The US accuses President Hassan of being a weak leader as the Central Bank scandal takes its toll on goverment's ability to get money

[Admin]

 

When former academic Hassan Sheikh Mohamud became president of Somalia in late 2012, his election was hailed as a sign of progress in a country destroyed by years of war and terrorism.

 

The administration of the one-time university dean was the first in Somalia to be recognised internationally for more than two decades and soon elicited aid commitments worth more than $2bn.

 

But the early hope was overtaken quickly by accusations of corruption, clan politics and a fight over resources including the promise of oil exploration.

 

In the clearest sign yet of the growing frustration among western backers, James Clapper, the US director of national intelligence, last week castigated Mr Mohamud’s “weak leadership” and the “persistent political infighting” of his 16-month-old government.

 

“The credibility and effectiveness of the young Somali government will be further threatened by persistent political infighting, weak leadership from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, ill-equipped government institutions and pervasive technical, political and administrative shortfalls,” Mr Clapper declared

 

But in an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Mohamud fought back, saying: “I don’t know what sources he [Mr Clapper] used but I don’t see any political infighting in Somalia today compared to the past. It is a subjective judgment based on his own [opinion].”

 

The public excoriation from such a senior US official is a blow for an administration that has proved unequal to inflated expectations from the international community.

 

More importantly, it also highlights rising tension between Mogadishu and its western partners over continued instability in a country that has endured more than 20 years of conflict, most recently at the hands of al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda-linked militants who control parts of Somalia. The Islamist group has launched terror attacks throughout east Africa, including the massacre in a Nairobi shopping mall late last year.

 

Mr Mohamud defended Somalia’s “democracy in the making” and issued a challenge to foreigners such as Mr Clapper to “come to Somalia, see the realities on the ground and then make whatever judgment” – a veiled disparagement of western officials who, even if they visit Mogadishu, rarely venture beyond the protected airport enclosure to brave the assassination risk Mr Mohamud faces daily.

 

Yet the US intelligence chief is not the first to question the progress being made by Mr Mohamud and his government. Domestic critics have accused the president of seeking to overcentralise power in a disparate country that desperately needs decentralised federalism if it is to avoid the failings of past dictatorship.

 

Mr Mohamud is about to work with his fourth central bank governor in less than a year, after one was accused of gross corruption by UN investigators, who said last year that $12m had gone missing from the central bank. His replacement fled the country claiming she was asked to sanction bad deals and feared for her safety if she did not heed the president’s wishes.

 

Almost all western donors decline to give aid direct to the government coffers because of traceability concerns. Donors are negotiating a financial oversight committee that would include their own representatives but have yet to hammer out a deal.

 

Mr Mohamud insists he has been “surprised how the donors have been affected [by] this thing [the central bank problems]”.

 

He denies wrongdoing although he does admit that the central bank governor’s signature was requested by his deputy finance minister to validate an account set up in Dubai to channel donations from Arab League members. Problems with the central bank’s proceedings are part of “a trial and error”, he says.

 

But Nicholas Kay, UN special representative for Somalia, says “donor confidence . . . was definitely knocked sidewards by the central bank affair”.

 

“There is a lot of politicking happening at the moment,” Mr Kay adds, a reference to a recent cabinet reshuffle and the government’s failure to determine the constitution.”

 

In his defence, Mr Mohamud points out that he faces a multitude of challenges.

 

Technocrats including enthusiastic diaspora who have returned to help rebuild their country regularly complain that even low-ranking donor officials go over their heads and refuse to deal with anyone but the president, undermining efforts to build the very institutions donors say they want to exist.

 

“There are no institutions set up in Somalia; everything has collapsed and we are starting from scratch,” Mr Mohamud says.

 

There is also the continued threat from al-Shabaab. The jihadist group occupied Mogadishu for several months before UN-backed African Union troops ousted the movement from the capital. But its fighters still control much of the southern rural countryside and mount regular suicide attacks on Mogadishu.

 

An imminent UN-backed military offensive against al-Shabaab may bring some reprieve for the president. Financed by western money, about 22,000 African Union troops from six countries, including Kenya and Ethiopia, are about to stage their first concerted operations since allied forces took control of the key port city of Kismayo in 2012. But no troop-contributing country has come forward to offer attack helicopters, despite a mandate for 12 of them.

 

“For the last one and a half years not much has been gained on the ground,” Mr Mohamud says. “We hope they will reach out where no Amisom [the African Union force] soldiers have reached before. This is a continuous war.”

 

A US drone attack on Somalia last month almost succeeded in killing Ahmed Godane, al-Shabaab’s leader. Instead it killed a group of associates on their way to pick him up.

 

“Godane is both the spiritual leader of al-Shabaab ideology and the political and military leader,” Mr Mohamud says. “Eliminating Godane [would have a] great impact.”

 

Source: Financial Times

http://www.somaliaonline.com/the-us-accuses-president-hassan-of-being-a-weak-leader-as-the-central-bank-scandal-takes-its-toll-on-goverments-ability-to-get-money/

[Miyir]

blissfully ignorant, how did he end up running Somalia?

[Homunculus]

Despite all the corruption and ineptitude of the SFG I still think that the donor nations had no intention of helping Somalia, all they wanted is to dangle a carrot and offer excuses every time they had to deliver.

[Miyir]

deliver to who? Qoslaaye

 

Why? they owe you nothing

[Homunculus]

<cite>

@Miyir

said:</cite>

deliver to who? Qoslaaye

 

Why? they owe you nothing

 

I'm only saying that the west like to make promises and they rarely deliver. That's a common complaint.

[thefuturenow]

The damned are those who rely on their promises.

[Alpha Blondy]

this is a great ''i told you so'' moment, if ever required.

[Holac]

Why doesn't the president resign and let the Somali people elect someone else? He has done a terrible job since coming to office.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ holac its not the president trust me the next president will have the same challenges there is no point of changing the president, corruption will always exist. President hassan should remain in power and finish his term. Somalia faces constitutional problems sectarian conflict tribal conflict Somalis that think one man can solve all of this. Its very difficult only Somalis together can solve and that i mean Puntland Jubba state galmudug alshabaab the government all work together aslong as Somalis dont work together the problem will exist the next president will face the same problems its not the personality of the president its the collective Somalis who are not honest.

[DoctorKenney]

Ummm Xaaji, leaders actually do matter saaxib. Leaders can help change a nation's mentality, they can help a nation get back on the right track, and they can develop programs to drag Somalia out of the mess that it is currently in.

 

How can you expect a "nation" of millions of people to collectively dig itself out of the dirt and stand on it's own two feet without having the vision and competence required from a Great President?

 

Hassan Sheikh is clearly incompetent, he has no idea what he's doing, and he's not a sincere leader. One wonders what even gave this man the confidence to even run for President in 2012, let alone win the election. There are far more qualified men who could do a much better job of running Somalia. And we need these leaders especially now, since our country is in such a fragile state.

[Mooge]

DoctorKenney, how did he win? niyoow it was the Qatar money and Qatar bet on this alwaax thinking he would be the Morsi of Egypt. he told the qataris he can start the muslim brotherhood style government in somalia. he paid whatever MPs he had to pay to win the election.

 

read here niyoow. it was UN corruption report.

 

 

 

According to the United Nations Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group report 2013, the director of HIPS Abdi Aynte and Farah Yasin, a senior figure were important carriers of cash donations from Qatar to Somali president Hasan Sheikh Mohamud. The report alleges that the President received several million dollars from Qatar which was used to buy off political support and that the HIPS organization was established with Qatari funds. Aynte, the director of HIPS, is a prominent member of the Ala Sheikh political and business association of former TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Yasin, an associate of HIPS, is the nephew of Farah Abdulqadir, the current Minister of State for the Presidency and part of the Damul Jadid political association close to President Hassan Sheikh. Both Aynte and Yasin are important figures in consolidating cooperation between Ala Sheikh and Damul Jadid. is a prominent member of the Ala Sheikh political and business association of former TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Yasin, an associate of HIPS, is the nephew of Farah Abdulqadir, the current Minister of State for the Presidency and part of the Damul Jadid political association close to President Hassan Sheikh. Both Aynte and Yasin are important figures in consolidating cooperation between Ala Sheikh and Damul Jadid. Yasin has been involved in carrying cash donations from Qatar on behalf of President Hassan Sheikh, according to emails dated 4 March 2012 between Hassan Sheikh and Abdulkadir Barnamij. Two FGS officials confirm that during the election process, Yasin carried substantial funds from Qatar to Mogadishu for the campaign of Hassan Sheikh. One source told the Monitoring Group that he was offered 10,000 USD to vote for Hassan Sheikh, and he was instructed to get into a vehicle with the current Minister of State for the Presidency Farah Abdulqadir to be paid. Director Abdi Aynte refuted UN allegations of corruption by releasing a response saying that the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (UNSEMG) report contains false and damaging allegations against the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS). This response addresses each of the allegations aimed at the institute and its director, Abdi Aynte. Wiki

 

[SomaliaRising]

I lost hope in Qoslaaye during the first week after electionday. That guy never stopped laughing so i knew he was not to be taken serious.

After that we saw the conflicts between TFG and Maamulka Puntland followed by TFG vs Jubbaland.

Meanwhile Culusoow is arming anti-govt/Isbaaro militias in Shabeellada Hoose against other pro-alshabaab militias.

[DoctorKenney]

Mooge, if the foreigners wanted a Muslim-Brotherhood styled government in Somalia, then they could have supported Abdirahman Baadiyow, who is a man FAR more competent than Hassan Sheikh.

 

Baadiyow is actually a member of Al-Islah, which is the Somali branch of the Brotherhood. Baadiyow is charismatic, he has vision, he has leadership skills and he's the type of man which could lead Somalia in the right direction.

 

But no, they decided to support Hassan Sheikh, an incompetent bumbling fool who spends more time worrying about his own bank account than the fate of his people

[gooni]

Mushkiladu madaxweynaha maahan soomaalidu badankeedu ma taqaan alxamdulilah macnaheeda wixii aad hayso ilaah ugu shukri mar aanan madaxweynaba hadal hayn baa na soo martay ama mid ka fiicanbaa iman oo afrikaanka laga maarmo ama mid ka xun baa iman oo afrikaanka soo baiya weligiisna fadhiyi maayo,,taasi waa mid

 

Shaqada hortaala madaxweyne kasoo bixi karaa ma jiro waa wado aad u dheer

keep that juice in the fridge

 

Mida ugu adag hadaan tusaale kasoo qaadano

Odayaashii shaqadii waa laga fadhiisiyay, dhalinyaradii xoogga wadanka ahaydna waxay u qaybsameen kuwo aan dawlad wligood arag 24'jir iyo mooge ayaa ugu wayn ,qaar carab u tahriibay oo waraabe cunay iyo kuwo la garan waayay waxay galaan oo baraf diirdiiray iskuna magacaabay magacii horee yuhuudu caanka ku ahayd diaspora

 

Saadaasha xun waxay keentaa dawlad xun bariis xun naag xun wiil xun aqoon xun iyo umad wada xun

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Doctor ofcourse the president matters but the problem in here is saaxib Somalis lama shaqeyaan madaxdooda hassan cannot do anything with out Somalis supporting him if Somalis were honest and god fearing people and really cared for Somalia they would have supported him , hassan is not illiterate or incapable of leading its the Somalis who are not giving him a chance there are other external factors that play a role there are influential clique in Somalia that make it impossible for him to do the best he can. How is hassan sheikh different than sh sharif , was sh sharif also incapable of leading these presidents all had higher education and were in politics for quiet some time, i believe Somalia is facing domestic problems Somalis who are not honest and international meddling Foreign troops etc that play a role.