I have no much comment to make on this well written paragon piece of analysis except to applaud it. In fact the writer of the article had covered almost every conceivable factor that can contribute to the persistent failure of Somalia for the past seventeen years saga of chaos and destruction. However, I have been prompted by the political development of the newly formed opposition group in Eritrea.  I often ask myself how much longer this poor nation could survive under the ordeal of this power struggle. Ironically, no solution can be reached to end the conflict as long as the T.F.G. pursue its negative approach in her dealings with the opposition groups and failed to compromise on the issue of Ethiopian Force’s withdrawal.  On the other hand, the opposition insists that any mediation between themselves and the T.F.G. is subject to the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops from Somalia.  It is clear that without concessions and compromises the conflicting positions of the groups/parties would remain unchanged.  I feel that the seven point recommendation in Mr. Hashi’s Article could be used as a BENCH MARK for both parties, the T.F.G. and the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) to agree.  Having said this, I would like to avail myself of the occasion to raise one or two points that are relevant to the context.

When the T.F.G. was born after thirteen previous conference had failed, it was hailed that an era of hoped inspiration has been dawned for Somalia and that the period of chaos and mayhem is over. That anticipation was fizzled out when after 3 years of predicament of the T.F.G.began with President Abdullahi Yusuf’s visit to Addis Ababa, soon after his election, where he met the assembled A.U. heads of State and asked 20,000 troops to sub-due the refractory rug-tag militias in the capital, Mogadishu. The visit was characterized as inopportune and untimely by the parliament, since there was no government in place. It was also coincided with a time when the tragedies inherent from the civil wars were still fresh in the hearts and minds of the people with lingering animosities of suspicion and mistrust. The founding of the opposition group in the parliament was the fist split of the T.F.G. The wedge of contention grew and worsened by the continued arrogance of President Abdullahi Yusuf and his Prime Minister whose pugnacious attitude often frustrated any attempt for negotiations. The controversy thus developed blew out of hand when the T.F.G. invited the Ethiopian Army to intercede by capitulating the independence and the infallible national sovereignty. In the dearth of constitutional safeguard Otto Gabre became the supreme authority in Mogadishu and the Ethiopian flag fly over Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. This is a victory for Otto senawi, for he has been successful in his “road map” for Somalia as a satellite of Ethiopia and that the “fictitious nirvana” of his ancestors has become a reality. Let us grief over the moribund of our hardly won SOVERNEIGNTY and repent for this not a Divine affliction but is our own making.

The Islamic Courts have shown an epitome of good governance during the short time they have ruled Mogadishu and its environs. They introduced Law & Order and it so happened that it was the first time for 17 years the people in Mogadishu inhaled the air of freedom and peace. It is a land mark that the inhabitant of Mogadishu, with gratitude and affection remember the heroic role that they had taken in the extirpation of the notorious warlords. Although their rule lasted very short period, they remain an object of veneration that the people invoke their name with respect and admiration. Inadvertently, they have made some mistakes that must have been the cause of their sudden collapse. One of these mistakes, I believe, was the pre-matured declaration of JIHAAD which alienated some powerful nations and encouraged the enemy to stage its coup-de-main attack

In the statement that was released by the Alliance (ARS) in its conference at Asmara, Eritrea, and echoed constantly by its leaders, it declared that it will wage a war of liberation against foreign troops in Somalia including the Ethiopian occupiers, to drive them out of the country.  The T.F.G. by whose invitation the troops are here will become involved in the event of this war takes place. This harbingers to a state of renewed hostilities and protracted wars of an inexorable cycle of “reprisal provoking counter reprisal ad infinitum.” In this connection it might be relevant to highlight that since the demise of the central authority in 1991, Somalia suffered the worse atrocities of carnage and destruction in the hands of its own people.  Millions have been killed, maimed, mutilated, raped or fled in panic to escape the hell unleashing back home. It has witnessed misfortune, disaster and catastrophes more than any country in the world.  Today, Somalia is in desperation for peace and not wars. It needs to recuperate from the wound that have been inflicted in the 17 horrible years. It needs to forget and forgive clan based animosities and bickering that has been the impediment of its progress and development. It needs a Government that will re-unite the NATION and restore its sovereignty and independence. A Government that is free of venality, free of nepotism, free of clan tendency and prepared to serve the nation in the best interest of its people. With determination and resolve, the target that we are aiming at can be reached and the problems that rend the nation for 17 years can be solved with concessions and compromises allowed by all concerned.

In conclusion, may I suggest that a new conference should be convened in which all parties/groups are invited to participate with an agenda focused on the seven points in the bench mark and topped with following subjects that are of priority. The conference should be held in a neutral friendly country, preferably the Sudan to allow the parties/groups to continue to debate on the agenda that was disturbed when the hostilities broke.

1. Immediate cease fire.
2. Re-shuffle of the Government by allowing equitable power sharing with Alliance
3. Immediate withdrawal of the Ethiopians from Somali
   

1. Re-writing the constitution.
2. Rescind the replacement of dissident parliamentary group.

TOGETHER WE CAN……..

ALLAH BLESSES SOMALI.

ISMAIL AHMED ISMAIL.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

---