Somalia: The Way Forward After August, 2011!

[Somalina]

by Abdul-Aziz Mohammed

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

 

 

 

 

At the end of August, this year, the mandate of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is to end. Some Somalis, both inside and outside of Somalia, are gearing up for pageantry and jockeying for the presidency position!

In the past, one could argue there were reasons to hold conferences to turn armed groups into politicians. From the early actors in clan-motivated wars, warlords, to the now defunct Islamic Union Courts (ICU), these groups were willing—fully or in part—to come to a negotiating table to pursue a peaceful way out. Whether the result was successful or not is not as much my point here, as there were conditions which necessitated such trials at peace. In other words, all those past attempts to form a government in Somalia were to make peace among warring factions!

 

Somalia is in a different place now. For starters, the armed opposition group of Al-Shabaab is, as of now, absolute in its opposition to any kind of negations with the TFG.

 

The following question desperately begs for an answer: What would be the aim of yet another conference to form a new government at the end of this year?

 

Certainly, the answer to the question would not be to enhance peace, for Al-Shabaab will not come to take part in a new government! If they were willing, it would be logical to elect a new government, with Al-Shabaab in it, to usher in a complete silencing of violence in Somalia. All Somalis will be for it!

 

If Al-Shabaab will not come, which will render any new government by another one of usual past conferences “not a government of reconciliation,” then what for?

 

Forming a government in Somalia should not be about satisfying individual egos to the title of “Mr. President.”

 

For a government in Mogadishu to succeed, it needs continuity—especially when it seems to be working!

 

Today, for the first time in almost 2 decades, Somalia—a country left for dead—has a combination of right leaders. A new generation of Somali leaders has assumed the mantle in Mogadishu, a once thriving city rendered as an ancient ruin. And, because of it, change has finally come to Somalia.

 

President Sheikh Sharif, a novice in politics or governing or world affairs, has finally found a capable team to work with by his selection of Mr. Farmajo for the premiership.

 

If Sharif’s earlier company simply made him impotent, without a clue of what do, if what was to be done was about country and people, the new company (Farmajo and his cabinet) make the president virile! I give President Sheikh Sharif an A+ for choosing Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed (Farmajo).

 

“If we create a 1000 ministerial posts, someone or some group would still feel left behind; it is not about quantity, it is about quality,” said the new prime minster on his decision of cutting back ministerial posts from the old bloated 39 to 18.”

 

From day one, the President, Prime Minster and all his cabinet started running on going about their respective responsibilities. On daily basis, they are holding meetings, visiting soldiers (at the frontline) or schools. This new government under Sharif and Farmajo has the feel and look of a functioning government. A one clear indication of such was its swift response to a recent interclan fighting in Mudug region in central Somalia. The government immediately dispatched officials on a peace mission to the area to resolve the fighting, which they did.

 

It seems that the new government in Mogadishu is functioning in an unprecedented cohesive frame work. The days of infighting and clashes of Prima Donnas are over. Sharif Sakin is finally put in his right place, outside of any chance to meddle in counterproductively in executive decision-making.

 

About 55% of Mogadishu is, incredibly, in the hands of the government now. Mogadishu residents are increasingly flocking to government-held territories in Mogadishu. This is partially due to Al-Shabaab’s harsh treatment of civilians, which was recently admitted by one of Al-Shabaab’s top leaders by the name of Shangole!

 

The Al-Shabaab and their ilk, the usual anti-peace forces, are losing ground. Another evidence of this is Hizbul Islam surrendering to Al-Shabaab, for a better chance to survive together their current misfortune.

 

The Somali National Army is on its way back, like the phoenix rising from the ashes! With better and regular pay and deserved attention from their superiors, the morale of government soldiers is higher than any recent times! Moreover, soldiers are once again under strict military code. 4 soldiers were so far court-marshaled, found guilt and executed for a conduct unbecoming of a soldier!

 

On the other hand, all indications point to about mass desertions of Islamists’ foot soldiers. Many youngsters in the rank of Al-Shabaab would be hard pressed to stay with or give their lives up for a doomed and discredited organization. Why continue doing that, when they can be part of a proud national army!

 

What a difference leadership makes! The Somali-American dominated technocrat government, led by Mohammed Farmajo, is indeed succeeding where many governments before it could not. The simplest explanation is that Somalia has finally produced leaders who understand that it is not about them. It is about country and people!

 

So, how could possibly Somalia benefit from starting from scratch with a new government? I do not see any how!

 

We have a government, however imperfect! Electing a new president and parliament is not an easy affair. If anything, it would be a source of a new conflict or division, within what is now the TFG, as many groups and individuals scramble for power! There are no guarantees either on electing a better bunch than are in office now. “A bird at hand is worth more than two in the bush.”

 

What Somalia needs is a stable government, without the uncertainty of “transitional” hanging over its head! This is not to suggest a government in perpetuity. But, in a country like ours, we need a government which will see through the mammoth task of pacifying the unyielding-to-reason violent Al-Shabaab. Surely, Al-Shabaab is not electing a new lot as their leaders every 2 years. They have command and control stability. The government, under the difficult circumstance, deserves the same chance! Stable countries in the world cannot even afford such abrupt changes of the guard; let aside a country starting from nothing, and in war, like Somalia!

 

That said, the one area in current TFG government which badly needs reform is the parliament. The parliament is dysfunctional. It would most likely continue to be so as long as there is someone the like of Sharif “Sakin” at the helm! That post badly needs a young technocrat, like the ones in the cabinet.

 

Somalia can no longer afford a conference for “Mr. President” pageant, for every Dick and Harry to flex and prance for the title. Enough of that! Let Sheikh Sharif and his Somali-American technocrats continue for another 2 years in a permanent government, with no transitional label that is, to successfully execute the war against the radicals!

 

In an emergency situation, like in Somalia, there is simply no logic or utility to change political horses in the midstream. Once the war is over, and then it would be up to all Somalis to elect in peacetime a truly democratic government.

[Jacaylbaro]

Ha werwerin waxbaan kuu ogahay wiiga dabadiiye ...........

 

 

There will be something coming up in the coming few months .....

[Somalina]

:D:D

"Luuq luuq marow, laasim laamiga aas imaahaa!"

[Jacaylbaro]

Wax weyn baan kuu ogahay ,,,,

[Somalina]

Soo tuur, sup with the teasing dee.

 

Press 1 for Sharif, press 2 for hebel

[Jacaylbaro]

Not Sharif not anyone else ,,,,,, I said Something dee ,,,, then we will see

[Somalina]

Jacaylbaro;688937 wrote:

Not Sharif not anyone else ,,,,,, I said Something dee ,,,, then we will see

lol...sheeg dee ama naga daa. Dhib badanidaa kaaley.

[Qodax Qorax]

JB, I have the news too. You are not the only one who has Siilanyo's mobile number.

[Jacaylbaro]

and who are u this time hadana ???

[Somalina]

Jacaylbaro;688961 wrote:

and who are u this time hadana ???

loooooooool... SLander. Shaley uun-buu break ka qaadanaayey dee..

[Jacaylbaro]

Shalay koofyad khalad ah buu soo xidhay ,,,,,

 

Reminds me to the Reer Burco guy who secretly married another woman ... he one night decided to spend the evening with her before he goes home. When he was leaving coz it was a bit dark, he wanted to grab his Cumaamad and instead put a googorad on his shoulder. Dee maxaa ka raacay markay tii kele ka furtay albaabka and they guy has googorad on around his neck ,,,

[Somalina]

Somalia can no longer afford a conference for “Mr. President” pageant, for every Dick and Harry to flex and prance for the title. Enough of that! Let Sheikh Sharif and his Somali-American technocrats continue for another 2 years in a permanent government, with no transitional label that is, to successfully execute the war against the radicals!

[Somalina]

Peddling “Cynicism” will Never Help Somalia!

 

Clearly, the performance of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Technocrats has disappointed those who had hope for a fundamental change and held dear the revival of the “Somali Republic” on a sustainable foundation. The TFG of Technocrats has created more problems and distresses rather than confidence, accountability and hopeful future.

 

I ask: what technocrats in the world, even with “super natural” capabilities, could institute in 2 months fundamental changes and revive a country with 20 years of the worst anarchy?

 

The new technocrat-led TFG couldn’t be any more different than its predecessors. For example, in 2 months of its existence, this new TFG has paid its soldiers each month. To me, that is a big achievement! Another example is the difference between the numbers of ministerial posts. The TFG before the current technocrat-led had 39 posts, where as this one has reduced posts to 18. Isn’t that a change for the better?

 

Tangible confidence-building takes time, especially under the disastrous circumstance Somali has been for 2 decades. The 2 good examples above are themselves in part-laying of the foundation for confidence-building.

 

Then, Mr. Uluso goes on lecturing about what is expected of “technocrats” in world conventional wisdom. He writes:

Conventional wisdom tells us that Technocrats possess not only the knowledge and skills needed to understand the principles, interests and norms controlling the international relations and politics, but also have the capacity to critically evaluate domestic problems, perceptions and realities, which took root in Somalia in the past half century of abuse of state power, civil war, foreign intervention and religious conflict. After taking stock of the past record of failures and unfulfilled dreams, they were expected to formulate a different vision, strategies and tactics.

 

Ah, yes! Let me agree with Mr. Uluso with all his points above, but there is nothing there which states or suggests technocrats should possess and waive a “magic wand” over festered 20 years of national mayhem and make it disappear in 2 months!

 

There is nowhere in his article where he mentions the magnitude of the problem these technocrats face. No sympathy at all for these young and educated Somalis, who left families and good careers behind in the U.S. and elsewhere and risked everything for serving country and people. Amazing!

 

Mr. Uluso is right about the importance of a sound “vision” for any Somali administration to have to reverse the bleak situation. His conclusion of no vision with the technocrats in Mogadishu, however, is not supported by facts on the ground.

 

For instance, it must take a sound vision and its implementation to make the new government not easily prone to corruption, which plagued the old TFG. Again, it is by vision that the president and prime minister and his cabinet are all on the same page.

 

That is why I challenge Mr. Uluso to show any report which alleges any corruption, the usual with past TFG top leaders, of the new government! Moreover, show us any hint, Mr. Uluso, of a report about infighting between the executive branches of the President Sheikh Sharif and the Prime minster Farmajo and his cabinet. There are none, whatsoever. On the contrary, they seem to be working like hand and glove!

 

Once more, it takes vision to professionalize the army by meeting the soldiers’ needs first. If the primary task of the new government is to restore security by dealing the armed opposition, then this infant new government (only 2 months old) has done some concrete headways in that regard.

 

Just few months before last Ramadan, Al-Shabaab forces were threatening to takeover Villa Somalia. There were panic-stricken urgent calls from TFG officials for neighboring countries to intervene. Al-Shabaab is no longer few doorsteps from the Presidential Palace, as Mr. Uluso so erroneously states in his article. Their so boastfully advertised Ramadan offensive ended up in total failure by the hands of TFG soldiers (unpaid then) backed by AMISOM troops.

 

Another one of Mr. Uluso’s difficulties is his mixing technocrat-led TFG and TFG Parliament, which is not led by technocrats. Sharif Sakin, as far as I know, has never been a technocrat academically or by real life experience. He never claimed to be one. Nor anyone called him the T–word. The man was a “truck-driver,” who never finished high school! Why blame the technocrats for Sakin and the parliament he runs (both existed pre-technocrats).

 

Also, Sharif Sakin putting roadblocks on Farmajo’s and cabinet nominations, which did not succeed, was not the fault of technocrats. In fact, such actions by the “Sakin,” of resisting prime minister and cabinet nominations, was a proof of the change which technocrats represented—of which Sharif Sakin, with his old corrupt ways of doing business, would not readily approve. After all, Sharif Sakin had his own candidate for prime minister in mind. When he did not get his way or torpedo the new prime minster, he tried to kick dust with cabinet nominations! This is old news, anyway.

 

Uluso further writes:

TFG is not a legal political entity at local and international level. It’s roadblock to constructive dialogue among Somalis. The Western Media asserts daily that Somalia has no functioning government since 1991. Yet, it is one of the forces that contribute to the misery and depredation of the Somali people.

 

On the political legality, locally or internationally, of the TFG, I can only state facts. One, the TFG is the only recognized Somali government by international law. That is why the world deals with the TFG. Organizations like the African Union (AU) would not have sent troops to an illegal entity. TFG may not be an effective political entity (at least not yet), which is different from legal, but it is legal alright!

 

Two, as for the TFG not being a legal political entity locally (meaning inside Somalia), that is ridiculous to even mention, for obvious reasons.

 

Finally, Mr. Uluso reveals his true color as a typical fadhi ku dirrir (fighter-in-sitting ). He concludes:

 

Legitimate Somali leaders should assume the responsibility to debate on the future of Somalia. Internal dialogue is key to a change of fortune in Somalia. A compact among Somalis combined with compact between Somalis and the IC is the way forward. The debate over TFG and Draft Constitution is distraction from the real problems of Somalia.

 

Well, I say to my brother Mr. Uluso this: brother, if you have any Cojones, like the technocrats, go to Mogadishu and face the Music. What Somalia needs is not an endless debate, as you are calling for. It desperately needs action. It needs people like you to risk everything and stand before the problem, live!

 

If you are not willing to go to Mogadishu and stare, eyeball to eyeball, the difficulties, then the least you should do is not trade in the stock market of unjustifiable, counterproductive cynicism! That will never help Somalia an iota!

 

Abdul-Aziz Mohammed

Somam23@wowway.com

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

who made it legal the international community who created it the internatonal community that's why it will never be effective in ruling the country because its a foreign made puppet government and ofcourse it has a mandate.

[Somalina]

Don't you want the "International community" to recognize you?

 

Bottom line awoowe...No Aqoonsi for you and calaacal is not going to turn you into Dinkas...lol...