Max'uud Xarbiga cusub

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Peace and Unity in Somalia – One Way Ticket to Africa’s Future

 

American Chronicle

November 30, 2007

 

To better illuminate the real dimensions and the unnoticed aspects of the Horn of Africa grave problems, we planned on giving space to genuine and influential Somalis, who can offer an authoritative analysis of their country’s problem. The mass media failed at the a global scale to properly inform the average public allover the world, focusing mostly on impressive incidents, not insightful analysis.

 

Yet, there are many critical dimensions of the Horn of Africa problem that unfortunately are totally ignored among Western readers. That is why we decided to start our Horn of Africa interviews with the World Somali Congress, and their Vice President, Mr. Abdillahi Ahmed. The organization principles are solemnly stated.

 

Principles of the organization

 

The World Somali Congress respects and subscribes to Muslim tradition. The organization will respect and use the positive elements of the Somali culture, the national experrince and any good human experience.

 

The organization will defend the independence and unity of the Somali republic. The organization subscribes will respect constitution, rules, standards and conventions both national and international. The organization intends to support all initiatives which aim to the re-establishment of peace and justice in Somalia or any other area.

 

The mission of the Organization

 

This organization was created in the current context of despair, desolation, tribal division and the lack of a central government.

 

The causes

 

1 - The dictatorship of the last government and its political errors, nomad mentality, and its tribal organization, and the clash with the State nation.

 

2 - The persistence of the crisis can be attribute to the Warlords who hold as an hostage wells and populaces for their only interest.

 

3 - Also the permanent interference of Ethiopia and others nations to the internal affairs of Somalia.

 

It is of primary importance

:

 

To restore peace, the unity, forgiveness, justice and the capacity of a central government. To fight poverty and dependency.

 

The organization set as priorities

:

• The defense of the nation, the faith, the State and the people
• The return of the political structures like the parties, assembly etc.

The return of Democracy

Conscientisation of the population and the Diaspora

Development of a political, social, and economic program to prevent any return towards a similar situation, and to help Diaspora toward an effective integration with programs

Activity and programs

1. To build a new mentality and a new Somali personality
2. Popular Education: denunciation of the tribal system, conscientisation and the making of a spiritual and rational awareness to end the crisis. Means used: conference, round table, debate, interview, etc.

Propagation of any idea impregnated with justice, peace and reconciliation

Alliance with any organization with similar goals in order to be effective

Our organization will do everything possible to establish relation between Diasporas and the inhabitants of the Horn.

Our organization will get involved in any activity which contributes to peace, justice and development.

Building of schools to help and educate the youth

Our organization is opposed to any external interference without invitation of the national community or the international community.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Interview with Mr. Abdillahi Ahmed, Vice President of the World Somali Congress

 

Question

: Mr. Abdillahi, would you narrate briefly for our readers your family background, and your formation years in Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: I was born in Djibouti where I completed all my education, graduated from the Teachers’ Training School. I worked subsequently as teacher, and I got involved with several parties of the Somali opposition, until I emigrated to Canada for political reasons.

 

Q

: Would you give us an outline of your studies and career?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: I graduated from the University of Quebec in Outaouais with major in International Studies. I am currently completing my Master’s Degree in regional development; my research is focused on the Horn of Africa region. In parallel, I work as part-time administrator.

 

Q

: For 16 years, Somalia has been divided and at times constrained to fratricide strives. What is the origin of these problems? Is there in Somalia a long colonial shadow? To what extent is the present situation due to the quadripartite colonial (French, English, Italian and Abyssinian) division of Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: The problems that we are facing today in Somalia are mostly the result of the colonial partition of the country, the latest phase of a long struggle for survival, which lasted for over 100 years, and the Quest for Somali Nation Unity.

 

Western Colonial Biases in favor of Abyssinia

 

Q

: Let's come closer to our times; if we go back to 70s or the 80s, was there anything that would be considered as alarming signal for a forthcoming division and fratricide war? Could one anticipate developments?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: Yes, to mention view here is some points:

1. The multifaceted aid that colonial Europe had offered to the Abyssinians, involving both arms and political guidance, and more particularly in the case of the Abyssinian invasion and occupation of Somali territories i.e. Herar (1882).
2. The partition of Somalia into British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland, and the transfer of part of British Somaliland into Abyssinians hands (1897-1954)
3. The persistent attempt of colonial advisors to prevent Somalia from achieving independence (1950 - 1960), and the constant colonial instigation of tribal divisions aimed at eternalizing the colonial tribal partitions (See Omar Osmaan Rabeh: Republique de Djibouti ou roue de secours d'...Ethiopie, Silex, Paris, 1985. L'Etat et le Pansomalisme, Editions le Derwish, Paris, 1987, etc.)
4. At the end of the Trusteeship (1958), the colonial advisors based the first
5. Somali Government on tribalism, although the Somali Youth League, who had led the fight for Independence, and the first Somali Prime Minister, Abdirizak Hajji Hussein, were against.
6. Amhara Communist Mengistu and Tigray Neo-Nazi Zenawi: crueler than Somali Dictator Siad Barre

Q

: Many Somalis from Somaliland complain about the treatment they had at the times of the late Somali President Siad Barre. They insist on the fact they were then persecuted, and kept out of the administration of the country. Do you agree with this?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: This topic needs very careful consideration since people do not have the facts; in addition, we have to admit that there were several well-orchestrated agendas involved. Here are some explanations:

1. Tribal colonial policy of divide and rule (pitching tribes against each other)
2. Mistakes made by the late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
3. Our enemy, Abyssinia, took advantage of existing problems.

Q

: As many still speak negatively about Siad Barre, what is your opinion about the last president of (a united) Somalia? Was it finally good or bad to oust him?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: Whatever he might have been, down-to-earth reality shows that Mohamed Siad Barre was far better than those who overthrew him. These criminal thugs are today responsible the misery that our nation is in. They couldn’t agree on anything, let alone anticipate developments, and their shallow mindedness was clearly demonstrated when they invited our archenemy into the country. Today, our Nation is in deep trouble, more than before, and average Somalis, innocent people, are massacred without any reason on daily basis.

 

[soomaali Galbeed] will be cut off from Neo-Nazi, Fake ‘Ethiopia’.

 

Q

: The foundation of the modern state of Somalia in 1960 was somewhat incomplete, as occupied [soomaali Galbeed] was still under Abyssinian occupation. To what extent was ******'s liberation, and the completion of Somali Unity, a priority for the Somalis between 1960 and 1977?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: It is not only Somalia that suffers senseless colonial partition, but Africa at large was forced to accepted existing boundaries. European Colonial powers and the Abyssinians, Africa’s single and denounced colonialists, were behind the formation of these irrelevant borders. This is the reason that there would never be a peace in the Horn of Africa. The liberation of Somali-West (Soomaali Galbeed) and the Quest for Somali Unity was root cause of the disintegration of the last Somali Government.

 

Q

: A great national Somali effort was deployed in 1977, in the [soomaali Galbeed] Liberation War; although the Somali army reached close to Finfinne, the old Oromo capital that has been re-baptized by the Amharas as Addis Ababa, finally Somalia lost the war because the late Soviet Union abandoned Somalia, sided overtly with Abyssinia, and even then the US failed to support and sustain the anti-colonial effort of the Somalis. How traumatic has been the experience of the Somalis, and what traces did this undeserved attitude leave down to our days?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: After we won the 1977 war against Abyssinia, both the West and the East ganged up against us, and finally took away our hard won victory. Thus, they granted what we call an "artificial victory" to the Abyssinians. As you mentioned, we got close to Finfinne, but unfortunately, our victory was snatched in front of our eyes by far greater enemies of Somali Unity than the one we fought. It had a drastic experience on our moral, and had a very unhappy ending; however, in the long run the Truth will prevail.

* I inserted Soomaali Galbeed to respect the site's rules.

[Fabregas]

quote:that we are facing today in Somalia are mostly the result of the colonial partition of the country

 

The problem we are facing is because of tribalism, which is deeply embedded in Somali culture. Other nations/states just take advantage of this!

[Chimera]

although the Somali army reached close to Finfinne, the old Oromo capital that has been re-baptized by the Amharas as Addis Ababa, finally Somalia lost the war because the late Soviet Union abandoned Somalia

Interesting. I heard they reached Nazareth but i have to do more research on this subject. I do know of one Somali commander that stood infront of the Gates of Dhir Dhaba and practically owned it with the enemy on the run but he was called back by some dumb official in the Capital(1) this foolish order gave the Ethiopians time to regroup, if we had those cities we would have won even if the Cubans came to rescue them cause Harar,Jigjigga and Dhir Dhaba were part of the main supply line routes for the Ethiopian army. When Dhir Dhaba was taken for a short time the army took out the second largest airport of Ethiopia and reduced their capicity to resist our forces and if the army had pushed on to the Dhir-Dhaba-Djibouti rail line Somalia would have been able to starve Ethiopia into submission(2). without those cities today's political situation in the horn of Africa would have been different and there would have been a Oromia,Afaria,Sidama etc etc other countries neighbouring Great Somalia part of a strong economic and Political bloc and Eritrea would have no fears of the little territory called Abyssinia invading them.

 

(1)Gilkes Revolution and Military Strategy.pg724

 

(2}Panickly officials had feared the worst according to one of them: If Somalia captures the city of Dhir Dawa where we have the second largest airforce then it could easily use this base and threaten Addis Ababa to the point that the government would be obliged to capitulate -E-S war revisited pg.647

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

World Somali Congress Vice-President Abdillahi Ahmed: No to premeditated destruction of Somalia

 

American Chronicle

December 3, 2007

 

I

n a first article

Peace and Unity in Somalia – One Way Ticket to Africa’s Future

, we presented the Mission and the Principles of the World Somali Congress, as a preamble to the first part of the interview we had with Mr. Abdillahi Ahmed, their Vice President. In the present article, we publish the second part of the tripartite interview.

 

Interview with Mr. Abdillahi Ahmed, Vice President of the World Somali Congress – Part II

 

Question

: In May 1991, Somaliland declared its independence; what were the links of the Somaliland leadership with the Amhara Abyssinian communist tyranny of Haile Mengistu? And what are their links with the Tigray Abyssinian pseudo-republican tyranny of Meles Zenawi?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: This was a colonial legacy and the many mistakes made before and after the independence. Bitterness and lack of understanding of the History of Horn of Africa drove some Somali tribe to blindly help our archenemy, thus becoming the means for the destruction of the Somali state. The sole purpose of the current invasion that has been supported by the West was to occupy the entire country; however, due to miscalculations involved, the disintegration of Abyssinia is near.

 

Q

: To what extent is the Somaliland regime representative, expressing with its political choices and secessionist attitude the wishes of the majority of the Somalis included in that enclave?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: Most of the people in these regions are captives of the situation. They have been living in a state of hope for recognition, but by now they came to know that in reality a group of selfish thugs have tricked them for long. These rulers are just surrogates for their master tyrant Meles Zenawi.

 

Q

: Are there ethnic, linguistic, religious, tribal groups in Somaliland that are oppressed by the current Somaliland 'president' Rayaale?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: No, Somalis are 100% Sunni Muslims, Shaffie, with one language (involving different dialects)

 

Q

: What is your idea about the Kulmiye party, and the Northern Somalis for Peace and Unity?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: We believe that both, Kulmiye party and the Northern Somalis for Peace and Unity (NSPU) represent genuine and positive political expressions of patriotic Somalis in the northern part of the country that is currently ruled by Somaliland.

 

Q

: What is at the epicenter of the present problems of Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: US-‘Ethiopian’ occupation is the focus of evildoing against Somalia; it is a vicious plan geared to cause divisions among people, Civil War, starvation in great numbers, ceaseless killings, raping, crimes of all sorts at an incredible scale.

 

[Continues.]

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Q

: People all over the world are being brainwashed with the assumption that Somalia is a failed state; you as Somali, do you consider this interpretation accurate or not? Are the Somalis the sole responsible for the 16 years instable situation or there has been foreign involvement too?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: This is not just mere propaganda; much more, it is:

1. A well orchestrated plan intended to trigger the destruction of the Somali State.
2. An imperialist commitment aimed at distracting Somalis from their natural, patriotic target, i.e. the institutional resurrection of their State, the return of Law and Civil Order
3. A clearly colonial and most determined commitment aimed at disrupting Somalis’ regular livelihood. As such, it consists in a deliberate effort to prevent mutual understanding among Somalis, thwart any Somali attempt for unity, reconciliation and respectably and commonly shared nationhood.
4. A deliberate effort to spread confusion, and deliberately use it in order to create an illusive, non-existing phenomenon called “Terrorism” that would supposedly legalize intervention in, and occupation of, Somalia.
5. An intentional pseudo-reconciliation (as in Kenya 2004), falsely pretended to help Somalis, which in fact contributes to Somalis’ misleading.
6. A premeditated orchestration of fake – events prearranged to fail, and thus spread despair and further discord
7. A false interpretation of facts and factoids that involves putting the blame on the Somalis exclusively
8. An unreasonable rejection to recognize the only true reconciliation - without any outside interfering – which was held at Arta, Djibouti, whereby the Somalis were able to form a government, but the UN, EU, US, Ethiopia, and Kenya did not recognize.

Q

: Many people all over the world believe that the Somalis turned out to be a nation of Islamists and fanatics; how do you evaluate this?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: That is what western media want others to believe in order to cover up their hidden agendas. Somalis are 100% Muslims, who like to live the way of their forefathers. The Somalis were never known to be fanatics, never forced their beliefs on others. If we were what others are falsely propagating, today only Muslims would populate the whole region.

 

Q

: In fact, there are some Somali Islamists; but today they are few, dispersed and have no impact on the Somali Liberation War. But where are they? Is Islamic extremism limited in the Somali South? Or one can find Islamic extremist groups in Puntland? In Somaliland?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: Somali Muslims are fed up of Western conspiracies and unjust provocations. Islamists and nationalists both have been deliberately smeared by fanatics so that foreigners invade our country and we never live in peace. If there are fanatics in the Horn, it is due to American political ignorance. The outcome is very clear as we Somalis believe truth will prevail, and tribes and nations will live under the flag of Justice.

 

Q

: Are there pro-Western Somalis?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: Yes, but their number is shrinking very rapidly.

 

Q

: What is the weight of the Somali Diaspora? In numbers and in impact on the political decision making? Would you name the major centers of Somali Diaspora concentration?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: It really needs deep and thorough study to answer in detail. Generally speaking, I would say the great centers of Somali Diaspora are London, England, Minneapolis, US, and Toronto, Canada.

 

Q

: To what extent are you happy with the American foreign policy as regards Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: It is colossal failure, a "bricolage", a do-it-yourself approach, and we cannot be happy with a great nation like the US acting as a wildcat.

 

Q

: To what extent are you happy with European countries', mainly England's and Italy's, foreign policy as regards Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: The Europeans, in their general policies, act more maturely than the Americans, but when it comes to the nations you mention their policy reminds me the classical ‘wait and see’ attitude; this makes me think of the French proverb ‘qui se tait, consent‘ (whoever keeps silent agrees).

 

Q

: To what extent are you happy with African countries' attitude towards, and interest in, Somalia? How do you assess the foreign policy of South Africa, Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Eritrea more particularly?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: For the time being, AU is a phantom organization run by Ethiopia. AU agreed whatever IGAD proposes without any consideration of the possible outcome. AU just gave blank check to Abyssinian policy toward Somalia. Some African countries are now discovering Abyssinians’ hidden agenda for Somalia, and in the process they also start realizing that Abyssinians were always against the interest of Africa.

 

As a matter of fact, we thank Eritrea for standing on our side in this difficult moment.

 

Q

: To what extent are you happy with the Arabic speaking countries' foreign policy in the case of Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed

: Somalis feel deep sorrow for the lack of Arab support, and I find this occasion propitious to remind Arabic speaking countries’ diplomats that Somalia never kept silent when their interests were at stake.

 

In a forthcoming article, we will publish Mr. Abdillahi Ahmed’s last part of interview.

[Seekknowledge]

As a matter of fact, we thank Eritrea for standing on our side in this difficult moment.

The truth is out

 

Q: To what extent are you happy with the Arabic speaking countries' foreign policy in the case of Somalia?

 

Abdillahi Ahmed: Somalis feel deep sorrow for the lack of Arab support, and I find this occasion propitious to remind Arabic speaking countries’ diplomats that Somalia never kept silent when their interests were at stake.

 

Isn't time to talk about your own interest for your own people? They used you and left you start working with your own brother cause when reality kicks Eritrea will always side with their own mainly christians Ethiopian brothers. Accept the invitation and come back and negotiate stop the madness. Stop begging the Arabs to come and help you it will never happen. Somalis the ones you are killing are your brothers can't you get it :rolleyes: Okey let me write in big letters

THERE IS NO JIHAD. THE ARABS ARE WORKING WITH AMERICA. ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA ALSO. ETHIOPIA PRETENDS TO HELP THE SOMALI GOVERNMENT AND ERITREA PRETENDS TO HELP THE OPPOSITION SO AMERICA CAN SAY WE ARE FIGHTING TERRORIST AND HAVE A BASE SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF IRAN AND ALL THE MIDDLE EAST. NOBODY CARES ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE KILLING EACH OTHER. SOMALIA IS JUST A SAVAGE NATION TO THEM. GET IT OR ARE YOU STILL :confused:

[Fabregas]

quote:THERE IS NO JIHAD

 

 

That is because you want Abdullahi Yusuf( your hero) and Ethiopia to succeed in Somalia. Hence why you are constantly criticisng and demonising any Somali that lifts a finger against them. In other words, you clearly support the Ethiopians and Abdullahi Yusuf; laakin, why pretend to be a neutral? You writing clearly exposes which side you demonise and which side you root for( Abdullahi Yusuf and Ethiopia)?

[Abdulladiif Al-Fiqih]

* I inserted Soomaali Galbeed to respect the site's rules.

Waxaa yaableh, wuxuu region-ka magaciisa Libaax-Sanka-Taabte mam-nuuc ugga dhigey. Arintanu waa gaf cad oon geed loogu soo gaban. Qoomiyad iyo degaankeedii ayaad xaraan aan afka soo mari-karin kadhigteen.

[Seekknowledge]

I support negotiations and the only way to do that is to SIT DOWN AND TALK!!!!!

You can't have negotiations by blowing up people saying do this or that or the highway. The majority of somalis as you know don't want TFG or ICU but the reality right now is that one is ready to talk and the other keeps on firing and making things worse for the innocent somalis. And yes I repeat THERE IS NO JIHAD only people trying to cling to power at any cost. Look at them with their stubborness they've indirectly created the so called Shabbab and more to come.

[Jacaylbaro]

I always thought Al-Shabaab are Mujaahideens