https://ismailwarsame.blog/2016/11/29/remembering-the-unsung-and-forgotten-heroes-of-labaatan-jirrow/

https://ismailwarsame.blog/2021/04/08/wdm-editorial-mogadishu-talks-collapse/

The talks have collapsed, despite great efforts, resources and time spent for their success. The main reason for the failure was a predetermined plan to forfeit any positive outcome on the part of FGS leaders, who are now resisting calls to either resign or accept the obvious constitutional sanction that their four-year mandate had ended two months ago. It is unprecedented constitutional crisis hard to ignore by anyone trying to help Somalia survive this flagrant abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law. It is no longer how and why the talks have collapsed, it is about allowing attempt by illegitimate and outlaw President to dictate the agenda of an existential meeting on the way forward for Somalia in serious trouble now.

To those participants in the talks on the other side, who claim that the talks didn’t collapse yet, they must accept the fact that it takes a group of persons to play the Somali folklore dance called “WALASAQO”. Do they have partners to play with?

Finally, If Mohamed Abdullahi (Farmajo) had been able to install by force three Heads of Federal Member States before the eyes of Somalis and the world community at large, why can’t he get away with squattering in Villa Somalia without any legal consequences?

(This editorial has been revised since posting).

WDM SOMALIA MONITOR, aka, Warsame Digital Media has the pleasure inform our readers of the good news that there has been a considerable number of paid applicants for annual subscriptions within the past few months. We are here to express our appreciation and gratitude to you all for taking the time and resources to make this happen. Together we will make a difference in building up an informed community of readers for better Somalia.

The Chief Editor

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https://ismailwarsame.blog/2020/09/05/self-confidence-in-nation-building/

Of all the noises of Khaatumo on SSC, no one among its past leaders had ever raised the cause and plight of Sool, Sanaag and Ayn beyond the rhetoric among Somalis. No wonder that the international community never knew what was happening in those regions except the propaganda and official versions of Somaliand Administration.

Residents in the SSC Regions must be told about the truth that they were betrayed after they had been misled by those whom they trusted. The hatred cultivated in the process towards their fellow compatriots in Puntland State is part of that betrayal and treason committed by those who lied to the people of Sool, Sanaag and Ayn.

This story is based on the experience of one fellow from SSC Regions, who one day on his own initiative, wrote a letter and handed it over to USA Embassy in Nairobi during Obama Administration on the situation of SSC Regions. That fellow was surprised to be told by Embassy officials that it was the first time they saw and met someone talking about the interests of those regions. Mesmerized, this fellow asked the diplomats, “How come this could had happened?”. The diplomats responded, “Everybody used to talk about and pursue their own personal interests”.

Of the five Federal Member States of Somalia, only two came about through legitimate community consultations as required by principle in state formation. Only Puntland and the Southwest can pass the test of democratic process, coming into existence as FMSs. Galmudugh, Jubaland and Hirshabelle were created and imposed artificially. Jubaland was etablished by the joint military operations and occupation of Kismayo by Ras Kamboni Brigade (remnants of Al-Shabab and ICU militia led by Ahmed Madobe), and Kenyan Defence Forces. It was a grand regional plan of Ogaden territorial expansion at expense of Harti and Marehan. The strategic thinker of this Grand Regional Plan (GRP) was the late Kenyan Senator Yusuf Haji, supported by Hussein Halane and Omar Ilay of Region Five of Ethiopia. Yusuf Haji was the Kenya’s Defence Minister at the time of Kismayo occupation. Kismayo isn’t only under occupation now, but also suffers from absolute DICTATORSHIP with Madobe’s use of brute forces of Ras Kamboni Brigade and Liyiu Police of TPLF. Among the residents of Kismayo, nobody feels safe, especially families and young girls. A modicum of administration in Kismayo is run by school dropouts of Somali Kenyans from Northeast Kenya.

Galmudugh exists only by name and doesn’t even qualify for federal member state status under the Provisional Federal Constitution, requiring at least two regions to come together to form a regional state. Swathes of territory they claim is under Al-Shabab control. President Qoor Qoor is a paper tiger, despite the noises around.

Hirshabelle never had had a community consensus to form a regional administration. The most prominent traditional leadets had opposed the FGS efforts then proclaiming it. Hirshabelle was imposed upon by the Federal Government of the day.

Heads of the administrations of Southwest, Galmudugh and Hirshabelle are regional governors appointed and forcefully installed by the Federal Government, in some cases, through violence, blood-letting and violations of human rights.

After the general elections are done with, it would require to revisit the legal status of Galmudugh, Hirshabelle and Jubaland to reset them right.

https://ismailwarsame.blog/2021/04/04/how-would-you-advise-presidents-deni-madobe-and-council-of-presidential-candidates-in-mogadishu-talks/

The 17th September Agreement and subsequent Baidoa Understanding by the Technical Committee need to be implemented by all parties in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration to have safe and secure elections, leading to a free and fair poll. This cannot happen without clarifying:

1. What is the power of a president whose constitutional mandate has expired?
2. Are there legislative powers of a parliament whose constitutional mandate has ended, and which is still threatening to legislate and even consider extending its term beyond the four-year mandate? An expired Parliament illegally contemplating stretching the president’s stint to more years without an election?
3. Would the army and other state security services be neutral in maintaining law and order under the laws of the land or would they be loyal to a government that has no constitutional authority to suppress dissent and election campaigns of the opposition?
4. Would the occupant of Villa Somalia allow a care-taker Government led by a prime minister to function?
5. What about the influence of foreign money on the elections, and who is going to be the watchdog against such interference?
6. Would the Federal and State electoral committees be independent to conduct free and fair elections?
7. How would you secure election polling stations and by whom?
8. Are there contingent security plans in place to prevent and control potential wide-scale election violences?

These are the questions and potential more that must be raised and answered in the on-going Mogadishu talks. FGS must be forthcoming and upfront to work out these details with the FMSs. Other issues like recent confrontations between the FGS and CDC and casualties therein ocurred could be resolved by appointing an independent commission of inquiry.

https://ismailwarsame.blog/2019/05/15/trademarks-of-wrong-headed-leadership/

The spiritual leader of Buddhism, Dalai lama, had retold the world about his mistake in meeting with Mao Tse Tung, the late Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and Revolution, the Long March, on Tibet issue. He said he didn’t know then that in any first conversation between opposing parties, and in most meetings between prominent figures, start with a small talk first, progressing slowly to substantive issues or to the purpose of the meeting.

When parties are far apart and there was breakdown of diplomacy and communication, the only thing that gets the parties talking to each other is small talk that avoids the substance like the weather of the day, family issues, anything that avoids the subject to be discussed. This is called ICEBREAKING. Icebreaking is an important element of negotiation technics and harmless tool to understand and appreciate each other’s humanity and sophistication in life. It breaks down anxieties and make everybody comfortable and at ease. It is only then that real talks and negotiations get started.

In Somali culture, it starts with jokes designed for pleasure and laughter. But, this can go wrong too and misinterpreted, if the other party has no sense of humor. It is therefore imperative to learn about the other party before you meet them. It is equally crucible to monitor and watch out body language and signs of discomforts in the other party to be able to adjust to the needs of the environment where the talks are being held. An example of jokes entertained in current Mogadishu talks that transpired when Guudlaawe and Qoor Qoor reminded Deni and Madobe that they constituted the united voice of Hawiye constituents, then Deni and Madobe had looked at Farmajo and advised him to join them as the united representatives of Darood. In reaction, Farmajo was stunned.

I am not present at Mogadishu talks taking place now between FGS and FMSs, but I suspect that both Farmajo and Ahmed Madobe look too stiff to own sense of humor in an adversity environment, and that they lack the abilities to mask their hatred to each other by utilizing small talk and humor to break the ice. I wish I could be wrong.

People are getting obese, some mentally disturbed and still others suffer from domestic violence, suicides, not to mention about job losses and high unemployment among the general population. It is alarming trend of life and livelihoods in disarray.

This alarming trend in Europe didn’t spare my own family too. My daughters in London, UK, now look like thick round dolls, putting on weight that is threatening their personal health and wellbeing. Since there were no live class-room lessons to go and attend, they are stuck uncomfortably at home. Unfortunately, their coping mechanism against frustration and depression becomes overeating, causing them severe obesity. This is a serious social and health problem in the UK and other countries of Europe the authorities cannot ignore.

The secret in maintaining weight is to eat three times a day in moderation, preferably at same time, but never eating after 7 in the evening. Better go to bed hungry after 7 than eat before sleep.

How to alleviate the suffering of the people under lockdown? There must be task forces established to study the issue for alternative approaches to total lockdown. So far the damage done to people under it is immense.

(This article has been updated since posting).

Traditionally, when economic sanctions are imposed on a given country, there are adverse socio-economic and security conditions that warrant the action. In the case of Somalia, there were serious security threats to regional and international peace because of terrorism and absence of central authority capable of maintaining law and order in the country. Three successive US administrations kept this emergency economic sanctions in place with President Joe Biden renewing it today.

The first step in removing such sanctions starts with a review to see whether the conditions that triggered the sanctions, in the first place in that country, had improved. With the potential instability caused by electoral impasse, Federal Authorities running out of constitutional mandate, renewed and daring violence by Al-Shabab in the Capital Mogadishu and lack of movement towards resolving those issues make it unplausable to lift sanctions on Somalia. The only hope in that regard was holding peaceful democratic elections.

WHAT IS AT STAKE?
The promise of financial debt relief for Somalia by the world premiere financial institutions and donor community is the first casualty in this electoral impasse. For Somalia, there will be no economic re-integration with the rest of the world without holding free and fair elections first. There will be no legitimacy either for Somali Central Authorities paralysized by political grilock. Somalia will continue to be in limbo with possibility of imposition of sanctions against some Somali leaders on travel and asylum, among other measures.

For Somali leaders, their first collective task is to hold fair elections in order for them to be listened to by the people of Somalia and the world community.

After many years of self-isolation and enabling their junior partners of the Federal Member States (FMSs) play key roles in Mogadishu politics, Puntland&Jubaland have finally figured out (unfortunately in the hard way by ignoring calls for leadership and interactions with the Central Authorities) that it was never too late to present themselves and get operating stations in the Al-Shabab infested Capital City. Good move, one would say. Mogadishu is not an exclusive enclave of Villa Somalia. It is a national capital that belongs to all. There are Federal Government and Federal States that own Mogadishu, that the Federal States own the Federal Government of Somalia. Self-isolating from the Seat of the Central Government isn’t only dangerous, but foolish too, devoid of any leadership intelligence and foresight.

It is the expectation of all concerned that Presidents Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland and Ahmed Mohamed Islam of Jubaland learn from their past policy mistakes and experiences.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned.

BRIEFING ROOM
Letter to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Somalia
APRIL 01, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 of April 12, 2010, with respect to Somalia is to continue in effect beyond April 12, 2021.

The situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 with respect to Somalia.                               

Sincerely,

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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https://ismailwarsame.blog/2020/09/09/what-are-we-talking-about-here/

By Abdel Nour Saeed

CAIRO, January 16, 2021

Translated from Arabic

Somali fisheries problems lie between plunder and unemployment, which we referred to in the first part in a simple way about the relationship between piracy and foreign ships that fish illegally in Somali waters. As we have also explained, illegal fishing and unemployment are the main factors that made fishermen and youth engage in piracy as an alternative means of obtaining their daily bread.

So what are the reasons that led to the emergence of Somali piracy? A question that we will answer in this article, as we talk a little bit about the moral, material, environmental and economic effects of maritime piracy in Somalia.

Reasons for the emergence of Somali piracy:

Fighting plunder of wealth:

This is an issue among the reasons that led to the emergence of Somali piracy, as these ships were repeatedly plundering huge amounts of wealth in Somali waters.

Combating burying of toxic waste:

Burying toxic waste is one of the most serious problems that plague the Somali coasts, and the burial of nuclear remnants on the Somali coasts by international transcontinental companies has led to piracy, and has recently witnessed foreign bodies in some Somali beaches, and dangerous diseases have also spread in countries that have not It was not usual before, and the dumping of waste and forbidden hunting continues even at this point.

Self-defense and life

Citizens who used to fish in their villages with their simple tools to obtain their daily livelihood were affected by the presence of large foreign ships that prevent them from fishing, and the fishermen complained at many times that their nets were small and other fishing equipment was being bullied by the giant foreign ships many times, which affected the confrontation. Directness between foreign ships and fishermen in the areas close to the Somali coasts.

As for the moral, material, criminal, economic and environmental effects, we can summarize the following points

Moral effects; Stirring fear and terror in the souls of those who ride the sea, as it has become a direct threat to the safe maritime navigation routes. Maritime piracy also results in injuries and loss of lives and material losses, and these damages are due to psychological suffering of everyone who is exposed to piracy.

Physical effects; The material effects of maritime piracy take on different dimensions.

A- Criminal damages: The crime of maritime piracy results in serious criminal damage that varies between murder and various bodily injuries.

B- Economic damage: Economic damages constitute the biggest consequences and effects of maritime piracy. Therefore, we find this crime that is constantly associated with major commercial crimes such as fraud and maritime commercial fraud. These damages can be addressed the following points:

Damage to shipowners and shippers: Maritime transport contributes to 80-90% of global trade traffic, and for this reason, shipowners and freighters inflict serious damages as a result of maritime piracy, especially the direct damages represented in dumping ships and hijacking them or plundering the ship’s safe and the belongings of its passengers or plundering goods or Destruction, and ship owners and operators incur huge financial burdens as a result of piracy in exchange for ridding of the hands of piracy, and indirect financial burdens arise as a result of these accidents due to the increase in the value of insurance required on ships, or changing navigation routes to avoid routes threatened by piracy. Living aquatic: the spread of marine piracy in fisheries makes the fishermen reluctant to fish in them and search for safe places to practice their activities, and this is at the expense of exploiting these resources and causing them great losses as a result, and they are also subjected to direct attacks from piracy because their boats are sank and looted. .

C- Environmental damage: Maritime piracy threatens the safety of the marine environment as a result of dumping ships or discharging them into the sea, where the marine environment is exposed to severe damage as a result of petroleum or toxic materials affecting the marine environment.

Maritime piracy also has a negative impact on tourism activity. We will be satisfied with this as much until we meet our next articles, God willing, as soon as possible.