Page 2 | 2

The deployment of foreign troops

In my opinion, bringing in foreign troops is the wrong solution. This is because past events and experiences demonstrated that a top-down solution did not work for Somalia, for example the deployment of US troops – one of the largest foreign troop missions in an African soil – ended in disaster because of an immature political thought and plan, which believed that stability and peace would be restored in Somalia once Mogadishu is captured, and once Caydid and Mahdi were reconciled! It was more or less known to everyone that both men lacked the legitimacy, the credibility and the trust of even their own sub-clans let alone the whole nation, which was disintegrating into warlord fiefdoms. It was also obvious that Mogadishu was no longer seen by many Somalis as the capital city of Somalia, and that it did not command the respect and admiration of all Somalis as it did once.

The deployment of foreign troops may not be necessary if MTPs take the crucial issues of legitimacy, representation, leadership and constituency at grass levels very seriously and sincerely. Again the argument here is that rather than wasting resources in a vague talk about bringing in foreign troops, MTPs’ resources should be utilised at village, district and regional levels. Individual members of the sub-clans “constituencies” ranging from armed men, barefooted nomads, orphans and widows are still waiting for a hero and a leader to salvage them from a vicious circle of violence, self-destruction, and perpetual poverty. Once MTPs-including armed ones-do their homework i.e. disband local militias etc., the process of reconciliation, peace restoration and the disarming the armed militias at national level would be much easier than it is now. It would also be easier for the transitional government to build a national police force using the disbanded militias. Estimates suggest that there are over hundred armed militias. Imagine the outcome of a hypothetical scenario in which each and every one of the 275 MTPs, utilising their personal qualities, political skills, influence and enlisting the help of others e.g. traditional leaders and international community, make the task of disbanding their own local militias in view of integrating them into national army as their number one priority. Would there be a need for foreign troops? I doubt it.

The lifting of the arms embargo

Somalia is swamped with a huge amount of arms and ammunition, which is why the international community rightly imposed an embargo. If you need the evidence for this, just ask a widow and an orphan whose father was killed by the recent fighting in Mogadishu, which left many innocent people dead. In some parts of Somalia food markets, e.g. Bakaaraha, have been transformed into arms markets where people congregate to buy arms to rob, to kill, or hurt fellow Somalis. I fail to understand the logic behind the argument for lifting the arms embargo in country like Somalia. Yes, it is understandable that a government would need an army – a police force – like the current situation in Somalia in order to restore order and law. However, I would argue that provided MTPs-including armed ones-do home work at local level i.e. engage in political dialogue with existing militias and their bosses, and the traditional leaders, in view of integrating militias into a national federal army, there would be no need to import more arms in Somalia. This is because the government could utilise the confiscated arms and ammunition from the militias and the public to build a national police force to restore order and stability. So my advice to you as MTPs is first to do your homework – i.e. disarm yourself and disband an existing militia instead of uttering words such as lifting of the arms embargo, the deployment of foreign troops, which are all top-down level solutions that do not work.

The grass root level solution?

Legitimacy, constituency, representation, leadership at grass root level

The 275 MTPs came originally from villages and towns that are situated in their sub-clans “constituencies” regions. So if these MTPs claim that they are the most qualified to represent their constituencies, then the question is what prevents them from accepting their responsibilities and descending into towns, districts and villages in order to serve the people they claim to represent. It is understandable that there are safety and security concerns, which are legitimate, and the assassination attempt of the life of the transitional PM when he ventured out of Jawhar demonstrated it. However, when MTPs were se-elected they obviously accepted some risks that are associated with their positions and work. Therefore the question is: Why talk about the big ideas likes the deployment of foreign troops, the lifting of arms embargo and the capital city while they can not even venture out of their relatively comfortable lives in hotels? The answer to this may rest with the character and the legitimacy of some MTPs who may not commend the respect, the trust and the confidence of the people they were s-elected for. Some of them may lack the personal qualities (i.e. vision, wisdom, and the political skills) that they were se-elected for.

So to conclude my article – here are some challenges for each and every MTP in Baydhabo. The task will start from the day they conclude their meeting in Baydhabo and the day they start leaving to their “constituencies” or regions. The tasks will have to be completed before or at the end of the transitional period. I would and I am sure every Somali would take off their hats as a sign of respect and would salute and embrace the “MTP” who successfully completes the following tasks before or at the end of their term:

• Demobilised an existing militia, which is ready to be integrated in national federal army

• Disbanded own militia and integrated them into national federal army

• Created a functioning public institution, e.g. a court that commands public respect

• Helped to encourage the public to respect the law and public institutions

• Facilitated and/or acted as mediator of existing or future conflicts, and had resolved them successfully.

• Initiated or opened up an inter-regional states political dialogue to enhance the Somali unity

• Established a functioning their own (political) office, which commands the respect of their “constituency”

• Engaged and worked with other MTPs in political dialogue rather than in armed and confrontational manner.

• Did not misuse and abuse public office and money.

• Developed sustainable relieve or development projects beneficial to the community

• Worked toward the discouragement of tribalism, the most vicious form of racism that creates bigotry and intolerance between the Somali people.

The above tasks-described in the transitional federal charter-are some of the challenges that I have chosen as a benchmark for measuring up an MTP’s personal quality, political skills, legitimacy and leadership. Any MTP who is above the benchmark is an excellent, efficient, honourable and capable MTP who demonstrated that they posses the qualities they were s-elected for. By the end of the term their “constituencies” would have loved them so much that they would elect them as their legitimate and real MP in a real federal parliament that will, hopefully, include all regional states. I am sure that every Somali would take off their hats to salute those MTPs and would respect them as real MPs. Their names will be entered into the golden pages of the history of this troubled nation. However, those MTPs who are below the benchmark are obviously unqualified characters who cheated themselves and others and who have failed their communities. Experience and time would have demonstrated that the failed MTPs were a bunch of discredited personalities who did not possess the personal qualities and the skills that are essential for a hero and a leader, who needs to gain public confidence and trust to acquire legitimacy.

The time to start the above tasks will begin soon, so any MTP who cannot rise up to the above challenges, then the honourable thing to do would be to step down right now while you are in Baydhabo so that another person who is better qualified than you could step in to try to serve the barefooted nomad, the armed man, the orphan, the widow whose names are being used.

I know the tone of this article sounds critical but it is for the good and legitimate reasons that I have mentioned earlier. The article is about setting up challenges and standards rather than finding fault and mistakes of others.

End

   Page    1 | 2 Previous

By Muuse Sheekh Yuusuf
London , UK
E-mail: [email protected]