Hiiraan Online

As the last fully functioning central Government of Somalia had collapsed in 1991, the people of Somalia had so far failed to put their differences a side and agree to form a government of their own. A Government that controls its borders, can uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its nation, and take the interest of its people forward. A Governments that its policies are purely guided by the Somali interest. A Government that is able to pull our people out from poverty and the illiterate. A Government that can fulfil the economic aspirations of our great people. A Government that can initiate a new law to tackle the most critical disease to our nation - the killer of our nationhood – the Tribalism and all its nature and forms. A Government that its leaders are not corrupted in the broader sense of the word.

Having seen the outcome of the failed Kismayo conference that brought together the leaders of federal and regional governments to agree the way forward, it seems that Somalis in one way failed to sort out their differences without foreign intervention. Imaging while our leaders are negotiating over the interest of their clans the interest of the nation is left behind. Others engage to foster the interest of the foreign governments and expect that in return they will enjoy the support of that particular government.

For instance, Ethiopia is known to have succeeded to build a very strong network within the Somali political and militarily elites. We have also recently seen that Ethiopian relationship with regional administrations have taken up new economic dimension.  It has concluded an agreement with Somaliland to use the Berbara port and link that corridor to Ethiopian mainland for its own business activities.

It has reached an agreement with Puntland last year, to use Bosaso port for its livestock exportation. Many say that the later agreement is more cynical than any other expected to signed with Ethiopia as it gives Pubtland one dollar out of three dollars charged over by each head of Ethiopian livestock exported from the port, while Ethiopian earns two dollars plus its border Customs taxation tariffs.

There are many more foreign governments constantly involve Somalia’s internal affairs to influence the political outcome to reach their military goal not to have greater Somali Nation with strong military might, while some others like UAE are more concerned with our economic potentials. They have predicted if Somalia is back on track, it will mean to them a competing economic power house that can in a very short time able to defeat Dubai for its geographical preference and gateway to Africa. This is why the UAE policy to Somalia has been more distractive than any other Gulf State. UAE has also been competing against Turkish presence in the Country as Turkish companies invested in aviation and marine time industry.

The Government of UAE had historically been one of the best friends of Somalia but many believed that it had looked on the other way round as to the moment that Turkish Company has finalized an operational contract with the Government of Somalia to manage and modernize Mogadishu sea port and upgrade it to international standard.  The aim of the project is said to be a win-win solution for both Somalis and the Turkish. This mean that Mogadishu sea port will be enlarged and will have free zone area where Turkish industrial products will be sold and supplied to Africa. This will increase the revenue for the Government and Mogadishu will be the biggest market in the Horn of Africa where Somalis are the middlemen and will have huge benefits in the process of all transactions.

However, this project seems to have taken ground thought many attempts made including the land issue where UAE managed to be given 40% of the land expected to be used for the sea port enlargement to build its Embassy though the land is much larger than Embassy needs. Thanks to the corrupted leaders of Somalia and their greedy and cash guided mentality.  Nevertheless, I think it will not be much difficulty under international law for the host government considering its own land policy, to make shifts of diplomatic premises from one area of the capital to the other. But it will more or less have its cost.

Kenya had also recently joined the active players sending its forces into the country saying that it is there to fight against Alshabab and to help the Government of Somalia to stabilize the country and extend its control over the southern regions. So far, Kenya has never invited to the Federal Government of Somalia to consolidate the gains made by its forces including the capture of Kismayo port that could have been used to generate revenue for the Government. What we have seen was on the contrary - Government officials were in first time deported from within their territory. 

Jubaland State formation has experienced with a lot of foreign influence mainly from Kenya and Ethiopia. It is not clear whether those two Governments are in agreement to that end. But many say that Ethiopia and Kenya have conflicting interest in the region.  It remains to be seen whether Kenya which has security as well as economic interest in Juba regions will remain committed, though the main reason pushing Kenya to engage “the marine border dispute”, was taken to the International Court of Justice.

Even thought, I have highlighted some activities and named some Governments which practically engage to destabilize our country, the foreign interferences into our affairs had virtually reached unprecedented scale. Simply because, our political culture invites many foreigners to act. Our Security and Intelligence apparatus has no capacity to keep guard the external threats to the national security and territorial integrity of the country while all of their efforts are concentrated towards the internal enemy the Alshabab. 

The federal system seems to have further complicated the recovery process. It has fragmented the nation and created tribal regional states with the possibility of long way to overcome. Each president of particular tribal state is acting as an independent State. He has his personal connection with one of the neighbouring governments and has his own privet relations with foreign governments. He will conclude agreements. I wonder if military agreements were already made no matter the other imbalanced trade agreement.    

Having seen all this, I came to the conclusion to seek one more alternative way for Somalia. The choice will be painful for sure, since it effects our history but it seems inevitable, given the magnitude of the situation and the enemy ambitions to divide and rule. And therefore, for the sake of our people vanishing in the Libyan cost, those starving in the country, for those killed every day in their home country, for those in the refugee camps in Dadaab for over twenty years, and for the sake of the future of those born in and integrated into foreign societies and for the unity and territorial integrity of our country, I would have proposed our people to choice to put the country under Turkish Trusteeship for five years to be prepared for strong state. You have to also note that the UN did not demolish its Trusteeship Council up until now.