From refugee to a leader in war-torn Somalia

[Juje]

From refugee to a leader in war-torn Somalia

Somali-Australian Issa Farah (second from right) with (from left) daughter Bishaaro, 5, wife Anna-Marie Treeweeke, and youngest daughter Bilan, 3.

 

Sunday, July 19, 2009

 

ISSA Farah is a government minister who carries a pistol in his belt.

After 25 years as a refugee in Melbourne, where he earned a university degree from La Trobe and worked in community radio, in January he returned to his homeland — the often violent anarchy that is Somalia.

Politics in this strife-torn country has a heavy cost. Mr Farah left behind his white Australian wife and two young daughters for fear of kidnapping. He is constantly shadowed by bodyguards. His final protection is the gun tucked into his trousers.

So why go? "Simple, because I'm a Somali."

Mr Farah is now minister for oil and minerals in the state of Puntland, a northern Somali region commonly known as the Horn of Africa. He has joined a government in a country that has been ungovernable for almost two decades and an administration not yet formally recognised by the outside world.

Much of Somalia has been torn by fighting between local warlords, Islamist fanatics believed to be linked to al-Qaeda, occasional US air strikes and troops from neighbouring Ethiopia.

But Mr Farah is convinced there is hope.

"The international community works with us," he said at the weekend, during his first trip back to Melbourne to see daughters, Bishaaro, 5, and Bilan, 3, and wife Anna-Marie Treeweeke.

Puntland is generally calm, he said, not plagued by the war that since 1991 has afflicted the rest of the county. The president, Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, recently met US and British officials to discuss combating Somali piracy, which has become a major hazard to international shipping. Regional governments in Kenya and Djibouti are engaged.

Mr Farah describes Puntland as an embryonic democracy, one needing help — including from Australia.

"We are working very hard," he said. "We want the Australian Government to engage Somalia and to engage Puntland for the simple reason we are Somali-Australians … (and) because the problems we face are global issues, in terms of piracy, radicalism and religious fanatics."

 

Source: The Age, July 19, 2009

 

[Geel_jire]

why is he carrying a gun on his person in puntland, even though he has bodyguards ?

 

I was under the assumption that is was relatively peaceful and stable.

 

unless of course it is just to add a little xawaash & cusbo to the article.

[Juje]

Originally posted by Geel_jire:

unless of course it is just to add a little xawaash & cusbo to the article.

I guess it is much of that.

[Thankful]

Because a lot of Diaspora that return feel it is a status symbol to walk around with guards and that it's also cool to carry a gun. Some though are genuinely terrified.

 

This is the second time Mr. Isse has done something like this, he has to understand that western media only wants to hear about the guns and kidnapping and that he must counter it with information on the peace and opportunity for foreigners. As Oil Minister the investment he wants won't show up if they hear that you need armed guards and a pistol. Next time a reporter comes and wants to talk about guns, he should talk about peace and leave the guards at home.

 

I've seen presidential candidates who came from abroad with more guards then the actual President.

[Malika]

Baal how does this work,you know moving from the west and going home to land a ministerial jobs?

 

Some of us are tired of the rat chase and wouldnt mind a minister post,in Kismayo..lol,who's door do I knock?

 

@ poor Africa!

[Fabregas]

Not really into all these diaspora people taking ministrial positions. Give a chance to the locals.

[RedSea]

Malika come talk to me about position in Kismaayo. I'll see what I can do.

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

Mr Farah is now minister for oil and minerals in the state of Puntland

Misinformation.

 

The ministerial post described above doesn't exist in Faroole's admin me thinks. Unless changes were made recently, Dhollawaa was Director General of oil and gas agency but not a minister.

[Som@li]

This is a bad publicity, what will foreign investors think when they read this about Puntland?

 

Somalia needs pple like Issa, it is time to reverse the brain drain, He will add more value to the country.