Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Only Credible Somali Interlocutor for UN, US and Europe

In several articles about Somalia, I had the opportunity to speak in favor of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Chairman of the ARS (Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia), who consists in the most credible Somali politician and statesman amidst conservatives, Islamists, radicals, liberals, have-nots and businessmen, westernized intellectuals, and tribal, parochial fossils.

In fact, for those who have an insightful into the Horn of Africa politics, when talking about the entire Somali Nation (involving the Somalia South – occupied by Abyssinian forces –, Puntland, Maakhir, Somaliland, Djibouti’s Somalis, the illegally occupied – by Abyssinia – Ogaden, Kenya’s Somalis, plus the Somali Diaspora from Yemen to Egypt and from the Gulf to Europe and America), the leader of the ARS (Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed represents the Somali Political Center.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed: the Somali Political Center

It would be worthy to survey what the Somali intelligentsia and free thinkers publish. Many Somalis write valuable analyses and approaches, insightful and constructive recommendations and proposals. I believe their texts represent the most pertinent gallop for international bodies and foreign diplomacies, reflecting the pulse of the - politically divided but nationally united - Somali society.

I recently went through an article that captured all my attention; written by a very representative Somali free thinker, Mr. Luqmaan Suleiman, this article has all it takes to be characterized as Plead for a New Somali Leader, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

No to Dick Cheney’s Saudi lunatics!

Mr. Luqmaan Suleiman represents the Somali Political Islam, tolerant, diverse and well versed in mysticism, metaphysics, poetry, and symbolism. This Islam is the real break wave against the Wahhabism and the Islamic extremism that have long been propagated allover the world with disastrous repercussions by the tyrannical Saudi friends of the indescribable Dick Cheney.

I highly value the modesty and the gentleness of Mr. Suleiman’s text; in marked contrast with the inconsistencies, inaccuracies, petty lies and lullabies of the failed Somaliland pseudo-regime’s apologist, Mr. Abdulazez Al Motairi, who is able to publish 4 articles in less than 48 hours and then nothing (who prepared the articles, by the way? Indicatively: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/58743; http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/58524; http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/58737). I believe Mr. Motairi should study more than anyone else the following text that I utterly recommend to Western readership both for its stylistics and its great political message.

Which interpretation of Sharia?

I am sure you will go through the text, and notice at the end that Mr. Luqmaan Suleiman suggests Sharia Law to be established in a united Somalia; this is nothing if compared to the Jihad that Mr. Abdulazez Al Motairi proposes for the unrecognized, breakaway, futureless Somaliland!

I will go beyond all this; what many in the West do not understand is that there is Sharia, and there is Sharia. At the times of the Ottoman Empire there was Sharia Law; but the Nubian women were living dressed in topless clothes.

In Abbasid Baghdad of Harun Al Rashid, there was Sharia; but people enjoyed spectacles, theatrical performances, drunk wine, and tolerated premarital sex far more unwearyingly than in Charlemagne’s Europe.

There is a last question in this regard:

- Under what sense of logic exactly is Sharia law acceptable in combative Afghanistan, but it is not in indulgent Somalia?

I re-publish Mr. Luqmaan Suleiman’s article integrally. It was first published in a most informative and rather objective Somali portal, www.garanimo.com.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed the New Leader of Somalia
(http://www.qaranimo.com/2008/april/sheikh_sharif_new_leader_april_18_08.htm)

By Luqmaan Suleiman

Unfortunately, Somali people have been lacking both local and national good leaders for the last twenty years and the temporary leaders who are now in charge of the Somali affairs lack even minimum standard of leadership qualities. The leadership situation in Somalia was aggravated by the Tigrian occupation because no one can do something without their permission.

Furthermore, Somalia is better off to remain the way it is now with no functioning government than a functioning government led by the current Psychopathic old man Abdullahi Yusuf. He was supposed to be, look like and take a lesson from progressive leaders who lead their people with prosperity, peace and understanding. Instead Abdullahi Yusuf followed a criminal thug and a killer, communist and dictator like Meles Zenawi who is firstly half of his age and secondly led his people to destruction, abuse, torture, rape and killing. Not only that be this old man Abdullahi Yusuf for the first time in Somalia’s history brought foreigners in to Somalia.

In addition, Abdullahi Yusuf, lacks all kinds of basic qualities leadership because of his background. His leadership qualities are a bad mouth, saying things without thinking, manipulator, congenital liar, irresponsible and not trustworthy, blood on his hands and psychopathic. Always suspicious from others and trust solely few close relatives. Today, Abdullahi Yusuf is probably in his mid or late eighties and at such an age if he is a good man he would have left politics and devoted his last day of his life to surrender Allah (swt) and ask for forgiveness for his past sins instead he is ordering the killing of innocent children, women and elders. He was supposed to ask for the Somali people for their forgiveness and for the atrocities he committed during the last thirty years he has been seeking to become the president of Somalia.

Coming back to my question which is can Sheikh Sharif Ahmed lead and save Somalia from the current turmoil?. The answer is yes, with the help of God. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed possesses the qualities of a good leader. He is calm, respectable, authoritative, charismatic, multi-lingual, cooperative, compromiser, trustworthy, realistic, and optimistic, possess listening skills, patience, forgive and forget, communicator and self knowledge these and many more.

Sheikh Sharif is now the leader of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia. As the leader of the opposition group, he demonstrated the abilities to deal with many well known experienced foreign politician and Journalist and convinced them that the solution of the Somali people rests the withdrawal of the Tigrean militias from Somalia and they finally accepted that view. These politician and journalist saw him during IUC and they saw him a leader whom they deal and trust.

Furthermore, he showed clearly his leader qualities during the reign of the Islamic Union Courts (IUC) which ruled Somalia for six months. With his leadership the Somali people tasted a good sense of normalcy, safe environment, with hope and prosperity. During that period, Sheikh Sharif was the face and speaker of the IUC and he showed to the world that Somalia can be restored back with an environment of progress and tranquility and safety after seventeen years of lawlessness, hunger and suffering.

Not only that but he refused to sit with Transitional Government officials including the current so called President Abdullahi Yusuf and previous Prime Minister, the current Prime Minister and their Tigrian Master Meles Zenawi as well as the black lady J. Frazier who heads the USA foreign policy of Somalia.

Sheikh Sharif recognized early that the lady is incompetent and lack the knowledge of Somali tribal issues and she can not comprehend the complexity of the Somali situation whether it is tribal issues or Muslim issue.

I conclude my article by saying that if Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed should be given the opportunity the lead the next Somali government, probably, he will establish a system based on the Sharia Law which will restore the lost dignity of the Somali people. He restored before during IUC and will restore hope again all the Somali people who are now scattered all over the world and will provide them place to call home again. Many Somali people are now afraid to go back and live in Somalia.

Finally, "May Almighty save Somali People from this calamity and show the right path for prosperity, peace and tranquility. May Allah provide the Somali people good leaders who will rule Somalia according the Islamic Law. Also, respect dignity and rights of the individual as well as collectively, free speech and press, respect the rule of law".

Mr. Luqmaan Suleiman can be contacted here: sluqmaan@yahoo.com

Note
Picture: Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed