2nd August 2011 Nairobi, Kenya
Somalia Matters to the UK
Together with my colleague Alistair Fernie, Head of DFID Kenya and Somalia, I recently visited Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world. There among the crowds of newly-arrived people, I met one young mother, Sarura who, along with her 2 small children and other members of her family, had trekked for weeks to reach a place of safety. Her story was a common one – no longer able to feed and protect her family, she had decided there was no option but to join the thousands of others who had made their way across Somalia in a desperate search for help. Many of the refugees fleeing Somalia to Kenya and Ethiopia have been walking for weeks. Almost half of all children arriving in camps are malnourished, and one in ten is just days from death.
On his own trip to Dadaab refugee camp two weeks ago, the British International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, announced that that the UK Government would provide vital, impartial, life-saving assistance to where the needs were greatest – to 500,000 people inside Somalia, as well as further support to people in Dadaab and Dolo Ado refugee camps, and to other victims of the humanitarian crisis in Kenya and Ethiopia.
This is in addition to the work UKAid has been funding over the last year which has provided treatment for acute malnutrition for more than 100,000 children under the age of five and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers; vaccinations for more than 1.3 million women and children; clean water for more than 350,000 people and shelter for 50,000 people; and emergency support for agriculture and rural livelihoods for 250,000 people.
I’m proud that the UK, together with a number of others, is leading the international response to this terrible situation. As the UK Foreign Office Minister, Henry Bellingham, said only last week on his visit to Hargeisa, Somalia really matters to the UK. We have strong ties – the UK is home to well over 200,000 people of Somali origin – and a single common interest: namely, to help bring greater stability to Somalia after 20 years of conflict. The strength of that common interest can be seen in the overwhelming action of the British people, who have already raised over £30m in response to the appeal from the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. This money, which is in addition to the support provided by the British Government, is being used to support the remarkable and vital work that British, and international, NGOs are doing on the ground.
I was back in Mogadishu last week, together with Alistair and a number of our colleagues, just as the UN started an airlift operation to deliver food. As Somalia reels from the worst drought in 60 years and the devastating impact of 20 years of conflict, the UK government is working closely with the UN, the AU, countries in the region, and other international partners to help find a lasting peace in Somalia. Only with greater stability can the horrors of the situation now unfolding in southern Somalia be prevented. As the shadow of famine looms across all of southern Somalia, you only need to speak to Sarura to understand why.
Dear All
Possible solution of whatever the outcome of 23.02.12 Somalia conference in London.
‘Re-Colonisation’ Project may or Will Fail.
In the first two decades of the 20th century, Somali warrior-poet Seyid Mohammed Abdulle Hassan (nicknamed the “Mad Mullah” by the British) fought against European forces trying to assert their influence in Somalia. His attempts were ultimately unsuccessful, but Hassan remains a source of inspiration among Somalis.
Foreign intervention and occupation have always been violently resisted in Somalia, as demonstrated right from the “Black Hawk Down” incident that led to the evacuation of US forces from Somalia in the early 1990s to the recent retreat of Ethiopian forces when they tried to assert their authority in Mogadishu after the fall of the Islamic Courts Union.
Some argue that the quagmire in Somalia is the result of too much — not too little — foreign interference, be it in the form of military invasions, humanitarian aid, and even the extreme form of Islam (Salafism) imported from Saudi Arabia by Al-Shabaab.
Even when the intervention appears to be for the good of Somalia — such as providing aid during a famine — failure by outsiders to understand the fiercely independent character of Somalis contributes to more conflict and misunderstanding;
That is why a conference set to take place in London 22.02.12 is viewed with suspicion by many Somalis.
Hosted by the British Government, the conference aims to “deliver a new international approach to Somalia” by bringing together more than 40 countries and multilateral organisations that will decide how Somalia is to be governed once the term of the Transitional Federal Government expires in August this year.
Among the proposals for the way forward are the establishment of a supreme authority and a Joint Financial Management Board (comprising mainly donor countries) that will manage and coordinate how donor and domestic funds and resources are to be used (essentially, doing the work of a Finance ministry) and increased funding for Amisom and Somali security forces.
An even more absurd proposal has been submitted by the government of Italy, which has suggested the establishment of a joint United Nations/African Union international administration comprising a core group of key “stakeholders”, such as the United States, the European Union, and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.
Many Somalis are understandably disgusted by these proposals because they view them as yet another attempt to “colonise” Somalia. Abdirizak Mohamed the editor of Hiraan Online, says that he was particularly dumbfounded by the Italian submission as it proposes an international administration to be named as caretaker for Somalia from August 2012 to December 2013.The Italian proposal is equivalent to the Paul Bremen-led authority imposed by the United States in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
Although the Somali Transitional Federal Government has been invited to the conference, it lacks the legitimacy and authority to make decisions on an equal footing with the other so-called “stakeholders”.
While the conference purports to address security concerns, particularly piracy and terrorism, the ultimate intention of the conference, according to many Somali analysts, could be to undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and subject the Somali people to a new form of colonialism — including by “proxy states” such as Kenya and Ethiopia, which are sending high-level delegations to the conference.
The sense of humiliation that many Somalis feel about the conference is best described by Arman, who in an op-ed article in Eurasia Review writes: “At this dreadful moment in its history — when the obituary of a nation on life-support is being written — political correctness is a luxury that Somalis cannot afford.”
He proposes that Somalia adopt a new paradigm and engage with less intrusive partners (probably a reference to Turkey, which has been active in delivering humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Somalia).
Many Somali academics and analysts including “Dayah Ali” a Somali political Economy observer have also called for home-grown solutions to the Somali crisis saying.
– Federalism : We Somali’s fully support united federal Somalia, and we believe that every region in Somalia should govern itself , and become independent from others.
– 4.5 formula is not working : It is unfair formula and it is complete failure.
– Bottom up approach : We believe that every regional administration should govern themselves, and be given opportunity, help, and support directly by the international community.
– Piracy, terrorism, famine and conflict can all be avoided in the future if: Country is fully secured first (Please find Gen M. Nuur Galaal military report from recent Somali media websites); Foreign aid is used wisely, Alshabaab defeated, regional autonomous supported and established, United Federal Somalia with viable constitution built, and free and fair elections offered.
Above all, the most important solution that can ultimately unite Somalia would be, that all Somali representatives from different clans, regions, background, scholars, elders and governs; should come together in a different meeting other than one in London on 23.02.12, and British government should host it inside Somalia. What the British Government and its allies must realise is that their top-down, Eurocentric approach in Somalia may look good on paper, but will most likely face fierce resistance on the ground. Thank you for your time.
Dayah Ali… dayah.ali@gmail.com
I’m proud that the UK is helping Somalia refugee in Dadaab ,
I need to know that in more details about somalia matters to the UK .
I`m interested in about the London Conference on Somalia .
Many Thanks
Chairman Dutch community In the Midlands
I agree with Hanna, explain to us why Somalia matters to the UK in more depth. A part from getting rid of the piracy which are obstacle to the shipping route, are there any other interest?