Somalia’s Most Important Modern Reformer: Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali

[General Duke]

 

In a letter to the Diaspora, the former Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali stated that he wanted to enter into a dialogue with the Somali community. This was an attempt to install public confidence in his government as well as make up for the lack of communications between the Somali people and the then-fledgling Transitional Federal Government. In the letter, Mohamed Ali described his government’s progress in implementing a road map that had caught little optimism in war-torn Somalia.

 

The lack of excitement came as no surprise given that Somalia has had over two dozen reconciliation conferences, each bolder than the other. Not only did skeptics call the road map ambitious and unfeasible some outright asserted that it would create more violence. A year after its implementation the transitional road map yielded some positive results.

 

 

“Our strategy in consultation with other stakeholders was to streamline the deliverables into manageable and realistic goals and encapsulate them with complimentary policy directions matched by clear timelines through a concisely mapped out Road Map.”

 

The road map which was the brainchild of the former prime minister consisted of several strategic provisions; reconciliation and political outreach; completion of the constitution making process; delivery of good governance structures and security.

 

Security

 

As part of the security benchmark, a National Security & Stabilization Plan was devised allowing the rebuilding of the army, military judicial system as well as putting in to effect policing reforms.

 

 

“We have developed a 3-year National Stabilization and Security Plan (NSSP) that envisions the rebuilding of our army, our police force and our justice institutions, as well as the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of our youth so that we can turn these youth actual citizens of a peaceful country.”

 

The plan which was signed into law on the 10th of August 2012 by former president Sheikh Shariif was eagerly welcomed given that it provides immediate support to strengthen national troops which are along with AMISOM are gaining territory from the Islamist group Al-Shabaab. Approximately 3000S Somali soldiers are being trained in Uganda under close supervision of military trainers from the European Union.

 

National Reconciliation

 

Another benchmark was the need for reconciliation but more specifically social reconciliation. In a country ravaged by violent conflicts ranging from Islamist insurgency to clan fighting, it is a necessity to get past the atrocities and abuses for the past 21 years, the prime minister stated. A number of ‘peace committees’ dealing with resource based conflicts have been set up in regions such as Galmudug, Ximan and Xeeb, and Puntland. This new policy and strategy was also extended to newly liberated areas which include Hiiraan, Bay and Bakool.

 

“We are also in the middle of setting up peace committees in many regions and districts of the country and the mandate of these committees would be to reduce resource based conflicts before they snowball into civil and clan wars, to mediate conflicts and also to foster a culture of peace through dialogue among communities.”

 

To foster national reconciliation, six signatories of the road map including the TFG, Puntland, Galmudug, ASWJ and civil societies came together to shape key provisions which would allow the country to finish the transition accordingly. As a direct result, the Garowe Principles I and II were agreed upon which themselves paved way for the implementation of a new federal structure.

[General Duke]

Constitution

 

Concerning the constitution of Somalia, Mohamed Ali mentioned chapter 4 of the Transitional Federal Charter which states that a new federal constitution should be drafted. He says the following; “the Independent Federal Constitution Commission has diligently worked over the past few years to produce a draft constitution; a Committee of Experts is now working on it to finalize and then harmonize some of the large outstanding questions, such as our future system of government and the nature of the federalism we will adopt.”

 

With the success of the Somali National Consultative Constitutional Conferences in December 2011 and February 2012 and the adoption of Garowe Principles, shared optimism between the supportive international community and Somali stakeholders furthered numerous consultative meetings among the signatories allowing reconciliation and negotiation over contentious issues.

 

The constitution which is provisional was finally adopted by a national constituent assembly on the 1st of August 2012. It will act as a temporary constitution until it is put up for a national referendum. Abdiweli Mohamed’s intention to promote reconciliation is further explained by him in what he described as a ‘parallel process.’

 

“Let me remind you that it is necessary conflict to examine their social and political arrangements and begin dialogue on a renewed and revised social contract. Thus the constitutional making process under way would be a parallel process and tool for conflict resolution and reconciliation as the various stakeholders in our society publicly debate about fundamental and foundational issues-fundamental rights and the state, systems of governance, the relationship between the center and the periphery and the desirability of devolution and decentralization so that governments become responsive to citizens including those who reside in rural communities.”

[General Duke]

Environment

 

Furthermore, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, under his former role as the prime minister of the transitional federal government of Somalia, lobbied successfully for the international ban of charcoal exportation from Somalia. In a letter dated 4 January 2012 which was addressed to the President of the United Nations Security Council, the former prime minister requested the Security Council impose an international prohibition of the charcoal importation from Somalia.

 

The charcoal trade has not only had a devastating effect on Somalia’s environment, it has also served as the main source of income for the terrorist entity named Al-Shabab. This resulted in the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, signing onto the existing executive order passed by the U.N Security Council. By July, charcoal exportation from Somalia was banned internationally, delivering a fatal blow to the Al-Shabab terrorist network.

 

Good governance

 

Finally the last crucial benchmark was the need for good governance. In a country with little or no governance for the past 21 years, it is now more crucial than before in a post transitional Somalia to have an effective and efficient government. To meet this prime minister stated the need for transparency, especially regarding management and distribution of public funds.

 

 

“We have revived Somalia’s Bureau for Investigation of Corruption and we plan to turn it into a robust anti-corruption institution. My government has also initiated a proposed Joint Financial Management Board that will ensure the channeling of both public financial management and international aid efficiently and effectively towards social and economic dividends to Somali citizens. We cannot allow a handful of selfish individuals to sabotage the future of all of Somalia anymore.”

 

Somalia itself does not lack visionary leaders; it lacks the basic institutions from which these leaders are to reap from. As we are set to have the first presidential election on Somali soil in decades, we can easily identify the achievements of the last transitional government, which unlike its predecessors dealt in compromising and negotiating. While the international community has been busy installing government after government, it has finally realised the need for a bottom-up approach in dealing with the chaos that has engulfed Somalia for the past 21 years, and today may just be the day we enter a new era of stability and growth.

[General Duke]

Somalia’s Most Qualified Parliament

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SRSG Augustine Mahiga

Monday, September 10, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mogadishu - There is an air of excitement as we draw closer to one of the most important dates in the history of Somali politics. Despite the many challenges leading up to the end of the transitional period, there is great pleasure in knowing that the legislative arm of Somalia’s new government sits many of the country’s most highly qualified people.

 

Approximately 60 percent of the Members of Parliament hold university degrees. The Speaker, Professor Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, is an attorney by trade with numerous educational achievements and is fluent in five languages: Somali, Arabic, English, Italian and Norwegian. Another Member of Parliament, Mr. Ahmed Samatar, was the James Wallace Professor of International Studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Samatar has lectured at many leading universities including Cornell, Harvard and the London School of Economics. Member of Parliament, Ms. Asha Haji Elmi, a well-known peace activist, holds a degree in Economics from Somalia National University as well as a Master of Business Administration from the United States International University in Kenya.

 

These are a few examples of the remarkable individuals who comprise the new Somali Parliament and who demonstrate dedication to the service of
their country in this exciting and transformative chapter of Somalia’s history.

 

In this new Parliament, there are many other people of action, integrity and determination; capable of delivering a new Somalia in the next four years. Their collective action will make the needed difference Somali people are expecting from the Parliamentarians.

 

As International Literacy Day, themed “Literacy and Peace,” was marked, let us reflect on the potential of this new, highly qualified Parliament and its potential to play an invaluable role in the Somali peace process. Just as literacy contributes to peace, bringing people closer to attaining individual freedoms and fostering better understanding of the world, it also plays a key role in the prevention and resolution of conflict. In Somalia, both literacy and democratic processes go hand in hand to create a solid foundation for peace and stability.

 

While obstacles remain, Monday’s Presidential election will mark another milestone in the country’s political process, and so I call on legislators who are voting to ensure they uphold the standards already set while selecting the best candidate as the leader for their nation.

 

Source: UNPOS