Juje Posted June 11, 2009 Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed By Abdiaziz Hassan Thursday, Jun. 11, 2009 Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has described his job as the most difficult in the world, and he may be right. Now in its 19th year of civil war and without a government worthy of the name, Somalia is the world's most failed state, shattered by war and a safe haven for both al Qaeda and pirates. Sharif, a strict Islamist who nevertheless believes in dialogue with the West and who came to power in January, rules little more than a few blocks in Mogadishu and recently even that has been threatened by a ferocious attack by his former allies in Somalia's Islamist movement. He spoke to TIME about his government, life in Somalia and the issue of piracy. Is your government going to survive? How? How do you achieve peace and stability in the world's most lawless country? I am confident the government will survive. Fighting in Mogadishu does not mean the government is feeble enough to be toppled. The Somali people and their government are facing the challenges seriously to stop the fighting. My hope is that wars in Somalia eventually become something for the history books. Of course, when you have to start everything from zero and the nation has to be completely reconstructed, there are incredible obstacles and a rough road ahead. What kind of assistance do you need? Peacekeeping? Humanitarian? Military? Or is any assistance foreign interference? There is nothing left in Somalia. It is ruined. Wars continue. The situation in which we find ourselves [as a government] is ... abnormal. We need all kinds of assistance from the world in building up our national security forces, reconstructing destroyed cities and returning displaced people. We need assistance to re-establish sources of income and to create jobs for the people so that they can live without having to break the law. [We also need to] restore collapsed social services, education and health. We have some troops [a 4,900-strong African Union peacekeeping force] here, and reinforcing this mission may be necessary. It seems those opposing us want Somalia to be in this turmoil indefinitely. They are not interested in talks to end this war. What does your government offer for the world and Somalia? Peace and development? Absolutely, we offer peace to the world. My dream is to see peaceful, prosperous Somalia where everyone can get his rights, freedom and livelihood without harming others. What does radical opposition Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys offer Somalia, and the world? Sheikh Hassan and I once worked together, guided by principle, and I believe I am still on the same road. What he believed to be impossible became possible. Sheikh Hassan believed Ethiopia [which invaded in 2006 to topple a previous Islamist government that included Sharif and Aweys] would not withdraw and change was not feasible. [but] Ethiopia pulled its troops out of Somalia in 2008 and change came. He had a role to play and could have helped us to reinstate out nationhood. He has a duty to make Somalia peaceful. Sheikh Hassan objects strongly to your relations with the U.S., as does al Qaeda. It is vital for the government to have a relationship with the U.S. We do not live on an isolated island. We need to be assisted to rebuild country and recover from civil war. Any assistance to Somalia, any relations that serving the interest of the people, is not shameful. It is progress. Can you end piracy? The pirates who hunt down ships are based on land. That's the reality. We can play our part by organizing locals to reject piracy on land. We have also started restructuring Somalia's navy. I have appointed an experienced General to be the commander of the navy. Can your government act as a bridge between Islamists and the West? Without leaving our Islamic principles, we can have relations with the West. I believe my government can succeed in reducing the gap. Why is Somalia seemingly so important to Osama bin Laden? Why is it so attractive to foreign Islamist fighters? The reason foreign fighters pour into our country is that there is lack of governance and there are Somalis who work tirelessly for Somalia to be stuck in chaos forever who welcome these people. Somalis have to understand the consequences that these foreigners have. Everyone can contribute to peace and development. But, it is obvious that our friends have been misled by outsiders What is the price of failure in Somalia? A failed state will disrupt the security of the region and the whole world. SOURCE: TIME MAGAZINE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sherban Shabeel Posted June 11, 2009 A man three classes above his enemies. May God grant him a long and fruitful life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted June 11, 2009 ^^^What did he say aside from waffle ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thankful Posted June 11, 2009 He's someone that only comes once in a life time. He has all the qualities that a leader should have, with some many enemies around him he continuous to keep is composure and looks for peaceful solutions. He has already won in my book. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Posted June 11, 2009 Duke, Does he serve your self interest in the matters of Somalia? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted June 11, 2009 Malika My interest lies in a stable and functioning Somalia and this man seems to have pushed that back a few years. I am disappointed in his actions thus far and his failure is no interest of mine and neither is his success. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Posted June 11, 2009 Duke, As the matter of interest,you seem to have a common interest which is to see a peaceful,stable and prosperous Somalia..You and him are in the same boat,he took action to lead and bring change,whilst you spend your time critising him.. 'Who is the daddy here?' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fabregas Posted June 11, 2009 Sheikh Hassan and I once worked together, guided by principle, and I believe I am still on the same road. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted June 11, 2009 Still placating to the wrong crowd-pitiful, you would think he would learn from predecessors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted June 11, 2009 Lool. Malika sis with all due respect go get some coffee you seem to be daydreaming. If what he is doing is leading then by god I never want to lead anything. My sister the man has no plan let alone a strategy, he was the hype and he delivered more deaths and misery to the people who thought he was hope. A man who has failed and is now engaged in a war with his old allies that defies logic and is based on sheer ignorance. Thus this man and myself are different, at least I know who I am, now sis open your eyes you seem to be the only person who is still hypnotized by the fake magic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted June 11, 2009 As naive and amateurish as ever! Somalia will never get better with this guy in charge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted June 11, 2009 ^Waar ninka daa. Unless you have an alternative solution to Somalia's problems of course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted June 11, 2009 ^^^Sharif is not the solution and that at least is clear. Somalia solution is the course taken by the Northern states. The south needs to set up local admins and stop the bloodhsed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emperor Posted June 11, 2009 What did he say in this interveiw that makes people go Wooow.... And at the end of the day what counts is not what he says but what he does. This man's actions both as an opposition ARS/UIC and government leader have made Somalia a lot worse... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Posted June 11, 2009 The memo must have done the rounds, all the cynics and critics in one place! @ Duke,if you were a newbie,I would have taken you serious but just few months ago you were adamant in support of a goverment that came rolling into power behind Ethiopian tanks was the solution for Somalia..- In Alan Sugar words,'Your fired' from making any judgement on Sh.Sharif and his goverment. As for Ngonge,..stuff and nonsense! Your risking sounding like a parrot there dear friend..Lol What is your problem guys? Break them down to issues so someone here[more enthusiastic one] would perhaps have a go at coming up with a solution. Che,your lacking in seeing his Leadership skills,in having no PERMANENT friends nor ENEMY.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
