What exactly are Farmajo’s achievements?

[NGONGE]

Ever since the Kampala Accord was announced many people have been in uproar and lamenting the loss of a great prime minister. The eulogies have been endless and the cult of Farmajo went beyond the usual “Clan Is Everything” support, but, what exactly were the achievements of Farmajo?

Somalia today is more or less the same it was before Farmaajo was given the job of Prime Minster. Al Shabab still roam large parts of the country and their defeats to date could be argued to be the work of AMISOM & others rather than any powerful Somali army led by Mr Cheese (so not a point that Farmaajo can claim).

The TFG is still as chaotic as it ever were and the parliament is still as crowded as a barley floating refugee ship. Add to that the fact that Farmajo fell out with the Imam (for reasons only known to the great one himself) and has allowed himself to be outmaneuvered by two illiterate (as their opponents claim) men, what then could we say are the achievements of Farmaajo?

 

In my personal opinion, his greatest achievement is in being more active than any of his predecessors and utilising the media to sell and publicise his government’s phantom progress. This though is not an achievement in itself. What made it seem like one is that the man got the sack early enough for the honeymoon period of his rule to seem like one that would have lasted for ever. A case in point is my beloved Imam.

I am sure most readers remember when Farole was made president of PL and the million and one announcements that he made as he took over that entity. Now we are told that Farmajo created a corruption commission or that he ensured that some streets were cleaned, well, as I recall, the Imam promised to ban those that drink alcohol or chew khat from working in the PL public sector. In addition, Farmajo’s supporters argue that he improved and accounted for the government’s revenue that used to be misappropriated by previous administrations; this too was an old trick of Farole & Siilaanyo. To be fair to my beloved Imam though, I cannot remember him paying government workers on time or at least boasting about it (something that both Farmajo & Siilaanyo did). Farmajo even had the cheek to copy Siilaanyo’s “Here Is What We Did In Our First 100 Days In Charge” gimmick (makes you wonder if we are two countries after all!).

 

It seems to me that Farmajo’s greatest achievement was in getting the sack in the way he did! Like Siilaanyo, Farole and the Islamic Courts he was a great administrator but a hopeless politician (don’t fret people. All three are a rung above Sheikh Sharif who is neither) for had Farmajo been an experienced politician he would have foreseen the outcome of Sharif(s’) pact and would have prepared for it accordingly rather than being caught unawares like he did. Then again, maybe I am talking utter twaddle and maybe Farmajo did have some great, real and tangible achievements, which is why the women of Mogadishu are in total uproar. You tell me!

[A_Khadar]

In few months if the man could have the hearts of women and children in Mogadisho, that is enough acheivement.. Give him credits compared to both Imams you mentioned Silanyo and Faroole since Farmajo is supported by groups who are none of his own clan.

[N.O.R.F]

I have no idea what Farmaajo achieved but gaining broad support from many Somalis isn't easy so he must have done something or at least said the right words at the rights times. My Somali politics these days isn't up to much.....

[General Duke]

He brought a more competent approach to the way things were done. His cabinet has been the best in the last 20 years. His populist approach and common man touch became quite popular with many ordinary Somali's.

 

While I don’t buy into most of the manufactured success stories of Farmaajo. He was much better than the fake Ala Shiekhs, warlords and other ****** we have become accustomed to.

[Jacaylbaro]

He nominated people from diaspora as Ministers instead of warlords ................ that is all i can remember

[General Duke]

^^I remember he met a few head of state and took part in talks in the UN security council, something no secessionist leader has ever achieved..

[Taleexi]

I guess Farmaajo must've done something that triggered the galvanization of the populace irrespective of their clan/political association. As mentioned above, his cabinet are said to be able men/women. But Mr. Farmaajo belongs to the same group that is the TFG.

[Aaliyyah]

posted by NG: Mudane Madaxweyne adeero Siilaanyo xafidahuallah

in another thread adeer NG u were asking allah to protect your so called president silaanyo lol (the man being the biggest warlord). and here u are wondering what farmaajo achieved? lol is ur question genuine that u truly honestly want to know what he achieved or is it based on tribal/political ideology.

 

there goes the hypocrisy of the day.

 

dnt lemme spoil it for you..continue lol

 

 

salaam

[Aaliyyah]

between Farmaajo doesnt need anyone's approval, he got his people's approval who he doesnt even share the same clan with..... and that speaks for his achievement....kii jealous ka noqda asaga cirka roob ku og.

 

 

salaam

[Jacaylbaro]

Allah Yarxmah ,,,

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

one obvious achievement was a more professional army. he accomplished by paying the solders directly rather then the usual channels where it never got to them. If constantly visited and stayed with injured solders. This boost in morale is way in the past few months we have witnessed the tide of shabaab turned not only in the capital but in the rural south and even central regions. He knew and knows that the path to recovery is a secure Somalia. while PMs before him devoted their energies is meaningless trips, he has single single-mindedly pursued securing territory and providing for the liberated people even if what could provide was aid... More competent cabinet + more professional forces = the first foot steps to recovery...

[NASSIR]

He is popular among the masses, and that is what matters the most in democratic ideals. I think the emergence of leaders whose support from the public transcends along clan lines is something to be rejoiced by every Somali person. Such phenemenon enlivens our Somali nationalism; it also frustrates the designers of the disintegration of the Republic. The Islamic Courts, despite its foibles and blunders in strategic calculation, was a popular movement nipped in the bud. And now we are witnessing another good faith effort on the side of high performance technorats and political leaders derailed by the same two Shariifs and their backers.

[NASSIR]

By Kevin Kelley

East African

June 19, 2011

 

The Obama administration is being pressed to support Somali’s embattled Prime Minister in a political showdown that holds the key to ending the country’s two decades of war.

 

Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has refused to resign, ignoring the terms of an agreement recently reached between Somalia’s President and Speaker of Parliament.

 

Signed last week, the “Kampala Accord” brokered by President Yoweri Museveni resolved a showdown on how to manage elections slated for August by deferring them to next year. It also required Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to step down and a new premier to be appointed by mid-July.

 

The Kampala Accord’s provision requiring the prime minister’s resignations was inserted, some analysts say, because the president and parliament speaker resent Mr Mohamed’s political popularity.

 

On his part, Mr Mohamed, in power for seven months, says the Kampala Accord cannot be imposed by the president and must instead be ratified by parliament.

 

“I will respect the wish of the Somali people who want me to stay in office, rather than implementation of the Kampala Accord,” Mr Mohamed told a press conference in Mogadishu last week.

 

The Obama administration had earlier this year voiced frustration with the TFG’s seeming inability to capitalise politically on the military advances made by Amisom forces. US diplomats signalled that the White House and Congress were losing patience with a set of squabbling and corrupt politicians in Mogadishu who owe their power mainly to US underwriting of the TFG.

 

Now Mr Obama is being urged by US lobbyists to support Mr Mohamed’s call for parliamentary review of the Kampala Accord.

“We hope that the US government will come to the side of democracy and parliamentary inclusion... with respect to the future of the TFG,” says John Zagame, vice president of Park Strategies, the US lobbying firm that is being paid $20,000 a month to represent Somalia in Washington.

“We know that President Obama supports the wave of democratic reform sweeping the Islamic world, and we trust that this support will extend to the Republic of Somalia,” Mr Zagame adds

 

The Obama administration has not yet taken a public stand on the dispute between Somalia’s president and prime minister.

 

The prime minister appears to be basing his claim on more than rhetoric, analysts said. Thousands of Somalis quickly took to the streets in support of his continued tenure.

 

And some analysts suggest it is highly significant that the demonstrators in Mogadishu, mainly from the ****** clan, were rallying on behalf of a politician from the rival ***** clan. Somalia’s 20-year conflict has been driven in part by animosities among the country’s leading clans.

 

Many members of parliament and Somalia’s army are also transcending their clan differences by speaking out in support of Mr Mohamed.

 

He has won broad backing within Somalia and among international monitors for implementing promising reforms, including regularised payments of soldiers and government workers.

The Somalia army’s recent killing of top Al Qaida operative Fazul Abdullah Mohammed has further encouraged the view that a turning point may be at hand in Somalia.

Even prior to the death of Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the African Union military mission in Somalia (Amisom) had made major gains against the Al Qa’ida-linked Shabaab insurgency that still controls much of Mogadishu and many other parts of the country.

 

But in addition to the access afforded by Park Strategies, Mr Abdullahi Mohamed has ties of his own to US policymakers. He emigrated to the United States in 1990 and eventually became an official in the New York state government.

 

Even if Mr Abdullahi Mohamed does prevail in the battle over the Kampala Accord and thereby greatly enhances his political authority, the TFG may still remain mired in corruption and incompetence, some independent analysts warn.

 

“We’ve seen too many false dawns to be optimistic about what’s happening now,” says a US academic specialist on Somalia who declines to be named because of contractual obligations. “The prime minister does show promise, but one man isn’t going to be able to save Somalia from itself.”

[Som@li]

None, Shabaab is still strong!

[Gabbal]

Let's hope this is a rhetorical question and good Ngonge wasn't expecting to see shining skyscrapers near Liido beach, total defeat of Shabaab, and new Somalia rising out of the ashes from the "world's foremost failed state" in the span of six months while fighting both external enemies of the TFG as well as internal enemies within the TFG.

 

So what is it Ngonge? Is yours just mere disingenuous naysaying or shallow Western ignorance?

 

To answer your question, I am reminded of the poet Yamyam's advice to Somali stakeholders two decades ago in the first reconciliation conference:

 

Starting 1:44

 

 

 

While I can resort to the old used, but still relevant, adage "Rome wasn't built in a day" I will go lower as to say the mere fact the armed forces and the populace of Mogadishu who share no kinship with the man have been this energized and motivated by this individual is enough of an "achievement".