Somalia

By: Bekele Gedamu

Jan 04, 2007

In his stirring essay on defeating terrorism, Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of England wrote in the current Foreign Affairs magazine the following: “…In my view the situation we face is indeed war, but of a completely unconventional kind, one that cannot be won in a conventional way. We will not win the battle against global extremism unless we win it at the level of values as much as that of force. We can win only by showing that our values are stronger, better, and more just than the alternative. That also means showing the world that we are evenhanded and fair in our application of those values. We will never get real support for the tough actions that may well be essential to safeguarding our way of life unless we also attack global poverty, environmental degradation, and injustice with equal vigor…”

Western leaders have the opportunity today to prove to the world that they are committed to attacking global poverty by moving in full force in rebuilding Somalia. It is said that the West doesn’t genuinely intend to promote democracy or attack global poverty, especially in Africa. In fact, Somalia can be a paradigm for such ambitious tasks ahead and to disprove the skeptics in these efforts. Ethiopian Armed Forces and Somalia’s Transitional Government forces have valiantly paved the way by eradicating the al Qaeda elements, and now is the time for the West to take the opportunity to respond immediately.

The United Nations reports that nearly 1.4 million people are threatened by drought and hunger. The cycle of failure on the formation of a government body in Somalia is much higher than anywhere else. Self-declared presidents mushroom in Somalia, again, more than anywhere else. There have been five internationally sponsored authorities declared since 1991. Political tensions and the escalating level of violence in Somalia are the nation’s fate for almost fifteen years.

However, now is the ripe time to stop all the madness and the carnage from repeating itself. Time is elemental in this matter. Indecisiveness on the part of the West could allow for the negative elements to reemerge. Somalia could easily drift into the past, once again becoming a threat to regional and global security if the United States and other Western governments keep backsliding. It’s equally vital to bring along the Arab nations in the rebuilding process as well. As Prime Minsiter Meles put it, Ethiopia has done her part; the rest is beyond her means.

Let us be clear about what should be done in Somalia, however.

First and foremost, nearly 90 percent of the population is unemployed. Somali youths, famous for their robust and vibrant spirit in the 60s and 70s, are now victims of dejection, rage, mischief and corruption. Nearly fifteen years of lawlessness have left the once proud nation in complete disarray. The striking realty of the nation is: it’s morbidly sick and can cease living if it doesn’t receive the help it needs now.

It’s important to note that this will be a new beginning for Somalia. While the West is helping the indigenous security forces to grow and supporting the democratic process as it develops, the new Somalia must also learn how to live with her neighbors in harmony. This is in the best interest of Somalia as well as her neighbors. Past hostilities and conflicts, as we bitterly remember, have only helped to take everyone to a deadly cul-de-sac. The July 1977 invasion of Ethiopia by Said Barre and the subsequent defeat of that much vaunted Somali army had a far-reaching political, economic, social and psycho-logical impact for all Somalis. Said Barre himself retreated, after his shameful defeat, to his Morehan clan. Later attempts to reorganize and attack Ethiopia didn’t work, as the regrouped militias instead ended up terrorizing and committing untold atrocities on the Isaak clan. The irony is: knowing of this debacle and having been a participant in that war, Sheik Aweyes should have realized the ludicrous nature of his recent announcement of plans to attack Ethiopia. It’s unfortunate to forget the past. Unnecessary patriotism and nationalism as well as inflated ego have left the nation in a dismal state, impairing its ability to grow. This is the result of bad leadership and not necessarily the mistake of the Somali people. Myopic dictators, unable to navigate their nation in the right direction (that is, in the direction of development, equal rights and democratization), chose the path of delusion rather than the path of substance and truth.

Today, the new Somali leaders will have the task of reeducating their citizens toward harmony and this must be vigorously approached in order to avoid another round of Somali destruction. I say “another round of Somalia destruction” with unbridled execution, because any flirtation in the future for yet another misadventure will only lead the country to a catastrophic chaos.

Today, there is a new dawn breaking in Somalia. The Somali Transitional Government, having committed serial errors in the past, have now a chance (thanks to Ethiopia) to redeem themselves and rebuild their nation. Somalia has suffered enough. She can no longer be patted on the shoulder and be told to quietly slumber. Mere words or loud rhetoric alone will not mend the badly wounded nation. Much blood has been shed and the healing will take time, yet the surgery must be immediate.

And the road ahead will be tough. The president, as the head of the nation, must show courage by removing himself from his political and clan constituencies and take Somalia to a new frontier. He should be given undivided support from the prime minister, the speaker of the house and his entire cabinet members. President Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed and Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi in unison must work diligently to bring the various regional clans, the Isaak, the Dulbahante, the Gadabursi, the Warsengeli, the Isse, etc, together and move forward.

The people of Somalia deserve peace, prosperity and happiness. It’s the responsibility of the new leaders to deprogram past acrimonies of the Somalis (acrimonies they harbor toward their neighbors) and instead, inculcate love and friendliness. Once that is achieved the rest is a cakewalk.

May Allah lead the people of Somalia in the right path.