OPINION: Will Somali PM’s Soma Oil agenda going to be the beginning and the end of Farmajo’s administration?

By Abdirazak Fartaag

Does Britain have a hidden agenda in the upcoming London conference? Are they taking advantage of the lack of institutions in Somalia? 

1. Britain, being a colonial master, understands that the country has been faced with progressive clan balkanization. Britain also understands that in the Somali institutions, no one expects certain standards of behaviour from others; everyone in the public sector acts on narrow self-interest. The ongoing dilemmas and obstacles to progress in both the public and private sectors are really the result of the behaviour and attitudes of the entire pool of public servants, proxy government employees, the few well-connected entrepreneurs, journalists, civil society, and the traditional leaders. They seem to understand that they are dealing with, or for that matter,managing an entire new elite incapable of questioning anything.They also understand that Somali leaders are hardly concerned with economic policy implementation or enforcing governance benchmarks and constitutionalism.

2. Painful as it is, corrupt British leaders also understand that Somalia’s public servants, in particular, the so-called regional presidents – Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Silanyo), Abdiweli Mohamed Ali (Gas), Ali Abdullahi Osoble (Ali Amore), Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden (Sakin), and Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) –  have little affinity for the type of clan pluralistic democratic practices and respect for fundamental human rights expected of them. But it is not without basis to say that this is occurring subtly while pandering to Western countries, in particular, Britain and its lobby to gain power and prestige. That leaves us Somali people stuck with utterly corrupt Western leaders – Rt Hon. The Lord Howard of Lympne CH QC – who remain imprisoned by intellectual constructs that depict us Somalis as helpless victims for British elites and its organizations to rescue.  It is striking that such a high achiever, Lord Howard,who often talks so loudly of the benefits of a strong foundation of democracy and liberty, has acted, in the case of Soma Oil & Gas, in a manner counter to his self-proclaimed title as one of the leading democratic persons.

Who is in charge in Somalia?Lord Howard or the Somali Parliament?

3. Having intact, well-run, informal clan institutions is nevertheless where the confusion begins, and it is clear that currently the contemporary system is in the hands of the clan system and is governed by that mindset. The government organization is a purely superficial set-up; it continues in the same vein as many other things in Somalia, which is “keeping up appearances”.Because of this confusion of the two systems, it is important that the clan representatives, the parliamentarians,dictate the terms in regards to the upcoming conference and its agenda (security, humanitarian development and political process, including Soma Oil& Gas) not Rt The Lord Howard of Lympne CH QC, former Prime Minister David Cameron, incumbent Prime Minister Theresa Mayand their Somali cronies, former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the incumbent premier Hassan Ali Khaire. Actions on these utterly corrupt Somali and Britishleaders’ hidden agenda will lead to the perpetual suspicion of the London conference.

4. The blaming of Britain’s condescending behaviour rages on. But while it does, these historical missteps are not the sole causes of Somalia’s problems today. They cannot be reduced to a simple construct that merits blame. Western corrupt leaders and their organizations cannot be made responsible for the failure of the Somali system of governance to transform itself into a proper functioning system.  What piffle this is.  Meanwhile, public servants at every level have been taking the convenient and most expedient way out of a difficult time for the country. British leaders are deliberately thriving from such ugly and insulting double standard policies behind the scene.

5. It boggles the mind that the so-called populist leader, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo), supposedly concerned about shared values, goals, and responsibilities, can be so indifferent to the point where he strays from purer, defensive motives he claims to have had when he took over the government a month ago. This is an especially gripping drama when such populist leader continuously tries to signal his eagerness to collaborate with questionable double-standard foreign policies – the London Conference –which advances a few powerful corrupt British elites’ hidden principles and who often do not move away from on-size-fits-all prescriptions. The British elites’ actions always diminish any hope of probity, good work and involvement in the construction of independent Somalia.

Recommendation

6. In a nutshell, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (aka Farmaajo) together with Somali Parliamentarians should bring on board the below suggested honorable Somali individuals to take part in the upcoming conference in London so they can participate in the process. Somalia, the only failed state in the world, has never received guidance from their own home-grown leaders and experts, although it is in dire need of such an intervention. Input from these Somali high caliber individuals would be much more effective than the blatant corrupt Lord Howard and his Somali cronies who will eventually prove ineffective.In the event that the British government fails to invite the below mentioned Somali high caliber individuals to the upcoming conference, then I urge the Somali parliament (if any dignity is left in it)to boycott such events. The Somali parliamentarians should send a clear signal to the international community, in particular, the British government, that “Somalia is not for sale”.

 

SOMALIA
LEADERS OF DELEGATION
DELEGATE	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Delegate	Ali Mahdi Muhammad Former President of Somalia	Abgaal	Mogadishu	London
Delegate	Abdiqasim Salad Hassan Former President of Somalia	Habargedir	Cairo	London
Delegate	Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Former President of Somalia	Abgaal	Abu Dhabi/Mogadishu	London

 

Alternate	Ali Khalif Galeydh Former Prime Minister of Somalia	Dhulbahante	Lascanod	London
Alternate	Hassan Abshir Farah	Majertein	Mogadishu	London
Alternate	Nur Hassan Hussein (Adde)	Abgaal	London	London
Alternate	Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed	Marehan	Cairo/Nairobi	London
Alternate	Mohamed Abdi Yusuf Former Prime Minister	Ortoble	Mogadishu	London
Alternate	Salim Aliyow Ibrow Former Acting Prime Minister	Jiido	Mogadishu/Sydney	London
Alternate	Amb. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael Former Ambassador to Tunisia and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister	Biimaal	Mogadishu	London

 

SOMALIA
PARTIES AND POLTICAL MOVEMENTS
	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Adviser	Abdiaziz Mohamud Mohamed Reform Alliance for Justice and Openness ( RAJO )	Majertein	Bosasso/ Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Ahmed Ma’alin Fiqi Daljir Party	Habargedir	Mogadishu/Adaado	London
Adviser	Abdi Ismael Samantar Hiil Qaran Party	Gadubursi	Pretoria/Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Mohamed Nur Tarzan Justice & Community Party	Ojeejeen	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame Wadajir Party	Habargedir	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Abdirahman Baadiyow National Unity Party	Abgaal	Mogadishu	London

 

SOMALIA
FINANCE ADVISERS
ADVISER	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Adviser	Abdullahi Ahmed Addou Former Ambassador to US and Former Minister of Finance	Habargedir	Virginia/Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Mohamed Yusuf Weyrah Former Minister of Finance	Majertein	Qardho	London
Adviser	Abdullahi Osoble Siad Former Minister of Telecom	Hawadle	London	London
Adviser	Abdullahi Warsame Former Minister of Revenue	Abgaal	Columbus	London
Adviser	Abdulkadir Aden Mohamed (Jingeli) Former Chairman of Development Bank	Marehan	Seattle	London
Adviser	Yusur Abrar Former Governor of Central Bank	Gadubursi	Columbus	London

 

SOMALIA
FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW  ADVISERS
ADVISER	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Adviser	Mona Al-Sharmani Senior Associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP	Somali Arab	New York	London
Adviser	Ismail Mahmud Hurre (Buubaa) Former Minister of Foreign Affairs	Issak	Hargeisa	London
Adviser	Amb. Fadumo Issak Bihi Former Ambassador to Switzerland	Marehan	Columbus	London
Adviser	Amb. Said Mohamed Haji (Dhere) Former Ambassador to France	Dhulbahante	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Amb. Mohamed Haji Nur Former Ambassador to United States of America	Dhulbahante	Virginia	London
Adviser	Shamso Mohamed Haji (Dhere) Former Ambassador to Arab League	Dhulbahante	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Amb. Mohamud Mohamed Tifow Ambassador to Germany	Abgaal	Berlin/Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Amb. Isse Dhere Former Ambassador to Iraq	Abgaal	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Hussein Ali Duale (Awil) Former Ambassador to Kenya	Issak	Hargeisa	London
Adviser	Mohammed Ahmed Awil Former ambassador to China	Sure	Nairobi/Mogadishu	London

 

 

SOMALIA
SECURITY ADVISERS
ADVISER	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Adviser	Gen. Muse Hassan Sheikh Abdulle Former General	Ogaden	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Gen. Mohamed Salah Former General	Murursade	Virginia/Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Mohamed Ali Sharman Former General	Somali Arab	Arizona	London
Adviser	Mohamed Adan Bihi Former General	Marehan	Ottawa/Mogadishu	London

 

SOMALIA
SOMALI CRITICAL THINKERS
ADVISER	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Adviser	Prof. Mohamed Haji Mukhtar	Leysaan	Savannah	London
Adviser	Prof. Mohamed Kasim Munye	Reer Barava	Toronto	London
Adviser	Mohamud Ali Geldon	Warsangeli	Wisconsin	London
Adviser	Prof. Afyare Abdi Elmi	Hawadle	Qatar	London
Adviser	Hamdi Mohamed, PhD	Marehan	Ottawa/Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Prof. Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed	Hawadle	Columbus	London
Adviser	Abdinur Sheikh Abdisalam O’Mohamud	Marehan	Toronto	London
Adviser	Eng. Faisal Roble	Geri Kombe	Los Angeles	London
Adviser	Liban Muse Boqor (Son of the late King of Haji Muse)	Majertein	Toronto/Dubai	London
Adviser	Mohamed Ali Geldon	Warsangeli	Minneapolis	London
Adviser	Abukar Arman	Somali Arab	Columbus	London
Adviser	Omer Addou	Habargedir	Stockholm/Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Abdihalim Abdirahman	Dhulbahante	Connecticut	London

 

SOMALIA
CIVIL SOCIETY
ADVISER	NAME	CLAN	RESIDENCE	VENUE
Adviser	Asha Gelle Dirie Former Chairperson of the Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission	Majertein	Garowe	London
Adviser	Rakiya Omaar Director of the Human Rights Organization Africa Watch	Issak	Hargeisa	London
Adviser	Faduma Omar Hashi Former Chairwomen Somali Women’s Organization and former Somali Parliament Member	Others	Virginia	London
Adviser	Raqia Haji Du’ale Former Deputy Minister of Health	Issak	Virginia	London
Adviser	Dr. Hawa Abdi Dhiblawe Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation (DHAF)	Xaskul Hawiye	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Hawo Aden Mohamed Kalkacyo Education Center for Peace and Development	Majertein	Kalkacyo	London
Adviser	Fatima Jibrell Executive Director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development	Warsangeli	Baran	London
Adviser	Halima Jama Afrah Member of IFCC	Marehan	Mogadishu	London
Adviser	Fartun Abdisalam Haji Adan Elman Peace and Human Rights Center	Habargedir	Mogadishu	London

 

Abdirazak Fartaag, is the Chief Executive Officer at Fartaag Research & Consulting, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He can be reached at: info@fartaagconsulting.com

Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Alleastafrica, its affiliates, or its employees.