PUNTLAND PRESIDENT, THE MICROMANAGER

By Ismail Warsame

While it’s absolutely necessary for Puntland President, Abdiweli Gas, to support the state institutions and regional self-governing bodies, nevertheless the duties he is currently undertaking in Galkayo, definitely falls under the mandate of the local Government.

His visit to the City of Galkayo is long overdue and his effort now is too little too late. Instead of using the opportunity to announce major strategic Puntland State policy on Galmudug, the Federal Constitution, the New Deal and Somalia’s Vision 2016, he has opted to divert people’s concerns on these issues to dismantling city dwellings and displacing IDPs in town, while at the same time the most illegal occupation of the Old Galkayo City by the residents of Baraxley still remains intact and unattended. The President seems to have no stomach to follow up with his orders in reversing the illegal expansion, or to use the Somali term “Udub Riixa” Baraxley.

The Presidential visit to Mudug has become a public relations exercise and distraction from the pressing fundamental issues of Puntland State, in general and Mudug, in particular. What he is currently micro-managing in Galkayo, he could have easily carried out from his office in Garowe .

Instead of coming down to visit Galkayo with a major policy shift and announcement in the light of latest difficulties with the Mogadishu Government and its flagrant violations of the Constitution and multiple accords with Puntland State, he has opted to busy himself with municipality issues.

Puntland people should be asking President Abdiweli Gas serious questions as to why Puntland’s series of “Agreements” with the Federal Government are not respected and what he has done about it; What the future holds for Puntland State in Somalia amid its marginalization of its historical leading role by the fledgling Government of President Hassan Sh. Mohamed. And these issues are just a few of the deep concerns that the Puntlanders have about Abdiweli’s leadership and abilities to do his job as the President of the First Pillar State of Somalia’s Federalism.

One of these grave concerns is the disturbing absence of transparency in the operations of his Office and Government. There are persisting speculations that government businesses are always done behind closed doors. Equally suspicious is the fact that the President has yet to articulate Puntland State’s clear position on the latest political developments in and about Somalia.

Escalating Puntland insecurity and threat to its stability from extremists all the way to the United Nations Security Council (see recent UN resolution) to authorize deployment of AMISOM troops without informing his Cabinet and debate in Puntland Parliament is a serious and an impeachable act bordering on treason. These AMISOM troops will be definitely Ethiopians occupying parts of Puntland territory. Because of this, the people of Puntland have legitimate right to be gravely concerned.

Ismail H. Warsame
WardheerNews Contributor
Email: ismailwarsame@gmail.com
Twitter: @ismailwarsame
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Mr. Warsame is a writer and political analyst, mainly interested in regional states of Somalia and Somalia’s past insurgency against Barre’s regime. Warsame is also one of the Key Founders of Puntland State of Somalia and the first Chief of Staff of its Presidency from1998-2004.

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Perhaps it would be also wise to appreciate and to look at the bright side of Puntland President’s policy shift. Prioritizing a domestic development reform policy within the Puntland State, as opposed to continuously quarreling with the Federal Government, will surely yield better results with a spillover of wide benefits to other Puntland regions.
Undoubtedly Galkaio needs fundamental changes in its overall governance to better enable it to adopt to the rapidly changing regional context and as such it presumably requires the President’s close attention & monitoring. My humble understanding is that Galkaio did not draw a close attention from Puntland top policy makers in the past.
It is better to allocate the meager resource of Puntland State to addressing the internal pressing development needs rather than using it as ammunition for conflict and social destruction.
The paradigm policy shift of President Abdiweli Gas deserves to be applauded & appreciated – Puntland should avoid conflict and structurally focus on the development & peace building in a way that promotes a better living and opportunities for all. To that end Puntland can extend helping hand to the rest of Somalia. Puntland is the cradle of so many of the Somalia’s hopes and enlightenment.
Abdirashid Bashir Warsame

August 25, 2015 abdirashidb

I profoundly agree with the author’s perspective of Abdiweli’s misplaced strategy and regressive internal policies. As a matter of fact, ever since Mr Gaas assumed Puntland’s presidency, the hitherto steady momentum of Puntland’s progress both in the context of Somalia and on the international stage has but gradually lost steam.

Mr Gaas is as elusive as the African leopard in the bushes. Now you see him and now you don’t. Attempting to monitor and analyze his strategies and political moves is such a tricky challenge. Whether it is a deliberate tactical ploy designed to create a smokescreen aimed at masking his intentions, or it is just the nature of his persona and political style remains a mystery. He is a stealth mover.

Nonetheless, ever since his recent speech addressing the Puntland Diaspora in Kenya, Mr Gaas has let slip a crucial insight into his inconspicuous agenda with regard to Gaalkacyo and the Mudug region as a whole. Based on that speech and the revelations coming to light on the heels of the ‘consultancy’ conference that has been wrapped up in Gaalkacyo, it is evidently clear that the remainder of his term in office will be focused on empowering Gaalkacyo and Mudug, both politically and economically, at the expense of the rest of Puntland. This shift in strategy by Mr Gaas will certainly be the one that ultimately defines his legacy in Puntland.

The fear in many enlightened Puntlanders’ hearts is that Mr Gaas has lost his footing as a highly learned leader and stooped to the lowest level of playing the clan card towards the end of his term in office as Puntland’s fifth president. The truth will out itself sooner or later.

September 1, 2015 Cismaan Cawad