Alternative Approaches to Pacifying Mogadishu

[Hadoodil]

An interesting, thought-provoking, controversial but relevant editorial and perhaps a major departure from Wardheernews’s long-cherished unionist, centralized solution for the defunct Somali state.

 

http://www.wardheernews.com/Editorial/wdn_editorial_62.html

[Cowke]

They think we can go from 20 year war and just return to a national government like nothing ever happened. That is easy to say from the comfort of your "western" home, but that is not reality on the ground and far from the truth.

 

Wardheer news piece is exactly what I support. Excellent news piece. Very realistical and not "khat induced" dreams as many somalis have.

[Waaheen]

Although it looks like that they have not completely abandoned their stand on Somali unity, however, this editorial indicates a significant shift on the part of Wardheernews towards some of Somaliland’s positions towards Somali unity. One major controversial recommendation is the dissolution of the TFG government and the suggestion of all non southerners to go back to their respective territories.

[Cowke]

Waaheen. Somaliland position is "separatism". Wardheer position is "federalism". Do you know the difference?

 

Federalism= Unity with autonomous regions sharing the power at the national governments. This is a system to guarantee that not 1 person can abuse the power as was the case with siyad barre.

 

Can I ask you, how can we have national government if elements in the south have not even "reconciled"? It's bit unrealistical don't you think.

 

All that article is saying is "hamar fix your problems" once you respect each other and get along and every region of somalia similarly reconciles and heals. We can then talk about how to share a national government. It is very logical approach. Seriously after 20 failed national conference and alot of blood shed their needs to be a re-think on if we are going to continue just remaining in this vicious cycle of failures.

 

As the articles states, lets take it baby step at a time. First love your neighbour in your xafaad, then love your city inhabitants, then your state population. Once you can achieve that and have recieved peace over 10-20 years your brain will be "right" to think and you can sit down at the table to negiotate how to divide power upon the states.

 

It will have given you, your ppl, your town, and state time to heal and also allow you to start providing basic services to enhance your state. This will eventually bring about "ownership".

 

When you own something that is truly OWNED BY YOU, you learn to love it, appreciate it and protect it at all cost. If u have your own mamul and see it's providing services for you and it's your people that is doing this. You will love them.

[Waaheen]

Cowke:

 

Suggesting to disband the only federal structure (TFG) is another way of advocating for the balkanization of Somalia. They could have recommended this so called baby steps of establishing regional governments, while at the same time strengthening the federal institutions. Instead they are advocating here to completely dissolve the entire TFG institutions. It is like as they say throwing the baby with towel. In my opinion supporting the federal government and setting up regional administrations in the southern part of Somalia are NOT contradictory and mutually exclusive choices, but can be done at the same time.

I dont get how that particular proposal helps the federalism option.

 

Waaheen

[Xaruuri]

Very interesting take, but a dangerous course. It is enticing to put on the spot the southerners and demand from those still clinging to the warlord culture to put their act together. But the question that remains is how do the extremist elements that are the most organized in the south fit in with the suggested proposals?

 

Xaruuri

[Cowke]

Waaheen, It is pretty much saying rather then wasting resources into the tfg which spends half it's time on vacations, it's better to enpower regional government within hamar.

 

You see their is not point a person from gedo, bay, bari need to be in hamar, they serve no purpose in reconciling the warring factions. This can only be solved by the people who live in those areas. So enpowering those local institutions with LOCAL people not distant region ppl may give a sense of "belonging" to the south and they more likely to stand up with their local mamul who know they know, related to, etc against these insurgents.

 

These local administration will definitely be supported to fight against shabab, they won't be left out in the cold. It's just saying stop wasting money on a tfg when the house is burning at the lower level deck, why are we building the top deck for!!! you get it. take out the fire in the lower deck, by using local ppl with local from their own clans with the support of other regional admins to fight against shabab.

 

But no other regional area should get involved in hamar politics. They need to calm the fire down, and when they have local ppl with no external tribes involved they do quite well.

 

The federal thing will be done again when the fire is taken out at the lower deck. Lets be honest and not deny the truth, what can a man from bay or garowe say in "afgoye"? can they solve their problems? no. Only they can. Therefore establish local system represented by your ppl, i am certain they will sort out.

 

I think hamar just needs to be left alone for a while bro, to many international attacks, warlord attacks, islamic attacks, it's always suffering and they don't need anymore suffering.

I