By Ochieng’ Ogodo in Mogadishu
To relocate the transitional Somalia government from Nairobi to Mogadishu or not has been a thorny matter among the country’s legislators.
The most contentious is the issue of security.
But most MPs, now in Mogadishu, believe it is possible to secure the once robust capital city and international seaport ruined and turned ghostly by 15 years of civil war.
Relocation has split the transitional Somalia parliament into two, with President Abdullahi Yusuf and the Prime Minister, Prof Ali Gedi, preferring smaller towns; Joha, about 120 Km north of Mogadishu, hosting the executive arm of the government and Baidhaba, some 250 km south of the devastated capital as the legislative headquarters.
The speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, disagrees with this idea, which has also not gone down well with a section of parliamentarians and cabinet ministers who flew from Nairobi to Mogadishu last Sunday.
More leaders are expected to fly in by the end of this week to prove to the world, and skeptics among them, that they can work in Mogadishu.
Since their arrival in this volatile Islamic town, a series of meetings aimed at consolidating parliament’s position have taken place, including the inspection of a building one-time Somali strongman Siad Barr operated from. It will be the parliament building.
Speaking after the Somalia Military Festival at Mogadishu Stadium on Tuesday, Culture and National Heritage minister, Abdi Hashi Abdalla, said Mogadishu was the capital city of Somalia and must host its president, parliament and other important government institutions.
"It is from here that power will radiate to other parts of the country," he said adding: "Peace in Somalia will only be achieved through bold efforts of the transitional government, which is not possible when it acts from Nairobi or sits in smaller towns within Somalia."
Majority of the MPs believe peace can only be attained in Somalia by the citizens themselves and their leaders if they return home.
Those against setting up the new government in Mogadishu claim the move would be suicidal because armed militias are still in control of the town.
But Dr Qamar Aden Ali, one of the 22 women MPs, says they have a difficult task ahead and that the transitional government should have moved into Mogadishu to begin the work of reconciliation. The next five years should be used in reconciling the warring clan factions, ensuring law and order and disarming militia, says the MP. She says proper reconstruction will only follow after the enactment of a new constitution.
She, however, sees hope in the transitional government if it remains focused and truthful in addressing the needs of the Somali people.
She said attempts to "lord it over Somalis by warlords Ali Mahdi and General Mohammed Farah Aideed after the fall of Said Barre in 1990 and the failed transitional government of Abdul Kasim Salaat in 2000 were as a result of clannism and use of military might. "This time we have a chance to succeed because all warlords, the civil society, women and academicians have been included in the process. Clan representation is also adequately ensured," she said.
One of the country’s former warlords, the heavily-bearded Musa Suudi, who is the Finance Minister in the transitional government, says he wants to help in the reconstruction process. He, however, wants militias kept out of Mogadishu to allow for the formation of a conventional police force and army. Suudi said during the military festival that it was important for the president and his cabinet to operate from Mogadishu.
"Do not stay in Nairobi. Come back home," he urged fellow leaders.
Another warlord, Mohamed Qanyare Afrax, who is in charge of national security docket is ready to move his militias out when the transitional government moves into Mogadishu.
For Ibrahim Omar Sabrie ‘Shaweeye’, a former Mogadishu mayor and an influential figure in the town, things have improved remarkably.
"People are able to move about freely and do business without restrictions here. I’m sure that a Somalia central government can operate safely from Mogadishu," he said.
Whatever the citizens and their leaders’ views, relocation has become tricky and any move by the President, his cabinet and MPs will be significant in stopping or encouraging the fighting that has claimed millions of lives, left scores maimed, widowed and orphaned.
To a large extent, it has also led to the disintegration of the socio-economic and political fabric of one of Africa’s most homogeneous societies — a people with one religion and one language.