Advice to Western Diplomats II:by the Western donors on the Somalia government’s expenditure has been responsible for the total lack of progress and unwillingness to end gross corruption. From Villa Somalia down to the so called EU mission on training Somalia’s military and police in Uganda, the whole bloody process has been full of corruption, incompetence and criminality at its core.

State collapse in Somalia was structurally built over 50 years of corrupted institutions and so called national leaders who all consistently betrayed public trust. For Western governments to ignore this historic reality in Somalia today will neither ensure peace or development for the Somali people. Indeed, the political and strategic conditions in Southern Somalia do offer somewhat tentative potential for the emergence of responsible government. However, in this respect the US, EU and Turkey should now undertake a robust and concerted effort to oversee the first functional Somali state institutions before it is too late. In short, what is needed is a clear Statement of Principles from the EU and US beyond the vague bureaucratic rhetoric of the UN in-order to truly establish and maintain professional Somali state institutions beyond 2016. Only then will the Western powers convince the world and the Somali communities that there is a new Somalia worth investing in.

Why the Joint Financial Board is needed

Moreover, an internationally backed regime of conditionality and consequences such as the Joint Financial Board will greatly ensure that the new Somali government of President Hassan Sheikh be responsible for every single dollar given to the people of Somalia. The ongoing pillage of budgetary support and Official Development Assistance (ODA) must immediately end. In fact, this is what made the well-entrenched corruption and nepotism of the former TFG under Sharif Sheikh Ahmed so pervasive and destructive. Therefore, allowing the new Federal Government of Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud to continue this practice will surely sow the seeds for more statelessness, clannish mendacity, and political incompetence inside Somalia.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no clear consensus by the Western donors on how to actually ensure the effective restructuring of Somali government institutions. The absence of benchmarks, consequences and direct oversight by the Western donors on the Somalia government’s expenditure has been responsible for the total lack of progress and unwillingness to end gross corruption. From Villa Somalia down to the so called EU mission on training Somalia’s military and police in Uganda, the whole bloody process has been full of corruption, incompetence and criminality at its core.

One way out of this unbearable mess is full implementation of the British proposal to set up the Joint Financial Board for Somalia in the coming months. The JFB is one of the only rational and constructive developments that the Cameron government produced after the London Conference on Somalia in February 2012. Specifically, The JFB Committee made up of the United States, European Union, Britain, Turkey, and Italy would make sure that President Hassan Sheikh and his nascent Islamist government under Prime Minister Abdi Shirdoon will in fact fulfill a modicum of responsible governance in utilizing foreign aid. It will ensure that Somali military and police are actually trained and properly paid inside the country. It will prevent unqualified individuals being given government ministries and corporations to simply pillage budgets. More importantly, without pressure from Western donors through the JFB the new Somali political leadership will not be responsible for upholding any basic human freedoms, security, rule of law, and accountability for development of the country.

Despite the qualitatively different situation now prevailing in Mogadishu, there are many unanswered questions as to whether the new government of Hassan Sheikh is able or willing to be accountable to the Somali people and international donors. The possibility of self-destruction under clannish acrimony, corruption and nepotism is an ever present threat due to the lack of meaningful oversight.

Conclusion

Today, the political momentum is certainly with Hassan Sheikh faction. What’s more, there is a newly found desire by the Western powers, wholly motivated by commercial and geo-strategic considerations, to foster stability in Southern Somalia and Mogadishu. The recent election of Hassan Sheikh as President and the selection of Abdi Farah Shirdoon as Prime Minister clearly illustrate the hand of the Obama Administration. The United States is strategically positioned at the forefront of this new Somalia government and is guiding the agenda.

Needless to say, the international consensus on Somalia is not yet finalized. The Americans are struggling to mediate between Turkey and the British; both are jostling for ownership of Somalia’s state reconstruction. The active intervention of Turkey, a friendly Islamic country and member of NATO in providing humanitarian assistance has been welcomed by all Somali. Moreover, Turkey’s ability to work through the Organization of Islamic Conference has brought Somalia out of complete isolation even in the Arab and Muslim world. In addition, Turkey is now actively training the Somali Police Force and mediating talks between the Hizbul Islam opposition and the new government. All of this put together, give Turkey more credibility on the ground than the British and Western powers. Yet, the return of the British who have an extensive historic understanding of Somalis cannot be under-estimated as evidenced by the major London Conference on Somalia. Similarly, the sudden mobilization of Italy into Southern Somalia, its former colony is another factor that may complicate the growth of independent Somali state institutions. Yet, through the establishment of the Joint Financial Board where Turkey, Britain, Italy and the US are in agreement could well produce a stable, efficient, and responsible Somali government.

Dr. M. Omar Hashi

[email protected]