Is Puntland leadership suffering from a terrorism syndrome?

[Taleexi]

...."War is ugly besides being an enormous cost on taxpayer's money, it is doubly darn waste of time. Even if it is maintained long enough and with brutal force, the war on Galgala is unwinnable in its current definition of "terrorism".....

 

 

Is Puntland leadership suffering from a terrorism syndrome?

 

source: WDN

[Xudeedi]

Is Puntland leadership suffering from a terrorism syndrome?

By Ali Artan

Sept 11, 2010

 

 

War is ugly besides being an enormous cost on taxpayer's money, it is doubly darn waste of time. Even if it is maintained long enough and with brutal force, the war on Galgala is unwinnable in its current definition of "terrorism".

 

The fault lines of President Farole's policies have been compounding thus far. In fact, President Farole inherited a malfunctioning system bankrupted by corruption and graft, but he at least had the public support from which he could have capitalized on it. Under his leadership, media censorship and arbitrary arrests of journalists as well as political dissidents have all significantly increased. Equally and more importantly, piracy at high seas, organized crimes, targeted assassinations of prominent businessmen and government officials have all become the hallmark of Puntland.

 

 

The inter-clan fighting among Puntlanders has reached its zenith. For instance, Omar Mohamud vs. Bahararsame, Hayaag vs. Reer Hagar, Ali Saleban vs. Jibrahils in Ufeyn, and last but not least, Dubays vs. Osman Mohamud. Of course the underlying problems are unique and different in each case.

 

The Galgala conflict comes amid claims by the Puntland government that they are fighting with “terrorists” and with counter claims by the locals that they are under siege by a government-led coalition of troops. The locals argue that the Al Shabaab charge against them is false and misleading, and it disguises the real cause of the conflict. As Mohamud Haji Ahmed explains in his article, “Galgala: Farole’s Waterloo”, the government’s allegation is a smoke screen for gaining a full control of the natural resources of the area.

 

Before the Galgala conflict took on a national stage, Puntland had also antagonized another stakeholder. In this case, a segment of the *********** community who opposed the durability of Puntland’s policy of inaction towards their occupied territories formed the SSC's political and military committees. The president saved no time in coming out and labeling them “terrorists”. Hence Puntland’s definition of “terrorism” is not limited to the inhabitants of Galgala alone but it is an open-ended game, spreading its tentacles of malice and potential harm into other communities of the region.

 

The familiar methods and tactics of internal defense by the state is that whoever dissents its narrowly conceived policies can qualify for this rhetoric followed by a media onslaught and diplomatic aggressiveness with complete disregard for human rights, accountability and ethical imperatives.

 

The cabal leadership of the state who mostly hail from Mohamud Saleebaan sub-clan of ********** are believed to be cunning, manipulative and acquisitive in their pursuit of supreme political dominance in the region at the expense of solidarity, common interest and unity.

 

However, it is unacceptable for any elected Somali leader whether Farole or other aspiring ones to call a sector of his or her constituents “terrorists,” while they have merely exercised their basic human and political rights of which Puntland's charter enshrines. It is not only a mindboggling character assassination but rather a state of self-oblivion on the facts of the ground. Mohamed A. Elmi examines in his piece “The Galgala Conflict and its Long-term security Implication” about the asymmetric warfare and its elusiveness of winning it.”

 

The way forward:

 

Puntland has the potential to manage her natural resources and human capital and create a democratic system that is not only both transparent and accountable but could be one of the building blocks for the resurrection of the Somali Republic. However, the dictatorial actions of the current leadership indicate otherwise. Clearly, the current leadership has created more social problems, havoc and political insecurity among Puntlanders. If President Farole stays on this path fraught with such tremendous risks, it will be the beginning of the scramble of the social fabric of Puntland.

 

There is still an opportunity for reversing the course, but is President Farole listening to the voices of calm and wisdom?

 

The following points should be considered as a solution to the Galgala conflict in particular:

 

Puntland administration and Atom militia have to cease hostility unconditionally and give peace a chance.

The conflicting parties have to acknowledge that neither will win this war.

The call for peace from the Elders, Community leaders, Intellectuals of the region should not be taken lightly.

Puntland's various communities and the Diaspora should come out of the shadows and march in all of the major cities in search of panacea, peace and unity.

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.” President Farole has chosen to be on the wrong side of history up until now, however, putting his political fault lines on the right track is STILL and highly probable.

 

Ali M. Artan

Email:

aliartan@gmail.com

 

Great article, it shed light on many important elements and illustrated a legimite path towards peace. Sheikh Atam, the leader of the Western Bari Militia affirmed that the authorities there have for the past years carried out injustices in the region and there is an urgent need to establish an Islamic rule in the area, to counter the clan fiefdom in Garoowe.

 

The labelling of Atam as a terrorist as a character assasination strategy has been spotted in the early phases of the conflict. They said Atam is Shabaab; "they denied each other, because Al-shabaab only claims victory". Silly SSDF cheerleaders.

 

The war will continue until justice prevails over nepotism, corruption and piracy in Eyl.

[Thankful]

It's interesting, because at the bottom of this article they have a section of related articles and one of those articles says this about Atam

 

In the Galgala Mountains, Sheikh Atom is mobilizing a die-hard army of religiously motivated youth whose goal is to unite with the Islamist forces in the south. In Mogadishu and in the south and central Somalia, the forces of Hizb al-Islam and al-Shabab are more than determined to overthrow Puntland State as soon as they are done with the current bitter struggles they are engaged in with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Ahlu Sunna wal-Jama'a and AMISOM forces respectively.

 

The expulsion of southern and central Somali refugees from Puntland has put Abdirahman Faroole in a political dilemma. For now, his administration remains besieged from all sides by remorseless forces. Meanwhile, al-Shabab's black flag is flying high in the mountains of Galgala despite Puntland forces claiming to have routed Sheikh Atom’s forces. Even if Atom’s were to be dispersed and defeated, one thing is clear: they will regroup and resort to guerilla warfare-the same tactics employed by the Union of Islamic Courts when Ethiopia’s occupation forces poured into Somalia.

But let me guess, this isn't a great article right?

[NASSIR]

^Opposite viewpoints saxib.

 

 

Taleexi, interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing it with us.