Whose reconciliation is it?

By Kassahun Addis

It has been weeks since some semblance a peculiar form of stability prevailed over the vast territories of Somalia. And the whole world is talking about the Somali reconciliation process that is forthcoming assuming that it won’t be postponed for an indefinite period of time. It is good news for Somalians and the region, too. However, questions surround the reconciliation process. Who are the participants? On what basis is representation and participation possible? What is the jurisdiction of the reconciliation conference? What is the status and roles of moderates and extremists of the ousted Union of Islamic Courts leaderships in the process? These are assignments to work out for the TFG and its sponsors. Another allegedly important question is the status of Somaliland vis-à-vis the reconciliation process. A number of TFG officials and some members of the international community are urging for the inclusion of Somaliland in the process.

Some call for Somaliland inclusion in the process out of uninformed and ignorant assessment of the history and reality of the region’s politics while others did it because they think the inclusion would serve their national interest. Countries like Ethiopia are placed in a difficult position and preferred the “wait and see” approach to any “rushings.”

Both set of actors have this fear that recognizing the nascent republic of Somaliland is tantamount to opening Pandora’s Box in Africa and else where, It should be noted that for many this is not their real fear. Well, common assertions are sometimes true and sometimes false. But in this particular case the common assertion is in diametric opposition to the truth. Why? Because it is the otherwise act that probably opens any Pandora’s Box. How? Well, it should be noted that the idea of statehood of the old Somali republic was predicated upon the mega-dream of uniting all Somali inhabited territories of East Africa and bringing them under a single administration of Mogadishu-Greater Somalia. I think this is a situation of opening the Pandora’s Box in Africa. And forcing Somaliland to the ex-failed union with the Somalia like helping an individual, willing to open the Box, find the keys of the Box. This is what the international community is exactly doing.
Thus, recognizing Somaliland is like burying the Pandora Box deep in to the ground so that it is not available for those who want to open it.

In a related development, the TFG, unable to convince the Somaliland people and their elected government, is trying to buy individual Somalilanders. It is promising position and money for the individuals if they participate in an “all inclusive reconciliation process” representing every section of society of the old Somali republic who knows they may be thinking of representatives from Djibouti, Kenya’s NFD and Ethiopia’s region five. It is this same tactic of buying allegiance and votes that made it harder for many Somalians to accept the leaderships of constituting the TFG. Mbagathi, Kenya was for years a market place for the exchange of US Dollars, allegiance, favors, promises and votes.

It is high time that the Mogadishu politicians stop messing around and focus on their rightful jurisdiction. It is only when they do this that the veneer of stability that seems to prevail over there would transform in to statehood and effective governance. Unless otherwise they focus on Somalia the issue of Somaliland would become point of theoretical and practical controversy during the course of the process and this would ultimately contribute for the disappointment of participants. And if participants are disappointed every one knows what would happen.

I may sound biased, but the point is not to be biased but to be biased for the right cause.
Part of the international community responsible for funding the reconciliation process must dare to put pressure on Abdullahi Yosuf to clearly define the spatial jurisdiction of the process to Somalia and only Somalia. Failure to do so would possibly result in another crisis in the Horn of Africa that gradually involves other state and non state actors in to the quagmire. This is the responsibility the international community should fulfill and sound appreciation of realities on the ground supports it.

Moreover, Somalia politicians have a lot to reconcile within and both pragmatism and sanity dictate that they focus on the mess they have been creating for the last 16 years or so. •

May 25, 2007

Kassahun Addis is an independent analyst of politics in the Horn of Africa. He can be reached at kassax@gmail.com