The Dubai Deal: The People vs. Cadde Muuse

[Sky]

This author wraps it all up in a nutshell. My sentiments exactly regarding this article from Garowe Online

 

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The Dubai Deal: The People vs. Cadde Muuse

 

The debate over the Dubai Deal has once again highlighted the incompetence of the Puntland Parliament, officially known as the Council of Representatives (Golaha Wakiilada).

 

Halkan ka akhri isaga oo Soomaali ku qoran

 

IT WAS WRONG FROM THE START. The announcement that Puntland President Cadde Muuse had signed a deal with a foreign company to search for natural resources in the region prompted a direct reply from Professor Ali Mohamed Ghedi, the Somali premier: the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) considers any such deal unlawful and will not recognize it. According to Premier Ghedi, regional administrations must await for the TFG to ordain laws governing the research and development of Somalia’s natural resources. In Article 67 of the TFG Constitution – to which Puntland is a signatory – natural resources are legally considered “national property†(hanti qaran). If Puntland is part of the Federal Republic of Somalia, how does one explain its unilateral decision to research and develop “national property†found in the region?

 

Cadde’s unilateralism

 

I actually expected more from Cadde Muuse – the same man who made all that empty talk about introducing accountability and transparence into the Puntland administration. Or was that merely an election gimmick? Cadde should realize that he can only lead by example. When accountability and transparency are practiced at the top tiers of government, then those same principles will eventually trickle down to the lower tiers and create an opportunity to reform the system. There was neither transparency nor accountability in the way Cadde signed a mysterious deal in Dubai (henceforth down as the Dubai Deal) last month.

 

Cadde has overstepped both presidential and State power by signing an international deal the exclusive realm of the federal government. If every State is allowed to have its own government, security apparatus and sign foreign deals, then what is the use of a federal government, one wonders. We are undoubtedly in the early stages of our nation-building process. The powers between the federal and State governments have not yet been completely separated because the TFG is busy building its basic institutions in Jowhar . However, more was expected from the Puntland leadership – as the role model State of a federal Somalia , Puntland was theoretically supposed to reflect TFG policy. And TFG leaders – both President Abdullahi Yusuf and PM Ali Ghedi – have openly expressed the illegality of the Dubai Deal.

 

Premier Ghedi , a career academic, was right in refusing State governments from signing agreements with foreign entities. Without rules and regulations governing the development of Somalia’s natural resources, we will leave too much room for catastrophic error on a grand scale. The violent conflict in Nigeria between the national government and local tribes is fueled by misunderstanding over profit distribution between the two parties. This is a sad example of the many problems that can arise without an all-Somali (Soomaaliweyn) consensus on the use and distribution of our nation’s natural resources.

 

But Cadde Muuse doesn’t seem to be concerned for such trivial matters. He has not even introduced a bill into the Puntland Parliament. Isn’t Parliament supposed to debate over and vote on important issues, such as this? Or does the law grant President Cadde the ability to make unilateral decisions on this scale? Last time I checked, Puntland is not under the rule of a dictatorship.

 

Puntland Parliament: Where art thou?

 

The debate over the Dubai Deal has once again highlighted the incompetence of the Puntland Parliament, officially known as the Council of Representatives (Golaha Wakiilada). As the representatives of the people in government, one of Parliament’s primary duties include keeping a balance of power between the legislative (Parliament) and the executive (President) branches. The Puntland Parliament is either wholly unaware of such a responsibility or unwilling to step up to the administration. It seems the job of holding administration leaders accountable for their actions has been delegated to the free press – it’s the press, not Parliament, which is putting pressure on Cadde Muuse to come clean about the terms of the Dubai Deal.

 

So where is Parliament? Not a single parliamentarian has spoken publicly about this issue of eminent importance to the people, to the region and to the Somali nation as a whole. If the Puntland administration is allowed to continue to push its own independent agenda and Parliament remains silent, then the people of Puntland will not forget Parliament’s treason (by being quiet, Parliament is agreeing to Cadde’s policy). Sad to say, but the Puntland Parliament seems to have forfeited its right to question administration policy, especially with regard to the Dubai Deal. Can the people of Puntland depend on such an ineffective institution (Parliament) to deliver their concerns to the administration (President)?

 

The Dubai debate rages on

 

The debate is gradually heating up. Even within the ranks of the Puntland Cabinet, there are some ministers who oppose the Dubai Deal. Strangely enough, Cadde Muuse – as signatory to the Dubai Deal – has yet to publicly speak about the deal he signed. As of today (September 12, 2005), the people of Puntland don’t know what their elected leader signed on to. They are not informed of the terms of the agreement, of the parties involved and are utterly unaware of its consequences. Everyone in Puntland is wondering: What’s in it for us? Natural resources found on Somali soil are national property, as expressed in the TFG Constitution. Puntland is part of Somalia and, therefore, natural resources found on its territory are Somalia’s national property. The use and distribution of Somalia’s natural property is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government.

 

For Cadde Muuse, the Dubai Deal controversy is the first real test of his embryonic administration. There are opposition figures both within and without his government. The final outcome of this controversial issue will undoubtedly reflect on his political career. But Cadde seems like a man ready to risk his career for such a deal. But is Puntland ready to risk its future?

 

Yusuf M. Hassan-Mire

GaroweOnline.com Column

[Gabbal]

very passionate dheh.

[Thankful]

Here we go Garowe online, making a complaint out of jealousy. Absolutely nothing has taken place criminal, yet they are acting like it is the end of the world. The president wanted to get the ball rolling and get foreign investment into Puntland, because it was not taking place. He had to make tough decisions and we will see the outcome. This tribal fighting must stop.

 

[ September 15, 2005, 13:48: Message edited by: Mursal ]

[MR ORGILAQE]

somalipride what's with u and tribal infighting.can't anyone express his/her opinion without you translating it into some weird tribal conspiracy.Get your head out of ure a$$ will you.You are paranoid so chill!.Is this what u think about everytime u want to express an opinion...do all your opinions comform to a structured tribal line?