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Somalia at the Mercy of Tyrannical Dirty Colonels
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“A nation trampled by despotism, degraded, forced into the role of an object, seeks shelter. But a whole nation cannot emigrate, so it undertakes a migration in time rather than in space. In the face of circling afflictions and of reality, it goes back to a past that seems a lost paradise”.
The Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski writing about the Iranian revolution
In a breezy chilly weather, as the virtual threat of the Islamists to my favorite Qaad salon fades away, Maan-hadal is regaining its stability and peace of mind. On the eve of the Eid and the New Year, with plenty of mouth moistening Fujis and Barja Saafi (two brands of the Awaday qaad) at hand, we are celebrating the festive season in Maan-hadal, digesting the fast changing events in south Somalia. Regardless of how the unfolding events will eventually evolve, it is crystal clear that the future of Somalia will be determined by the struggle between the bearded mullahs and the educated and urbane, secular Somali men and women with degrees from established Western institutions of higher education.
That is not indeed the subject that Maan-hadal wants to deal with in this piece. Our focus today is how the former military colonels have become the foremost dominant leaders in both the secular and non-secular political camps in turbulent Somalia.
Confounded with the spiraling vortex of the fast moving events and vastly shifting scenarios in the troubled southern Somalia, we recited Abadir’s saintly prayers for the popular plant as we settled in for another momentous Maan-hadal sitting. Qaat is the pastime entertainment of many abstemious Somali men cut off from social amenities that civilized men had come to take for granted: cinemas, libraries, theatres, books, health and fitness clubs and swanky social life. Qaat, despite its socio-economic ills, creates an enabling and quaint environment for group dynamics and sets an open, trusting and amicable atmosphere for open-ended, stimulating and engaging discussions on diverse subjects.
In early afternoon of an Eid day, we began our chewing session in Maan-hadal, in a very desultory way, with a discourse full of humor, in a climate of mutual respect, in a discursive style in which discussions gently veered from one subject to another. A complex array of ideas kept pouring out, inadvertently, through brainstorming, and sometimes discussions spin in circles. Soliciting all kinds of stories, memories and brilliant thoughts is the norm of Maan-hadal. Nothing remains taboo or unacceptable and non-stays neutral in an often animated and engaging subjects under discussion. To avoid the possibility of Maan-hadal turning into an exclusive club for selected group of like-minded souls, a non-discriminatory open door policy is firmly and consistently upheld – typical to all mafrash salons. Relishing the moment of mere intellectual pleasure, nothing can excel the wit and wisdom and the exciting conversations of the Maan-hadal salon.
With the threat of the mullahs to my leisure time hobby fading away, our discussions shifted to the usually controversial domestic politics. Lately, we became inordinately preoccupied with the ominous expansion of the mullahs which deflected our keen eyes from some of the burning political issues in the domestic front. In the past several weeks, provocative and inflammatory pronouncements clouded the local airwaves. It seems that the enigmatic Col. Awil, the minister of finance of Somaliland - a sleazy Machiavellian politician - went a little too far in his usually tactless and insensitive rant towards the esteemed people of the Burao city. Col. Awil cursed one of the clans in Burao for introducing and hosting the legendary Sayid Mohamed Abdille Hassan. Col. Awil also outrageously accused the prominent politician and former vice president of Somalia, Ismail Ali Abokor, for enthroning Mohamed Siad Barre and coining the famous phrase that glorified the late dictator, “Aabbaha Ummadda” – the father of the nation.
As two traditionally antagonistic rival colonels - Abdillahi Yusuf and Hassan Dahir Aweys - battle for the dominance of the embattled southern Somalia, Col. Awil’s ill-fated and most inappropriate comment triggered the war of words of the colonels in Hargeisa. Col. Awil received a firm, swift and credible riposte from another Colonel, Mohamed Kaahin who bragged that he will beat up Col. Rayaale Kaahin out of office with a wooden stick. Furthermore, with no shame or embarrassment, Col. Kaahin blamed Col. Awil’s clan for donning on Col. Rayaale “a shirt that exclusively belonged to the Isaaq clan”. Col. Kaahin’s polemical attack infamously chimed in with that fateful comment of his old army comrade, Col. Abdillahi Yusuf, who consistently brags that “a raging torrent will sweep away” anyone who stands on his way. So, when the Colonels talk they talk garbage; insensitively and egoistically.
In the now defunct Somali Army, many of the colonels (not the generals) were highly regarded officers who never rose to their full potential due to inherent nepotism and favoritism that plagued the Somali military leadership. The promotion of the generals was relatively based on pure political considerations and nepotism and seldom on merit. The colonels saw themselves as the crème de la crème - an epitome of what superior officers should be. The resilience of the colonels underlines their sturdy background and years of grueling training. Most of if not all were trained in some of the world’s prestigious military academies, both in west and the east. The colonels were trained to kill; are inured to bloodshed, familiar to death, quarrelsome and reckless in nature, and audacious in attack. They were trained to wage war not to conduct peace and nation building. Hence, in the aftermath of the demise of Siad Barre’s government, the colonels asserted dominance in the turbulent and messy Somali political landscape as the political appointee generals simply withdrew themselves from the scene. However, the colonels were neither been able to adapt to civilian life and transform themselves into politicians nor willing to come up with a compromise solution to the protracted Somali debacle.
Yet, the colonels ‘on the scene’, who are embroiled in the ongoing filthy power struggle for the ‘survival of the fittest’ are not the bright, intelligent, sharp-witted and educated colonels groomed to lead one of the finest armed forces in Africa. These are merely the products of the clan strife that devastated Somalia in the aftermath of the downfall of Barre’s regime. They are notoriously known as “the dirty officers”. The “dirty” colonels are narcissistic, greedy, hypocrite and overweening with a larger-than-life image. They become monsters that devour all that is most humane, moral and civilized. The colonels demonstrated indisputable signs of a pathological attachment to murder, looting, power abuse, human rights violations and public embezzlement. Truth and moral virtues are not in their flawed lexicon. Ruthless rivalry, mudslinging and character assassinations are their means to rise above others. The colonels’ principal ambition is to eliminate potential rivals and establish unchallenged dominance over their afflicted fiefdoms.
Here in Somaliland, Col. Dahir Rayaale Kaahin, an erstwhile unknown quantity, wrested the authority of the self-declared breakaway republic from the domineering, political heavyweight and former leader of the Somali National Movement (SNM), Ahmed Silanyo. However, Col. Rayaale could not savor the trappings of the throne with any relish. His bastion remains constantly cowed and endures racist taunts and perpetual rants from three prominent SNM veteran colonels who are impatiently waiting in the wings: Col. Muse Bihi, Col. Ibrahim Dhegaweyne and Col. Mohamed Kaahin. Colonel Kaahin has recently declared that he would chase Colonel Rayaale out of the Presidential office by flogging (“Rayaale, dhangad baan kaga saari”). To set the record straight, the four colonels who dwarfed many of the prominent and honorable politicians in Somaliland (Awil, Bihi, Dhegaweyne, Kaahin, Rayaale) were all lieutenant colonels who left the now defunct Somali army without maturing into the rank of full colonel.
Next to the self-declared Somaliland lies Puntland, an autonomous region of the Somali republic. Not in the distant past a bitter and costly power struggle was fought between two Colonels where Col. Abdillahi Yususf barely managed to overpower a former army comrade, Col. Jama Ali Jama. Col. Yusuf was later replaced by a one time rival and former comrade, Col. Adde Muse, who is completely eclipsed by another powerful Colonel, Abdillahi Ali Mire (Cadheeys) - Cadheeys was promoted from junior lieutenant to a Colonel by Abdillahi Yususf. In far south, Col. Barre Hirale seized the control of the port city of Kismayo, after trouncing one of the political appointee generals, Mohamed Saeed Morgan. In central Somalia, Major Abdi Qabdiid, who self-appointed himself as a Colonel is emerging as the strongman of the tormented Mudug. That is how the beleaguered Somalia has become the play ground for the political infighting of the covetous “dirty” colonels.
Back to Hargeisa, venting his anger on the independent press that is known to have a knack in debunking the manners and fiery speeches of the corrupt and self-indulgent politicians, Col. Rayaale has ruthlessly ordered his henchmen to take into custody the editor and staff of the prominent newspaper – Haatuf. The journalists were put under arrest for merely conducting investigative reporting on the continuing saga of corruption surrounding Col. Rayaale’s family. Harassment and bullying of the press are inherent in all the Colonels-run, self-administering regions of the fragmented present-day Somalia. On several occasions, the Puntland police force made inroads into the premises of the weekly Shacab newspaper and apprehended its editor and a number of the paper’s journalists, for allegedly criticizing the government.
By ascending to the uncharted territory of politics, the colonels need to understand that political leaders, in today’s world, are living in a privacy-deprived hypermarket where the over-intrusive surveillance eye of the sensationalist press and the news mongering public is focused. Under the glare of the big cameras and the elusive electronic eavesdropping, no information is confidential or private anymore. The sacrosanct line has been crossed permanently.
An epigram chiseled over the entrance of the US Archives building in Washington reads: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. It is astonishing to witness the many parallels between the colonel’s administrations and that of the demised Siad Barre’s regime. Despite their irreconcilable disagreements, the colonels share common characteristics. All have the habit of falling into a trap that often ensnares dictators. Fundamentally, all the squabbling colonels are pursuing solutions based on the barrel of the gun. Col. Yusuf has been unwilling to evolve a compromise solution with any of his past and present adversaries. Col. Rayaale is keen to preside over a police state where civilian rights are stifled. From Somaliland to Puntland and Jubbaland, the colonel’s rogue administrations are characterized with recurring blunders, including rampant corruption and mismanagement, outrageous interference in press freedom, severe violations of human rights and torture and humiliation of detainees. By breed and nature, the colonels are birds of prey; ruthless and self-serving tyrants. Thus, at the mercy of the callous “dirty” colonels, Somalia is earnestly awaiting for Allah.
A. Duale Sii’arag
E-Mail:baxaal@yahoo.com
WardheerNews contributor at large
Mr. A. Duale Sii'arag has also published the following articles @WardheerNews:
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