End of Differences for ARS, and Bright Perspectives for Somalia

The recent piece of news offered the expected relief and consolation to millions of Somalis; following long deliberations in Sanaa where the two factions of ARS and many associates had proceeded since the beginning of the month, a common understanding has been finally achieved.

This ushers us into a new era of political life in Somalia in which the difference is not viewed as enmity, the divergence is not perceived as resentment, and the diversity is not considered as discord. This is definitely an achievement and the two factions of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia must seize the importance of the moment.

It is not just a successful effort to bridge the gap; it is a new approach that the entire country has long missed. In terms of political attitude, it is a new beginning. It brings in a new perception of the critical issue of political disagreement; for more than 17 years, Somalia experienced precisely the opposite. Disagreement equaled impossibility of cohabitation; within a party, a movement, an alliance, a government or the entire establishment.

Confident of themselves, certain for their tribe’s support, and convinced that under the most adverse circumstances they would manage to survive, the Somalis used to split and separate. The new practice initiated in the Sanaa meeting is more elaborate, and guarantees better the interests of the country. According to this approach, the various points of divergence do not consist in a reason to terminate the cohabitation, the cooperation, and the coordination of efforts on a limited number of issues.

How can now ARS advance fast in the process without experiencing for a second time the divisions triggered in the aftermath of the signature of the Djibouti Agreement?

In fact, nothing is terrible, if nothing is left unsaid among the ARS members. When vital points are not discussed before decisions are shaped, then lack of trust and doubts are raised in the minds of one faction against the other; then the belief is formed that the other part acted hypocritically, eventually to implement the points of a hidden agenda shared with a third party.

To better discuss everything before a decision is made, ARS must form a certain number of committees in which representatives from the two factions will effectively participate. This does not mean eternalizing the division; it signifies willingness for containment.

The truth is not what would please some idealistic people who have it easy to take distance from truth because this suits their weak psychological condition.

The truth is what happened; two different approaches to an event (the signature of the Djibouti agreement) have been expressed. In fact, two different readings of the same text have been pronounced. This leaves no doubt about the difference.

The difference will never disappear, and there is nothing wrong with it. Only tyrants attempt to eradicate the ‘difference’ (or variant) because this suits their weak conditions and makes them feel stronger; however, while doing so, the tyrants fail to understand that they only suppress opposition, they don’t eliminate it, and that in due course of time the seemingly disappeared but effectively survived opposition will appear far stronger and ready for a final battle.

The best way to deal with existing political differences within the same political party or alliance is to
1. avoid the personalization of two different political approaches,
2. help the two (or eventually more) parts express their ideas in every case, and
3. reach a compromise per point and in a fairly balanced way.

In fact, the cooperation of the two factions’ representatives within several committees with only strengthen the Alliance, and will familiarize their members with the political need for compromise, concession and acceptance of the other part.

There is an urgent need for the establishment of the following committees, which will ensure that ARS is well prepared to take the initiative for Somalia’s most vital national issues, and to become the master of the surprise in the forthcoming – political and not military – ‘bras de fer’ with the TFG:

1- ARS Committee for the Cooperation with the TFG
This committee will prepare an agenda and specify the red lines in the ARS cooperation with the TFG. They will establish the priorities for ARS in their cooperation with the TFG, and they will discuss the possible concessions in the pacification process, and the necessary steps until the organization of the forthcoming elections for Constituent Assembly. Deliberating on forthcoming issues before the ARS representatives meet and discuss with the TFG president and prime minister, they will greatly limit the cases of unsuspected surprise that might trigger unexpected discord.

2- ARS Committee for UN Peace keeping forces in Somalia
This committee will prepare a plan of contacts that the ARS leadership will arrange with various administrations allover the world in order to convince various governments as regards the imminent need of Somalia for UN peace keeping forces. It will be essential for ARS to mark a success in this regard in order not to let the TFG monopolize the contacts and the success. It must be clear to all that the pacification and unification of Somalia hinges to great extent on precisely this – very delicate – point; in fact, if governments allover the world are not motivated to offer at least a few hundreds of soldiers each for the UN peace keeping force to be formed, the risk will be great. ARS must therefore deploy a great effort and dedicate much time for this issue.

3- ARS Committee for Humanitarian Help
This commitment will demonstrate to Somalis throughout the Horn of Africa the real contribution and the substantial help that ARS can offer to the needy and the starving, the impoverished and the persecuted. The care either direct or indirect that ARS will show in this case will be a basic criterion in the forthcoming elections, and a guarantee that a government made out of ARS forces will meet the existing demands for rehabilitation of Somalia. Furthermore, an effort to ensure the security of the staff of the Humanitarian NGOs through exercising influence among the Shebab will be highly appreciated among international circles.

4- ARS Committee for Somalia’s Pacification and Reunification
This Committee will undertake contacts with the elders of all the Somali tribes in order to generate interest, belief and trust in the forthcoming United Great Somalia. Much more than just being a medium between the ARS leadership and the different tribes of the country, the ARS Committee for Somalia’s Pacification and Reunification will energetically call meetings with elders of different tribes in order to solve existing problems and misunderstandings that only help perpetuate traumatic experience and keep wounds open.

5- ARS Committee for International Relations
The period until the elections will not be easy, and it will be followed by an even more difficult time. Somalia needs real friends in a fast changing world. Opposing the forces around (and behind) the TFG will be effective only if ARS develops from now a clear idea of a successful national foreign policy for Somalia, and establishes the necessary contacts to support this policy.

6- ARS Committee for the Conference for Reconstruction
This will show the commitment to bring in international aid, raise funds and generate interest for Somalia. It would be necessary for ARS to enter in competition with the TFG in this regard, and greatly contribute to the success of the forthcoming Conference.

7- ARS Committee for the New Constitution of Somalia
The sooner the two factions of ARS prepare a commonly accepted draft of Somali Constitution, the better for them. In this issue too, they must take the initiative, and instead of following events, they must trigger the developments that will bring forth a peaceful, united, rehabilitated and prosperous Somalia.

I end this article, re-publishing three reports from the leading Somali portal Mareeg; the first concerns the news from the ARS meeting in Sanaa, the second focuses on views expressed by Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN Special Representative for Somalia (SRSG), as regards progress made after the Djibouti agreement, and the third sheds light on the TFG Prime Minister’s readiness to do anything it takes to bring forth peace in Somalia.

Somalia's opposition alliance is said to have mended their differences

http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6858&tirsan=3&PHPSESSID=69c48adaee686b38602282fec6d91191

Sanaa, Yemen July 15 (Garowe Online) - Somali opposition members have been holding private talks in Yemen over the past few days, with a spokesman saying that an agreement had been reached to mend differences within the opposition.

Sheikh Yusuf Ali Aynte, a spokesman for the Islamic Courts, told the BBC Somali Service during a Tuesday interview that the meetings in Yemen have helped "end differences" among opposition leaders within the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS).

A public dispute among ARS leaders – dominated by Islamists – surfaced after ARS Chairman Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed signed a peace pact on June 9 with Ethiopian-backed Somali Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein.

According to that agreement, a 90-day ceasefire will be implemented across Somalia and Ethiopian troops will withdraw by October, when they are replaced by a "sufficient" number of United Nations peacekeeping troops.

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, an Eritrea-based Somali Islamist leader and an ARS member, rejected the peace agreement and accused Sheikh Sharif of violating ARS bylaws.

The dispute divided the ARS into two wings – one based in Eritrea, where the alliance was founded last year, and the second group based in Djibouti.

By early July, delegations from Eritrea and Djibouti were pouring into Yemen for proposed peace talks among the ARS wings. Insiders tell Garowe Online that rebel commanders flew from Mogadishu to participate at the talks in Yemen.

It is not clear whether or not Eritrea-based ARS members have accepted the June 9 peace agreement, but insurgent violence has continued in Somalia nonstop since that agreement was signed.

Somalia- UN envoy to Somalia commend progress on Djibouti Somali accord

http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6856&tirsan=3

Nairobi, July 16 (Mareeg)--A top United Nations envoy for Somalia on Wednesday praised the Somali warring parties for working quickly to advance the Djibouti Agreement which was signed last month.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN Special Representative for Somalia (SRSG) said the Somali leadership was not working alone.

"The progress made so far has been encouraging," said Ould-Abdallah said in a statement issued in Nairobi. "A month ago, Somali leaders from different backgrounds, made a courageous step forward to restoring the dignity of their wounded country."

Ould-Abdallah said the international community, in particular the European Union (EU) , Norway and the United States, has already mobilized significant resources for the implementation of the Agreement.

He said the period since the signing has allowed Somalis to prepare for the new challenges ahead and to give all those still uncomfortable with the idea of a reborn Somalia, time to adjust.

"After 18 years of armed confrontation that has evolved from a political struggle to a conflict between and among tribes, there is now hope that we will see the dawning of a new era," he said.

The UN envoy said the path towards Somalia regaining its dignity and sovereignty is "irreversible", noting that the UN Security Council would meet to discuss Somalia shortly.

He also expressed the hope that a joint Somali delegation would undertake a mission to the Security Council and meet the Jaliyadda (Diaspora) in the United States and in other countries.

"As peace calls for courage, patriotism and firm determination, it always has many enemies. Over the past two decades, countless Somalis have met brutal deaths, others went into exile or became refugees in their own country. The rest of the population is trapped and the business community's enormous potential is not fully utilized."

The Somalia's transitional government and the opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia signed a peace deal in neighboring Djibouti on June 8 aimed at ending 17 years of conflict in the country.

Somalia has been in a state of anarchy since warlords overthrew Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Several people were killed during clashes between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian troops backing the Somali government over the weekend.

For the time being, some 2,200 African Union peacekeeping troops are in Mogadishu but have done little to quell the violence which has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the country.

The talks in Djibouti were the latest attempt to negotiate an end to the anarchy in Somalia. It is estimated that the conflict has created more than 1 million refugees.

Somalia has experienced almost constant civil conflict since the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre' s regime in January 1991.

Somali PM "I am ready to sacrifice my position as prime minister if that is going"

http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6859&tirsan=3&PHPSESSID=69c48adaee686b38602282fec6d91191

Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein said Tuesday he was ready to talk to anyone, even to resign, if that would bring peace to his country which has been wracked by violence for nearly two decades.

"I am here to serve the people and not to claim power," Hussein told AFP in the Kenyan capital.

"That is why I am calling on all factions to come to the table and we talk peace."

Asked if he would talk with the Shebab, a hardline group accused of having links to Al-Qaeda extremists, he said: "I will talk to anyone who can contribute for peace in our country."

Hussein, 70, took office in November 2007 with a pledge to restore lasting peace. His predecessor, Ali Mohamed Gedi, was forced to resign for failing to stem insurgency.

Somalia has nevertheless been plagued by relentless fighting between Hussein's forces, backed by Ethiopian troops, and Islamist insurgents mainly in the capital.

"Violence is intensifying in Mogadishu every day despite the fact that a ceasefire entered into force last week," he acknowledged.

Hussein was referring to a July 9 deadline for the implementation of a truce, initialed last month by the government and top leaders from the main Islamist-dominated opposition movement in Djibouti.

The June 9 accord gave all sides a month to start enforcing a ceasefire.

But it was quickly rejected by Islamist hardliners including the Shebab group, which insists that the Ethiopian forces should withdraw before any talks start.

"Ethiopia has said it will withdraw its troops from Somalia once the UN sends peacekeepers and we are all waiting for those peacekeepers to arrive," Hussein added.

As another aid worker died in Somalia, Hussein blamed the rebels for the deaths of at least 12 such workers in the country.

"I have no illusion who are the attacking and killing aid workers. That is the work of the insurgents," he said.

In the latest incident Tuesday, gunmen killed a transport agent working for the World Food Programme, the agency reported.

He was the fifth WFP-contracted worker to be killed this year in Somalia.

The attacks on aid workers have slowed delivery of supplies to the 2.6 million people who are struggling with acute food shortages.

UN famine monitors have warned that the figure could climb to 3.4 million by year-end in the face of prolonged drought, insecurity and high inflation.

But aid groups have been forced to scale down operations in Somalia because of the attacks on their workers.

The violence continued Tuesday as insurgents attacked a Somali military base in Mogadishu, triggering clashes that claimed at least four people and wounded seven others.

The insurgents have been waging a guerrilla war since they were ousted from large swathes of the country's southern and central regions by Ethiopian and Somali forces early last year.

Since then, many civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, mainly from Mogadishu, the epicentre of fighting.

Bloody power struggles in Somalia have defied numerous bids to restore order since the country descended into chaos after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.