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Hocus-pocus—that
magician’s word came time and again
through the painful process of forming a
government in Somalia for the third attempts
in 14 years, which will leave the people
beginning to wonder whether this one, unlike
the previous ones, will work. It is an open
question.
Despite constant
assurances of people very high in the new
cabinet led by Prime Minister Ali Mohamed
Gheddi, there are still many skeptics inside
the country and in the Diaspora who are not
sold to the argument that everything is
hunky dory and that we will be happier ever
after.
The
fact of the matter is that the people,
disillusioned of anarchy and lawlessness,
are desperately hungry for peace, stability
and good governance in their fragmented
country—but it is inconceivable that we
could ever have lived without a government,
even if it is a bad one. Something is better
than nothing, as the old adage goes.
The
difference this time is that some of the
powerful warlords who were always standing
in the way of good governance and the rule
of law are part of the cabinet and
parliament and that they would be held
responsible for any monkey business on their
part.
“Why
do we need a good government, or even bad
one cooked up in foreign soil?”
The
question doesn’t deserve a response, but
I’ll give one anyway. It is because we can
no longer afford Somalia to be labeled a
failed state where anyone can come in and
get out of the country at will.
HOW
THE NEW LEADERS COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
THAT CONFRONT THEM?
a)
Pin down the flood of weapons in the
country;
b)
Rehabilitate the young drug crazed
militia gunmen;
c)
Keep in check clan loyalty;
d)
Curb deep rooted mistrust among
faction leaders;
e)
Resist foreign interference (you know
who) in the internal affairs of the country;
f)
Provide the daily basic necessities
for people who do not receive remittance
from abroad;
g)
Rebuild infrastructures from ground
zero and generate jobs;
h)
Restore respect of human rights and
freedom of the press.
i)
Give leeway to generals and other top
army and police officers of the
disintegrated National Army and Police Force
to tackle the security problem in the
capital and the rest of the country.
When
you are a rookie Prime Minister of a country
like Somalia, you’re going to need help.
The required help doesn’t only entail
tactical advice. Assistance can come in the
form of emotional and financial support from
well-meaning donor countries. An ear to
listen and help weigh the choice you must
make. In politics, diplomacy and commerce,
the trick is always to stay one step ahead
of the next guy. I can give the President
and the Prime Minister some insight and
ideas of trials and tribulations their
predecessors. Ali Mahdi and Abdiqassim had
faced. That is another story.
Nevertheless,
the past is the past and the people worry
about the present and the future. They are
not stupid. They know how they want their
leaders go about their business. A
government won’t be considered a success
unless it carries out discernible changes in
the living standard and well-being of the
people. Of course, there is always a
Catch-22 in every system of government—a
vicious circle, if you will. However, this
can be routed only if the leaders become
transparent and accountable.
I
hope that this would not be ignored this
time.
Commentary
by
M.M. Afrah©2005
Afrah95@hotmail.com
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COMMENTARY BY M.M. AFRAH
