About the blogger:
This blog is associated with the former Chief of Staff in Puntland State Presidency, 1998-2004. He also worked with the UN and World Bank Joint Secretariat for Somalia’s Re-construction and Development Program (RDP), 2005-2006, as a Zonal Technical Coordinator for Puntland and later as National Aid Technical Coordinator with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and European Union. He is now an independent political analyst and commentator on current issues and occasionally gives historical perspective on modern Somalia’s politics. He lives and works in Toronto, Canada. He can be reached at: ismailwarsame@gmail.com
US President Joe Biden has shamelessly failed the Palestinian people of Gaza and Lebanon in every way imaginable in life, and even in death (mass graves). What is happening in those places is unconscionable moral failure in human history on the part of US and Israel, and we could say, on the part of the entire world community. In the eyes of many, no worse sufferings and abuses of life have ever been recorded in human existence – thousands of people smashed under rubbles of multi-story buildings of hospitals, schools and shelters holding war displaced refugees by mercilessly dropping 2000kg bombs on them.
October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel by Hamas, presumably representing the people of the Concentration Regugees Camps of Gaza, is neither nearly proportionate or nor remotely justifiable in modern time mass slaughter of innocent and defenceless Palestinian children, women and elderly. Most refugees in Gaza aren’t HAMAS. Surprisingly, HAMAS Israeli captives released during temporary ceasefire prison exchange looked relatively in good health condition, while those Palestinians let go by Israel showed signs of severe mistreatment and torture.
WDM is endorsing US presidential candidate Kamala Harris because the alternative Donald Trump is worse than Joe Biden in terms of respect for human rights, decency, and equality of races in the USA and around the world.
If elected, Kamala Harris would be a historic political figure in race relations in the United States and around the world.
Let us go straight to the facts. These are the unsaid and politically inconvenient facts:
Almost all elected federal presidents starting from Sheikh Sharif Ahmed were anti-constitutionalists/anti- federalists.
Almost all Federal Members States are artificial creations, lacking adequate community involvement in choosing their respective leaders, especially Hirshabelle, GalMudug, and Jubaland. Moreover, Jubaland, including Kismayo, is, in fact, an occupied land – natives have no say in running the pseudo-administration there, and have no representation.
Puntland State isolationist policies for more than a decade gave way to anti-federalist forces in South-Central Somalia.
The propaganda-prone, gullible, uninformed masses of Somalia fell victims to the falsehoods of Centralist and city-state proponents.
The absence of counter-programing to the vicious falsehoods spread on federalism by Formajo’s Social Media Warriors (“Cayayaanka Baraha Bulshada CBB).”
Turkey, a NATO state and major investor in Mogadishu and Villa Somalia, is a centralist and historically military government that is strongly opposed to decentralisation ideas in dealing with foreign countries.
Bankrupt Somali intellectual power and theorists on the subject of Federalism.
The inertia of old habits and thinking of older Somali generations that hardly pass away.
Absence of competent, enlightened, free press in the country.
Most importantly, poor, unrepresentative, rubber-stamped LEGISLATIVE bodies in all levels at State and Federal governments.
As we continue to further explore the primitive nature of the Somali society, which professes to believe in Islam, though unfaithfully, but in reality are pagan tribalistic, we open to read the pages of recent history of the Civil War. Although national peace/reconciliation was never done, Somali Civil War ended with the defeat of Hawiye clans. Puntland State ofSomalia was established in 1998, while Hawiye clans were still fighting each other in Mogadishu and beyond. Puntland State became a model governance option for all regions of South-Central Somalia. A Somali Federal President, Abdullahi Yusuf, hailing from Darood clan, was inaugurated in October 2004, replacing General Mohamed Siyaad Barre (Darood) at Villa Somalia after 13 years of stateless Somalia. Northern Dir clans declared unilateral secession from Somalia in 1991, following the collapse of the First Somali Republic.
Disappointed after defeat, Hawiye clansmen had campaigned to unseat the founder of the Somali Second Republic, Abdullahi Yusuf. For the purpose, they had created Al-Shababextremists in South-Central Somalia. Their misguided intellectuals had organized three anti-unity and anti-peace centres, namely Hawiye Action Group (HAG); SomaliConcern based in London, UK, and UnitedSomali Alliance based in America. Most relatively high-profile Hawiye politicians belonged to these groups. They were successful in unseating Federal President Abdullahi Yusuf in 2008.
However, a compromise presidential candidate had to be found in the name of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (Hawiye) in 2009. Hawiye inter-clan infighting started immediately, leading to the selection of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in 2012 to carry out Hawiye unilateral plan of marginalising other Somali clans to turn the tide around their defeat in the Civil War. He failed them, leading to the election of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo (Darood) in 2017 as the federal president.
Like they campaigned against Abdullahi Yusuf, Hawiye clans under the failed leadership of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud started a tribal/militia/political war against Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, this time with the help of other Somali clans. They had succeeded, leading to the re-election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the current Federal President, in 2022. Still primitive in mentality and unreformed, it looks that he is entertaining historical grievances against Darood clans and trying to re-ignite theCivil War in Somalia. He is repeating his past First Term mistakes. He is a spoiler of peace and a source of disunity. He is bound to fail again because he is waging an unjust war against his own country people.
Interestingly, foreign powers have been historically putting fuel into the fire by meddling into Somali internal affairs in order to plant disunity and discourse. Now, supposedly, Muslim countries of Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, the Emirates, and others are adding their names to the historical list of Ethiopia and Kenya to destabilise Somalia. They should read former British prime minister Tony Blair’s recent memoir that Somalis and Afghans have similar characteristics of expelling successfully all intruders and invaders, not matter how powerful they may be.
In the past, successive Somali governments hired or received foreign experts for multi-sector development programs in the Republic. These foreign advisers were treated differently in terms of compensation, standard of living, and accommodation, from native employees doing the same work.
This double-standard continues to date. In the private sector, an Indian or Bangladeshi manual construction worker in Garowe is paid four times more than than his Somali counterpart. Hired Kenyan employees in Somalia have preferential treatment and compensation packages than native employees of the same competence. The private sector, like Somali public services, is infested by nepotism and cronyism. One interculator told us that when business owners couldn’t find suitable or qualified individuals among their respective subclans, they are likely to seek foreign workers instead of hiring someone from rival clans. Amazing! Also, because Somalis are quick in modelling business and enterprises, business owners are afraid of other Somalis imitating them.
One may argue that Somalis are less skilled. However, whose fault is it if potential native workers aren’t given the chance of skill-training.
Because this exercise or mistreatment of the Somali employee has been going on for decades, causing induced psychological impact on the Somali character, he/she could think that they were inferior, contrary to what used to be a proud Somali character, who believed that nothing was higher than him except God. If this double-standard is allowed to continue, the issue could have huge irreversible psychological damage on the Somali character and self-worth.
As a result, in dealing with foreign entities or persons, you would notice that even the leaders of Somalia at all levels of government have double standard – one for their own natives, and the other, for foreign persons. This is a serious issue that needs due attention and studies, for it would affect all Somalis negatively for generations to come.
There are three laws theoretically in Somalia. They are:
Customary or traditional law
Sharia
Penal (criminal)/civil law
None is binding to the crude nature of a nomadic Somali man without strong state reinforcement. Nomads are free-wheeling and hateful of any restrictions against their impunity for any action of their wish and wimps. Any law he may accept at minimum is the customary law of his clan because it has no enforcement mechanism and because he doesn’t want to lose the support system and the benefits he enjoys within the tribal councils.
A nomad considers Sharia and penal law as imposition against his free will and way of life, although he may not openly criticise the Sharia out of fear of getting into disfavour with his elders and the clergy in the community.
Nomadic societies are historically backward because of their way of life. lack of schooling and other tools of modern society. They lead a hard life, exposing them to a mentality of survival of the fittest. They have no sense of charitity, and hospitality with his meagre resources is done for the purpose of self-perservation and protection of clan reputation.
Most Somalis are of nomadic origin, and even though urbanisation is taking roots lately in Somalia due to increased tribal conflicts, civil war, negative impact of climate change, internal displacement as a result, and environmental deterioration, they have nomadic heritage. They need a lot of orientation and training to understand their obligations, rights, and responsibilities to fit into an organized modern society.
Somalis are pseudo-Muslims and are almost pagan in behavior and ways of life. Murder, theft and acts of blasphemy are considered patches of honor. Public theft, abuses of entrusted position, revenge, and punishment of real or perceived opponents and rivals are fair games for both ordinary men and Somali public officials. It is only in Somalia where you hear the President of a Republic claiming that his kids have the right to take advantage of his position in acquiring undeserved government privileges and unearned wealth; government officials, including ministers, looting government coffers, on the top of misappropriating salaries of their employees in daylight with impunity, and remain a functioning official or minister in Cabinet. One can infer from this that the boss of that particular minister was doing the same and didn’t bother firing the corrupt subordinate. The list of similar behaviors goes down to the office messengers and cleaners.
“According to the Greeks, there are three types of people on earth:
The idiots
The tribesmen, and
Citizens
When the Greek used the word idiot, they didn’t use it as a curse word. Idiots are the people who just don’t care, if they write an exam, they’d cheat, if they’re in government, they’d steal. An idiot just doesn’t care at all. If he eats bananas, he throws the peels anywhere instead of putting it in a trash.
According to the Greek, some some societies have more idiots than tribesmen and citizens.
The next set of people are tribesmen, these are the set of people that look at everything from the point of view of their tribe. These are people who believe in you only if you’re part of their tribe. It can really be terrible to have a tribesman as a leader, he would alienate the rest.
When the Greeks talk about it, it’s not just about ethnicity, they also consider religion as a tribe. A great deal of Africans are tribes men because they view everyone from the point of view of their tribes. They trust only their tribesmen.
The last group of people are citizens. These people like to do things the right way, they will respect traffic light rules even if no one is watching them, they drive within speed limit. They respect laws, in an exam, they won’t cheat, if they’re in government, they won’t steal. They are compassionate people, they give to others to promote their well-being.
Some countries have more citizens than tribesmen and idiots, others have so many.
A tribesman can become a citizen through orientation, and an idiot can become a citizen by training and constant enforcement of the law.
Things will fall apart if you elect an idiot or a tribesman to lead if he has not been reformed,” truly reflecting most of the Somali men.
Based on this description, the Somali man is an extreme combination of the characters of THEIDIOT AND TRIBESMAN. Can he be reformed, and whose duty is it to do?
USA presidential women candidate Kamala Harris, denouncing her rival, Donald Trump, said, “he is an unserious person, but the consequences of him being elected potentially is serious.” She meant he was unfit to be president, for he was childishly dangerous. Similarly, one could say that the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia are weaklings and childish in behaviour and governance. To display their stupidity, they have recently been showcasing an old makeshift Somali map produced and used by private foreign persons and entities for their own interests in Somalia’s petroleum explorations Puntland Government and Hirshabelle State (not in existence when this map was falsely produced) spokespersons have been fuming about this “Past and Copy” map ignorantly and carelessly displayed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who didn’t bother to double-check his aides’poor job and irresponsibility involved in the controversy.
In 2007 I made my first trip to China to report on its vast technological ambitions. It was a daunting task. Even some of the country’s older innovations defeated me. In Shanghai, I made the classic mistake of biting too greedily into a soup dumpling, squirting warm juice across the table.
A year earlier China’s government had unveiled a 15-year plan to make the country an “innovation-oriented society” by 2020. In many ways it has succeeded. China now ranks 11th on the Global Innovation Index, an amalgam of 78 indicators published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, far higher than you would expect for a middle-income economy. You can see where your own country stands here. The two most innovative countries may surprise you.
China has hit some bumps along the way. Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba whom I interviewed in 2007, lost favour with China’s leaders; WuXi AppTec, a pharmaceutical firm I visited on the same trip, has been accused of mishandling American intellectual property; and Suntech, a renewable-energy firm I also visited, was ruined in 2013 by a glut of solar panels. At least Shanghai’s dumplings are as enticing as ever.
Puntland House of Representatives is currently holding its 55th Session. Among the dignitaries and guests in attendance are Puntland State MPs in the Federal Parliament in Mogadishu, South-Central Somalia. It is an important session, given the fact that Somalia is at crossroads between a failed state again and the survival of the Federal System Somalis agreed upon, following the Civil War. We will be watching whether they can meet the challenges ahead.
In the meantime, let us remind ourselves that the main function of any parliament is government budget allocations and approval. This involves scrutiny, approval, and follow-up of expenditures consistent with budget allocations. It involves investigations of abuses and mismanagement of this budget. It ensures appropriate and competent financial personnel are appointed by an independent commission. It checks out that the government must have independent auditors and accountants in the financial system, starting with the Auditor-General and Chief Accountant. Barring major economic and natural calamities, the government budget must meet with approved allocations. If not, questions must be raised to expose any malpractices. Critical public services, public law and order, and government operations must be maintained as sine qua non for the state’s existence and survival.
Parliament committees must be active and engaging to carry out their duties as functioning representatives of the people. Government officials and executives, including the State President can be summoned anytime to answer parliament questions in the people’s interest, consistent with the principles of checks and balances of power. These legislative duties should be ongoing as a routine of parliament function. Without this, we can’t have an independent parliament. A dangerous situation develops when the Executive Branch unconstitutionally takes all power from the other two branches of the government, producing a rubber-stamped House of Representatives. When the State President becomes too powerful and unresponsive to an independent parliament, it leads to a government system called “Madax-ka-Nool” in Puntland State – a Somali term coined by the people of Puntland State many years ago, but now used widely throughout Somalia.
We wish them successful session.
‐————
Postscript. Puntlanders don’t realise that the State President has two functions – he is the Head of State and he is Head of Government (Prime Minister). As Head of Government, he is subject to scrutiny by the LEGISLATIVE like any other minister in the government.
Most of Puntland State MPs in the Somali Federal Parliament are reportedly in town in Garowe. In the past Puntland Government grossly neglected this constituency in the Federal System, and as a result, turned some of them into enemies of the Regional State, its ideals and history of its struggle for the reinstatement of the failed Somali Republic. Many years ago, at the beginning of the First Term of Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni, WDM published the article to follow on the very issue.. Take a read:
Critical analysis, news and commentaries
Garowe, May 24, 2019
PUNTLAND REPRESENTIVES ARE FOOTBALL TEAM WITHOUT COACH
Puntland is a state twenty years old with people as old as the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, but have no strategic plan towards Somalia or how to deal with the rest of Somalia. An Amazing story to tell, you would say. Puntland successive governments had never thought of its urgent need and constitutional mandate to work out a permanent state strategic plan good for the thinking and operations of every Puntlander in Somalia and worldwide to follow and keep in mind for generations to come: be it a member of the Federal Institutions or Puntland officials attached to a foreign or international entities or an individual living or working in a global village. It is really a common sense to do so if she cares about the well-being and progress of the state, her people and position in Somalia and beyond.
Do the federal officials and MPs representing Puntland in Mogadishu have a strategic plan to follow on Somalia and Puntland issues? How does Puntland government expect them to operate, under which guidelines other than the constitutions and their individual gut feelings do they carry out their mission, tasks and responsibilities?
“Sending Puntland Representatives to Mogadishu without a plan of action, thinking or guidelines is like sending Puntland Football Team to Mogadishu without a coach”, to use my friend Abdi’s football analogy. “It is like sending a team of untrained Puntland camel boys to play ball in Mogadishu”.
Moreover, Puntland State is also a mother having kids there, who has properties and interests in other regional states of Somalia. How would our representatives in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baydhaba and Dusa-Mareb takle with issues of common and Puntland interest? What are the Puntland channels of communication with those supposed to be looking after her interests in those regions? Is Puntland operating blindly in the dark, or she has no idea of what I am talking about?
On the internal affairs, you would say, there is nothing wrong with Puntland State except it is caught up and locked in bad governance that prevents her from moving foward in building strong state institutions, not to mention about her playing a leading role in Somalia’s reconstruction efforts.
That is good as long as you think that good governance includes elimination of corruption and changing the permanent perception by some of its constituent regions that it is a state dominated by a few privileged clans, doing away its persisting vulnerability to insecurity and lack of economic expansion and business investment, low and poor quality of education and skills training, absence of constructive engagement with the leaders of fedgling Federal Government.
Reasonable Puntlanders are OK with this thinking. But, is that all Puntland State and her people could do to build a bright future for her next generations?
I would say with confidence that Puntland State is frozen in time and space. Let me give you some examples. Puntland Government has the same salary scale for its personnel as we started 20 years ago. Puntland Government uses the same clan/regional power-sharing arrangements for the selection of members of the House of Representatives as we launched it 20 years ago. Puntland Government fell back to rely on clan militia forces for its security, which we had moved away 20 years ago. 20 years ago Puntland had an independent judiciary, independent parliament, independent auditor-general and independent accountant-general. None of above Puntland institutions of government are independent today. It is a big deal and alarming facts to ignore. This is a critical factor, among many, that Puntland President has absolute executive powers in the absence of checks and balance (Madax-ka-Nool).
What to do about the situation? Good question! Let us debate objectively without any attempt to spin. Let me start with my take of things here with a by-line from Garowe. First of all, let us find out areas we can begin work right away:
1. To fight corruption and maintain law and order, restore the independence of those institutions cited above.
2. Have a competent, transparent and independent public service commission right away.
3. Establish state strategic advisory board or commission that act as government think tank or experts on working out strategic plan for Puntland.
4. Puntland regional clan power-sharing arrangements for indirect selection/election had hit dead-end. Let us begin democratization process right away, starting.with local elections first.
5. Streamline state departments to eliminate redundancy, duplications and inefficiency. Make a smaller government by cutting down cumbersome bureaucracy.
6. Know that the Finance and security sectors are the Achelles Heels of Puntland State.
The current Administration of President Said Abdullahi Deni is on the spot and hot seat to deliver on his election promises to avoid the bad legacy of his predecessor. People of Puntland have no alternative but to rise up against corruption and mal-administration of their public affairs. They have to meet the challenges of the moment.
Finally, it was said by others before us, who too had been there that people get the leaders they deserve. This insight and wisdom is still true as it was then. People may give their leaders initially the benefit of the doubt, but not a free hand to a politician to do whatever he wishes to without making sure that he or she must be held accountable to the people individually and collectively.
One good thing about the people of Puntland is that they never give a 2nd chance to their leader, let alone a bad one. If President Said Abdullahi Deni wants to come back to power in Puntland, he could so by popular vote through democratization process starting right now.
The federal government of Somalia has a gender problem. It has sent men delegation to all women UN Conference recently. The phenomenon is perplexing all Somali people, and raising questions about whether the men sent there were transgenders. Or was it a total disregard of Somali women’s rights, acknowledging that they even exist in the country? Nobody knows how this had happened, and confusion created here became a hot topic for social media circles and cartoonists alike. One WDM contact has come up with a Somali term: “Nimow Naag” (man woman).
Any conference is a venue for networking, follow-up exercises, and opening new communication channels long after the event ends. How would attending Somali men in all women conferences handle this? Would they claim that they had changed their gender to interact with foreign women in far places? How would they justify their participation in all women conference to Somsli women? There are many questions and answers that are difficult to come up with.
While we are at it, think of the nature and thinking of men in Villa Somalia to address multitudes of other complex problems of nation-building, when they even couldn’t figure out to let Somali women play their legitimate roles in society. No wonder Somalia had become too difficult to read and even to help.
I have been watching CNN Cable News lately and have noticed that there was a dedicated programing called “INSIDE AFRICA”. There had been programs of similar nature on BBC and other Western media. Paying attention a bit to these regularly scheduled radio and TV programs, one is reminded of the renewed interest in Africa and continent’s importance for the rest of world in terms of unexploited resources and manpower as Africa has a huge market as well. We see fierce competition between former colonial Western countries, Russia and China. China’s approach to the African countries involves coming in with know-how and cold cash/credits with construction of insfracture much needed in Africa, while Russia is engaged in boosting security and stability in a number of West Africa countries. Western countries are alarmed by Chinese-Russian recent in-roads into the African Continent. But, their problem is that they have no positive and constructive economic proposals to help and meet the needs of the people of Africa. They are still stuck in past failed and disastrous World Bank and IMF economic restructuring policies. They are doing the same thing over and over again to expect better outcome to keep and consolidate their colonial hold of the continent. It won’t work this time around. Already, we see the rising revolutionary spirit of peoples in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and more, to expel French troops and curtail French exploitation of these countries’ resources.
However, former colonial masters have cultural advantage over Russia and China. English, French, Portuguese, and even Dutch to lesser extent, are official business languages of the continent. Besides Somalia, Ethiopia and Egypt, there are few African countries who have native official language.
For Russia and China to succeed in their approach to Africa in terms of economic and political cooperation, they need to develop people- to -people relationships with cultural aspects.
South Africa, an economic and cultural giant with progressive political leadership, is a founding member of BRICS, a huge trading block, can bring African countries along these lines.
When the Soviet Union finally collapsed in the 1990s, followed by the end of the Cold War, it was a moment for celebrations in Western World. But, it was a historic disappointment for developing countries, and Global South in general. That is because the world had lost the balance of power. There was a need for multipolar equibrillium to safeguard international peace and security. With Soviet Union as a counterweight to USA, it guaranteed a check and balance of power against USA hegemony and spheres of influence in many corners of the globe.
Now the rise of China as a major economic and military superpower power in the Southeast Asia is about to shakeup the old Western dominated economic construct and architecture with new challenges to USA sponsored financial instruments, including the US dollar. Russia is set to come back as a major power in world affairs. Moreover, Washington is unable to play China and Russia against each other as it did during the Cold War. If there is a silver lining in the raging Ukraine War, it brought Russia and China closer together, creating uneasiness or even alarm in Western capitals. To make their headaches even more severe, the creation of BRICS Block (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and other important countries now joining in) constitutes an existential threat to the economic and military domination of Western World, the so-called the “New World Order”. American dominated World Bank and IMF, their financial clearing houses and SWIFT Code could be an experience of the past soon. Already, BRICS are launching inter-trade and monetary transactions among the block members, doing away the financial instruments of the West, including VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS and other credit cards, replacing them with brand new BRICS cards.
Paradoxically, the genocidal war in the Gaza Stripe of Palestine has exposed the double standard and hypocritical nature of “Western World Order” on human rights, freedom of expression, self-determination and justice.
Now USA and its allies (in fact satellite states) have no any standing of moral high ground left to lecture on democracy, “Rule-based World Order” or fundamental human freedoms, given their role in the Gaza Genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity- a mass slaughter of children, women and elderly in daylight before the eyes of the human race with USA lethal weapons of war, 2000kg bombs that smash whole neighbourhoods of schools, hospitals, shelters for war displaced persons and nursery homes. These barbaric war campaigns against defenceless people make the very existence of the United Nations and its Security Council irrelevant and shameless in the “Western Rule-based World Order”.
Further on BRICS, please read this article by Chinese Network:
A nation reeling from prolonged civil war, extremism and runaway corruption, combined with lack of clarity of political objectives and nation-building plan is now in a state of abyss with little hope for a potential recovery. At moment, there is no national cohesion mainly due to the fact that the only institution that once brought most Somalis together after the Civil War: The Provisional Provisional Constitution, has been repeatedly violated by the same elected leaders who were entrusted to safeguard it. Believe it or not, now there is nothing else left to unite Somali Federal System once that Constitution has been infringed and corrupted. Even same religion and tribal allegiance can no longer hold them together.
Amidst this confusion and lack of direction throughout Somalia’s landscape, what is the way forward for the oldest Federal Member State of Puntland? It too has lost its clarity of purpose and political direction. To revive the State in a condition of despair in all regions of Somalia, we have to point our finger to the core issues at hand now. They are issues of democratization where 33 elected District Councils urgently need capacity-building; where the State’s next general election on One Person One Vote basis must be organized sooner than later; where extremists in some pockets of the State must be eliminated before they are able to linkup with the Houthis in Yemen, potentially futher endangering international marine transport in the Red Sea, and where the modest Puntland Government Budget is required to be efficiently utilized to cover at least operating expenditure. These, among long list of important imperatives and socio-economic objectives, have to be published in a government white paper as a program of action now. There will be people, among the international community, who would listen to Puntland Government credible proposals for help on these critical issues.
As to the interactions with Villa Somalia and where we go from current constitutional and politicalparalysis in the country, immediate multi-party regional talks are needed to be held to do away all the constitutionalillegalities done in Mogadishu under the auspices of Villa Somalia recently, and charge new course – for Puntland Government that would be the starting point for meaningful negotiations. If that isn’t done, we see no other magic formula that would keep Somalia together. In a federal arrangement, states make collective decisions on consensus. A Federal Member State has vetorights over important issue such as the national constitution. There could be no dictation from the Federal Government or a group of Federal Member States. It is: seek consensus or fail.
On the issue of secessionists in Nothern Somalia, Somaliland is nothing more than an illegally breakaway region of Somalia. Negotiations with Northwest Somalia Region must be based on giving them the opportunity to fold into the federal arrangement as another Member State – but categorically not on the basis of North-South fashion. People of Puntland State will never accept other than this arrangement. By the way, Somaliland is now benefiting tremendously from the federal arrangement without being a Member State.
Somalia is a recent addition or a member of EALA. The election of EALAMember by respective national assembly is mandatory. At least, three local candidates must compete for each nationally allocated seat to EALA membership in each countries’s national assembly.
According to reliable reports from Mogadishu, Villa Somalia and leaders of the rubber-stamp Somali Parliament are allegedly attempting to bend and by-pass the Rules and Regualations of electing an EALA member. These Rules and Regulations include enlisting women and persons with disabilities. These Regulations also outlaw selection or appointment of persons by country’s authorities. Please see the attachment.
I have paid a short visit recently to Qardho, Karkaar Region of Puntland State. Upon arriving city, I have noticed that the residents here are getting older- elders constituting almost 80% of the population, according to my interculators in town. You would see elders either sitting idly at front of dilapidated teashops or lumbering heavily along poorly maintained stony and rough sidewalks. Asked about why residents are relatively being older and seemingly desolate, I have been told that youth had left the town to seek job opportunities elsewhere in the country or overseas. There is severe economic depression here.There are no government ministries, state agencies, or NGOs in town. Qardho has been traditionally behind the rest of Puntland towns in economic activities. But now it is getting even worse. Life seems to be paralyzed here. It looks Qardho is experiencing the same situation of Nugaal towns outside the state capital, Garowe, where there is a relatively better opportunity to warrant slow evacuation/migration from settlements in Dangoroyo, Eyl and others. In that sense, Puntland State is fast becoming a “city state” too. Sounds familiar? One can also gauge into the devasting impact of drying up of international funds for local NGOs in Puntland State. Thus, development programs and humanitarian projects throughout Puntland State are all nearly frozen. In the mix, Puntland Government barely meets its operating costs. If this trend continues, the negative economic and social impact upon, not only the regions of Karkaar, Nugaal, but beyond, will have long lasting consequences and hardships for the entire residents of Puntland State.
What has happened to the concept of Puntland State economic self-reliance!?
Meeting with Ismail Omar Guelleh at end of 1998 to take up Somali file from foreign powers, especially from so-called Frontline States, a term coined by Puntland Government.
Before Arta Conference, Garowe had established Somali Peace Alliance (SPA) of all Somali existing fronts except Hussein Aydiid faction and met with Mr. Guelleh President in Djibouti in 1999. Guelleh was the President at that time.
Puntland Government persuaded President Daniel arab Moi of Kenya to support Guelleh (2000) in Somali National Reconciliation. At the time, Ethiopia was an AU-sponsored mandated country for Somali National Peace and Reconciliation. It was a bold move by Puntland Government.
Another meeting with Guelleh on the eve of Arta Conference to warn him against hijacking it and to avoid entangling with Somali internal affairs as early indicators did show that he was doing just that.
Puntland State decision at all levels, including elders to warn President Guelleh that it was nonstarter for Puntland State on the way Arta Conference was being managed.
Severe Puntland and Djibouti political frictions following Arta fallout.
Severe public square campaigns between Puntland State and newly formed Arta Government.
Stories relayed by David Stephen (UN Secretary-General Representative) and Islaan Mohamed Islaan Muse on the overwhelming shadow Puntland State had cast on Arta Conference.
Attempts by Djibouti Government, Egypt and Foreign Minister of Kenya then, Kalonzo Musyoka, to split Puntland State delegation to Arta Conference into factions of Abdullahi Yusuf and Jama Ali Jama on the Eve of Mbagathi Somali Conference. The conspiracy was about re-electing AbdulQasim Salad Hassan.
Having been isolated within Somali Peace Process, Ethiopia attempted to undermine Mbagathi Conference in indirect confrontation with Puntland Government leadership. It took more than two years of Mbagathi Conference to agree on the National Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), the founding document of the Second Somali Republic.
Since the Military Coup of 1969, Somali National History has been distorted intentionally by some actors, starting with the Regime of Siyad Barre, who had attempted to reduce Somali History to the rebellion of Sayid Mohammed Abdulle Hassan Derwish Movement against British Colonial Military Administration in Northwest Somalia because of latter’s family ties and similar sounding name, and the exploits of his repressive regime; by USC/NSA, which has been distorting Somali history dishonestly to incite violence and clan cleansing against Daroods upon the fall of Military Regime, and by some South-Central political activists, politicians of the likes of General Aydiid, and some Hawiye scholars trying to disown “the so-called “The Darood-dominated” Somali National history to discredit the contributions of Daroods to that History.
There are others also, who took part in political activities detrimental to the interests and aspirations of the Somali people.These actors are now trying to cover up their wrong-doing and misguided approaches to the re-institution of the 2nd Somali Republic following the Final Somali Peace and National Reconciliation Conference in Mbagati/Kenya in 2002-2004.
Because of these distortions in Somali history and attempts to erase some historical facts associated with certain clans on the part of “Clan Revisionists”, the subject has become too tribalistic and controversial, bordering on taboo to discuss nowadays, let alone to teach in any school in Somalia. This situation heralds the beginning of an era when a nation ceases to survive. Somali and Oromo boys are at same level in the dark when it comes to Somali history. It is alarming!
An example of recent ill-advised historical distortions include the following false assertions:
False claim that the defunct TNG of Carta Conference as the 3rd Somali Republic, counting coup-produced Military Government of Siyad Barre as the 2nd Republic.
False claim that 4.5 Clan Power-sharing Formula was developed in Carta/DJIBOUTI.
False claim that Carta Conference was initiated by President Ismail Omar Ghuelleh.
False claim that some Traditional Elders of Puntland State were sent to officially participate in Carta Conference.
False claim that Puntland State participated in Carta Conference. Instead Puntland State had boycotted that Conference after it had been hijacked by Mr. Guelleh.
False claim that Ethiopia was behind Somali federalisn for it was fond of and preferred dealing with ambitious tribal warlords having no any structure of government or organization. Dealing with Federal Member States upended Ethiopian foreign policy, among many other falsehoods, deliberate and innocent distortions propagated within Somali society.
Stay tuned to my next interview over Radio Daljir Somalia.
WDM analysis on the diplomatic incident in Addis Ababa between the Somali delegation and Ethiopian security personnel on the eve of 37th Ordinary Annual Session of the AU could be deduced this way: It looks that Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy has tried to meet with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss on issues of tension in relations between the two countries, including the recent Ethiopia’s infamous MOU with Northwest Administration of Somalia (Somaliland) under the mediation of Ismail Omar Ghuelleh. It seems that Abiy was annoyed by Mohamud’s outright rejection to discuss them with Abiy, and most probably has ordered his security services to restrict the movements of Somali delegation, preventing them from engaging in diplomatic interactions with other AU leaders. On the top of this diplomatic breach by Ethiopia, the Somali delegation, because of the deteriorating relations with the host country, has declined the services of Ethiopian VIP Security Protection, and opted for using their own accompanying Somali personnel instead. That too further infuriated the Ethiopians.
Such diplomatic restrictions sometimes occur when a host nation receives a delegation from a hostile foreign power or one they have war with. This incident isn’t unique. Americans restrict Cuban, North Korean and Iranian delegations in New York City all the time at UN General Assembly sessions.
In this case, what has happened afterwards was explained adequately by the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, himself.
Postscript.
While item No 5 of AU 37th Ordinary Annual Session states in its resolutions on February 17-18th the following:
EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN over the ongoing tension between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and the northern region of Somalia (Somaliland) on 1 January 2024 and its impact on peace, security and stability of the region; REAFFIRMS its strong commitment and support for preserving the unity, territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of all Member States, including those of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; and therefore, CALLS ON the two countries to de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue towards finding a peaceful resolution of the matter.[Note the bold text with the insertion of Ethiopian name indicates Ethiopian influence in drafting the resolution].
“General Gordon Camp Attacked by Al-Shabab Infiltrator A deadly assault within the General Gordon camp in Mogadishu by an Al-Shabab infiltrator targeting UAE military instructors underscores the ongoing challenges of security infiltration in Somalia. The attack resulted in the loss of six officers, highlighting vulnerabilities in the vetting and security protocols. The incident, involving an attacker from a unit recently trained abroad, illustrates the complex issue of internal threats and the pressing need for enhanced security measures. This breach of security within a key military training establishment not only signifies a loss of trust but also calls for a rigorous reevaluation of the recruitment, training, and vetting processes to prevent future infiltrations by extremist elements.
UAE-Somalia Relations: Mixed Reactions to Attack The response to the attack on UAE trainers in Mogadishu has revealed a spectrum of reactions among Somali political figures, reflecting the intricate interplay of national and regional geopolitics affecting Somalia’s security landscape. Divided opinions within the Somali parliament underscore the complexities of foreign military involvement in Somalia, with some condemning the attack and others questioning the legitimacy of the UAE’s presence. This incident highlights the broader geopolitical rifts, particularly the Gulf Crisis’s impact on Somali politics and its alignment with either Qatar or the UAE. Despite the controversy, the UAE’s significant role in supporting the Somali National Army, especially amidst the ongoing ATMIS drawdown, remains a critical element in Somalia’s strategy for maintaining post-ATMIS security and stability.
Al-Shabab Infiltration Widespread in Mogadishu The recent attack by an Al-Shabab infiltrator on UAE trainers in Mogadishu highlights the complex threat the group poses to Somalia’s security. This incident, involving a “former” operative turned elite security member, underscores significant vulnerabilities within the government’s vetting and rehabilitation processes. Coupled with the discovery of Al-Shabab members within Mogadishu’s government, these events reveal a deep-rooted infiltration strategy aiming to destabilize from within. The Somali government’s struggle against this sophisticated insurgency is further complicated by internal political distractions, diluting focus from essential security reforms and counter-terrorism efforts”.
Somalia is known to have established one of the strongest national armies in Africa during the 1970s. This achievement was made possible when the Soviet Union secured exclusively a “Friendship Treaty” to build Somalia’s National Army. Since the formation of the Federal Government following the Civil War, there has been a continuous increase in the number of security contracts between many foreign powers and Mogadishu’s successive regimes. The training and recruitment of Somali soldiers by multiple international actors has prevented the establishment of an ideologically cohesive national army or security apparatus that truly represents the defense and security needs of this country. Instead, ideologically opposing units of the army are being created. Whether they are being trained by the USA, Britain, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Eritrea, Qatar, Egypt and even Ethiopia, one can argue that they are not reliable Somali army units. We often hear of clashes between different units trained by various foreign countries. Obviously, this poses a problem for Somalia in terms of achieving a national army that can effectively combat extremists or meet the security needs of the country as a whole.
Even more troublesome is the fact that recruitment for the national army and other security services, including intelligence and police, is mainly drawn from the Banadir Region and its surrounding areas. This leads to the production of sub-clan forces, which is a national problem that is difficult to rectify in order to establish security forces with a national character. More alarming is the fact that most army, police and intelligence services conduct recruitment from former Al-Shabab and clan militia. There is also widespread infiltration of extremist elements not only into the security services but also throughout government departments.
This practice of relying on multiple foreign powers to train our security services must stop, and measures to streamline our security needs must be implemented immediately.
Do you notice any movement in the topics mentioned above? The indirect elections in Puntland State have been completed. However, there has been no progress in the promised democratization process by the President-elect. Reports suggest that the President has not been present at his office since his re-election in January 2024. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and SFR Speaker of Parliament, Aden Madoobe, are tampering with the Federal Constitution in their efforts to recreate a “City-State”, which was the source of Somalia’s Civil War that has been ongoing for over two decades. Despite President HSM growing his beard and changing his hairstyle to symbolize the fight against extremists in rural areas, AL SHABAB is more assertive than ever. Even armed foreign guests are susceptible to its pervasive influence, not just in Mogadishu. There is no significant activity in other FMS after the Puntland elections. Leaders of these states, whose terms in office are ending, are trying to replicate Puntland’s successful experiment of re-electing a regional leader like Puntland President Said A Deni. In their quest for political survival, some of them may face public rejection and violent opposition, leading to further insurgency and destabilization in their respective regions. All signs point to an ungovernable Somalia under the leadership of Federal President HSM. Meanwhile, Somalis tend to rely on wishful thinking, hoping that things will improve without putting in the hard work needed to enhance their chances of survival as a functional country. Consequently, each new leader’s appointment only creates more wishful thinkers among the general public and apparent ruling elites, hoping to align with the new regime and enjoy the “honeymoon” period. It is a vicious cycle that is difficult to break free from. Do not expect personal or national achievements without investing effort and time into them. Abandon the culture of wishful thinking.
The Provisional Federal Constitution is obviously dysfunctional and prone to abuse by the Executive. As things stand now, the Federal President took for himself all the powers of the Cabinet – turning the constitutional position of Prime Minister subservient to Villa Somalia. The President is utilizing the weakness and contradictions in the Provisional Constitution in order to exercise one man show. Other people are stuck in the notion that the Constitution is unfinished or incomplete, and until that is done away, nothing moves forward. This is frustrating to all concerned. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is, perhaps, justified to move the needle in this constitutional stalemate, in other words, shake things up. However, the President is handling the issue in the wrong way – this is a fundamental national document that requires extensive debates and wider consultations throughout the nation and in all constituencies. It requires time and a lot of public efforts devoid of foreign interferences and meddling beyond constitutional expertise.
By-passing consultations or inputs at constituencies’ level is a dangerous move to unravel the modest gains of two decades through ceasefire of the Civil War, formation of the 2nd Somali Republic and international recognition of the Federal Institutions. Rushing legislations through rubber-stamp parliament will lead to civil unrests and renewed clan confrontations, seeds of new civil wars and mistrust in the central institutions. Let us sober up now and do the right thing right.
‐———————-
While you are here, we request for your support in subscribing to WDM by submitting your annual reader subscription fee of $37 to Sahal account number at +252 90 703 4081 (WhatsApp) or EVCPLUS at 252 611 588 388. You can also use your PayPal account or inter-bank transaction at ismail.warsame@yahoo.ca. Please don’t forget to send us your WhatsAppnumber to receive WDM articles directly.
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 
You must be logged in to post a comment.