Four summers ago, the United Nations was able to help broker a peace settlement between the Transitional Federal Government of former Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia led by current president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. While overjoyed Somalis celebrated this peace, the UN maneuvered a well-known and oft-loathed face to the head of its monitoring group on the flow of arms into Somalia—this man was none other than the fallacious and corrupt Matt Bryden.

Currently serving as coordinator of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG), Bryden has used his position to leverage disproportionate accusations against some Somali parties, while entirely overlooking others that should be pursued in the same capacity. Bryden is a staunch supporter of balkanizing Somalia and has on many occasions expressed his support for Somalia’s only separatist region, so it comes as no surprise that he leverages his position in favor of his frightening goals for Somalia.

A citizen of Canada, Matt Bryden squeezed his way into the Somali community there and filled the void in his life by busying himself with Somalia’s internal affairs. For years he’s been a friend of the Somaliland International Recognition Group, an organization that actively seeks to break Somalia apart—something no international organization or standing nation views as progressive or supportive of reconciliation efforts.

Before the appointment of Bryden as coordinator of the monitoring group, previous reports dating back to 2006 discuss in length the arms violations committed in separatist Somaliland by then-coordinator Bruno Schiemsky. But such allegations seem to have disappeared altogether with the appointment of Matt Bryden despite a continued level of arms buildup and military activity in the region. It doesn’t help Bryden either that he holds a Somaliland passport that serves much as a symbol of his beliefs than practical use.

The role of the monitoring group on Somalia is extremely important and should be treated as such. By appointing any passerby to fill the role is indicative of anarchic thinking, and Somalia needs no more of that. It is important for all Somalis to condemn the UN’s thoughtless appointment process when delegating over important matters addressing Somalia.

The world has a unique opportunity to help Somalia out of its current problems and Somalis are ready. If proper steps aren’t taken to address those acting on behalf of Somalia in the international community, the world will have another Yugoslavia on its hands—or worse yet, a continued level of violence and chaos in Somalia that may spread to its few peaceful provinces and even its territorial waters.

DissidentNation.com