- Recently, the Obama administration recognized the United Nations-backed, nominal Somali government. The so-called government was the byproduct of a scam perpetuated by the U.N. for more than 10 years.
It involved billions of dollars in foreign aid and the blood of some of 17,000 African soldiers, who are United States’ proxy military against al-Shabab, the al-Qaida affiliate militant group in Somalia. Yet the country is no better off than when the United States intervened in the early ’90s.
The U.S.-backed, weak government’s survival still depends on African troops, despite significant training and equipping of the Somali army by the United States. Its leader, Sheikh Mahamud, has absolutely no power and little following.
In contrast, the Republic of Somaliland , the former British Somaliland, in the north, has had all of the attributes of nationhood since 1991. These include a functioning government, constitution, defined borders and a flag.
Instead, President Barack Obama decided to dictate the political outcome in this war-torn country. His position rewards Somalia’s rapacious politicians and their militias at the expense of the 3.5 million Somaliland people who largely have managed their own affairs.
Rather than reinforcing an illegitimate central government, the United States should support the only sources of strength in the area, democratic Somaliland and Puntland. These entities have functioning political institutions that are organic, having organized by the local people rather than the U.N.
Finally, for the rest of the former Republic of Somalia, a Turkish-run European Union/North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s trusteeship surely would be more beneficial for the indigenous people than the United Nations scam.
ALI MOHAMED
Lewis Center
No comments:
Post a Comment