fiogf49gjkf0d
by Abdulahi Dool
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
A meeting convened by the East African bloc IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) to chew over the crises of Somalia with the TFG leadership and its members of parliament, was concluded in Nairobi on 29 October 2008. During the conference, the leaders of IGAD have one after another lamented the failure of the TFG to achieve any of its goals. The TFG which was dogged by disunity and power struggle was impressed on to speed up some of its goals within its limited time.[1]
A government stands or falls by its record. Regrettably, from its inception, the TFG’s biggest preoccupation has been the question of who should get what and endless squabble over position. This seems like a quarrel over a meal which the farm it was coming from has not been cleared let alone farmed. The farm in this case is the governance of the Somali nation which is yet to be established.
The TFG has nine months which will end in June 2009. It should use its time available for the nation. The question is: What could the TFG achieve in nine months, what it could not achieve in thirty-eight months? The TFG will no doubt argue they were given a Mount to climb. Without doubt, the challenges facing our nation are staggering. However, no-one should seek the task of leading Somalia as though it is basking in paradise. It is a tall order of toil.
The TFG is still on the saddle. In its nine months there are a number of things the TFG can accomplish for the nation. For instance, it should implement the steps of the peace deal with the ARS in Djibouti on 26 October 2008. It should also endeavour to improve the conditions of the civilians who had to flee the violence in the capital. The advice to the TFG is: Every minute is precious. Every second counts.
2009 could be the beginning of a new era of renewed hope and aspirations for all our people. In order to prepare for a new era and a better future there is a lot of work to do. One of the steps is to end negativities of the civil war era. Because of 18 years of conflict, it is understandable there is a lot of anger, pent up frustration and hatred in the hearts of many. Let us make 2008, the end of all that and clear hearts and minds from conflict. To raise the nation Somalis need to end resenting one another.
To suggest that a President will be used by anyone is to live in a failed past. The use of government by anyone and for anyone should be left in the past otherwise we have not learned the bitter lessons of our nation’s excruciating experience. Somalia should be freed from the vicious cycle of communities competing to misuse power. This is the mother of our downfall. If individuals who care about our nation and who understand the issues have the trust of our people, Somalia will never go back to the past. No member of any clan will be allowed to misuse power and privilege. This was the bad example which made all our communities compete with one another to make it to the nation’s sovereign power.
Somalia will need heavily lifting. It will require individuals who have the tools and the preparation to uplift the nation. Unlike the mindset behind clan-gatherings which were similar to going a feast; the task at hand is the creation and development of a nation-state. There is nothing to feast on what has not been created. Somalia is awaiting its educated generation and a different leadership to lift the nation.
The TFG which has nine months to garnish its five years of unaccomplished mandate was destined to fail. For starters, it was clan-based. To succeed, a government should be nation-based not clan. In 2009, what we need is not a clan gathering. The task at hand is state-building. Only responsible leaders can ensure that everyone is represented otherwise, it will not be a national government and it will not work. Somalis from different communities should work side by side to succeed the nation.
Somalia needs a fresh start. In 2009, what we need is to entrust the task of fixing the nation in the hands of two leaders. We need to have the combination of a President who as head of state is the chairperson of his government and a Prime Minister who runs things. This should be a government which makes everyone do their job.[2] If we entrust the two individuals appropriate for the task, we will never look back. When that happens, we know our nation will be on its way upwards and forwards!
Notes
1. The TFG was given a five year mandate in October 2004.
2. We shall meet in another discussion: A government where everyone does his work.
Abdulahi Dool
[email protected]