Introduction:
Some of the common issues that have precipitated the civil
war in Somalia that divided its people and the country so
deep can be conveniently classified as struggle for
political domination, control over the economic resources
and power over control of territories. For instance, the
government of Somalia has long been regarded as a source of
spoils for members of the politically dominant clan, thus,
becoming one of the most corrupt nations on the planet.
The conflict and the political game in Somalia is not a
matter of building the capacity of the state to respond the
society’s problems and building nationalism and unity among
the Somali clans and sub-clans, or protecting the borders
and the interest of the country, but rather of gaining
control of the government apparatus.
For the most part since Somalia won its independence, a
single clan or two has gained control most of the government
institutions and used that power to channel the welfares and
benefits available from the government to members of its own
sub-clans. This has occurred multiple occasions under the
leadership of the previous governments, the TFG, as well as
the current federal government. This concept of rule by the
few has prompted the longest civil war for the past 22 years
that has devastated in all levels of the Somali society,
from local neighborhoods to the regional territories.
One of the main purposes of the establishment of the
Transitional Federal Government and the "Road Map" was to
end this long and dreadful civil war conflict between
competitive Somali Clans by reconciling their clan interests
and ultimately forming a legitimate government that will
enable them to coexist in peace.
However, since its existence this contested concept of 4.5
has only mobilized few sub-clans whose members controlled
the government apparatus particularly the office of the
presidency and the prime minster. The Intellectuals and
leaders of these clans or sub-clans have cultivated
influential personalities among some of the elite members of
the International community particularly the Neighboring
States, and corrupt oil companies who often exercised an
indirect rule over Somalia and without due diligence; they
have endorsed the leaders of these Sub-clan to execute a
limited authority and tasked them to produce a constitution
filled with ambiguity that favors their clienteles and
transform the country into a gate keeper state.
In exchange they were given a "road map" (road block
indeed!!) in which its leaders invented a weak Federal
Government with unequal representation, opportunities
available to other clans in order to create a dominate
status for their sub-clans. As a result, they have
subordinated, excluded and limited other tribal communities
by rejecting and denying their rights and opportunities to
have fair representation in the Somali Federal Government
(SFG) while authorizing their sub-clans to get more than
their share, particularly among the members of the
parliament and the cabinet.
For example, both the previous and current government has
blindly ignored and deprived the Geri Koombe clan their
rightly entitlement of at least 12 representative in the
parliament as part of 60 members allocated for the Darood
clans under the 4.5 system in which 27 of the 60 Darood
parliamentary seats were allocated to the koombe family and
it was to be divided between Geri koombe & Harti Koombe.
However, During the "road map" process, the prime minster of
the Former TFG Abdiwali Mohamed Ali Gas and the governor of
Puntland, Cabdiraxman Faroole (two of the Signatories of the
road map) has given all the 27 seats to the Harti Koombe
clan, and they belligerently blocked for the Geri koombe
elders to be part of the council of elders to appoint
members of their parliamentarian. The abuses become as
brazen as he and the Puntland President, Cabdiraxman Faroole
issued threats and even tried to arrest them when the elders
of the Geri koombe raised their concerns and complaints
because their sub-clan (Majerteen, sub-clan of Harti Koombe)
was the beneficiary of the system. In other words, our
closest cousins from whom we expected fraternal support and
cooperation has become an open enemy indeed.
The current administration under the prime mister of Cabdi
Farax Shirdoon has also failed to deliver its promise. As a
result, the Geri Koombe clan has totally been excluded from
the federal government; not even a single seat of the
parliamentary nor a minster was allocated to them. This was
an arbitrary decision; it is fundamentally wrong and
unacceptable, having taken away their legitimate share of 12
seats in the Parliament and the current administration’s
failure to appoint even one minster, a major segment of the
Darood have been denied their fundamental human rights. It
is an unprecedented development in the history of Darood
Clan in Somalia. A disaster indeed!!!
The Geri koombe has a glorious past and constitutes a
significant proportion of the Somali population. In fact,
the Geri clan live in many countries in the east Africa
including Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland and their
predominantly locations in Somalia are Juba Land, Bay
regions as well as Puntland. Historically, Geri played a
significant role in Somalia’s liberation struggle. For
instance, during the 15th century the Garad of the Geri
acted as the Grand supreme leader of the Somali forces
against Ethiopia’s Libnadhingle.
According to Fatuhalhabas, Many Somalis including “Habar
Magad, Harti, Absame and Hawiye” contingents of the forces
that made Ahmed Guray’s army were led and commanded by the
Geri Garad and his General Matan. Also, Geri Koombe played a
major role in the national movement of SYL and actively
participated in the anti-colonial struggle. Indeed, the Geri
people has paid a heavy price in the conflicts situation in
the Juba land during the early 90s and even today the Geri
clan continue to be engaged in a common struggle to defend
the rights and interest of its people in this important and
prosperous Region of Somalia.
The subsequent appeals to resolve this problem by the Geri
Koombe Intellectuals and its elders to resolve this problem
politically fell on deaf ears. Therefore, the problems
addressed herein are imminent and the current Federal
Government has left no choice for the Geri Community except
to continue their struggle in all means necessary until
their rights are fully restored and justice is served.
For these and many other reasons, the members of the Geri
koombe Community shall not recognize this ill-stricken
government that has failed its purpose to end this long and
dreadful civil war between competitive Somali Clans to
reconcile their clan interest and has failed to form a
legitimate government that would have enabled them to
coexist in peace.
Finally, this concept of 4.5 may qualify the most sordid
system ever tried to govern a nation and its people. Simply,
it undermines democracy and prevents the rebuilding of
stronger state. It is a concept that created a system of
government with unequal representation, opportunities
available to other clans and a government with no
accountability and transparency which permits its leaders to
treat the resources of the government as their personal
property and to use the public money for their political
purposes and to distribute the spoils to the members of
their clans.
In other words, no matter how enlightened or educated these
leaders may become, it is unlikely that they will give equal
attention to any interest that their clan members and
clienteles do not share. Therefore, Somalia shall never be a
sovereign, democratic or independent state as long as this
injustice system prevails. It is time for all the sub-clans
of the Geri koombe, its leaders and intellectuals to unite
and with due diligence articulate their goals, strategies,
and tactics to guide the struggle and mobilize its members
to support the cause of defending and advancing the vital
interests of the community particularly in the countries of
Somalia, Ethiopia Kenya and Somaliland.
Note: I will discuss the other two factors that have also
triggered the Somali’s civil war (the control over economic
resources and territories) in different articles in the
future.
Mustafa Sharif
Political Scientist and Public Administrator
Degree of Bachelor of Science of Public Administration &
Bachelor of Art of International Political Science
Email:
canjexabdul@hotmail.com
Phone: 507-271-9254
The opinions
contained in this article are solely those of the writer, and it does not represent the
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