NGO's and fake experts are the final obsticle...

[General Duke]

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE CRISES IN SOMALIA

 

02/01/07

 

Dr. Ali Said Faqi

 

The international community and the non profit organizations working inside Somalia seem usually reluctant about the positive changes in the country. Their reaction to any new developments is always cynical unless it serves their interest. When the TNG was formed in Arta, Djibouti, members of the community and the NGO’s began immediately echoing displeasure to the government alleging that it does not have the blessing of warlords, and would not succeed. Even though the international community was right to demand a broader government, it was wrong to assume that without warlords Somalia will not be pacified. The public uprising in Mogadishu of last year that led the ICU to power has proved that concept wrong. As a matter of fact it was demonstrated that the warlords had no loyal supporters who would sacrifice their lives for them. Mogadishu was safe again for the first time after sixteen years of hell. I must reiterate, however, that the TNG wouldn’t have succeeded by any means even without the meddling of neighboring countries and the definitive no-go resolute imposed by the international interest groups as it lacked public support. A combination of various factors including the notion that Somali warlords are crucial to the success of any peace process has led the UN to convene the 14th reconciliation conference in Mgabathi, Kenya aiming to form a broad based government of warlords.

 

At the time the countries providing the conference funding and the UN preferred to ignore the public demand to include the civil society in the reconciliation conference and in the process of forming a government. And after almost two years of wrestling and maneuvering, the TFG was modeled in Nairobi, Kenya. Immediately, after its inauguration, however, the international community was divided again, and some of them embarked creating factions within the government. A year has passed before the parliament could convene its first assembly inside Somalia.

 

International NGO’s have never been impartial on the Somali issues; as a matter of fact some of them are considered factions in the conflicts. The international crises group (ICG) is one of them. The reason is that there is a tremendous concern that the organization will lose its political influence if peace prevails in Somalia. The irony is however, that ICG employees identify themselves as experts without grasping profoundly the Somali conflicts. It is like someone writing an expert opinion about the Italian mafia after only gathering information from streets, coffee shops and bars. This is a deeply rooted social ailment that has a history almost as old as the country. Likewise, clan conflicts in Somalia are much older than the history of the nation.

 

The recent press release by ICG entitled, “Somalia: The tough part is ahead”, looks like some of the wording were chosen to create hatred and deepen the animosities among the Somali clans. Creating controversy would not help a society that is struggling to come together and reconcile.

 

In their press release the ICG also criticized the state of emergency ratified by the Somali parliament. I consider this as an intellectual dishonesty; any government willing to bring peace and stability in a ruined country like Somalia will have no choice, but to declare a state of emergency. Let us not ignore the fact that there was anarchy and human rights violation for the last 16 years and the ICG who was active all the time would not condemn the vicious rule of the warlords. We all understand that a state of emergency is declared when a country is at war. During the state of emergency the constitution is temporarily suspended and this is due to the fact that war may require certain actions be taken by the government which would ordinarily be considered beyond their scope. However, it will be very unfortunate if the TFG uses the state of emergency as a ruse to crack down legitimate opposition groups.

 

The ICG also expressed concerns about the sacking of the speaker of the parliament saying “Deposing the speaker of the parliament, who had been prominent in efforts to engage the Courts in dialogue and compromise, have not been promising”. The ICG might be right on this, but I doubt that his motives were far-sighted as the ICG has described it. The ex. Speaker was a man who gambled on his political career to promote his personal agenda; most members of his constituency wouldn’t mind to see him removed from the office as he did nothing to secure their support.

 

The current proposal of the international community to make the TFG a broad based government is a good thing, but it seems that the meaning of the broad based government is different from what most people expect. It is my understanding that the international community is honoring only the armed clans and those who have committed human right abuses in Somalia. What about the hitherto occupied and victimized southern Somali indigenous communities? Instead of rewarding only the warmongers, the international community should consider inviting these indigenous communities to the table for a genuine and inclusive reconciliation process? The EU has made very clear that any aid for Somalia will depend on the TFG government willing to negotiate with ICU and other armed clans. It is fine and well that the international community demands a broad based government to tackle the conflict, but the details need to be worked out. Who should be invited to the table? The victims or the victimizers only or both! If the pre-condition; however, for the invitation to the peace negotiating table is to slaughter, then let us arm them so they would not be considered underdogs in the peace process anymore. My point here is that the international community should avoid empowering individuals who abused the country and the society for over decades. This will only lead to a wider marginalization of the silent majority in this long conflict and will be a recipe for disaster.

 

Most analysts believe this is the best opportunity that Somalia has ever had since the collapse of the military regime in early 1991 if the TFG leaders wouldn’t indulge it. I must re-iterate, however, that without the help of the international community Somalia will have difficulties to exist. It is in the interest of the world community to ameliorate the current conditions of Somalia. The help Somalia needs is not the distribution of the food aid that the West and the UN like to rush for after airing humiliated images of Africans dying for hunger. Instead the country needs badly financial support to rebuild the government institutions that could bring back law and order. The international community should have every right to demand transparency from the TFG, but has to empathize that the lives of millions of people are at stake, therefore should avoid entertaining only special groups. It will send bad signals and promote violence as means to achieve political goals. Reconciliation is a long process that requires time, funding, commitment and it has to promote justice and peaceful coexistent.

 

Dr. Ali Said Faqi

E-mail: Alifaqi@yahoo.com

 

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[General Duke]

The ICG, and other "experts" and donor organisations are the final [warlords] left to be overcome by the Somali people. They have benefited from our demise. They fear losing all the millions they get annually and spend in their comfortable base in Niarobi "helping Somali's".

 

Insha Allah we will overcome them..Somali's want to help themselves..

[General Duke]

International NGO’s have never been impartial on the Somali issues; as a matter of fact some of them are considered factions in the conflicts. The international crises group (ICG) is one of them. The reason is that there is a tremendous concern that the organization will lose its political influence if peace prevails in Somalia. The irony is however, that ICG employees identify themselves as experts without grasping profoundly the Somali conflicts. It is like someone writing an expert opinion about the Italian mafia after only gathering information from streets, coffee shops and bars. This is a deeply rooted social ailment that has a history almost as old as the country. Likewise, clan conflicts in Somalia are much older than the history of the nation.

 

The recent press release by ICG entitled,

“Somalia: The tough part is ahead”,

looks like some of the wording were chosen to create hatred and deepen the animosities among the Somali clans. Creating controversy would not help a society that is struggling to come together and reconcile.

 

I remember Matt Bryden and his arrogance posture and utter nonsence, you are not welcome in Somalia, clown.

[General Duke]

The ICG also expressed concerns about the sacking of the speaker of the parliament saying “Deposing the speaker of the parliament, who had been prominent in efforts to engage the Courts in dialogue and compromise, have not been promising”. The ICG might be right on this, but I doubt that his motives were far-sighted as the ICG has described it. The ex. Speaker was a man who gambled on his political career to promote his personal agenda; most members of his constituency wouldn’t mind to see him removed from the office as he did nothing to secure their support.

[Xargaga]

What about kenya dont You think it was benefiting fom the lawlesness, All NGOs are located in Nairobi. all the foreign currency was being spent there. Not to mention the Employment oportunity they gained from this lawlesness .While you General are bussy Shouting down with clan courts, Onyango and Kamau In nairobi are earning easy money and tittles of somalia Experts. How genuine are they about a peacefull somalia?

[Gordon Gekko]

This is so true, right on General Duke.

[ansaar17]

the one who fears is the tribal puntlanders who have heavily invested in this drama....

 

the chances of getting any refund looks slim

[Taako Man]

Originally posted by nabadshe:

What about kenya dont You think it was benefiting fom the lawlesness, All NGOs are located in Nairobi. all the foreign currency was being spent there. Not to mention the Employment oportunity they gained from this lawlesness .While you General are bussy Shouting down with clan courts, Onyango and Kamau In nairobi are earning easy money and tittles of somalia Experts. How genuine are they about a peacefull somalia?

I think Kenya would rather have 100's of thousands of Somalis they host annually to be represented by a Somali governmment rather then themselves. When Somalia has development. The rest of the region will benefit.

[Xargaga]

I think Kenya would rather have 100's of thousands of Somalis they host annually to be represented by a Somali governmment rather then themselves. When Somalia has development. The rest of the region will benefit.

One thing you have to bare in mind taakoman is that kenyas hosting Somalis makes it gain economically than you want us to believe. For one thing kenya does not give welfare to refugees. instead the somalis have invested heavely in that country. They rent, They buy And pay for all sevices rendered to them. You all know how the kenya police earns more from somalis than they do from their own government. just think of how much of foreign currency changes hands in Nairobi through money remmitance from somalis in diaspora. Now tell me If all this ends how would kenya benefit or at least how its in its good iterest to have a functional Somali government.Another Advice Please change that nickname Taakoman cause its just awkward when translated into Swahili.

[General Duke]

^^^Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti will benefit from a stable Somalia, the region as a whole would benefit from a stable and thriving Somalia. However the NGO's would lose their jobs as caretakers of Somalia to the national government.

[Xargaga]

General you still didnt answear my Question. Stop repeating statements and explain us HOW?? :confused:

[General Duke]

^^^In terms of trade alone, with peace comes investment and the ability to built a viable economic system in the horn. A`stable region will mean, that invetsment diverted from millitary and security and into important areas such as regional infrustructure and gaining foreign direct investment for joint national projects.

 

Ethiopia population strength can be complemented by Somalia, Djibouti's ports giving accesses to the oceans and seas.

 

A stable and peaceful Somalia will enhance further the economic prospects of the Somali' in Nairobi, and Adis and our sister nation of Djibouti.

 

We are an important state within the Horn, tapping into our natural resources and giving our bright people a chance to do business with our neighbours and the world..

 

Give peace a chance..

[Xargaga]

You missed mentioning trade with Somaliland, Stop being bias General Somaliland Is a sister nation to Somalia too.

[General Duke]

^^^I am a unionist, thus to me Somaliland is part of Somalia.. Not being biased thats my position..