Somalia: The Maakhirian Shift: Pre-empting a Melian Fate

[Xudeedi]

The Maakhirian Shift: Pre-empting a Melian Fate

 

Dhahar Online EDITORIAL

13 February 2008

 

Melians: … However, the question in this conference is, as you say, the safety of our country; and if you will, the discussion may proceed in the way you propose.

 

Athenians: … You know as well as we do that in this world, justice is a subject for debate only between those who are equals in power. Those who are stronger do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. (Emphasis by the Board) -Thucydides’ Melian Dialogue.

 

The above is an excerpt from the Melian Dialogue as narrated by the ancient Greek historian, Thucydides. The Melian Dialogue took place, moments before the Peloponnesian War (in 416 BC), between the army generals of the expanding Athenian empire and the leaders of the weak Melos Island. The leaders of Melos Island, stating their ‘neutrality’ in that epoch’s imperial geopolitics, which revolved around the powerful Athens and Sparta states, hoped that the advance of their moral argument would, somehow, persuade the Athenians to halt their advance to conquer their island. The Melian leaders even warned the Athenians that their advance would animate the Spartans, wanting to maintain geopolitical balance of power, to come to their aid. But alas, the Melians’ arguments were made in vain. As it was narrated by Thucydides, their island was eventually, albeit a short-lived resistance, conquered by the Athenians, as a result killing all men of military age, and selling all women to slavery.

 

If you are asking yourself why we should go through the trouble of quoting an ancient dialogue of a war that took place in 416 BC, or the reason why I cite so drastic a tale in which a whole country’s population had either been annihilated or enslaved, then perhaps I owe you an explanation. The explanation I give you here is one which tackles the complacency and precariousness of ‘political neutrality’ in an era of anarchy and naked, expansionist civil conflict. In equal terms, my explanation intends to deplore the negligence of a people in their failure to seek all avenues that gives them the opportunity to lay control over their own affairs and interests, whilst not making the mistake of entrusting their lives to others. When such becomes of a peoples’ political fate, then, their fate becomes similar to that of the Melos Island.

 

AS THE TITLE OF this writing implies, which bids itself to avert the possibility of a Melian fate recurring to any region in our country, I strongly believe that Somali peoples, who inhabit regions that fall between/under or outside the borders of the self-interested administrations currently existing, that they should be well advised to promptly device plans to gain sole control over their affairs. If not, they may probably face the bleak prospects of prolonged economic and political marginalization, or outright, forceful occupation and eventual population displacement. This is the alarm I sound for now, with the hope of pre-empting consequences of an unending protracted tribal conflict over territorial claims and counter-claims of irreverent regional administrations. The decision of a people to become masters of their own affairs is what I would like to call ‘The Maakhirian Shift’.

 

The Maakhirian Shift

 

The concept of a Maakhirian Shift is not, as some might wrongly think, tantamount to the idea of secession from Somali union, as is the case with Somaliland, nor is it the formation of a state that purports to be part and parcel of Somalia but yet, for all intents and purposes, formulates laws that contravene, or blatantly disregard the articles of the national charter, as is now the case with the State of Puntland. In total contrast, ‘The Maakhirian Shift’ does not necessarily denote a divergence from, but conformity to, the article of the federal constitution when a unanimously accepted national state comes to pass.

 

Thus, the formation of Maakhir State of Somalia is not principally concerned with such political intimations of total autonomy. Rather, the pressing concern that has motivated its emergence pertains to the simple fact that the region Maakhirians inhabit, was gradually becoming metamorphosed, with detrimental effects, into Somalia’s own Kashmir, by competing administrations. This was the major concern behind ‘The Maakhirian Shift’, so to speak, but certainly there are other related concerns, which I shall expound in the remainder of my writing.

 

Firstly, when the politics of clientele becomes dominant in the circles of self-interested opportunists, representation becomes a social whore. Opportunists prostitute peoples’ interests, and exchange allegiance for nickels and dim. In such a context, disputed regions like Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, conflicting arguments marginalize and endangers the security of the peoples. It is in this situation that Maakhirians have found themselves of late, and the problems emanating from this situation drove them to a debilitating confusion.

 

Secondly, in security terms, administrations with territorial claims have, for a while now, been endangering the fragile stability the region has so far maintained. The salient question to ask is: what becomes of the area now called Maakhir, were these two administrations to engage in an all out war but a battleground? Who suffers in such a war but Maakhirians? In any event, since they previously had any military and weaponry of their own, how could they have protected themselves from the prospect of bitter forceful occupation by one admin or another? Maakhirians knew full well that what is currently happening in Laas-Caano was impending in their territory too, and thus had to act quickly for prevention. This was the only option open to pursue, for if not, the awaiting fate would have been that exemplified by the Melos Island: fait accompli occupation.

 

Thirdly, there is the irresponsible issue of Puntland and Somaliland administrations undertaking province re-demarcation projects. These province re-demarcations involved the curving up of Maakhirian territories into even small areas, and as a result dividing peoples along new imaginary provinces. The impacts of these projects is not only the division of peoples, but more seriously, the lumping up of Maakhirian lands with altogether a different region, such as misleadingly bring all these lands under disputed "Sool, Sanaag and Cayn".

 

Fourthly, in financial terms, as a result of a plethora of opportunist siding with the said administrations, the share of development and humanitarian funds destined for Maakhirians, has for a long term become stagnated and misappropriated in Hargeysa and Garowe, by self-appointed, out of touch representatives. The consequences of such misappropriation have led Makhir to declare autonomy and place itself under the authority of TFG. For instance, according to the Joint Needs Assessment, 'Somaliland' still has jurisdiction over the regions of Sool and Sanaag, which indeed further inflame the conflict and hostility in the region. If majority of the inhabitants from these regions are opposed to the clannish-driven secession, is it a viable developmental policy that these communities’ needs and political survival be enforced alongside with those whom they perceive as regional rivals, encroaching on their territories. This is the root cause of the conflict in the North and the reason why these two regions still remain volatile and in conflict.

 

Exploiting the unfair policy system the U.N. has unilaterally put in place and the lack of understandable guidance for the overall benefits of its implementation, any tribal organization/entity that emerged out of the wreckage of the Somali Republic and which has maintained a monopoly over the ongoing process of acquiring illegally the country’s Economic Infrastructure, in the absence of a functioning Somali state, has been imposing its not shared political ambitions and aspirations on other tribes, thereby exposing zones that were considered as “recovery” into crisis situation. A reevaluation of the ‘business as usual “ approach as called by the U.N. Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, is needed, dealing with the regions of Makhir State independent from “Somaliland” under the program of the U.N. Transition Plan for Somalia 2008-9.

 

Send your Comments to: Dhahar@Dhahar.com

[Paragon]

Firstly, when the politics of clientele becomes dominant in the circles of self-interested opportunists, representation becomes a social whore. Opportunists prostitute peoples’ interests, and exchange allegiance for nickels and dim.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

what does maakhir have to fear from puntland? To compare Maakhir to melos is simply wrong because Maakhir actually created Puntland to defend against north western aggression, Melos was not part of nor created either city states of Sparta and Athens.

[Xudeedi]

You missed the concept of Maakhirian shift, erring on the side of cursory skim. From this, it does not do justice to the argument of the article.

 

The concept is not based on a calculated fear but urging Somali peoples, wherever they are, to heed on to the pitfalls of political allegiance with another in the absence of centralized government.

 

I notice the points that this Editorial puts forth are all valid with concrete results available to substantiate them. When things don't work the way it was supposed or intended, contingencies and uncertainties arise, therefore, and people who are equipped with the right knowledge to detect have moral imperatives to correct and respond to, such shortcomings of utter failure, the only avenue being the combination of exercising monopoly over violence in your own territory plus engaging in public relations to seek support and make your case convincing to those who may be swayed by such parties that see and exploit your vulnerabilities. For instance, just look at the German Abduction, how it was manipulated by self-interested entity, and its long-term implication on the region.

 

The Concept of Maakhirian Shift applies as well to the region of Sool and Buhotleh district.

[NASSIR]

Thanks Xudeedi for the article. Very insightful one

[Som@li]

Nice article, the writer hit the nail on the head on the issues concerning SSC.

 

 

Originally posted by Isseh:

quote:Firstly, when the politics of clientele becomes dominant in the circles of self-interested opportunists, representation becomes a social whore. Opportunists prostitute peoples’ interests, and exchange allegiance for nickels and dim.

very hash words but the likes of Xaabsade deserve it,:

[Ducaysane]

Maxamuud Cali shire nin ka danbeeya horta gobolkaas ma soo baxay wali?

[Koora-Tuunshe]

Waa wada Maxamoud Cali Shire reer Maakhir. Hadaad u baahan tahey xoogaa cashar ah in lagaa jaahil bixiyo, noo sheeg.

[Koora-Tuunshe]

The concept of a Maakhirian Shift is not, as some might wrongly think, tantamount to the idea of secession from Somali union, as is the case with Somaliland, nor is it the formation of a state that purports to be part and parcel of Somalia but yet, for all intents and purposes, formulates laws that contravene, or blatantly disregard the articles of the national charter, as is now the case with the State of Puntland. In total contrast, ‘The Maakhirian Shift’ does not necessarily denote a divergence from, but conformity to, the article of the federal constitution when a unanimously accepted national state comes to pass.

Superb illustration.

[NASSIR]

Let's revisit this beautiful article.

 

 

Taleexi, Finally our people are paying attention even though the opportunists still pander to the weakest link in the sub-clannish sense & unsustainable, politically motivated material promises.

[NASSIR]

The explanation I give you here is one which tackles the complacency and precariousness of ‘political neutrality’

in an era of anarchy and naked, expansionist civil conflict.

In equal terms, my explanation intends to deplore the negligence of a people in their failure to seek all avenues that gives them the opportunity to lay control over their own affairs and interests, whilst not making the mistake of entrusting their lives to others. When such becomes of a peoples’ political fate, then, their fate becomes similar to that of the Melos Island.

Timeless piece!

[NASSIR]

Ducaysane;521277 wrote:

Maxamuud Cali shire nin ka danbeeya horta gobolkaas ma soo baxay wali?

 

Ask al-Shabaab of Gedo.