Comment 

Pacified Somalia – Secular Federalism.

By Osman K.

I am writing in firm and logical opposition to a commentary by Liam Bailey which appeared on this very page on April 8, 2007. I have gathered that the writer does not have a grounding in the intricate realities of not only Somalia but also of the entire Horn region. His audacious attempt to portray the ‘peace’ that purportedly existed among a populace terrified out of its wits by the UIC, as the model for Somalia, is nothing short of arrogant ignorance. Could it be that the ‘peace’ Bailey is portraying in the very first paragraph of his absurdly titled commentary is relative peace that only a person professionally engaged in reporting and lauding middle east terrorism can identify with? Further along, the writer’s pen bleats, “When they (the UIC) beat a hasty retreat (out of Mogadishu), peace and security went with them. In view of Somalia’s history of inter clan violence, an extreme faith in the country’s religion is perhaps needed to supersede tribal traditions of warlord rule.”
The first I agree with totally, down to the wording. Yes, the UIC did not withdraw but beat a retreat not quickly but in haste. However, to firstly consider Mogadishu as Somalia is in itself an insult to the Somali nation. Even the current upsurge in violence in the capital can not erase the fact that the rest of the country is enjoying the best peace since 1991.
In terms of what they managed to take with them in their flight, I must say that the relatively few that did escape were too busy saving their lives. Ah-extremist religion –The fate the writer wishes on Somalia, is a character that is a polar opposite of the Somali psyche and one that will never work or happen. The writer does not sound serious even to himself, what with his barely audible ‘perhaps’ before categorically classifying Somalis as a bandit people when he recklessly alludes to, “tribal traditions of warlord rule”
Somalia does not have a culture of warlordism and the last 16 years of strife can not and will not be enough to justify calling the proud Somali culture as one of rule by the loudest gun. President Abdulahi Yusuf is a true democrat with a vision for a federated Somalia. He has been unbiased in his political choices for appointees to his government. This is reflected in the all encompassing nature of Somalia’s Federal Parliament, which is truly representative of all Somalia. Contrary to the implied assertion that President Abdulahi Yusuf is favoring his Darod clan over others economically and politically, the President is a committed Federalist who believes it is precisely this clan based mentality that has brought his country so much anguish. He would be the last person to come aboard such a disastrous path.
The writer, after implying a biased president, goes on to tell us in the same breathe, that the TFG consists of many warlords from many tribes. If so, why and how could they have held together as a government? Indeed, how was it that so many disparate clan warlords hammered out the Transitional Constitution and other details of administration over two very long years?
Liam Bailey believes that although the TFG is made up of many clans, they cannot remain a united power because they do not have a unifying ideology like that of the UIC- extremist Islam. So there is, according to Mr Bailey, division in the TFG precisely because it is secular and pluralistic while the UIC, although composed of diverse clans as is the TFG, is united because it is extremist! What an appalling analysis of Somalia’s current situation and a feeble attempt to justify sanctioned terrorism under the guise of religious piety.
Had the writer done his research he would have been surprised to find that the supposed religiosity of the UIC is a smoke screen that had tried to hide its true colors and makeup.
The foreign component of the UIC is a gaggle of hard core Jihadists from no less than 17 countries –almost all, the alumni of Taliban-era Afghanistan, the terrorist breeding madrassas of Peshawar, the wastes of the Hadramut and sundry adventures who would as readily turn and fight the UIC if offered more money.
The Somali complement of the UIC consists of a fair number of innocent Somali nationalists who are not in the least attracted to radical Islam but only to Somalia’s resurrection. These voices of moderation however, are swamped by an influential group of committed Somali Jihadists with al-Queda connections, money, and training. Propping up these latter demented interests is a clique of profiteers, forgers, toxic waste dumpers, pirates and other shady businessmen who did a roaring trade during the six months of so called UIC brought ‘peace’.

The writer is currently a resident of Addis Ababa and is planning to return to his homeland Somalia after 12 years of exile.