Abdullahi Yusuf can’t rule Somalia By Jerry Okunggu

[Wiilo]

Abdullahi Yusuf can’t rule Somalia By Jerry Okunggu

 

 

 

 

I may be a pessimist, but as early as the Somali peace deal was signed in Nairobi and warlords elected Abdullahi as interim president, I predicted disaster and failure. I did not do so because I had known him. I did so when I saw the circumstances of his election against his track record as a warlord.

 

Now, two years later, my prediction has come to pass. However, what worries me, and I hope other realists too, is why the international community, Africa and the rest of mankind cannot see that backing Abdullahi Yusuf to bring peace and stability to Somalia is like asking a goat to negotiate with a crocodile.

 

The past two years have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Yusuf is not good for Somalia. His type of politics polarises the country even further. He is a soldier who can easily be described as the coward of the county. He loves playing safe. If he were not so, then he would have left Nairobi immediately he was elected President and headed for Mogadishu.

 

He did not do this. Instead, he lingered around in Nairobi for almost a year waiting for a non existent AU peacekeeping force to lead him to Mogadishu.

 

Yusuf stayed for so long in Nairobi until the Kibaki administration literally forced him out of town. Life was so good here that he saw no need to hurry back to war-torn Somalia to face the challenges awaiting him there. When he finally left Nairobi, he over-flew Somalia and headed for Yemen where he took a few months before deciding where to land in Somalia! When he finally did, it was not in Mogadishu but tiny Baidoa, fearing that warlords controlling Mogadishu were unfriendly to him.

 

His decision to settle in Baidoa caused a rift between him, the Speaker of the National Assembly and his Prime Minister, both of whom were pro-settlement in Mogadishu. However, even though he finally won the day, Somalia never recovered from its persistent internal strife. Thuggery and brinkmanship held sway over the land. Militias of all sorts continued to hold the country to ransom until the Islamic Courts Union rose from the ashes to take control and bring back law and order.

 

As I write this article, the entire Somalia, save for Somaliland in the north, is under the control of the Islamic Courts. In any case, Somaliland broke way from the South as soon as Siad Barre bade farewell to his countrymen in the early 1990s.

 

As if that was not enough, just two weeks ago, war broke out in Baidoa, the very seat of Yusuf’s government over the control of the airstrip. Most foreign visitors like I had to find refuge in ICU-controlled town of Wajid for days as we awaited evacuation of our colleagues in Baidoa.

 

Just before Monday’s bomb blast that almost claimed the life of Yusuf himself, one warlord called Mohammed Ibrahim Habsade, who controls Baidoa, had given notice to the Yusuf Government to vacate Baidoa or they would be evicted by force!

 

The blast that claimed several lives is a pointer to the fact that Yusuf’s days are numbered as President of Somalia. He is finally cornered the way Siad Barre was cornered. His continued stay in Somalia is not good for the country nor is it good for Africa and the international community.

 

Any attempts to force Yusuf on Somalis will be a sure catalyst for a bloodbath of unimaginable proportions. Africa certainly does not need another Iraq or Afghanistan on its soil.

 

If the ICU can bring law and order in Southern Somalia, if Somalilanders can demonstrate that they can run a peaceful government for 15 years, hold regular elections and generally give Somalilanders their life back, why on earth would we waste 8,000 African soldiers to safeguard one individual at the risk of their own lives? Is President Abdullahi Yusuf worth dying for not only by Somalis but other nationals of Africa? I don’t think so.

 

Source: The New vision

 

The writer is an independent journalist based in Nairobi

[Bakar]

"Now, two years later, my prediction has come to pass. However, what worries me, and I hope other realists too, is why the international community, Africa and the rest of mankind cannot see that backing Abdullahi Yusuf to bring peace and stability to Somalia is like asking a goat to negotiate with a crocodile."

 

[Alle-ubaahne]

He spoke the truth, I think. General Duke must listen to this Gaal, rather than listening to those gaalo.

 

An Excellent Article, indeed!

[NASSIR]

Old article. Let us just say that ICU have learned from "Somaliland" how to hire professionals that would draft for them petitions, write articles or whatever to advance their agenda of secession.

 

You guys need to show dates of articles because it matters as current issue.

[Alle-ubaahne]

Originally posted by Caamir:

Old article. Let us just say that ICU have learned from "Somaliland" how to hire professionals that would draft for them petitions, write articles or whatever to advance their agenda of secession.

 

You guys need to show dates of articles because it matters as current issue.

Waxaad kaloo sheegto markaad weyso ma taariikh iyo 'date' baad marmarsiiyo ka dhiganeysaa?!

 

Ninyahow waxaad ku fiicnaan laheyd intaadan dhiman ka hor inaad iska dardaarantid, koley taariikh la sheegaa malihide! :cool:

[Bakar]

Old article. Let us just say that ICU have learned from "Somaliland" how to hire professionals that would draft for them petitions, write articles or whatever to advance their agenda of secession.

 

You guys need to show dates of articles because it matters as current issue.

Then I suppose you don't refute the contents, right?

[Suldaanka]

^

Caamir has put all his eggs in that basket so he has a reason to his self-deceit.

[NGONGE]

As I write this article,

the entire Somalia, save for Somaliland in the north, is under the control of the Islamic Courts

. In any case, Somaliland broke way from the South as soon as Siad Barre bade farewell to his countrymen in the early 1990s.

Is that true, Puntland people? :eek:

[Jacaylbaro]

Old article but true i guess ,,,, read it da first day was published ,,, but now i know how true it was ,,,,,,

[Biixi]

Who is this guy?

 

He is a media consultant for hire, currently working for Somaliland. Those pay him are his "knowledge" source of Somalia and somalis.

Hence he thinks that A/Yusuf is the sole member of the government. What were the " the cumstances of his election against his track record as a warlord?"

 

You can tell who pays him justr from reading the rest of his article.

 

"If the ICU can bring law and order in Southern Somalia"

 

IF they bring peace, stability and justice in some parts why not all SOMALIA?

 

"if Somalilanders can demonstrate that they can run a peaceful government for 15 years, hold regular elections and generally give Somalilanders their life back."

 

How much did they him pay him to write this - lol?

 

"why on earth would we waste 8,000 African soldiers to safeguard one individual at the risk of their own lives? Is President Abdullahi Yusuf worth dying for not only by Somalis but other nationals of Africa? I don’t think so."

 

That is a good question. I wish that we didn't need to protect any Somali from another Somali or pay thousands of dollars to a Kenyan to write about Somalia.

 

 

"The writer is an independent journalist based in Nairobi"

 

Yeah right....and I'm white lol

[Biixi]

This 2006 not 1706 so use today's English delete the unnecessary words. It takes too much time to decipher your points. I tried to understand your writing so if you are saying that I made up what I wrote and asking for a proof here it is :

 

Mr Kenyan giving a lecture on how to use the media to sell an agenda...

 

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:ZYoSV6xPGlYJ:pdf.dec.org/pdf_docs/Pdacf462.pdf+Jerry+Okungu+media+consultant+somaliland&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

 

 

That establishes that he is paid by the someone, you draw the conclusion.

 

Why would he support the ICU?

 

He doesn't support the ICU. Just read his article again.

[Abwaan]

AWAL MA MOOGEYD?!

[Khalaf]

Edited: Thanks brother Red my immaturity kicks in sometimes

[Xoogsade]

I realize one thing, if you related to a warlord, even islam in your heart won't help you see the light.

 

Qabiilka waa sixir.

[Khalaf]

Originally posted by Xoogsade:

I realize one thing, if you related to a warlord, even islam in your heart won't help you see the light.

 

Qabiilka waa sixir.

walaahi ninyahow may Allah forgive u....it is haraam to be suspious of on another u dont know me sxb then u accusse of qabilnimo (i didnt even know walaahi what TFG, C/Y, or ICU were before SOL....u are speaking about dude who just learned his abtitrsii last year) qabilnimo there is nothing wrong with knowing your ppl and loving ur ppl this is what Islam teaches us. But in this case u are accusing me of not being for haaq and denying justice that is great charge man but ALlah knows who I am, and I would swear walaa that I have no hate in me for anyone.

 

I dont support secular leaders, I stand for Islam. but lately I have realising the truth dats all man.