WardheerNews Editorial

We understand that Mr. Cabdullahi Yusuf Axmed, president of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, and his prime Minister, Cali Maxamed Geeddi, have put together a list of names for its cabinet. The list so far consists of 31 ministers. As the practice has been in Somalia, we will soon learn the names of vice ministers and Director Generals plus Hogaamo, position only unique to Somalia. In a net shell, the Yusuf –Geeddi government would be bloated so big that it soon may comprise as many as hundred. Call this a government of no scope whose only intention is nothing beyond the distribution of the expected spoils from Western donor countries along clan lines via warlords and hustlers (Qabqablayaal).

President Cabdullahi Yusuf Axmed and Prime Minister Geeddi had the opportunity to design a small and efficient government with a focused scope for reconciliation and rehabilitation. Western donor countries that are on the sidelines to help resuscitate the defunct Somalia state also equally erred in letting, if not tacitly encouraging, the president and his prime minister to present such a behemoth organism. All involved should have used this opportunity to establish a small government in the tradition of Schumacher’s concept of “small is beautiful.” Somalia, a country without any government or capital in the coffers, can hardly afford an administration bigger than that of U.S.A and Britain combined.

Adding insult to injury, most of the members of the new cabinet are corrupt and uneducated, whose credentials is nothing more than these: they are either warlords or clan hustlers (qabqablayaal). In fact, the way cabinet post are matched with some new ministers and the past misdeeds that they have committed invoke a disappointing Shakespearean irony.

For example, Barre Hiiraale, who caused the dislocation of thousands of innocent people in the Jubaland, is now designated as the Minister for rehabilitation and resettlement (as, if he knows the whereabout of the displaced refugees.) or Cumar Maxamed Finish, a former lieutenant of Yalaxow as the Minister designee for Religious and Moral Affairs, despite the fact that he was one of the main obstacles for the last 13 years to do anything helpful in Mogadishu. Public Works and Urban Affairs goes to Cusmaan Caato who looted Somalia’s nascent industry, construction equipments and confiscated hundreds of properties from those who fled from Mogadishu in the height of the 1990 civil war. Trade and commerce went to the infamous Suudi Yalaxow, a former cab driver and a notorious warlord in his own backyard.

This is the same Mafioso man who shelled the markets of Mogadishu in mid 1990’s for the sole motive of forcing small traders in Kaaraan and elsewhere to pay him protection money. Agriculture goes to Shaatiguduud who waged clan war of resistance in the agriculturally rich Baydhabo plains once dubbed as the “death triangle.” Ina Buba, a man of superior literary scholarship and amazingly inferior moral standards, is made to settle for a new ineffective and irrelevant ministry (Ministry of Interregional Affairs).

One wonders what happened to the men of integrity and Somali intellectuals who could have brought with vigor, honesty and experience to jump-start a fresh beginning in Somalia. This is a clossal mishap and a missed opportunity to say the least.

Cabdulahi Yusuf Axmed’s government is so poor and extremely of inferior quality that Abdulqasim’s administration already triggers nostalgic feelings!

WardheerNews

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