Col. Abdullahi Yusuf: Crossing the red line

by Ahmed Raghe Hassan
Monday, May 26, 2008

Former Somali President Abdiqaassim Salat Hassan

Ex-president of Somalia (2001-2003), his excellency Abdiqassim Salat Hassan,  stepped aside peacefully when the sitting president Col. Abdullahi Yusuf, was elected in Nairobi 2004. This fact implies that Dr. Salat  believes in the rule of law and democratic principles- coming to power through the ballot box and stepping out of office when voted out!

Such a trend is a very good precedent for Somalia and other African nations which suffer because their leaders do not accept defeat or any change. This huge merit goes back to the late Aden Abdulle Osaman, the first president of Somalia (1960-67), who gracefully surrendered office when defeated in a parliamentary election by Dr.Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.

Like Aden Abdulle Osman; Dr. Salat has never went to exile nor advocated violence. Instead, he has chosen to share his people with the great suffering they are experiencing in this era of tribulation and turbulence. By doing so, he becomes a target of the current president in office and his Ethiopian patrons who want him to spend his days in exile.

Abdullahi Yusuf and his then prime minister Mohamed Ali Ghedi, paid a visit to the injured ex-president. They apologised, shed what seemed crocodile tears and promised they will return the property looted. Guess what happened next. Nothing!

Again, on May 23, 2008, the same incident repeated. Once more, valuables in the house were looted, his security guards beaten and Abdiqassim himself threatened verbally, according to him! This time no more apologies by president Yusuf or his prime minister Nur Hassan.

Clearly, such measures are flagrant violations against all civilised codes and conducts of government. It may polarise many supporters of Dr. Abdiqassim Salat, thereby igniting political hatred. This is exactly what the Ethiopians are aiming at. Abdullahi Yusuf, must realise he is crossing the red line and that he is outfoxed and manipulated by the enemies of Somali sovereignty.

All concerned parties including president Yusuf´s supporters must realise such behaviour can set the stage for a dangerous precedence in the already troubled political atmosphere of Somalia! We need not take this to the extreme!

The TFG and their Ethiopian masters can not blame Abdiqassim Salat, a visionary, a political rarity and statesman, for their security bungling and failures in Somalia., nor can they blame him for the relentless attacks by the insurgent forces. In fact, he has never used his clan as a leverage or instrument to get his ways. Simply that is not his method to come to office.

Then, why is he being harassed by the TFG and Ethiopian forces, when he does not pose a threat?  Surely, he is not the kind of a leader Meles would like to see in villa Somalia and that is why we all freedom loving Somalis should defend his dignity together with ours!

Ahmed Raghe Hassan
E-mail: [email protected]