EDITORIAL | After days of blatant attacks and condemnation in response to the US mission’s approval of the election of Ahmed Abdi Kariye “Qoorqoor” in Galmudug, Ambassador Yamamoto has changed course and called for reconciliation and dialogue, admitting that the recent election was far from perfect and accepts the status of federal Member States including Jubaland. The US message accepts Jubaland as a member of the five FGSs and accepts the presidential election in Jubaland in 2019 and the status of Ahmed Mohamed Islam “Madobe” as the elected president of the state.
Pastor Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre and Fahad Yasin were devastated by bribery and ruined the election in Galmudug, setting a new milestone for corruption in Somalia. The international partners must stop hiding how corrupt the Farmaajo – Kheyre government has become.
The US mission in a breach of the diplomatic norms of the international community and without consulting or coordinating with stakeholders quickly issues a twitter message supporting the outcome of the Galmudug election. By doing this, Yamamoto became a pariah, seen by many political leaders and clan leaders in Somalia as a lackey for Farmaajo and Kheyre. Yamamoto and other US officials have received the persistent and sharp warning that the culture of corruption of Farmaajo, Kheyre and Fahad could undermine the Galmudug election and the US and IC efforts in Somalia.
In the last three years, Somalia has fallen into political madness and chaos driven by the arrogance and ignorance of Farmaajo and Kheyre, as well as their diversion of state resources and assistance to political use towards the federal, draining security, development and humanitarian funds and the alienation of citizens across the country. The US mission’s blind support from Farmaajo, Kheyre and Fahad in turn encouraged the renewed belief that the United States is the enemy Somalia.
As a result, the US government pays a steep price for Ambassador Yamamoto and the US mission mistakes and loses credibility with Somali political leaders and the Somali people. In fact, Yamamoto has little to show for his efforts blindly to support the federal government. There is a growing concern in Washington and among the partners of International Partners over how much Yamamoto and the US mission are hiding from US decision-makers and congresses in an attempt to get Somalia out of debt and buy Farmaajo more time to consolidate power before the upcoming election. Ambassador Yamamoto and the US Mission must tell American politicians and Congress the truth about what is happening in Somalia.
The U.S. mission in the opposite direction reversed and issued a new statement calling for reconciliation between FGS and FMS. The statement reflects the US government’s concern about the situation and reflects Yamamoto’s lack of understanding of complex and competing political interests and clan interests in Somalia, highlighting US arrogance and belief that the US mission can impose its wishes on the Somali people.
The United States has failed to engage with the Somali people in the pursuit of common strategic interests. US cooperation with the Somali people must be the key front in the conflict against violent extremists, security and stability throughout Somalia. The US mission endorsed FGS corruption and corrupt political activities as well as the unilateral approach to the international community that was agreed upon and UN resolutions calling for an inclusive approach to conflict resolution in Somalia.
The widespread political unrest and one-sided approach to the US mission leads many to believe that the US mission is incapable of playing a constructive role in stabilizing and transforming the political and security situation in Somalia. The United States cannot escape its role in Somalia and the strategic interest in defeating al-Shabaab and Islamic State in Somalia (ISS).
To be successful, the United States and its international partners must uphold the value of democracy, the rule of law, respect for the Provisional Constitution and Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Future US Somalia strategy policies should include securing partnerships with all Somali stakeholders at the federal and state levels as well as the Somali people.
To create a secure, stable and democratic Somalia, the United States must recognize that Farmaajo, Kheyre and Fahad Yasin override the Constitution and repeal laws that established a federal system of government, their rejection of the Provisional Constitution, the rule of law and democracy are the source of the greatest conflict and instability in Somalia. Letting FGS ruin the process and circumvent the constitution and the rule of law will set a dangerous precedent for Somalia and encourage all other internal and external actors and their agents to buy future elections.
Farmaajo, Kheyre, and Fahad Yasin, who promote political corruption, spend large sums of proxy allies with limited foresight or consideration of the consequences. IC partners have ignored the FGS use of Ethiopian forces to suppress disagreement in the Southwest, leading to the massacre of innocent civilians by Somali security forces and their Ethiopian allies. Finally, IC partners have also not failed to stop FGS’s dangerous activities in the Gedo region of Jubaland, which promote clan and sub – clan conflicts.
The IC partners must learn a valuable lesson from the victims that the US mission took this week and realize that the Somali people and stakeholders are worried about the future of the nation and detest FGS ‘destructive actions and behavior in the Southwest, Galmudug and Jubaland. IC partners are advised to pursue a more balanced approach that puts Somali interests ahead of Farmaajo, Kheyre and Fahad.
In the age of the 24X7 news cycle, social networks and other communication platforms, the Somali people are more aware of what is going on in their country and will oppose any action that will undermine Somalia’s security, stability and sovereignty which they consider to be corrupt. or uncomplicated.
In conclusion, IC partners must not forget whose interests matter. There is a high price to pay for losing credibility when sitting with the corrupt federal government against the interests of the Somali people, their dignity and the rights to a fair election without corruption. Somalia has great potential and there is an appetite for reconciliation, but ignoring FGS’s unconstitutional and illegal actions in the Southwest, Galmudug and Jubaland will delegitimize the government and its supporters and further fragment Somalia, leading to a return to eternal conflict, which only benefits al-Shabaab and other violent extremist groups.
The time has come for a serious assessment of what has failed in the last three years under the current FGS leadership, and bring all stakeholders from across the country to attend a national reconciliation conference to address the outstanding issue of secure Somalia and lead the nation forward.
AXADLETM
