This question had kept me sleepless many nights over the past months. As a Somali national and a concerned citizen I find very troubling the issues that currently threaten the newly awaited transnational government of the republic of Somalia. I am not blaming our genuinely naïve leaders regardless of their clan affiliations. I rather want to openly speak my mind and hopefully explain what I think might be of help to the interest of the Somali nation. I want to directly and respectfully address the transitional government officials. The Topic I used sums it up. What should we do when the Transport Camel starts eating the people he is transporting? The Somali people want results. The newly formed Transitional government has spent the last eight months fighting for and over Ethiopia’s presence in Somalia, which does not alleviate poverty or chaos. I hold the opinion that we are still serving Ethiopia’s spiral needs and interests. They designed this confusion to prolong the chaos. First, they created Bull fight syndrome; the creation of two or more equal forces in an arena. They also offered to help with help of pressure from IGAD in the creation of the TNG only to BAIT and wait for its future destruction.
It’s true that Ethiopia has been a necessary evil to the creation of a stable Transitional Somali Republic so far. The Somali people are very appreciative for their service and cooperation in the establishment of the Federal transitional government what ever that may be. I also want to let the readers know and understand that Ethiopia has become the transport Man eater Camel I was talking about. Ethiopia offered to transport the newly formed Government with pressure form IGAD members. As far as Ethiopia is concern they were only going to carry the Somali TNG to the dining table where it planed to feast on it and dump the rest to the dumpster. It will be very naïve of President A. Yussuf to fail to notice this by now. This is so because take a look at the actions of Ethiopia currently and relate your observation with their past historical acts. If you currently follow the news that is coming from Somaliland Ethiopia is sending high level delegates where in the past they used to send low level missions. They also covertly incite the Somaliland people to seek complete sovereignty from the rest of Somalia. I am not saying that is a bad idea or a good idea. I am rather concerned with the real intentions of the Ethiopian government. This is where we will revisit history to understand the deeper meaning of these new diplomatic generosities from the Ethiopians. What is the catch and why are they supporting the Transitional government and yet dealing on the side with our brothers in Somaliland. To unruffled this paradox, I will need to revisit the making of the TNG that was created in Djibouti. When the TNG of President Abdikassim was formed in Djibouti, Ethiopia helped to establish the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council, which is made up of factions hostile to the transitional National Government and its allies. The Ethiopian Military has provided training and limited amounts of arms ammunition and other supplies to all members of the council.” This information was documented in a letter dated 25 March 2003 from the Chairman of the security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia addressed to the president of the Security Council. (Please visit this link if you are interested in the validity of this claim).
The intention of Ethiopia however, in meddling Somali affairs at the time, was to create an equally opposing force to undermine the powers of the TNG (Djibouti). The Ethiopian Government succeeded in its plot. When two bulls of equal strength fight, they end up hurting the grass. So was the fate of the Somali people and the TNG. Ethiopia’s Machiavellism plot won the day. For Ethiopia it’s not about loving one faction over the other. It will be very naïve for the current Transitional government to assume that they are truly whole heartedly friendly with Ethiopia. That would be a mistake another crime against the people of Somalia. It’s my belief that Meles Zenawi is planning to create equally strong opponent force in Somaliland that could be potentially used against Yussuf if he ends up disagreeing with the predatory hidden agendas of Ethiopia. In the long run the Somali people whether in Somaliland or in the rest of Somalia will become the grass.
What to do then? I would like to openly appeal to his Excellency president Abdullahi Yussuf to read the signs of the day and change his cards if he have to. It’s my opinion that Ethiopia has served his interest So far. I think it’s the right time he should listen to his opposing cabinets. I think Mr. President you should swallow your bride and publicly or privately solve your differences with your own. Ethiopia has served the creation of your administration don’t wait for it to destroy it. There is a bigger enemy than your own political opponents. I belief Mr. President you and your opposition Somali Leaders equally love our Country you all want to do the best for the country. What is preventing you and them to show quality leadership is just a mere ego and stupid pride. Neither of these attribute will help the Somali people.
Those cabinet officials in Mogadishu opposing your deployment plans Mr. President have a valid concern even though I disagree with the means they employed. Most Somalis belief or at least expect that you are out to use Ethiopia to oust your political opponents. They too have similar agenda that if they keep the deployment stall they may ruin your plans to oust them. Well, I say that is not what Ethiopia architects are thinking they expect you to not see beyond your selfish fights. They intend to keep you busy until they create another equally strong opponent to continue there philosophy of maintaining two strong bulls in the Somali Arena. The Bulls will do the fighting. By just looking at your administration now Mr. President you will see that. Even after the creation of the Federal government supported by the whole world Ethiopia managed to maintain the two bulls’ syndrome. But I am not here to criticize your shortcomings or that of your opponents, I belief you all have effectively done that for us in the past few months attacking each other over the news media. I am here to revisit history and present the facts of my research over the intentions of Ethiopia. As much as we would love to forget the past and have peace with Ethiopia, we just simply can’t afford to be beaten twice politically or thrice for that matter. The Somali people don’t expect you, your administration and the elected officials to fail when the women of Banadir are on the forefront building the nation selling their gold and every penny they owned to see peace on there shore. You or your administration has no right to deny that. You all must show quality and competent leadership that can counter the Meles Zenawi’s cunningly political menace.
I will also like to take this opportunity to say a word to those opposing the President. I would like to let them know and understand what is at stake here its’ not just about their neck or positions or portfolios. It’s about the lives of 9 million people, children, women and a country. The Somali people are tired. The Somali people need Service not suffering. If any of the elected officials including the president are not doing their jobs as per the charter adopted in Nairobi, they should face the law. It does not make sense to me when those entrusted to lead are not doing their jobs. The Speaker of the TNG claimed the president assumed both the presidency and the position of the speaker. As a Somali citizen and patriot I respectfully disagree with you Mr. Speaker Sir. The Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic adopted on February 2004 in Nairobi,
Article 34 (Procedures in Parliament states;)
- The Parliament shall hold two (2) ordinary sessions annually.
- The Parliament may be convened in extraordinary sessions by the Speaker at the request of the President or upon requisition by one third of its members.
- Meetings of Parliament or its committees shall be valid with the presence of half plus one of its members.
Article 38 (Proceedings of parliament)
Every Parliamentary sitting shall be presided over by:
- The Speaker or
- In the absence of the Speaker any of the Deputy Speakers;
- In the absence of the Speaker or any of the Deputy Speakers, such other Member of Parliament as the members shall elect.
Mr. Speaker Sir, if the above provisions are what you helped create, surely I just don’t understand the bases of your argument. The charter gives you the powers to hold public hearing and the ability to introduce legislation that will argue your case and you have done neither. Going to Mogadishu and accusing a president you helped the process of electing him to office is just not enough for the Somali people. I suggest you see the greater danger of failing the Somali people. Mr. Speaker Sir, I have no had feelings for any of my leaders including you. I am just as tired as any other Somali citizen. We the people of Somalia demand service.
By: Ahmed Yare