Will
Foreign Interests Now be Able to Derail this Somali Owned Peace and
Reconciliation Process?
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President Daniel Arap Moi: "No one from outside is going to give
prescriptions. The process must be owned by the Somalis, and the path to
peace and reconciliation walked by the Somalis themselves."
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After a devastating civil war in Somalia; after an
endless foreign sponsored clan wars; after an endless foreign attempts
to either have their way or no other way; the IGAD countries, the
European Union and the United States of America are finally involved and
want to make peace and unity in Somalia possible. We hope they succeed.
We need it more than ever!
But what does it really take to make a lasting peace and unity in
Somalia possible? What does it really take to foil the endless foreign
derailment plans? Who is really for a lasting peace in Somalia and who
is not? Who is really a Somali leader and who is a mere scheming
warlord? Who are the invaders (not liberators as some might claim) still
occupying innocent people's farms, land and homes? Who is an aggressor
and who is an aggrieved? Who supports, recruits and funds the
invader/aggressor class? Who created and funded al-Barakaat, the
ultimate aggressor and terror network? Who promotes the sub-clan terrors
and who doesn't?
Those questions and numerous others will go a long way to make peace and
unity in Somalia possible. But at any rate, we can make it possible. But
first, let us congratulate IGAD member states and other interested
countries for getting all Somali regional heads of state, warlords and
wannabe warlords in Eldoret. Let us give it to IRIN for playing fair.
Let us remind everyone that getting Mogadishu's warlords in Eldoret is
the easy part; keeping them there is the real deal! Let us hope IRIN
will agree with us!
Secondly, let us recognize and let Working Committees and IGAD member
states recognize for the record and for history's sake that some of
Mogadishu's warlords are criminals who have committed serious human
rights violations. Let it be known that they have killed, maimed, raped,
and massacred innocent women and children; that they have razed villages
and towns to the ground; that they are now razing southern Somalia
forest lands to the ground, to be turned into charcoal and exported to
Arab Gulf States; that they and their militias have looted, burned, and
appropriated other clan farms, land, properties and homes. To this day,
they continue to appropriate other clan lands and farms; to date they
continue to practice kidnapping and ransom seeking as a form of
profitable business. Even though they have seized and control certain
clan territories, in their seized temporary domains, there are no rules
and regulations in those domains. They are averse to rules and
regulations; they are averse to nation building and anything that sounds
or looks like it! These warlords have vested interest to perpetuate the
Somali civil war: it is the only thing they know how to! Let us
recognize, ahead of time, sooner or later, these few warlords will
reject the Eldoret peace process. Whether they show up in Eldoret or
not, as soon as they reject peace in Somalia, let us recognize for who
they are: hardened war criminals to be arrested right on the spot and
presented to the International War Crimes Tribunal, and then to be tried
for crimes against humanity. Again let us hope that the broadcasting
giants of IRIN and the BBC Somali sub-clan Section will agree with us.
In addition, these few warlords/invaders/war criminals are funded and
supported by certain foreign interests. They are funded solely to
represent foreign interests and destabilize stable zones that are not
averse to the rule of law. They are paid to preach and practice the
"zero sum game" of certain foreign countries. For over ten
years, it has always been the foreign interests supported way or
"no way!" It has never been about peace and reconciliation in
Somalia. Let IGAD member states, the EU and the USA make note of this
fact and take appropriate steps when warranted. Let every one know that
the world is watching and waiting.
Thirdly, let us recognize as President Moi said that "no one from
outside is going to give prescriptions [to Somalis]," but that IGAD
and the world will be required to enforce the consumption of medicine as
prescribed by the Somali leaders present in Eldoret to the rest of
Somalia. Not only that, but IGAD, the EU and the USA should make sure
that the pledge of Egypt and that of the Arab League to support the
Eldoret peace process is sustained, fulfilled and enforced. Let us hope
that Egypt, after over ten long and bloodstained years, has by now
learned that the Somali issue is not and was never a "zero sum
game!" Let Egypt and Saudi Arabia stand up and promise that they
will withdraw support and funding from any faction or warlord that
attempts to block the Somali peace and reconciliation process. Let
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab League members speak up and support
the Eldoret peace process. Let Djibouti and Ismail Omer Ghelle forever
hold their breath.
Fourthly, let us not for the sake of peace forget about the atrocities
committed in Somalia and Mogadishu in particular; let us make sure that
southern Somalia occupied territories are occupied no longer; let no
farm, land, home or property remain in the hands of looters and
warlords. Let us reclaim all looted private and public properties still
remaining in the hands of criminals and warlords; let us account for all
the factories, monuments, and public treasures stolen by Somali
criminals and warlords.
And finally, let no warlord or faction leader or foreign country or
laundered moneys from foreign countries no longer obstruct peace and
reconciliation in Somalia. Let each participant recognize that each
inter and intra clan reconciliation is more important to Somali peace
and reconciliation than their individual ego, and more importantly than
their proxy foreign interests. Let a free, stable peaceful and federal
Somalia finally stand up on its feet. Let unity, freedom and justice
ring! Let truth finally be the truth!
Please support peace, unity and justice in Somalia.
...to be Continued...stay tuned!
SHASNA* Editorial Board
cc: SHASNA Members