Why We Should Be Patient With Somalia

[QabiilDiid]

Why We Should Be Patient With Somalia

Mohamed Abdi Affey

April 28, 2005

 

Kenyans will receive a standing ovation from the Somali people and the IGAD region once sanity is restored in Somalia.

 

For years, Kenyans will reap the benefits of peace and stability in Somalia.

 

As the most stable country in East Africa, Kenya has had to serve as chief negotiator in the peace processes following civil strife in the region. Somalia has been an especially interesting case, given that it has had no central government for over 14 years.

 

Due to the central role that Kenya and the international community played in the negotiations that brought together Somali leaders, Somalia is now on the path to regaining statehood after 14 years.

 

The immediate positive impact will be felt by Kenyans through their participation in reconstruction efforts in Somalia. Equally, our national institutions will benefit in dealing with a friendly partner in Somalia, particularly in regard to security challenges.

 

The current situation may not be ideal in that Kenya is still hosting the Transitional Federal Government elected by delegates right here in Nairobi.

 

This is one of the reasons that Kenyans should not tire hosting Somali refugees along with their nascent government. It is legitimate for Kenyans, fatigued by having to intervene in their neighbours' wars, to be impatient and demand the relocation of President Abdullahi Yusuf's Government to Mogadishu.

 

Such frustration may not be altogether misplaced considering that Somali refugees and Government are, indeed, a burden to taxpaying Kenyans.

 

There is no shortage of reasons for which Kenyans would want to see Somalis back in their country rather than in refugee camps or on the streets of Nairobi. However, other factors militate against the speedy and wholesale repatriation of the Somali people along with their newly-minted Government.

 

The first is that after 14 years without a central administration, a bit of time is required for structures to be put in place and for the government to be put together. To be precise, they start from ground zero in every aspect.

 

But even if the international community and other players were to raise the resources necessary for repairing destroyed government buildings, putting in place information and communication infrastructure, hiring staff for various government functions and other basics, there is the security issue to consider.

 

Given the big number of small and big arms in the hands of militiamen, and considering the failures of other peace initiatives in the past, disarmament would need to be achieved to an appreciable level before the Government can move to Mogadishu.

 

Failure of disarmament can only mean that the new government would lack legitimacy. It would also mean an increase in internecine violence.

 

So far, the peace process spearheaded by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is the first one that has held, thanks to the fact that all the leaders were involved.

 

A necessary follow-up to the inauguration of the Transitional Government has been to ensure structures of governance start functioning.

 

Like an individual who has been bedridden for years, enough time is required before the patient is able to walk after being discharged from hospital. In more than one ways, Somalia, as a nation, is just emerging from the ICU.

 

As has been pointed out, the Transitional Government will be starting from scratch. The 14-year war means nothing exists in the way of records. There is nothing to inherit for the new government. Just consider that there is no exchequer, let alone monetary resources.

 

Faced with this reality, the Transitional Government has had to rely on the international community to piece together a plan with which to create a nation from the rubble of violence, despair and hopelessness.

 

The outstanding issue remains peace and security - issues that demand continuous bonding and consensus building between various parties ahead of the relocation.

 

In piecing together a masterplan that emergent Somalia would need to follow, it is important that there are no missteps. With the history of violence that could encourage retribution, any mishaps on the part of the new administration would lead to the eruption of largescale violence.

 

And most people are not certain the international community will be willing to engage in another round of negotiations should peace fail to hold.

 

Cynics may wonder why we should be concerned about peace in Somalia. Well, Kenyans have borne the brunt of violence in many ways. Somalia's statelessness has had devastating effect on our environment, security and economy. Crime levels have increased in Kenya because arms are acquired easily from Somalia. A new government would help manage this.

 

Counterfeit goods are coming into Kenya through Somali ports, thus destabilising our economy. This would be handled through a taxation regime by the new government.

 

The recent upsurge of inter-clan wars, especially on the Kenyan border, is not only a risk to Kenyans at the border, but to our national security in general. A strong central Government in Somalia could assist Kenya in its endeavour to make its borders risk-free.

 

Finally, a word of advice to the Somali Government. Get your act together, reconcile your people, and quickly establish your foothold in your mother country so that the efforts of Kenyans and the international community is not wasted.

 

• Mr Affey is Kenya's Ambassador to Somalia

 

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