Somalia: A smiling new President for a country in desperation [Editorial]

[Fiqikhayre]

Somalia: A smiling new President for a country in desperation [Editorial]

 

2 Dec 2, 2012 - 6:22:32 AM

 

GAROWE ONLINE EDITORIAL | President Hassan's "Manifesto" provides no vision for a national political system that has matured and benefited from the wise counsel of the bitter lessons of Somalia's troubled past.

 

Somalis are famous for attaching nicknames to each other. Within a few weeks of his election via parliamentary vote as President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, held in Mogadishu on Sept. 10, 2012, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was nicknamed Hassan 'Qoslaye', or Hassan 'Smiley' in English.

 

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud - President of Somalia

 

Photographs posted by state-run Radio Mogadishu website highlighting President Hassan's trip to Ethiopia last week include a revealing photograph of President Hassan sitting in the cockpit of an Ethiopian Airlines jet, smiling back at the camera. One hopes that, President Hassan is not as ill prepared to fly an airplane, as he is to lead a nation.

 

Recently, President Hassan was visited by a mission dispatched by the U.N. Security Council to conduct an assessment of the U.N. mandate in post-transition Somalia. President Hassan undiplomatically handed the visiting U.N. team a 5-page document referred to as the "Manifesto" that he first published during the runner-up to the Sept. 10 election. The Manifesto contains President Hassan's vision while he was a presidential candidate; the "Six Pillar Policy" aims to "outline a public policy framework that sheds light on the top most priority issues and lay strong foundations for building reliable and functioning state institutions". By promoting that same document as President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has stamped his national vision for Somalia – a vision that, while it enshrines principles of governance and humanity, lacks the political depth that can deliver even a part of that vision and help Somalia recover from the ruins of war.

 

No wonder President Hassan has been obsessively preoccupied with issues relating to the formation of 'Jubaland' administration in southern Somalia or receiving foreign delegations in Mogadishu, thereby sidelining the Prime Minister, instead of widening his focus to tackle priority national issues.

 

The "Manifesto" includes clauses on security and national political system that seem to apply to all levels of government, and to all parts of Somalia. Naturally, any policy that aims to apply in parts of Somalia is shortsighted, impractical, and is more than likely to produce counter-productive results. His Manifesto calls for "establishment of regional and district security committees" from the center – or in this case, from the federal government in Mogadishu. Some have speculated that ex-President Abdiqassim Salat Hassan is a "close adviser" of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. With such centralist line of thought, one ponders the validity of the speculation.

 

More over, President Hassan's "Manifesto" provides no vision for a national political system that has matured and benefited from the wise counsel of the bitter lessons of Somalia's troubled past. For example, the Manifesto makes no mention of federalism, and fails to posit propositions on how to deal with the secession of Somaliland, equaling the dismemberment of Somalia. Instead, President Hassan was caught commending the "Somaliland government and its people" for last week's local elections. While Somaliland should be commended for holding local elections, Somaliland should be equally criticized for using "military democracy" in Sool and Sanaag regions that support Puntland and remaining part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Somaliland is well-known for sending election teams carrying ballot boxes, accompanied by military forces.

 

President Hassan's message is similar to a message that a Somali President would express for elections in Kenya, or France. Are "Somaliland and its people" the same people Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is the President for, or has Hassan forfeited his authority as President of Somalia?

 

Many things remain unclear, but President Hassan's smile will not save Somalia. Long gone is the euphoria of a peaceful election on Sept. 10, and now, the country needs visionary leadership to steer Somalia on the path towards national reconciliation, recovery, and rebuilding of a new Somalia, and deliver tangible results before public confidence dissipates.

 

Garowe Online Editorial

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Garowe boys are angry the President of Somalia congratulated the people of Somaliland and the government of Somaliland:D Now what is wrong with congratulating people. The guy has been in office less than 3 months give him a break he has a long way to go Somalia is war torn country destroyed by famine and civil war , Rome was not build in one day give the man some time and space.

[Abwaan]

Waan la yaabay. Wayba qaadan la'yihiin in qof qabiil kale oo Soomaaliyeed ka soo jeeda uu madaxweyne noqday. Markii hore lagama fekerin the unrealistic expactation haddii kale this consequence maba dheceen. Oops and the prime minister cid kale maxaa loo siiyey is another argument of theirs.

This president, haddii Eebbe Idmo oo cimrigiisuna gaaro will stay for the next four years ee give up guys and accept the reality. He wasn't my candidate and did not even take him serious since his debate speech but this president wakhti halls siiyo. I disagree with him on some issues but I will give him the benefit of doubt and observe on how his leadership goes.

The people of Somaliland although I disagree with them on dividing the country they still are Soomaali and deserve a respect.

[Haatu]

Reer Barigu waa dad cajiib ah. With them it's 'my way or the highway' Isu tanaasul horta gobaladaas ma laga yaqaanaa mise waxay moodaan af qalaad?

[Che -Guevara]

All the rants from some groups,aside, there's legitimate questions that need answers.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Give the man some space its not easy to govern over Somalis.

[Haatu]

Che, don't be so short sighted sxb. When the President is commending them, he's merely sweetening them up ready for the negotiations. It's called trust building. There's no way Qoslaaye will sign off the dismemberment of the country.

[peasant]

Haatu;895304 wrote:

Reer Barigu waa dad cajiib ah. With them it's 'my way or the highway'

Isu tanaasul horta gobaladaas ma laga yaqaanaa mise waxay moodaan af qalaad?

Do you think they would've had a four successive presidents if they could not concede or reconcile with each other? I doubt so.

[Somalia]

Good piece by GaroweOnline, I see no one refuting these facts, but rather talking about the author of the piece. Talk about intellectual midgetry.

 

I urge all of Somalis to unite. Peace.

[peasant]

^:D

[Che -Guevara]

Haatu;895310 wrote:

Che, don't be so short sighted sxb. When the President is commending them, he's merely sweetening them up ready for the negotiations. It's called trust building. There's no way Qoslaaye will sign off the dismemberment of the country.

I am not talking about Somaliland, just in general, what's exactly his Government's program for Xamar and the rest of the country.

[Taleexi]

Xaaji Xunjuf;895200 wrote:

Garowe boys are angry the President of Somalia congratulated the people of Somaliland and the government of Somaliland:D Now what is wrong with congratulating people. The guy has been in office less than 3 months give him a break he has a long way to go Somalia is war torn country destroyed by famine and civil war , Rome was not build in one day give the man some time and space.

Can he also once condemn the naked aggression of Somaliland against Khatumo and Makhir if he isn't only a president to some? - Actions speak louder than talk.

[Taleexi]

Abwaan;895214 wrote:

The people of Somaliland although I disagree with them on dividing the country they still are Soomaali and deserve a respect.

Ma Soomaali bay ahaayeen? bal Xaaji waydii. Bal mar uun bahasha xawaashka ka yareeya oo madaxweynuhu dadka reer Waqooyiga ah ee diiddan goosashada ha u hambalyeeyo sida sharafta leh ee ay isu difaaceen

[Abdul]

I agree with those who say the next 4 years is a waste of time.

[Jacaylbaro]

Only one group are Bacaacing nowadays .............. Waa just another bacaac