When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected by the representatives of the various clans in 2012 , the Western media painted it as a new face in the devastating political scenario of the country, characterized by 22 years of civil wars and clan rivalries . The President Mohamud was the turning point for the reconciliation and reconstruction of Somalia through a secular approach reinforced by his long collaboration with UN agencies and NGOs gained abroad . Thanks to the efforts of the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM would have defeated the Islamic movement Al- Shabaab. The new constitution and the creation of a federal state would solve the rivalries and united the country. Western economic aid and investment , African countries (Ethiopia , Kenya, Uganda ), Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have allowed the reconstruction and economic recovery.The first year of his term reveals a very different reality from the expectations nourished by the Somali people and the Community Interactional . The government is struggling to impose its control over Mogadishu and the rest of the country. The reform of the army and police to be sluggish and increase the cases of desertion due to delays in payment of wages. Vast areas of the country remain under the control of Al -Shabaab , the main antagonistic force far from being defeated, as demonstrated by the military blitz of Westgate in Nairobi. Even the relationship with AMISOM , the only military force on which the government stands to maintain power , are deteriorating . The clan hostilities resumed in the regions of Middle Shabelle and Low Shabelle . The port city of Kismayu , won by Kenyan troops in 2012 and former stronghold of Al -Shabaab , has been the scene of fierce clashes between clans adverse supported by the Somali government and Kenya who harbor diametrically opposed interests . Kenya is supporting the push for independence in the region of Jubaland . The economy is struggling to get out from the circuits informal and illegal. Piracy, albeit diminished, continues its activities forcing China to Europe and a huge economic effort to protect merchant ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea . The nearly two million refugees in neighboring countries , the majority of which is stationed in Kenya , remain reluctant to return to their country .An aspect less well known and skillfully camouflaged is the progressive Islamisation of Somalia implemented by President Mohamud that aims to create a strong and united rigidly authoritarian Islamic teachings that are the pillars of his party PDP (Party for Peace and Development ) . The Government would not be implementing institutional reforms encouraging genuine federalism and decreasing clan rivalries .The President Mohamud is subtly delaying the law on federalism , whipping the expectations of the population and of the same clan chiefs who elected him .There is an increase of nepotism within the institutions and public places are bestowed not on the basis of professional skills but on loyalty to the President Mohamud and his party . Are also increasing abuses of power of the ruling elites , closely related to personal interests. The illegal expropriations of land and property have become an alarming phenomenon . Popular discontent is creating the foundation for a true secular opposition led by the lawyer Mohamud Mohamed Addi Gandhi and former Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi who are trying to group several politicians, lawyers, judges, and members of the business community and of the company civil to form a new party by the end of 2013. The new party , completely secular , would point to a regime change perhaps even before the elections scheduled for 2016 , taking advantage of the weakness of the government, popular discontent and alliances with regional powers that now are serious doubts about the policy of the President Mohamud .Gedi has already met with the Presidents Uhruru Kenyatta (Kenya) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda ) to obtain their support. During the meeting in Nairobi , the President Mohamud would ask the President Kenyatta to suspend the meeting with the opposition Somalia. Request ignored by the Kenyan Government . Threatened by the formation of the secular party , the President Mohamud is accelerating the process of Islamization approaching Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The government began secret talks with political and military figures of Al -Shabaab , which are considered “moderate” to integrate them into government in exchange for the cessation of hostilities of the terrorist movement that since 2012 has attempted to twice the life of the President. These leaders have called for the strict application of Islamic law . A former intelligence chief Somalis has recently accused the government of wanting to replace the African troops with AMISOM troops from Muslim and Arab countries that do not interfere with the process of Islamization of the country . A real project but difficult , hampered by the recent support ( including financial) of the UN for AMISOM to fight the terrorist group Al- Shabaab.Despite several clues lead to think about the real intention of the President Mohamud to create the Islamic State of Somalia , the European Union at its meeting in Brussels in early September decided to allocate EUR 1.8 billion for the reconstruction of the country, entrusting them for most of the Somali government . This huge funding , if approved by the European Parliament , will add to the 300 million euro allocated during the London Conference held in March 2013. The initiative, called the New Deal for Somalia , is likely to fund the creation of an Islamic state in the opinion of more than 100 attorneys Somalis , constituting a serious error of judgment on the current policy of the West of the country in the Horn of Africa.An Islamic state founded thanks to European funding to stabilize the region ? According to regional monitoring the risk is real. It would be a real ironically after the United States and Europe have devastated the country in 2007, bringing down the regime of the Islamic Courts who had managed to unify and pacify the majority of the country . The President Mohamud could prove to be an enemy of the West and democracy more discreet and dangerous than Al- Shabaab.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 17:42:24 +0000