S H A S N A  MediaWatch

Hurricane ARTA Still Hovers Over Somalia!
ARTA Nightmare, Arab Money, the Nairobi Conference and the Future of the Horn

 

Nairobi, Kenya
[3 June 2003]

 

Background

In all fairness, the ARTA ‘Project’ was so confusing to most political minds of the land, one couldn’t simply level blame onto those who honestly thought that Arta may eventually amount into something good for Somalis, albeit the hidden and devious schemes played by certain insider groups.

 

For one, the project had the appearance of an inclusive Somali representation and all the emotional trappings of what might appear as a reasonable chance of success. It was promoted by the Arab League, several neighboring countries, and the United Nations and its Somalia representatives. In Addition, Somalis in general and Mogadishu population in particular were sick and tired of the senseless continuation of a prolonged civil war and lawlessness. Hence, "anything" that would undertake the mammoth job of imposing law and order, particularly in and around Mogadishu and environs, was long awaited good news.

 

As a result, it was perfectly understandable to see the people of Mogadishu coming out to welcome the ARTA "president-elect", en masse. But all was not well within what was initially thought to be a government in-exile and its handlers. And it was curious and noteworthy that Abdiqassim Salad and handlers spinned the warm welcoming of Mogadishu inhabitants as a "massive show of force." It was the beginning of a serious suspicion; the beginning of a merciless competition for power, at any cost; and nothing was ever to be the same!

 

To the terror wary and tyranny ridden Somalis, this was just very telling. Judging from the tone of his voice and the choice of words, it was obvious that Abdiqassim didn't want to employ good offices in order to give peace a chance. Peace and nation building were never in his or handlers lexicon. And on arrival, the games of warlordism commenced. He wasted no time in establishing himself as the strong man in southern Mogadishu. As far as he was concerned, that was to be the first priority, and according to some, may be the whole essence of the Arta Project. How did he do it, and at the same time con some noteworthy international institutions, including but not limited to the UN and the Arab League?

 

The Strategy

As we will explain, Abdiqassim Salad executed it with a combination of two strategies: One for domestic consumption (clan context) and the other for foreign purposes (mainly Middle East oriented.) Firstly, he presented himself as the heir to Siad Barre, who knew how to govern, because he learned it from the Master. He promised to initiate and at the same time play the very same game the Master played. This of course had the connotations of clanism, which very much appealed to his tired and weary sub-clan. Secondly, with the help of al-Itihad and other associated terror groups in the Middle East, he presented himself as a reliable partner with heavily armed sub-clan militias on the ground – referring to the sub clan militias under Aideed control at the time.

 

In the meantime, to make the strategy work, connect the two dots, facilitate the two track system integration, and make sure for a smooth sailing, certain sub-clan members, project coordinators, handlers, ideologues, investors, and former militia leaders, who under the tutelage of certain foreign elements have done battles in both northern and southern Somalia and in Ethiopia’s Somali region, were already busy in setting up the command and control structure for the ‘project.’ Col. Hassan Dahir Aweys – a US most wanted list and a high ranking al-Qaeda official, Mohamed Deylaaf – Mogadishu militia leader and chief ARTA financier, Ahmed Nur Jimale and his al-Qaeda capitalized al-Barakat bank and telecommunication companies (now renamed Hormud Telecom in Mogadishu and Golis Telecom in Puntland), Abdullahi Hussein Kahiye “Asbaro,” Abukar Adane of Hotel Ramadan, Dr. Ibrahim Dasuuqi, Dr. Ali Sh. Ahmed Abubakar, Sh. Omar Faaruuq and Sh. Ismail Hassan “Kutuboweyne” – the team ideologues, and certain other Mogadishu merchants together with Saudi Arabia’s al-Haramain Foundation, and its commercial subsidiaries, including but not limited to Towfiiq Corporation were all notables, who laid the ground work for this highly ambitious ‘project.’

 

With such a lethal combination of firepower and wealth, Abdiqassim Salad Hassan pulled the rug from under Hussein M. F. Aided. He cleverly transplanted himself as the new "president" of Salballaar (formerly USC/SNA), to the detriment of Aided, the junior. Within a short period of time, as Aideed Jr. began giving away some valuable organizational structure and hierarchy, with the help of Mohamed Daylaaf, a close cousin and confidante, Middle East middle man and money manager, Abdiqassim attempted to assassinate Aideed in a bloody battle around the Mogadishu seaport. Aided - now chased by a wider net of former friends and newer foes - fled the old demolished city, never to be seen again. Nowadays, Aideed, a reborn nationalist, gently roams around everywhere but Mogadishu, fearing for his life.

 

Abdiqassim Salad Hassan’s arrival was more than a change of guard in the sway of affairs of southern Mogadishu. It was a deliberate plan of one step at a time; it was extremism via clanism. But unfortunately or fortunately, depending on whom, the two plans, instead of each facilitating the agenda of the other, were now clashing or near clash on a daily basis. The imported extremism was no match to the existing Somali clan structure.

 

Abdiqassim, another Wealthy Mogadishu Warlord

It was a pure naiveté to think that Abdiqassim Salad would simply abandon the lucrative newly found business of warlordism (extremism and clanism) in southern Mogadishu for the unrewarding business of trying to shore up the city from its current abyss. The busy mind of Abdiqassim wouldn’t grapple with issues, such as Somalia, reconciliation, Mogadishu, clan stability, law and order, diplomacy, peace, international relations or being presidential in general. Typical issues he often wrestles with include, Muse Sudi, Mohammed Deere, Puntland, Somaliland, RRA, US Dollars, money prints, technicals, sub-clan militias, Egyptian interest vs Ethiopia, cajoling with Arab leaders, courting Islamists, destabilization, and more stuff of the same.

 

Abdiqassim Salad did not bring anything novel or different to the political landscape of Mogadishu; and he had no clue about the new Somalia. However, he did successfully snatch away the remains of the civil war spoils from the tight grip of Aided the junior. Everything else, with the exception of more Arab money, was business as usual. Having become rich and relevant in the politics of southern Mogadishu, the two step process of the ‘project’ had to be revived again. And revival depended on him and his team explaining to funders that the process is working; that they are dismantling Puntland and Somaliland; that they have liberated Mogadishu; that they are retaking Bay and Bakool; that they are on their way to control of all of southern Somalia; that they are on a roll; that they need more money to clean things up. Gun fires lit all over Somalia; and the money, more money, followed it and chased the fire explosions. They have mastered the system, or so they thought.

 

The War on Terror

September 11 has changed the world and awakened a sleeping giant. Every little war, each bloody battle in the world that has previously been deliberately ignored, was now having a precise and well-understood meaning; it was understood that there was a method to the madness. The ‘global village’ was open for exploration!

 

Three bloody years later, and in this era of war on terror, ARTA may be mortally wounded; its lies, friends and agenda exposed; its dream dying; its agenda almost dead. However, it now has new friends with own interests; extreme friends who never fold their bags and just go away. ARTA friends always have something in common: it is always never about Somalia; it is always about some selfish personal or foreign national interests.

 

With the closure of al-Barakaat group of corporations (telecom group since then renamed and operating), and the subsequent weakening of ARTA, some nations, including Djibouti, recognized the dangers of their inventions, and slowly backed off from the brink of disaster. However, Abdiqassim and friends never play dead, or fold their bags and just go away; they had to reinvent themselves.

 

The Nairobi Conference

In the current Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Nairobi, the first inclusive and transparent conference in the history of Somali conferences, and of course free from intimidations, Abdiqassim’s ARTA is the only entity, which in vain has skillfully tried to undermine the successful conclusion of the conference. But today’s ARTA, post reinvention period, consists mainly of Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, his checkbook, and some highly placed friends, supported by friendly countries. Friends with history and track record. Friends that include Dr. Walid Muse - the EU Representative to the Somali conference, a Sudanese Arab by birth, but Swedish by naturalization. When Dr. Walid is not representing Abdiqassim Salad and ARTA, he is advocating for ARTA and its Arab agenda. When he is not advocating for a certain agenda, he is out engineering who should run or shouldn’t run for the Somali presidency. And when he is not showcasing his ambitious projects, he is out manufacturing unknown civil society members, who never did a day's work in Somalia. This is all done under the banner of the European Union. We doubt it is an EU policy to determine who should rule Somalia or sway the decisions of Somalis. We similarly doubt it is an EU policy to foment hatred between Somalis or between Somalia and its generous neighbor, Ethiopia.

 

In the current Somali Reconciliation Conference, Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, together with other stealthy friends, and equipped with generous Arab donations, would seriously seek to pay his way to the presidency. Just like Djibouti, where Abdiqassim and friends set record expenditures for a modern Somali campaign, Nairobi too will set another record. However, unlike the previous rigged contest, the current players are not handpicked, are not the same ones, and not of the same caliber. And this time decisions will be based on merit; and Abdiqassim and friends fail in the merit and achievement category. Memory will not fail for what Somalia has gone through since their arrival; memory will not fail for what they intended for Somalis; memory will not fail that a powerful hurricane razed over Somalia wrecking everything to rubbles; Somali memory will neither forget nor forgive ARTA friends and financiers.

 

As for the unlucky ones, who intentionally or unintentionally sided with ARTA and Abdiqassim, it is perfectly understandable why the likes of Ali Khalif Gallaydh have advocated for Arta, because they were part of the project. Consequently, it is no surprise that such men have paid huge political, business and social prize for their participation. It is also no surprise that others, from the deeply disappointing academia and almost always socialists in training, like Prof. Abdi Samatar, will do anything it takes to oppose 'grassroots, federalism, self-suffiency, local achievement, personal responsibility, majority, new development, etc.’ Because strategies of such kind, of pulling yourself up from the bootstraps, of shooting towards the proverbial “shining city on a hill,” will never serve their social agenda of "we know what is good for you" common folks! And unfortunately, they share that patronizing ideal with their your common Africa based NGO.

 

CONCLUSION

Today Somalia has another hopeful chance for unity, peace and development; but the question is: who will rob it away this time? Will Dr. Walid Musa, Egyptian Secret Service (Mukhabarat el-Masriya), Italy, Saudi Arabia, Libya, and some other foreign interest now be able to wreck a second deadly hurricane over Somalia? Will gun fires be lit over Mogadishu and Kismayo again and again? With Arab and Middle East hands roaming all over Somalia, will Hargeysa remain stable? Will the newly minted Puntland peace process be enduring, or will hatred again be fomented between brothers and between neighbors? Will the mystery hand appear one more time, or is it dead and dying? Will the real EU please stand up? Will the international community this time commit to avert the potential and deadly hurricane hovering over Somalia?

 

We hope so. It is our responsibility. Please help Somalia achieve peace and Unity. Please support freedom and federalism.

 

SHASNA* Editorial Board
cc: Members

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*SHASNA is a worldwide advocacy group. We stand for the unity and peaceful coexistence of the Somali people. We support the creation of a federal system of governance to safeguard the security, tenuous peace, and emerging free markets of Somalia. We support the promotion of good governance, grassroots advocacy, accountability and the continues search for development and democratic values. SHASNA encourages corporate and individual investments in Somalia, in areas of health, education, information technology and media.

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