Wednesday 15 June 2011

The winds of change and the axis of evil in Somalia

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In the old Somali tradition clansmen fought each other for meager resources of water and pasture. In then patriarchal nomadic society, men were divided into two categories: waranle(spear-bearer)  & wed-aad(funeral-attender)
In contemporary Somali tradition where patriarchy and few resources still exist, the waranle metamorphosed into warlord parliamentarian or tyrant and the wed-aad turned into a terrorist.  Both terrorists and tyrants have common traits. To get to their goal, they will use the available guns and the gangs they command to eliminate and destroy anyone that challenges their tenets of terror and tyranny.
Between the waranle and the wed-aad is the dad-weyne or the people.  People belong to various tols or lineage sub-groups. The tol can be equated into a band of thugs when it is used negatively.  The bad tol is ripe with unruly young thugs who will be recruited by the warlord or the terrorist clerk to kill and maim. All three axis of evil in Somalia, the warlord, the terrorist and the tyrant use thugs as tools and ways to gain and cling to power. Decades of bloodshed, mayhem and destruction made them this way. They are deadened and lack any decency. Their humanity is gone, senses numb. The warlord and the radical clerk are mentally unstable and intellectually impaired. Not vision or intellect  but the barrel of the gun elevated the tyrant and terrorist into prominence and power. The warlord, the terrorist and the tyrant are in authority now. The president, the parliament and the terrorist opposition are them. The president, the parliament and the opposition are  not institution like they were supposed to be but nominal offices run by the whims of opportunistic  individuals.  The president, the parliament and the opposition are the three axis of evil in Somalia. The evil threesomes engage each other through guns and gangs. Caught in this thug of war are the people.
Some who don’t subscribe to this segmentation of society into the destructive triangle are trying their best to bring change into such harsh and violent system and along the way smooth a transition devoid of tyranny and terror.  These are agents of change and are trying to create more resources and thus eliminate the catalyst of violence and bloodshed. These are revolutionary men and women who have vision, knowledge and skills. The agents of change are meeting insurmountable roadblocks in the name of radicalism and reactionary. The radicals are merciless and the reactionaries are heartless.
But the people are wakening up and the winds of the change are blowing through the halls of the relative authority in the treacherous triad. Sane men and women endowed with vision are challenging the three axis of evil.  The agents of change are using if-you-can’t-beat-them-join-them tactic.  This tactic is to infiltrate and eventually throw the terrorists and tyrants out of the window.  It is a justifiable, practical and cheered upon means to peaceful end. People are saying this is our window of opportunity. They are demanding change and stop to the old system of bloodshed.

The awakening of the people coupled with agents of change was unthinkable two decades ago. People then were divided into clans and sufferers. Even those who knew all the clan wars were wrong feared reprisal and kept silent to be safe. Now Somali people are able to speak their mind with courage and willpower.  The change we are now glimpsing in the streets of the capital and other towns is just a precursor to what is to come. As people put the nation before the clan, more changes and revolutions are on the horizon. Many Somalis living inside Somalia and even those dispersed around the world are gaining more skills and knowledge to speed up the winds of change. The axis of evil and those who want to keep the status quo are scared out of their pants.  The clan supporters and cult sympathizers are on the losing side of history and will eventually fall of the cliff.
People have now realized who is for peace and restoration of the nation and who is for keeping the status quo of bloodshed and terror.  People realize now that Al-shabaab is agent of terror. The terrorists want to destroy the whole Somalia and bring an alien regressive cult of violence and barbarism into the land. People know that the bogus parliament is made of opportunists and warlords that represent no one. The tyrants and the warlords prostitute themselves to the highest bidder and are beholden to whoever pays their salary. Some parliamentarians and known petty politicians will finally sell Somalia and its people to the enemies of the state.  Both cliques of terror and tyranny can’t tolerate of what is now transpiring in the political environment. Agents of change are within them and people are awakening up. The evil triad is using every tactic in the book to get rid of the positive change. They use suicide bombings and political scheming to silence or oust agents of change. This is seen as a desperation and last measure to cling to power.
The awakening (baraarug) or as is sometimes called kacdoonka dadweynaha (people’s revolution) is driven by access to information, by the internet, social networks, and the mobile phone.Technologically savvy students and skilled technocrats are simultaneously leading the revolution. Many professionals and college students whom the terrorists and the tyrants chased of the country are willing to come back and contribute to the ultimate revolution.
People are loudly saying it is now or never. Somalia embarked on a change for the good direction. People are yearning for peace and stability. The agents and forces of change will continue their efforts to overthrow tyranny and terror. The clan elders, the warlords, the unruly militia will be no longer needed as educated and skilled leaders will emerge from the people’s revolution.
I advise the petty politicians, the opportunists, the clan elders and the proselytized clergy to smell the winds of  change and get on board before it is too late.  Anyone who doesn’t get or trivializes people’s revolution will finally become defunct. Bloodshed and brutality will end and be extinct just like the dinosaurs that once roamed on this earth.  Peace and progress will come. Resources will be abundant and exploited. Men and women will become waxbarayaal (educators) and wadaniyiin ( patriots). Waranle and wadaad will be out of the window.
Let Somalia reborn and regain it is dignity. Power to the people.

Abdulkadir Mohamed (Ato)
Mashriq Quarterly Editorial

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