Tag: Government

Watch “Missing role of the Somali Government” on YouTube

NOMADIA STATE

It is supposed to be a government by the nomads, governed by the rules of “pastoral democracy” and wisdom of impartial tribal elders. But, tribesmen are not taught about the concept of “yours” and “mine.” Everything belongs to either the whole tribe or is there to be grabbed by everyone. Since there is no culture of urban society (different tribes co-inhabiting in one location for an extended period of time), there are no rules for the rights of others outside one’s own tribe. Everything belonging to a different tribe has no equal protection and property rights. It is out there for the grab.

Those who moved into cities from nomadic tribes come with same mentality and cultural mindset of the nomadic tribal enclaves. It would take them many generations, if not centuries, to get accustomed to the rules of peaceful coexistence with other tribes.

Nomadia doesn’t enjoy allegiance by any one tribe other than those holding higher stakes in the nomadia leadership. Nomadia suffers from incompetence and lack of equal opportunities for all members of its constituency. There are no predictable rules of the road in public services and administration of justice. Those who hold high offices and their kinship are more equal than the others.

The constitution and laws of the Nomadia are just formalities and non-binding to those who have connections and wealth. Laws are just nuisances to those in power. Nomadia operates under lies and hypocrisy of self-denial about its Nomadia nature as government by the nomads by falsely claiming it was a modern national government composed of three branches independent from each other. Nomadia functions even in contradictions to what nomads had agreed upon after prolonged conflicts. Since all know that there is no respect for the rules of law, the powerful takes advantage of the weakness in governance in the absence of real separation of power.

As long as there is no real concern for facing the realities and addressing the hypocrisy in the nature of Nomadia, its constituency will never put their act together. Nomadia will never develop allegiance to it as a national organization (government) for all.

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PS: Please note that the term “Nomadia State” is an invention by WDM (Warsame Digital Media).

Waxaad noo sheegtaa nooca federaalka ay soomaaliya qaadatay

Su’aasha kor ku xusan ayaa lasoo weydiyey Warsame Digital Media WDM. Waa tan jawaabtu:

Dawladda Federaalku waxay ka koobantahay sadex heer:

  1. Dawladda Dhexe
  2. Dawladaha Xubnaha ka ah tan Dhexe
  3. Dawlado deegaanno oo hoos yimaada dawladaha xubnaha ka ah tan dheexe. Waxay leeyihiin golayaal deegaan, meesha kuwa kale leeyihiin sadexta qaybood ee dawlad heerkooda (dhexe, gobolleed, deegaan). Dawlad-gobolleedyo waxay u yihiin dawlad dhexe dawladaha deegaannada. Dawlad-gobolleedyadu iyana waa in ay xukunka sii baahiyaan ila heer tuulo-deegaan. Deegaannadu waa ay yeeshaan la haansho talo iyo mashaariic waxqabad iyo hurumarineed.
  4. Awoodda Dawladdu waa u kala qaybsantahay madaxweynaha iyo Golaha Wasiirrada. Waaxa kaloo kala qaybsan awooddaha sadexta qaybood ee dawladda. Madaxweynu waa madaxxa jamhuuriyedda, mana laha awood ka baxsan dastuurka. Wasiir koowaad waa afhayeenka Golaha wasiirrada iyo guddoomiyaha fadhiyadda golaha. Wasiirka koowaad ma laha awood ka baxsan golaha. Madaxweynuhu ma marooqsankaro awood aan dastuurku u ogalayn.
  5. Waxaa jira xukun baahis iyo wadaag khayraadka dalka, oo laga kabo dhanka dhaqaalaha, dawladaha xubnaha aan isku filayn. Sidaa waxa meesha ka baxaya ku tagrilfal awoodda dawladnimo iyo dib u dhac gobollada qaarkood.
  6. Awooddaha sida loo kala leeyahay Dastuurka Federaalka ayey ku qorantahay, wuxuuna hadda dastuurka qabyo-qoraalku u baahanyahay dhamaystir iyo in loo qaado afti dadweyne.
  7. Waxaa dhacaya doorashooyin guud.
  8. Sidaa awgeed, nidaamka federaalku waxaa lagu tilmaama heerkii ugu toolmoona ee dimoqraatiyada.

Fiiro Gaar ah:

Haddii dawladda dheexe shaqayn weydo, ama burburto, dawladaha kale ayaa shaqaynaya. Ma dhacayso 1991 dhambe.

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Correspondence Corner

Dear Fernandez,

To answer your questions, inquiries on personal background are relevant because in the Somalia of today, and as a result of the most vicious civil war in its history, objectivity in political analysis becomes an issue. Emotions usually play out into Somali authors’ essays and descriptions of events in the country. Although Somalis are patriarchal in their lineages, my mother is Northerner while father is from Central Somalia regions. I was born in Northern Somalia and raised in Mudugh Region ( Galkayo) of Central Somalia and Banadir Region (Mogadishu) of Southern Somalia. I finished formal education (High School) in Mogadishu. I went overseas for higher learning and trained as Mechanical Engineer with Masters Degree in thermal power engineering. Since then, I have been acquiring other skills as well, including public administration and political science.

Since I was raised mostly in Mogadishu, I am deeply connected to Southern Somalia too. My political constituency is PuntlandState of Somalia in the North Eastern Somalia though. I therefore consider myself as someone having broad multi-clan background. I am not sure whether that makes sense to you.

I travel a lot in Europe, North America and East Africa and therefore I cannot say I am stationed in one place. My e-mail address, ismailwarsame@gmail.com, however, is permanent if someone wants to reach out to me. Right now, I am in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia.

With regards to your question on whether Somalia can become a Federal state, I attach my relevant views on the subject expressed in these articles found both in; http://Wardheernews.com and http://imailwarsame.com

The Way Forward for Somalia

Kismayo Solution: The South-West State of Somalia

The Current Status, Goals and Vision of the Transitional Federal Government

Public Trust Deficit in Somalia

Federalism, a Guarantor of Peace among Somali Clans

Self-Governance Options for Somaliland

Hope and Lessons in Somalia

Outside View: Building a Secure Somalia

TFG Top Priorities as Expressed by the President

Somalia, Foreign and International Conspiracy

AYA Response to Riyale’s Provocations

AYA Memo on Escalating Conflict in Somalia’s Northern Regions

Letter to Prime Minister Berlusconi

Other articles of interests are

NATTCO Mandate

EU and Africa Guiding principles for Cooperation

ICG London Meeting

UN 2006 Security and Humanitarian Report on Somalia

Ambassador’s Report Back

UN Arms Embargo Monitoring Group Report

TFG and ICU

Presidential Briefing at ICG Meeting

Diplomatic Briefing

European Union Policies on Multilateral issues

SACB Secretariat

Somalia Aid Coordinating Body (SACB) Guiding Principles

Basis for European Union-Somalia Relationship

SACB Addis Declaration on Somalia

Declassified briefing to the European Union member states by the Author

Safarkii Dheeraa ee Wiilka Reer Miyiga

The Long Journey of the Nomadic Boy

Don’t get high on Khat (aka Kat, Qat, Chat); It is not worth it

In addition, there is a Provisional Federal Constitution to be adhered to by Somalia’s leadership as well as the basis for governance for new Somalia. Respecting that Constitution by all is the basis for restoring trust among people of Somalia.

I am not so sure if I understood well your question regarding the role of religion in Somalia. However, I must say that there are two permanent factors in the country.

1. Clan

2. Islam (in the form of Somali traditional Sunni sect).

Islamic religion in Somalia is now experiencing deep crisis as the new adherents of Saudi Wahabism make their presence felt and forcefully imposed upon the population, hence extremism and radicalism resulted in the creation of Al-Shabab, Al-Itihad, Al-Takfir, Al-Islah, among others of fundamentalist Islam. Wahabism now is a political and religious force to be reckoned with. You may be aware that Saudi Arabia has been extending religious scholarships to a huge number of Somali youths for decades. When these graduates came back to Somalia, the resulting effect is devastating for the stability of the country and religious harmony. That is the main source of the current religious intolerance never recorded in the history of religion in Somalia.

I hope this will give you a brief introduction to the “state of the union” in Somalia.

Regards,

Ismail

Dear Ismail

It is a pleasure to contact you and I appreciate your qick answer.

I found your blog through a Somali news site, named Wardheer News. An article signed by you and look up in the web who you are, and I found your blog. That`s all. It has been my first contact with the blog but it will not be, for sure, the last one.

I guess you are living in America (US or Canada), Aren’t you? Sorry for asking some personal questions. Are you a national Somali?, if so where are you or your family coming from in Somalia?, and, finally, which is your family clan?

My tow first (non personal) questions is basics and difficult. It is about the future of Somalia.

– Will Somalia be a real Federal state?

– Is Islam more than the nationalistic idea what is going to unify Somalia?

I have watched out about this three aspects of (name of the city omitted for privacy reasons). I am leaving the country before Summer what is a wise decission I took…

Thnaks in advance. Best regards.

Fernandez (name of the sender modified for privacy protection)

Updated

The Way Forward For Somalia

The Way Forward For Somalia
By Ismail Haji Warsame
Sept. 21, 2012

Now that the positions of the President and Speaker of the Federal Parliament have been secured with the election of enlightened politicians and with great expectation to appoint, in turn, a smart, positive, unifying, representative and competent Prime Minister as the Chief Executive Head of a cabinet worthy to meet the tasks and challenges before them, the first huge step forward would be complete. That alone would be a great achievement by itself.

What happens historically often in the context of Somali administrations though are administrative, legal and political gridlocks based on the following issues:

  1. Leaders not limiting themselves to their respective constitutional mandates, leading to constant bickering and in-house fighting.
  2. Absence of consultation, conflict-resolution and constructive dialogue among leaders.
  3. Abuse of power and public resources-lack of accountability wiping out public trust.
  4. Disregard for public opinion and aspirations of the masses.
  5. Absence of delegation of power and duties to their competent bureaucratic personnel and departments.
  6. Disrespect for the national institutions and lack of strengthening them on everlasting and permanent foundation.
  7. Disregard of the supremacy of the law and fine traditions of the Somali people.
  8. Inherent ignorance of human rights, civic and personal freedoms.
  9. Awkward relationship with the international community.

These man-made obstacles, among others, were the factors tremendously contributing to a situation where we could not hold on to the status of a nation-state, develop and adhere to the art and culture of statecraft.

The new leadership is compelled to learn from our tragic modern history of self-government in a radical approach for change of the status quo. Leaders must have national vision beyond their own Goofka (clan enclave), learn to enhance their cultural-cross abilities and travel throughout the country to be honorary house guests of families around the nation. They have to develop tolerance for different opinions and opposition. They have to try to win the hearts and minds of all their citizens. In other words, they must be fit to govern. If they could not hold to those standards, they have to admit failure, and before it is too late, return power to the people. That way a nation survives and peaceful continuity of history, government and people’s achievement are secured.

It is not as easy as it sounds though. The litmus test of leaders worthy of people’s trust is their express willingness to insure and respect that the mechanism of checks and balance of power are in place with all three branches of government playing their constitutional mandates practically and effectively. In addition, smooth operations of public services delivery and building fundamental institutions of government are the bench-mark for the first requirements of government. Public order, personal safety and protection of private properties are keys to stability and prosperity. A nation with secure borders, faithful to its creator and enjoying economic prosperity and peace with itself first is the only acceptable future for NEW SOMALIA. There is no point in keeping a leader if he or she is not up to the job. We have to fire them. To fire them, citizens must have mechanism to do so. Not having the institutions to expose leaders’ abuses and incompetency like freedom of expression, assembly and independent system of justice (judiciary) would end up in the tragic consequences we been living through for decades. We must not allow that to happen again, for if we do we would not be worthy to be the sole owners of that rich and strategic land, space and seas of Somalia.

To start with, let us count as of today what fundamental everlastings public institutions the new leaders of Somalia would like to leave behind after they are gone and how strong these institutions and instruments of government are to withstand the passage of time and turmoil. And above all, let us ask ourselves how would people of Somalia can get rid of bad leadership or even good leadership if the people so desire for a change without the country falling apart again?

While shared, the responsibilities to create and maintain good governance fall mainly on the citizens as their civic duties to bring their leaders to accountability and replace them immediately as warranted. No politician should be trusted blindly even if he or she belonged to one’s house-hold or Goofka.

Another thing worth mentioning, it is now time to rebuild a broken nation and country. Nobody is going to do hard the work for us. It is only us. Others can only help us along the way if we are equally careful and tactful.