by A/Rasaq H. Nuurre
Monday, February 15, 2010
Despite repeated assurances that Somalia is no longer a failed state, the country remained the world's most corrupt in the year of 2009 according to a global survey by the international watchdog, Transparency International. Yet, the Unity Government of president Sharif and the UN Envoy to Somalia Ambassador Ould Abdalla boldly insist Somalia's promotion to a better and higher level, a weak state.
That year, 2009, started with both hope and intimidation from the office of the UN Envoy to Somalia.
Ambassador Ould Abdalla stated in a letter to Somali Diaspora in December 2008 that "the IGAD Ministers were extremely clear in their determination to take action and impose sanctions against individuals who would try to scuttle the Djibouti peace process".
In the letter, the Ambassador wished "to recall that the Djibouti Peace Process has opened a new era in the history of the country [Somalia]. According to the letter, it was also given the opportunity to all Somalis "to witness the activity of a vital generation that is committed to peace and stability".
The ambiguous significance of that letter, if any, was that if the UN were sincere about solving Somalia conflict at the beginning of the civil war twenty years ago, the country would not be among the list of failed states today.
In spite of that, the letter strongly affirmed that the International Community would no longer tolerate the peace process spoilers. Accordingly, most of Somalia's known warlords follow the orders for the first time in twenty years and came to gather in Djibouti. That showed how they were cowards and how the International Community protected them from being prosecuted for war crimes.
In the Djibouti Peace Process, the TFG parliament was expanded with 275 more pro-president Sharif MPs, setting a new record of 550 MPs for a nation of nine million people alone. A new president emerged in an Afro-UN stile of Democracy.
The next day, the newly elected president flew to Adisababa for the African Union Heads of State Summit. Among the delegation of the president, there were prime Minster Nur Ade and two of his deputies that "there can no longer be a “winner takes all” attitude".
Optimists argued at the time that the outcome of the Djibouti Peace Process may not be perfect, but it can be a good beginning and a bridge through which Somalia can reach its destination: The ultimate peace among its citizens and fully elected, respected, and a legitimate government that serves the interest of its people.
However, skeptics warned that the conclusion of the Djibouti Peace Process is not other than a play intended to make an ephemeral project for power, popularity, and wealth.
During his visit in Adisababa, president Sharif met with the Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Menelik Palace. There, the two men planed what their next step would be.
Prime minister Meles, knowing Sheikh Sharif is a weak president and will not be received in Somalia as a unifying leader, Somalia is still in his hands; and yet, will not pose any threat to his minority regime in Ethiopia. For this reason, his long-standing agenda of divide and rule in Somalia will have a fresh start after a huge setback when president Yusuf's regime begun to fall apart with differences among its leaders.
In the mind of President Sharif , the road for Villa Somalia (Presidential Palace in Mogadishu) goes through Adisababa. And, he should do whatever he can to satisfy PM Zenawi. He even once called the role of Ethiopia towards Somalia 'exemplary' that the other countries should follow.
The two men seemingly became inter-dependent on each other to fight against the raising power of Al-Shabab. But they had different opinions on how the fight against Al-Shabab would be and who would lead that front.
Prime Minister Zenawi praised several times the newly formed group of Ahlu Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah. He called the Unity Government and the International Community to recognize and support this group.
But, president Sharif rebuffed to work with Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'ah fearing the group may attract the International Community, and disrupt his interest with the west since the group has shown patience and aggressively fought recently against Al-Shabab.
On the ground, the newly installed "Unity Government" lost, if not all, most of the land it inherited from the previous TFG. Even, the town of Jawhar [the main city in the Middle Shabelle region] which should be the stronghold of president Sharif's government is today in the hands of Al-Shabab.
While the Unity Government is still struggling to defend the three remaining districts around Villa Somalia, Alshabab is the dominant force and the winner through out the entire last year. They took control most of the southern regions of the country.
Despite the government's claim that last year was the year for peace and dialogue and that Somalia's stand in the world improved, the country's security situation has worsen. "Hopes for peace following the installation of a new Transitional Federal Government under president Sheikh Sharif in early 2009 dashed" according to a new report from the Human Rights Watch dated January 10, 2010.
Moreover, the rights group accused all parties including the Unity Government, for war crimes and other serious human rights abuses.
If, however, the contents of that report were correct, and Somalia's situation in 2009 was static if not even worse than 2008, then the outcome of the Djibouti Peace Process is unfortunately miscarry.
For this reason, the UN Envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Ould Abdalla, should not mislead the world in promoting Somalia falsely from its status of a 'Failed State' to a new higher and better level of a 'Weak State'.
A/Rasaq H. Nuure
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