The newly elected president of Somalia in dilemma
Mohamed I. Abdi
February 14, 2009
The newly elected president of Somalia Sheikh Sharif sheikh Ahmed, as he arrived in Mogadishu after his inauguration he held talks with arrays of Somali political and traditional groups to architect a framework of peace that could pave the way for some sort of future political settlement between the government and the opposition to end Somali debacle. The president has met with the traditional elders of Hawiye(one of the main Somali tribe)and leaders of what is coined Union of Islamic Courts local leadership- the debut of this appellation traces back when most of the leaders of UIC were either given sanctuary by Eritrea or on hiding, those who were operating inside the country during Ethiopian occupation were given this title- to elucidate his government´s plans aimed at imposing lasting peace and order in Mogadishu and Somalia at large.
As the president embroiled him self in long discussions with these groups to woo them for the peace process and support his upcoming government, subliminal news that the president had talks with the spokesman of Al-shabab Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansor dominated the headlines of some Somali media, it came to the surprise of many Somalis that the new moderate Islamist leader of Somalia Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed- who is widely supported by the west if not hand picked by UN under the tutelage of USA per se, had direct talks with Mukhtar Robow Abu Masor who is on the American terror list. Abu Masor and his protégés vowed on several occasions to fight against the government and claimed before the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia that they would continue to fight until they impose Shariah law in Horn of Africa and subsequently to Alaska, Solomon Island, Chile up to Europe in Iceland and many analysts think they would not budge despite past and ongoing attempts to persuade them to embrace peace and desist violence.
Others purport that notwithstanding Al-Shabab leaders are hardliners whose militias wage lethal attacks on government soldiers and AU troops under the command of Abu Mansor-the man president Sheikh Sharif met or would meet, for political expediency it is a milestone and brave decision that against all odds, the president had talks with Abu Masor in the presidential house. They assert that after two decades of devastating internecine war, Somali people should have a period of introspection, to answer if they are really determined to end their predicament by them selves by engaging in a comprehensive negotiations participated by all warring factions of Somalia with out alienating any group, If yes, then Al-Shabab fighters are Somalis regardless of their political and military agenda, they have a formidable force on the ground and can undermine the peace process, they should be lured to the peace even if that will trigger the outrage of foreign powers who put their interest before the interest of the debilitated Somali folks.
Many also argue if sheikh Sharif has been whisked to Ethiopia, the archenemy of Somalia whose troops massacred thousand of Somalis in Mogadishu and had a tête-à-tête with males Zenawi during AU summit in Adisababa as well as formal talks in Meles Zenawi´s presidential palace, there should be no objection or hesitation on the side of Sheikh Sharif to sit on the round table with his fellow citizen and discuss how to salvage their country.
A lasting peace for Somalia necessitates a compromise but Sheikh Sharif -albeit the affront that he is gullible-,seems to be the antithesis of the former president of Somalia Abdullah Yusuf who has been adamant in reaching multitude groups apposing his government, Sheikh Sharif hailed all Somali factions and called them to use peaceful means in their quest for power since it is a constitutional right for every qualified Somali and the widely speculated clandestine talks the new president had with Mukhatar robow Abu Mansor and Hasan Turki –another hardliner based in lower Jubba region near to Kenya-Somali border, comes on that perspective.
Though I am a virulent critic of Al-shabab and their hard-line approach but it is a reality that many hapless Somalis who emanate from the non militarized tribes dwelling between the two rivers Shabelle and Jubba in southern Somalia unabashedly support Al-shabab currently controlling their towns, they solemnly claim that Al-shabab is a legitimate entity entitled to rule the country.
One of The inhabitants of the coastal town of Merka,lower Shebelle region in southern Somalia just 110 km south of Mogadishu who requested anonymity said to me when I but to him the question of how he sees the administration of Al-shabab militias holding their grip on the region "while the region is ruled by clan militias loyal to Yusuf Indhacade whose henchmen subjugated the peasant and apolitical people and ruled the region through gunpoint, Al-shabab militias come to our rescue, I am flabbergasted by those who talk on the radio or write on Somali websites, they contend that Al-shabab are terrorists but Al-shabab are well-disciplined religious men who rule to pacify the region not to murder the innocent civilians and mutilate their bodies or accumulate wealth through robbing aid donations and levying lofty taxes, like Yusuf indhacade, ex-governor of Lower shabelle region".
He gave me an example to solidify his stand, he said that clan militias loyal to Yusuf Indhacade camouflaging in Transitional federal government authority raided 29 October 2007 houses in Bullo-Jan district in Merka and abducted dozens of civilians among them one of the residents of the neighborhood on the name Hassan Gesdir and hauled him up to the central Jail. The mutilated body of Hassan with signs of torture has been later found at the sandy beach of Merka after his half buried body has been exhumed by the fishermen . The deceased man belonged to one of the less militarized clans of Somalia and during his arrest he was not armed. The man further said "Al-shabab has several taboos, you are only entangled or killed if you cross into their zone".
Such Somali tribes who live in a semblance of peace under Al-shabab rule have the trepidation that weak government would reinstall such notorious clan militias who conceal under government banner. Currently one of Yusuf Indhacade´s cronies Ali Ganey who is said to have been involved in the brutal murder of Hassan Gesdir is an MP of Somali parliament. Criminal-cum-parliamentarian Cali Ganey, the former police commissioner of lower Shabelle region and Abdulkadir sheikh Mohamed, former governor of lower shabelle during Abdullahi yusuf´s tenure were directly involved in that killing.
Also in a report compiled by Al-Jazeera correspondent Mohamed Adow, on December 2008 during his visit to the port city of Kismayo, One of the porters of Kismayo port unmasked the critical condition the people of kisamayo lived under Colenal Barre Adan Hirale´s rule, he said "when we load 6 lorries we are paid only one or two but now under Al Shabab and its affiliate´s rule we are fully paid our due payments and carry them with out fear of robbery".
Although Sheikh Sharif sheikh Ahmed only acknowledged that he opened talks with Al-Shabab through interlocutor or emissary but it is a bold step towards averting new cycle of violence that could plunge the country new era of bloodshed and havoc.
Pros and cons of Sheikh Sharif´s decision to talk with hardliners;
In terms of advantages; If al-shabab is streamed to the peace process, it will remove a stumbling obstacle a head of the government and would usher peace to blossom Somalia. Al-shabab and other hardliners who control several regions in southern Somalia and have legions of sympathizers, to underestimate their influence will only exacerbate current diabolic situation of Somalia
the Cons are;If Al-shabab leaders and other Islamist hardliners join the government under the helm of sheikh Sharif, it means 2006 scenario is brewing, the hardliners will hinder the smooth running of government activities by blocking every decision they see not in favor of their style of governance.
also The international community would withdraw its support for the government because logically it will be difficult for the international community to deal with a government whose decision making bodies are dominated by hardliners like Abu Mansor who overtly makes folly claims of attacking the west and neighboring countries.
So, the newly elected president of Somalia is in dilemma, if he allies with hardliners he would lose his newly found indispensible friends - USA and the west, and if he rebuffs negotiating with hardliners like Al-shabab his government is doomed to swift failure.
As the president embroiled him self in long discussions with these groups to woo them for the peace process and support his upcoming government, subliminal news that the president had talks with the spokesman of Al-shabab Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansor dominated the headlines of some Somali media, it came to the surprise of many Somalis that the new moderate Islamist leader of Somalia Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed- who is widely supported by the west if not hand picked by UN under the tutelage of USA per se, had direct talks with Mukhtar Robow Abu Masor who is on the American terror list. Abu Masor and his protégés vowed on several occasions to fight against the government and claimed before the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia that they would continue to fight until they impose Shariah law in Horn of Africa and subsequently to Alaska, Solomon Island, Chile up to Europe in Iceland and many analysts think they would not budge despite past and ongoing attempts to persuade them to embrace peace and desist violence.
Others purport that notwithstanding Al-Shabab leaders are hardliners whose militias wage lethal attacks on government soldiers and AU troops under the command of Abu Mansor-the man president Sheikh Sharif met or would meet, for political expediency it is a milestone and brave decision that against all odds, the president had talks with Abu Masor in the presidential house. They assert that after two decades of devastating internecine war, Somali people should have a period of introspection, to answer if they are really determined to end their predicament by them selves by engaging in a comprehensive negotiations participated by all warring factions of Somalia with out alienating any group, If yes, then Al-Shabab fighters are Somalis regardless of their political and military agenda, they have a formidable force on the ground and can undermine the peace process, they should be lured to the peace even if that will trigger the outrage of foreign powers who put their interest before the interest of the debilitated Somali folks.
Many also argue if sheikh Sharif has been whisked to Ethiopia, the archenemy of Somalia whose troops massacred thousand of Somalis in Mogadishu and had a tête-à-tête with males Zenawi during AU summit in Adisababa as well as formal talks in Meles Zenawi´s presidential palace, there should be no objection or hesitation on the side of Sheikh Sharif to sit on the round table with his fellow citizen and discuss how to salvage their country.
A lasting peace for Somalia necessitates a compromise but Sheikh Sharif -albeit the affront that he is gullible-,seems to be the antithesis of the former president of Somalia Abdullah Yusuf who has been adamant in reaching multitude groups apposing his government, Sheikh Sharif hailed all Somali factions and called them to use peaceful means in their quest for power since it is a constitutional right for every qualified Somali and the widely speculated clandestine talks the new president had with Mukhatar robow Abu Mansor and Hasan Turki –another hardliner based in lower Jubba region near to Kenya-Somali border, comes on that perspective.
Though I am a virulent critic of Al-shabab and their hard-line approach but it is a reality that many hapless Somalis who emanate from the non militarized tribes dwelling between the two rivers Shabelle and Jubba in southern Somalia unabashedly support Al-shabab currently controlling their towns, they solemnly claim that Al-shabab is a legitimate entity entitled to rule the country.
One of The inhabitants of the coastal town of Merka,lower Shebelle region in southern Somalia just 110 km south of Mogadishu who requested anonymity said to me when I but to him the question of how he sees the administration of Al-shabab militias holding their grip on the region "while the region is ruled by clan militias loyal to Yusuf Indhacade whose henchmen subjugated the peasant and apolitical people and ruled the region through gunpoint, Al-shabab militias come to our rescue, I am flabbergasted by those who talk on the radio or write on Somali websites, they contend that Al-shabab are terrorists but Al-shabab are well-disciplined religious men who rule to pacify the region not to murder the innocent civilians and mutilate their bodies or accumulate wealth through robbing aid donations and levying lofty taxes, like Yusuf indhacade, ex-governor of Lower shabelle region".
He gave me an example to solidify his stand, he said that clan militias loyal to Yusuf Indhacade camouflaging in Transitional federal government authority raided 29 October 2007 houses in Bullo-Jan district in Merka and abducted dozens of civilians among them one of the residents of the neighborhood on the name Hassan Gesdir and hauled him up to the central Jail. The mutilated body of Hassan with signs of torture has been later found at the sandy beach of Merka after his half buried body has been exhumed by the fishermen . The deceased man belonged to one of the less militarized clans of Somalia and during his arrest he was not armed. The man further said "Al-shabab has several taboos, you are only entangled or killed if you cross into their zone".
Such Somali tribes who live in a semblance of peace under Al-shabab rule have the trepidation that weak government would reinstall such notorious clan militias who conceal under government banner. Currently one of Yusuf Indhacade´s cronies Ali Ganey who is said to have been involved in the brutal murder of Hassan Gesdir is an MP of Somali parliament. Criminal-cum-parliamentarian Cali Ganey, the former police commissioner of lower Shabelle region and Abdulkadir sheikh Mohamed, former governor of lower shabelle during Abdullahi yusuf´s tenure were directly involved in that killing.
Also in a report compiled by Al-Jazeera correspondent Mohamed Adow, on December 2008 during his visit to the port city of Kismayo, One of the porters of Kismayo port unmasked the critical condition the people of kisamayo lived under Colenal Barre Adan Hirale´s rule, he said "when we load 6 lorries we are paid only one or two but now under Al Shabab and its affiliate´s rule we are fully paid our due payments and carry them with out fear of robbery".
Although Sheikh Sharif sheikh Ahmed only acknowledged that he opened talks with Al-Shabab through interlocutor or emissary but it is a bold step towards averting new cycle of violence that could plunge the country new era of bloodshed and havoc.
Pros and cons of Sheikh Sharif´s decision to talk with hardliners;
In terms of advantages; If al-shabab is streamed to the peace process, it will remove a stumbling obstacle a head of the government and would usher peace to blossom Somalia. Al-shabab and other hardliners who control several regions in southern Somalia and have legions of sympathizers, to underestimate their influence will only exacerbate current diabolic situation of Somalia
the Cons are;If Al-shabab leaders and other Islamist hardliners join the government under the helm of sheikh Sharif, it means 2006 scenario is brewing, the hardliners will hinder the smooth running of government activities by blocking every decision they see not in favor of their style of governance.
also The international community would withdraw its support for the government because logically it will be difficult for the international community to deal with a government whose decision making bodies are dominated by hardliners like Abu Mansor who overtly makes folly claims of attacking the west and neighboring countries.
So, the newly elected president of Somalia is in dilemma, if he allies with hardliners he would lose his newly found indispensible friends - USA and the west, and if he rebuffs negotiating with hardliners like Al-shabab his government is doomed to swift failure.
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