Sunday December 6, 2015
By
Abdisalam Garjeex
It’s miserable to see
that one’s country is headed to the final stages of its demise and its
inhabitants to an obscure existence. It’s a vision that awakens me from my
sleep and made even more terrifying by the acute reality that we are doing
absolutely nothing to halt this and instead passively look on.
Our day of reckoning is around the corner, however, and on that
day we’ll be faced with the sobering and excruciating fact; that we were the
ones responsible for the annihilation of Somalia. A fact we will have to attest
to in front our children, grandchildren, and further generations to come when
they inevitably ask the questions of why we stood by and did nothing, and why
they have no reference or recollection of a place to call ‘home.’
Current situation and beyond
It’s apparent
to everyone in the world what Somalia has gone through for the past 25 years.
We provide entertainment and discussion as the number one failed nation-state
and are the most quoted example in political and economic research of why
Africa has remained so unequivocally underdeveloped compared to the rest of the
world. We have lost our dignity, sovereignty, and nationhood, and are on the last legs of
existence. We are fighting for power over a vapid wasteland, stripped of both
dignity and resources, and only bitterness remains. There is not much left to fight for as we
have divided ourselves into regional bodies, religious groups, and vultures who
take the meagre resources of the poor and innocent. Every clan is spearheaded
by one unscrupulous leader or
another with no self-worth and who’s willing to sell his nationhood and manhood
to foreign connivers. We do not see there is something fundamentally wrong at
our core and that this evil that breeds there needs to be exorcised, unrooted,
and dissolved before any real progress towards a future can be made. Instead,
we have just seen a litany of transitional governments, deluded in the belief
that in 2016 they will get things right—pipe dreams.
We talk about the idea of
one man, one vote but in the same breath entertain discussions of the
undemocratic and unjust 4.5 power-sharing methodology or seek to base
parliament selections on district levels. The fights have already erupted in
Galkacio between Galmudug and Puntland and it’s only a matter of time before
Somalia is officially annexed by Ethiopia and Kenya (the equally grim reality:
remaining an AMISON
protectorate). Ethiopia already occupies 50% of our land and Kenya
possess the other 25%; the remaining 25% still falls under Ethiopia’s rules and
guidance. After overcoming European colonization and rightfully gaining
independence from the West, we have been reduced to being colonized by other
Africans.
Who’s
responsible for Somalia’s pandemonium?
We will never agree on what happened during the civil war or on
who fired the first shot. At this stage of the game it’s a moot point. What we
can begin to agree on is that ‘qabiil’ has had a pernicious influence on
Somalia and Somalis. It disguises itself in the liberation movements, fuels the
warlords and their supporters, and even parades under the mask of religiosity
(e.g. Al-shabaab, Alla Sheikh, Damul Jadiid, Ahlu Sunnah). The clan is
camouflaging as regional stakeholders, transitional government leaders, and
parliamentarians. They gain their clan support by inducing fear and paranoia.
They have no interest in common prosperity and peace. These individuals are
within the country as well as part of the diaspora, but have in common the desire to ensure the success and
riches of their own. That’s where their true loyalty and political motivations
lie; forever and always, the clan.
It’s time we free ourselves of this evil and archaic remnant from
a time long ago. Let us remove this thorn that no longer unites nor nourishes
any one of us and watch in splendor how sanity is restored.
Call for help
(Qaylodhaan waa wareey)
This is a theme song from three brothers (Reer Ciyaar Jecel) and
their team Qaylodhaan – they are the only remaining vestiges of patriotism.
They call for all Somalis to wake up and unite and fight to regain their
freedom and destiny. I’m
inspired by their touching songs (horta
yaa masuul ka ah) and in some instances their fervor and
truthfulness makes me cry.
Today we find ourselves at a critical juncture, we either fade
away to an unforgiving existence or we unite and work in the reconstruction of our society.
Our children and our children’s children will ask.
This excerpt from Jooqle Shire’s song comes to mind:
Waxaasoo
masiibaa
Ayaa meesha yaalee
Yaa
maali jirayey
Ayaa
joogta maantee
Magaceen
intuu lumin
Soomaalay
is-maqaloo
Qaranimada
ku mitida
Is Somalia salvageable or a lost cause? – I know it’s not an easy undertaking to save Somalia,
but to be honest, we, my generation mayn’t see Somalia in peace and prosperity; it shouldn’t mean it’s not doable; we have to do all efforts and in my previous article
(Somalia needs a patriotic and fearless leader), I
noted how important is to search leaders who want to unite and regain the trust
of all clans and reconstitute rule of law and bring peace in different corners
of Somalia against all odds. May Allah have mercy to all fellow compatriots and
not make 2016 to be the final nail in Somalia’s coffin?
Abdisalam Garjeex
Ashburn, Virginia
(USA)
[email protected]