June 6 is a historic day for Riverine community of Somalia - it marks the first anniversary of Baidoa liberation. Early June last year the four years battle over the control of Baidoa, a very strategic city in the heart of fertile land in southwest Somalia, between RRA and occupying militia of Hussein Aideed was decisively won by the RRA. This was worst defeat of Aideed's militia since the civil war started in Somalia in 1991.

The RRA victory over the Aideed militia has opened a new chapter in Somali history. First, it effectively ended four years of human rights abuses including colonization, genocide, rape and looting by the Aideed's militia over the peaceful people of Riverine. Secondly, it exposed the weakening power of the warlord while RRA become a power to reckon. Thirdly, it had strengthened the unity among the Digil & Mirifle clans. The D&M are far more united than ever throwing their unreserved support behind the RRA leadership. Thus shifting the focus from liberation of Bay & Bakool region to the occupied land of Digil in Lower Shabeele, which was under occupation since 1991.

The effect of expulsion of Aideed forces from the Bay region was immediately felted; thousands of people trekked back to their hometowns. Security of the region improved drastically, the only incident reported since then was the fighting took place in and around the town of Dinsoor in October 19, 1999.

During the past twelve months the basic public utilities were improved; the electricity supply resumed in Baidoa, residential & business telephone lines become readily available, schools were reopened, public health facilities were also upgraded and the Baidoa airport reopened for commercial flights.

However, the business growth was sluggish due to closure of main road between Mogadishu & Baidoa and lack of foreign/local investment. The absence of many NGOs and prolonged drought in the area also contributed to the slow pace of the economy.

During the brief period that the RRA was in control over the Bay & Bakool regions it has made significant developments. This included the announcement of the regional administration in December 1999, maintained the unity among the D&M clans, established judicial system, improved the security and started radio broadcasting for public education.

RRA leadership has proved to the international community that they recognize and respects Geneva Convention for human rights. This was demonstration by setting free the prisoners of war (including Hussein Aideed's wife), collecting & caring Oromo fighters and protecting and giving freedom of speech & movement to the civilians living in the area but belong to other clans (including Habr Gidir). RRA also showed impartiality when it deals with crimes such as murder. The execution in Baidoa of two men convicted for murdering a businessman is clear manifestation of the RRA's zero tolerance toward crime. The two were relatives of Hassan M Nur 'Shatigaduud', the Chairman of RRA.

RRA also demonstrated its commitment to protect the wild life and fast diminishing forestland. One of the major illegal activities in Somalia today is deforestation (beside fishing) which has already caused irreversible damage to the Riverine forest land. RRA's circular issued on late last year banning burning charcoal for commercial use and killing wild animal is yet another milestone decision to protect the environment and its inhabitants. 

The main challenges that the RRA leadership faced during the period include natural disasters, drastic changes of the Somalia political environment and internal dissension.

Before the area recovered from the effect of the war and the prolonged drought it embraced more natural disasters. Thousands of internally displaced people moved back to their towns soon to find out that there is no water and they have to cope with thousands of Somalis migrated from Ethiopian region of Ogaden. Thus sending a new migration waves to the regional centers.

Cholera compounded by drought has also swept through villages leaving more than 70 people died of the highly infectious disease in Bay Region and at least 40 residents of the nearby village of Bulo Addey. The search for food and water amid the three-year drought has weakened thousands of people, making them vulnerable to the disease, which is spread by contaminated water. Bay region administration mobilized local businessmen to combat the disease in which they effectively contained the spread of the disease and reduced the death toll.

Some 2,400 families have been displaced by flooding from the Shabelle river in south-eastern Somalia, in Banaanay region had been completely submerged and 950 ha of farmland destroyed. Tieglow district is the worst affected by the floods in Bakool region where five people were killed and 52 houses were destroyed by the rains. Flooding caused an outbreak of malaria with 320 cases reported and four deaths. With the help of UN agencies and NGOs, the flooding problems were also responded accordingly.

On the political front, the RRA leadership has to master to respond to the ever-changing Somali clan politics. Emergence of RRA itself was a major factor for changing the balance of power among the Somali factions. After they defeated Aideed, they were seen as a heavyweight clan where many clan leaders attempted to establish alliance with RRA. Habr Gidir clan of Hawiye, who are mainly responsible for the suffering of Riverine people, also repeatedly called to be reconciled with D&M.

However, the major challenge faced the RRA was the peace proposal of Omar Gelleh, the Djibouti President. RRA leadership did not wanted to be seen as a force against peace but the timing of the conference did not favor the D&M whose land was still occupied. All previous Somali peace processes D&M were given empty promises that their land will be returned - even the Cairo conference in 1997 it was decided the Somalia reconciliation conference to be held in Baidoa, but it proved to be yet another lip service. Hence RRA was skeptical about the Djibouti peace proposal.

The lack of information about the conference and the ambiguity surrounding the conference also exacerbated D&M rejection of the proposal. D&M community wanted to see that the stakeholders of the conference recognize part of their land are still under occupation. The initial meeting of 'intellectuals' in Djibouti failed to declare that part of D&M land is under occupation but instead they offered apology to Somaliland on behalf of the Somalis. D&M community were expecting apology as well since they are the main victims of the Somalia civil war which the manmade famine killed and uprooted hundred of thousands of Riverine people.

With increased pressure from the Djibouti government, RRA reluctantly agreed to send representatives to the conference. Since then there were conflicting news from Djibouti, it was announced that D&M had sorted out its differences with Darood & Hawiye. On the other hand D&M delegation reported they are disappointed with the peace process and threatened to withdraw from the conference.

D&M community strongly believe the solution to the Somalia chronic political problem can only be resolved from the grassroots - autonomous regional administration with loose federal system.

However, one has to wait and see how the conference proceeds when reopens.

The internal differences among D&M leaders are the major threat to the successful establishment of Riverine State. One of the major weaknesses with D&M leadership in the past was that they tend to attach themselves thinly with other main factions. As for the case of SDM, they used to be allied with Ali Mahdi and Aideed. Now with the emergence of RRA as victorious faction many D&M leaders declared publicly for their support of RRA. However, still there are some elements of D&M who still did not learn from the past history and driven by their personal greed continue to undermine the D&M unity.

Despite all the above challenges RRA leadership so far has proven to be on the right track and successful not only as a fighting force but as an effective administrator where the respect for human right prevailed. Nevertheless there are daunting tasks ahead and it is hoped that RRA leadership to pass through the uncharted waters of the unpredictable Somali clan politics. RRA leadership will need to utilize the poplar support of the D&M people and involve intellectuals & business people to lay out a blue print for the Riverine communities. It will also need to uplift its image that RRA as an 'armed human rights movement' to the international community - not another faction as some of the media portrayed. Lastly the existing regional administrations of Bay & Bakool will need concentrate their efforts in repatriating displaced people and enhancing basic public facilities such as water supply, heath, and education.

This is not by any means a job only for RRA leadership or regional administrators, but the D&M in diaspora has a significant role to play. Up until now their financial contribution is very disappointing, the D&M communities in overseas must do something to help their brother & sisters who are suffering from several serious problems including drought, flood and communal diseases. D&M intellectuals must come forward and be part of finding solution for the threatening future of D&M.

Riverine community is pleased with the international community (especially the UN agencies such as WFP) for their quick response that averted major disaster due to the drought in Bakol & Gedo regions. The international communities are strongly urged to continue their support for the Riverine community in developing the basic public infrastructures such as schools, heath facilities, and water sanitation. The region also requires assistance for developing effective administration through training of public servants. Immediate assistance is needed as region is recovering from the effect of war, drought, flooding and communal decease. The Riverine community is well known for their love for peace, skills for survival and self-sufficient which they are very proud. Now, they have to build their lives from scratch after 10 years of calamity, and in order to achieve self-supporting live, assistance from the international community is imperative.

Note: The words Riverine & Digil & Mirifle (D&M) were used interchangeably.