June 30, 2013
Somalia: former UN coordinator came down hard on the federal government
In an interview (Somalia: lights and Shadows) published Saturday 22, 2013 in the
Kenya Daily Nation, Mr. Matt Bryden, former coordinator of UN Monitoring Group
on Somalia and Eritrea, came down hard on the federal government of Somalia (FGS).
He lambasted the federal government for “delusional” performance, supported the
unconstitutional ‘Jubbaland’ regional state announced in Kismaio with the
blessing of Kenya Government, and pitched for the “status quo” of the
northwestern regions of Somalia renamed “Somaliland.” He attributed the failure
of the federal government to not meeting the expectations raised by what he
described an ambitious six pillar program- the political platform of President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The platform mirrors the “New Deal” strategy that
promotes nationally owned plan for peacebuilding and statebuiling.
As a government of failed state, the new federal government and the
international community agreed on the “New Deal” strategy that focuses on five
goals: inclusive legitimate politics, security, justice, employment and
livelihood, good financial management and delivery of public services. The new
comprehensive approach supplants the bottom-up or top-down approaches. In
partnership, the international community adopted the slogan: “One voice, one
common vision in the support of new Somalia.”
Therefore, I think it is an exaggeration to describe the six pillar program
ambitious. The international community accepted it as an initial basis for
statebuilding process in Somalia- a game changer- which predicates on a
substantial international assistance. To their credit, the leaders of the
federal government have shown political steadiness, unity and commitment in the
face of unimaginable external and domestic pressures and attacks.
The UN coordinator’s criticism assumes that on the one hand, the federal
government has no necessary financial and human resources and capacities to
fulfill the six pillar program and on other hand, the international donors are
not prepared to provide the timely necessary support. This later assumption on
the part of the international community contradicts the public declaration made
by the key actors of the international community. Whether the international
donor community will put its money where its mouth is or not remains to be seen
in not far distant day.
Sure, the federal government lacks capacity and resources to fulfill alone the
six pillars program. However, the program’s implementation is a precondition for
stable government and the preparation of the political election set for in
Somalia in 2016 by the international community. The UN Deputy Secretary General
Jan Eliasson said on May 7, 2013 at the London Conference on Somalia the
following:
“The daunting responsibility of the Somali Government is to deliver, among
competing priorities, a Constitution and elections in the space of just three
years,”
It is inconceivable to ask the federal government to focus on constitutional
referendum and preparation and conduct of free and fair elections when the
sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, political independence,
government representational legitimacy and enforcement power all are contested
or in question. The focus of the federal government seems to be on the
completion of the review of the federal provisional constitution, the return of
reliable stability in the south central Somalia, on the acceleration of national
political and economic integration and unity through national and local
institution building, and on a constructive and independent foreign policy.
In answering to the questions related to Somaliland and Jubbaland, the former UN
coordinator rehearsed the narratives put out by the protagonists of the two
areas. The international community recognizes Somalia as one country and the
United Nations refused to circulate the letters from Somaliland for being part
of Somalia. The time of division of Somalia into Puntland, Somaliland and South
Central Somalia has ended.
With regard to Somaliland, Mr. Matt Bryden highlighted that Somaliland and
Somalia are talking as two parties in dispute despite the federal government
represents the interests of the population in the Somaliland regions. His answer
suggests a never ending talk, good neighbor’s relation, and legitimization of
“separation” between Somaliland regions and Somalia. He makes clear that the
authority of Somaliland regions cannot enter into political compromises because
of the constraints of the regional constitution while the unconstitutional
behavior of Raskamboni Militia under the provisional federal constitution is
permissible. The argument of different constitutional interpretations on the
issue is for distraction because the constitutional path for addressing the
unsettled federal system in Somalia is clear.
The power, conditions and time for the federal government to engage an
indefinite talk with the authority of Somaliland regions is limited if it has to
conduct a political election in 2016. As in Jubbaland and other parts, there are
simmering political and clan conflicts in Somaliland and Puntland. The federal
Government must undertake a national census throughout the country in mid-2015.
After state collapse, national election is more important than local elections
that deepen fragmentation.
Without explanation, the former UN coordinator raised the specter of the use of
coercive force against Somaliland regions. Since the matter of Somalia is seized
by the UN Security Council, it is hard to fathom such an eventuality. Somalia
needs individual and collective transformation that fortifies peace, unity,
justice, fairness, trust, and prosperity. Actors and participants of the past
disastrous failures should contribute to the social transformation and should
not reconstruct or engender other colossal failures.
With regard to Jubbaland, the former UN Coordinator urges the federal government
to accept the Jubbaland constitution, political agenda and authority led by
Raskamboni Militia and to seek an inclusion of personalities in the declared
Regional Authority. This tricky suggestion breaches the national political
consensus, the provisions of the Provisional Federal Constitution and undercuts
the legitimacy of the federal government. In addition, the role of the
Independent Boundaries and Federation is not to settle the dispute over the
principles of federalism. The commission’s role is to study the implementation
of a federal system based on certain predetermined principles. There are many
issues to be completed before the federal parliament appoints the commission.
Given the access and connection of the former UN coordinator to the thinking and
intelligence of western policy makers for Somalia, the interview reinforces the
perception of the international community’s doublespeak on the support to the
current “sovereign federal government of Somalia.” This awareness coupled with
the lack of significant assistance from the major donors directly to the Federal
Government for improving the security situation, building public administration,
and starting the delivery of basic social services, prompts a question about the
purpose and meaning of the current flares of activities of the international
community led by the United States, United Kingdom and United Nations. The
Federal Parliament must investigate this issue and inform the public the truth.
With reference to Mr. Matt Bryden’s claim that IGAD and African Union are
concerned about the appearance of a nontraditional international partner in the
region, it seems that there is a collusion of efforts to thwart the glim of hope
sparked by the tangible assistance of Turkey and the Organization of Islamic
Conference towards Somalia. The membership of Somalia to Africa, Arab and
Islamic world is not an option. It is constitutionally and culturally bound
membership. Therefore, the argument that Ethiopia and Kenya under the umbrella
of IGAD are not happy with the involvement of Turkey and other non traditional
partners in Somalia deserves serious consideration and public awareness.
The former UN coordinator suggested that the federal government is failing as
all the previous Transitional Federal Governments (TFG) failed. However, he did
not mention the fundamental reasons why all TFG failed to establish a stable
government.
I like to mention here five reasons. First, the TFG lacked ownership of
political agenda that responds to the priorities and needs of the Somali people.
Second, the aid resources were exclusively and independently managed in Nairobi
by donors. Third, IGAD (Ethiopia) managed TFGs as local government entity.
Fourth, the international community focused on terrorism, piracy and
humanitarian crisis at the expense of statebuilding. Fifth, factional usurpation
and abuse of constitution were encouraged and rewarded. Now if international
donor-powers entertain the idea of continuing on that path under the cover of
“titular sovereign federal government,” then the possibility of failure of the
federal government could be real. The New Deal strategy is based on the vision
to exit Somalia from the path of permanent failure.
The position of the Federal Government on Jubbaland tends to bring Somalis
together and to abandon the culture of clan animosity and hatred, factionalism,
warlordism, secession, and foreign manipulation. The presence of Kenya forces in
the region will be considered as a foreign occupation forces as long as they are
operating outside the mandate of the UN Security Council and African Union. The
federal government must consistently defend the interests of all Somalis in
accordance with the Provisional Federal Constitution and through the national
institutions.
The leaders of the Somali Federal Government must engage and educate the public
for harmony, loyalty to the state and national values. Injustices, mistrusts and
grievances should be addressed through effective legal or traditional mechanisms
with strong supervision from the higher authority for the purpose of Somalis
coming together and of not replacing injustices with injustices. Openness and
public mobilization are needed for political unity. Leaders’ words must
correspond to their deeds.
If one tries to summarize the substance of former UN coordinator’s interview,
the federal government should forget Somaliland and Jubbaland and look for
imaginary or failure tasks like the preparation of political elections and
constitutional referendum in a fragmented society or concentration on Mogadishu
and surrounding areas. This kind of suggestion is a trap for another secure
national failure.
Mr. Mohamud M. Uluso
mohamuduluso@gmail.com
Faafin: SomaliTalk.com | June 30, 2013
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