A Missed Opportunity for the Somali Government

Bashi Moalin
Saturday, May 21, 2011

After the appointment of the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullah Mohammed and a selection of highly educated ministers to form a transition government, we all felt the urge to support it with a view that this time around, Somalia is going to be different. We thought of a government that is going to resuscitate from a long coma we are in and finally create a sense of belonging to one nation, one God and one flag. However we are very much disappointed by the government’s response towards the current uprisings in the Arab world which started a few months ago. Every conscientious and vigilant government was eager to secure its people from these troubled states. The government in Somali acted no different from other interim governments.

 

A government to be called a government of course must know its obligations. It must consider the peoples’ expectations which are none other than delivery of people based services. We expected to have a government that will unite Somalis from all walks of life. With the due support given by the neighboring states including Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Ethiopia, this interim government has continued to show its incapability to deliver, unite and save the lives of the Somalis. This was a great opportunity to reckon on this support and save the lives of the Somalis in and outside Somalia. As we all know the Arab uprisings created opportunities and dangers in some instances. So with our government, the laxity is still haunting the Somalis who are already in limbo.

 

Our people who fled from Somalia to Libya were attacked and all nations which had people in Libya endeavored to evacuate their nationals. For the Somalis government, they did not take the advantage of the popular TV called Universal and Websites such as Hiiran Online, Dayniile, Bartamaha online and many more to ask the Somalis in the Diaspora to contribute towards the evacuation of the Somalis who are stranded in Libya and take them to Uganda since Uganda has stood with us in blood and treasure, they would have taken up an opportunity to present themselves as saviors not taking into account the al Shabaab claims.

 

I watched the  Prime Minister at a press conference with the defected Libyan Ambassador in Somali who asked the Libyan people to spare the Somali refugees. How about doing what other governments do? Oh oh it’s true, we have no money, I had forgotten, but the President can travel in a private Jet in many countries around!!!!! Is it fair?

 

So the solution is simple, this government should apologize to all the Somalis in and out of Somali who have been disappointed, bring them on board and start working together to build a new and promising Republic of Somalia. It is not too late. Many Somalis like me are willing to contribute financially towards evacuating the Somalis who are dying in Libya and other places of the world. Let us join hands and work together to save our people and the nation.

 

Where there is continued laxity in government, we shall call upon the government to step down and allow a process that will bring about a commendable and substantial change in government which cares for its people. No African government will take up the responsibility to say sorry for the missed opportunity.  We call upon the government to be proactive and create an atmosphere where people feel represented. It is not proper for the Prime Minister to ask the people to pay for his bills when we can not establish his expenditures and other Somalis are running up and down for their dear lives.

 

Come up with strategies as a government that can raise funds to evacuate our fellow brothers and sisters in Libya. There are TV stations watched by millions of Somalis around the world where you can take the campaign instead of asking the Libyans not to hurt our people and rely on their mercy.

 

It would not only help the Somalis in conflict but also unite them and make a legitimate government we all anticipate.

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Bashi Moalin

[email protected].

Calgary,AB,Canada.