SOMALIA: UNITED UPON DEATH BURIAL, DIVIDED IN LIFE

This article has been updated.

Leaders of Somalia at all levels of the government, except the Federal President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, and Puntland prominent traditional leadership, are currently in Garowe, the state capital of Puntland, to mourn collectively the passing away of important public figures of the nation- the late Puntland Vice-president, Mohamed Abdi Hashi, and late TNG Prime Minister, Hassan Abshir Farah. It is rare to see them together, unless someone dies, which means someone’s death and tragedy are more important to them than the vital interest or salvation of the entire country of Somalia. They couldn’t agree on a single common approach to resolving the existential Somalia’s problems of statecraft, and even, on issues of the very survival of their nation. It is the irony and paradox of Somali politics lately, a public mistrust that disappears momentarily upon someone’s death, and re-starts upon burial of the body. How you would fathom this strange behavior? What is more important than the unity, wellbeing and survival of a nation? What is the natural death of a single person in comparison with the continued existence of a nation-state at stake?
It seems to me that, in order to keep Somali leaders engaged and to maintain them together, one public figure among them has to pass away occasionally. It is a strange phenomenon of Somalis today.

Since you are here, support Digital Media WDM with subscription. Payment options:

Sahal Acct: 496091 (+252 90 703 4081];

http://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame