Despair In Somalia
Like so many other countries of the world - Poland and Afghanistan, India and Ukraine - that have been vanquished and ruled by other countries over centuries, who sought to take onto themselves the geography and wealth of the country, Somalia has been unable to find itself in the confusion left in the wake of Imperialism. After gaining independence 40 years ago the country was ruled by a socialist dictator, later to be replaced by clan warlords whose competing claims resulted in civil war. The West stepped in, ineffectively and briefly and nothing was resolved. Canadian troops emerged from that scene besmirched by the criminally racist actions of a handful of soldiers who tortured and murdered a young Somali, Shidane Arone.
These latter-day internal conflicts led some of its citizens to flee the carnage of civil war for safety abroad. Canada was one of those countries that welcomed Somalian refugees. Now many of these people who found refuge in Canada and found a peaceful life for themselves, sought an academic education there, raising their children there, have returned to their ravaged country. While grateful to Canada for giving them refuge, they could not ignore the plight of their homeland.
With their experience and education they hope to bring their country out of its most recent chaos and into a position where the country can begin to retrench to rebuild both its smashed civil infrastructure and its tired and weary peoples' trust in safety and the rule of law. Fully 18 Somali members of parliament, of this new parliament, post Islamic Courts Union, hold Canadian citizenship. All countries of the world have an interest in the well being of other countries, no matter where they are on the globe; Canada has an especial interest given the investiture of citizenship to many in this country's emerging government.
The new government in Mogadishu would do well to remember that Somalians were grateful to the Islamic Courts Union, whom they and the western world regard as Islamists for they brought peace and stability to a country in civil chaos, ruled by self-interested warlords. The Islamic Courts Union made a concerned and concerted effort to restore security in that war-ravaged country while instituting a hard version of Shariah law. The population were understandably conflicted, desperately needing the security of their presence, but gradually chafing at the Islamic constraints imposed upon them where shaving, dancing and music were banned and women kept strictly separate from men.
Unfortunately (for them), the Islamic Courts Union had aggressive intentions toward its neighbours, where their loudly advertised intent was to bring their version of Islam across reluctant and defensive borders, thus effectively sealing their fate when Ethiopian troops effectively aided Somali government troops in ousting them with the active encouragement of the United States, more than a little unwilling to see Somalia fall to fanatical Islamists in tandem with al-Qaeda.
Like Afghanistan, Somalia will likely prove difficult to completely pacify and govern centrally and effectively in the sense of bringing full order and stability to a country well endowed with the potential of forever fighting off the onslaught of Islamist insurgents. A U.S.- and EU-sponsored move with the help of African Union peacekeepers to arrange a workable reconciliation among the factions within Somalia can spell the success or failure of recent events and intentions.
The country has no viable industry or governmental infrastructure. Somalia has scant sources of income besides foreign aid and funds forwarded by Somalians living abroad. Unemployment stands at 50% and almost that number live in extreme poverty. Somalians make do in any way they can, with casual markets of fish and fruit and street vendors seting up where they can to sell whatever is available.
Gunfire is still heard day and night and arms are still openly available. Insurgents present a huge problem with night-time fighting and explosions disturbing the new-found peace. The presidential residence was recently targeted by Islamist artillery fire. Foreign aid workers have still not yet returned. Whole neighbourhoods are still thought of as Islamist strongholds. Islamist youth retain their weapons and fully intend to restore the Islamic Courts Union to power.
How the more democratically-minded reformists educated in the West will deal with the fall-out of years of Islamist indoctrination in the population at large and Somali youth in particular, taught and willing to die for their version of Islam is another story.
These latter-day internal conflicts led some of its citizens to flee the carnage of civil war for safety abroad. Canada was one of those countries that welcomed Somalian refugees. Now many of these people who found refuge in Canada and found a peaceful life for themselves, sought an academic education there, raising their children there, have returned to their ravaged country. While grateful to Canada for giving them refuge, they could not ignore the plight of their homeland.
With their experience and education they hope to bring their country out of its most recent chaos and into a position where the country can begin to retrench to rebuild both its smashed civil infrastructure and its tired and weary peoples' trust in safety and the rule of law. Fully 18 Somali members of parliament, of this new parliament, post Islamic Courts Union, hold Canadian citizenship. All countries of the world have an interest in the well being of other countries, no matter where they are on the globe; Canada has an especial interest given the investiture of citizenship to many in this country's emerging government.
The new government in Mogadishu would do well to remember that Somalians were grateful to the Islamic Courts Union, whom they and the western world regard as Islamists for they brought peace and stability to a country in civil chaos, ruled by self-interested warlords. The Islamic Courts Union made a concerned and concerted effort to restore security in that war-ravaged country while instituting a hard version of Shariah law. The population were understandably conflicted, desperately needing the security of their presence, but gradually chafing at the Islamic constraints imposed upon them where shaving, dancing and music were banned and women kept strictly separate from men.
Unfortunately (for them), the Islamic Courts Union had aggressive intentions toward its neighbours, where their loudly advertised intent was to bring their version of Islam across reluctant and defensive borders, thus effectively sealing their fate when Ethiopian troops effectively aided Somali government troops in ousting them with the active encouragement of the United States, more than a little unwilling to see Somalia fall to fanatical Islamists in tandem with al-Qaeda.
Like Afghanistan, Somalia will likely prove difficult to completely pacify and govern centrally and effectively in the sense of bringing full order and stability to a country well endowed with the potential of forever fighting off the onslaught of Islamist insurgents. A U.S.- and EU-sponsored move with the help of African Union peacekeepers to arrange a workable reconciliation among the factions within Somalia can spell the success or failure of recent events and intentions.
The country has no viable industry or governmental infrastructure. Somalia has scant sources of income besides foreign aid and funds forwarded by Somalians living abroad. Unemployment stands at 50% and almost that number live in extreme poverty. Somalians make do in any way they can, with casual markets of fish and fruit and street vendors seting up where they can to sell whatever is available.
Gunfire is still heard day and night and arms are still openly available. Insurgents present a huge problem with night-time fighting and explosions disturbing the new-found peace. The presidential residence was recently targeted by Islamist artillery fire. Foreign aid workers have still not yet returned. Whole neighbourhoods are still thought of as Islamist strongholds. Islamist youth retain their weapons and fully intend to restore the Islamic Courts Union to power.
How the more democratically-minded reformists educated in the West will deal with the fall-out of years of Islamist indoctrination in the population at large and Somali youth in particular, taught and willing to die for their version of Islam is another story.
Labels: Crisis Politics
posted by Pieface | 5:09 PM
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