IRIN Interview with Hasan Muhammad Nur
"Shatigudud", military leader of the Rahanwein
Resistance Army
ARTA, Djibouti, 31 August (IRIN) - Hasan
Muhammad Nur "Shatigudud" (Red Shirt), the
military leader of the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA),
joined the Djibouti-hosted peace talks as one of Somalia's
main "warlords". "Shatigudud" - a former
colonel who served in the National Security Service in
northwestern Somalia - was one of the few military leaders
who attended the talks, despite the fact there was no
special invitation or status given to "warlords".
He managed to persuade Digil-Mirifle clan
elders to accept his favoured list of candidates for
parliament, thereby creating rivalry with his fellow RRA
Secretary-General, Abdullah Derow Isaak. The rivalry of the
two became an underlying theme at the conference, with
"Shatigudud" seen as representing
"warlord" demands and Derow as taking on more the
role of a peace-maker.
Derow was eventually elected Speaker of
Parliament in the first successful cross-clan election held
by the conference on 21 August, despite last-minute
manoeuvring by "Shatigudud" to sabotage the vote.
"Shatigudud" then stood for president, but
unexpectedly withdrew from the race and reconciled with
Derow. Both men come from Baidoa.
QUESTION: Why did you decide to withdraw
from the presidential elections?
ANSWER: Because the Digil-Mirifle were
lucky enough to get the Speaker of Parliament. This is one
of the main posts in the new government, so I decided I
should withdraw my bid for the presidency.
Q: Do you really support the process?
A: I fully support it.
Q: But previously you had some
reservations, and walked out. What was the problem?
A: My major concern was the number of
parliamentary seats [given to the sub-clans and the military
groups], but that has now been resolved.
Q: What role do you hope to play in the
new government?
A: I would like to play a very important
role. I would like to play a crucial part and would like to
be considered for an important position in the formation of
the new government.
Q: You've been seen as a potential
spoiler of the process all the way through.
A: No, it's not true. I am a grown man
and would not have come here if I had wanted to spoil
anthing. I would have said no to what I don't want and yes
to what I do. But I would not have been here at all if I had
not supported the process.
Q: And what do you think should be the
next step for an elected president? Should he set up in
Baidoa, or Mogadishu?
A: The next step should be to form a
government. Once that government is formed - well, everyone
is talking about Baidoa, but it is also possible to take the
government somewhere else, if that is what the government
wishes.
Q: Do you think some of the regional
governments have reservations about this process?
A: I believe there are no reservations. I
believe that up to now they have supported the process. They
have said as much, and have said they are ready to help us.
I don't know what will happen later, but as of now I believe
they will give that support.
Q: You have a very close relationship
with Ethiopia. Through that relationship, do you have any
insight into the position of Puntland leader Abdullahi Yusuf
[who refused to take part, despite attempts by Ethiopia to
bring him on board].
A: Yes, I do have a good relationship
with Ethiopia - like many Somalis - and I do have a good
relationship with Abdullahi Yusuf. And hopefully I will be
able to convince him to come into the process. I urge the
new government to make contact with Puntland and Somaliland,
and to succeed - without any war or fighting - in winning
them over.
Q: And as a military leader, what future
do you see for your forces? Are they to be co-opted, or
disarmed?
A: My men are Somalis, and I don't think
they will oppose anything that is in the interests of
Somalia. We will do what we think is in the best interests
of Somalia. I think they will support the Somali government,
and - unless something new develops - I don't think they
will stand in the way. There are many militias in Somalia. I
don't think any new government will be able to absorb all of
them into a new security force. What will have to happen is,
of course, that we will have to disarm them.
Once we do that we will have to find a
way of finding them something to do. We have to find them
alternative work to do. I think that to do this, it is very
important for the international community to fully support
the government that comes out of here, to give it moral and
material support so it can stand on its own feet as quickly
as possible so as to be able to participate in international
forums and to restore the sovereign integrity of the Somali
nation.
