From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Sep 16 2011 - 15:09:45 EDT
UNPOS and Ethiopia killed the hope for sovereign Governance in Somalia
_____
BY Mr. Mohamud M Uluso <mailto:Ulusomohamuduluso@gmail.com>
16/09/2011
Reflecting upon the charade that surrounded the UN Consultative Meeting
(UN-CM) held at Mogadishu Airport at a time when the entire Somalia is
overwhelmed by the worst drought and famine in 60 years, two questions came
into my mind:
(1) Why the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) has decided
to treat Somalis as ‘ignoramus characters’ who could not understand the
significance and difference between: (a) a foreign-driven Initiative and
Somali driven Initiative;(b) Directives from a master and Decisions made
through internal deliberative process of Government; (c) A Country under
Trusteeship and an Independent Country under a legitimate Government; (d) A
hierarchical National Representative Government and Self-declared
Autonomous Regional States, District Administrations and factional groups;
(e) A legitimate Constitution-Makingprocess and a foreign made Constitution
with predetermined principles like Federalism clause?
(2) Why UNPOS has decided to misrepresent the real political and social
condition in Somalia so to applya destructive approach to it? Incidentally,
the report of UN Monitoring Group on Somalia (S/2011/4033) has contradicted
the false narratives of UNPOS. I don’t think there is a question about the
fact that Somalis did not seriously help themselves but that failure cannot
be an excuse for the ignoble and detrimental behavior of UNPOS and others.
The brief UN-CM held at Mogadishu Airportunder the protection of AMISOM
forces does not represent a significant political development. Contrary, it
has glorified Machiavellian (crass) culture and further disgraced the
Transitional Federal Government/Transitional Federal Institutions
(TFG/TFIs), eviscerated by the Kampala Accord. For lack of transparency,
the floated figure for the cost of the UN-CM is 12 million dollars.
UNPOS and the Ethiopian regime have joined their diplomatic machinery to
force a deceptive political structure and agenda on Somalia, which will be
anobstacle to the realization of reliable peace and stability in Somalia.
The concerted, skillfully planned and well funded efforts of UNPOS and
Ethiopia have killed the hope for a sustainable sovereign governance taking
root in Somalia. PM Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and his diplomatic corps spend
more time and energy on Somalia rather than on the myriad problems of their
country to influence the Western powers, China and Russia so that Somalia
remain under the tutelage of Ethiopia. Somalia cannot be associated with the
oppressive political and economic system of Ethiopia.
Informed personalities about Somalia’s politics and society are of the
opinion that the current efforts of UNPOS and Ethiopia could produce
unintended dynamics and consequences that will feed and nourish public
resentment against the United Nations and the International Community (IC).
The danger from the use of proxy Somali factions and unscrupulous
personalities has been raised by authoritative sources. The fragmentation of
Somali Society and support to dishonest controversial leaders whose main
goal is access to power for personal gain will undermine the defeat of
religious extremism and warlordism.
The new UNPOS strategy evolves from six sources:
1. The elevation of the priority onthe war on terrorism and piracy.
Pirates are holding 50 vessels and 528 hostages. The cited UN report has
discovered that while Al Shabab has extended its influence throughout Africa
and Arabian Peninsula and represented a great danger to international
security, the internationally backed leadership of the Transitional Federal
Government/Transitional Federal Institutions (TFG/TFIs) has became the
principal impediment to security and stability in South-Central Somalia for
lack of vision, endemic corruption and inability to advance the political
process. Top leaders of TFG were accused of being infatuated with the
monopoly of power and resources with the complicity of the IC.
2. The failure of the strategy that produced the leadership of
President Sheikh Sharif and Speaker Sharif Hassan under the 2008 Djibouti
process. The IC, against any common sense policy, decided to allow the
doubling of the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) from 275 to 550
members. The concern of the IC was to punish Eritrea and weaken the
opposition against Ethiopia’s invasion and interference in the internal
Affairs of Somalia. But the handpicked additional 275 Members by the two
leaders have symbolized a permission for corruption and personal rule.
3. The implementation of the Dual Track Policy the US Government has
announced in dealing with Somalia’s statelessness. This policy is having a
far reaching consequences that will derail the possibility of effective
government in Somalia. The US Policy supports intentionally or
unintentionally the long sought ambition of Ethiopia to dominate Somalia.
4. The required disbursements of the substantial funds donated to
Somalia. The management of these funds are in the hands of donor
representatives in Nairobi, Kenya.
5. The emergence of elements in the Somali Diaspora. These elements
are either naïve, confused or indifferent to the history, culture,
aspirations and interests of the Somali Citizens and they display lack of
appreciation of the reasons behind the collapse of the Somali State and the
complex problems that have arisen from the prolonged civil war.
6. The execution of the Ethiopian strategy indeepening the
fragmentation among Somalis. The UNPOS Strategy in coordination with the
Ethiopia-Kenya Strategy in Galgudud and Jubba Regions (Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama
Conference in Abudwaq, Azania State and Ras-Kamboni Militia in Jubba
Regions), focuses on fomenting and exacerbating political conflicts between
South-Central and Puntland inhabitants and between variousfactions. The
Somali people understand the interests and communities the Presidents of
Puntland and GalMudug Regional States represent, but what they don’t
understand is the communities and interests the leaders of TFG/TFIs
represent, particularly in the negotiation with those Regional States and
factional groups. The general perception is that TFG/TFI leaders represent
their personal interests.
The Djibouti Agreement, the Kampala Accord, the UN Security Council
Resolutions, the AU and IGAD decisions, the Agreements in Galkaio, Nairobi,
Garowe, Addis Ababa and finally the Roadmap adopted by the stakeholders of
the UN-CMC have nullified the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), paralyzed
the Parliament and consequently de-legitimized TFG/TFIs. Despite its
involvementin Somalia since 2005, the National Democratic Institute (NDI)
has failed to establish the Transitional Federal Parliamentas an Institution
representingthe will of the people and workingas a legislative body with
best parliamentary practices and procedures.
A cursory review of the preparation, participation and the Roadmap of
Mogadishu UN-CM reveals the following:
(1) Each TFG/TFI leader has separately nominated his loyalists to the
meeting.
(2) The Council of Ministers, the Parliament, the Civil Society and the
public have been deprived of theirlegitimate rights to have in depth debate
on the Roadmap prepared by UNPOS before adoption. So called “Stakeholders”
of the UN-CMhave became overnight new national leaders.
(3) The process has made the President, Speaker and Prime Minister of TFG
parallel officeholders with equal powers.
(4) Against the will of the Somali people and for no reason, PM Abdiweli
Mohamed Ali has been mandated to appoint a Special Envoy to the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) Commission. This is to circumvent the parliamentary
rejection of the fraudulent Memorandum of Understanding signed between
Somalia and Kenya. It is a travesty endorsed by UNPOS with the possible
solicitation of Kenya, China and Norway.
(5) TFG/TFI, reduced to 9 Ministers and 3 top leaders, will function under
the direction of UNPOS.
(6) The implementation of the transitional tasks with theirbenchmarks is
empiricallyimpossible and beyond the capacity of TFG/TFI. Thus, the
Political Bureau established under the Kampala Accord for compliance may
recommend to UN Security Council the suspension of Somali Sovereignty. This
will strengthen the chance for the occupation of Somalia.
Paragraph 8 of the Communiqué of the 18th Extra-Ordinary Session of the IGAD
Assembly of Heads of States and Governments held in Addis Ababa, on July
4th, 2011 demanded that all International Actors working towards peace in
Somalia to do so in consultation and concurrence with IGAD (Ethiopia)
because of its self granted central role. President Sheikh Sharif and his
Ministerial delegation who attended the Session committed impeachable
offences when they surrendered the Somali sovereignty to IGAD (Ethiopia).
The Supreme Court and the legal experts of Somalia have the responsibility
to investigate the offenses committed for the defense of the sovereignty and
independence of Somalia.
UNPOS is not oriented to serve the interests of the Somali people. TFG
leaders can give away the rights, independence and dignity of the Somali
people but they cannot be trusted with the international resources. Somalis
must take back their country before it is too late if they want to avoid the
fate Eritrea suffered in 1950 when it was annexed toEthiopia under UN
Resolution 390A(V).
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