International community 'complicit' in Somali strife
Mohamud M Uluso
2012-07-26, Issue <
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/issue/595> 595
<
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/83918>
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/83918
The international community has for years engaged in numerous initiatives
ostensibly to return Somalia into a functioning state again. But according
to a leaked high-level report, it is these same outsiders who have benefited
most from the crisis.
The leaked and publicly debated report of Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring
Group (SEMG) of the United Nations has uncovered an unimaginable range of
predatory activities perpetrated by Somali leaders as well as by a large
number of foreign actors against Somalia's peace, stability, sovereignty,
unity and self-governance.
The deep-rooted pervasive corruption and mismanagement of the leaders of the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the widespread violations of UN
resolutions by states, private security companies (PSCs), and private
maritime security companies (PMSCs) have been well documented. The SEMG
Report attests that the international community, particularly the United
Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), the Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), and the International Contact Group (ICG) are
accomplices to Somalia's strife.
According to the report, TFG has no control over Somalia's sea, air and land
space. AMISOM, Ethiopia, Civil Aviation Caretaker Authority of Somalia
(CACAS), Bancroft Global Development (USA), Pathfinder (SA), Sterling
Corporation Services/Saracen International (UAE), numerous PSCs and PMSCs
control Somali nominal authority. In one year, close to two hundred
unidentified flights arrived and left in Puntland and South Central Somalia
for unspecified missions.
The fundamental conclusion of 2012 SEMG report with regard to Somalia is as
follows:
1. Under the Transitional Federal Institutions, the systematic
misappropriation, embezzlements and outright theft of taxpayer funds have
become a system of governance in Somalia, embodied in the popular phrase
"Maxaa igu jira?"("What's in it for me?").
2. Somalia's prospect for stabilization and effective governance have fallen
prey to political and commercial "elite" who appropriate, privatize and
criminalize the core functions of the Somali State enriching themselves
while perpetuating a political economy of State collapse.
For recollection, the 2011 SEMG report stated that: "The principal
impediments to security and stabilization in southern Somalia are the
Transitional Federal Government leadership's lack of vision or cohesion, its
endemic corruption and its failure to advance the political process." Both
reports have sufficiently discredited the false depiction by UNPOS, IGAD and
ICG that TFG is a responsible and legitimate representative government of
Somalia. Worse, the comment of Dr. Augustine Mahiga, head of UNPOS, about
the findings of the report conveyed a message of indifference and business
as usual. The continuation of the Roadmap process for ending the transition
under the discredited TFG leaders is inconceivable and without merit.
CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT BY TFG LEADERS
In 2011, the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Finance, Money and
Protection of Public Assets of the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP)
presented its preliminary findings of missing funds to parliament and media
after conducting an investigation of government revenue and expenditure. The
investigation has been quickly terminated by the top TFG leaders. For
reasons to be examined another time, UNPOS and IGAD purposefully decided to
disband the parliament and establish instead a new authority composed of six
individuals under the fancy name ,"Signatories of the Roadmap process."
Prime Minister Prof Abdiweli M. Ali claims this deceptive process is his
brainchild.
Then, the Director of the Office of Public Finance Management Unit (PFMU) in
the Office of Prime Minister Mr. Abdirizak Fartag issued an audit report
indicating unaccounted and unrealized amount of $278 million dollars in
2009-2010. PM Mohamed Abdullahi "Formajo" under pressure closed down PFMU
and fired the director.
For corroboration, the World Bank (WB) [1] conducted Financial Diagnostic
Assessment (FDA) of the Audit Investigative Financial Report of 2009-2010
and issued a detailed report dated May 30, 2012. The WB report confirmed
that $131 million ($164 million of estimated collection less $33 million
declared by TFG) is uncounted for 2009-2010. The report found that the
source of mismanagement originated from the fact that the power to collect
and disburse public funds constitutionally vested in the Ministry of
Finance, the Central Bank, the Accountant General and the Auditor General as
institutions was practically exercised by the following officials:
1. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed: President of TFG
2. Sharif Hassan Sh. Adan: Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister
(Speaker)
3. Abdirizak Osman Hassan "Jurile": Minister for Post and Telecommunication
4. Abdirahman Haji Adan Ibrahim: Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources
5. Abdirashid Mohamed Hashi: Minister of Commerce
6. Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade: Minister of Ports and Marine Transport.
In addition, the 2012 SEMG report identified at least 15 Somali individuals
[2] defined as "political and commercial elite" involved in various
activities under investigation. The dealings of the group have been branded
as cartel-style arrangement for the purpose of personal profit.
As illustrative cases, SEMG concentrated on the investigation of four
transactions engaged by the TFG. First, it analyzed, transcribed and
endorsed the FDA of the World Bank, which discovered the missing of $131
million. Second, it investigated for evidence the mismanagement of $5
million ($3 million donated by Omani Government to the Somali National
Security Agency (SNA), $1 million donated by South Sudan Government for
special purpose, and $1 million paid by SKI Air Logistics after it received
Mogadishu Airport Contract). Third, it probed the shady process for printing
of 5 trillion banknotes in Sudan in defiance of all legal, administrative
and technical procedures. And fourth, it described the corrupt handling of
the project for issuing new Passport and National Identification Card. The
four cases showed how TFG leaders privatized public power, institutions and
services.
Surprisingly, in the face of the above revelations, TFG leaders never cared
to respond satisfactorily to the accusations of rampant corruption by
providing comprehensive detailed explanations of the external and domestic
revenues through institutional responsibilities. To the contrary, besides
sending a letter to the UN Secretary General in which he designated the
Coordinator of SEMG as "Persona non grata in Somalia", the President accused
SEMG of pursuing an anti-Somali agenda. The Speaker denounced the
accusations as biased and baseless, aimed at undermining his high chance of
being elected to the position of President after his past political
performance.
The Prime Minister praised the report and accepted the allegations against
him by agreeing to provide documentation only for the $6 million linked to
his name. These split reactions among the three top TFG leaders reaffirmed
the central conclusion of the report consisting in the absence of TFG
collective responsibility and in the lack of adherence to public finance
management rules and practices. Because of the letter, SEMG recommended
sanctions against President Sheikh Sharif for the obstruction of the
enforcement of UN Resolutions.
PUNTLAND MARITIME POLICE FORCE (PMPF)
Puntland State has refused to cooperate with SEMG, which led to the
recommendation of sanctions against Puntland authorities as their act of
refusal constituted a potential obstruction of the work of SEMG.
Nevertheless, the report discussed in detail the operations of Sterling
Corporate Services (SCS) (formerly Saracen International) which trains,
equips and supervises 1,000 Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) with funds
provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Without proper consultation, the
Office of the Prime Minister authorized SCS to select soldiers from Somali
National Army (SNA) to join PFMP training at their camp in Bosaso. AMISOM
overruled PM's authorization and stopped the selection process.
There are many entities involved in the support of PMPF [3]. The report
points out that SCS and other companies are linked to Mr. Lafras Luitigingh,
owner of Saracen International. Recently, Col Oliver North visited Puntland.
TFG received from Saracen International the medical center - Villa Somalia
Emergency Trauma Centre, established in the Presidential compound. The Fund
was paid by UAE.
SEMG argues that PMPF represents a profitable enterprise for relatives and
close associates of Puntland president who directly controls it contrary to
article 94 of Puntland Constitution. Therefore, SEMG considers the external
support of PMPF illegal and breach of UN Security Council Resolutions.
SUPPORT TO TFG AND PUNTLAND INTELLIGENCE SERVICES
The report brought to light that the TFG National Security Agency (NSA)
commands a 1,500-strong force, well-equipped and trained, that comes under
the direct supervision of the president. The US Government supports NSA and
Puntland Intelligence Services (PIS). Also Sudan supports NSA. SEMG is of
the opinion that the support of NSA and PIS is in violation of UN Security
Council resolutions.
VIOLATIONS OF ARMS EMBARGO
More than 15 countries and international organizations are accused of
violations against UN arms embargo on Somalia. The presence of Ethiopian
forces in Somalia is considered as a violation of UN resolutions. Another
violator of UN resolution is the United Nations Mine Action Services (UNMAS)
which has contracted a UK-based company, Human Recognition System, to
conduct biometric registration including personal details, fingerprints,
photograph and DNA, of Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers, aimed at
improving payment of stipends.
CONCLUSION
The Parliamentary Committee, the PFMU, the World Bank and SEMG have
graphically presented the pervasive corruption and mismanagement within TFG.
But UNPOS and IGAD backed by IC successfully flouted those accusations and
stuck with their corrupted TFG leaders to implement a divisive Roadmap
process. The Security Council and the IC must re-examine the facts and
problems identified in the SEMG report for course correction and new policy
prescription that will help peace, security and stability in Somalia. The
predatory activities underway in Somalia must be stopped and the focus
should be shifted to State building that delivers State functions throughout
Somalia.
Received on Thu Jul 26 2012 - 21:38:19 EDT
