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by Dr. M. A. Mohamoud|
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
In the last two decades, Somali people have forgotten the meaning of peace, stability, and prosperity. A new generation grew up under the mercy of civil war, ethnic cleansing, and the meaningless killing of innocent fellow man and women. Starvation, displacement, hostility and disrespect have become the norms of the daily life. There does not seem to be a glimmer of hope for better future in the horizon. No hospitals, schools or public services are available for needy people. No reconciliation or peace process looks to be actively in place or underway. Children and orphans of all ages were abandoned and neglected. In short, all forms of crime against humanity have been committed on a daily basis.
It is no secret that the word “Somali” is now strongly associated with failure. Further, there is a new term that has been recently coined in the media “somalisation” which is dubbed synonymous to anarchy, mass killing and chaos. Unfortunately, the name of our country has been used as an icon of failure; it occupies in the first position of the list of failed states. Paradoxically, this is the country once considered the most strongest in Africa at all levels. The factors that can unite a nation overwhelm over those may possibly divide; it is a nation with one language, one religion and complexion of skin. Quite astonishingly, all tribal roots coalesce at some point in their hierarchy. An outsider may rightly vow that the current situation in Somalia portrays the true picture of this nation as people obsessed and be in awe of the culture of anarchism deep-rooted in their nomadic way of life where personal interest is more valued than public interests. Every move in the direction of stability and reconstruction/reconciliation is rejected and opposed by the pundits in delusional power in a tacit agreement with those in their fiefdoms.
The ordeal and the agony of the poor and stateless people of Somalia have been worsened and extended by the malicious occupation under which Somalia has fallen into the hands of ferocious, reckless and merciless enemy of Ethiopia covertly backed and clandestinely supported by the western world – an occupation by proxy. In both remote and urban areas, the despicable myth of the so-called “war on terror” by the America’s Bush administration has also claimed the lives of many innocent, peace-loving ordinary Somalis and their only lifelines of livestock. For no understandable reason, Somalia has been victimised as the new front of this BIG misplaced and misguided America’s war on terror.
It is for sure and inexorable that should the situation continue in the same direction and speed, Somalia will be wiped off the map soon or later. This country is sliding down the hill and is in its last moments of breath-taking; the collective and sudden death of the whole nation is looming up in the air and/or maybe imminent and inevitable quicker than predicted. Therefore, time has come now for those who love their country or have some sense of morale, passion, and affection towards their people to be more open with themselves than ever and question the reality of the endless tragedy in Somalia and the merciless atrocities committed against defenceless, famine-starved and war-ravaged women and children.
Dr. M. A. Mohamoud
University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
E-mail: [email protected]