According to the current issue of Foreign Policy Magazine dated July 2011, once again Somalia is at the top of the annual list of the failed States; the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) led by Sh. Sharif, retained its fragile power only because of the weakness, wicked, unconvincing oppositions and the public fatigue for frequent elections of so-called TFG of Somalia. Subsequently, the government has become increasingly confident in its role and has taken more strong leadership towards the unity of Somalia.
TFGremains a trusted and reliable government than its predecessors in the eyes of public, as regards to rebuilding of the Somali Military, National Intelligence and Police Forces. While increasingly contested, including in its own parliament,TFG military and police forces attract the hearts of Somalis by taking appropriate actions against the Enemy of Peace (Al-Shabaab with remnants of Hizbul Islam).
Since taking the office, the Sharif Administration has made significant efforts to change the image of theTFGabroad, seeking to display good-will and regain credibility damaged the last 18 years of civil war ofTFGof Somalia. The administration has also demonstrated a commitment to engage dialogue with oppositions, even those which are the Enemy of Peace (Al-Shabaab/Hizbul Islam).
Inheriting a zero economic, non existing social services system, an anarchic wars and reliance on Foreign Aid to feed its people, the Administration came with well developed plan of generating revenue from the seaport and airport of Mogadishu to show the rest of the world that there is a hope to rebuild the Somali State.
The eventual passage of a historic of defeat of the Enemy of Peace (Al-Shabaab/Hizbul Islam) provided a seismic change for the Sharif Administration; from being viewed as “weak” and strategically unsounded, the Administration moved to being “strong” and patient. This new impetus has given the Administration additional leeway to address current issues including building of infrastructure of the federal government, relationship of foreign policy, coaching of regional autonomy, and implementation of Islamic Sharia which will set free for all Somalis.
Coming back to the title of the article, of course, the best is Sharif’s Administration in this current chaotic situation of Somalia. However, the worst Administration was when Dr. Abdiqasim, supported by the Arab Golf States, seized for the election of Arta in Djibouti in 2000; his family simultaneously started a well planned and often Machiavellian campaign to establish Abdiqasim dominance and GalMudug power of Somalia especially in the south. His GalMudug brothers have crafted a sort of empire controlling transportation, formal security, informal security sector, and militia controlling military arsenals.
In order to acquire so much influence in Somali politics, Abdiqasim’s have consistently merged family business with Somali politics. Furthermore, several sub-clans have been co-opted or pushed aside. It is obviously that Abdiqasim Administration has made miscalculation for firing his first prime minister who gallantly united almost all of southern sub-clans of Somalia. In state of confusion of TFG of Somalia, Abdiqasimagain repeated his mistakes appointing another prime minister who has blood relationship with previous one, at the end Abdiqasim remained his home office at Hodan District
in Mogadishu until a shinning leader elected in Nairobi in 2003 kicked him out in a form of humiliation that has never happened in African presidents.
Today, with AMISOM support, the government of Sharif‘s Administration can exercise its authority in over 95 percent of the city area and 80 percent of its population. In many of these areas, life, business and the economy are slowly returning to normal.
This reality has been attested to by many independent analysts of the Somali conflict. For instance, according to a recent article in the economist, “The Maka Al Mukarama Road, which links the presidential palace with the AMISOM headquarters at the airport, was previously unsafe. The Shabaab targeted it with improvised explosive devices, machine gun-fire and mortars. Now packed minibuses and private cars pass up and down”. And dignitaries visit inMogadishu recently, like Prime Minister ofTurkey Mr. Recep Tyyip Erdogan and Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, United Nations.
Ahmed Alas” ahlas39@hotmail.com
