Duke's: The Case for the TFG

[General Duke]

The Case for the TFG

 

The aim of this small piece is to put forward the reasons why the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia or (TFG) is the most important governmental institution that exists in the country today. The aim above all is to be brief.

 

I will do this by addressing some of the common accusations made against it and will compare it to both the Clan Courts and Somaliland [secessionist entity].

 

First why is the TFG so important?

 

• The TFG institution represents all the Somali clan families that make up the Somali nation. There is not a single clan that is absent from the TFG Parliament or executive branch. It is based on the 4.5 formula which while flawed still is superior to the clan based factions, Clan Courts or even the secessionist [ who represent only a section of Somalia].

• The TFG came about through long and difficult reconciliation conference held in Nairobi Kenya , which brought together all the clans and their representatives, faction leaders [warlords] regional leaders, elders, religious groups and so on. Everyone was invited and actually everyone attended, thus they perceived the meeting to be fair and above board. The international communities’ pressure kept the meeting going until the creation of this body. Somaliland scores big, since it was also created thorough a conference for the North Western clans.

• The Parliament speaker and President were elected by the Parliament chosen by the representatives of the Somali clan families. The legitimacy was not in doubt because the elections were open, fair and transparent and in both cases the winner was a surprise.

• The TFG has international recognition to go with the legitimacy it has from the Somali clans that gave birth to it.

 

Now I will address the common accusations

 

1 The TFG is weak and does not control the whole country.

 

Yes the TFG is weak, because it inherited not a single institution since all the national institutions were destroyed in the war. It also lacks financial support as it has had little beyond moral support from the international community that has many other more pressing issues than tired old Somalia.

In terms of control it has as much control as any other power; it has the full support of Puntland which is roughly a third of Somalia as well as the regions it is housed in Bay and Bakool. It is interesting to note that not a single clan has opted out of the TFG parliament and turned their back on the institution , not even the die hard clans which both make up the secessionist and Clan Courts. In fact most clans are up in arms if they lose an important post within the government even though the government is not fully functioning.

 

2 It has not done anything/compared to the Clan courts.

This point while similar to the one above highlights the mistake some make in confusing political legitimacy with force alone. Thus the Clan Courts have gained legitimacy because they have used force. The TFG was built on consensus and has yet to exhaust all other avenues, it has also concentrated in completing its relocations, institutions, keeping the clans in the government together through several major internal disputes. Lobbying for international aid and putting its case across, especially with the issue of removing the arms embargo. It has wisely decided to avoid direct confrontation. This does not mean that it won’t try to secure the nation through the use of force in the near future.

 

3. Religious and moral arguments made against the TFG.

Since the TFG was created by all Somali clans, who happen to all be Muslims the argument that it is somehow an unreligious institution is false. The constitution adopted recognizes the supremacy of the Islamic faith in all matters. Thus applying direct Shariah law would not be a difficult matter to address at all. The Clan Courts claim to be “custodians” of the faith implies that religious knowledge is centered in one particular area and thus absurd. Their practice of turning lies into a media art-form and the constant aggression, corrupt business interest, assassination and blood spilling makes their supporters attempts at capturing the moral high-ground at best feeble.

 

4. "The Ethiopian threat"

While one should never down play the historical disaster of a relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia. However one must also admit that this Federal Ethiopian Republic led by the minority Tigray [Melez was a Somali refugee].

The present Adis regime is no way comparable to the Amharic regimes of the Derg, nor its previous form of Solomonic dynasty of Abyssinia.

Ethiopia interest and outlook with regards to Somalia has changed fundamentally.

What the Clan Courts and Secessionists to a lesser extend hate about the present Ethiopia is its strong and deep relationship it has with the TFG and above all the President of the republic. In simplistic terms they wonder why Adis has shifted its gaze from them?

 

Now my fanatical friends would say that Ethiopia has a puppet, a weak man. But the question here is why are the leaders of Yemen, Kenya and Uganda all supporting the TFG?

Can it be that these nations and their elder statement understand the Somali psyche a bit more than we give them credit for?

As for the other players, Somaliland has yet to find any nation closer to it than Ethiopia. While in the case of the Clan Courts they do their diplomacy in shadows away from the world and no nation has come out in their support openly yet. Hence Xasan Dahir meets with officers of Egypt and not with its leadership.

 

The Somali Transitional Government (TFG) has the support of the Somali people and the international community and it is still heading in the right direction which is a secure and peaceful Somalia at ease with itself and the world.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

*Hands up.*

 

A little question.

 

What is the difference between dowladii Carte iyo tan, since both have had in common 4.5 formula and other representations?

[AYOUB]

The TFG has invited, sheltered and armed the defeated murderous warlords like Qanyare, Mo Dheere, Qaybdiid, Hiiraale etc. Does this not prove the TFG is nothing but a Warlords' Union and Yey as a Warlords' Warlords?

[General Duke]

MMA, The difference is the later peace conference was more inclusive than the Arta conference. Puntland, all the armed factions took part in this one while they boycoted the Arta one.

 

Though one can say it was an improvement of Arta and that the Arta group not only took part and agreed to the revised terms of the Nairobi meeting, but that Abdiqasin heaqd of Arta TNG competed in the elections and believed till the last minute that he would be the victor again.

[General Duke]

Ayoub Shiekh. A some what simplistic argument, the TFG has as much warlords with ever decreasing power than say the clan courts. The warlords are just a shadow over their former selves, because the TFG refused to relocate to Mogadishu.

 

Compared to the Courts who have promoted IndaCade [security] Cirfo[shurra] without them ever accepting peace...

 

President Yusuf has never been a warlords, he was a rebel leader and then a regional state President and now head of state, much like Silanyo and Egal of Somaliland who's war was Tuur was worse than Yusuf vS Jama in Puntland.

 

So the points made are valid, the TFG is far superior to Arta in terms of recognition and internal support. It was built on greater consensus than Arta and Abdiqasin accepted this till the last days...

[Alle-ubaahne]

^^I would advise you to send that FAQ or Q&A to the BBC or CNN websites to adopt them as the final verdict of the Somali issues, but don't try that on us, because we, as the people of somalia, won't except it as it is.

 

And your uncle is simply the enemy of Somalia, not only your Reer Mahad, but the whole of Somali people. Take that for good, awoowe.

[bambo]

He was rebel and enemy of somalia since 1964 , as he stated him self that he was rebel since the era of 1960s.

[General Duke]

^^^What I love about many here is they wont be able to refute the articles above but bable on about the "enemy" of Islam and so on/

 

Bambo, your lack of knowledge is a real problem for you. You want to be taken seriouslya nd yet you continue to make these senile accusations.

 

Yusuf was a top rank officer in the Somali national army from 1960 -1978 between these times he fought against both the Amhara regimes in the border war of 1964[winning the meddal of honour] and he fought in the larger ****** war of 1978.. He then fought Siyad Barre regime from 1978 and was placed in jail for the BALANBALE incidnet in the mid 1980's.

 

He returned to Somalia in 1991 and took part in the defence of the North East and in 1998 was elected President of Puntland and 2004 the President of Somalia...

[General Duke]

It is interesting to note that not a single clan has opted out of the TFG parliament and turned their back on the institution , not even the die hard clans which both make up the secessionist and Clan Courts. In fact most clans are up in arms if they lose an important post within the government even though the government is not fully functioning.

 

Bambo, Olol and others.

Why if this government is not legitimate and unpopular your clans have not left? Why have your elders and religious leaders not held even one meeting to denounce this government?

[NASSIR]

Duke, This post is by far the best of your political analysis of the Transitional Federal Government.

 

 

I was admired at how you explained the authority of TFG , which does not extend to all over Somalia. Having said that, the TFG has more opportunities than all other transitional governments before it and one way it can work on the opportunity before its eyes is to work with the Islamist movement through political dialogue. The failure of the first and second round reconciliation meetings held in Khartoum can be renewed and held in Yemen. I think the Yemen accord led to successful results when the Federal Parliament was split.

 

Let us try Yemen this time with Ali Abdullah Saleh presiding it.

[Alle-ubaahne]

Originally posted by General Duke:

^^^What I love about many here is they wont be able to refute the articles above but bable on about the "enemy" of Islam and so on/

 

Bambo, your lack of knowledge is a real problem for you. You want to be taken seriouslya nd yet you continue to make these senile accusations.

 

Yusuf was a top rank officer in the Somali national army from 1960 -1978 between these times he fought against both the Amhara regimes in the border war of 1964[winning the meddal of honour] and he fought in the larger ****** war of 1978.. He then fought Siyad Barre regime from 1978 and was placed in jail for the BALANBALE incidnet in the mid 1980's.

 

He returned to Somalia in 1991 and took part in the defence of the North East and in 1998 was elected President of Puntland and 2004 the President of Somalia...

What I love about your arguments is the total denialist position that you stood on and the fact that your uncle has failed and unbecoming to lead our nation is stunning to us!

 

I don't understand why the SOL Administration has left you to behave like this with all the blatant tribalism and useless remarks against Islm!

 

You must really be a next of kin to the owner of the website, and I heard some rumors that he is from Puntland in terms of qoladiisa. But beware that we only fight against the enemy of our nation as well as the traitors, having no animosity against your tribe.

[General Duke]

^^^I think all options should be on the table. Negotiations should be the main option.Though I doubt this movement is an Islamic one in the classical sense.

[Jaylaani]

He was also placed in jail in Ethiopia for number of years. I wonder why?

 

I don't think Cabdilahi yusuf and the word "HERO" can be spoken in the same sentence.

 

P.S. He was never elected to lead Puntland. He used force both times, including when he actually lost the support of the "HOUSE" in favor of that other dude by the name of JAMAC...something (sorry I don't remember his full name).

[NASSIR]

Jaylani, Jamac's adminstration never had a success to begin with. Nepotism was rife and there was hardly any build up of his capacity to provide security to the regions of Mudug and Sool and Sanaag from outside aggression. Abdilahi's term changed the whole political and economic landscape, secured Las Anod from the grip of the secessionist, signed an accord with the clans of the Southern Mudug to prevent the city from perpetual clashes and hostility. It was all success that can't be denied. Having improved the security of the region, business and investment from abroad and far regions of Somalia increased, which then expanded the Department of Treasury to undertake projects that of beneficial to the public: Schools, roads, airport,health centers, etc.

[XOG-ogaal]

Duke are u saying that Qanyare represent his clan..they guy is thief who killed a lot people just like indhacade so if you think the government should be dealing with those kinda people then its not government bunch clooshood u shaqaystayaal