The Somalia Crises: Reality Check the Road Ahead

[Xudeedi]

The Somalia Crises: Reality Check & the Road Ahead

 

Abdirashid K Hashi

 

The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) plus the offshoot Shabaab group emerged as the finalists of the decade-long contest for the control / leadership of Somalia. The question many are asking now is who will carry the day: the TFG, which is the nominal incumbent, or the opposition groups spearheaded by the Alliance?

 

Diplomatically, the TFG is somewhat backed by who is who of the international community be it the United Nations, the US government, the African Union, IGAD, the Arab League, EU and many Arab and neighboring countries. The opposition i.e. the Alliance and the Shabaab, on the other hand, has the unqualified backing of the tiny Red Sea State of Eritrea. The Somali people, whose judgment is the most important seem to be against the Ethiopian occupation but not against the TFG per se; they also seem to appreciate the opposition’s legitimate role in Somali politics but not necessarily the adventurism, latent tribalism and holier than thou attitude of certain segments of the Islamists / opposition groups.

 

The significant international diplomatic (not necessarily financial) support for the TFG and the fact that the US government is hostile to the Alliance (and at times charges some of its leaders as friends of terrorists, if not a bone fide terrorists) make many observers conclude that the TFG is the potential winner of this contest and that the opposition is a disparate and desperate non-entity whose demise is certain.

 

If one puts aside sentimentalism and closely examines the essence of the TFG and the opposition and what has transpired during their existence, one could clearly notice a certain pattern that suggests a grim future for the TFG and potential success for the opposition.

 

The TFG is the older of the two competing entities and since its birth the TFG was mired in self-inflicted conflicts (among its members or with the Somali people whom it was supposed to serve). For instance, since its inception, Prime Minister Gedi’s government was subjected to three votes-of-no-confidence motions and the fourth and possibility the final round is being cooked as I write.

 

In his short premiership, Gedi, has fired or appointed, four foreign or international cooperation’s ministers (Jurrille, Abdullahi Sh. Ismail, Buubaa and Elabe); he also appointed and sacked three defense ministers (Gen. Abdiwahab, Col. Barre Hirale, and Col. Bihi). Two out of the three Deputy Prime Ministers defected to the opposition (Mohamud A. Jama (Sifir) and Hussein Aidid) and the third was demoted (Salid H Aliyow Ibrow). The seat of the government itself had changed three times (from Jowhar, to Biadoa, to Mogadishu.)

 

The source of the TFG’s persistent conflict (which resulted in its current and embarrassing non-performance record) has to do with the very essence of the TFG. The first layer of the TFG is the warlords who by nature thrive in conflicts; the warlords also lack the basic political skills needed to run a “transitional” authority for such as a responsibility requires an immense patience and extraordinary political finesse.

 

The second layer of the TFG comprises of the most of the MPs and civil servant apparatus who are ex-officials of the dictatorial military regime. This cadre has no deep principles, overriding mission, or entrenched vision – they are, for the most part, just after power, money and fame – and whoever delivers the goodies (or even makes credible and at times tantalizing promises) gets their pay-as-you-go attention and fickle stirrings-attached votes. The self-serving and high-maintenance MPs-for-hire would fall over each other to back anyone with money – even if the merchant is the devil himself.

 

The third layer of the TFG is made up of educated but inexperienced auxiliary team, who for most part, are from the diaspora. The majority of them lack the political maturity and thoughtful judgment needed to heal the wounds of a collapsed state such as Somalia. The reflex-mode of this supportive group is often to present to their respective leaders what that “leader” wants to hear - even if that means repeating the mistakes of oneself or those of others again and again and again.

 

In other words, rather than the opposition groups, what keep the TFG in its current fledgling status are the very people who make up the TFG. Most of the TFG apparatus used to work for the military regime, as well as the transitional authorities of Ali Mahdi and that of General Aidid’s as well as the Arta government(s). For the oodles and oodles of enterprising functionaries, whoever takes control of the helms of the Somalia government – even if that control is symbolic or fleeting - that person is their bosom uncle, as we would colloquially say in Somali.

 

These freeloaders who are sinking the TFG are unemployable and they were not and are not able to leave Somalia. In order to survive in this forsaken country, their modus operandi has been: serve anyone who sets a shop in Somalia, hence many people’s versatile ideologies (if we can even use such a term) and brazen wheeling and dealings.

 

If one dispassionately ponders on this very fact and it’s indeed a fact, one would realize that the TFG faces a grim future. For, if the TFG’s core constituent is simply a pathetic punch, then the chances of this constituent doing wonders are not that great. What further compounds and complicates the troubles of the TFG (and trouble is understatement word) is the fact that Ethiopia’s life-support system is what gets the TFG going. The Ethiopian factor thus breeds the ever-growing, deadly and daring insurgency; and they kill or maim each day, half dozen, if not more, TFG / Ethiopian soldiers and TFG officials.

 

Unlike the insurgencies, the TFG has a short time left of its allotted five-year lifespan. As a “transitional” government, it has till August 2009 and both the international community and its Somali supporters / political base expect the beleaguered TFG to deliver; and delivering it is not. Among other structural problems, rift (which some describe as irreconcilable) between the TFG President and his Prime Minister is now becoming a public affair. The question is not if, but when, Prime Minister Gedi will be sacked and what this brewing internal strife will entail. Will Gedi and his protector Mohamed Dhere retaliate with another expulsion of the TFG / President or could an all-out political / actual war between the highest echelons of the TFG result in the TFG’s fizzling out?

 

One only needs to remember what had became of the TNG (the predecessor of the TFG), when the then, TNG President Abdiqasim and his Prime Minister, Hassan Abshir, part ways – the TNG died a sudden death – and a surrogate fetus (i.e. the TFG) was planted in its place!

 

There is a high chance that there will be no TFG in the event of fallout between the current President and his Prime Minister. In the opinion of many of the MPs-for hire though, the TFG Charter particularly Article 11 (paragraphs 8 and 9) is a built-in clause which is about to trigger, anyway, the fall of Prime Minister Gedi’s government as early as October 13. Some of the MPs and even pro-President media outlets argue that the President sees this clause as a God-sent opportunity to get rid of Prime Minister Gedi and bring about revitalization of the ailing and beleaguered TFG.

 

Article 11 of the Transitional Federal Charter, namely paragraphs 8 & 9, reads:

 

The Transitional Federal Government shall ensure that the process of federating Somalia shall take place within a period of two and a half years from the date that the commission is established;

 

In the event that the Transitional Federal Government is unable to complete the process of federalism all over Somalia within the

prescribed period of two and half years, the Government shall request Parliament for a vote of confidence, failing which the Transitional Federal Parliament shall withdraw its support and a new Transitional Federal Government shall be formed in the manner set out in this charter;

 

Article 71, paragraph 9 of the Charter, often cited, by those who are impatient to sack Premier Gedi, further reads as follows;

 

The present Charter shall be the basis for the federal constitution whose draft shall be completed within two and half (2 1/2) years and be adopted by popular referendum during the final year of the transitional period.

 

The anti-Gedi forces claim that the aforementioned Charter provisions are not met - and hence Prime Minister Gedi’s pending dethroning.

 

The internal TFG politicking, the built-in constitutional problems, the stepped up destabilization campaigns of the opposition clans, Shabaab, and de-legitimization efforts of the Alliance point to a difficult if not a precarious road ahead of the TFG. If one further takes into account the prevailing Afro-pessimism and Somalia-fatigue in the international scene, the decimal performance of the TFG (in terms of public service delivery, institution building and genuine reconciliation), and the Ethiopia’s total military domination of the country ( which feeds and emboldens the insurgency) as well as the oil-related conflict between Puntland and Premier Gedi’s government and the all-time-high and deepening conflict between the previously peaceful Puntland and Somaliland – one can conclude that the TFG’s graph will most likely be going down in the foreseeable future; if these challenges do not result in the downfall of the TFG before the designated August 2009 cut-off date.

 

The case of the opposition group(s) is a bit different. For one thing, unlike the slacker-infested TFG, the opposition groups are highly motivated and they deeply believe that theirs is a just cause and that they are fighting for self-determination. The fact that the opposition is unfazed and are moving a full speed in spite their almost non-existence international support attests to their super self-confidence. Also, unlike the ever-weakening TFG, the opposition is metamorphosing into a nationalist alliance in which religious and secular Somalis are joining in an administrative entity aiming at a common cause – this, itself, is a unique and unprecedented development in the annals of Somali politics.

 

What makes the opposition better positioned to emerge as the victorious in this contest is the make up of its personnel. The bulk of the opposition people are Somalia’s religious groups of all ideological stripes, the intellectuals (mostly based in the diaspora), business groups and nationalist politicians. Again, never did these groups join forces in the history of Somali politics.

 

Historians underscore that - throughout world history - determined resistance groups had always defeated occupying forces no matter how powerful the occupiers were. Since the TFG owes its very existence to the Ethiopians who propelled them to Mogadishu, once Ethiopia folds its tents from Somali soil, then there will be no TFG, one can assume. In Mogadishu and its environs, the opposition also enjoys much stronger popular support vis-à-vis the TFG. Furthermore, it seems the opposition groups are making their mantra Henry Kissinger’s famous maxim of guerrilla warfare: The conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla wins if it does not lose.

 

I am not rejoicing the impending problems for the TFG. Neither do I believe the demise of the TFG would herald an era of peace and prosperity in Somalia. I also do not believe the victory of the opposition will trigger a dawn of peace and progress. Our problems are much more complicated than changing of the guard. Ours is a collapsed society that requires decades and decades of rebuilding; that is; in terms of the actual infrastructure and trust among citizens.

 

What Somalia needs is peace and reconciliation. This could only be attained if we build on what we have already achieved. I would therefore end my article with the following suggestions:

 

• If and when Prime Minister Gedi is sacked, I would advise him to accept his fate and move on. Mr. Prime Minister you will not accomplish, now or in the future, what you were not able to achieve in the past, and mind you, you are the longest serving “transitional” Prime Minister since Omar Arte’s time!
• For the President, genuinely reconcile with opposition and as an act of good will, propose to share power with them; perhaps by giving the post of premiership to one of the leading members from alliance. I would even suggest names: Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed or Professor Ibrahim Adow. I do not know them in person, but I heard their speeches and read their interviews and they come across as genuine, solid individuals who will give it their best shot if appointed as Prime Minister;
• To the next Prime Minister (whoever he maybe): You may be delighted once appointed, but rest assured at the end of your term, you will be as unpopular as any politician you despise. Leading any Somali government is thankless and daunting task;
• To the TFG and Opposition groups: Sign a peace treaty and commit yourself to settle all disputes in a peaceful manner. Also Somalia should sign with Ethiopia a non-aggression pact that forbids the two countries to engage armed conflicts; this should steer Somalia and Ethiopia towards a path of cooperation and mutual respect; wars, meddling and manipulation is not the long term interest of either country;
• To the International community and the US government: immediately replace Ethiopia’s occupation forces with Egyptian / Yemen / Muslim / Arab troops. Removing Ethiopian occupation forces from Somalia and accommodating the veteran Islamists is the only sure way to disentangle Somalia from Al Qaeda;
• To the Shabaab, in a way you are the best hope for Somalia for you are battling, with bravery, the occupation forces in the alleys and laneways of Mogadishu when most of our people simply deserted the county or capitulated in the face of the invaders. On the other hand, you seem to me as the most dangerous forces against the very existence of Somalia. You see, your open and strangely bragging association with Al-Qaeda, a pariah entity) is making the whole world turn against our country. Also, if it were not your irresponsible claims / relationship with this outfit; Ethiopia might not have received the current global endorsement of its aggression against Somalia. Similarly, if you do not cease and desist your radicalism and put an end to your dangerous involvement with Al Qaeda, Somalia will forever be a battleground between Al Qaeda and its hunters. Your arbitrary and extrajudicial executions of fellow Somalis is also very, very troubling; and if you do not stop it now, I fear your next victims will be members of those you refer as “the Alliance of Islamists and Secularist” and then you may turn your little pistols to yourselves;
• To the rest of Somalis, particularly diaspora Somalis – let us push for reconciliation. War and Ethiopian meddling are the two most dangerous sources of our national problems. The world does not owe us anything. Somalia would only be peaceful and prosperous, when we, Somalis, do our duty and the key is doing away with hatred and hyperbole.

Abdirashid K. Hashi

Former Deputy Chief Cabinet,

Somali Prime Minister’s Office

Comments are welcomed;

Email: rashid2025@yahoo.com

[Xudeedi]

A Balance Approach to the Somali Problems

By Ismail Ahmed Ismail

30 Oct, 2007

 

 

In these days numerous interesting articles are appearing on the various web sites, about the pathetic situation in which Somalia traverses politically. Amongst these, there is a one which my attention has been drawn to for its elaborate analysis on the problem that has derail of any progress and development. “Somalia crises: Reality check and the road ahead by “Abdirashid K Hashi.”

I have no much comment to make on this well written paragon piece of analysis except to applaud it. In fact the writer of the article had covered almost every conceivable factor that can contribute to the persistent failure of Somalia for the past seventeen years saga of chaos and destruction. However, I have been prompted by the political development of the newly formed opposition group in Eritrea. I often ask myself how much longer this poor nation could survive under the ordeal of this power struggle. Ironically, no solution can be reached to end the conflict as long as the T.F.G. pursue its negative approach in her dealings with the opposition groups and failed to compromise on the issue of Ethiopian Force’s withdrawal. On the other hand, the opposition insists that any mediation between themselves and the T.F.G. is subject to the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops from Somalia. It is clear that without concessions and compromises the conflicting positions of the groups/parties would remain unchanged. I feel that the seven point recommendation in Mr. Hashi’s Article could be used as a BENCH MARK for both parties, the T.F.G. and the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) to agree. Having said this, I would like to avail myself of the occasion to raise one or two points that are relevant to the context.

 

When the T.F.G. was born after thirteen previous conference had failed, it was hailed that an era of hoped inspiration has been dawned for Somalia and that the period of chaos and mayhem is over. That anticipation was fizzled out when after 3years of predicament of the T.F.G.began with President Abdullahi Yusuf’s visit to Addis Ababa, soon after his election, where he met the assembled A.U. heads of State and asked 20,000 troops to sub-due the refractory rug-tag militias in the capital, Mogadishu. The visit was characterized as inopportune and untimely by the parliament, since there was no government in place. It was also coincided with a time when the tragedies inherent from the civil wars were still fresh in the hearts and minds of the people with lingering animosities of suspicion and mistrust. The founding of the opposition group in the parliament was the fist split of the T.F.G. The wedge of contention grew and worsened by the continued arrogance of President Abdullahi Yusuf and his Prime Minister whose pugnacious attitude often frustrated any attempt for negotiations. The controversy thus developed blew out of hand when the T.F.G. invited the Ethiopian Army to intercede by capitulating the independence and the infallible national sovereignty. In the dearth of constitutional safeguard Otto Gabre became the supreme authority in Mogadishu and the Ethiopian flag fly over Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. This is a victory for Otto senawi, for he has been successful in his “road map” for Somalia as a satellite of Ethiopia and that the “fictitious nirvana” of his ancestors has become a reality. Let us grief over the moribund of our hardly won SOVERNEIGNTY and repent for this not a Divine affliction but is our own making.

 

The Islamic Courts have shown an epitome of good governance during the short time they have ruled Mogadishu and its environs. They introduced Law & Order and it so happened that it was the first time for 17 years the people in Mogadishu inhaled the air of freedom and peace. It is a land mark that the inhabitant of Mogadishu, with gratitude and affection remember the heroic role that they had taken in the extirpation of the notorious warlords. Although their rule lasted very short period, they remain an object of veneration that the people invoke their name with respect and admiration. Inadvertently, they have made some mistakes that must have been the cause of their sudden collapse. One of these mistakes, I believe, was the pre-matured declaration of JIHAAD which alienated some powerful nations and encouraged the enemy to stage its coup-de-main attack

 

In the statement that was released by the Alliance (ARS) in its conference at Asmara, Eritrea, and echoed constantly by its leaders, it declared that it will wage a war of liberation against foreign troops in Somalia including the Ethiopian occupiers, to drive them out of the country. The T.F.G. by whose invitation the troops are here will become involved in the event of this war takes place. This harbingers to a state of renewed hostilities and protracted wars of an inexorable cycle of “reprisal provoking counter reprisal ad infinitum.” In this connection it might be relevant to highlight that since the demise of the central authority in 1991, Somalia suffered the worse atrocities of carnage and destruction in the hands of its own people. Millions have been killed, maimed, mutilated, raped or fled in panic to escape the hell unleashing back home. It has witnessed misfortune, disaster and catastrophes more than any country in the world.

 

Today, Somalia is in desperation for peace and not wars. It needs to recuperate from the wound that have been inflicted in the 17 horrible years. It needs to forget and forgive clan based animosities and bickering that has been the impediment of its progress and development. It needs a Government that will re-unite the NATION and restore its sovereignty and independence. A Government that is free of venality, free of nepotism, free of clan tendency and prepared to serve the nation in the best interest of its people. With determination and resolve, the target that we are aiming at can be reached and the problems that rend the nation for 17 years can be solved with concessions and compromises allowed by all concerned.

 

In conclusion, may I suggest that a new conference should be convened in which all parties/groups are invited to participate with an agenda focused on the seven points in the bench mark and topped with following subjects that are of priority. The conference should be held in a neutral friendly country, preferably the Sudan to allow the parties/groups to continue to debate on the agenda that was disturbed when the hostilities broke.

 

• Immediate cease fire.
• Re-shuffle of the Government by allowing equitable power sharing with Alliance
• Immediate withdrawal of the Ethiopians from Somalia
• Immediate mobilization of the National Army and Police (On basis of 4.5 ratios
• Re-writing the constitution.
• Rescind the replacement of dissident parliamentary group.

 

TOGETHER WE CAN……..

ALLAH BLESSES SOMALI.

SOMALIA HA NOOLAATO

 

 

Ismail Ahmed Ismail

Email:Ismail1800@yahoo.com

[Fabregas]

Good piece and reccomendations by Hashi Abdirashid K Hashi. Could this be Baashi..Haashi?

[Baashi]

Righ on the money. Big dirrin for all sides is what it takes to settle this one. Where, when, and how are details that need to be ironed out but cease-fire followed by genuine reconciliation campaign and eventually the real deal is the way forward. Statesmen are needed and as far as I can see they are either six feet under or in the wombs of their mothers.

 

TFG is weak, the calender is tight, the opposition don't have game plan, the recovery zones are at each others throat, Ethiopia is overstretched, Bush's term is ending -- perfect time to get it on.

 

Wabigaa fatahay hadaanan waabin karahayn,

Walbahaarku waa ii eg yahay iyo inaan walaacaa e,

Waji baa far lagu meyrayaa beesha wadi meyso!

 

Over and out.

[NGONGE]

Heh. Though they both speak a lot of sense I can't help being amused at the thought of yet another reconciliation conference. Urinating against the wind there.

[Baashi]

Jokes aside how else will this be settled. They fought over Maandeeq in vain. They did all they could do to run the other side to the ground and yet winner takes all notion didn't pan out. Awoowe dirrin bey tagaysaa aakhirka. Cid kale ha weydiin.

[Fabregas]

Indeed they do speak alot of sense. But as I have always said Somalia unlikely to have peace due to the gross ideological differences between the opposing camps. I mean it's all good and well to have a reconcialition meeting in Muqdisho, but who are real players in that city and in the wider sense?You bring me Adan Cashi Ceyrow, Dahir Aweys, Meles Zenawi, Yusuf and Jenday Frazer to a quiet room to negotiate then you there will a chance(slight). One side sees the other as terrorists and lunatics whom can nevr be negotiated with. Even the the T.F.G wanted to negotiate with the Alshabab militia, the Americans would never let them do so. The other side(Alshabab) has vowed to crush all the "infidels" and "apostates" and until the "black flag" hangs over Somalia, they even see some of the groups in Asmara as outright infidels. Hardly any room for negotiation and compromise from both sides?