A Perilous Impasse in Somalia
CabdiRisaaq Xaaji Xuseen
Ra'iisul Wasaare
Soomaaliya: 14 Jun 1964 - 15 Jul 1967 |
It has been more than eight months since the TFG was established in Nairobi, but the
leadership has yet to translate that mandate into a functioning government inside
the country. Keen observers consider the pattern of developments to mirror that
which followed all previous peace conferences and fear the fate of the TFG might be
as grim as earlier dispensations. As the causes for past failures are well known
they do not require further elucidation.
Since a better alternative can hardly be improvised at this stage, it is vital that
every effort should be made to turn a calamitous civil war into a win for all of us
by transforming the nominal TFG into a functioning transitional government. Four
factors mark the rift that divides the two political camps, apart from the unspoken
tribalistic sentiments that fuel inherent mistrust. These are:
- Relocation of government to the capital, Mogadishu, or elsewhere due to the lack
of security;
- Deployment of foreign troops, including/excluding those from Frontline States;
- Deployment of a garrison of armed militias from Puntland, at the behest of
President Abdullahi Yususf, in Jawhar/Baidoa to ensure President/government
security;
- Accusations and counter-accusations of weapons smuggling into the country between
President Abdullahi Yusuf and some Mogadishu-based faction leaders, in violation
of the U.N. Security Council’s Arms Embargo Resolutions on Somalia.
This essay briefly describes the challenges and proposes ways of resolving them.
Relocation
It is legitimate to insist that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) should be
relocated to the capital – Mogadishu – and not elsewhere, as stipulated in the
Transitional Federal Charter. But, security and peace in Mogadishu and vicinity is a
necessary prerequisite for such relocation to occur. Over the last few months a
beginning has been made in securing the city. Civics, and more crucially, faction
leaders, members of the government and parliamentarians have been engaged in
removing militias from the city. This is a painstaking work and the aforementioned
agents deserve our commendation for their continuing effort to rid the city of
private militias. But this endeavor has a long way to go and those who have the
cards in their hand must scale up their effort to eliminate all the roadblocks,
free-lance gangs and organized militias within the next two months before Mogadishu
could legitimately claim to be the nation’s capital. All these should be done in
good faith and in the
belief that without it national reconstruction would remain an illusion.
If peace-making in Mogadishu is successful, the President, parliament and government
would have no legitimate choice but to embark on rebuilding Somalia’s public
authority and institutions right in the capital. President Abdullahi Yusuf’s words
and deeds, from the start, have unnecessarily made reconciliation more complicated.
He has made no attempt to use his office to bring people together to facilitate the
government’s relocation in Mogadishu. He has pinned his hopes and those of the
nation only on the intervention of foreign troops, particularly from Ethiopia. In
addition, he also made many provocative statements that have alienated most of the
public and deepened mistrust among groups. Likewise, most opponents of the President
both in the parliament and government have opportunistically transformed national
issues into self-serving and clanistic gimmicks. The irresponsible pursuit of the
President’s strategy or those of his opponents will precipitate a nasty civil war
and open
up deep new wounds.
Security
In the absence of a national security force(s) that could adequately guarantee
security in Mogadishu, it will be foolhardy to contemplate relocating the incipient
organs of government in such an environment. Realistically, it will take at least a
year, given current conditions, to create a nucleus of sufficiently trained,
equipped, and mentally de-tribalized police force. Character and competence are
foundational qualities for an effective security force and consequently,
non-partisan professionals must guide the establishment of this vital national
force. In this regard, it is worth recalling of the reported British Government’s
offer to assist Somalia in training its new national police force.
Foreign Troops Deployment
There is a general consensus, baring some dissidents in Mogadishu, that the
deployment of foreign troops is essential in order to help secure Mogadishu,
jumpstart the peace-making process, and enable the TFG/TFA to consolidate its
authority. However, different viewpoints on where such troops have to come from have
been expressed. President Abdullahi made no mystery of his preference for Ethiopian
troops although he has lately accepted troops from any other countries In contrast,
the vast majority of the Somali public is strongly opposed to Ethiopian troops
deployment in Somalia under any pretext. The public is mindful of the long
Somali-Ethiopian conflict and suspects that the President’s hidden and insidious
agenda for insisting on Ethiopian intervention. The public’s unequivocal stance has
so far failed to have any perceptible impact on the President’s wish. Despite these
disagreements, it is essential to have neutral foreign troops in the country until
such a time that a
professional and representative Somali force can command public order. Somali
leaders on both sides of the political divide should agree on this and hence
jointly request the African Union to expedite the dispatch of the already promised
1,700 Ugandan and Sudanese troops to Somalia, and offers from other countries
should also be welcomed. In the final analysis, we should realize that it is for us
to put our house in order. We need not forget that the mission and statue of the
foreign troops should be limited and carefully circumscribed. The temporary nature
of the peacekeeping mission is designed to complement our own efforts and Somalis
and their leaders must face the challenge.
Deployment of Puntland militias
It appears that President Abdullahi Yusuf intends to deploy armed militias form
Puntland to confront his opponents in Mogadishu. It is reported that a convoy of
well-equipped militias are enroute to Jowhar. This has further heightened tensions
and could rekindle a more sinister phase of civil war. Most people in the Mogadishu
and other Somalis consider the deployment of Puntland militias in and around the
capital to be tantamount to a clan-based invasion. The faction leaders and others in
Mogadishu intend to fiercely respond to what they deem to be an illegitimate attack.
Both Abdullahi Yusuf and the faction leaders in Mogadishu need to recollect that the
late Somali dictator thought that he could subjugate the nation by tribalizing state
institutions and particularly the armed forces. The factionalist opposition imagined
that it could topple the tyrannical order and remake the nation by employing the
same tactics. Unfortunately that strategy has turned a crisis into a calamity. The
people in the northeast must not be fooled into a destructive and futile adventure.
Weapons Smuggling
It is criminal for anyone, let alone those entrusted with national salvation, to
smuggle in and amass weapons destined for sectarian use. I call upon all those
directly or indirectly involved in this dirty work to forthwith and unconditionally
put an end to such a senseless mania of gun-running, and instead solve their
differences through peaceful and negotiated means. I call upon the international
community to take necessary action against those who smuggle weapons into Somalia,
and to warn all parties to the conflict not to resort to violent confrontations as
way of solving internal political problems. The Somali people deserve to be free
from violence and the world has a humanitarian obligation not to let merchants of
violence destroy millions of lives and the future of entire people without being
held accountable.
A Warning for the Ages
The Somali public must embrace a peace agenda as the current speaker of parliament
recently articulated. The TFG institutions are vehicles for reconciliation and as
such must seek peaceful solutions to our political problems. The Mogadishu faction
leaders and Abdullahi Yusuf must recognize that if reconciliation is to be sustained
it will require a win-win outcome. By its nature a compromise is a peaceful
agreement and the use of violence is an anathema in such an accord. The faction
leaders can not hold Mogadishu, and by implication the country, hostage as they have
done over the last decade, and Abdullahi Yusuf can not violently impose himself on
the country as he has done in the northeast. He can not claim to be president for
all of Somalia and at same time organize clan based militias as a national force.
Such behavior is exactly what destroyed Somalia’s government and is unlikely to set
an inclusive foundation for a lasting peace and national reconstruction.
Accordingly, the faction leaders in the capital must withdraw their militias from
the city and put them under the control of a neutral third party (the Africa force,
excluding Ethiopia). Second, the international community must urgently support the
African force to be deployed without delay. Further, the international community
should provide food for work to the encamped militias and to give this first phase
of reconciliation a chance to succeed. Third, Abdullahi Yusuf and the TFG should
relocate in Mogadishu once the African force secures the capital without bringing
clan based militias from outside. Finally, the rule of law and the art of compromise
must govern further development. Any attempt to use force for particularistic
political ends will ruin whatever promise this last conference has engendered. I
urge all Somalis who care about our destiny, and particularly those in Banadir and
the northeast to say no to political violence and clan politics.
Abdirazak H. Hussen
Prime Minister 1964-67
E-mail:
Hussen100@yahoo.com
July 2005
QORAALADII HORE EE
C/RISAAQ XAAJI XUSEEN:
Cabdirisaaq Xaaji Xuseen oo Soo Saaray Warqad Furan March 2004
Cabdirisaaq Xaaji Xuseen oo Soo Saaray
Dhanbaal u socda Madax-dhaqameedyada Soomaaliyeed ee jooga Shirka
Nabadaynta
Ma runbaa
in shirkani yahay nabadayn mise waa abaal marin qabqablayaasha
dagaalka?
Nidaamka Federalku Makashaqayn Karaa
Soomaaliya!
Dhanbaalkii
Cabdirisaaq Xaaji Xuseen oo AfSoomaali Loo Rogey:
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