The outgoing United Nations envoy for Somalia with Somali Ambassador to Kenya
Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Nairobi (HOL) - Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur (America) hosted a private farewell dinner in his home in honour of the outgoing UN Special Representative for the Secretary General for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah on Saturday night. The dinner party was attended by the TFG Foreign Minister, Ali Jangali; Margaret Vogt, Deputy UN Special Representative for the Secretary General for Somalia; Joseph Trimble, Political Officer US Embassy in Nairobi; Bruno Mpondo-Epo, Acting Chief of Staff for UNPOS; as well as prominent Somali businessmen, and several employee’s of UNPOS.
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah has been the Secretary - Generals Special Representative to Somalia since September 2007 and his legacy will undoubtedly be debated by scholars, historians and politicians for years to come. Among his noteworthy achievements is having been one the chief architects in the Djibouti Peace Agreement in August 2008 that brought together ARS and TFG leaders to negotiate a peace treaty. He also was among the major players in the Brussels Pledging Conference in April 2009 and more recently the Istanbul Conference on Somalia which adopted the Istanbul Declaration; a pact between the International community and the Somali people . He is also one of the most vocal supporters of a potential UN relocation to Somalia, a position that has been met with stiff opposition by other UN head officers. His work has brought renewed international attention the plight of the Somali people.
It is said that development can be best gauged by progress on the ground and while Mr. Ould Abdallah worked diligently behind the scenes trying to propel Somalia forward; the fruits of his labour have yet to be sowed as the situation inside Somalia has steadily been deteriorating. Since he has taken office there has been a rise in extremist insurgency groups such as Al-Shabab and a steady spike in piracy off the coast.
“He cannot be an honest broker (for peace and reconciliation)” Ali Hashi, the former Somali ambassador to the UN from 2001 to 2005 said recently “If you are an honest broker you will talk to all parties to the conflict. But Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah does not want to speak to opposition groups.” Hashi’s sentiment is shared by as many as 300 members of Parliament who accused Ould- Abdallah of being “the central perpetrator responsible for the serious and unfortunate legal and political crisis” within the government. In yet another controversial move Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah’s unwavering support for President Sharif’s unconstitutional sacking of Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke created a bigger rift between himself and the Somali Parliament. The unexpected firing of the PM was subsequently reversed after President Sharif consulted with his lawyers who advised him that it was indeed unconstitutional.
In his defense Ahmedou Ould Abdallah questioned the integrity of some his critics in Parliament dismissing them as war profiteers who do not have peace and reconciliation at the forefront of their agenda. “Somali politicians, the elite I mean, are not ready to face the truth and compromise for the sake of their country, religion, children and dignity,” he said. “These people are at war. Their children are dying. They are living on charities under makeshift shelters, so I can’t accept to have cocktail parties.”
Fortunately for him, Saturday night was an acceptable night to have a cocktail party as he smiled and exchanged pleasantries with old friends and colleagues about the past and future.
Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur (America) thanked him for his work in Somalia and presented him with cultural gifts on behalf of the government and the people of Somalia, a memento for his time as the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Somalia.
His successor Augustine P. Mahiga from the United Republic of Tanzania is faced with the task of implementing the doctrines of the Istanbul Declaration and finding the ever elusive link between peace and government.