Somalia’s tragedy: Ahmedou Ould Abdallah’s search for personal fame and grandiose exi

[Hadoodil]

Somalia’s tragedy: Ahmedou Ould Abdallah’s search for personal fame and grandiose exit

 

WardherNews Editorial

Sept 02 , 2009

 

Since positive news about Somalia is rare and almost non existence, the unprecedented move by the weak transitional parliament on August 1st to reject a shoddy deal signed by the TFG and the republic of Kenya was welcoming news. This was with regard to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic (TFG) and the government of the republic of Kenya to grant each other no objection in Nairobi on April 7, 2009 in respect of the submissions on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 2000 nautical miles had members of the Somali parliament and their constituents who interpreted the MOU to confer oil drilling rights in Somali waters to Kenya. While this may not be the case, the fact remains however that the MOU has raised a number of fundamental issues which need to be properly addressed and classified to set the record straight.

 

First, there was no transparency and no adequate consultation with key Ministries, i.e. Foreign Affairs, Mining, Legal Department, Somali experts etc. Reportedly, the 15 page memo filed with the UN at the request of the Secretary General Representative Ahmedou Ould Abdallah was prepared and submitted by a Norwegian expert funded by the government of Norway. It is regrettable that there was no time for technical or legal input although this was necessary and appropriate.

 

Secondly, at a time when Somalia is engulfed in bloody conflict, violence and a humanitarian disaster of enormous proportions, it’s urgent and more appropriate to devote attention and allocate all available resources from donor countries to the pressing priority of Peace and Security in Somalia. WardheerNews believes that the Special Representative Mr. Ould Abdallah was seriously mistaken in his approach to draw and give priority to what is an internal affair of Somalia on maritime questions pertaining to the implementations of the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Even if it is his opinion, this issue needed to be addressed as a post conflict peace building project by the Somalis alone.

 

Ever since, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah of Mauritania as his Special Representative to Somalia in Sept 2007, Mr. Ould Abdallah dug himself deeply into the messy Somali politics beyond his role as the UN envoy. Mr. Ould Abdallah orchestrated and was the brain power behind the Djibouti agreement that produced the current feeble government headed by Mr. Sharif. This bestowed him leverage and un-wavering access to Mr. Sharif that lent him an extraordinary power that elevated him as the chief executive officer of the current TFG. This of course has been facilitated by the resource provided by his UN office. External forces such as Ould Abdallah are not helping the situation but are rather hindering. His role is confusing at times, as it appears he is the shaker and the mover of the TFG or rather the governor of Somalia. He meddles with local Somali issues sometimes exacerbating the situation. If he has done one thing well, Mr. Ould Abdallah has very much understood the polarization that exists within the Somali people and used that to his advantage. He is usually seen trekking from one Somali Diaspora meeting to the next and finds himself lecturing to crowds who applaud him, thinking he will bring the country from the brink, and never quite understanding his intent and involvement. Reliable sources, told WDN that Mr. Ould Abdallah’s ultimate goal is not to help Somalis or Somalia but his own fame doing all he can to be nominated in the near future for a Noble peace prize on the backs of innocent Somalis who are dying by the dozen of hunger and violence. To get to this goal, he is doing all that is possible. WardheerNews also learned from a reliable sources that Mr. Oud Abdallah pays stipends to one well known Somali website in an effort to control the traffic of negative messages coming through. The said website therefore screens its submissions for negative comments about Mr. Abdallah and the TFG.

 

 

Mr. Ould Abdallah is reckless with his remarks and question-dodging when it comes to clarifying situations he has gotten the ill advised TFG into. In a press conference on May 29, 2009 at the UN, when journalist Matthew Russell Lee from Inner City Press asked him questions about the MOU he helped the Norwegian government draw on May of this year, his answers were evasive, unprofessional and all together misleading. It’s as if he wasn’t even aware of the MOU, or worse, as if he had nothing to do with it. But Mr. Lee was adamant in getting an answer. Instead what the experienced investigative reporter who is the only reporter to question Mr. Abdallah about these issues got a lecture from Mr. Abdallah on how to be a reporter and what to report or avoid.

 

To say the least, Mr. Ould Abdallah would prefer an environment where journalist and human rights organization are not present, unless they kowtow to him. When Mr. Lee asked Mr. Abdallah about human rights abuses of egregious proportions committed by the TFG police, he accused Inner City Press of being “Irresponsible” and “Accomplice to genocide”. As a matter of fact, he even accused Mr. Lee of asking sophisticated questions. Mr. Abdallah considers these important questions about human rights abuses have no merit in the case of Somalia and are too sophisticated.

 

On another occasion, Mr. Oud Abdallah made a serious, damming remark when he compared the media that reported an incident when African Union peace keepers fired into a crowd of civilians in Mogadishu to Radio Milles Colines which was the might behind the Rwandan Genocide. Remarks such as these and his reckless answers could have dire consequence for Somalia. It is mind-boggling as to the reason he qualified for such a post which otherwise requires, most of all a calm, composed, experienced, diplomatic envoy to deal with the situation on the ground. Instead Mr. Abdallah, who is turbulent, divisive and manipulative, has been adding fuel to the fire, knowing he will not be accountable to an inexperienced president and prime minster he handpicked for their willingness to have him call the shots nor to United Nations which so far showed indifference to his performance in Somalia.

 

Finally, on the question of the motion for parliamentary vote on the validity of the MOU between Somalia and Kenya, WardheerNews applauds the rejection by the Somali transitional parliament on the passage of the motion and advices the transitional government to drop such agreement and focus on important issues that have to do with peace, and security. We also urge the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon to look into the actions of his envoy in meddling into the internal affairs of Somalia and take appropriate measures if his representative breached his responsibilities as UN envoy. If Mr. Ould Abdallah continues with his actions, we could witness the downward spiral of the country, and for the situation to deteriorate further.

 

Any person who plays a principal role in the machinations of a political conundrum is unlikely to beget solutions for his/her own blunder. What Somalia needs today is not the recipe for additional mayhem, incoherent strategies from the usual suspects, and disingenuous propositions simply formulated to prolong the continuing Somali saga. What Somalia lacks is a competent mediator, an honest broker with peace building credentials and with the profile and caliber of Desmond Tutu, George Mitchell and Amb. Richard Holbrooke. WardheerNews hopes that Ban Ki-moon and the international community would take appropriate note of the exigency for an honest mediator for Somalia’s protracted political calamity.

[General Duke]

The master of Sharif Ahmed, he wont get far as his project is no more than hot air.

[Saaxil]

Let's see if Oud Abdallah dream if true of Noble prize nomination materializes. I believe the Somalis are to blame here, since they are giving him an obsolete power that his office has no legal bases.

 

I wonder which website who is in bed with Oud Abdalla, as the edit allege one Somali website?

[Hadoodil]

Several months back, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, UN envoy to Somalia, flew to Mogadishu with a planeload of fresh American dollars in watertight containers - United Nations seed-money for violence. In a hastily arranged meeting, he met with Sharif Ahmed, Somalia’s current transitional president holed in a basement at Villa Somalia. He patted on Sharif’s back elatedly and whispered in his ears that “the more you fight, the more donors are willing to cough up more money”.

 

As aptly said by the legendary Martin Luther King Jr. “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. I am afraid that Somalia will continue to be entangled in the quicksand of abysmal anarchy as long as Charlatan Ahmedou Ould Abdullah remains the kingmaker and the sole powerbroker in Somalia.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Axmedoow Walad Cabdalle Soomaali ku sheeg badan ayuu dhaamaa la isku wada daro.

 

He is the second Max'ed Sahnuuni, the former tireless UN envoy of early '90s, without whose efforts hundreds of thousands more might have perished and UNOSOM might not have arrived.

 

Always Soomaali waxmagarato and their needless, endless and useless shenanigans where, alas, non-Soomaali feel more about the dire plight of Soomaalis than so-called Soomaalis.

 

It was the Masri, Kamaaludiin Saalax, in '50s (who was shamelessly murdered by a so-called Soomaali working for foreign occupying entity); it was Max'ed Sahnuuni, the Algerian UN special envoy to Soomaaliya in early '90s; and now Axmed Walad Cabdalle, the fine Mauritanian diplomat.

 

Those fine men did and do seem to get unwarranted criticism from some mindless Soomaali isku sheeg, who cannot see beyond the clan prism, whether it was in '50s or '00s. Maskaxdooda, it seems, maba korto.

 

Those non-Soomaali men do see what is beyond the immediate future -- our very survival and the future independence of our nation. It is sad reflection of us when a non-Soomaali always happens to see that, then trying kiciyo Soomaalida to realize that, to see our shared common interests. Dad, albeit minority they are, ayaa always rabana jilaafo u dhigo those men in the name of clanism.

[Laba-X]

Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiy aar:

Axmedoow Walad Cabdalle Soomaali ku sheeg badan ayuu dhaamaa la isku wada daro.

Ma maantaad tiri gaal xun baa idin dhaamaa MMA-ow? Lagaama filaneyn taa sxb! mise miyaad is bedeshay?

 

Those non-Soomaali men do see what is beyond the immediate future -- our very survival and the future independence of our nation. It is sad reflection of us when a non-Soomaali always happens to see that, then trying kiciyo Soomaalida to realize that, to see our shared common interests. Dad, albeit minority they are, ayaa always rabana jilaafo u dhigo those men in the name of clanism.

...If the entity that this man represents, the UN and US, can bring about change in Somalia and lead her to peace and prosperity while all her women ululate and dance, then you are too naive in your thinking sxb MMA.

[SayidSomal]

LX - your first response to MMA - waxaad u gaftay nin muslim ah. toobad keen.

 

second response about the entity - i agree with you.

 

 

there are plenty of non somalis who are better than many somalis without doubt just as there are many somalis who better than millions of non somalis and somalis alike. it is all relative.

[Fabregas]

The Mauritanians, particularly those from the Sheenqeeti stock, who are of noble African and Arabian origins, are well known for their love of knowledge and their powerful memories in perserving the sacred sciences. They are also known for their perservation of the Quran in the various Qiraats, according to the correct Tajweed. In addition, they have some similarities with Somalis such as similar facial features and not forgetting some beautiful females, of course only in the halal manner.

 

 

However, this particular individual, Mr Ould Abdullah, is trying to become famous, lofty and gain a noble peace prize on top of the bones of the Somali mothers and children. As the article shows, the individual actively calls for a Baghdad style Muqdisho green zone, wherein the Somalis are kept as prisoners in their own city; plus he condemned the Somali media for reporting attrocities commited by his AMISOM mecenaries. It is as if he is the defacto ruler of Somalia.The man has also taken part in the now infamous selling of the Somali sea shells at the sea side deal with the UN and Kenya, which even the SOmali warlord parliament has rejected. Although he later denied this, his signature was on the dotted line.

 

Therefore, no thoroughbred Islamic, SOmali tribesman or woman of noble cushitic and Arabian origins can remain silent about such political crimes against an already suffering nation. I humbly call upon Mr Abdullah to fear Allah, stop his deceit and his collusion with various entities who are profitting from Somali misery and to work for the true peace and stability of his muslim brethren, the thoroughbred Islamic, SOmali tribesman and woman of noble cushitic and Arabian origin. This way he will earn a true place in the hearts of SOmali people. And Allah(SWT) will, BY his mercy, reward him both in the Dunya and Akhira.

 

Jumah Mubarak and Ramadan is already half.

[Abwaan]

Soomaalidu intey danteeda seegto ayey dad kale eedaysaa...This is a deliberate negative propoganda against this guy and I agree with MMA sida raggii ka horreeyey ee uu carabbaabay oo Saxnuuni ka mid yahay farta loogu fiiqay in this guy loo weerarayo!

[Saaxil]

Ninka Mikiin isku magacaabay, waxaan ugu dari lahaa Miskiin yaa saaxibul jahal,

Muxuu qabtay Maxamed Sahnuun, please share with us.

Yes, its true that Somalis are to blame but that doen't mean we should not pay attention to scavengers out there such as Ould Abdalla who is taking an advatage of the Maryoolay. The even can't even put two sentences together I can't comprehend how he is qualified for such a complex post.

So Yaa Miskiin Yaa Saaxibul Jahal. keep dreaming.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Originally posted by Laba_Xiniinyood:

quote:Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiy aar:

Axmedoow Walad Cabdalle Soomaali ku sheeg badan ayuu dhaamaa la isku wada daro.

Ma maantaad tiri gaal xun baa idin dhaamaa MMA-ow? Lagaama filaneyn taa sxb! mise miyaad is bedeshay?

 

Those non-Soomaali men do see what is beyond the immediate future -- our very survival and the future independence of our nation. It is sad reflection of us when a non-Soomaali always happens to see that, then trying kiciyo Soomaalida to realize that, to see our shared common interests. Dad, albeit minority they are, ayaa always rabana jilaafo u dhigo those men in the name of clanism.

...If the entity that this man represents, the UN and US, can bring about change in Somalia and lead her to peace and prosperity while all her women ululate and dance, then you are too naive in your thinking sxb MMA.

Waa wareey. Dambigaas maaba saas u raadsanee. Gaalnimadiisa intee kusoo ogaatay. Seeflaboodnimada iska daa ma fiicnee.

 

Haye, dowladaan Shariifka hoggaamiye is 'rotten, currupt, problematic' -- you name it. Laakiin who else meesha joogo that can bring Soomaaliya forth into its peaceful, prosperous future?

 

Kuwa aad difaaceysid Soomaali interests mee haayaan? They don't even get their hues from Soomaalis, but nin buuro hoostiisa ku jiro ayee isku raacsanyihiin.

 

Miiska soo saar dad quman oo dalkeena nabad u keeni karo, not dad isqarxinaayo, kii wax isku maagaana qoorta ka goynaayo, not to mention their eagerness to eradicate once and for all our dhaqankeena suuban. Kaaga sii daranee they answer to non-Soomaalis meelo kale degan. Dadkaas ha ii sheegin ani, ima soo maraan.

_______________

 

Originally posted by Saaxil:

Ninka Mikiin isku magacaabay, waxaan ugu dari lahaa Miskiin yaa saaxibul jahal,

Muxuu qabtay Maxamed Sahnuun, please share with us.

Yes, its true that Somalis are to blame but that doen't mean we should not pay attention to scavengers out there such as Ould Abdalla who is taking an advatage of the Maryoolay. The even can't even put two sentences together I can't comprehend how he is qualified for such a complex post.

So Yaa Miskiin Yaa Saaxibul Jahal. keep dreaming.

In la isaflagaadeeyo ma fiicno, taas waa lagaaga roonyahay. Wuxuu Max'ed Sahnuuni qabtayna ani kuuma sheegaaye, you can simply google under his name.

[Fabregas]

^^ Your defending the indefensible here.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

if angels tried to help Somalis, they would accuse them of a sinister divine plot to steal some gold hidden beneath that heap of a mess. stop biting the hand that feeds you people. as for the cowards on internet running around with gaal this and gaal that, go jihad on yourselves and leave the affairs of those poor alone.

[Hadoodil]

UN role in Somalia comes under fire

By Saeed Shabazz -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Sep 7, 2009 - 7:04:37 AM

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UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - The UN Secretary-General's special representative to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah has not answered reporters' questions concerning his involvement in the crafting of a 15-page “Memorandum of Understanding” that would give Kenya rights to drill for oil off the Somali continental shelf, extending for 200 miles.

 

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Some analysts claim that Nairobi applied to the UN for an extension of its maritime border, by claiming larger sectors of the continental shelf which would impact on drilling rights for the region's mineral potential.

 

The press asked Mr. Ould-Abdallah if it was a conflict of interest for the UN to involve itself in assisting the Somalis in engaging the Norwegian government to pay its fees for the filing of the MOA; and if his role in the matter constituted a conflict of interest.

 

Mr. Ould-Abdallah said that all questions should be posed to the officials in the UN Development Program. To date no one from UNDP has responded to reporters questions; nor have any other high-level officials. The spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon explained to The Final Call that the special envoy had indeed given a sufficient answer.

 

The government of Norway, through its UN Mission was the only one to answer, saying helping Somalia file its paperwork was something they have done to help several African nations, but refused to say what other African nations they have helped. Norway is the world's seventh largest oil exporting nation in the world.

 

Gerald Lemelle, executive director of the Washington-based think tank, Africa Action tells The Final Call that what we are witnessing at the UN is the “historic” Western concept on how to have a relationship with Africa after colonialism.

 

“Nations such as Norway had to figure out a way to maintain control over African resources, so they use Security Council resolutions, and African proxies such as Kenya (reportedly Norway paid $200m to Kenya for the MOA),” he said. “At the heart of Western intervention in Somalia, which has been a geo-political football, is the battle for its oil,” Mr. Lemelle said.

 

He said that in today's climate of transparency, Western powers are using the UN-created Transitional Federal Government, “a government with no legitimacy” in Somalia to do the bidding of the oil corporations.

 

The interim government announced back in 2005 it would start offering concessions for oil, gas and mineral rights, not just for exploration but also for marketing. However, the leadership of that government was replaced by the U.S. and UN in 2007.

 

And the new administration of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed wasted no time in getting down to business by signing a partnership agreement with Kuwait and Indonesia, with Somalia getting a 51 percent interest in the corporation, according to International Oil and Gas News.

 

Analysts and activists such as Sadia Aden, a Virginia-based human rights advocate and Prof. Abdi Ismail Samitar, a Somali advocate at the Univ. of Minn., say the UN has engaged in leading Western nations in an attempt to control Somali resources. The foreign navies that patrol Somali seas against pirates are really there to exploit the resources of Somalia, mainly its oil reserves and natural gas; and have been given permission to do so by the UN Security Council, Ms. Aden told The Final Call.

 

“Somalis know that these navies did not come to hunt and prosecute pirates but to divide the Somali seas, and to protect their interests as they hope to divide up our resources—not just in the ocean, but also on land,” Ms. Aden added.

 

Prof. Samitar told The Final Call that the MOA caused an uproar in Mogadishu; and that the 245-member Somali Parliament voted unanimously against it. “This is not a real government, so they lack the authority to implement or enter into agreements,” the professor insisted.

 

Prof. Samitar said that the TFG was beholding to Kenya and its Western backers because of a lack of financial resources; and therefore, the interim government lacks the ability to protect the interests of the Somali people.

 

Oil industry analysts were saying back in the early 1980s there was evidence of a natural trough of oil that extended across the Red Sea from Yemen into Somalia. Before the over-throw of Somali Pres. Siad Barre in 1991, tens of millions had been sunk into oil wells in Somalia, the largest investment by a Texas-based company, CONOCO.

 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that while Somalia is considered by many experts in the oil industry as being the last frontier for the “Black Gold” in Eastern Africa; there is no creditable evidence of large reserves of oil; however, there is a sizable reserve of natural gas.

 

A 2004 report by HAN DATA & Information Background: “Strategic Mining & Oil in Somalia” stated there were precious metals such as copper, gold, zinc and silver, including iron ore, bauxite and gypsum in the Horn of Africa nation.

 

The UN has been hearing from pro-African activist organizations such as Africa Action, according to Mr. Lemelle, on their role in giving away large tracks of land in Africa to the multi-national corporations; and their backing of dubious contracts that give away African resources. “We want to know who authorizes these contracts,” he said.

 

Related links:

 

U.S. foreign policy fuels blowback in Somalia (FCN, 09-22-2008)

 

The Oil Factor In Somalia (LA Times, 01-18-1993)