I had the same visceral reaction to Mr. Kipkorir’s article as everyone else who responded. I was very pleased when Bashir Goth and others quickly exposed the flaws in his grandiose and unrealistic ambitions for his country. But Donald Kipkorir’s claims are not all hogwash and I, for one, am grateful that he has written this article. Kipkorir may have inadvertently given us yet an opportunity to scrutinize the ridiculous charade that is referred to as the Somali “peace and reconciliation” and which I otherwise view as the search for peace in all the wrong places.  

Mr. Kipkorir did not dream up the colonization of Somalia; he is merely an astute man who observed that the process of colonization was well underway and all that is required are a few signatures to seal the deal.  And getting those signatures should be a “cake-walk” because as he notes, “[a]t any given time, most, if not all, Somali legislators are in Nairobi.”

When Mr. Kipkorir’s makes that assertion he is neither lying nor exaggerating.  Anyone who has been to Nairobi for an extended period of time knows that to be the truth. I may be stating the obvious, but there is something fundamentally wrong with a nation whose parliamentarians spend the bulk of their time in the capital of a foreign country.  Never mind that that capital is one where there is very little good-will towards their people and which stands to benefit tremendously from the continued crisis in Somalia.

And it is not just the members of the parliament who are stuck in Nairobi permanently. So too are other notable members of the government – such as the president, the prime minister, cabinet members and even “diplomats” appointed to other countries. There are exceptions which require certain VIPs to occasionally leave the all-too-important Nairobi scene in order to obtain the cursory headline and photo op in Somalia before flying off to a donor country to seek more contributions to the bottomless financial well for the “reconciliation” fiasco. And as the self-appointed government “governs” from its Kenyan base, we learn that more Somalis than ever are being displaced due to increased hostilities; are dying while crossing dangerous waters; are starving for the most basic of necessities, and are demanding peace.

Clearly, something is very wrong.
A more discerning individual than I (Mahdi Gabose) suggested a few years ago that perhaps we should try mending our differences in our own country, in the spirit of the time-honoured Somali xeer; under the shade of a tree. A novel idea? Perhaps. But in retrospect, it really should have been the only option available to the feuding Somalis from the very start.

Whatever the fate of the present government (most likely a failure), it is inevitable that another process will follow quickly. But rather than search for yet another foreign host nation, foreign funds to subsidize another fiasco, and foreign ideas prone to failure, might one re-iterate Mr. Gabose’s suggestion that we, the Somalis, take matters into our own hands, within our own lands and utilize our own indigenous traditions to find a lasting solution? What would be the worst case scenario? Another failure? Then so be it. After all, have we not endured 15 (or is it more?) episodes of reconciling various elements of the most dangerous and criminal groups in Somali history who, under normal circumstance, should have a one-way ticket to a war crimes tribunal rather than a seat at the political structure?

Let us give peace a chance the Somali way. Hussein Ablele’s recent article outlines how this can be achieved. This, obviously, will not sit well with the present members of the TFG who are addicted to Nairobi’s excellent weather, dining at fancy Italian restaurants, and café-ing at Java House. In that case, then, might I suggest we bid them a polite but firm good riddance! Somalia needs committed, passionate and, at the risk of sounding elitist, intelligent and qualified Somalis who worry about our abysmal global reputation and the appalling legacy we are leaving for the next generation. We need skilled politicians who actually understand global politics and have more than taxi driving certification on their resume and failed personal ambitions.

If this sounds like a dream, then perhaps it is. But I believe all great things start with dreams which are transformed into reality by competent and patriotic leaders.

I am certain Somalia will never secure sustainable peace in foreign countries and on foreign handouts. Asmara, Djibouti, Nairobi and Addis Ababa are not honest brokers of peace. Boosaasso, Baydhabo and Baraawe are home and our people there will welcome the chance to host a reconciliation event, however temporary.  It is only logical that if we are willing to fight and kill in Somali lands, we should at least consider sowing the seeds of hope and peace in the same territories.

It is the very least our brave and beleaguered population deserves.

By Sagal Ibrahim
Email:sagalih@hotmail.com

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