Elected into power last year, president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (HSM) took over during a tumultuous period following the departure of his controversial predecessor Farmaajo.
Most Somalis assumed due to his past experience as president that HSM would use his political experience and utilize the mistakes made by Farmaajo to learn from it and move the country forward, but to no avail!
Less then a year into office, president HSM began the controversial decision to arm tribal militias under the pretext of combatting Al-Shabaab, which since has backfired and led to more clan conflict in the country due to the large flow of illicit arms given to certain clan militias.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the presidents home region of Middle Shabelle were government backed tribal militias have been engaged in clan wars and rampant revenge killings, leading to the death of countless civilians and the displacement of entire communities.
To make matters worse, the government has no influence or control over these tribal militias, which means even the Al-Shabaab threat were to decline, you’d have heavily armed militias across the country, posing a serious threat to the government and challenging the government authority.
A textbook example is the Hiiraan region were governor Cali Jeyte has severed ties with Hirshabelle administration and declared Hiiraan an independent state, free from control of Hirshabelle, as well as from the FGS. And this is all rooted in the government decision to arm the tribal militia in Hiiraan, the only tribal militia that has defeated al-Shabaab, while at the same time severing ties to both State and Federal authorities.
Furthermore, the political sphere in Somalia remains uncertain, as the relationship between the federal government (FGS) and Federal Member States is at an all time low, with the strained relationship between the FGS and Puntland being case in point.
Puntland cut ties with the Federal Government earlier this year due to the political mismanagement in the country by president HSM, which has been made worse by the negligence of the FGS in regards to the SSC-Khatumo regions.
The city of Las Anod in the SSC regions has been under relentless shelling by Somaliland, which has been made worse by the silence of the FGS, sparking widespread condemnation.
The level of negligence the FGS has for SSC-Khatumo is viewed as a sign of support for Somaliland aggression and furthermore highlights the government’s disregard for the territorial integrity of Somalia, knowing the struggle led by the people of SSC is the reason why Somalia today remains intact as a republic, while Somaliland’s secession ambitions are derailed as a result.
Legitimacy or the lack of legitimacy also remains a problem for president HSM. This can be seen in Hiiraan, Puntland, SSC and even the Gedo region of Jubaland.
Somalia remains plagued by political upheaval, uncertainty and growing clan animosity a little over a year after Hassan Sheikh took power, and remains to be seen weather Hassan Sheikh and his ruling Damul Jadid religious clique will change course or draw Somalia further into unchartered waters.
Daljir News Desk
COMMENTS