Improving Somalia from Within: Disbanding Mogadishu Based Elders Group E D I T O R I A L Monday, February 02, 2009 The role of traditional leadership in Somalia has been in the promotion of peace, conflict resolution, developing peaceful treaties with neighboring communities and maintaining serene coexistence throughout the nation. Even during the worst days of the civil war traditional leaders by and large have maintained their solemn duty, kept above the fray while maintaining their peace making roles. Lately, there has been a pseudo-traditional organization with the name of “Odayaasha Dhaqanka iyo Mideynta Beesha ******” in Mogadishu that seems to defy the logic, composition, structure and true definition of traditional leadership. Unlike community elders in other multicultural towns and communities its pronouncements are never introspective and internal, but rather external tirades that are political in nature and are often aggressive in tone. Notwithstanding the heroic efforts of individuals such as Mr. Ahmed Diriye to confront the brutal aggression of Ethiopian occupation forces in Mogadishu, resulting in his unlawful detention, this organization’s overall modus vivendi have had negative impact on grassroots social and political development in Mogadishu and Southern Somalia. Many Somalis often wonder the tone and the subliminal clan undercurrent sent over the air waves whenever the “****** Elders Group” Aka “Odayaasha Dhaqanka Beesha ******” speak to the media or issue a press statement. They ostensibly speak not for the millions of Somalis under the carnage of occupation and inhumane conditions living in Mogadishu and Southern Somalia but as their name suggests for the interests of ****** clan only! Do they really? While other cities and towns in Somalia progressively select their elders from across clans representing the whole community, this group seems to take pride in its exclusivity and clan purity thus keeping out for example Somalis from other clans such as the Benadiri community and other Somalis historically inhabiting Mogadishu and Southern Somalia. Many question whether the ****** Elders Group of Mogadishu are a legitimate political entity representing the whole clan, a Hodgepodge social club that advances a private agenda, or an inclusive Somali group with a politically incorrect name! Whatever the response, the target aim of this group, the inclusivity of its membership, and the way they operate is at best unclear and at worst antithetical to the true interests of the clan it purports to serve. A recent news statement issued by this group asserts that “they are against any international peacekeeping forces sent to Somalia when the Ethiopian occupation forces leave the country”. The pronouncement does not indicate whether the ****** as a clan officially met to discuss its position on the issue or whether the association surveyed the members of the clan inside and outside the country to infer their desire to keep international peace keeping forces out of Somalia! One would even wonder if the best interests of the people of Mogadishu, let alone the ****** clan whose territory extends beyond Mogadishu vicinity are keenly represented by this group. It is no wonder then that many Somalis become mystified when they hear this group’s ill advised pronouncements on the air waves and are probing whether it represents the interests of the people of Mogadishu and Southern Somalia or those violent elements within society waging endless wars, mayhem and the killing of thousands of innocent Somalis with impunity. Not surprisingly, many conclude the latter. Mogadishu and its subjugated inhabitants deserve better. At a time when Somalis are yearning for peace, reconciliation and national identity, it is rather unfortunate and downright disgraceful for all Somalis, ****** or otherwise, to utter the names of clan based associations at this stage in our evolution, when the residents of Mogadishu and Southern Somalia’s interests are all at stake. It goes without saying that Mogadishu is home to a diverse population of Somalis reaching in the millions. It is then no secret that their plight, interest and destiny are all intertwined and can only be represented by a progressive social group whose sole interest is in safeguarding the lives and property of the inhabitants of the city! These kinds of clan associations, like it or not, take Somalia back to the stone ages when blood relations where the only possible associations that people where capable of making. We need to remind our people that this is the 21st century and now is time and Mogadishu is the place to speak out against this backward association that inhibits the progress of millions of Somalis. We believe the time is right for this clan based association to cease and desist for the sake of peace and reconciliation and in its place the residents of Mogadishu and other cities should establish legitimate grassroots community based organizations. We are also concerned about the deafening silence of the Somali civil society groups since 2007 who are the legitimate representatives of their communities serving the needs of the public. We encourage them not to abandon their duty to serve their people notwithstanding the unbearable level of threat coming from violent elements within the Somali society. We encourage the newly-elected President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and international community to support, invest and strengthen Somali civil society organizations, the core that held our nation together during the past 18 years, instead of sustaining and emboldening clan based regressive associations throughout the country. Please send your comments to Editorial@hiiraan.com Source

I do not understand. Is it not an individual Muslim woman's prerogative to choose how she wears her hijab? More importantly, what is the relevance and even appropriateness of calling any type of religious clothing "penguin-style"? From what I have been able to judge of the discussion so far, it seems Marx is more concerned about how the hijab looks to his British-born peer then about respecting and understanding the right of a Muslim woman to wear what she deems is best emulating that which her God had designed for her and by that how to wear it. At the end of the day is this not the most important thing? To be honest I have been particularly touched by Rahima's comment that read: Why couldn't you make your point of brightness without insulting? We get enough of that already, we don't need our brothers making fun also. Very sad walaahi. I just find it very unfortunate and even disappointing, to say the least, that the magnitude of what Rahima has voiced has not dawned on this character by the name of Marx. Perhaps it is about time he reorients his priorities and chooses that which is more important; appeasing his Western-born peer's "sensibilities" or respecting and reaffirming the right of a Muslim woman to worship her lord the way she believes she can best fulfill His design for her. If he chooses the former, well he will then in effect be free to pursue his bashing of the Muslim woman's Islamic attire because he will have outlined clearly his motive thus. If he, however, chooses the latter the said individual would need to comprehend the irrelevancy of his topic as it is not up to him to condition for the Muslim woman, as much as communist societies would condition for their people, the manner in which the Muslim woman believes will best fulfill God's design for her.

Combined Ibtisam, combined. This plus the last time they struck. Wax naxariis ah haba yaraatee malaha xaaraanta. They are like a cornered cats, striking viciously at the smallest move.

...and Emporer is on a perpetual quest to take his good kinsfolk down with him as the opposition to the one real chance for peace Somalia has had in 20 years. It is unfortunate.

What is the combined death toll now? 80? Somali clan wars that take months do not have as much casualty as the Ugandan actions of only two days. I think it is clear this group needs to leave.

The route the Kismaayo admin has chosen to take is very unfortunate.

Maamulka islaamiga ee gobolka J/hoose oo si weyn uga soo horjeestay dowladda uu hogaaminayo Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed. Maamulka islaamiga ee gobolka J/hoose oo si weyn uga soo horjeestay dowladda cusub ee uu hogaaminayo madaxweyne Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed. Shirjaraa’id oo ay si wada jir ah ugu qabteen xarunta Magaalada Kismaayo maamulka islaamiga ee magaaladaasi gudoomiye ku xigeenka maamulka islaamiga ee magaalada Kismaayo Cabdi Qani Max’ed Yuusuf iyo madaxa warfaafinta sheikh Xasan Yacquub ayay kaga hadleen doorashadii madaxweynaha Soomaaliya loogu magacaabay Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed. Maamulka ayaa waxaa uu si weyn uga soo horjeestay dowladda habeenkii jimcaha lagu yagleelay magaalada Jabuuti sida uu warbaahinta u sheegay gudoomiye ku xigeenka maamulkaasi C/qani Max’ed Yuusuf oo sheegay in dowladda Jabuuti lagu soo dhisay ay la mid tahay tii 2004-ta lagu dhisay magaalada Nairobi ee xarunta dalka Kenya. C/qani ayaa waxaa uu intaa ku daray in Sheekh Shariif uu xiligii hore ku dhawaaqi jiray in la sii wado Jihaadka islamarkaana haatan uu ku biiray dowladii uu jihaadka kula jiray,waxaana uu intaa raaciyay in aysan jirin wax isbadal ah oo ku yimid dowladda KMG ah. Maamulka islaamiga ee magaalada Kismaayo ayaa sheegay in uu sii socon doono dagaalka jihaadka ah,waxaana uu C/qani ugu baaqay shacbiga Soomaaliyeed in ay gacanka siiyaan sida uu yiri sidii dagaalka loo soo wadi lahaa. Sidoo kale Sheeklh Xasan Yacquub oo ah madaxa warfaafinta maamulka islaamiga ee magaalada Kismaayo oo isna shirkaasi jaraa’id ka haadlay ayaa si weyn u weeraray siyaasada beesha caalamka eek u aadan Soomaaliya isagoo xusay in beesha caalamku ay ku fashilantay siyaasada Soomaaliya taasi oo cadayn u ah buu yiri in markasta ay soo dhisaan dowlad aysan shacbiga Soomaaliyeed ku qanacsanayn oo waqtiga looga luminayo. Arintaan ayaa waxaa ay noqonaysaa diidmadii ugu horeysay ee ka soo yeertaa qaar ka mid ah maamulada islamiga taasi oo ka dhan ah madaxweynaha la doortay ee Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed iyo dowladiisa. Aqriso oo la soco Shabelle.net Saacad Walba si aad u hesho wararkii ugu dambeeyay ee Soomaaliya.

Dabshid, reading the link Duke posted I find this more interesting: Sheikh Maxamed Cabdi Umal oo Si Kulul uga Hadlay Shirka Jabuuti Dhanka Kale, Sheikh Maxamed Cabdi Umal oo ah Sheikh aad looga yaqaan Soomaaliya oo hadda ku sugan Nairobi, Kenya ayaa khudabadii Jimcada ee Masjidka 6-steet uu ka jeediyey waxa uu si kulul u dhaliilay culimada ku sugan Jabuuti ee ku dhaartat Kitaabka si ay ugu hoggaansamaan dastuur dad qoreen, waxana uu yiri : "Waxa ay ku dhaaranayaan Kitaabka Allah, waxaana ay sheegayaan in ay u hogaansamayaan Dastuurka Dowladda ee ka soo horjeeda Kitaabka iyo Sunnada Nabiga NNKH.... Subxaanallaah". http://somalitalk.com/2009/jan/jabuuti.html

I think it is how you interpreted the sentence. Of course, it is true he will be going there prior to naming a prime minister. What is so wrong about saying that?

Because he is going to the African Union meeting on Sunday. Where else did you think he would going? Meles Zenewi's abode as has been the pattern in the last couple years?

Duke, out of the 36 pages in this topic, half of it is contributed by you and some of your regional buddies displaying how are "avenged" by Nuur Cadde's defeat today. Yes, bitter is the right word.

Reer Puntland in their entirety seem to feel avenged. Hopefully now you can stop being bitter.

Lol Ngonge. Congratulate Somalia's new president.

Originally posted by Libaax-Sankataabte: The old TFG guards who didn't want to give Shariif a free ride seems to have all voted for Maslax as a protest instead of Nuur Cadde. Why would they protest now when they gave Nuur Cadde his contest motion of confidence over Yusuf? Seems like you are smarting more about that even then Duke or Emporer o' crafty Libaax-oow.

Something tells me this will not be the last we hear of Maslax. After all these years, announces candidacy in just a week, and achieves remarkably.

Congrats to the Shiekh and may he bring the Somali people together.

Originally posted by LayZie G.: One of the fellaz in the scene just said " I am the generation that is ready to work for somalia". He said he doesn't care who wins it, he is ready and willing to work with the new leader of somalia. Allahu Akbar He is a fellow after a position. Did you watch his concession remarks? Only one thing stood out: self-advertisement.

Libaax, Maslah wants neither prime minister or a cabinet position. He is after the presidency. If he does not get it, he is going back to his private life in Nairobi.

Yaabka yaabkiis. It took me five minutes to even come upon the politics section. Is all of SOL online?

Waan yaabay. It took me five minutes to even come upon the politics section. Is all of SOL online?

Nothing against him, he is a man I have great respect for. Single-handedly led Malaysia to its prosperity he did. Btw are you are sure he was on a visit to Djibout because after seeing the pictures I checked the internet and came upon a letter Ould Abdalla wrote couple days ago saying Mahathir had accepted to usher in the new Somali parliament. I think it is a privilege to have his presence really. If only we can find a Somali man of his calibre to lead us.

Is this not the former prime minister or are my eyes deceiving me?

Then I guess we agree.

Originally posted by General Duke: [QB] Horn adeer, you seem to be confused as hell and as ever trying to prove to others how insightful you are. The ARS group have no legitimacy to name anyone using the clan base. If they stuck to their guns and said we will name our people using our formula it is one thing, but to say we will use the 4.5 and I will name who is from this and that clan makes no sense. That’s the contentious point, you say this is not EMBAGATHY, again pretentious of you lad, why use the 4.5 and why retain the constitution and even the speaker of parliament. I am sorry Duke. I think the problem is a matter of intelligence now as opposed to anything else.

this is not a election but more of an innugaration... [/QB] Aha, so this is the bane! How can we accept Shiekh Sharif, the man who led the military and then the political opposition against Yusuf, to fill his position is the question eh? Well listen here. I was certain Obama was going to beat McCain long before Nov 4. Was this because I was aware of the reality of things or because it was an inauguration? If many of us, including you and Duke, are certain Shiekh Sharif will become the next president, it is not because it is an "inauguration" but because we are aware of the reality of things. Now do stop protesting lads, it just makes you guys look very bitter and I am sure that is not what you want to seem.