GEESKA AFRIKA ONLINE: Nur Kafi's Column on the Eye of the Horn of African Affairs

IGAD Breaking News (HAN) December 1, 2005.

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Resolution by the Somalia Parliament in Mogadishu

Mogadishu (HAN) December 1, 2005 - Reference to our resolution which dated on 15 November and the resolution issued from our counterpart in Jowhar on 26 November 2005, which aimed to open direct negotiations between Transitional Federal Institutions. .

Recognizing the dire need of our people and our country to a functioning government that can provide necessary services and Security protection to its citizens;

After debating and deliberating on the issue, 102 members of the Parliament in Mogadishu have convened their regular session at Sahafi Hotel, Mogadishu, on November 29th 2005, and resolve by majority vote of 95 members for the following:-

To undertake in direct negotiations process, in one location, for the resolution of all differences between the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs). (other technical aspects of the negotiations, members of the committees, its modalities will be determined, along with the other part (TFI-Jowhar)

To undertake the Negotiations with them in Mogadihsu as it is the capital city and as it indicated in the transitional charter, and it is suitable for every one according to us, if our brothers in Jowhar agree with us, otherwise to hold the negotiations in Kismayo City. (we recommend them to choice one of the suitable city to them Mogadihsu or Kismayo, in order to save the initiative and to bringing together the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs).

To launch the negotiations between the TFI on 25th of December.

To invite the international community (UN, USA, EU, LAS etc), to serve an observing role if the two parities mutually agreed upon.

To form a special committee to supervise transparently the financial requirement of the negotiations, which consist from (Mogadishu + Jowhar + third party) the members will be determined, along with the other part (TFI-Jowhar).

Finally the members of the Parliament in Mogadishu:

Call upon the president H. E. Abdilahi Yusuf and all other members of the Parliament, to embrace this initiative with honesty and in good faith for the goodness of our people and our country.

Call upon Somali people in ever where to support this initiative, for the good will of our people and our country.

Call upon the International Community to continue their support to the political process of Somalia by providing necessary political, financial and technical support, so to achieve effective and functioning Somali Government.

Displaced Settlement Fires in Somalia Highlight the Need for Improved
Services

Nairobi (HAN) December 1, 2005 - The outbreak of fire that swept through a settlement for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Mogadishu on 21 November continues to highlight the immense suffering and vulnerability of this group of the population in the war ravaged country.

As unfortunate as it is, the fires signify and are a consequence of a deep rooted problem? said the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr Elballa Hagona. ?The real issue is overcrowding on marginal land, the lack of economic opportunity and continuing human rights abuses. They (the internally displaced people) are often seen as outsiders - and are often not given the protection of host clans.?

In the hours following the fire that swept through the Danille area of Mogadishu on 21 November, and following a rapid assessment led by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN children?s agency (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other agencies distributed food and household items to families who had lost their homes. Working with UN local non-governmental partners and community representatives distributed food, blankets, cooking sets, plastic sheeting, soap and mosquito nets.

Somalia is home to an estimated 400,000 internally displaced persons, most of whom live in the south/central zone. The IDPs fled their homes elsewhere in the country during the 15-year civil war, and live alongside other extremely vulnerable Somalis, including those who over the years have returned from exile abroad, but also cannot go back to their original homes.

Most IDPs pay rent for a small piece of land barely large enough to build their rudimentary shelters made of scavenged materials such as plastic sheets, metal scrap, plastic cartons and branches. Latrines are virtually non-existent (as most landlords do not allow them) and access to clean water remains a major challenge.

As a result of overcrowding and the flimsy nature of shelter, the risk of fires has intensified in IDP settlements over the years. Earlier this year 2,000 people were left homeless when fire gutted the Buul Eelaay camp close to Bossaso in the Puntland region of Somalia.

Being a resilient society, ?Somalis are now taking strides in trying to redress this situation? said Mr Elballa Hagona. ?We are witnessing enhanced partnership with the international community in addressing both the immediate and underlying issues of IDP vulnerability including improved service delivery and planning for longer term resettlement and reintegration. Concrete actions in Hargeisa and Bossaso demonstrate that a lot can be done to give hope to these people who are after all, Somalis themselves.?

In the course of 2005, UN agencies, Non Government Organisations and Community Based Organizations have strengthened partnerships with Somali authorities in Hargeisa and Garowe, and are collaborating to implement a strategy for improved services and resettlement options for displaced persons. Much less has been undertaken in southern Somalia, largely due to the continuing constraints of insecurity and limited access. However, there is increased optimism that the presence of the Transitional Federal Government will make it possible for humanitarian agencies to deliver services to displaced people, and for IDPs to resettle in decent homes in communities with proper services.

For further information contact: Amanda Di Lorenzo, Information Officer UNOCHA Somalia Tel: (+254) 020 3754150-5 Email: dilorenzoa@un.org

A Personal Appeal to the Parliamentarians in Jowhar

Nairobi (HAN) December 1, 2005 - This appeal is for the parliamentarians currently in Jowhar and is related to the ongoing parliamentary debate to decide the city that would host the reconciliation conference between the opposing factions of the transitional federal government of Somalia (TFG). Barre hiraale, the leader of the Jubba Valley Alliance (JVA) has been relentlessly campaigning to host the conference in Kismayu and I do certainly applaud for his endeavor, but as we all know that the JVA is an illegal administration with a main objective of disenfranchising the natives of the region through intimidation and conspiracy. History tells us that the civil war in Somalia was fought mainly to secure over the control of the natural resources of the southern regions of Somalia. After many years of fighting among the rival clans, JVA has emerged as the sole powerful group in the south. The JVA is notorious to keeping the natives of the region in perpetual fear, poverty and serfdom. They have instituted a tribal hegemony, one of the first of its kind in the recent human history. The JVA is also blamed to have advanced charcoal exportation to the Arabian Gulf, consequently leading to complete depletion of major trees in the entire region. According to the UN report of October, 2005, ninety nine percent of the taxes collected from Kismayu port comes from charcoal export which generates millions of dollars of revenue per year for JVA. The long-term ecological implication of this environmental malfeasance on future generations of the country is cataclysmic. As a result of deforestation, not only the human being, even the jungle species (elephant, lions, zebra, etc.) have lost their natural habitats; they are reportedly migrated to the neighboring countries of Somalia as well.

The main concern for the JVA is to secure the ownership of the region and obtain financial and political rewards, rather than finding a long-lasting solution to the conflict in Kismayu.
Hosting the reconciliation conference in Kismayu will legitimize Mr. Hiraale’s administration and reward the evil deeds of the JVA. This will have a major blow on reconciling the nation in the future. Land issue is one of the major disputes in Somalia, though less attention has been devoted to it. To ensure a positive outcome, a reconciliation meeting must be hosted by a third party that is not involved or is not part of the conflict. In the contrary, Mr. Hiraale is a member of the transitional government of Somalia; he cannot be trusted to play a neutral role to mediate between the two opposing groups. His views have been contradictory, most probably he is using this opportunity to gain legitimacy, financial compensation and recognition. I appeal to the Jowhar parliamentarians to refrain from making a disastrous political decision that will slow down the ongoing political process. Prior to casting your vote, please consider the plights of the disenfranchised clans of the region, including the BAJUNI’s of Kismayu. As you might not be aware, the word Kismayu comes from a BAJUNI word “ Chisima”, which means a Well, because inside every house in the city, there is a well; that was how the city got its name. It is therefore, unacceptable to host a meeting in a house, where the owner(s) of the house is/are persona non grata. The moral standing of any society is determined by the integrity and honesty of the leadership; therefore, I urge you to be honest when deliberating and casting your vote. Your votes should be based on the facts in the ground, and not on political opportunism.

Peace is a precious item that has become an unachievable dream for every Somali, but it could not be accomplished without creating some sort of justice in the society. If Mr. Hiraale is serious about fostering peace in Somalia, he should commence in the region where he is forcefully occupying. He should make an effort to outreach all the native clans in the region and call them to join for finding a peaceful and justice solution for the conflict in the region. However, he should not be rewarded for what I believe to be an unmerited endeavor.

Opinion Contributed By: Dr. Ali S. Faqi
E-mail: Alifaqi@yahoo.com

HAN Note: "The Republic of Somaliland has indeed accomplished a remarkable feat and without international assistance. The success or failure of the September 29 elections will determine which road Somalilanders adhere to: a continuing compromise or a frustrated abandonment of their ideals."

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HAN Bulletin is your independent, online intelligence resource edited and published by the regional political historian, veteran newsman and founder of www.geeskaafrika.com (Geeska Afrika Online 1985). Each week he taps his vast network of international intelligence sources to bring you credible insights into geo-political and geo-strategic developments for the Horn of Africa. Contact at nurkafi@geeskaafrika.com (Managing Editor/Publisher)