By Rashid Yahye Ali
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Mohamed Omar Habeb (Mohamed Dhere)
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The Speaker as well as the President’s choice of Baidoa to be the venue of the first parliamentary session on a Somalian soil since its birth is proper, befitting and wise. And the PM’s rejection is unfortunate and ill advised in that it could prematurely snuff the life out of this endeavor and could potentially throw back the whole peace process and institution building into a new spiral of further chaos, violence and instability.
Why Baidoa:
The prolonged disharmony as well as the deeply entrenched distrust between the two factions in Jowhar and Mogadishu, not to mention past animosities and the venomous exchanges between the two sides since, all but makes it impossible for parliament to meet, deliberate and freely execute its mandate in anyone of both towns.
Jowhar is under the iron grip of one man who, if left to his desires, would undoubtedly take hostage the TFG. Mr. Habeb’s antagonistic rapport and open hostile threats to members in Mogadishu all but eroded their confidence to pass thru Jowhar in transit let alone calling home.
Equally so is Mogadishu. Despite being the capital city with reasonably adequate amenities to meet the needs of parliament, it has alienated members whose views were in line with those of the president and PM, thus earning them the wrath of the armed strong men in Mogadishu. Hence, there is justifiable unease and reluctance in both camps to bring ship ashore and drop anchor in either port.
Therefore, the consensus of the President, the Speaker and other parliamentarians to find a middle ground in which both camps feel comfortable is prudent and a wise decision. No other city in the country qualifies to host the parliament more than Baidoa. Baidoa, given its proximity to the camps of both factions is easily accessible to members of parliament. Boaidons, not dominated or under the clutches of a single strongman, are at liberty to show their traditional hospitality to receive the delegates with open arms and warmth. Also, unlike Jowhar under the choke-hold of its absolutist baron with suffocating silence and lack of freedom to express dissent, Baidoa’s environment of freedom is conducive to frank discussion and exchange of opinions without fear of retribution or risk to limb and life.
Furthermore, given the horrific human suffering subjected to the peoples of this heavenly town in the early days of the civil war, it is only befitting that it kick start the arduous journey of national recovery. It is truly saddening if proven true as reported that when the strongman of Jowhar was asked why the parliament should not meet in Baidoa, he responded that “Baidoa is a death city, good only for mourning and not for parliamentary sessions”. To the contrary, no other city is more deserving precisely because of that very reason.
The PM’s Rejection:
The exhaustive pursuit to achieve a functioning authority and to alleviate the appalling human suffering throughout the country in the past 15 years has never been this close to success. The dismissive rejection of the PM to this landmark achievement without due consideration is both shallow and very dangerous. It could potentially unravel the gains made and push the whole nation into a new spiral of civil strife and instability.
Of all places, and within the president’s circle of influence, Jowhar was the last place expected to rebuff the Bay proposition. That is why it is incomprehensible that the PM, the very person entrusted to steer the country out of its miserable condition, would extinguish the light of hope to so many who were looking up to him. Is it personal fear of loosing the premiership if parliament convenes or it is driven by hollow regionalist view or could it be the dictates of the king maker, the power-behind the throne, none else than Mr. Habeeb himself?
For sure, it couldn’t be the Speaker’s lack of consultation, as claimed by the PM because according to the president, the PM and the Speaker were engaged in a grueling 3 hour meeting and came back to him, hand-in-hand in full agreement that Baidoa host the parliament. Then, why the sudden change of heart?
It is no secret that the PM was lame duck and overly ineffective in achieving tangible results in unifying the TFG factions or accomplishing any worthwhile goal in pacifying the nation. Also, the estranged relationship between the PM and a fairly large number of parliamentarians may well force a Vote-of–No-Confidence if it convenes. Hence, could this eventuality explain the PM’s stonewalling the coming session for face saving strategy and buy time to sort out options?
Obviously, Mogadishu’s sudden attraction to host the session, as called for by the PM and Mr. Habeeb, is banana oil to confuse the public, when for almost a year and half, the deafening drumbeat of the Capital City’s insecurity was led by none other than the PM himself. This, indeed, is the height of hypocrisy.
Then, is the PM’s rejection based on narrow regionalist point of view, which in his belief, would steal the limelight from Jowhar and instructed by Mr. Habeeb? This might well be the most conceivable explanation behind the PM’s no-way in Baidoa stand. One might be reminded that Mr. Geeddi owes the post of premiership to Mr. Habeb’s abdication of his parliamentary post.
According to widely held perceptions in the country and well informed sources, Mr. Habeeb is distraught and very apprehensive of the possibility of loosing lucrative source of revenue if the TFG relocates to Baidoa. This would divert the windfall of foreign aid dollars to further west in Bay and will render his faucet dry. The stipend of the large militia, the cost of their weaponry and the expenses needed to run the town would be severely taxed should this were to happen. Therefore, anything which would diminish this source of income, namely moving the seat of the TFG, is non-negotiable as this is conceived a threat to his very throne. Therefore, could what we are witnessing in the PM’s rejection be nothing but the gray eminence’s hand working its magic?
Conclusion:
The proposed parliamentary session in Baidoa can be concluded peacefully, in success and it could pave the road for the establishment of the long awaited functioning authority in the country if the security of Baidoa is jointly undertaken by the TFG, the peoples of adjoining regions and the district authority presently in charge. It is imperative that this time success is achieved.
Somalia has suffered for too long. It has shed too much blood and tears to be held hostage by the erratic impulse of few despots. The greed of some knows no bounds when there are no moral principles restraining it. Impoverishing a nation to enrich one or few autocrats has serious implications which would condemn generations to a fate of unending violence, abject poverty and perpetual destitution. This must not be allowed to happen.
The international community must take a stand and reign on these overlords. It must hold them accountable for impeding the progress of stability and nation building. Furthermore, it must not let this opportunity slip away for this could be the last chance of a nation in despair.
We also call upon the PM to rethink his position and not abort this very promising undertaking. It is the closest this nation has come in overcoming its prolonged misery and unnecessary hardships. The entire country is looking up to you for deliverance, albeit the difficulties you face. Your conscience, moral uprightness and integrity are on the line. Let not your people down.
In closure, to the President, Speaker, the entire Parliament and Cabinet: the Somali people in every corner of the country and in the Diaspora see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Let not this flickering light blow out. Rashid Yahya Ali
E-mail: Rashid_ali_66@hotmail.com
Baltimore, Maryland
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