U.S., UN ‘Wasted a Chance to Stabilise Somalia’

Kevin Kelley

26 June 2011

New York — An American lobbyist supporting Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government is accusing the United States and the United Nations of shortsightedness in failing to support a popular and successful political leader in the war-torn country.

“There is no explanation for this fiasco,” said lobbyist John Zagemy. “Only excuses.”

Mr Zagemy’s firm, Park Strategies, had been urging the Obama administration to affirm the position of Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who resigned last week as Somalia’s prime minister.

Mr Mohamed had argued that a negotiated agreement calling for his resignation would not qualify as valid unless approved by Somalia’s parliament.

His initial rejection of the deal reached by Somalia’s president and parliament Speaker was backed by thousands of war-weary Somalis and several MPs.

His exit was forced by a deal struck earlier this month in Kampala between the president and the Speaker of parliament.

Crossing the country’s rigid and often belligerent clan lines, Mr Mohamed’s array of supporters demonstrated their approval for the progress he had achieved in controlling corruption and improving government service delivery.

Mr Mohamed’s eight-month tenure also saw the African Union’s pro-TFG military contingent make significant advances against Al Shabaab, the Islamist insurgency that controls much of the country’s territory.

But he suddenly shifted his stance last week and resigned. The United States welcomed the move.

“We are pleased that the prime minister has stepped down in accordance with the June 9 Kampala Accord; his resignation opens the door to the formation of a new unity Transitional Federal Government,” a State Department official said.

“It is urgent that the transitional president and Speaker work together to appoint and confirm a new, mutually acceptable prime minister,” the US official added. “We look forward to working with the new appointee and the TFG Cabinet.”

Mr Zagemy and some analysts of Somalia’s 20 years of anarchic violence expressed dismay at the Obama administration’s response.

“‘Pleased’ that a competent, honest, reliable PM stepped down to create a governmental void in Somalia that may well be impossible to fill?” Mr Zagemy asked.

“The US has squandered an opportunity to support a strong ally in Mr Mohamed in his successful campaign against Al Shabaab and for a stable, democratic Somalia.”

Mr Zagemy also dismissed the theory by some observers that Mr Mohamed’s removal from office had been engineered by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Because Uganda contributes more than half of the 8,000 African Union troops fighting on behalf of the TFG, Mr Museveni wields considerable political influence over Somalia’s internationally recognised leadership.

Somalia’s own future, meanwhile, seems likely to resemble its past.

In a survey released last week by a Washington-based NGO, Somalia was ranked for the fourth year as the world’s most dysfunctional state.

AllAfrica – All the Time