Tag: Somalia

WHY BOTH SIDES OF MUDUGH REGION IS IN SIMMERING POLITICAL CRISIS

North Mudugh Region and Galmudugh State are both in crisis of identity, political and traditional leadership vacuum, with elders in North Mudugh heavily politicized and predominantly absent in the Region most of the time, and political leadership in Galmudugh having no vision and in disarray because of President Qoor Qoor’s unstable temperament and shifting positions.

Geopolitics is a factor with regards to regional stability or instability, depending on a given situation. Peace-making and political harmony in the regions of Mudugh (North and South) are interlinked. The security turmoil in Galmudugh with violence from Al-shabab, its volatile leadership character and fluid relationships with Farmajo have exposed Galmudugh weaknesses, a situation that prevented them from pursuing coherent policy objectives that was being encouraged recently by Galmudugh elders and intellectuals to live in peace within and with others in the neighborhood. Galmudugh political and security disarray have geopolitical impact also on residents of North Mudugh. Destabilising factors from Farmajo Team of Puntland origin have indirect role to play in the manufactured political noises in Galkayo of late regarding the planned Federal elections. There are some residents of North Galkayo and persons of Mudugh origin now playing with fire, while jeopardizing the recent gains of the Region such as the construction of one of the biggest seaports in the African sub-region, successful security operations against Al-Shabab and planned repairs of Garowe-Galkayo Road, among other projects. This is typical Somali nomadic character that prosperity brings violence and instability to the people of Somalia.

People should wise up and learn from their past mistakes.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

LIFE BEHIND BARBED WIRES IN A NATIONAL CAPITAL

Picture of the Day!

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ON SOMALIA’S ELECTORAL PROCESS

25 Aug2021

Mogadishu – Somalia’s international partners* welcome the convening of the National Consultative Council (NCC) on 21 and 22 August, and commend the regular NCC consultation towards furthering the electoral process. 

We note the finalization of the Upper House elections in Puntland and South West State  and the start of the process in Jubaland and Galmudug. We also note concerns that have been raised regarding the Upper House process and call on the NCC to address these issues in support of a transparent, timely, inclusive and credible process for the House of the People elections.

Recalling that 24 per cent of the Upper House seats have so far been filled by women, we call for the redoubling of efforts to achieve at least the 30 per cent quota of seats in both Houses of Parliament going to women.

We welcome the establishment of the National Electoral Security Committee and call for the resumption of meetings of the committee to ensure security arrangements are in place in all polling locations ahead of the Lower House elections and that consideration is given to women delegates, candidates and committee members security.

The partners share with the NCC and other stakeholders the belief that the integrity of the electoral process is critical for the stability of Somalia, and we therefore encourage the NCC to take the necessary steps to ensure the credible, transparent and timely completion of the electoral process. 

International Partners look forward to continued partnership towards the transparent and timely implementation of the electoral process.

* African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Union (EU), Finland, Germany, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, League of Arab States (LAS), Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and the United Nations

WDM EDITORIAL

HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE NOISES SURROUNDING SOMALI LEADERS’ COMMUNIQUE ON ELECTION

People have short memories on recent developments on the issue. They fail to recall political impasses and stalemates that have degenerated just recently into violence between the opposition elements and Federal Government. A number of Mogadishu residents and security personnel got hurt or lost their lives. Signs of 1991 Civil War appeared in Mogadishu with clan militiamen occupying parts of the Capital City, threatening to storm Villa Somalia. At the time, even the leaders of Federal Member States were in disarray and at each other’s throat. There were sticking issues of Jubaland/Gedo, Hirshabelle/Hiiraan, composition of Federal electoral commission and more. Somalis alone and by themselves couldn’t resolve these problems – members of the international community had to intervene. Somali election impasse got reported to UN Security Council. The situation was getting bad and bleaker.

Yesterday’s Communique by the leaders of FMS and Prime Minister came out with unanimous decision and on consensus to hold the elections. Their decision is political rather than constitutional. It is the only option available to move Somalia forward. It is an outcome based on compromise. Somalis need to welcome it.

https://https://amazon.com/ismailwarsame

KALA SOOC HAWLAHA DAWLADDA, DIINTA IYO DHAQANKA

Dawladnima Somalia waxay ku bilaabatay iyadoo ay jiraan dagaal dariiqooyin diin huwan. Dagaalladaa diinneed iyo sokeeyee waa taaganyihiin tan iyo maanta. Iska hor imaadku wuxu soo maray dagaallo kulkulul iyo kuwo qabowba, sida kuwa ka dhex socda Ahli Sunna, Al-Shabab iyo Daacish. Hardanka dariiqooyinku wuxu si buuxda ugu fiday dhan walba ee nolashada dadweynaha Somalia. Mar haduu loolanku ku saleysanyahay diin, ma dhamaanayo. Waa dhibaato bulsho ee soojireen ah, siina gaamureysa. Waa dagaal sokeeye oo ay adagtahay in laga heshiiyo.

Sidoo kale, dawladda Somalia waxay dhaxashay, gobanimadii 1960 kadib, nabadoonno mushaari ah. Hadda waxa soo kordhay nabaddoonnadii oo siyaasadda dawliga ah ku milmay, dawlad-dhiskii Soomaaliyana gundhig adag u noqdeen, iyagoo aan u habeysnayn, aqoonta siyaasaadeed iyo maalmul dawli ahna u lahayn, oo ay ka dahsoontahay feker ka ah in maamul dawlihi u baahanyahay xirfad, karti iyo hufnaan shakhsi. Shahaado wakiil qabiil oo keli ah shaqaynweyday, iyadoo keentay burbur lagasoo kabanwaayey oo ku yimi dawladnimadii Somalia.

Somalia waxay ku danbeysay wadaado buntux la rooraaya iyo nabadoonno baarlamaan dhisaaya. Inkastoo la yiri rajada Alle lama quusto, hadana dad badan ayaa quus ah. Dadkani waxay ka taagantahay “War geela waraf ma lagu dayey”?

Hala kala saaro dawladda, Diinta iyo Dhaqanka.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WHEN WILL THE AGE OF REASON OR ENLIGHTENMENT OCCUR IN SOMALIA?

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

European nationalities, nations or countries had entered the Age of Reason often known as the Enlightenment. European intellectual movement of 17th- 18th centuries had begun to deal with issues of reason, religion, God, nature, science etc. This had become the basis for European advanced political, economic and technological progress. It is the basis for Western democratic self-government and social contract, introducing the separation of the state and religion (church) and installation of checks and balances in government (Parliament, Executive and Judiciary.)

In a different era and much earlier, from 8th century to 14th (622 -1258), there was an age called the Islamic Golden Age with the manufacture of Islamic gunpowder, among many scientic and technological achievements.

Here is Wikipedia entry of that period: [The Islamic Golden Age (Arabic: العصر الذهبي للإسلام‎, romanized: al-‘asr al-dhahabi lil-islam), was a period of cultural, economic, and scientific flourishing in the history of Islam, traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 14th century. This period is traditionally understood to have begun during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid (786 to 809) with the inauguration of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, the world’s largest city by then, where Islamic scholars and polymaths from various parts of the world with different cultural backgrounds were mandated to gather and translate all of the known world’s classical knowledge into Syriac and Arabic“.]

There was steady decline since then. People of Islam got bent inward to internal bickerings and scramble for spoils of Jihad wars. Eventually strong thinkers, theorists, philosophers of Europe took over the lead to pave the way for European superiority in all fields of human endeavors. “European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition” played critical roles. It was heavily influenced by 17th-century philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and its prominent figures included Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Adam Smith.

Where do Somalis fit into the story?

The most progressive system Somalis had ever devised is tribal Customary Law (Xeer.) That is the case and we should note here to use it for reference. But, there are so many noises in the country by people who are either totally ignorant or miseducated and don’t know what they are taking about. What system of governance are they looking for? They know nothing but tribalism and they still have the instincts of primative society: Survival. Under this regime, the Xeer is the ultimate and most advanced system of self-government. Are such people equipped to critique insanely advanced system like evolution of power, decentralization, federalism, confederalism etc.? Empirically (by experience), we know most Somalis are inclined to understand either one of the following through own culture or life experiences.

  1. Tribal Xeer (customary law);
  2. Rule of the strongman (centralized, city-state, dictatorship).

Tribes or clans act as checks and balances of power in a shared tribal government, until a strongman or tyrannt emerges as it had happened in the country in October 1969. So, since Somalis have yet to enter the Age of Enlightenment, let us try to work out ways to improve our tribal system, and stop criticizing more advanced system of federalism. By Somali tribal standards, 4.5 is one step forward. But I warn you, I am neither saying it is good, nor I am advocating for a tribal system. But, since you are stuck in the old ways and don’t want to reason with the experiment of new governance ideas and societal transformation, you will have to deal with the 4 5.

And since nothing else, except tribalism, exists in the way of Somali native system of self-government in the history book, tell me which one of the above two rules you would prefer to live in.

[Updated since posting]

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WDM BREAKING NEWS

PUNTLAND STATE OF SOMALIA

The official name of Puntland is “Puntland State of Somalia (Dawladda Puntland ee Somalia). This is the constitutional name of the State. Those who use the term “Dawlad-gobolleedka Puntland are wrong constitutionally and administratively. I admit myself got entangled with the term a couple of times. This term crepted into adminstrations’ vocabulary by Southerners reluctant to accept federalism. Most FMS administrations blindly use the term “dawlad-gobolleed” while not knowing where it was coming from.

Puntland State departments, agencies and institutions should avoid using the term Dawladd-gobolleed with regards to FMS.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WHAT MAKES THE SELECTIONS OF THE STATE PRESIDENT DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE CLAN ELDERS IN AN INDIRECT ELECTION?

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

None of the two are democratic and remotely fair. Both are arbitrary and extremely unjust. In elders’ selection the abuse could be widespread within the society and harmful to the cherished traditional values of fair arbitration by clan elders. In the other, it could be one man’s abuse of power. At least that goes into his political and leadership CV, if he would be held accountable at appropriate timeframe. In the case of elders, there is no mechanism for removal or impeachment. The decisions of the elders in the selection process that contradict their traditional roles could have far reaching societal damages.

If you are asking me the question which option is better than the other?, I recall a question of a graduate student asking his his professor “what is the difference between totalitarian and authoritarian regimes”? The professor responded, “you are asking me how to choose bad from worst”?

However, I would say this: None of the above selections is desirable. I hate to say that critics of what is happening in this indirection election or selection aren’t concerned with the core issue of this political crisis: Reluctance of all to recognize the urgent need for general elections on the basis of 1P1V. If you don’t want to fight for your civic rights through national suffrage, then your criticism against implementing the political understanding reached at National Consultative Summit in September 17, 2020 is disingenuous.

Until Somalis are ready to go to the national polling stations and press their political establishment to conduct general elections in a free and fair fashion, election injustice will continue to prevail. When you rely only on the sense of justice and goodwill of a politician, then you don’t understand how politics works. Blame only yourself, not the leader of the day.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WHY I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOMALIA FUTURE

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

At last, Somalis got it right. From time immemorial they existed in communities and clans enjoying autonomous entities and freedoms that even colonial power had no recourse to dominate them. Among them, no one clan had the power to subjugate others in the neighborhood. Unlike other nations, there was no feudalism, slavery or landlordism here. They were equal partners in their respective localities. They were engaged in peaceful negotiations on issues of common interests and deviced laws that govern their behavior and invented code of conduct (Xeer.) They never tolerated tyranny in their midst. They were born free and loved their ways of life. That was natural confederalism in its primitive form.

They lost that freedom briefly under military dictatorship. They rose up against that repressive regime, causing a lot of damage as a result of their uprising against an imposition by foreign influence and ideology. Thus, at great cost, they were able to restore their lost freedoms, returning to their natural system of self-government as free people occupying the most strategic real estate in the Horn of Africa, if not in the world. They have been protecting their ocean and sea for centuries against all powerful nations and historical empires of the world. Think about it.

Federalism, or rather confederalism, has been always their system in maintaining self-reliance and Allah-given liberty and freedom of expression symbolized by unmatched prowess of poetry. Now they have reached a point of no return in their movement towards advanced confederalism, federalism. Don’t try to stand in their way.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WDM EDITORIAL

TRADITIONAL ELDERS ARE NOW IMPEDIMENTS TO GOOD GOVERNANCE

First and foremost, statehood and governance wasn’t part of their responsibilities. It was necessary option to involve them in the immediate post Civil War Somalia with regards to peacemaking, reconciliation among warring clans, and to help in convening founding congresses for the establishment of Federal Member States. As Somalia moves away from warlordism and factional fightings, their role in politics becomes an obstacle to effective administration and good governance. Now they should be reduced to traditional roles only, urgently removed from their involvement in politics, if Somalia wants to move forward with modern statecraft.

The role of clan elders in this election cycle must be curtailed in order to elect qualified and competent members of parliament.

We could imagine and expect corrupt politicians, but we can’t tolerate corrupt traditional elders because there is no recourse to replace them by impeaching.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WDM QUIZZ

Who is the Somalia’s Presidential Candidate having greatest influence in the office of Caretaker Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Rooble?

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

THE INVENTION OF NEW SELECTION/ELECTORAL CLAN FORMULA IN SOMALI POLITICS

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

The infamous 4.5 Clan Power-sharing Formula for Somalia’s major tribes and minorities has been modernized lately to meet the electoral challenges at micro level, that is at regional state level. WDM has coined the term Binary Selection as the new formula in a revised 4.5. Somalis call it “Manxiisin” or “Manxiisad (provision of bestman or bridesmaid) as in wedding ceremony. Some people call it “Marxal” (arrangement for short time marriage). The Binary Selection entails nomination of one primary election candidate by the authorities with the attachment of a secondary candidate specifically nominated not to pose real competition or winning challenge to the government sponsored primary candidate. It is done in two ways:

  1. If you want a particular sub-clan to win the parliament seat in contest, both the primary and secondary candidates must hail from the same sub-clan.
  2. If you want anyone from a cluster of sub-clans to win the seat, the primary and secondary candidates wouldn’t be coming from same sub-clan. That way you can rotate a parliament seat within a selected group of minority sub-clans every election year as long as the “Indirect Election Modality” based on 4.5 formula prevails in the country. With presidential nominations, many ambitious and electable candidates are eliminated from the race with no recourse for arbitration.

The pitfall of the Binary Selection is that the primary candidate picks own competitor as secondary candidate. That way the primary candidate sponsored by the regional government of the day searches to find a weak secondary candidate from his/her sub-clan that poses no election threat, and often in a pre-arranged fashion. Secondary attachment could be even a close relative or extended family member of the primary candidate. One of the reasons as to why they use manxiis or manxiisad is to prevent local corrupt parliament members to have chances to extort bribes from government- sponsored candidates. Once a secondary candidate withdraws from the race, there is no chance to demand bribes or extortion money for MP vote.

The Binary Selection of Somalia’s Indirect Electoral Process is a by- product of the 4.5. It is being applied throughout FMS. It is devoid of real competitiveness; It is deceptive and extremely unfair. This is another way to eliminate undesirable candidates from the election race altogether. Under these circumstances, think of conducting free and fair elections in Somalia. It is time to look for national salvation from holding direct general elections on the basis of world-tested one-person-one-vote democracy.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

Warsame Digital Media WDM

By Ismail Warsame Opinion Columnist

GAME OVER

August 10, 2021

Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has been losing relevance in Somali politics lately. That is because he has no moral standards to understand that staying on after his tenure in Villa Somalia had expired in February 8, 2021, would bring him only humiliation. Squattering in the people’s House without any legitimacy is beyond the pale as it is shameless to issue notes that have no authority from his current residence. No wonder he had attempted to stage a legislative coup recently to cling to power illegally.

Mohamed H. Roble is his 2nd prime minister to abandon him upon finding the guy childish and immature to comprehend the complexity of Somalia’s governance, recent troubling history of this nation and centuries old historical burdens of the nations of East Africa, the Horn of Africa, in particular. Farmajo stayed on in the Villa to experience the ultimate embarrassment today when Kenyatta has by-passed him and over his head invited caretaker prime minister Roble to Kenya’s State House.

One wouldn’t been taken aback to witness Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo campaigning for re-election soon, for he has no feeling of shame. This was the politician elected to protect the Federal Constitution only to grossly violate it, but still dared to stay on holed up in the Villa. Only persons who need their heads examined would now attempt to re-elect him. In a normal situation he has no chance to put his name forward for election to a public office again. But people should be warned against his shenanigans while he is still holed up illegally in the presidency.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

BREAKING NEWS: NOMINATION OF PUNTLAND SENATORS

Nominated senators

It is a daring political move that shook the foundations of political and traditional establishments in Puntland State.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

HOW TO UNDERSTAND KENYAN FOREIGN MINISTER’S VISIT TO MOGADISHU TODAY

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

Somalia and Kenya have been experiencing lowest point in their diplomatic relations recently. That is because of two factors:

  1. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo couldn’t balance Somalia’s political and diplomatic relationships with neighbors of Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia. Eritrea had poor or no ties with all countries in the Horn of Africa neighborhood. Now that Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea had entered into secret pact, Kenya felt left out in the regional power-play.
  2. Kenya underestimated the diplomatic outreach of successive Somalia’s weak administrations in regard to its dispute on the continental shelf maritime delimitation with Somalia or to put in other words, Kenya’s controversial and aggressive claim to a portion of Somalia’s waters of the Indian Ocean. That dispute went to ICJ for arbitration. Kenya, however, has been attempting to exert maximum diplomatic pressure on Somalia to agree to an out of court settlement. It looks that Kenya has failed in its diplomatic efforts to score points in its struggle with Somalia on the maritime dispute.

In the meantime, Kenyan leaders have been engaged in political sabotage against Farmajo. Now that he is lame duck president and in a weaker political position constitutionally, Kenya is hooking up with interim prime minister, Rooble, to ease tension with Somalia, open trade routes to Miraa qat and try to continue its campaign for settlement of maritime dispute out of court, a taugh proposition no Somali leader dare to entertain now as Rooble has rushed to clarify the issue in a note released today after he met with Ms. Rachelle Omano, although they got her name wrong.

[While here, consider supporting WDM blog by subscribing to it. Send your request via WhatsApp # at +252 90 703 4081 or email at ismailwarsame@gmail.com.]

The visit of Foreign Minister, Ms Rachelle Omano, is being facilitated by the interim prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Rooble, a move contrary to the wishes of Farmajo, who has issued earlier a memo on unconventional presidential letterhead design to all government departments against entering into any international agreement with foreign powers, presumably with Kenya. This exposes Farmajo in his attempt to keep himself in low profile on the eve of elections and as a result of number of agreements between FGS and FMS, on the top of the fact that his constitutional mandate had run out in February 8, 2021. Moreover, the political scars he had sustained in his recent fight with the opposition elements in Mogadishu have not healed up yet. Issuance of that memo, though, is an indication that he was still around.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been working hard on Mohamed H. Rooble in a number of high profile encounters in Djibouti and London, UK, to bring about Omano’s visit to Mogadishu today with a reciprocal invitation to Rooble by President Kenyatta.

Now it looks that Farmajo and Rooble are in collusion course even before holding the elections. Based on the Federal Constitution, nature of caretaker government and agreements reached between FGS and FMS, the interim prime minister in cabinet session (not in isolation) has the executive powers of the government.

Download here Somalia-Kenya CommuniqueDownload

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

THE STORY OF “HASHII BOQOL”

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

The story goes that a Somali nomad hailing from Mudugh Region brought a camel to Galkayo market to sell. At camel market, he was offered a price of thousand Shillings. He rejected the offer, saying he wouldn’t sell his camel less than a hundred Shillings. Surprised, the buyer found out that the seller of the camel never handled money more than a hundred Shillings before.

This story resembles today’s obsession of most Somali high ranking officials with the insane pursuit of membership in Somalia’s Federal Parliament.There are ministers at all levels of government, MPs of regional states, regional governors etc, who are desperately campaigning to go to Mogadishu as members of Somalia’s Federal Parliament. Aren’t they all “HASHII BOQOL”?

Until people of Somalia get the opportunity to elect their representative governments, every unqualified Cilmi, Cawaale and Caasha would show up to be an unvetted and unaccountable member of Somalia’s ruling bodies at national and state levels.

Let us eliminate the chance of Hashii Boqol by conducting credible general elections.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WDM EDITORIAL

WHY PUNTLAND MUST CAMPAIGN FOR A STINT IN VILLA SOMALIA

COMPETING for Somalia’s Presidency is consistent with the founding principles of Puntland as the First Pillar of Federal Somalia. There had been some setbacks in this regard in the past few years. Renewed interest now in Puntland to reset its national policy objectives at federal level is now being symbolized by Puntland President, Said Abdullahi Deni. Slowly but surely, President Deni has understood the importance of Puntland historical role in the federation. It is a commendable political stand to ensure that anti- federalist forces led by Farmajo’s political shenanigans and betrayal of national accord enshrined in the Provisional Federal Constitution wouldn’t succeed.

Without Puntland principled show of democratic forces and leadership, the modest gains of Puntland historical struggle since the First Opposition Force, The SSDF, to Central Tyranny in Mogadishu, are in jeopardy. It is in the vital interests of Puntland and Somalia that the State keeps engaged in Federal affairs and its leaders play in the forefront of Somalia’s governance. Puntland needs leaders with national vision and have political ambitions to ensure that Somalia wouldn’t fail again.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

GAROWE, THE OHIO OF SOMALIA

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion

These days Garowe City of Puntland State resembles USA Ohio City in election primaries. On the eve of Somali elections, Garowe draws in huge visitors, not only from other urban cities of Puntland, but also a considerable number of public office seekers around the world among the diaspora of Puntland origin. Playing well by producing qualified and able politicians as members of parliament, the State of Puntland could have swaying influence in Somalia’s future governance. The State, however, shouldn’t leave its Federal MPs and senators to their own devices, but support and guide them along its political and legislative objectives.

Influence-peddlers, political pundits and election compaigners for Federal Presidential candidates are also visible in public places here. This is the time Puntland clan elders turn again overnight into shakers and movers of Puntland candidates for Upper and Lower Houses of Somalia’s Federal Parliament. Elders are taking advantage of their unique and privileged positions of selecting sub-clan delegates, who would choose members of parliament from among the clan-sponsored representatives, under the existing Somalia’s controversial 4.5 Clan Power-sharing Formula.

[While here, consider supporting WDM blog by subscribing to it. Send your request via WhatsApp # at +252 90 703 4081 or email at ismailwarsame@gmail.com.]

The difference between Garowe and Ohio, in terms of election campaigning, is that here in Garowe everybody, who happens to play a role in Somalia’s future destiny is almost ignorant, hungry, if not destitute. Unfortunately, campaign funds go to private pockets to alleviate the pain of poverty among electors. Think of electors, who cannot support their livelihoods while staying at locations of election polling stations. Imagine the financial burden and stress they cause to public office seekers. Think of low qualities of candidates, who finally emerge successfully by outbidding other political rivalries or opponents. This is the tragedy of Somali politics.

Unless the democratic principle of One-person-One-vote (1p1v) gets real track in Somali political debate and implemented, drop your hope for successful Somalia, not to mention about the bitter struggle required for attaining good governance.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

ARAGTIDA SSDF/PUNTLAND EE SOMALIA

Take a watch

Halka riix Puntland

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

HISTORY: 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF PUNTLAND FOUNDATION WAS ABORTED

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

Puntland opposition elements and most titled elders couldn’t differentiate between the dislike they have for the State President of the day and significance of Puntland 3rd ANNIVERSARY. A group of traditional elders led by the Late Islaan Mohamed Islaan Muse opposing State President, Abdullahi Yusuf, had rebelled against holding the 3rd Anniversary of Puntland establishment as the first pillar of Federal Somalia. Their issue wasn’t against the State per se, but they had resisted holding the ceremony due to their opposition to the President at the time in the backdrop of a constitutional crisis. The incident alarmed people of Puntland that the modest achievements by then the new regional state were down the drain. This incident was also one of ugliest and toughest times in Puntland short history of statehood.

The Late Islaan Mohamed summoned the so-called “Kabo-Silik” (Boot-wired men), armed countryside youth, to Garowe City and ordered them to dismantle ceremonial decorations and facilities in Garowe Central Square unofficially known “Ciise Ku Caroh” (Issa’s Anger Square.) To avoid unnecessary loss of lives and to descalate the tension in town, Puntland Government abandoned the idea of marking the Day.

This history of Puntland State is closely linked to the conspiracies against Puntland by President Ismail Omar Ghueleh of Djibouti, Issayes Afewark of Eritrea and Abdulqasim Salad Hassan (Ina Salad Boy)/Ali Khalif Galaydh of Djibouti- sponsored Transitional National Government of Somalia (TNG.)

Those political developments eventually led to the brief collapse of Puntland Government. It was towards the end of year 2002 that Puntland Government was able to reinstate itself in an operation called “Restore Puntland Stability”.

Here is the record of what was happening then:

  • On BBC Focus On Africa with Robin White
  • Reposted in:
  • 19 May 2007 04:15
    BBC WORLD SERVICE AT 1706 GMT. THIS IS RACHAEL AKIDI WITH FOCUS ON AFRICA 
    The port town of Bosaso in the Somali region of Puntland has today fallen to forces loyal to Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed. The fall of this economically important town follows two days of fierce fighting between colonel Abdullahi and forces loyal to Jama Ali Jama, his rival for leadership of Puntland. From Mogadishu, our Correspondent, Hassan Barisse, emailed this report:
     Hassan Barisse: The forces of Colonel Yussuf captured Bosaso without any resistance at about 8 AM local time. The whereabouts of Jama Ali Jama is not known. But sources close to his aides say he left Bosaso to Qardho town yesterday afternoon by road to Iskushuban District about 160 km east to Bosaso from where he is reported to have taken a plane to an undisclosed destination. Some of Jama’s supporters insist that he is still in Qardho town, but that sounds unlikely. Colonel Yussuf himself reached Bosaso town at about 11.30 AM local time and immediately went to the Presidential building in the town were he started receiving elders, religious scholars and women’s groups, all of whom congratulated him on his victory. Ugas Hassan, one of the main traditional leaders of Puntland told me today in a telephone interview from Bosaso that the arrival of Colonel Yussuf followed a meeting between elders, Muslim scholars and politicians from Bosaso with Colonel Yussuf himself in Kalabayr District, some 60 km south of the town. According to Ugas Hassan, the elders and politicians asked Colonel Yussuf to respect the peace and that if he wants to come to Bosaso town, he could do so without fighting. All day yesterday and last night, the local FM radio in the town has been broadcasting messages from the Commander of the Police Forces in Bosaso, Colonel Jaatta (as heard) telling the people they should remain calm. Many people understood from that message the whole thing was a set-up between the elders, the Police and Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf. Supporters of Jama Ali Jama had characterized the capture of Bosaso as a Coup d’ Grace and a plot masterminded by Ethiopia.
    RACHAEL AKIDI: That emailed report from our Correspondent, Hassan Barrise in Mogadishu. Well, Ismail Warsame is a spokesman for Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed. Robin White asked him what the situation was. Ismail Haji Warsame: Well, the city welcomed Abdullahi Yussuf. There was not a single bullet fired today. Traditional elders, intellectuals, women’s group and the rest of the residents of Bosaso have met Abdullahi Yussuf at the gate of Bosaso to welcome and escort to the Presidential palace today.
     Robin White: eeeee, will he stay there?
    IHW: Yes, he will be there for quite a while as far as I know.
    Robin White: Did the Ethiopian troops help him in the capture of Bosaso?
    IHW: Absolutely nonsense.
    Robin White: There is no single Ethiopian soldier in Puntland proper.
    Robin White: Did the Ethiopians encourage you to take Bosaso?
    IHW: Not at all. Not at all. In fact the Ethiopian State were trying to mediate between Abdullahi Yussuf and his rival. Unfortunately, Jama Ali Jama refused to even sit with Abdullahi Yussuf in Addis Ababa recently.
    Robin White: So, what happens here? Is there any chance of reconciliation?
    IHW: With whom to reconcile? President Abdullahi Yussuf is trying to restore Law&Order. There is no fighting in Bosaso. There is no armed opposition against him. There was little resistance on the part of Jama Ali Jama. He has no grass roots support. That is why Abdullahi Yussuf is in Bosaso without even a fight.
    Robin White: Now, what is gona happen to your relations with the GOVERNMENT in Mogadishu? Clearly, they supported Jama Ali Jama and not you. So are relations going to   be really extremely bad between you and the Mogadishu GOVERNMENT?
    IHW: There is no Government in Mog that we recognize. We know there is ARTA Faction which controls less than 2 streets in Mog, enforced by Djibouti. So, what Government are you talking about? 
    Robin White: So, are you now working for the overthrow of the Mogadishu GOVERNMENT?
    IHW: We are working towards national reconciliation.
    Robin White: Does that mean trying to overthrow the GOVERNMENT in Mogadishu or the INTERIM GOVERNMENT?
    IHW: There is no government to overthrow. There is a faction.
    Robin White: So, will you try to drive out this, eee FACTION, as you call it!
    Robin White: It is not our obligation to overthrow a faction in Somalia. We will welcome that faction to talk to us.
    RACHAEL AKIDI: Ismail Warsame, spoksperson for Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf   

    Garowe, May 08,2002 To:  United Nations Organization, Nairobi, Kenya, European Commission, Nairobi, Kenya International Non-Governmental organizations, Pl, Kenya   Cc: All Government departments of Puntland State of Somalia, From: Hassan Ahmed Jama, Director-General, Ministry for International Cooperation & Planning  Garowe, Pl.
  • Subject: OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION This is to advise the staff of UN, EC and INGOs accredited in Puntland State of Somalia, who had been evacuated from Bosaso yesterday, to stay away from Puntland State of Somalia until further notice. This decision has been reached on the basis of the Operation Puntland Stability First and the fact that the decision to evacuate the staff of the above-named organizations from Bosaso had neither been coordinated with nor communicated to the legitimate authorities of the State.  In addition, some of these organizations have been engaged in activities incompatible with their stated mission objectives. Finally, this office advises the Heads of these organizations, who traditionally operate from Nairobi, Kenya, to reconsider or reschedule any planned mission to Puntland State until further notification by this Office to the contrary.
    GALKAYO, MAY 07,2002 BREAKING NEWS: PEACEFUL RETURN OF ABDULLAHI YUSUF TO THE PORT CITY OF BOSASO.Elders, prominent personalities, intellectuals, women groups and regional authorities of bosaso came out this afternoon to greet Abdullahi Yusuf at gate of the city. Bosaso therefore sees the peaceful return of country’s legitimate President. Residents of Bosaso are now lining along the streets of the city to welcome this peaceful return of the President and to witness such an important event. Governor of the Bosaso City declares the end of the coup attempt by Al Itihad and that the destabilising elements of the city had fled away before the arrival of the President in Bosaso this afternoon. Ismail H. Warsame, Chief of CabinetGalkayo, May 7,2002 BREAKING NEWS ON PUNTLAND STABILITY FIRST This is to inform the news media that forces of Puntland State had brief but intensive battle with forces of Al Itihad inside the City of Qardho this morning. This fighting follows the refusal of the members of Al Itihad armed groups to accept the advice of Qardho elders to lay down their arms and let H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf pass through peacefully in his determined bid to restore Law & order in the country. Subsequently, combat groups of Al Itihad have been crushed in Qardho and the forces of President Abdullahi Yusuf passed through the city on their way to bosaso. In another development, Jama Ali Jama, accompanied by a few of his personal body-guards, had fled eastward to his hometown of Bayla, where he is expected to be airlifted by either Arta Faction or Djibouti.  Moreover, political supporters of Jama A. Jama were reported to be fleeing Bosaso in all directions and overseas.Please stay tuned for further development of invents. Ismail H. WarsameChief of Cabinet——————-Published by SomaliawatchPosted 26th December 2012 by Ismail Warsame Blog

HAPPY PUNTLAND DAY! AUGUST 1ST.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

KENYA KEEPS KNOCKING DIPLOMATIC DOORS

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

For laughter

A native of Sanaag Region was having a good time with hostess in Hargeisa. Her house was a comfortable joint to rest and relax during the day with the availability of cold Coca-Cola, his favorite drink. One day a lady from Sanaag Region had opened a shop in Hargeisa. A friend of his persuaded him to show sympathy and support to the new country lady by exchanging the place relaxation. He agreed. When he ordered a bottle of cold Coca-Cola, the new lady offered him a warm one. He was soo disappointed that he kept saying tribalism was too warm to offer one even a bottle of cold Coca-Cola (“qabyaaladi kululaa!”) Said Faadi, the Director of Gara’ad Port relayed this story to WDM.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

PS: Note the Somali phrase “Qabyaaladi kululaa” is more powerful than the entire English text above.

PUNTLAND MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS IN PICTURES AT GAROWE HQ

The time is 10:30 AM Garowe time.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Ismail+warsame

Thank you for reading this article. Please consider subscribing to WDM blog.

Annual subscription

$37.00

AU ASSESSMENT OF THE SOMALI FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

wp-1626574007952.pdfDownload

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

SOMALI MEN’S SACRED RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOTHERS-IN-LAW AREN’T SO SACRED ELSEWHERE

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

Somali men respect their respective mother-in-laws (sodoh) religiously. Any man found disrespectful of the rule is ostracized within the society. As I traveled around the world, I have been discovering that mothers-in-law may not enjoy the same privileges elsewhere, for instance, India.

Over the past years, as I had had the chance to interact with some East Indian colleagues at workplace or during travel, I found out that most married Indian men talk a lot about “the mother-in-law” and her hateful position in the household. As I continued to regard their conversations on the issue not only disrespectful, but also inhumane, until one day a friend of mine relayed to me a sad story involving the bitter experience of his Somali friend with his mother-in-law. The story is about a son-in-law making extra personal sacrifices to attend the plight of his mother-in-law. He took her to Mogadishu from the taugh life of rural Mudugh Region, to be exact, from Galdogob countryside, away from the burning heat of scorched earth with scarcity of drinking water. He settled her in a self-contained room in his house in Mogadishu. The mother-in-law started learning the Qur’an and praying five times daily. She was extremely thankful to her son-in-law for the comfort she was enjoying.

Clan-cleansing started in Mogadishu, following the Civil War in January 1991. The family had to flee to safety, only to find themselves in a checkpoint erected by tribal gangs, ready to rob and rape. Under negotiations upon ramsom and extortion, the son-in-law was allowed to take his wife and kids unhurt, but not his mother-in-law- the old woman was targeted for rape. The son-in-law still had to offer the gangs what was left of his family’s meagre travel expenses for emegency escape to Kismayo. He saved her from gang-rape.

[Thank you for reading this article. Please consider subscribing to WDM blog.]

Annual subscription

$37.00

After long ordeal, the family had managed to settle in North America as political refugees. After a while, the mother-in-law had turned up aggressive and hostile towards her son-in-law to the extent that one day she slapped him in the face and demanded him to vacate his own home. He got out of the house, leaving North America altogether for a European country for good. He had left his family behind and started rebuilding his life anew. Most of his sons got spoiled in North America, growing up in the absence of a father.

I now got the message and attitudes of Indian men towards mothers-in-law.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

POSTSCRIPT

Among the tragedies of Somalia’s Civil War includes an obscene case in which a group of women were taken from lorry at gunpoint in the darkness of the night to be gang-raped. One of the perpetrators had discovered in the next morning that two of his own sisters were among the victims the night before – a truly tragic story among the countless others.

During the brief occupation of Galkayo by General Aideed’s USC militia in March 3, 1991, at least five hundred women were gang-raped- some of whom were pregnant at the time, had suffered miscarriages due to the ordeal, not to mention about the massive human rights abuses in the epicenter of the conflict, Mogadishu.

Take a listen: https://www.facebook.com/WaddaniSoomaaliTv/videos/173662544711183/

AN APOLOGY

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

MAFIA, AL-SHABAB AND SIMILAR TERROR GROUPS ARE NOTORIOUS IN REVENGE AND RETALIATION

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

The recent cleanup operations against Al-Shabab will certainly attract the ire and angry responses from the Satans in Galkayo and elsewhere in Somalia. Residents and authorities shouldn’t put their guard down after initial operational and legal successes.

According to news sources, some residents in urban towns of Puntland State were receiving typical Al-Shabab phone calls to intimidate and terrorize people. This is the traditional modi operandi of the Evil Group in Somalia.

On receiving such cowardly warnings, residents are advised to contact authorities immediately, while taking extra security precautions and safety measures. Collect and document all messages and evidences of intimidation as much as you can to be used in a court of law against the perpetrators.

Thank you for reading WDM. Subscribe to the blog.

Annual subscription

$37.00

.

Puntland authorities shouldn’t lose the momentum to uproot the menace of Al-Shabab and ISIS in their areas of jurisdiction, and help other regions in Somalia in eliminating these terror groups. Operations against the terror groups require discreet networking and cooperation between trustworthy organizations and reliable state agents. These also need the voluntary cooperation of citizens with the authorities. Concentrate on exposing financial and intelligence networks of the terrorists.

Intelligence and news resources are indicating that the leadership, financiers and intelligence networks of Al-Shabab Terror Group are still intact in Galkayo and other towns of Puntland. Some residents among the terrorist networks could be unsuspecting high profile persons in the community. They should be exposed and rounded up without fear or favors. Good luck!

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

GOATS UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF GAROWE

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

SOMALIA: THE STATE OF THE UNION

They say there is calm before the storm. There are multiple political problems simmering currently in Somalia as a whole. Let us start with issues at peripheries (Federal Member States).

PUNTLAND: The recent move
by Puntland Parliament to raise up the stakes required to remove a sitting MP in direct challenge to the powers of the State President, and the speculation about Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni being an undeclared Federal Presidential Candidate look like a harbinger of what is about to happen next in the State, politically. Obviously, there is resistance on the part of Dhulbahante MPs to the policy of the government of Puntland on the planned 1P1V as their political fortunes in One Person One Vote elections look in jeopardy in swathes of SSC territory (mostly Sool Region). President Deni and his Aaran Jaan political allies are no longer cohesive with regards to their expectations from the outcome of Somalia’s national elections. Aaran Group prefers a Hawiye candidate to win in order to have a say in the appointment of the next prime minister. Forgetting about the good fortunes the Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, Mr. Abwaan, had been enjoying because of the help he had received at expense of others from the State President, he decided to venture out on his own and take risks he doesn’t know how it would play out.

GALMUDUGH: The flip-flop political positions of Galmudugh State President, Qoor Qoor, Federal presidential candidacy of Abdikarim Guled and governance and security challenges posed by Al-shabab make the political situation precarious in that State.

HIRSHABELLE: The State exists only in the books, never succeeding as self-sustaining entity away from Mogadishu shadows. Hiiraan Region isn’t integrated with State Capital City, Jowhar – a situation that makes too difficult to reach at consensus in holding a Federal election in the State.

SOUHTWEST: Sharif Hassan, the former state president and now a Federal presidential candidate, continued incarceration of Al-Shabab leader, Roobow, and State’s preference to maintain the 4.5 Clan Power-sharing arrangement in Somalia make the political situation unpredictable in Southwest State.

JUBALAND: Gedo Region issue is unresolved and therefore the impasse still holds out.

BANADIR: Farmajo is using deep-state to meddle in the independence of the Electoral Commission, planting already his men at its chair and vice-chair, and using Prime Minister Rooble as a Trojan Horse against the chances and political ambitions of other candidates.

With all predictions and analysis, there could be political storms in many parts of Somalia in the run-up to the Federal elections. Stay tuned.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

ARE FARMAJO, ROOBLE AND FAHAD YASIN STILL ENGAGED IN ELECTORAL MANIPULATION?

There are reports concerning serious meddling in the election of the chair and vice-chair of the electoral commission by Farmajo Team. Among these reports include one posted by Nairobi-based Matt Bryden, a Canadian expatriate with a long history in Somali studies and NGO business in the country. Mr Bryden, as controversial as he is anti-Farmajo regime, makes sense this time around. He states that the scheduled Somalia’s election is already rigged as the regime has already packed up the leadership of the commission with its men to predetermine the outcome of the election in favor of the incumbent. He also adds that the opposition, fearful of being marked “spoilers” by the international community, aren’t addressing this obvious interference in the independence of the electoral commission. Another reason he cites for the silence of the opposition on the issue is their reluctance to oppose prime minister Rooble, who may be working towards Farmajo’s win.

If the above reports were nearly close to the truth, there is a cloud of mistrust hanging on this election, which would make election victory by Farmajo or someone else promoted by NISA and its allies as very much a suspect.

The current position of the opposition to keep calm and standby while Farmajo-Fahad shenanigans are ongoing, would be tantamount to dereliction of duty.

SOMALIA: SLEEPWALKING IN THE DARKNESS

How often do you see or read about any studies by Somalis on how Somalia’s economy is doing monthly, quarterly or yearly? Do you have any statistics on unemployment rate? National imports and exports? Budget deficit? Interest rates on loans or public debt? Or any reports on the state of country’s economic situation? Who was supposed to do research or studies on these issues? Are we moving in the darkness? Who is preventing us from sleepwalking into an abyss?

Has politics become our pastime, especially tribal politics? Where are we heading to?

Are the rudimentary institutions calling themselves prematurely tank tanks or research centers all geared up to study elections and election-related issues? Politics only? Do they have any concept on multi-tasking (doing more that one thing at time)?

Most Somalis have now, at least, one telephone number, and it is easier to compile preliminary data on vital population statistics. But, who would lead the efforts to study the affairs of this country?

Those arm-chair debating intellectuals should learn multi-tasking to baby-step towards normal intellectual browsing. Political leaders should, at least, start understanding what we are talking about here.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

THE INTERVIEW

Take a watch

https://youtu.be/tL55dpFfPZs

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

CHECKS AND BALANCE OF POWER IN PUNTLAND

The chronic Madax-Ka-Nool (lone head of the state show) political situation in Puntland State doesn’t expect challenges from the State’s dysfunctional House of Representatives. It was a rare move on the part of MPs to issue some independent resolutions the other day. Is it self-perservation, having witnessed some members of their colleagues easily impeached and expelled from their ranks or a meaningful attempt to re-assert their constitutional powers?

Many observers believe that the new attempt to grab power by Puntland Parliament is limited to enhancing their positions as unassailable branch of the government rather than insuring checks and balance of power for the common good of the people of Puntland and for the purpose of re-introducing good governance to Puntland State.

It looks that Puntland MPs are seeking more say in selecting senators this time around, besides jockeying for acquiring bigger junks of the corruption money sharing in this election cycle. A few others say it is first baby steps to challenge the traditionally exclusive powers of the State President and his governance style of one-man show in running Puntland government, whereby the State President doesn’t seem to understand that he is also the Head of Government to be accessible to all heads of departments (ministries) and members of the House of Representatives. Puntland President isn’t only the Head of State. He has to run the government too on daily basis, and that his executive powers fall within the Cabinet collectively as an executive prime minister. He wasn’t elected by the people. This is a parliament system that came through selection process, and therefore, with shared responsibilities and responsible to parliament.

On the top of the above observations, there is fear among some members of the House from the consequences of upcoming Puntland election in two years, and these, mostly from Sool and Ayn Regions, predict that the planned 1P1V in Puntland could erode their political fortunes. Upcoming Federal elections may also have some impact on the cohesion of President Deni’s own political team in the Cabinet, House of Representatives and power brokers at large.

Whatever the case might be, Puntland House of representatives has a long history of being a toothless institution. Their past performances and corrupt practices for vote selling don’t give any hope or confidence to the residents of Puntland State.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

A SAD STORY OF ELECTION CORRUPTION IN SOMALIA, PUNTLAND

Reliable news source has relayed to this blog,WDM, a tragic story on Puntland election corruption in 2018. The story narrates that a titled elder at the time approached a man to request for lending a car on the eve of Puntland Presidential Election. The elder didn’t want to use his car for fear of being identified. The elder took four newly elected Puntland MPs in the loaned car and visited every presidential candidate that night. When he failed to return the car to the owner for the following next four days with his phone unreachable, the owner started searching for the whereabouts of the elder. When, finally, the elder had been located, he confessed to the man that on the eve of Puntland Election 2018, the elder and his accompanying four MPs were at door steps of one of the vice presidential candidates when the morning prayer was called for from Garowe mosques.

The tragedy is that this story holds true everywhere in Somalia, while Mogadishu is considered the town worse hit by the epidemic of runaway political corruption. Mind you, this wasn’t an isolated story, but a typical one in the scale of widespread corruption in politics.

Somalia adios!

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

ON KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION THEME: HOW TO HANDLE NOISE-FILLED SOMALI TEASHOPS AND BARS

Locate an empty spot with no tables or chairs. Grab a chair and sit down in that free space. The waiter would approach you to take your orders. He or she will bring you a small table. At same time, they would feel that you are special.That way you would minimize the noises around you. Others in the shared space would take notice of your presence and would tune down their loud voices. Those who may join you at spot would get the message that you aren’t fond of noises.

As an effective way to bring down uncontrolled noises in a teashop is to turn on a loud phone ring song recorded from a donkey. God says it was the most hateful song on earth.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

SOMALI INDEPENDENCE DAY

July 1st, the Somali INDEPENDENCE DAY, was marked and celebrated in all regions more or less. But, this time around, there is sense of indifference by some portions of the general population. The reason may lie in the fact that a few see any benefits of the national independence in their daily lives. The bulk of celebratory activities, however, takes place in the social media by individuals on their own to mark the important occasion in Somali history.

Celebrations started from 26th of June to note the date when the blue flag with white star in the middle was raised in Hargeisa for the first time in1960. It was followed by the unification of the Italian and British colonies to form the sovereign nation of Somali Republic.

But, the most bizarre social media entry was entertained unexpectedly and surprisingly by a Somali presidential candidate by the name of Abdikarim Hussein Guled, who hails politically and tribally from Galmudugh State, but personally from Hiiraan Region. In his recent social media post in his Facebook Page (Abdikarim Hussein Guled), Mr. Guled had diminished and reduced the struggle for independence to a work of a few individuals arbitrarily, ignoring the real heroes in the fight for freedom, thus committing an act tantamount to blasphemy in the eyes of most Somali patriots. Only a person blinded by tribalism and harboring hatred for others could dare to distort national history and role of many freedom fighters shamelessly that way. This is only possible when yesterday’s student of General Mohamed Farah Caydid develops insane and unrealistic political ambitions to gain power to follow his role model in clan cleansing bordering on genocide.

Paradoxically, I met recently with one aspirant for Federal Parliament membership in Garowe, Puntland, who briefed me that Mr. Guled bragged about and told him that the latter had been in contact with every person of influence in Puntland State for his presidential campaign. I wonder how he could manage that PR outreach with such distortion of Somali history in his head. The story goes on that someone had once asked Mr. Guled “how come he could be head of state when he had failed as Federal minister of Interior and as president of Galmudugh State?”

But now, nothing surprises me in Somali politics since there is no accountability for wrong-doing and breach of public trust. Everything goes by to get elected to a high public office, even with your hands soaked in blood of innocent citizens. Somalia adios!

https://open.substack.com/pub/isaacsamuel/p/a-history-of-the-majeerteen-sultanate?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

ABDIKARIM HUSSEIN GULED CAUGHT LYING ABOUT SOMALI HISTORY

Read the correct version of Somali history here: https://ismailwarsame.blog/2021/06/19/history-of-modern-somalia-set-straight/

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

SOMALIA: POVERTY, POLITICS AND POWER

Reposted from 2019 WDM articles

A country, where people are suffering from unemployment rate of nearly 90%, political parties are unheard of for 50 years, politicians are too polarized and clannish, scarce public resources are looted and used against the poor to remain poor and bribe them when needed for political advantage, the few educated are selfish, corrupt, short-sighted and intellectually bankrupt to rise up above tribal bickerings at arm-chair lazy debates, schools of poor quality ill-educate the youth, such a country will not create opportunities for the persons of Ilhan Omar’s strength and talent or the rise of Abdiqawi Yusuf and Ahmed Hussein Dirir, the President of International Court of Justice at Hague, and Canada’s Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, respectively. Those personalities had managed to flee their country of origin, Somalia, to become what they are today elsewhere in a globalized world.

 Those, who practise in corruption, cronyism and nepotism in public service are blind to cultivation of talent under meritocracy. They also feel vulnerable and threatened in their privileged existence to open up to and widen opportunities for others. Poor leadership in all spheres of life and endeavors tap into that school of thought on protectionism and maintenence of status quo. This is what has happened to Somalia, a nation of poets and powerful minds.

The vicious circles of Poverty, Politics and Power embedded in Somalia’s socio-economic circles, especially in today’s religious and political elites in all urban centers of Somalia must be uncoiled to expand opportunities to all citizens. That way the New Somalia would produce not only its abundant native talents of Ilhan type, but also attract more from other countries to help explore and extract Somalia’s resources of the near and distant future.

 In conclusion, Somalia’s traditional leaders are no longer the sacred cows as they become as corrupt as Nigerian Chiefs. It is time to revisit and do away the ills of Somalia’s clan system. How could one defend serial murderers and serial rapists to remain a clan leader?

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

A TURNING POINT IN TIGREYAN WAR

USA pressure on Abyi regime is bearing fruits with Eritrean army pullout from Tigray and retreat of Ethiopian forces from major cities there, including the regional capital, Mekelle. Addis Ababa leadership is losing ground in the war. Ethiopia had benefitted from Western assistance since time immemorial against its real and perceived enemies like Somalis and surrounding muslim countries. This time Prime Minister Abyi had ignored Ethiopian history and ventured out into uncharted foreign policy adventures. The result is that Ethiopia has lost its traditional Western allies.

It looks that Abyi has given in, under pressure, to negotiate with TPLF leaders. Ethiopian internal situation is now chaotic and unpredictable. It is also unclear whether Abyi would be able to hang on to power in a turbulent Ethiopia, and whether his expected gesture for peaceful negotiation would settle and calm things down in Ethiopia.

TPLF would unlikely push towards Addis Ababa, for they would experience the same Western pressure as Abyi has suffered from. They would be forced to negotiate with either Abyi or his would-be successors.

The new political and military developments in Ethiopia would have impact on Somalia as well, especially with regards to the recent unholy alliance between Farmajo, Afewarki and Abyi. It would also negatively impact on the Somali Regional state and its current Addis-appointed nominal leader, Mustafe Cagjar, who relied heavily on Abyi and supported Farmajo’s shenanigans in Somalia. This is still a developing story. Stay tuned.

AMID CAPTURE AND EXECUTION OF SOME EXTREMIST OPERATIVES, IT IS TOO EARLY TO CELEBRATE IN GALKAYO

Puntland authorities may get complacent and put their guard down as a result of some initial successes in apprehending and bringing some extremist foot-soldiers to justice. Authorities should take note that they are dealing with mafia-style organization consisting of leadership, intelligence networks, financiers and supporting local and national networks. In Puntland urban centres, there are local financiers and intelligence networks of Al-Shabab that needs to be dismantled and eliminated.

Foot-soldiers of Al-Shabab are easy to be replaced promptly. In military terms, this recruitment isn’t expensive for a mafia organization extorting businesses on daily basis, and acting as a shadow government in the country. There is no shortage of funds in its recruitment drive of young unemployed and disillusioned youth in inner cities of Somalia.

What is needed here is penetration of the organization’s financial system and intelligence networks. Real successes depend on disrupting and breaking up this backbone of the mafia.

Now that residents of Galkayo have discovered the evil nature of Al-Shabab, and a lot of confusion and unknowns are cleared, a counter religious narrative is badly needed to warn people of the blasphemy of the group and its peudo-religious activities. People have to rise up against the satans in towns. Residents must also know that the authorities, in isolation, couldn’t do the work effectively without the cooperation of the general public. Those who rent out rooms in their houses must know their tenants. Businesses should know their customers. Suspicious activities should be reported immediately to the authorities. Strange and threatening telephone calls should be monitored and reported. In short, citizens should fight back to help eradicate the menace of Al-Shabab in the country.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame