Somalia’s new government: Presenting new hope or false hope?

In recent years, attention on Somalia has been focussed primarily around the domestic political tensions, as well as the increasingly alarming humanitarian crisis in the country. In late-December 2008, issues came to a head when the then-Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf resigned from power.
The Western-backed government headed by Yusuf since 2004 had failed dismally to restore peace and security to the strife torn country, which was faced with further indecision following the announcement that Ethiopian troops would be withdrawing from Somalia. Yusuf’s resignation was further prompted by increasing tensions between himself and Prime Minister Nur Adde Hassan Hussein over the composition of the government. In addition, increasing acts of piracy were abounding off the Somali coast, resulting in obstacles to the delivery of much needed aid services in the country. Following the resignation of Yusuf, Parliamentary Speaker Sheikh Aden Madobe became interim president according to the Constitution and elections were scheduled to be held within a 30 day time frame.
New beginnings
Due to safety concerns, elections were held in Djibouti, where Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, a moderate Islamist leader, was elected into office on 31 January. Sharif won with a majority after the other leading candidate, Prime Minister Nur Adde withdrew. Sharif represents the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and was Chairman of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) that ran Mogadishu for six months in 2006 before Ethiopian soldiers removed them from power. Immediately after being elected to Government, Sharif called for co-operation from all Somalis, as well as assistance from the international community in rebuilding the country.
International support
At the forefront of support for the new Somali President is the United Nations. The peaceful elections were praised by the Security Council and they echoed Sharif’s calls for peace and co-operation from all factions in Somalia. Council members also requested that Sharif constitute a Government of National Unity at the earliest possible date. According to various media reports, the United Nations has, in addition, invested millions of dollars to support the process of governance in the country. However, peace and security in the country will be ultimately dependent on Sharif’s success or failure to reach out to the different clans and propose a solution that is acceptable to all.
Domestic challenges
Already, a challenge is being faced from the al-Shabaab group, who is on Washington’s list of foreign terrorist groups and has control of large areas of Somalia. Al-Shabaab, headquartered in neighbouring Eritrea has denounced the elections and described it as an illegitimate ‘puppet’ administration. Another group, the Hisbal Islam (Islamic Party), has said that it will keep fighting against the new Government and the African Union forces in Mogadishu. This group has been joined by three other factions who also do not support the new Government, including the Asmara wing of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia led by Hassan Dahir Aweys, the Ras Kamboni Brigade, and a little-known group, Anole. One of the main reasons for their opposition to Sharif was that he would not adhere to Sharia law, but Sharif had since indicated that his Government is ready to practice Sharia law.
Sharif has also recently announced a new Cabinet, consisting of many former opposition politicians, as an attempt to have an inclusive Government. The 36-member Cabinet has Sheikh Abdulkadir Ali Omar, the Islamic Courts Senior Ground Commander during the two-year insurgency, as the Minister of Interior, while ex-Parliamentary Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan became the new Minister of Finance. The Minister of Security, Omar Hashi, was a key member of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), while the new Minister of Defence is Prof. Mohamed Abdi Gandhi. Sharif has also promised to hold elections in two years. During a meeting with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), he indicated that he believed it was vital to the long-term peace effort in the country to set a timeframe for elections. Sharif also communicated his vision for the political, economic, security and humanitarian development of the country to the various leaders and called for their assistance with regards to his objectives. Sharif has also pledged to work in conjunction with African Union peacekeepers to restore order to the country.
The humanitarian crisis
It is without doubt that Somalia will require international support in order to launch a recovery programme. Infrastructure in the country is severely underdeveloped and in some cases, non-existent. Running water and electricity is not available in some regions and years of overall neglect to the economic sectors will require massive input, not only from the Government, but also from the donor community and international investors.
However, the main challenge lies in dealing with the humanitarian crisis that prevails in the country. According to reports from various UN agencies, approximately 3 million Somalis are dependent on food aid, 1.3 million are internally displaced and countless others are refugees in other countries. These people have paid the largest price relating to the conflict and will continue to be helpless victims until peace is fully restored in Somalia.
Whether peace is possible is the question on everyone’s minds. President Sharif has ‘talked the talk’ and there is presently no doubt of the sincerity of his intentions. However, he has thus far failed in attracting even the possibility of talks with any of the clans opposing his rule, and unless he is able to make a breakthrough, he may be doomed to remain as the Head of a government effectively in exile. While new hope blooms in the hearts of many Somali’s, only perseverance and a concerted effort to compromise by both the government and the various opposing factions will be able to avert yet another case of false hope.