Somalia: problems of leadership and irredentism

“Any one can manage for the short term- just keep squeezing the lemon. And any one can manage for the long-just keep dreaming, you are made a leader because someone believed you can squeeze and dream at the same time”

Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, in his book Winning

If you contemplate current Tumultuous situation in Somalia you will see that lack of prudent and responsible leadership is one of the main root causes of current political impasse in this war torn country.

in the post civil war era, Somali leaders are characterized by lack of clear political strategy to effectively run the country and manage the conflicting interest of all Somalia stakeholders. It seems that most of Somali leaders both traditional and political, don’t know what they want when they call them selves leaders, that is to say they don’t figure out exactly where they are going to (political vision). No one of them can portray the political system he envisages and if there is any, he/she does not have behaviors and traits to reach his/her visualized style of governance.

Leadership is not to exchange hatred and abusive comments on the media or display muscles, it has beyond meaning. A leader is responsible of the lives of his subordinates, but in Somalia, the most successful leader is the one who prospers on the predicament of his people and trades on their blood. When you heard Somali leaders both Islamists and non Islamists like Abdullahi Yusuf, Sheikh Hassan Dahir, Mohamed Dheere and Hassan Turki, giving media interviews or attending political talks , you might ask your self if they really have the basics of people management and governance.

They dominated the political scene, preoccupied by clan driven disputes while their militias kill innocent people and lastly ended up in a humiliating defeat like; the experience of Abdullahi Yusuf or behind bars like Mohamed Dheere who has been arrested by Ethiopian forces in Mogadishu after they raided his head out in KM 4 junction, Mohamed Dheere, the Cantankerous former Mayor of Mogadishu was held by Ethiopians after years in Somali politics as a militia leader in 1990s to a warlord and governor of middle Shabelle region and eventually the mayor of Mogadishu. But many analysts believe his arrest is politically motivated masterminded by his foe with in Nur Ade’s government.

One might say recklessly I want a political system based on democracy but if you contemplate his behaviors are stained with clan favoritism, Grandiosity, lack of integrity and oppression that contradict his claims about democracy. Other might utter that he is determined to impose Islamic rule in Somalia but unfortunately he and his group have dim knowledge about Islam that qualify them to be tolerant and read well the socio-political situation of Somalia as well as world policy.

In a letter to the diaspora, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative, said that there is an “emerging consensus that ultimately your country’s problems stem from the absence of accountable and committed national leadership, I am confident that progress is being made towards a situation where responsible leadership will have friendly relations with its neighbors, and smooth integration into the international community.”

This testimony from this veteran diplomat echoes similar confessions made by most of Somalis that their destiny is hijacked and held hostage by these notorious leaders who some times tacitly collude with foreign powers to destroy the country. One of the most absurd behaviors they show is the provocative and inattentive comments they make against neighboring countries that backfire the country, especially irredentist claims over Somali inhabited regions in Kenya and Ethiopia and threats against these countries. Somalis under Ethiopia and Kenya administration- though they suffer oppression and marginalization –live in relative peace, and Somali irredentism will only exacerbate the debacle in Somalia.

Peace to prosper in Somalia current Somali leaders should show patriotism, dedication and political commitment or retire to be replaced by young and educated leaders before they end up in disgrace or on foreign jails, also Somali irredentism remarks should be stopped at this critical moment at least at the official level, not to give our enemy a chance to perpetuate our suffering.