Stand With the Somali Government

[General Duke]

Stand With the Somali Government

- Thursday, March 03, 2005 at 14:47

 

The Monitor (Kampala)

Ali Farah, Kampala

 

"Now on the street tonight the lights grow dim. The walls of my room are closing in. There's a war outside still raging. You say it am't ours anymore to win. Well we made a promise. We swore we 'd always remember. No retreat, baby, no surrender." -Bruce Springstien.

 

The world community led by members of east Africa's Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), invested time (2 years) and money (millions of dollars) to the Somali peace and reconciliation process in Kenya. Their worthy effort led to the creation of a Parliament, the election of a President, then the appointment of a Prime Minister and finally the selection of cabinet of ministers. The difference between this process and all previously failed reconciliation processes, should teach all of us an important lesson that the firm support and the will of the world community was the key of this successful result.

 

Without taking the credit from many Somali men and women from all sectors of society, who worked tirelessly to rescue their flag and national dignity, I can safely say the biggest applause belongs to IGAD countries for their 'carrot and stick' tactics of maintaining order among Somalis. Many times, IGAD ministerial facilitation committee on the process issued communique of warnings to misbehaving warlords and threats of international sanctions to many wanna-be spoilers.

 

The new Somali government needs the military, political and financial support of the international community to go back home and take control of the country. However, history reminds all concerned parties, as a case of revival of a failed state, that there are many difficulties ahead of this new government:

 

1)May be a handful group of members of parliament or in the cabinet of ministers, who turned the other cheek earlier, not because they saw the light and had a change of heart in the plight of their fellow country men, but they realized the determination of the world community.

 

This group opted to yield then but are on 'wait and see mode' to switch shirts whenever the world community blinks. "It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else that prevents men from living freely and nobly" -Bertrand Russell.

 

2) Armed gangs who are the enemy of everything that resembles law and order.

 

3) A minority group of religious extremists allied with foreign terror suspects, motivated by power and greed who, under the disguise of Islam, will turn every stone to disturb the peaceful relocation of the new government. "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. " Shakespeare.

 

This unholy alliance of anti-establishment groups who favour the status quo for their special (greed, terrorism, anarchist, criminal, etc) interest, must be realized and countered with a carrot (included peaceful) and stick (military force). We will hear different excuses (patriotic, nationalistic, religious and tribal ones) used as a battle cry to abort the new government before making its mark in the country.

 

There are few officials in the government, who were unfortunately misled by the above groups by indulging tribal emotions. These officials were blinded by their lack of practical judgment to allow the government to relocate temporarily outside of chaotic city of Mogadishu. "The cynic knows the price of everything and the value nothing. " Oscar Wilde.

 

The recent message from Director of ICG, Suliman Baldo, for opposing Somalia's neighbours to provide and lead a peace keeping/stabilization force, is unrealistic and counter productive. It will only encourage criminal elements of the society. Let's send an unmistakable message to would-be spoilers that their days of keeping the fate of the society hostage, will end and end soon.

 

Somalia needs an African and may be an Arab force to do the following:

 

1- To assist the efforts of Transitional Somali Federal Government to go back home, and extend its authority, restore law and order and stabilize the situation progressively through all Somali regions.

 

2- To provide security at government buildings and all key economic, educational and military locations such as ports and schools.

 

3- To take part in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.

 

4- To guard weapons, ammunition and other armaments collected from all armed groups.

 

5- To assist rebuild, train and co-ordinate with new Somali military and law enforcement authorities in their responsibilities.

 

Finally and again, the international community should not take the eye off the ball, otherwise it will be two years of investment wasted. The world in general cannot afford, in this period of the global fight against terrorism to fail the Somali people in their efforts to reclaim their fate, arid hand a gift of no man's land to international terrorists and local criminals. Let us stand with this newly formed government and the Somali people.

 

Source: The Monitor