Faadumo Dayib, Mohamed Farmaajo and Shariif Hassan

[galbeedi]

before I started writing this article I was trying to convince Faadumo Dayib to abandon her bid to run for president of Somalia. This so called indirect election does not favor outsiders or first time political participants like Faadumo. The vote buying and the corruption reached unprecedented limit in the Somali history.

 

President Hassan put in the parliament his own staff, friends and family. It really looks bad for all involved. No one knows when they will hold , but we all want this drama to end . This week we all heard the news that Ms Faadumo Dayib decided to quit her candidacy for president. She rightly decided to look ahead of the future and prepare for the 2020 election which could be one person one vote, unless the incompetent leaders procrastinate and then again, we all end up another gerrymandered election.

 

First of all , she is not the first or the only Somali female who run for the highest office. There are and were many capable Somali women who achieved many goals before her. It was Ms Caasha Ahmed Cabdalla who fought inside the parliament during late President C/laahi Yusuf's term without fear of the Ethiopians soldiers or others. There was another Caasha, who for twenty years fought for women and children during the height of the civil and made a lot of tangible results , she is MP Caasha Xaaji Cilmi .

 

If there is any Somali woman who has both the education, ability and the cultural knowledge of the land and the people , it is Fowsiya Haaji Aadan, the first Somali foreign minister of our time. Having said that, Faadumo is a unique individual who achieved a stardom or celebrity status due to some favorable media attention both in the region and the international media. She looks like an original Somali with " Diric" and scarf worn modestly which reminds all of us about our lost heritage and tradition. I am not one of those who dwell on race, for me , culture, geography , citizenship and tradition is what connects people----look at Amin Amir, his color is brown, yet , no one is more original Somali than him and his family. Having said that , Faadumo somehow represents that symbol of the Somalia we all knew.

 

Sometimes , when I look back the culture, tradition and history we Somalis destroyed along our state, I watch some you tube clips of the past, like the Young Hibo Nuura, whom people describe as the " the beautiful , black pharaonic of the Somali coast" ( jawharadii madoobayd ee xeebta Soomaaliyeed) and become nostalgic of the past. Faadumo reminds all of us that originality of our people.

 

Any way, Faadumo could use her recently found celebrity status for the good of all Somalis , especially for women's health, education and participation of the political life. She could join the parliament-- if Hssan Culusow does not steal her seat--and raise her voice. Observing what is going in Mogadishu, it is difficult to even win a seat. I am self, was tempted to travel to Mogadidhu last August, but was prevented by my wife. One of the Suldaans who were nominating the Somaliland contingent in the Somali parliament is a close uncle. They called me to fill a position vacated by fellow sub clan member , and I thought about it. I told my wife that I would leave enough money to cover the mortgage for a while and if things does not work out I would come back to my business. I had a friend to run the business while I am away, but I could not convince her. If your wife and family does not support your agenda, certainly you can not succeed. My sister in law who knew only Djibouti , Borama and Hargeisa said ," Why are you going to these places were people are killed every day ( Huuno Xamar iyo dhulkaas manaqaane hadaad rabto in aad soo yare nafisto maad Borama iyo Hargeisa iska yara gaadhid").

 

Who can blame them, for them Mogadishu is a foreign land. They don't know that Mogadishu is the power center of the land and in order to affect changes in the Somali situation, someone must face Damujadiid and company. Another northern friend who came from Mogadishu also discouraged me. He said " if you want to spend your days secluded in a hotel ,and collect $1700 a month for lodging security and food , be my guest". One more thing, he continued, "these idea of talking and denouncing the misdeeds of Damjadiid will kill you within days, and no one will cry for you( waan ku aqaanaa oo afkaaga ilayn haysan mayside). If you can not correct any thing and secluded in a hotel, what is the use of participating, besides, when was the last time you heard a member of parliament come to television and say something bad about Hassan Sheikh? , well that was long long time ago.

 

Since she renounced her candidacy for president , and does not in the game any more, we should not be dwelling about her and other activities or how she became so famous , so , we wish our sister Faadumo Dayib good luck and keep your love of your people and land for ever.

 

Mohamed C. Farmaajo.

 

Like most Somalis who were tapped to be prime ministers, Mr. Farmaajo was not a career politician or even someone involved with Somali politics of yesteryear . In order to replace the politically connected but slow moving Cumar Sharmaarke, the two Sharriifs of the Islamic court (Sharrif Ahmed, and Hassan), decided to bring an independent person from the Gedo community. First, they approached C/qadir Aadan Jangeli, who was member of the Hiil-Qaran party at the time. At that same moment, his brother and former member of the military government , Dr. Mohamed Aadan Shiekh died in Italy, and he did stop some where--I do not know where-- probably in Mogadishu , and discussed the post with the Shariifs.

 

Since C/qadir Jangeli was a former civil servant who knew very well both about the country and the manipulations exercised by the neighbors, he forwarded his conditions, including his freedom to pick capable cabinet members. In other words , he was not a kid in candy store who would be mesmerized by being appointed a prime minister. He also told them about his membership of Hiil-Qaran party, and at the time , we were told that he forwarded few names including General Jamac Mohamed Qalib--a man Ahmed Samatar called the toughest and most capable man who could stabilize Somalia. As soon as they heard about his team and intentions, The two Shariifs, changed their mind and decided to find another man from Gedo. They decided to focus on rookie individuals who did not know about their games , but they settled on unknown but resilient guy from Gedo.

 

Finally Mr. Farmaajo was chosen by president Shariif Ahmed. While Farmaajo lacked experience, he had enough education and good will to succeed. Like many people of his generation who established themselves well within the American system , he was very comfortable and did not need a job in Somalia. He did not seek the job, but the job came to him. He was also a man who had seen the country in her better days. While the Somalia of eighties had share of it's problems, definitely it was proud and independent. Just like my generation, he did believe that Somalis should not carry the water for no body but for their own people.

 

Sinnaantaan la magac ahay

Sanku-neefle ma oggoli

Inuu iga sarrayn karo

 

Inkastoon sabool ahay

Haddana waan sarriigtaa

Sacabada ma hoorsado

Saaxiib nimaan nahay

Cadawgayga lama simo

SOOMAALI BAAN AHAY

 

Socdaalkaygu waa meel

Sahaydaydu waa dacar

Soohdintaydu waa caan

Seeftaydu waa cudur

Naftuna geedka iga suran

SOOMAALI BAAN AHAY

 

 

 

 

His approach was swift , and he targeted immediately the security of the city and arranged the army. He divided the city in eight zones and he personally led the operations to push the insurgents out of the city limits. With army general Dhagabadan , may Allah bless his soul--he was killed in a hotel after the mercenary supplied Al-shabaab stormed his room, he fought for hours before he was killed--and intelligence director Ahmed Faqi, they liberated the city with help of Ugandhan and Somali army. He put his main effort for the salary payment of the Somali soldiers. He pushed all the way to Marka and Lower Shabeelle.

 

Then, in order to fix the confidence deficit of the nation and his government, he demanded that the U.N envoy Mahiga should move to Mogadishu to conduct his duties rather than land the airport , meet people and fly back to his comfortable Nairobi office. In the horizon there was a hope for the good. When the deadline for the Shariif government got closer, Farmaajo convinced the president to extend their term through the parliament unilaterally for one more year and finish their agenda. Many including Mahiga objected this new unilateral moves of the Farmaajo government.

 

If the Somali army in connection with Ugandan army kept moving and eliminated Al-shabaab both from the capital and surrounding regions, the huge project of the Amisom and neighbors to earn billions in salaries for their armies were jeopardized by Farmaajo and his government. Through Shariif Hassan, the speaker of the parliament, Mahiga and the Ugandan leadership decided first to object the extension. Eventually they accepted with conditions , emphasizing that neither the speaker nor the president should be sacked during this time, but the intransigent prime minister must be sacked. The two Shariifs eventually accepted his resignation and appointed a new prime minister.

 

His strength.

 

He paid the salaries of the soldiers on time and built an effective albeit small number of Somali army. His cabinet was lean and small , and he tackled al-shabaab insurgents in pro active ways. Almost every week the intelligence people were disrupting and arresting insurgents with bomb making material in their save houses. The extremists were under pressure daily. With less than a year Farmaajo showed progress in many fronts, yet with all that achievements, he could not hold to his position for many apparent reasons.

 

His weakness that brought him down.

 

He took a knife in a gun fight.

 

 

Many people including most of the diaspora Somalis do not know how much the country has changed since the early nineteen nineties. Mr. Farmaajo , did not understand the caveats attached to the "Transitional Federal Government of Somalia" title. The international community , through the U.N envoy and the Amisom army, directly run the country in this period. During his confirmation, Speaker Shariif who objected his lean cabinet, demanded that the vote of confidence for the prime minister should be a secret ballot ,rather than the traditional hand raising . That issue dragged for weeks, and eventually the Nairobi based bosses resolved the issue. From that early incident on , Farmaajo fought an uphill battle against Shariif Hassan and tried to replace him with another leader from Baidoa --Madoobe Noonow. The naive Farmaajo did not know how many obstacles Shariif Hassan has passed since 2004, including Embagati, Jowhar, Baidoa, Asmara and Djibouti. He is a typical street smart Somali with little education, but with a lot of charisma and throat cutting business mind. . He not only challenged then president c/laahi yusuf, but almost derailed his agenda with constant maneuvering and back stabbing. We could all appreciate how C/laahi was tough and more experienced politician than the novice Farmaajo.

 

In order to prevail against Farmaajo, Mr. Shariif Hassan allied himself with U.N envoy, the Ugandan led Amisom and the Nairobi based order. The prime minister, did not had the necessary alliance to challenge not only Shariif Hassan,and Ethiopia, but the Ugandan military leadership who were calling the shots in the war against Al-shbaab. He forgot that it was the Ugandan tank that made Mogadishu hospitable in 2011. He pushed too hard, and the push back against him was strong. Since he grew up in the era of his uncle Siyaad Barre, he probably thought he could get his way by eliminating his opponents without consequences. To be fair ,if we examine the Somali situation of 2011, it was a tough time to lead a fragmented country and, at the same time reconcile with so many opposing interests. . In this tough times, you need a leader who would willing to swim with sharks and survive. Emotions, nationalist pronouncements and willingness to do the right is not enough. He exposed himself too much and, When the going got tough, he could not even survive Shariif hassan.

 

In conclusion, Mr. Mohamed C. Farmaajo and many other decent Somalis could not win this so called indirect election. It is not all about money and deal making, but also building alliances and having a solid base to start your campaign. The only people who can muster money, regional alliance and connections are those inside the government, which makes this race between President Hassan Sheikh and Prime minister C/rashiid Sharmaarke. In this race the wild card is Sharriif Hassan Sheekh Aadan.

 

South West president Shariif Hassan Sh. Aadan

 

Did you guys remember the eighties song of the late Bob Marley, "I shot the Sheriff but I didn't shot the deputy", of course. In this pages we have no intentions of shooting anyone , but Shariif Hassan is a tough guy who could shoot his enemies without hesitation just like the other violent groups in Mogadishu, namely the Terrorist mercenaries of Al-shabaa, criminal war lords or the Damujaddiid. If you read the auto biography of late president C/laahi Yusuf in his book " struggle and conspiracy (Halgan iyo Hagardaamo)" Sharriif Hassan almost eliminated both C/laahi and prime minister Geedi in a plot organized by the Islaamic court. I do want to go in to details, but somehow C/laahi Yusuf survived the assassination attempt and the next day, Shariif Hassan flew to Dubai, then Asmera, Ereteria and finally Djibouti. If that plot succedded he was would have became the president . He may seem a soft talking benevolent, yet he is carrying a deadly blade, no wonder they call him "Shariif Sakiin".

 

Through Sharrf Hassan we all learned a valuable lesson about the street smart Somalis and how they conduct their political business. They have little or no education, but they could defeat easily anyone from the diaspora who thinks they could come and start from the top without going the local test. In Hargeisa, Muuse Biixi defeated the international diplomat and Darfur veteran Mohamed B. Yoonis. Who knows , he may even defeat C/raxman Cirro in the next election in the manner he approaches people. This week he went to Awdal and went straight to the community of Vice presidential candidate Mohamed Cali . With his traditional " Go' iyo Macaws" clothes he sat and chatted with the people at ease , while Cirro is hiding behind close doors.

 

Shariif Hassan was originally a " Qat" trader. In the Somali culture Qat traders are not only savvy businessmen, but they are gamblers who would do any thing to make a deal. Also, Qat being a commodity that could not last fresh after 48 hours when it arrives the Somali territory, the trader must do many tricks to sell his product before it would rot. If the market is overflowing, he would give you the Qat less half the price and you do not have to pay right away( waar markaad lacag hesho iska bixi , haddana iska qayil). The whole sellers trust their traders and some times they are willing to cut their loses in order to continue the business . It is like a casino or the gambling business where they allow you to spend and loose, and pay them latter. A man who is trained in this business would easily out smart a novice from he diaspora, for Qat trader , money is nothing but a tool to do business.

 

in 2010 , when he was the finance minister , Shariif Hassan showed his generosity---it was not his money-- and openness with elders and local people. A former member of Parliament told an encounter between Shariif Hassan and local members of the " Unaka community". He said " five elders came to see president Shariif Ahmed to ask the usual never ending Somali " Shaxaad" and the president gave each hundred dollars", since the offices of both Shariifs were inside Villa Somalia, they also stopped by Shariif Hassan's office and asked some money. The Shariif asked them how much the president gave them, and when they told him the amount, he gave them each a thousnd dollars. Before they left , they all said , " Areey Shariifnimada iyo Madaxweynahaba Igaarkaan aa iska leh". Roughly meaning " this man should have both honor and the presidency instead of their nephew"..

 

Southern Somalis love to take money, but are not generous when it comes to giving others, but this Shariif is the exception. When Prof. Ahmed Samater went to Mogadihu to run for president, immediately the gossip about his party and group was out in the open. We in the diaspora work hard for our money and we are not willing to give it away easily. The good Professor used to complain about the hungry mouths of Somalis who just want to take and take it. In Mogadishu they said , this group is very tight with money , " waar kuwan Hiil-Qaran la leeyahay waa kuwa gaajo ah oo habeen keliyana lagama cashaynayo".

 

In another famous incident, a former diaspora resident and minister of the constitution, C/raxman Hoosh, tried without success to prevent former warlords and illiterate members of the old guard from becoming members of the parliament. He said, anyone seeking to be MP, must have a high school diploma or else he will be disqualified. In an open microphone, a heated exchange took place between the minister and Shariif Hassan. Shariif Hassan waxa xa uu yidhi ," Shahaada dugsi sare maa umalanaysaa in ay naga horjoosan karo, saxxiib suuqaa laga soo gadanaa waana la imaanaynaa". He told him clearly that they would buy the diploma from the market and you can do nothing about it.

 

In all his political challenge , the Shariif always wins. In 2012, the U.N envoy told him to stand down and allow Mohamed Jawaari to be the speaker and he accepted. Another former rival and opponent , Madoobe Noonow from the same political gropings of the Shariif tried to form a regional goverment consisting of six provinces including the south west and Jubba region. The Kenyans, president Hassan Sheikh and the U.N all wanted the South West regions of three provinces while Jubba would form it's own region. The Shariif campaigned with three region formula and easily defeated the ambitious Noonow whose community is one of the largest in the Jubba region, and lost again with the "Shariif the blade".

 

There is more to this Shariif than the eyes could catch , but we should leave it there . My conclusion is he will be the next president or he will decide who should be the next president . He is controlling alomst 30% or more than 68 members of the lower house , and when you add the the upper hose he has about 80. Which could easily swing the bendlum to whom ever fuilfills his conditions. Some are saying that he is favoring Hassan Sheikh , while others say that he will oust the Damujadiid and select Cumar Sharmaarke. Despite what people say, Hassan is controlled from Ethiopia and the U.N , and he will vote which direction they tell him to vote. One thing is for sure, if this Shariif becomes president , Somalia would be managed directly from Nairobi and Ethiopia in a manner never seen before.

[maakhiri1]

I agree on most of the things you wrote, and you are on the mark.

 

People like Sharif Sakin should never be trusted with public office, and I believe since people like him are around, TUUG dhacaayey oo Hogaaminaaya, things will not improve. He is kinda DON of mafia, I thought in 2012, in la hoos dhigay Jawaare, if he could get consensus from his community not to run for Speaker, he has a chance as anyone else, in other full blocks, and very possible he becomes the new president or Prime Minister.

 

Somalia is a country where the frauders and bad apples leading the herd, where Afmishaar, Tuug, Imaan laawe are preferred over decent people who want to make changes.

 

Farmaajo I seriously believe , along with Abdiweli YUULKA were one the few men who make small victories, small changes against BIG tasks, almost impossible issues, systemic Corruption, cultural and moral erosion.

 

And again the only people who will change SOMALIA are those who still want to make change , however difficult.

 

I was watching an interview of SHarif Ahmed, the former SOMALI president , and thought maybe this can learned something, while he was away in America studying English, and maybe a bit of governance, A young man asked him, "if you become again a president , what will you do with those who are very corrupt and stealing the national assets" his response was very naive, "He said, iLLaah aa la xisaabtami, aakhirona waa ka danbeeysa? This made me think this dude has not learnt anything. He is the the same, very incompetent. with strong rule of law, and strong judicial system that enforces the law, with punishment, deterrent, jail term, for those convicted, that should be the way, Aakhiro hadeey garanayaan ma wax beey dhaci lahaayeen markii hore!! SOMALI sharci shaqeeynaaya iyo SHANta bay ka danbeeyaan.

 

Somalia needs those who can deliver with small incremental victories, si ay wadada usoo fuusho, and this selection in 2016 is another opportunity but very small chance, good will out of it, and if turns to be like 2012, then another 4 years wasted, Jug JUg meesha joog!

[galbeedi]

Shariif Ahmed might had good intensions , but was not up to the job. Waxa uu yidhi , " Areey dabagaale ayaan dabin u dhigtay Maroodi ayaana iigu soo dhacay".

 

As you said every where the worst among us are in power or running the government. Three years ago, a man who visited Mogaishu told me that . " anyone with small integrity would not join the Damujadiid group", I did not believe then, but now I realized how they destroyed both the dignity and integrity of the whole nation.

[maakhiri1]

Yeah, btw I think if you get an opportunity, to make a difference, even it is small, You should go, and join like minded minority people there. Changing the culture will take time.

 

Sadik Warfaa is in! we need more people like him

[Holac]

Fadumo Dayib is a fraud. She is neither the first (she fed the media lies) nor does she have any important message to help the country. She is doing all of this to carve herself a good career in her European hideout. Istusus.

 

 

[galbeedi]

Holac, for what is worth , when she was interviewed by the media she seemed confident, calm and prepared. My only beef with her was the claim that eleven of her siblings died because of childhood mortality, and she was the only one who survived. That is a huge record for any Somali family.

[Mooge]

that was good read galbeedi.

 

We need fresh blood not same old recycled usual suspects.

[Asad Ahmed]

DJ will continue to rule .HSM is destined to win another 4 years and might be more.