Hassan Sheekhow, Concentrate on the Bigger National Priorities, Not on Kismayo.

[xiinfaniin]

Habeenyahow dheeri waad idhibtee

Waaberiguna iima kaa dhaamo’e!

 

In politics, bravery is essential quality in achieving success. Oratory skills alone do not make one cross the Rubicon; it takes courage and guts to face down challenges. In your nascent administration, the first in Somalia’s post transitional political environment, you and your political colleagues will have many opportunities to shape Somalia’s future and lead it to a more stable and secure environment. But the opposite, Allah forbid, could be true. For if you fail to seize the opportunities presented, or shirk from identifying the real national priorities, you could take the country back and squander the initial goodwill and support most Somalis expressed when you come to office nearly two months ago.

 

Let me enumerate what I think the big challenges facing your administration are. (1)There are millions of Somalis living in dire situations, in refugee camps in foreign lands. (2)There is enormous security vacuum in the country reflecting the lack of national capacity to deal with current security challenges. (3) There are no adequate health or education services to treat the sick or educate the young. (4) Our national assets such as harbors and airports are in dire need of repair. Our infrastructure is still in state of crumble as it bears the brunt of the civil war that crushed it. (5) In every major city of South Central Somalia, there are foreign troops that are stationed to sustain a symbolic hold, ensuring a veneer of national authority---again, a telling sign of national weakness. (6) And above all, the very integrity of Somalia’s territorial unity is challenged by Somaliland’s continuous bid for recognition, and Puntland’s quest for peculiar autonomous political construct in the name of federalism---a complex challenge that requires careful mitigation to ensure Somalia’s unity and political cohesiveness are intact. In short, you are in reality the leader of a failed state with deep seated mistrust amongst its various political communities.

 

Given these colossal challenges facing your administration, your increasing focus on local state administrations such as Kismayo, seems ineffective and small. Kismayo could be litmus test for your priorities and overall leadership direction. Your involvement, no matter how genuine and legitimate, Mr. President, sends the wrong message at the wrong time. At a time when your sudden democratic ascendancy to power seemed to have forced the long, dark civil war nights recede, your involvement risks reminding many Somalis the civil war days when Mogadishu based militia used to muscle in, to put it mildly, on Kismayo residents’ lives. It contradicts your national responsibility, too. As the leader of Federal Somalia, you are expected to encourage the formation of federal states, not oppose them. You are expected to welcome any federal state that meets the constitutional requirement, not try to manipulate political events to affect the outcome. If two or more states come together, as the case seems to be in Kismayo, with the intent to form a federal state, there is no reason for your administration in Mogadishu to feel uneasy.

 

Granted, in an ideal situation, the federal government (not AMISOM, or IGAD officials) would have facilitated the establishment of federal states in Somalia. But it is the reality on the ground (not empty idealism) that drives political events. Furthermore, it is not only Kismayo in which AMISOM is doing the heavy lifting ---same could be said about Baydhabo, Beledweyne, and Mogadishu. The only difference here is Kismayo has good chance to transition from a hotly contested, conflict-ridden city to federal state as the majority clans in the three regions, amongst which Kismayo is one, are in talks to form a Jubba state. In my opinion, this is positive news on two fronts. If it succeeds, it will inaugurate a new era of clan dynamics where convergence of political interests and coalition building, and not the sheer power of clan militia muscle, is employed to attain political power. It will also cement, at least for the next four years, the post transitional political framework, namely federalism, as the platform upon which national politics and power sharing schemes are based. If Kismayo, which lies in relatively short distance from Mogadishu, becomes a stable region with solid administration, the ripple effect could be considerably significant for South Somalia. Tens of thousands of refugees could be repatriated back from refugee camps in neighboring Kenya to Kismayo. Large Diaspora with financial means whom current security issues do not allow them to invest in Mogadishu could instead pour much needed investments in Kismayo. In short, a relative stability in Kismayo will inevitably spur economic growth, as agriculture, livestock and fishery industry come to life. Add this likely Kismayo scenario to the Mogadishu recovery that is already underway, and the prospect of Somalia’s revival becomes clearer.

 

I have no delusion that clan dynamics, and political ideology play a role in the question of Kismayo. I also understand the debate about federalism vs. centralism has not been fully argued or settled in the minds of many Somalis. But it takes bravery to lose political skirmishes in Kismayo in order to win the large battle of reviving Somalia, bringing her back on a firm footing. It takes guts to choose the big picture, and refuse to be drawn into the shifting tribal angling to stake out political power in the eventual Kismayo administration. Mr. President, stick to the national priorities to tackle the challenges facing the country---for if you do not, the dawn that came with your election, to paraphrase Imru'u al Quais, will be no brighter than the darkness that preceded it.

 

Mr. President, show courage, and do the right thing.

[khalid abuukar maxamed]

afkaada caano lagu qabay ina adeer waad saa ka dhaawajisay!

[xiinfaniin]

President Hassan won fair and square. He has a mandate (does not matter whether the votes were a protest vote against Sheekh Sharif) to govern. But he needs to be very careful not to against the federalism current especially when the constitution upon which his legitimacy rests is federal one .

[Carafaat]

The constition states that central goverment is resposible for building, demarcations of regional states.

[xiinfaniin]

If two or more contiguous states converge to set up a federal state, federal leaders has no business in interfering the process. Federal government will have a responsibility however to set up admins for regions that do not meet the criterion to be a federal state.

 

There is a clear distinction there.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Xiinfaniin knowing that federalism is part of the current constitution but is it smart that the capacity of Somalia's government is being minimized military economically at the moment when there are hardly any security institutions operating in the country.

 

It seems there is a sense of urgency from hassan sheikh when it comes to security severity in his adoption of his domestic policy regarding kismayo hence why he's seen as inequitable by some segments of the country. So when it comes to another semi autonomous state south of Mogadishu he draws a red line not because he opposed clan federalism in kismayo but he needs the resources the man power so that his government can function as a normal government with full capacity to govern entire areas of south and central Somalia.

[xiinfaniin]

A new federal state at the mouth of Mogadishu is no doubt politically challenging to president Hassan, but what he seems to be risking is much consequential and bigger than mere political inconvenience. Kismayo has a long history of Hassan Sheekh's clan transgressing on it , arming one clan against the other, and at times controlling the city as it happened early days of General Aidid. These memories are fresh and raw , and his involvement risks to send the wrong message at this critical time. He has amble opportunities to improve the capacity at the federal level...his rush on Kismayo seems to be politically motivated.

 

hands off approach will serve him right I believe. The new admin in Kismayo will have to work with him as the legitimate leader of the nation.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Xiinfaniin time is of the essence whats here is being orchestrated is more than just just Clan X versus Clan B and the historical grievousness through out the years and distrust. Hassan sheikhs government is a government that relies on the support of foreign troops, the country is divided between different tribal regions. Which gives him the least influence in the country and with the creation of a new state most likely a semi autonomous one similar to Puntland. It will give his term as president a hard time to develop the country and to expand his territorial control.

 

What hassan wants for these regions is their the full cooperation of its people and constituencies that's why he set up his own committee to form a state in Kismayo consisting of MPs from those regions. And ofcourse the financial in put plays a crucial role he misses out allot of revenues and resources he could use to strengthen his government. I honestly believe that hassan sheikh doesn't have a problem if Somalia evolves in a federal state in the near future.

 

But for the time being its harming the established institutions with some support from the outside countries in its creation they will be ineffective as nation institutions because his influence might diminish if he loses influence over more territory in south and central Somalia.Because it would make a country divided as Somalia and more definitely the government which lacks the capacity and support to institute the needed reforms to achieve a more inclusive political and nation stability, and is even left more vulnerable to clan political leaders who want to create more of their own autonomous states. And that's where the president Hassan draws the line and says we are not ready yet.

[xiinfaniin]

xaaji xunjuf, your spirited defense on the president's attempt to shape the outcome of Kismayo is noted. What you are forgetting is that Hassan Sheekh has not capacity to change things on the ground. He can express his opposition and create political enemies for his young admin, but he cannot stop the looming state to come to fruition. So I question the wisdom of his opposition so early in his election , and what he is trying to achieve . I think he is utterly romantic about the era of central government or badly misinformed. Either way his opposition will be ineffective.

 

But such intricacy would be lost on secessionist like you , xaaji.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Xiinfaniin the same can be said about the folks who by hook or by crook want to establish a clan state most likely while they are being assisted by Kenyan troops don't forget there are Somali troops in Kismayo who take direct orders from hassan sheikh Mahamuud. I am not talking about the raskambooni militia. Hasssan sheikhs priority is nation building from scratch and he needs the support from the people from south and central Somalia politically and socially not just those from Kismayo but baydhabo beledweyne marka etc. And it seems people like Xiinfaniin are trying to be an obstacle to his new administration because the president wants to create a more stable Somalia. Hassan sheikh is on the begin of his reign and its a typical cycle where by the state men the president in this case wants to acquire access to the resources and people-hood of his country to strengthen his position as President.

[xiinfaniin]

^^I assume Fowziya's nomination to foreign post did the trick , secessionists like xaaji xunjuf are now in the know for Mogadishu's policy toward Kismayo.

 

xaaji xunjuf, what you fail to understand is the difference between Uganda and Kenya is non existent , how one can embrace Uganda and despise Kenya is quite amazing. Care to explain to me why would one complain about Kismayo , whilst one is conformable with Uganda and Ethiopia.

[Abwaan]

lol@Bal siyaasadda xiinfaniin meesha ay ku dambayso waan arki doonnaa...

[xiinfaniin]

Hayye Abwaan adna xaggee taadu maraysaa awoowe?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

The problem with Xiinfanin is you want to limit the president in his influence over Somalia kismayo is important its a major port city it a heavily populated city.These are domestic issues Kismayo marka Mogadisho beledweyne and the President has the right organize the internal affairs of the country.This is not about the different troops in Somalia not at all Hassan sheikhs government has excellent relations with the government in Nairobi. And i haven't heard hassan sheikh objecting the Kenyan Amisom troops in Kismayo.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Abwaan;886479 wrote:

lol@Bal siyaasadda xiinfaniin meesha ay ku dambayso waan arki doonnaa...

Abwaan mala Xiinfaniin wuxu leeyahay Madaxweynuhu yaanu ka hadlin Kismayo eeh talada Kismayo aynu u dayno Yusuf xaaji iyo Faroole.