Mogadishu Pacification: A Grand Milestone

[Wiilo]

Mogadishu Pacification: A Grand Milestone

 

The ongoing process to pacify the troubled capital of Somalia, Mogadishu, deserves a support from both the Somali Communities in Diaspora and the International Community. The process is a necessary step in restoring security to the lawless country in general and, in the capital city in particular. President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Ghedi should not only commend it but should also consider it as first sign of prolonged hope in relocating the TFG inside Somalia. The pacification process, if successfully executed, will, undoubtedly, put an end to the ugly disunity among the maiden Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and thus has the potential to save the outcome of a two-year long National Reconciliation Conference in Kenya.

 

The TFG's support for the pacification of Mogadishu is particularly critical in light of the following reasons:

 

1. Mogadishu's status as the capital of Somalia is deeply engraved in the soul of all Somalis, a fact that is reiterated in the new Transitional Federal Charter. Moreover, any attempt to change this status, even temporarily, threatens to unravel the already fragile reconciliation process.

2. The proposed relocation to Jowhar and Biadoa is both unconstitutional and clearly unviable. The most recent events in and around Biadoa demonstrate that Biadoa is, if anything, less peaceful than Mogadishu itself, granted that Mogadishu’s dislocation rationale was instability, while Jowhar virtually lacks the structural infrastructures to host the TFG and its institutions.

 

The International Community, spearheaded by the US, EU, UN, The Arab League and The Islamic Conference welcomed the Mogadishu pacification process. For many years, Mogadishu leaders were seen as a major obstacle to peace initiatives in Somalia, including Arta in 2000. Quite the contrary, they are now encompassed in the TFG and voluntarily unified their militias for the first time. Therefore, all of us should have a foreseeable reason to believe that they are, unlike anytime in the past, genuinely interested to pacify the capital for the relocation of TFG.

 

The TFG has spent seven lackluster months in exile. The Somali MP's in Kenya have been thrown out of lodges several times for unpaid hotel bills and even detained by the Kenyan police force. The costly TFG presence in Kenya is, for that matter, categorically unnecessary. One account estimates that TFG spends a million dollar per month in Nairobi between lodging, food and transportation. A quarter of that amount can conveniently cover the TFG operations in Mogadishu a month. Kenyan Press has, on more than one occasion, spoken volumes about how Kenyan Government is growing impatient with regard to the prolonged presence of the TFG in Kenya. Many analysts are also pointing out to the hidden price the TFG is paying in losing its momentum with the Somali people as it continues to be exiled in Nairobi.

 

It is time for President Yusuf and Prime Minister Ghedi to jump on the wagon and commend Mogadishu pacification efforts. By now, we hope, the President has realized that financial support from the International Community is contingent onto the relocation of TFG to Somalia. The President and the Prime Minister should redeem this opportunity and haul the TFG branches to Mogadishu expeditiously.

 

Mogadishu inhabitants, on the other hand, welcomed the TFG relocation to their war torn city as manifested by the warm reception both Ghedi and the Speaker of the House experienced during their recent visits to the city. Long lines of people standing on the dusty streets of Somalia for longer periods waving green leafs and chanting patriotic songs have been the theme for every high level visit to the city. This should inspire the President and the Prime Minister to spearhead the relocation to Mogadishu. The fear factor insinuating in the President and the Prime Minister’s hearts is unfound.

 

Once the relocation stalemate is resolved, the other revolving issue pertaining to Frontline Troops Deployment becomes automatically immaterial. This, in our view, is the last chance for the President and the Prime Minister to rescue the TFG on the impasse over its relocation. Events of the last few weeks are serious pretexts in failing the TFG.

 

Being maiden itself, the TFG can't afford significant convulsion such as the last one where two opposing blocks head opposite directions. The international community can neither afford to ignore Somalia nor can the Somali people live without a functioning apparatus any longer. We urge the President and the Prime Minister to grasp this golden opportunity delivered on a silver plate and compromise this issue for the interest of greater Somalia. We equally urge Mogadishu leaders and the Speaker of the House to pave the road and publicize national reception in Mogadishu for the President, the Prime Minister and the remaining MP's in Nairobi.

 

Failure to compromise on the relocation for Mogadishu will inevitably be subversive to the TFG. At stake is a two year-long reconciliation efforts sponsored by the International Community. Unlike in the past, the world community is fatigued towards Somalia’s never-ending unrest and may never broker another reconciliation attempt. Meanwhile, hindering Mogadishu pacification efforts, or mislabeling it, is unproductive and may encourage destructive elements to interpret the move as grounds for calling off the TFG. If nothing else, the pacification fruits will collaterally benefit the residents of Mogadishu whose lives were shattered by years of warlordism and instability.

 

Somali Intellectuals.

 

1. Professor Ali Khalif Galayr, Minnesota. USA (Former Prime Minister)

2. Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed Addow, Washington DC, USA (Former US Ambassador)

3. Hussein Mataan, Minnesota, USA (Former Attorney General)

4. Avv. Sheikh Hassan Jaamici, Minnesota, USA (U.S Commission of Civil Rights)

5. Dr. Hussein Egal, Minnesota. USA (Medical Doctor)

6. Dr. Said Isse Mohamud, Maine. USA (Somali Scholar)

7. Prof. Abdirahim Hagi Mohamed, Toronto, Canada (Somali Scholar)

8. Prof. Sidow Abdi Mohamed. Minnesota, USA (University of Minnesota)

9. Dr. Abdulqasim Mohamud Ali. Minnesota, USA (Medical Doctor)

10. Mr. Ahmed Omar “Keliâ€, Maine. USA (Somali Intellectual)

11. Dr. Abdulkadir Ali Egal, Maine. USA (Somali Scholar & Former UNDP Officer)

12. Sheikh Ali Mo’allim Musse, Kansas City, USA (Islamic Scholar)

13. Abdillahi Mohamud Hirad, USA (Former Minister)

14. Abdullahi Nur Osman, U.K (Accountant and Community Leader)

15. Farhan Ali Ahmed, U.K (Community Activist – London Metro)

16. Abdullahi Mo’allim Abdi “Cirro†(Poet)

17. Ibrahim Abikar, Minnesota. USA ( Pilot)

18. Abdulqadir Mohamed Addow, Minnesota. USA (Somali Intellectual)

19. Said Sheikh, Wisconsin. USA (PhD Candidate, University of Wisconsin)

20. Abdirahman Waberi, Washington DC. USA (Writer)

21. Mohamed Adan “Tiiceeyâ€, Minnesota. USA (Graduate Student: Activist)

22. Sheikh Mohamed Garyare, Canada (Islamic Scholar)

23. Halima Ibrahim, Minnesota (Peace Activist)

24. Eng. Abdullahi Anshur, Minnesota (Peace Activist)

25. Mohamed Hassan “Sandheereâ€, Minnesota. USA (Graduate Student: Activist)

26. Mohamed Hussien “Gudbayeâ€, Minnesota. USA (Graduate Student: Activist)

27. Abdullahi Kulmiye, Minnesota. USA (Student Activist)

28. Abdirahman Jahweyn, Minnesota. USA (Student Activist)

29. Abdi-hashi Hussien, California. USA (Somali Entrepreneur)

30. Fadumo Mohamed, Minnesota. USA (Women Activist)

31. Mohamed Shariif, Minnesota. USA (Community Leader)

32. Dr. Ismail Hassan, Minnesota. USA (Medical Doctor)

33. Abdirahman Aynte, Minnesota. USA (Somali Journalist)

34. Afyare Abdi Elmi, Canada (Somali Journalist)

35. Mustaf Sheikh Yusuf, Texas. USA (Businessman)

36. Fadumo Abdullahi, Washington DC. USA (Somali Author)

37. Liban Abdi Ali, Arizona. USA (Teacher)

38. Gen. Ismail Ahmed Ismail, USA (Former Correctional Division Chief)

39. Hussein Warsame, Virginia. USA (Somali Intellectual)

40. Abdullahi Nur Mohamed “Jowharâ€, USA (US Sahan TV Coordinator)

41. Mohamed Abukar Ali, Minnesota USA (Businessman)

42. Mohamed Abdi Elmi, Minnesota. USA (Entrepenuer)

43. Eng. Hassan Mohamed Hassan, Minnesota (Teacher)

44. Eng. Khalif Farah Hayow, Minnesota, USA (Businessman)

45. Eng. Hassan Warsame, Minnesota, USA

46. Col. Hassan Warsame, Minnesota, USA (Former Senior Officer)

47. Col. Hassan Korneyl, Minnesota, USA (Former Senior Officer)

48. Daahir Diiriye Qooryare, Minnesota. USA

49. Raage Abdullahi Addawe, Minnesota, USA (Student Activist)

50. Yasin E. Garad, Minnesota, USA (Student & Community Activist)

51. Abdullahi Abdi Mohamed, U.K (Secretary of Somali Concern Group)

52. Dr. Dahir Maalin Sabriye, U.K (Associate Professor – St. Mary’s University)

53. Eng. Abikhadar Omar Yusuf “Daadirowâ€, Minnesota, USA

54. Said Kahiye, Minnesota, USA (Student Activist)

55. Ali Hassan Osman “Xoogsadeâ€, Minnesota USA (Somali Intellectual)

56. Mohamed Mukhtar Ibrahim, London. UK (Somali Intellectual)

57. Mohamed Abdulkadir Sh. Osman. Atlanta, USA (Businessman)

58. Abdulkadir Ahmed Alasow. Minnesota, USA (Somali Intellectual)

59. Ali Shiddo Farah. Oregon, USA (Businessman)

60. Haji Abdullahi Roble Jimale. Minnesota, USA (Peace Activist)

61. Abdi Mohamed Mohamud. Minnesota, USA (Student Activist)

62. Boqor Abdi Shire Halane. Minnesota, USA (Peace Activist)

63. Hasanen Mohamud. Minnesota, USA (Professional Social Worker)

64. Sahra Said Ahmed. Washington DC, USA (Teacher)

65. Kayse Suldaan Salah. Lodon, U.K (Businessman)

66. Eng. Mayow Mohamed Mo’ow. London, U.K (Civil Engineer)

67. Eng. Jamal Abdi Abbas. London, U.K (Peace Activist)

68. Drs. Maryan Abdulle Osman. Australia (Medical Doctor)

69. Prof. Abdinur Elmi Farah. Australia (Somali Scholar)

70. Sheikh Mohamed Sh. Hashi. Australia (Islamic Scholar)

[Johnny B]

A ball is rolling ... My home town is preparing for it´s first post civil war date , wonder who will she go out with .