Diaspora factor in the Somali conflict

[SOO MAAL]

The London events and

the Diaspora factor in the Somali conflict

Muuse Yuusuf

February 26, 2007

 

 

Since the illegal invasion of the Ethiopia forces, London has been experiencing some important events that were organised by different Somali groups at this critical political juncture in the Somali conflict. Immediately after the invasion new groups had sprung up spontaneously and begun to demonstrate against the invasion. They carried placards condemning the invasion, as they congregated at the Ethiopian embassy. Even the American Embassy was not immune from their angry and noisy demonstrations against the cruel act of bombardment by the American airplanes against poor and innocent Somalis. In parallel to this, other groups had held demonstrations in some important London landmarks such as the Downing Street in support of a secessionist enclave in the Northern regions of Somalia, pursuing an ever elusive recognition for their entity.

 

Figure 1: Royal Garden Hotel:

 

 

Other gatherings were taunting Abdullahi Yusuf, president of the internationally recognised but unpopular and weak TFG. They labelled him as a vindictive, warmonger, bloodthirsty and traitor who sold the Somali nation to Ethiopia, Somalia’s archaic enemy. Ironically, just in the same days and few blocks down the road, other congregations were welcoming the ailing president, who visits London periodically for a medical check-up, as a hero, statesman, wise elder, peace-maker and a Good Samaritan. What a paradox! and how much all these conflicting gatherings do tell us about the division that exist among Somalis in the Diaspora.

 

Reading between the lines, organisers and orchestrators of these activities, for example those demonstrations against the Ethiopian invasion and the ailing president were probably the same characters that were divided among themselves along clan lines when the warlords were causing mayhem in Mogadishu, but have now found unity and reason d’etre thanks to an alien intervention. Also, it may well be that those who were honouring the president were mainly from Abdullahi Yusuf’s lineage and relatives and some characters from other communities who have political ambition and wanted to be closer to his “Excellency entourage.” Hence the meetings were not inclusive. In addition, those braving the cold, demanding an ever elusive recognition for an entity they called “Somaliland” are probably from the same clans or lineages but would like to portray and show the world that their cause is an inclusive project for a legitimate self-determination when a large numbers of people in the Northern regions of Somalia are against the secession project.

 

The Somali Diaspora had always played a significant role in the affairs and politics of their homeland. Since the emergence of the armed opposition groups against the Siad Bare, leaders of these movements sought refugee in European and other countries. History tells us that they had used their clans to secure much needed financial resources to buy arms and ammunition for their struggle against the patriarch. The collected or shall I say extorted ”qaaran qabiil” – a clan-based contribution - from their kin whose main income was/is meagre state welfare handouts that they receive from the European and other governments. Those individuals who had the vision and courage and could see the futility of clan-based fund-raising for military purposes and the negative impact (bloodshed) that this would have at grass root level and refused to pay the royalty were ostracised from their communities, a painful experience to a Somali individual in a foreign country.

 

 

Figure 2: London: demons. against A. Yusuf

 

 

In the Diaspora, countless clan and non-based rival groups were formed and disbanded in light of political realities. Arguably, the SNM-military wing, which spearheaded the secessionist project, the USC - which caused the destruction of much of Mogadishu and the SSDF which added the word “Puntland” into Somalis’ modern political dictionary, would not have gone off the ground without the leadership, resources, encouragement, and moral support that were offered by those in the Diaspora.

 

After the collapse of the central government, the Diaspora factor in the political activities continued to play a significant role. For example, it has been reported that individuals from the Diaspora instigated or were behind the establishment of some important political institutions, for example the parliaments for the sub-states “Somaliland” and “Puntland” and the “Transitional Federal Parliament.” It has also been reported that some of the peace and reconciliations initiatives and conferences (e.g. the Arta and Imbaghati) were the brainchild of the Somali middle class in the Diaspora, particularly those in Europe and North America. Individuals from the Diaspora make up a good proportion as MPs in these institutions. It is not unusual to hear some MPs whispering to each other saying: so and so has a foreign nationality, e.g. Somali-Canadian. Furthermore, it is well documented how the remittance by the Diaspora works as the life-line that feeds millions of hungry mouths in Somalia. The World Bank estimates that some 750,000 Somalis in the Diaspora sent US$825 million to $1billion(1) in 2004 to Somalia. The magic word for those less fortunate back home is if you have a relative in London then your daily life is guaranteed and if you do not have one then your chance of survival is very limited. Imagine a good percentage of that money going to into paying for arms.

 

The above are good examples of the Diaspora at its best, in other words the Diaspora behaving and acting responsibly and dutifully for the general good and benefit of the Somali people.

 

Thanks to the acquired power, arguably Somalis in Diaspora are now the ones who call the first and real shots when it comes in deciding the future course of the socio-political and economic affairs of Somalia. Using their gained power, they continue to tell their kin which way to act and behave when the turbulent winds of political change sweep across Somalia. It is not unusual to read a political statement or manifest released by some communities in Diaspora and posted at some Somali web-sites, calling on their kin to either support or disapproves a political reality on the ground. The latest one that I read was the Gada bursi Manifesto by honourable Dr Abdi Shakur Jowhar in which he gives his advice to his clansmen on some difficulties political situations.

 

 

Figure 3: in a mood for secession

 

Because of the remittance power, one could argue that kinfolk’s behaviour in Hargeysa or in Mogadishu is being dictated or influenced by the Diaspora and not vice versa. This is a big responsibility; however I am afraid some communities are failing to fulfil their responsibilities. Rather than being a good model for peace and reconciliation, it is unfortunate that some individuals who refuse to shed their clan identities even after they had been exposed to a modern Western citizenry based on rights and responsibilities and not by the colour of skin or faith still continue to stir up situations without giving due regard to their actions. A good example of this is the recent events in London where different groups aggressively pursued their political agendas without due consideration or respect to the feelings of others. I ask myself this: rather than excluding the other, would not it have been civility if they all had opened dialogues between themselves and acted as an exemplary to others back home? For instance rather than alienating the other, why the president’s camp had not tried to listen and accommodate those who have grievances? Why some of the TFG/Abdullahi Yusuf’s meetings were not inclusive but rather as a family business? Why those against the TFG/Abdullahi Yuusuf rather than being disruptive chose not to engage in a dialogue but to hurl insults? Why those pursuing a secessionist cause could not bring themselves down to earth to try to engage their opponents in a political dialogue when members of the TFG were actually meeting with officials from the British government? Can’t they see how the British government is determined in encouraging conflict resolution through a negotiated federal structure?

 

As these groups were carrying the placards and posters only and not guns, why could not they have the guts to talk to each other?

 

 

Luckily, these activities and demonstrations took place in a democratic country where people have the right to demonstrate peacefully. I would not want to imagine the consequence of such angry demonstrations taking place inside Somalia. I leave this to the reader’s guess, as I leave to his imagination in assessing the impact that these activities would have at grass root level.

 

Groups and gatherings with conflicting messages and different ambitions, groups which all carry and call themselves the name Somali but fail to honour the unity that is metaphorically coined in the name. What an irony!! These activities which mainly took place in February 2007 clearly show how Somalis in the Diaspora, after more than 16 years of bloodsheds and civil strife, are still deeply divided along clan lines, and how this division continues to fuel, inflame, prolong, and exacerbate the conflict.

 

I wonder what those groups would have done to a strayed child from another group who ends up in their midst. Would they have treated her as the child of the other, the enemy, and therefore would have hurled insults at her just like the crazed grown-ups in Mogadishu with the support of the Ethiopian military power are doing to the defenceless and innocent children of Mogadishu by the daily and indiscriminate shelling of their homes and schools. Or maybe the groups would have shown some civility and would have treated the child compassionately: fed her, clothed her, protected her, and then would have accompanied the child back to her parents thus leading to a dialogue between the groups, and hence creating unity - metaphorically embodied in the child.

 

My advice to the Diaspora is: please behave in a rational and responsible way for the sake of general good and welfare of all Somalis. Please learn from the environments that you live in and try to shed your clan skins ‘Ka xuub siibta maqaarka qabiilka.’

[Ebyan]

Originally posted by SOO MAAL:

 

 

Reading between the lines, organisers and orchestrators of these activities, for example those demonstrations against the Ethiopian invasion and the ailing president were probably the same characters that were divided among themselves along clan lines when the warlords were causing mayhem in Mogadishu, but have now found unity and reason d’etre thanks to an alien intervention. Also, it may well be that those who were honouring the president were mainly from Abdullahi Yusuf’s lineage and relatives and some characters from other communities who have political ambition and wanted to be closer to his “Excellency entourage.” Hence the meetings were not inclusive. In addition, those braving the cold, demanding an ever elusive recognition for an entity they called “Somaliland” are probably from the same clans or lineages but would like to portray and show the world that their cause is an inclusive project for a legitimate self-determination when a large numbers of people in the Northern regions of Somalia are against the secession project.

That's the truth.

[Lake]

Originally posted by Violet:

quote:Originally posted by SOO MAAL:

 

 

Reading between the lines, organisers and orchestrators of these activities, for example those demonstrations against the Ethiopian invasion and the ailing president were probably the same characters that were divided among themselves along clan lines when the warlords were causing mayhem in Mogadishu, but have now found unity and reason d’etre thanks to an alien intervention. Also, it may well be that those who were honouring the president were mainly from Abdullahi Yusuf’s lineage and relatives and some characters from other communities who have political ambition and wanted to be closer to his “Excellency entourage.” Hence the meetings were not inclusive. In addition, those braving the cold, demanding an ever elusive recognition for an entity they called “Somaliland” are probably from the same clans or lineages but would like to portray and show the world that their cause is an inclusive project for a legitimate self-determination when a large numbers of people in the Northern regions of Somalia are against the secession project.

That's the truth.

"when a large numbers of people in the Northern regions of Somalia are against the secession project."

 

 

^^^^

 

That's the truth? lol

[Ebyan]

Originally posted by Tone:

quote:Originally posted by Violet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by SOO MAAL:

 

 

Reading between the lines, organisers and orchestrators of these activities, for example those demonstrations against the Ethiopian invasion and the ailing president were probably the same characters that were divided among themselves along clan lines when the warlords were causing mayhem in Mogadishu, but have now found unity and reason d’etre thanks to an alien intervention. Also, it may well be that those who were honouring the president were mainly from Abdullahi Yusuf’s lineage and relatives and some characters from other communities who have political ambition and wanted to be closer to his “Excellency entourage.” Hence the meetings were not inclusive. In addition, those braving the cold, demanding an ever elusive recognition for an entity they called “Somaliland” are probably from the same clans or lineages but would like to portray and show the world that their cause is an inclusive project for a legitimate self-determination when a large numbers of people in the Northern regions of Somalia are against the secession project.

That's the truth.

"when a large numbers of people in the Northern regions of Somalia are against the secession project."

 

 

^^^^

 

That's the truth? lol

I quoted the entire passage and I agree with it wholeheartedly. The man spoke the truth.