Somalia: What Went Wrong?

[Jacaylbaro]

More than a decade has passed since Somalia started floating like a dry piece of wood in the middle of a sea, neither sinking nor floating. Any tide that comes along has been driving the situation there from bad to worse. The people of Somalia continue to lead their lives in extremely chaotic situations. Years passed while Somalis were suffering – and they continue to suffer. They were suddenly forced to jump into a big sea of trouble, each one losing their breath, yet not dying. Many years went by as if they existed only in memories. Each Somali was once excited to see the merging of a former Italian colony with a British protectorate to form the internationally recognized state of Somalia in July of 1960. Today, who can say for sure?

 

One can easily be sure of the challenging process that the people of Somalia went through in order to form their independent and peaceful Somalia. Everything seemed successful. Suddenly, the state started losing grace in the eyes of its people. Clan politics appeared which produced a way for individuals and small groups to pursue their egos. These entities passed all stages of vandalism much as an insect grows in stages from egg to larva to pupa to adult. However, during the last stage, the late president of Somalia, Siyaad Barre, tried to use Marxist principles as a pesticide to contain potential havoc. It was not effective because the system’s expiration date had already passed. In 1991 the country became totally infested with hatred. Somalis themselves waged war on Somalia. That was an erroneous act. Some Somalis commenced genocide on their own race to achieve extermination, and with it, domination.

 

The truth is that for many years the country had no leadership which could organize a case against those who perpetrated the internationally condemned illegal act of genocide. Even today, individuals are committing this crime against humanity. Of course, recently, after long years of suffering, the people of Somalia managed to form a Transitional Federal Government (TFG). They lusted for peace and hoped for everything to be alright after forming the TFG. Nevertheless, it is unfortunate for them to see crimes continued against the Somali people, organized by individuals such as Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Siyar, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweis, and so forth. These individuals managed to involve persons of identical criminal behaviors in the government and create problems for the peace thirsty people. These so-called leaders reside in Eritrea, a very poor country that is internally unstable due to a dictatorial regime. It is unfortunate for Somalis that they now have to fight their war for peace with Eritrea as well. Eritrea previously started conflicts with all of its neighbors, including Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, as well as its neighbor across the Red Sea, Yemen.

 

The government of Eritrea's interventionist policy was practically unsuccessful to win any of the direct wars. However, today it is succeeding with the indirect wars in Somalia. One of the poorest and smallest countries in the world, with a population of less than four million, is actively playing a very devastating role in Somalia. It closely follows every peace process of Somalia and works very hard for the successful failure. The Eritrean rogue regime actively participates in the act of instability because of the warlike nature of its leader who came to power by force and has remained there for more than seventeen years. The rules of the jungle prevail.

 

Where is Somalia when the international community holds talks about terrorism and genocide? Why are they lending only deaf ears when it comes to poor countries in the Horn of Africa? If the international community is to bring honest peace to the whole world, there should be genuine devotion for the prevalence of peace and stability worldwide. The hypocrisy of the United Nations, other so-called world organizations, and rich countries have completely forgotten to support the regions’ countries. They are preoccupied with doing other profitable business, leaving the starved people’s business aside. They do not even care to implement the written laws by which all nations on Earth are supposed to abide. Not even once have we observed a single strong practical measure for the prevalence of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa since these international organizations came into existence.

 

Why is it that the United Nations, other international organizations, and other rich countries do not care about the Horn of Africa? It would be very easy if answers come from relevant bodies, but alas, no answers are forthcoming. To suggest a point of view, it seems that to support the countries in the region would be to throw away the wealth garnered by media attention for nothing in return but unprofitable peace. It would be like missing sad famine stricken faces and devastating war stories on the world’s TVs, internet, radio news, and so forth.

 

Hello! The United Nations, other world organizations and rich countries had better draw their attentions to solve the deep-rooted problems of the countries in the Horn of Africa. They have to use their worldly power and resources for the stability and development of the countries in the region. Today, all of these countries may eventually fight each other like Eritrea and Ethiopia did. Right now, there is war within countries like Somalia and Sudan. After the wars, the losers will not just remain losers; they will go to carry out other dirty jobs all over the world.

 

Very recently, the world is witnessing the increasing number of piracy in the Indian Ocean. Losers from the Somalian war are getting the upper hand in hijacking different countries' ships. The experience they acquired from the wars within their country is helping them to easily control ships, generating income in order to continue the war project. The rest of the world should seriously start thinking about this problem and devise a practical strategy to bring peace, stability, and sustainable development to the region. International organizations should focus on strengthening political and diplomatic ties and engage practically in supporting the region’s countries.

 

On the other hand, world medias reports surprisingly fresh news of refugees' deaths. It is very hard to believe that everybody in the world, especially those who are leading fancy and luxurious lives, truly feel pity for those who are dying while looking for a better life. Why should they? Nothing happened to them or to one of their family members. Instead, they try their level best to contain everybody within a devastated area to insure such things will never happen to them. Sometimes they throw a small amount of money towards international organizations like the United Nations in order for them to provide fewer services to needy people. This massive organization allots budgets for divisions like UNHCR. This branch pays a very large sum of money to its employees who are from other parts of the world; they take care of refugees with the leftover money. Most of the time since there is no leftover money at all, and all the refugees starve, become sick, and die.

 

What is happening in the Republic of Yemen is the same. Refugees crossing the Red Sea are managing to enter Yemen. All Somalis, a reasonable number of Eritreans, and a small number of Ethiopians are in very impoverished conditions. The government of Yemen recently admitted the difficulty of bearing these refugees with its own very poor economy. It called upon the international community to support Yemen in handling the ever growing number of refugees entering through its porous sea border. Blocking the refugees from entering into the country is going to be the last measure.

 

Who is responsible for the deaths of the escaping refugees who drown on their way to a better life? Who can bring change through improving these peoples' lives? Well. The answer is very simple. The well-to-do nations in the world have responsibility. If there a will, there is a way. Similarly, equivalent attentions, devotions, and involvements require stopping the hijacking of ships. Today’s ship hijackers were warriors who turned from fishery and human trafficking activities to piracy. When they hijack a ship, the international organizations, mostly comprised of economically wealthy countries, express their concern. At the same time, these countries do not react towards the peace and stability of the region of Horn Africa. Some countries even provide support for elements which are striving to destabilize the region. They provide rifles and weapons of mass destruction and other necessary materials for war. They encourage warmonger Eritrea to continue giving shelter to the leaders of war criminals.

 

It is an historical fact that supporting rogue elements, either leaders or countries, have self-defeating consequences. The recipients of such support often develop a habit of attacking their very providers. For example, Saddam Hussein was once supported by the United States of America. Today, we can say a lot about their antagonism toward this man. Here, the point is not who is right or who is wrong, but the idea remains: supporting and providing for just causes never backfires.

 

In the case of Somalia, each country within the region, the region’s Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union are each trying their best to help and support the people of Somalia. With very little resources, they endeavor to bring peace and stability. Even if they succeed in forming the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG), maximum efforts are still required in turning the once failed state into a functioning entity.

 

The African Union and IGAD should direct their focus on the main causes of the internal instability of Somalia. The Peace and Security Council of the African Union has to proactively engage in bringing peace and stability in the member state of Somalia. The African Union has to muster the courage to say: Eritrea! Stop creating conflict and instability in Somalia and in the Horn of Africa, as well as enforce Eritrea to respect the Union’s Convention, which it previously signed.

 

The United Nations also has to cease being a tiger in a paper cage. All the UN divisions have to act together in order to implement decisions. The United Nations is not a news agency reporting the conflicts in Eritrea and Somalia. BUT it has to wake up and stand against the illegal act of genocide that is currently being committed, illegal according its own Charter. The UN has to get the guts at least to say to a member state like Eritrea: enough is enough and take necessary force if that country does not show consent towards the UN mandate. Similarly, other international organizations and countries have to condemn the deeds of Eritrea as well as those of individuals who devoted their time, energy, and resources towards prolonging the war in Somalia.

 

Finally, the initiation of organizations like the European Union and countries outside the EU are encouraging. Others organizations such as NATO should follow the same path. What they should do, in addition to day and night supervision that guards against piracy in the Indian Ocean, is abolish piracy itself from its home base in the failed state of Somalia.

 

 

SOURCE