Sanity Should Prevail in the Somali Parliament

HOL Editorial
Friday, April 23, 2010

For the past twenty years Somalia has unfortunately not been a place known for its sanity, civility, harmony and tranquility by any standard. However, the Transitional Federal Parliament operating in a relatively secure enclave in Mogadishu under the protection of African Union peace keeping forces (AMISOM) should at least display some semblance of harmony, civility and political maturity as they discuss the process of retaining or retiring the current speaker of parliament Sheikh Aden Madobe.  

At a time when most of the country is increasingly falling into the hands of ubiquitous extremist groups, while the anti-Somali nationhood camps hasten the call for Somalia’s disintegration into regional and clan fiefdoms, it is rather disheartening and quite unfortunate to witness the public display of rancor, unethical if not illegal political wrangling and jockeying for power between members of the Somali parliament and government with the potential to undermine if not destroy the fledgling institutions of national government.

It appears that leaders of the Somali government and members of the parliament (MPs) are completely oblivious to the realities on the ground beyond their “green zone” comfort and are unaware of the territorial advances made against them by the extremist opposition groups who are tightening their stranglehold on the people and the nation they swore to serve and protect.

While MPs and leaders of the government are preoccupied in the formation of political alliances and power-sharing games to preempt the status of the next government, the sharper and more disciplined opposition is becoming audacious in its tactics. In the past month alone, opposition groups dared to shut down local and international media services including the British Broadcasting Services (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA) for news and entertainment, banning school bells as blasphemous, and videotaping for publicity numerous beheadings and amputations of innocent civilians in clear violation of Islamic law and human decency.  

It is no secret that since its inauguration in Djibouti, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia wasted massive national and international popular support needed to push forth its agenda to move Somalia forward, and if it is not prudent and strategic now, it risks its own sovereign existence.  

Hiiraan Online urges Somali national leaders to act as scrupulous statesmen and put the nations business and interest above their personal political gains. We urge President Shariif Sheikh Ahmed to take ownership of this crisis and resolve the current dispute amicably and in accordance with the national charter.

Hiiraan Online Editorial
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