Day: May 5, 2019

GAROWE POLITICAL IMPASSE IS NOT AN OPTION

Garowe, May 5, 2019 – Ramadan Karim to all Muslims and friends of Muslims the world over. Happy fasting, friends!

Now that Garowe Meeting between leaders of the Somali Federal Government and federal constituent states is in progress after President Farmaajo had finally showed up in Garowe early evening on Saturday, expectation of a breakthrough in negotiations is modest, but hopefully possible as it is highly desirable.
What are the sticking points? They are several, among others:
  1. Resistance to the real and perceived current FGS policy of regime change in Galmudugh and Jubaland
  2. Opposition to FGS leaders unilateral attempt to design their own 2020 Electoral Modality with little or no any inputs from other key stakesholders
  3. Unsatisfactory work and never ending Federal Constitutional Review.

    Updated:

    4. Resources sharing between Federal Government and federal constituent states fuelled by recent London Meeting on oil and gas potential in Somalia.At time of this writing, an agenda of Garowe Gathering had yet to be adopted.

Given a goodwill from all leaders attending the Garowe Gathering, and a little public and diplomatic pressure, Somali-driven solutions to all regional and national outstanding issues can be found in this most convenient venue, which has a history of Somalia’s political breakthroughs.
Most importantly, this is a national leadership test for President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. In GAROWE-III he will either sail or sink. We can only wish him well and good luck.
By Ismail Warsame

الرايس فرماجو فى جرووى :التحرىر من الشاهد العىون

Garowe ، 4 مايو (أيار) 2019 – يكون الجو حارًا جدًا في Garowe اليوم – 40 درجة مئوية ، جاف ، لاهث ، ساطع ومشرق ويحترق حتى العظم مع تعرق العرق من خدين الجميع ، مع مرور شهرين على موسم الأمطار دون قطرة تسقط من السماء الرمادية والعارية.

مع تعطل أجهزة تهوية تكييف الهواء الهشة والضعيفة باستمرار بسبب ارتفاع درجة حرارة الجو الحار بصورة استثنائية ونظام الأسلاك وأسلاك التكنولوجيا الصينية الرخيصة ، لم يكن أفضل حتى بالنسبة لأولئك الذين تمكنوا من التسلل إلى صالة كبار الشخصيات المزدحمة في غرفة Royal Caffe. توجه بعض أعضاء حفل الاستقبال ، بمن فيهم رئيس بونتلاند ديني ، إلى مطار الجنرال محمد أبشير الدولي لاستقبال الرئيس فارماجو في وقت مبكر من صباح اليوم. ولكن ، وصل الرئيس فارماجو إلى هنا في وقت متأخر بعد ظهر اليوم ، مبينًا عدم حساسية الرئيس لمعاناة الأشخاص الحاضرين ، وبالتالي محاولة صبرهم في انتظاره كله في ظل الظروف الجوية القاسية.
هذه زيارة عمل فارماجو في ولاية بونتلاند ، وليست جولة رسمية ، لحضور ما يُفترض أنه اجتماع غاروي الثالث. وصل قادة الدولة الإقليميون إلى غاروي بشكل منفصل في وقت مبكر.

أهلا بكم من جديد إلى Garowe ، سيدي الرئيس! حظا سعيدا!

بقلم إسماعيل ورسامي

ismailwarsame@gmail.com

FARMAAJO’S GAROWE RECEPTION: AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

Garowe, May 4, 2019 – it is too hot to be in Garowe today – 40°C, dry, breathless, dazzling bright and burning to the bone with sweat dripping down from the cheeks of everybody, with two months past the rainy season without a drop falling down from the grey and naked sky.

With fragile and weak air- conditioning ventilators continually breaking down due to scorching exceptionally hot weather and cheap Chinese-made technology and wiring system, it was not better even for those who managed to sneak into the over-crowded VIP lounge at Royal Caffe room. Some members of the welcoming party, including Puntland President Deni, went to General Mohamed Abshir International Airport to receive President Farmaajo as early as morning. But, President Farmaajo had arrived here in late afternoon, showing insensitivity of the President to the suffering of the attending people, and thus trying their patience waiting for him the whole under extreme weather conditions.
This is Farmaajo’s working visit in the State of Puntland, not official tour, to attend what is supposed to be the Garowe-III Meeting. Regional State leaders have been arriving Garowe separately much earlier.

Welcome back to Garowe, Mr. President! Good luck!

By Ismail Warsame

ismailwarsame@gmail.com