Wadani party, Mr, Muumin Seed and businessman Aw Said what went wrong.

[galbeedi]

Few months ago in these pages, I did warn C/raxman Cirro, the chairman of the Wadani party in Somaliland , not to mess up the selection of the vice presidential candidate in his party. While most of the blame should go to the so called Awdalites---who have nothing else to do other than run for vice president--- the way chairman Cirro handled this issue showed incompetence and disorganization. I had an extensive discussion to one of the brothers of the vice presidential candidates who hails from the diaspora. He pointed out some important points.

 

First, Mr. Ahmed M. Seed, was one of the founders and the longest serving vice president for five years in the Wadani party, and he was one of the toughest opponents of the ruling Kulmiye party during those years. He was not known as a sectarian or tribal person within the Awdalites, in fact when Suldaan Wabar went to the mountains to challenge Siiialaanyo and company, he did not attack or bad mouth the Suldaan. He blamed the actions and policies of the Siilaanyo government to be the main reason of the armed insurgency.

 

Despite his hard work and long tenure in the party Mr. Muumin Seed was unable to attract prominent members of his community to the party. He was unable to add any heavy weights in the central committee of the party. Mohamed Cali who is less prominent than Seed , added around eight members in the central committee with less than a year. In fact , C/raxman Dahir Aadan--- a charismatic young man who joined the party about four years ago, and subsequently become the chairman of the Minnesota state branch---added more members and media attention to the party. When Chairman Cirro and his delegation were welcomed in America and Canada, they were welcomed like rock stars both in Ottawa and Minneapolis, thanks to the work of A/raxman Daahir. Having said that, if you look the three Awdalites running for the position, Mr. mohamed Cali seem to be the weakest person in terms of toughness and internal political dynamics of the region. May be Mr. Cirro was looking "Caano Madaadshe", just like vice president Rayaalle was selected by then president Cigaal to be just like that. While that is probably my biased view, some people who know both Cirro and Mohaned Cali say that the men have been friends for forty years since their school years and also served together as diplomats. In the end it could be that Mr. Cirro chose his old friend over Muumin Seed. They may be right because, the conventional wisdom says that the president should feel comfortable with the personality of his deputy.

 

Mr. Muumin seed's weakness to attract members were also due to the typical campaign of the Kuimiye party to put wedges between politicians and their communities. People who were close family allies of Muumin Seed were appointed ministers, governors, directors and other prominent positions in the government in order to side line Mr. Seed. His own Suldaan is reported to be one of the close allies of the Siilaanyo palace. These and many other issues forced the party to look another alternative which emboldened the other Awdalites who were vying for the post. Before the the party convention was postponed, Mr. Seed had a meeting with party operatives to discuss the coming competition. According to this gentleman , who was in Hargeisa in that period, Mr. Seed was told explicitly that in order to energize the party and bring new members, the party operatives, hiding behind Mr. Cirro, told him to give up the vice president position and in exchange , he will be one of the most powerful ministers should the party wins the next election, and his sub clan community will hold it's position in the party. With the presence of some prominent elders from Awdal in the meeting , they both accepted the new formula.

 

Mr. Seed did not like the idea of vacating his long held position, but accepted with presence of elders and party operatives. If that is the case, then what changed?. Well, that is where businessman Mohamed Aw said comes to play.

 

Known by most people as Ina Aw Said , this Djibouti based businessman is one of the most successful business people in the region. His Somcable LTD. , subsidiary of Somcable SAS was awarded an exclusive 25 year license to deploy fiber optic cable between Djibouti and Somaliland. In 2009, when Dahir Rayaale refused to award the license, he created a campaign to not only defeat him in the next election, but started a campaign of chaos and blood letting. His allies in the Kulmiye party , started the Ceel Bardaale case which eventually led to the murder of the travelers between Dilla-Borama road. Suddenly , the whole Hargeisa west community rebelled and fought against Rayaale administration. Finally Rayaale changed his mind and allowed his deal over the others submitted by other competitors.

 

Some People may think that Mr. Aw Said is motivated by tribal loyalty to his sub clan and that could be the main reason he is financing the election of Muuse Biixi, but the truth his, most business people are motivated by more important clan which is the green clan--the Money. For him the most crucial thing for his business is to preserve and keep the fiber optic cable monopoly throughout Somaliland. He does not want any other telecom company or competition in this market. In order to keep this monoply, he will do any thing regardless of the consequences. He believes that by funding and controlling Kulmiye, and eventually taking power through Muuse Biixi , will keep his cable monopoly for many years to come. He started that strategy last year by deploying Faysal Waraabe to sideline Gamaal Cali Huseen by destroying the UCID party which could have taken some vote away from Ina Biixi. After finishing off UCID, now he embarked the next stage of his campaign.

 

 

Early this year Omantel, the Sultanate’s leading provider of integrated telecommunication services, has joined in a consortium with several East African telecommunications providers to lay the Gulf to Africa (G2A) undersea fiber-optic cable, which is set to revolutionize connectivity from Oman to East Africa. A consortium of companies from the region joined in hand to bring the cable through Somaliland. A local group based in Hargeisa joined the partnership and got the necessary licenses to operate in Somaliland. The Somaliland ministry of post and telecommunications approved the first agreements of the deal and proceeded ahead to implement. Ina Aw said of SomCable, immediately cried foul in order to preserve his 25 year monopoly. The citizens who were members of the partnership pushed against the Siilaanyo governments reluctance to fully implement the deployment of the cable from Oman, saying " are we not Somaliland citizens trying to make a living in this business?" Since he had no any legitimate reason to refuse, he gave the impression of allowing the business venture to proceed. Since there were no objections, the minister of telecommunications arranged the Omanis to come to Hargeisa and sign the final deal, while a technical expert group landed in Berbera and proceeded to the coastal regions of Awdal and Saaxil. On the day of the signing, a hastily written letter came from the presidents office and demanded that the deal to be scrubbed. Having went though all the legal hurdles and with knowledge of the government throughout the process, minister Mohamed J. Abgaal, could not comprehend the reason to stop the deal in the eleventh hour , and as expected, signed the deal.

 

The next day in April 29, 2016, Mr, Siilaanyo fired the minister and the man who escorted the telecom workers to the coastal region, Admiral Mohamed H. Hiirane. Here is the press release:

 

" president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo relieved from duties the Somaliland coast guard commander admiral Mohamed Hussein Hirane and the post and Telecommunication minister Mohamed Jama Abgal with immediate effect from 29th April 2016".

 

"According to the Somaliland presidency the two senior public officials were ordered to hand over to the deputies with immediately as per the statement which did not named replacements The Somaliland head of state justified the removal of the two officers from duties due to ignorance of mandate given to them to serve the Somaliland public.

 

Since a change of government is in the works , Mr. Aw said is panicking. Two or more cable, phone and internet companies are good for the market and the people. A healthy business environment is where competition is allowed among companies. When there is competition, the public wins. We are all familiar with the contract killings in Mogadishu where certain business interests eliminate their rivals by blowing them up or shooting and then blaming the crime to the evil Al-shabaab. Thank God Somaliland did not reach that stage at the moment, but if you allow a greedy businessman to meddle the political system in a way that not only undermines the process , but creates animosity among the communities, bad things could happen. This oligarch must not be allowed to control the market just for himself. While Mr. Cirro has showed calm and due diligence throughout the years, I am not sure if he is tough enough to enforce the law and stand up to the vocal interest groups and oligarchs.

 

 

Mr. Aw Said did not expect Wadani to replace UCID and become a force to be reckoned. He has been watching the growth of Wadani, especially after the an influential wing of the Kulmiye party , including Hirsi H. Hassan, joined Wadani. Now, he is trying to undermine Wadani by using disgruntled members and sawing disagreements among Awdal communities. Thousands of Dollars are spent to organize opposition groups who may have a bone to pick against Wadani. Unfortunately, that campaign is not working. Many members of Muumin Seed Community would like to resolve the problem and reconcile with the party. On Thursday night, about 18 elders of that community had met to resolve the issue. When the word got out about that meeting , the police showed up and arrested some of those who organized the meeting. It is the typical Kulmiye, pitting communities against one another in order to gain vote.

 

According to reliable sources, Mr. Aw said gave Mr. Seed the $50,000 deposit needed for the vice presidential election, and convinced him to change his mind about abandoning the race. As we speak, the Wadani negotiating team met Mr. Seed and promised to give back his deposit and another fifty for compensation while holding his vice chair seat. The incompetence of Wadani was their failure to write the agreements reached with Mr. Seed earlier and put in a signed document. You can not operate as oral society while discussing crucial issues pertaining about the future of the party. Also, the fact that Mr. Muumin Seed being one of the oldest members of the party , this issue should have been handled earlier with dignity and grace. Any way, it is the interest of the Awdal community to bring both Mohamed Cali And Ahmed Seed to the party, because if these two communities coordinate no one can defeat them.

[Saalax]

It indeed is clear that Axmed Muumin is being used.

[Suldaanka]

"the fact that Mr. Muumin Seed being one of the oldest members of the party , this issue should have been handled earlier with dignity and grace'

 

I think Mr. Seed was warned up to the last minutes that the vast majority delegates were supporting M. Ali.

 

Obviously, the delegates have looked what is best for the Party instead of what was best for their longtime colleague.

 

My take on this is that Mr. Seed is not yet a polished shrewd politician who is able to read what is around the corner. Perhaps the lessons he will learn from this will help him grow into such in the future. It is a unanimously agreed that the party needs Mr. Seed's work ethic and energy and will be a great lost if he were to depart.

[galbeedi]

I agree, Mr. Seed should have read the writing on the wall. Insiders say , the change in headship was apparent many months ago. I do not know when the parties will learn. Party politics is a messy business , but central committees are easy to create and control.

 

Any way, the election will be postponed six more months or even a full year. Siilaanyo has to bow down to the donors and both house and presidency must be held at the same time. Also, the dysfunction of UCID must be resolved. At the same time , if the ruling party tries to take advantage of the Wadani problems and pushes the issues to court, that may take a time to resolve. In any case expect delayed election.

That will make the Kulmiye rule eight years or two terms. They just keep postponing the inevitable defeat.

 

 

 

[Alpha Blondy]

Ahmed Muumin Seed is a good man.

[Saalax]

He is a good man but only Maxamed Cali can bring 80% of the

Awdal votes. We have to be realistic.

[galbeedi]

He is good man and should be brought back to the party. Mr.Seed is a native of Borama and have strong support in the city. Xaafadiisu waa kuwa noogu ilbaxsan reer Awdal.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Mumin seed and his men were not allowed inside guleed hotel where the selections were being held i can understand why muumin seed is pissed at ciiro muumin seed stood by ciiro for six years and he was dropped for a new comer just like that like he was nothing i would be pissed besides ciiro does not know Borama inside the city of Borama muumin seeds kin the Carfaan clan is the majority the other sub clan is large in the country side baki dila qulijeed and in Ethiopia but inside the city it self Muumin seeds kin are the majority Galbeedi is wrong on the accusation on Mr aw sciid Muhammad is a business men and is just protecting his interest he was a kulmiye supporter before Moses and in aaw siiciid has nothing to do with the gabiley ceel bardaale issues he is not even from gabiley or from that region, u just make that accusation because they share the same clan any how Kulmiye is not afraid of the elections as u put I think Kulmiye has the bigges chance to win the elections both parliamentary and presidential jamaal is about to join kulmiye and maybe even muumin seed there are talks behind the scenes we shall see any way Somaliland will come out stronger the people of Somaliland will come out stronger than ever.