By Ibrahim G. Sharmarke

As the author of Why English Articles: Espionage or Arrogance?, I am obliged by common sense to first of all explain my reason for writing in English: Simply put, I am responding to an English article. However in this discourse I will be brief and to the point for I neither relish using a foreign language in my discussions with fellow Somalis nor do I have a propensity to show off my linguistic prowess on the famed WardheerNews.

My first issue with Ghelleh’s article is that of its nearly 1700 words, less than one hundred words are remotely related to a small fraction of the title of the article. In a great length -and unnecessarily- the author talks about himself his friends his whereabouts his British connection and his other experiences. For example I fail to detect the probable connection between the author’s narrated altercation with an armed drunk white guy and the President of Somalia giving al-Shabaab the opportunity to strike in the heart of Nairobi. I also could not find the logic for vilifying the Kenyan security personnel while the intended aim of the article – as indicated in the title- was to implicate President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud in the heinous crime that is being (I read the article during the Mall siege) committed in Kenya. While noting the “good” job the Ethiopians have done in their own backyard could be permissible, for brevity and coherence, one would deem it more appropriate to author another gleeful article about the Ethiopian security apparatus’ positive achievements inside their country.

One must imagine how a Somali patriot will feel if a Kenyan author had penned an article on Daily Nation about the sloppiness of our Armed Forces, or asserts that our own National Intelligence Service Agency could be a culprit in the attack during the hours that al-Shabaab was assaulting the Banadir Regional Court. Moreover how will you feel if the same author attempts to insult people’s intelligence by insinuating that the Kenyan president -someone he is not a fan of- has something to do with the carnage?

When commenting on a serious issue like Westgate’s one needs to be respectful to the victims and their authorities, meticulous in their statements, and overly considerate to the ongoing rescue efforts and subsequent investigations. Lopsided opinions, baseless innuendos and ethnic sound-bites not only frustrate any meaningful envisaged solutions but they also reveal the shallowness of our national conscience.

Guided by none other than this Prophetic saying: “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is the oppressed one,” let me revisit a few particular statements that I need to shed light in the defense of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. In this case the author is an oppressor. While I don’t intend to vouch for the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the current Somali government, I will not bat an eye to attest to the futility of the assertions stated in this article.

Honestly, I think the title of this article should have read “Everything Bad I Can Say about President Hassan S. Mohamud.” or “The Case for Ethnic Federalism.” I will explain my reasons. For my first recommended title, the author seems to throw everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at the president to the extent that he forsakes reasonability and indirectly recommends for Somalia an additional bloodbath like the one that is presently raging in Egypt. In this case unfortunately the Horn of Africa observer of ours does not wish us well. In the same vein, the author is unprofessionally vilifying not only the president’s personality but also strikes beyond the pale and embarks on name-calling diatribe against his past and present hometowns Beledweyne and Mogadishu.

It is the epitome of cynicism and peak of audacity to conclude and state that the president went to Ohio the home of second largest Somali community in the United States so that his “Marehan allies” and “non-Marehan enemies” can clash. In my small insignificant and unsophisticated mind I would only arrive at the logic that since the president visited Minnesota the home of the largest Somali community in the US  last year he is only naturally and prudently seeing the second largest community in America.

For the second recommended title, the author claims that Speaker Jawari visited Baidoa at the behest of President Mohamud. He further argues that both principals are hell-bent on doing away with the security gains in Jubba. The most appalling suggestion in the article is that Digil and Mirifle need help to establish a state in Baay and Bakool regions. Apparently, the author seems to adhere to the concept of ethnic federalism: Jubbaland for Daarood; Baay and Bakool for Digil and Mirifle; Puntland for Daarood; Somaliland for Isaaq; and the rest can go fishing.

Any true observer of Somalia current politics -or any devout listener of VOA Somali Service –  would tell you three facts which are contrary to the above lines of thinking and assertions. Firstly,  Honorable Jawari does not kowtow to anyone but the Provisional Federal Constitution and the PFC upholds the establishment of Federal Member States. Secondly, besides Baay and Bakool regions, Digil and Mirifle also reside in big junks of Jubba regions as well as Lower Shabelli. And thirdly, there are no such security gains in Kismayo to speak of.

Don’t get me wrong for I am all for the criticism of public officials with the sole intention of guiding them back to the right path. In the West the language of which I am forced to communicate (for this article only, I hope) I am sure they have a name for this concept and it is: constructive criticism.  How constructive it is when we falsely implicate our leaders in international crimes. How fair is it when we willfully leave our moral campus behind and embark upon a rhetorical journey that leads us back to the ugly civil war. What can we achieve in stoking false fears and referring to imaginary unsettled scores. Why can’t our intellectual commentators and observers focus on the pressing issues and hand and the real shortcomings of our leaders so that the leaders can correct themselves midway lest we gather as one and show them the door of  Villa Somalia.

I do finally sincerely apologize for not being as brief as I originally thought I could be. And with this note I rest my rebuttal.

Ibrahim G. Sharmarke
Email:igsharmarke@gmail.com