Hiiraan Online

Somalia has a myriad of problems that one can hardly begin to discuss without pointing at the finger its incompetent leaders who constantly put their personal gain before the country.  The intentions of both leaders in this case are fraught with self-interest and a sheer hunger for power.  Sheikh Sharif has not been an effective president and anything but a transparent leader.  The President, for instance, despicably failed to form an alliance with the remnants of his former rebel forces, namely the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and its breakaway faction, Al-Shabab.  Instead of tirelessly working inside the country for coalition building, he spent the bulk part of his presidency flying around the world, as though fulfilling a long held dream to become the most world-travelled president of Somalia.   In addition, according to a recent Somali government watchdog report, corruption has reached its peak in the country during Sheikh Sharif’s presidency and discovered that more than $70 million missing in Somalia.  Thus, the President has neglected to accomplish any worth mentioning achievements, besides amassing in the country the foreign forces of AMISOM who lately awarded him with the territorial gain of several districts in Mogadishu.  Now that his short term is running out, he feels that he’s entitled to one more year to finish the job, or probably visit few more countries that are on his calendar.

Whereas Sharif Hassan has remained over the years a cunning politician that most people simply refer to as Sharif Sakiin “Razor Blade.”   He became synonymous with corruption and everything else that’s wrong with the Parliament that he holds so dear.   After the former President Abdullahi Yusuf unceremoniously sacked him as the Parliament Speaker, he strategically allied himself with the emerging, full-of- promise Islamic Courts leader at that time, Sheikh Sharif.  Then, as soon as Sheikh Sharif was elected as the next President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), he awarded him with the critical position of Finance Minister in order to control the country’s meager budget.  But soon enough, Sharif Hassan betrayed the trust of Sheikh Sharif, as he capriciously plotted to win back his former position -­­- Parliament Speaker.  To build his power base, Sharif Hassan had been accused that he subtly works to undermine the objectives and decisions of the President and his Prime Minister, not to mention by collaborating with other devious foreign elements, including the UN representative, Mr. Mahiga, who lately behaves as though he was the de facto ruler of all Somali affairs.  

Though Sharif Hassan’s desire to hold elections for the positions of the presidency and that of the Parliament Speaker (while extending the parliament term by three years) as soon as the mandated date is reached (August 20th) sounds good governance.  However, Sharif Hassan will almost certainly concede that the current parliament is also not suitable for the election of another President, thanks to the rogue and incompetent MPs who currently occupy in the Parliament’s over-bloated seats.  For sure, he is either positioning himself well for the presidency or he’s grooming it for one of his closest former business partners.  Nevertheless, no one believes that Sharif Hassan has Somalia’s best interest at his heart and that is a predicament that he needs to overcome, if he wishes to run for the presidency or remain as the Speaker of the Parliament.  It is no longer enough to be part of the process, if you are not positively contributing to the process itself.

In the end, much will depend on the role the UN and its minions in the region play to appoint who will be the next President of Somalia, like all previous transitional governments.  Though the speculation about possible election of Sharif Hassan is mounting, however, it’s anybody’s guess who they (the powers that be) have in mind to install in the presidency seat, this time around.  Even so, if Sharif Hassan succeeds to become the new president, how would he, in his power as President, be able to win against the Al-Shabab extremists, instead of depending on the AMISOM forces, like Sheikh Sharif does?  

This frivolous rivalry between these old allies will benefit neither one of them, but the country will continue to be mired in political paralysis, as war and chaos flourish.  Enduring two decades of civil war, should have taught the two Sharifs that the time has come to put the country before their self interests.  When historians look back on the reign of the two Sharifs, they may well judge them most on who between them sacrificed self-ascendancy for the sake of God, Country and Freedom.  If only both of these leaders could agree to come together and see what’s at stake here, then Somalia could look forward to the day no foreign power could assert its devious machinations to keep the country in this vicious cycle of violence, constant displacement and failed state.