AMISOM TO LEAVE SOMALIA IN 2016 – ENVOY

[Che -Guevara]

By David Lumu

 

The African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), a peace keeping mission operated by the African Union would be leaving Somalia in 2016, according to the latest assessment by stakeholders.

 

Lydia Wanyoto, the Acting Special Envoy of the African Union to Somalia and Eng. Sheik Sayid Ahmed Dahir, the Somalia ambassador to Uganda say that the roadmap of 2016 would be adhered to and that by that time the federal Government would have developed capacity to independently run the affairs of the war-torn state.

 

Sayid Ahmed said that Somalia is on the right path and thanked regional Governments, especially Uganda for ensuring that the conflict is subdued.

 

“Somalia will have no more conflict in the coming years; and with the help our friendly countries, we are now ready to take full control. We welcome the capacity building trainings that our partners are conducting and I urge our countrymen to enforce what they have studied for the betterment of our country,” he said.

 

According to Wanyoto, the process of Somalia becoming autonomous is almost achievable and that the only roadblock is the complete “flush out of Al-Shabaab” from the sea.

 

“Going by the current projections, we are almost certain that we shall see take off in 2016 and according to our roadmap, AMISOM would be leaving Somalia in 2016. The target is achievable. So, as we clean out Al-Shabaab, we have the mandate to build capacity and this is a process we have embarked on,” she said.

 

 

 

The two envoys were commenting on the AMISOM deployment in Somalia during the international humanitarian law training on Wednesday at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort hotel yesterday where over 30 officers from Somalia National Army were equipped with techniques on how to handle civilians.

 

In 2013, the United Nation Security Council extended the mandate of AMISOM to 2016. In preparation to leave Somalia in 2016, Wanyoto said that AMISOM has embarked on the third phase of training the national army with modern professional army strategies, especially changing their mindset from conflict-occupied to be more mindful of the human rights.

 

These efforts are part of preparations for the 2016 general elections in Somalia. Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Ethiopia are the AMISOM troop contributing countries.

 

However, before the training started yesterday the thirty Somalia soldiers staged a brief protest demanding the organizers of the training to sort out their challenges related to travel, accommodation and other allowances.

 

The soldiers briefly engaged the Somalia ambassador to Uganda in a two-hour closed meeting demanding that before he leaves the training, he should first sort out their demands.

 

Later, Wanyoto and Sheik Sayid Ahmed told New Vision that the soldiers had “administrative” problems that they wanted addressed urgently.

 

“There were administrative issues that we have resolved. Some faced challenges during their travel from Nairobi to Kampala. Their history is that of conflict, they are very sensitive people and dealing with them is not business as usual but we know how to handle them,” she said.

 

Source: New Vision

[Che -Guevara]

Seems unrealistic, but it seems the visit by the Security Council might have changed few things.

[DoctorKenney]

Don't count on it. If the UN Security Council sees fit to extend AMISOM's mission by another 2 or 3 years, then they will do so.

 

It all depends on the facts on the ground.

[Che -Guevara]

It's down to money at the end day. The mission is proving to be very expensive.

[DoctorKenney]

Well, the costs of hiring African mercenaries to patrol Somalia is a lot cheaper than the potential costs of what might happen if Somalia was to descend into anarchy again. If Somalia was to descend into anarchy yet again, the possibilities are endless, and I don't think the Americans are willing to make that gamble

[Tillamook]

AMISOM will be replaced by UNSOM.. Or rather, these same Contingents in Somalia will be given blue helmets!

[Che -Guevara]

Doc. I think Americans and the West are betting on institutionalizing tribal federalism, hope being local governments might be in better position to secure peace without being threat to their neighbors namely Ethiopia.

 

This is why Mogadishu is being forced to accept Jubba, South Central and now Central. Soon enough Hiiraan and Shabele will be merged. They are betting on this new experiment. It is not cheap supporting AMISOM. This may be the next chapter in our sad experience.

 

One more thing, AMISOM has simply became too corrupt. Failure is in their best interest.

[YoniZ]

<cite>

@Tillamook

said:</cite>

Amisom will replaced by UNSOM.. Or rather, these same Contingents in Somalia will be given blue helmets!

 

Yep, that seems the plan for 2016. Mr Key already started recruiting replacement force, giving priority to the oldest AMISOM troops contributor Uganda, others will follow suit.

[DoctorKenney]

Che, well history isn't stagnant saaxib. Sure, Somalia may be divided into several tribal states, and that might be the case for the next 2 or 3 decades. But perhaps in the future, Puntland and Central State and Jubbaland and Bay&Bakool State might find it in their interests to develop some form of Confederation.

 

Remember, Germany in 1850 didn't exist. It was Hanover, Saxony, Prussia, Bavaria and a whole bunch of other small German-speaking countries that suddenly decided to unite into 1 large country in 1871, on a common basis.

 

Times change, and even if Somalia does has institutionalized tribal federalism, then it doesn't mean that in the future, once we mature as a society, that we can't re-unite under 1 common basis.

 

What do you think?

[Che -Guevara]

Doc. I honestly think the problem is not what sort of system we choose to govern ourselves. It is about injustice, poverty and ignorance. Mind you, these mini-states might bring some sort of stability but the underlying issues will still be there.

 

Within these mini-states, more than likely a group will try to dominate others and new resentments will bubble to the surface, a bigger problem reduced to many smaller problems with equal intensity. Only through real reconciliation, development and justice will bring lasting peace.

[DoctorKenney]

Che, when you have a large country like Somalia, dominated by many different tribal identities, then what you have is Tribal Politicians who use the Tribal card to get elected. Instead of focusing on development policies and other policies designed to improve the quality of life of the average Somali, you just have Tribal thugs masquerading as politicians.

 

At least if Somalia is broken into several mini-states, this tribal card wouldn't be as effective, and the politicians can actually focus on development and growth, instead of always playing identity politics.

 

Somalia already has groups trying to dominate others, just look at how the D-Block was eradicated in Mogadishu. Look at how the Reer Xamar and Barawe are treated in the South. I mean, this subjugation and domination keeps on happening so at least if we de-centralize Somalia, we wouldn't put all our eggs in one basket and we can quarantine and isolate whatever instability exists in the country.

 

Somalia's been made hostage by the instability in Mogadishu throughout the entire 1990's. Why not just try a new strategy?

[Che -Guevara]

Doc. The same domination will continue happening within each block. Examine each region closely, it becomes clear some will be marginalized while others will monopolize powers. The same problems whether real or imagined will exist.

 

And the sad thing, such system will only benefit the elite; however the communities will blame each other for the elite's misdeeds.

[DoctorKenney]

Che, you're asking for a miracle.

 

This type of inter-Somali racism is coming from the COMMUNITY ITSELF.

 

I hear tons of stories about how Barawe Somalis are discriminated against by the average Somali person in the South. I hear the same about what goes on in Burco, where minority tribes are also discriminated against. The people are corrupt saaxib, no matter what type of Government we have this problem will still exist.

 

No type of top-down solution will fix this problem. It'll take decades to fix, through a major cultural transformation in our country. But in the meantime, if we have decentralized Federal States which are autonomous, it'll AT LEAST keep the peace in Somalia. And that's what we're after. We're looking for peace.

 

All the rest will come later, once we achieve peace, first and foremost.

 

You can look at countries like Nigeria and Cameroon where minority groups are marginalized, so this isn't something unique to Somalis.

[Adam]

As many said before Ugandiiska will be here for long term, koonfurta iyo ugandeeska have a "common Daqaan " And Former Somalia president Sheikh Sharif lives in Uganda .

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

If it ever happens, ciidamo magaca Qaramada Midoobay huwan ayaa lagu badalaa. Same ciidamo, different koofiyad. Ugaandha already sent dozens of ciidamo 'Qaramada Miidobay' ah in Xamar, 'protecting' QM offices, QM personnel and such. I don't even think they sent. They just changed their koofiyado and their repainted their military cars.