do it with respect and convincing.
On army-navy-saf perspective, I should also mention some information. We turks produce everything. Ships, planes, tanks, arms, etc etc. Our industry does this exceptionally good, over world standards. Our products are in NATO standarts much different than Russian or Chinese junks. Please take time to see our ATAK helicopter, Altay tank, our satellites, etc. This didn’t happen overnight, it is an ongoing state project for last 3 decades. If Turkiye has something, please be confident that you will have it too. I am trying to visualize what you will have in near future. So please remember, baby-steps. In time after having trained personnel (which is going on constantly by the way), proper maintenance and technical facilities etc.
Economy is reviving as mentioned. Every economy bases on 2 factors: supply and demand. You could supply wonderful products but if there is no one having the financial power to buy it, it is meaningless. So socio-economic development should go in hand-to-hand with industry and commerce. For industry stage, it is now early considering security and political situations. But commerce will continue to grow. Especially retail, household goods, construction materials, petro-chemicals and automotive sales will boom in a very short time. (now you think those asphalt roads look pretty, see it after 5 years when it will not be sufficient for 500.000 cars, there won’t be a parking space around). For tourism it is also early but basic services sectors like cleaning, professional car maintenance, delivery services, food sector has great potential right at this moment. Remember my words, in 5 years everybody will start to complain about urban planning, how unplanned and insufficient old city is etc.
Ok, It has been a too long text to read. If you reached this far, thanks for reading Last word, is:
We Turks believe in Somalia. Somalis all over the world, please believe in it too.
