Peaceful dispensation of Somalia’s future is a win-win solution for all

Mohamud Uluso

The claim a Government exists in Somalia is to deprive the Somali people of the opportunity to find peace.

The tragic situation in Somalia has forced the US government to develop a fresh strategy that aims to defeat terrorists, pirates and reverse the precipitously worsening humanitarian situation. However, experience shows external strategy formulated on interpretations and conclusions worked out by external actors will overlook issues pivotal for the internal political dynamics of the Somali people who will ultimately bear the consequences of ill-conceived policies. Therefore, while transnational factors dominate the Somali crisis, it is imperative the Somali people search solutions from within.

Jeffrey Gettleman noted how it is exceedingly difficult to identify who the country’s real leaders are, if they exist at all and as he put it, how Somalia is a political paradox-unified on the surface, poisonously divided beneath. His knotty suggestion is that the entire national psyche must be rebuilt. The scramble for the creation of "regional states", civil war and Islamic wars all are the result of widespread sense of alienation among communities whereby fragmentation is seen as solution.

Recent national reconciliation gimmicks have created many problems. First, it is the creation of a transitional government in conformity with 4.5 clan formula without public support. Second, the elected leaders of Puntland and Somaliland were neither members nor subordinates of the transitional government. Third, Somaliland and Puntland were encouraged to continue on their separate paths. Fourth, the international community supports contemporaneously and independently ‘constitutional processes and state or capacity-buildings’ in Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland. Fifth, Ethiopia overtly or covertly controls the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Puntland, Somaliland and other Somali regions. Sixth, Amisom forces destroyed the lives and livelihood of the entire Mogadishu residents for the excuse of protecting less than 100 ‘politicians’ most of them from constituencies under autonomous authorities in an area of three kilometres. These problems have deepened social anger and sense of vengeance. There is now need for a Somalia Citizenship Defence Movement which would motivate the Somali clans to open political dialogue among them and discuss the past, present and future, particularly the issue of citizenship. Consensus on the citizenship issue should pave the way for transformation and transition to a society governed by rule of law. The wisdom of solving the Somali problems consists in the increase of confidence in citizenship benefits and the decrease of reliance on clan solidarity. Somalia is threat to the regional and global security. Therefore, a peaceful dispensation of Somalia’s future is a win-win solution for all.

Social grievances, widespread unemployment, poverty, humanitarian crisis, piracy, terrorism, socio-economic development, and foreign interference throughout Somalia can only be addressed effectively under a functional State of Somalia.