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E D I T O R I A L
Monday, February 02, 2009
The role of traditional leadership in Somalia has been in the promotion of peace, conflict resolution, developing peaceful treaties with neighboring communities and maintaining serene coexistence throughout the nation. Even during the worst days of the civil war traditional leaders by and large have maintained their solemn duty, kept above the fray while maintaining their peace making roles. Lately, there has been a pseudo-traditional organization with the name of “Odayaasha Dhaqanka iyo Mideynta Beesha Hawiye” in Mogadishu that seems to defy the logic, composition, structure and true definition of traditional leadership. Unlike community elders in other multicultural towns and communities its pronouncements are never introspective and internal, but rather external tirades that are political in nature and are often aggressive in tone.
Notwithstanding the heroic efforts of individuals such as Mr. Ahmed Diriye to confront the brutal aggression of Ethiopian occupation forces in Mogadishu, resulting in his unlawful detention, this organization’s overall modus vivendi have had negative impact on grassroots social and political development in Mogadishu and Southern Somalia.
Many Somalis often wonder the tone and the subliminal clan undercurrent sent over the air waves whenever the “Hawiye Elders Group” Aka “Odayaasha Dhaqanka Beesha Hawiye” speak to the media or issue a press statement. They ostensibly speak not for the millions of Somalis under the carnage of occupation and inhumane conditions living in Mogadishu and Southern Somalia but as their name suggests for the interests of Hawiye clan only! Do they really?
While other cities and towns in Somalia progressively select their elders from across clans representing the whole community, this group seems to take pride in its exclusivity and clan purity thus keeping out for example Somalis from other clans such as the Benadiri community and other Somalis historically inhabiting Mogadishu and Southern Somalia.
Many question whether the Hawiye Elders Group of Mogadishu are a legitimate political entity representing the whole clan, a Hodgepodge social club that advances a private agenda, or an inclusive Somali group with a politically incorrect name!
Whatever the response, the target aim of this group, the inclusivity of its membership, and the way they operate is at best unclear and at worst antithetical to the true interests of the clan it purports to serve.
A recent news statement issued by this group asserts that “they are against any international peacekeeping forces sent to Somalia when the Ethiopian occupation forces leave the country”. The pronouncement does not indicate whether the Hawiye as a clan officially met to discuss its position on the issue or whether the association surveyed the members of the clan inside and outside the country to infer their desire to keep international peace keeping forces out of Somalia! One would even wonder if the best interests of the people of Mogadishu, let alone the Hawiye clan whose territory extends beyond Mogadishu vicinity are keenly represented by this group. It is no wonder then that many Somalis become mystified when they hear this group’s ill advised pronouncements on the air waves and are probing whether it represents the interests of the people of Mogadishu and Southern Somalia or those violent elements within society waging endless wars, mayhem and the killing of thousands of innocent Somalis with impunity. Not surprisingly, many conclude the latter.
Mogadishu and its subjugated inhabitants deserve better.
At a time when Somalis are yearning for peace, reconciliation and national identity, it is rather unfortunate and downright disgraceful for all Somalis, Hawiye or otherwise, to utter the names of clan based associations at this stage in our evolution, when the residents of Mogadishu and Southern Somalia’s interests are all at stake. It goes without saying that Mogadishu is home to a diverse population of Somalis reaching in the millions. It is then no secret that their plight, interest and destiny are all intertwined and can only be represented by a progressive social group whose sole interest is in safeguarding the lives and property of the inhabitants of the city!
These kinds of clan associations, like it or not, take Somalia back to the stone ages when blood relations where the only possible associations that people where capable of making. We need to remind our people that this is the 21st century and now is time and Mogadishu is the place to speak out against this backward association that inhibits the progress of millions of Somalis.
We believe the time is right for this clan based association to cease and desist for the sake of peace and reconciliation and in its place the residents of Mogadishu and other cities should establish legitimate grassroots community based organizations. We are also concerned about the deafening silence of the Somali civil society groups since 2007 who are the legitimate representatives of their communities serving the needs of the public. We encourage them not to abandon their duty to serve their people notwithstanding the unbearable level of threat coming from violent elements within the Somali society.
We encourage the newly-elected President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and international community to support, invest and strengthen Somali civil society organizations, the core that held our nation together during the past 18 years, instead of sustaining and emboldening clan based regressive associations throughout the country.
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