Winds of Change in Puntland
Ali Abdulle
barqadle@hotmail.co.uk
August 4th 2013
OPINION
Puntland had a near death experience. It was a close shave. The country held its breath as administration’s folly of soldiering on, despite warnings, with a flawed election system was uncovered for all to see. A dodgy plan to hang on to power and win a whopping five more years by stealth was exposed and defeated.
The folly was even more audacious than many thought possible. The ballot boxes unceremoniously dumped and burned by angry demonstrators in towns and villages, where actually never meant to be displayed in polling stations. The plan which became much clearer later in that eventful summer day of 15 July, was nothing more than a brazen attempt to simply stuff the boxes with ballot papers and declare outright victory in a so-called ‘free and fair elections’. The risk of civil strife and widespread bloodletting was therefore very real for people knew beforehand the extent and the scope of the plot being hatched.
But what saved the day and spared the region a debilitating civil strife was the role of the international community. Fortunately this time round the reality on the ground was very different compared to other crisis situations in the past. One particular factor is worthy of a mention here.
On the day of the crisis the UN representative, a seasoned diplomat, was on hand. Heading a beefed up UN mission his brief combines both a stick and a carrot and can therefore play two roles at the same time. He can on the one hand bring to bear all his diplomatic skills to defuse a tricky but dangerous situation in one of the world’s most troubled neighborhoods. And on the other, because of the revamped role of the post, demonstrate in no uncertain terms that there is a big stick and the wherewithal to crush a small intransigent despot.
Inside sources confirmed that UN Rep was busy the whole time whilst the crisis was unfolding, working the phones and convincing anyone with influence the dire consequences that would follow if they did not pull back from the brink. Having realised the extent of the uprising and the overwhelming diplomatic pressure the government was left with no option but to admit defeat and abandon the farce dressed up as democratisation process. They beat a hasty retreat with their tail between their legs. It was a humiliating defeat, in fact it was a rout.
It is that ‘what won it’ as the saying goes and not a sudden and a rare display of leadership from the current incumbents, for if they had a modicum of integrity we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.
Some leaders recognise when they become a liability rather than an asset, when their lingering on is more of problem than a solution. It appears the current leadership is finding it difficult to acknowledge that they are well past their sell by date. The symptoms are very clear. The economy of the region is in the doldrums with overwhelming majority of the people enduring grinding poverty never seen in the recent past. But when, despite these and other challenges, the only thing they can present as achievement is the occasional verbal attack on the rulers in Mogadishu and recriminations against local opponents real or imagined, it is obvious to all and sundry that it is time for change.
Puntland cannot afford another 5 years of more of the same. In fact there will be no Puntland to speak of if that happens.
There is a sense of optimism in Puntland at this point in time, a belief that it possible to turn a new page. The winds of change are blowing in Puntland.
But there is also apprehension. What if a desperate and reckless regime attempts one more trick, their last gasp to rig the process to thwart the public mood for a meaningful change.
This time more than any other time there is a need for a stable and effective Puntland. The whole country is going through a difficult period. The government in Mogadishu has all but abandoned any pretence of appearing as a national government. A recent UN report found evidence of widespread corruption, pillaging and misappropriating of public funds with impunity.
The problem with the central government is not only corruption but they stand accused of having a sinister agenda reminiscent of the darkest days of the civil war. And the monster of secession hasn’t been slain yet, far from it. Secession, terrorism and corruption are the evils plighting the country, bringing a whole nation to its knees, and must be faced with equal determination.
That is why a new leadership in Puntland with a fresh mandate is needed at this point in time. Such a team with a clear sense of purpose will have their work cut out. With a herculean tasks waiting for their attention, they will need to hit the ground running.
The most urgent and serious challenges to face an incoming leadership will no doubt be reviving a moribund economy in Puntland, repairing the crumbling infra-structure, get a grip on the deteriorating security situation and creating jobs.
Puntland and its people deserve better than what they have now. They deserve a better leadership not corruption and ineptitude. Good governance not nepotism and arrogance. Puntland needs and deserves enlightened and optimistic leadership who listen not foul mouthed pseudo politicians who can only offer empty rhetoric in place of policies.
The political manifesto of the current lot in office in the forthcoming elections is a single sheet with one sentence: “We will take every opportunity to criticise the leaders in Mogadishu and wait for another opportunity to criticise them again”.
The people are fed up and embarrassed about these periodic rants against Mogadishu not backed by action in any shape or form, just empty words because it is the only thing on offer from a group who had their legal 4 year term in office plus one ill-gotten year on the side.
Now is the time to seize the moment. Traditional leaders, intellectuals, civil society and ordinary men and women must rise up to the occasion. The hand of history is on the shoulders of traditional leaders in particular. History will judge them harshly if they squander this unique opportunity.
By: Ali Abdulle
barqadle@hotmail.co.uk
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