Malicious Meles may have Killed Abdullahi Yusuf's Presidential HOPE

[Xudeedi]

Baadida nin baa kula daydayi

daalna kaabadine

Oon doonahayn in aad hesho daa’in abidkaaye

dadkuna moodi duulwada dhashoon wax u dahsoonayne

 

One is so committed to lending you a helping hand

And you may perceive it as an honest help

Although he does all the undoing of your effort

 

Qamaan Bulxan

 

 

Introduction:

 

 

As Mr. Meles Zenawi, the strong Prime Minster of Ethiopia, defiantly decided to invade Somalia, despite his demagogue about saving Somalis from themselves, there are enough indicators that he may ultimately loose the war and his rag-tag largely Tigrian army would suffer a historic defeat in the scorching and forbidding terrains of Dusomareeb and Galguduud. But the ultimate looser in all this is unfortunately President Abdullahi Yusuf.

On November 29, 2006, only 2 days before a pan-Somali conference sponsored by Northern Somalis for Peace and Unity (NSPU) took place at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC and called for the resumption of the Khartum Talks, Mr. Zenawi hastily rushed through his parliament a motion by Shifarow Asafa, majority whip of the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) was passed to authorize him to invade Somalia. Uneducated crowd populates the parliament, individuals who are mostly handpicked (or what is in Amharic known as “taladafi” or lackies”) from Ethiopia’s vast rural areas.

 

The speech of Mr. Zenawi, the all-knowing and hour-long speaking dictator, was preceded by a typical “shimbrayahow heesa” presentations, one of which was that of Mr. Mohamud Dirir, a Minister from the so-called autonomous Somali region. (Mr. Dirir has no credibility in the region for he and some of the “taladafi” leadership in the region allegedly belong to a new inept leadership who are more committed to their personal well being and are colloquially referred to as the “waar guriigii qabyada ahaa ma dhamaystirtay gang. This is the same leadership that authorized the transfer of 1/3rd of Somali districts from the Somali to the Oromia region by the stroke of a higher order from Addis Ababa. Accordingly, the government-order demonstration in support of Mr. Zenawi’s motion to invade Somalia does not in anyway represent either the feelings of the masses of Ethiopia, nor that of the Somalis in the region.

 

 

As I am drafting this article, Jigjiga, the capital of the feeble autonomous Somali region, is on the verge of massive civil disorder. It has been reported that unknown, but most likely clandestine government operatives, distributed leaflets inside the city’s only High School premise. The message read that “Prophet Mohamed was killed by a Mosquito bite.” This outraged the Somali students who in reaction took their anger to the streets. In a calculated move, the TPLF soldiers have rounded up unidentified number of Somali [secondary] students and hauled them to a detention center. This type of provoking communities is a typical TPLF tactic (see The Huntington Doctrine in Ethiopia, A “One Dominant Party System, Faisal Roble, Ethiopian Review, 1996).

 

Dr. Negasso Gidada, former president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, who is now a member of a small but enlightened group of independent parliamentarians, opposed what the local gangs (waar gurigii qabyada ahaa ma dhamaystirtay) blindly supported. In his brief speech, he said the following concerning the proposed motion:

 

 

Well, four reasons were given to justify it as a war. The first one is that they declared jihad on Ethiopia. But when they declared jihad on Ethiopia, they qualified it to have meant only on Ethiopian soldiers who entered Somalia. As for their declaring jihad on Ethiopia, I don't know: it could be a matter of interpretation.

Did they really declare jihad against Ethiopia and crossed the border? Is that the fact? I don't think so. As comparison, if you take the conflict with Eritrea, that country, in fact, crossed the border and took control of parts of our territory. But we don't see similar situation this time around.

The other thing that amazes me is that Ethiopia is under repeated attack from the Somali forces and that we are absorbing those attacks according to the prime minister. If that is the truth, then why did the government keep silent? An emergency session of the parliament should have been called and the problem must have been dealt with.

The second reason given is that the Islamic Courts are assisting and sending here anti-Ethiopia forces. This was not clearly explained. What kind of anti-Ethiopia forces are these. Are they snicking in Somali or foreign jihadists into Ethiopia? Or are they supporting and sending other local opposition forces such as the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF)? These local opposition forces have long existed. Did they train and send fresh forces during the summer? Despite this, I believe that going to the extent of declaring war ought to be reconsidered. I don't think there is a situation currently which forces us to go to war. I see a problem with the request forwarded to parliament to give the green light (Wardheernews.com, Dec. 6, 2006).

 

 

Mr. Meshasa Biru, a businessman in Los Angeles and a former member of the Ethiopian Transitional Government (1991-94), echoed a similar sentiment. Mr. Biru believes that Mr. Zenawi wants to use the Somalia/Islamic threat factor not to help either the TFG or the people of Somalia. He maintains that this is another faustian opportunity for Mr. Zenawi to woe the largely Amhara opposition, who in the last election won 25 of the available 25 seats in all the districts of Addis Ababa, to his camp. Mr. Biru, who holds a doctorate degree in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara, California, said that after Mr. Zenawi failed to get a lasting legitimacy, mainly within the Amhara middle class, as a result of the Eritrean war, intentionally initiated by TPLF, or by fostering conflicts in the Somali region of Ethiopia, the Somali/Islamic threat is his new opportunity. But Ethiopians will not give him that rare gift, political legitimacy, nor will they support his plans to invade our suffering brothers.

 

 

Tigrian Racism toward Somali Muslims

 

Since the early 1990s, Mr. Zenawi has shrewdly succeeded to disorient Somalis while at the same time undoing the Democratic Republic of Somalia. While publicly misleading the easily believing and magnanimous Somalis (both in the Democratic Republic of Somalia and the Ethiopian “autonomous region) that his Tigrian-ruled Ethiopia is a friend and not a foe to Somalis, everything that he has done so far is indeed a devil’s duty.

 

Since 1994, he has incarcerated thousands of innocent Somali travelers under a false pretense of Islamic terrorism. In one jail located inside the eastern Oromia region (near Gara Mulata district) thousands of Somalis are still kept without any charges and are denied to have access either to their relatives or to international organizations. The prisoners are kept under similar conditions that one heard or read about the Abu-Graib prison in Iraq, or some of the abuses that we have been familiarized with in the Guntanamo prison in Cuba.

 

In a recent trip to Ethiopia, I have learned from reliable sources that Ethiopian prison authorities, often Orthodox Christian Tigrians, endlessly subject helpless Somalis to some of the most unspoken humiliating acts, like “forcing prisoners to do Wudo with their urine,” or “forcing them watch while Christian soldiers soak the Quran in a zest pool of human feces and urine.”

 

When arrested, these prisoners, who are from all over Somali-speaking regions, happened to be traveling either inside Ethiopia or around the common border areas. One of the most famous prisoners is related to the late Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Igal (Ciise Muse) who was picked up while he was on a business trip inside the Somali region that Ethiopia administers. Others are from Bosaaso, Kismayo, Burco, Hargaysa, Qabri Daharre, Baydhabo Jigjiga, *** Dhabe, etc.

 

The history of the Tigrian Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) has been one of neo-fascist based on a closely-nit ethnic chauvinism. Additionally, a narrow version of the teachings of the Coptic Church (colored by the beheading of the only Tigrain King in Ethiopia’s modern history, Nugus Johannes, by the Mahdi of Sudan) and the Enver Hoxha Stalinist strain of Marxist world outlook has guided them. This is a deadly combination, especially against any community that follows the teachings of Islam. TPLF’s anti-Islamic and anti Somali stance is rooted in this twin believe system.

 

Mr. Zenawi’s TPLF has marginalized both Muslims in Tigray province as well as in the rest of Ethiopia. For example, despite that Tigray’s Muslim population amounts to ten percent there is no tangible presence of Muslims in either Tigry regional government or in the leadership of TPLF. With the exception of Samora Yunis, a commander of the armed forces, who lost all that he had about being Muslim except half of his name, there is no other Muslims in the TPLF higher echelon. In a country where more than half of the population is Muslim, there is only one Muslim person in the Executive Committee of the ruling EPRDF party.

 

The marginalization of Muslims in the TPLF dominated government in Ethiopia proper is so pronounced that it amounts to extreme case of racism. For example, there are more Tigres in Mr. Zenawi’s government than there are Muslims put together, although Tigres account for a mere 2.7 million as opposed to Muslims with a whopping 50 million out of a total of 75 million. If this is not a clear case of assigning an inferior social position to Muslims in Ethiopia, it at least indicates the deep-rooted Tigrian attitude towards Muslim Ethiopians.

 

Moreover, TPLF has been loudly racist against Somalis. In a 1991 interview that Mr. Zenawi, then president of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, gave to the veteran and long-time horn of Africa journalist, the indomitable Sayid Khalif, what came out was more of TPLF’s deep-rooted racism than a vision. When Mr. Khalifa asked why Somalis received only a handful of positions (only 4 parliamentary seats out of about 500) in the transitional government formed by the victorious TPLF in exchange for Somalis’ decade’s long struggle against injustice and oppression by Abbysinians, Meles Zenawi unequivocally responded:

 

The reason why Somalis did not get more positions in the

transitional parliament is because Somalis do not know how to

administer for they are nomadic and therefore do not have enough skills.

 

Even to the most pragmatic observer of the Ethiopian condition, the late Mohammad Ugaas Abdi, aka, **********, who reluctantly signed the transitional charter on behalf of the now-defunct Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF), said once that “Meles waa cunsuri muran madoonta ah,” or “Mr. Zenawi is undoubtedly a racist to the bone.”

 

Why is, then, this racist who does not have an iota of respect for the Somalis, be they inside of Ethiopia or in the Democratic Republic, so quick to invade Somalia? His public and diplomatic pronouncements that he is going into Somalia to protect and safeguard the weak Transitional Federal Government (in Bydhabo) from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) is as laughable as the “fox watching the chicken coop.” This kind of nonsensical diplomacy, which is a reminiscent of the pre-Iraq invasion rhetoric, say “Saddam Hussein is only months away from unleashing a nuclear bomb against America,” or “liberating the Iraqi Muslims from Saddam Hussein,” or the former South African Apartheid regime saying that they are protecting Swaziland from subversive forces of the ANC, are nothing but naked lies of leaders who are not in touch with their own peoples’ feelings. As such, the not-so morally upbeat Ethiopia’s largely conscripted army is prone to suffer an unforgiving defeat in the hands of ICU militias inside Somalia.

 

President Yusuf is a Real Loser

 

Invading Somalia, a sovereign nation with standing membership at the United Nations, by a neighboring Ethiopia, a long time enemy, under the pretext of stopping the advance of Islamic Courts Union (ICU) will definitely backfire and may even expose how fragile the shaky TPLF grip is in the Somali region as well as in Addis Ababa. Somalis have a more fitting saying for someone as high-headed as Mr. Zenawi:

 

Wallee Dheehay Dhaaxaad Oloshaye, Oh! Dheha, you have been on the roller coaster long

Waa lagaa dhalin oo laguu dhigi enough that it is high time to force you into deliverance

 

 

What is certain is that if Mr. Zenawi invades Somalia, he is bound to leave out of Somalia, whenever that may be, weaker and more beaten down. His [conscripted] soldiers would be hunted down in the unfamiliar rough terrain of Somalia. To make matters worse, if Eritrea simultaneously opens up a northern front, we could easily expect a rapidly and profusely bleeding Ethiopian army at two fronts. This plausible scenario – plus a certain re-activation of the Somali Liberation Fronts (WSLF and ONLF) in the east to harass an already stretched out army and a robust Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) attacking on a new southern front – makes Ethiopian invasion a futile exercise and could even result in more negative results for Ethiopia.

 

There are several salient results that could come out of the impending Ethiopian invasion of Somalia: First, it is nearly impossible to defeat the ICU inside Somalia, and more so inside Mogadishu. In other words, it is unthinkable that Ethiopia would ever conquer Somalia, where both the UNISOM forces and highly specialized US invasion projects were soundly defeated. Precisely so, because almost everyone in Mogadishu, with the possible exception of the immediate family members of the lame-duck Prime Minister, Ali M.Geeddi, Ethiopia’s man of the TFG, would carry a gun pointed at Ethiopian soldiers. As such, an Ethiopian expedition as strong as 10,000, 20,000, or even, say, 30,000 would amount to nothing compared to a massive resistance put up by an entire population armed and eager to die for their faith and front yard. (read Ragge Omar’s analysis, Wardheernews, Dec. 8, 2006.)

 

Thus, it is likely that the military brass of Ethiopia may discourage Mr. Zenawi from taking this rout. Equally unthinkable is the fodder cannon tactics, pushing unwilling conscripted peasant with a barrel of a gun pointed at their backs to clear enemy mines, as Ethiopia did in its war against Eritrea in 2000. A repeat of this kind of unscrupulous war tactics would reawaken the bitter memory of Oromos, who lost thousands of their own peasants, and the US government who secretly complained to Mr. Zenawi about this heinous military tactics.

 

The most likely Somalia mission of Ethiopia would, therefore, meant to beef up Ethiopia’s alleged presence in and around Bydhabo to attempt to protect the weak TFG from falling into the hands of the roaring and “river-like trouping surges” of the ICU militia. This may create a long term stalemate between Ethiopian-backed TFG who would remain pigeon-holed in the provincial town of Baydhabo and a vast administration-less country ruled by ICU militia.

 

But creating a stalemate would be a win-win situation for the ICU. One, Mogadishu would still remain in the hand of the ICU who would use it as a base for organizing a grassroots movement to create insurrections through the rest of the country city-by-city and region-by-region. In the final analysis, Ethiopia would loose both man and material resources and gain nothing. At minimum, an invasion of Somalia at this time may further destabilize Ethiopia’s eastern and southern fronts. At maximum, the entire Ethiopian society may be put back into war track once again, and this could easily erode the little gains that some regions within that country have achieved.

 

In all these scenarios, one thing is certain: the real looser is President Abdullahi Yusuf who may never set a foot in Mogadishu as the President of a “reconciliation government,” notwithstanding that he was nominated at Embagati almost two and half years ago with over seventy percent of the delegates.

 

With his health failing, plus a country whose murky conditions are muddied by the Ethiopian opportunistic factor, President Abdullahi Yusuf may as well be left with nothing, except mincing at the last fare well bid he had paid to Villa Somalia prior to his escape to Ethiopia in 1977. Nor is it likely that he would see the gallant military salutation of a future national army of Somalia staged at the breezy Tribune mall that is tacked in between Talex hotel and the dusty plains of Digfer Hospital, as did decades ago his nemesis, the late dictator Mohamed Siyad Barre.

 

As Professor Said Samatar said in a different context, I may quickly add here to say this: poor Abdulahi Yusuf, too far from Allah and from Arbac Rukun Mosque, and too close to Ethiopia’s Qudus Gabriel Church. By invading Somalia, Ethiopia has sealed off the faith of this aging warrior, and it consequently killed his long-held dream of ruling Somalia out of the magnificent Villa Somalia once in his lifetime. How such a fierce fighter, who cares less about wealth and more about the attainment of the highest political power of his country, who refused anyone to dictate to him, and who searched the mirage of presidency all along, is easily negated by the actions of another ambitiously ruthless, yet clever dictator, is one of the many unscripted tragedies of post Barre Somalia.

 

It is time now to bid good bye to President Abdullahi Yusuf, and hear all Somalis sing in unison: President Abdullahi, we don’t love you less, but we love Somalia more, as much as Brutus said at Cesar’s court: “I killed Cesar not because I love him less, but I love Rome more.”

 

Faisal Roble

E-Mail:Fabroble@aol.com

[XOG-ogaal]

i don't want say anything about a/y but how could a one country have three president ? hmmmmm i understand states but ethopia is making deals with somaliland and puntland at sametime they are fighting for the TFG hmmmm that does make sense to me the state of arizona does make econmic or security deals with mexico its the federal government. the way i see ethopia trying to copture the souther somali behind the TfG

[XOG-ogaal]

that doesn't make sense.......i meant

[XOG-ogaal]

sorry i meant the state of arizon does not make......im typing to fast

[Oromia]

The history of the Tigrian Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) has been one of neo-fascist based on a closely-nit ethnic chauvinism. Additionally, a narrow version of the teachings of the Coptic Church (colored by the beheading of the only Tigrain King in Ethiopia’s modern history, Nugus Johannes, by the Mahdi of Sudan) and the Enver Hoxha Stalinist strain of Marxist world outlook has guided them. This is a deadly combination, especially against any community that follows the teachings of Islam. TPLF’s anti-Islamic and anti Somali stance is rooted in this twin believe system.

[Abwaan]

I like xikmadda uu qoraagu u cuskaday maqaalkan.

[Somali_Friend]

My contribution from what I see are the realities at this time in Ethiopia:

 

1. The prime minister is a christian, but the last thing he can be accused is of being not just anti-Islam, but less friendly to Islam. He is accused by past regime supporters in Addis Ababa of making every center of power; courts, military, police, intelligence, majority of his cabinet filled with Moslems.

The false accusation kite cannot fly anywhere except in ICU world of lies and deception.

Best example would be Hassan Al-Turabi of Sudan, who curses and cusses at the ethiopian prime minister, but stated unabashedly that he doesn't accuse Meles of any issue on religion. Al-Turabi is a man not afraid to accuse Al-Bashir as being Weyannie or Tigray.

 

2. The article seems to call the somali as being fooled by the prime minister into friendship. This is denigrating the somali to attempt to get at the ethiopian prime minister. This is the most useless and meaningless of the accusations. The friendship between the prime minister and his Front with WSLF goes a lot longer than all the accusers from Mugadishu would want you to know.

Do you think its the easiest thing to do accusing a prime minister for being pro somalia when a resolution against ICU is being passed? The best answer for this is on the ground rather than on the internet or ICU world of deception of saying different things in different places.

 

3. Why can't the Mugadishu ICU supporters see Somalia problems as primarily Somali. Foreighners if bad can make it worst and if good can make it better, but cannot invent something that is not there to begin with.

Somaliland, Puntland and other regions that prefer to live in good neighborly relations with ethiopia can't be all anti-somalia and only a small gang in Mugadishu stands for Somalia. Thats the most dishonest speak and creates more animosity in Somalia itself.

[Somali_Friend]

Since the early 1990s,

Mr. Zenawi has shrewdly succeeded to disorient Somalis

while at the same time undoing the Democratic Republic of Somalia.

While publicly misleading the easily believing and magnanimous Somalis (both in the Democratic Republic of Somalia and the Ethiopian “autonomous region) that his Tigrian-ruled Ethiopia is a friend and not a foe to Somalis,

everything that he has done so far is indeed a devil’s duty.

Whats the need for calling the Somali easy to disorient, easy to fool, I don't want to say the articles frastrated and demoralized writing in the words they wrote.

 

These must be some defeated power hungry liers writing lies from comfortable life in the west. The writer/s seem to have given up all hope of being supported by the Somali and are calling the Somali names and demeaning characters.

 

These must be person/s who have no courage to ask the question to themsleves as to why they failed.

[General Duke]

^^^Those who oppossed the TFG from the beggining are looking for and clutching to new excuses. First it was the clan argument, then the religious one and now the Tigray, puupet excuse.