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WAR-SAXAAFADEED:12 /04/2019

Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland oo Xafiiskiisa ku Qaabilay Safiirka Maraykanka u Qaabilsan Dalalka Somaliland iyo Soomaaliya.

Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland, Mudane Muuse Biixi Cabdi, ayaa maanta xafiiskiisa ku qaabilay wefti uu hoggaaminayo safiirka dalka Maraykanka u qaabilsan dalalka Somaliland iyo Soomaaliya, Ambassador Donald Y. Yamamoto.

Kulankan uu madaxweynuhu la yeeshay xubnaha weftiga ah ee uu hoggaaminayo safiirka maraykanku Ambassador Donald Yamamoto, ayaa lagaga wada-hadlay arrimo door ah oo salka ku haya xidhiidhka dalalka Maraykanka iyo Somaliland iyo iskaashiga dhinacyada kala duwan leh ee labada dal ka dhexeeya.

Arrimaha sida gaarka ah kulankan diiradda loogu saaray, ayaa waxa ugu waaweynaa dardargelinta arrimaha doorashooyinka Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland ka qorshaysan, sidii ay shirkadaha Maraykanku u maalgashan lahaayeen ugana faa’iidaysan lahaayeen horumarka ay ku talaabsanayso Somaliland, xaaladda gobolka, Amaanka iyo Dimuqraaddiyadda ka hano qaadday Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland.

Safiirka waxa socdaalkiisa ku wehelinaysay madaxa xafiiska ganacsiga iyo dhaqaalaha ee safaaradda Maraykanka, Ms Shella A. Billas iyo madaxa xafiiska hay’adda USAID.

Dhinaca madaxweynaha waxa kulankan ku wehelinayey wasiirrada wasaaradaha Arrimaha dibadda iyo iskaashiga caalamiga ah, Prof. Yaasiin Xaaji Maxamuud Xiir (Faratoon) iyo horumarinta maaliyadda, Dr. Sacad Cali Shire, waxana uu kulankaasi kusoo dhammaaday guul.

ALLAA MAHAD LEH

Maxamuud Warsame Jaamac
Af-hayeenka Madaxweynaha JSL.

Gabadh Uu Dhalay Mujaahid Awoowo Oo Xaalad Caafimaad La Il-daran Iyo Baaqa Bulshadda

Hibo Axmed Maxamed oo u dhalay Mujaahid magac ku leh dalka iyo dadka oo lagu naanaysi jiray (Awoowo), ayaa sheegtay in ay la dhiban-tahay dhibaato dhinaca lugta ah oo markii danbe u soo gudubtay dhanka Wadnaha. Islamarkaanna waxay iftiimisay in aanay haysan xaalad dhaqaale la’aaneed, balse markii ay meesha ka baxeen labadeedii waalid ay hagratay Ayadeed Aabo oo u diiday dhaqaalihii ay isu-dawayn lahayd, maadaama oo ay iyaddu tahay bahda waawayn ee Mujaahid Awoowo ifka kaga tagay, hooyadeedna horre u geeriyootay oo aanay lahayn cid garab-istaagta oo xaaladdeeda caafimaad la socota kuna dhibaataysantahay dalka.

Sidoo kale, Hibo Axmed waxay ummadda islaamka ah ka codsatay in gar-gaar walaalnimo iyo mid naxariiseed ii fidiyaan, ilaahayna ugu baryaan in xannuunka I haya uu iga dul-qaado.”

Hibo oo arrimaha xaaladeedda ka hadlaysaa waxay tidhi“Maanta waxaan ka cabanayaa laba shay xannuun iyo dhaqaale la’aan, xannuunka ilaahaybaa keenna qaadanna, laakiin ma ihi qoys dhaqaale la’aanni hayso . Horta qofka waxa u dhaq-dhaqaaqa oo u socdaa waalidkii oo maanta ma hayso waalid ii soc-socdaa, ii hadlaa ii dhaqaaqa oo af iyo addin-baa igu caawiya midna ma haysto oo labadaydii waalid-baa way geeriyoodeen. Haddii aan haysan lahaa hadalkan-baa ma idhaahdeen oo warbaahinta ummaan gudbiyeen.”Ayay tidhi Hibo Axmed Maxamed waxayna hadalkeedii ku sii ladhay “Dhibta I haysataa waxay tahay waxa I xannuunaysaa lug oo waxaan ka soo dhacay lug oo dhakhaatiirta Somaliland waxba way ka qaban waayeen oo dhakhtar dibadeed tag bay igu yidhaahdeen oo waxan tagay dhakhtar dibadeed oo waxa la ii siiyay 10 kun oo dollar waxaan ka iibsaday fiise Turki ah oo waxaan ka goostay tigidhkii oo waxaan dhakhtar tukiga ah ku jiray saddex bilood iyo waxoogga , kadib sahaydii baa iga go’day waxaan telefoonkeeddii soo garaacay Aayaday, aayadayna telefoonkii igamay qaban. Maalin dambe ayay I soo garaacay oo waxay ii soo dirtay kun iyo sagaal boqol oo waxay igu tidhi shillin annigu kuuma hayeey iska soo noqo.”

“Dawaddii luga la dawayn lahaa waxa ka hor-istaagay Wadnaha oo dawooyinkii aad cuntay ayaa wadnaha wax ku yeelay oo wadnaha ayaa ku bararsan oo marka 1-aad waxay noqonaysaa in wadnaha bararka laga riddo dawooyinkii wax-yeelanayna laga maydho, kadib-baa lugtii wax loo qaban karraa. Maanta caqabadda ugu wayn ee I haysataa waxay tahay annigoo dawadaydii arkayaa ayaan ka soo dhaqaaqay (Yacni waxaan noqday qof isagoo gaajoonayaa inta cunto la hor-dhigay cuntaddii laga hor-qaaday. Sababta aan taa u leeyahay waxa weeyi anigoo dawadaydii arkayaa ayaan ka soo dhaqaaqay, waxaan waayay oo aan tahli-waayay dhaqaale aan ku soo iibsaddo dawo.Markii aan dalka dib ugu soo noqday ayaan aayaday aabbo ku idhi maxaad ii haysaa? Ee aad igu tallo-gashay, waxay igu tidhi maxaad u joogi wayday ?, hayee han jooge ma xumma oo imikaba waan noqon karaa ee han jooge maxaan ku jooggaa. Waayo hooyo iima joogto, aabbo iima jooggo oo adigaa waalid ii ahaa oo imaad soo xidhiidhin oo xitaa is-maad odhan ka war-doon oo waxay igu tidhi anigu shillin kuuma hayo. Maanta waxaan ahay qof hantidiisii arkayaa haddan ka xannuunsanayaa oo dhaqaale uu meel ku taggo haysaan.”Ayay tidhi Hibo Axmed Maxamed (ina-Awoowo)

Dhinac kale, Hibo waxay iftiimisay in dhaqaalihii ka go’ay oo ay dib dalka ugu soo noqday markii cid dhaqaalaheedda ka faallo-qaado wayday “Markii dhaqaalaha tobanka kun la iisiinayay waxaan ku idhi halka aan tago waa dibadda gaar ahaan dalka Turkiga oo aan xaalad caafimaad u tagayo oo hooyo iyo aabo iima joogan. Haddii uu dhaqaaluhu iga go’o maxaan samaynayaa, waxay igu yidhaahdeen waynu soo waddahadlaynaa oo waannu ka soo daba-diraynaa . Wax layga soo daba-diro iska daayee xitaa imay soo xidhiidhin. Kadib aniga ayaa soo xidhiidhiyay oo waxaan ku idhi intaad sharciga guriga qaadaan oo aad nootaayo qortaan dahab-shiil geeyaa oo dayn bay bixisaa ee daynta ka soo qaada oo dabadeed ii soo diraa lacagta, tii may suurta gelin oo hadalkaygiiba waxba kamay soo qaadin baa oo ilayn iyagu ma xannuunsanayaannee”

Gaba-gabadii Hibo Axmed Maxamed (Ina Awoowo) waxay bulshadda ka codsatay in duco iyo gar-gaar la isugu soo darro“Haddaba ummada islaamka ah waxaan ka codsanayaa in gar-gaar walaalnimo iyo mid naxariiseed ii fidiyaan, ilaahayna ugu baryaan in xannuunka I haya uu iga dul-qaado.”

Dahabshil East Africa Bank Tower officially opens in Djibouti

The East Africa Bank has initiated an ambitious expansion plan.

The bank, which seeks to become one of the top financial institutions in the east African region, is targeting to venture into Ethiopia and other countries in the region.

EAB Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Rashid Jaffar says the bank, which has 15 branches in Djibouti, is out to diversify its products and services.

PRODUCTS

“East Africa Bank brings products that meet the people’s needs. We are offering Islamic financial services solutions to clients in Djibouti and in the East Africa region,” Mr Jaffar said during an interview after the bank opened its new headquarters in Djibouti on Thursday.

He said the bank is focused on being the leading force in commodity trading in the next five years.

As part of the long term expansion plan, the bank, which is a subsidiary of Dahabshiil Group, has built a new headquarters in Djibouti City.

Dahabshiil operates in Africa, the Middle East, America and Australia.

Dahabshiil International Group Chief Executive Officer Abdirashid Duale said the expansion of East Africa Bank will not only create jobs but will also increase financial access to communities across the region.

MOBILE MONEY

“East African Bank is a leading commercial bank in Djibouti and we aim to grow beyond Djibouti. Ours is to offer cutting edge, inclusive financial services to the unbanked community. We will increase access through remittances, mobile money and other tailored products,” Mr Duale said.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh who inaugurated the official opening of the East African Bank tower on Thursday morning, said the positive effects of the bank were already being felt in the country.

“The (East African) bank has already created jobs for our young professionals, it is reaching out to the unbanked and we are looking forward for more people being integrated in the formal banking system,” said President Guelleh.

EXPANSION

Besides an increase in Foreign Direct Investment in infrastructure projects and the regional trade, Djibouti’s banking sector has experienced rapid expansion in recent years.

The Djiboutian banking system has benefitted from the country’s broader macroeconomic stability with a fully convertible currency, a fixed exchange regime and free movement of capital.

This is a key aspect of the government’s drive to make Djibouti a bigger financial hub for capital inflows into and out of neighbouring Ethiopia with its 110m population, Somali regions, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and beyond.

Djibouti is trying to capitalise on its strategic location to transform its port of into the largest and most competitive transhipment hub for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

INVESTORS

“We at EAB are committed to serving the large number of traders, investors and corporations operating in Djibouti, Ethiopia and beyond,” Mr Jaffer said.

According to the World Bank, Djibouti has a financial exclusion rate of 87.7 per cent, meaning that the majority of the citizens are either unbanked or underbanked.

But East Africa Bank, according Mr Duale, wants to catalyse change from cash society to widespread use of the banking services it offers.

They have invested in IT and are rolling out e-banking to create user-friendly ways for households to pay their bills electronically.

Launched in 2010 and licensed by the Central Bank of the Republic of Djibouti, the East Africa Bank was established to deliver the highest standards of banking services.

Dahabshil East Africa Bank Tower officially opens in Djibouti 

Somaliland: President Muse Bihi Abdi Receives US Ambassador

Hargeisa, (Qaran news)-The Somaliland President, Muse Bihi Abdi, received today in Hargeisa a delegation from the United States of America led by Ambassador Donald Y. Yamamoto.

President Muse Bihi and the US delegation discussed areas of mutual interest, including the security and democracy in the region, and the continued co-operation between Somaliland and the United States of America in terms of development, trade and good governance.

The delegation which also included the head of the Trade and Economy Office, Ms. Shella A. Billas and USAID regional director are in Somaliland as part of a new initiative from Washington DC to engage all the regional countries in the Horn of Africa.

This is the first official United States delegation visit to Somaliland, since Under-Secretary for Africa, Jendayi Frazer during the Rayaale administration.

The meeting was also attended by the Somaliland Foreign minister, Prof. Yasin Haji Mohamud Hir “Faraton”, and the Finance and Investment, Sa’ad Ali Shire.

Somaaliland, “Raqay Ninkii Lahaa Dabada Haysto Ma Kacdo Ayaa La Yidhaahdaa!”
Qaybta 2aad – Runtu Ma Fantaa? Dalku Waxaa Uu Ka Kici La’ Yahay Beesha Dhexe.

Qalinkii Xassan Cumar Hoorri

Mihnadda saxaafadda, waxaa aan ka bartay, in ay eeddo qabato qof ama koox. Hase ahaatee, ay ka reebban tahay in farta lagu godo beel ama beelo dhan. Si kastaba, ha ahaatee, waxaa aan ka cudur daaranayaa eedda culus ee aan kula kufay Beesha Dhexe. Hubaal, dadka reer Somaaliland kuma ay kala foga haybta, marka laga abtiriyo kor, hoos ama labadaba.

Beelaha reer Somaaliland waxaa ay yahiin qoys u kala baxa labo haybood oo aan hayb saddexaad lahayn. Waxaana ay kala yahiin labo walaalo ah, iyo labo ay dhaleen wiil iyo gabadh walaalo ah (ilma-abti ama ilma-eeddo ah).

Sidaa ayaan ka bartay, Allah ha u naxariistee, aabbahay oo ahaa Odaygii (Mayorkii) ugu horreeyay Degmada Ceerigaabo. Sidoo kale, qofkii baylahsha halka ay xuduntiisu ku aasan tahay, in aanu meel kalena ku hakan doonin. Aabbahay, Xaaji Cumar Hoorri, waxa uu ka mid ahaa Golahii ugu horeeyay Xeerdejinta (Legislative Council) Hingiriisku u dhisay Somaaliland. Waxaana ay ka koobnaayeen xildhibaanada (Xaaji Cumar Hoorri, Micheal Mariano, Xaaji Yussuf Iimaan, Axmed Xaaji Cabdullahi Xashiish, Xaaji Caballe Xaaji Faarax iyo Xaaji Jaamac Muxamed).

Haddaba, dhaliishaydu ma wada qabato Beesha. Waxaana ka mid ah saddexda Muuse ee aannu wadaagno degaan, tolnimo iyo xigaal. Runtii, iyaga iyo tobanka beelood oo kale ee Reer Sanaag, waxaa ay nagu weheliyaan qadoodiga, duudsiga iyo dib-u-dhaca. Xaasha, ujeedadu ma ay ahayn in aan is kor saaro reerka oo dhan. Mar, haddiise, talada dalku ay si buuxda ugu jirto gacanta reer keliya, waxaa daw ah in ay Beeshu yeelato dhaliisha waxii ka xumaada dalka . Sidoo kale, in aan lala wadaagan amaanta, waxii u hagaaga dalka.

Muran kama taagna dheeliga ka jira dalkeenna, iyo sida foosha xun ee qaybo ka mid ah Beeshu ugu takri fashay waxii dadku wada lahaa. Runtii, damiirka iyo qalbiga fayow, ma rumaysan karaan, dulmigii ay ka dagaalantay Beeshu in ay u quudho Beelo la mid ah. Weliba, iyagoo aan hubin in ay awood ku muquunin karaan kuwa ay duudsiyeen xuquuqdooda. Qalinkayga looga ma baahna wax caddaymo ah, iyo in aan qormadan ku taxo wax aan qarsoonayn, tan iyo maalintii uu Xisbiga Kulmiye mayalka u qabtay dalka.

Hase ahaatee, waxaa aan halka ku soo xiganayaa dood, March 2018, Machadka Horumarinta Dalalka Dibedda (ODI), London, uu ku kuulmiyay xeeldheerayaal u kuur gala arrimaha Somaalida. Doodda waxaa daadahaynaysay Mary Harper, Tifaftiraha Arrimaha Afrika ee idaacadda BBC. Waxaa ay xogogaal u tahay waayaha Somaalida iyadoo muddo 25 sannadood ah ka soo warramaysay arrimaha Somaalida, kana qortay dhowr buug.

Waxaa doodda lagu martigeliyay Michael Keating, wakiilkii, xilligaa, Xoghayaha Guud ee Qaramada Midoobay u fadhiyay Somaaliland iyo Somaaliya, Sarah Pantoliano, Maareeyaha Guud ee Machadka magaca weyn ee ODI, Dr. Rashiid Cabdi, Agaasimaha Geeska Afrika ee Hay’adda Xal-u-helidda Khilaafaadka Caalamka, iyo Professor Kenneth Menkhaus, (PhD, arrimaha Somaalida).
Prof Menkhause, 30 sano, waxaa uu wax ka dhigayay Jaamicadda Davidson College ee Maraykanka. Waxaa uu leeyahay boqolaal qormo iyo dhowr buug oo uu kaga faallooday waayaha Somaalida. Waxaana u ka mid yahay aqoonyahanno faro-ku-tirsi ah oo Kongereska Maraykanka uga warbixiya Geeska Afrika, kalana taliya arrimaha Somaalida. Waxaa uu Qaramada Midoobay (UN) kala soo shaqeeyay arrimaha Somaalida.

Marka aan hoos ugu gonda dego, inta innaga khusaysa doodda, Prof Menkhause, waxaa uu tilmaamay nabadgelyo xumada iyo xasillooni la’aanta ka taagan Badhtamaha iyo Koonfurta Somaaliya. Aadna waxaa uu u amaanay dhaqanka dawladnimo ee Somaaliland iyo nabadda uu dalka ku naaloonayo. Hase ahaatee, Professorku waxaa uu ka digay, haddii aan si degdeg ah xal loogu helin tabashada shacabka iyo cadaalad xumada, inuu dalku dib ugu noqon karo duruufaha qalafsan ee ka taagan dalalka burburay sida Somaaliya.

Dooddu waxaa ay qabsoomtay, afar bilood ka dib markii Madaxweyne Muuse Biixi Cabdi uu la wareegay majarahii dalka. Xilligaa, waxaa muuqday sida ba’an ee Beesha Dhexe ugu sii kala fogaatay doorashadii, tasoo u sii quus goysay in ay Beelaha Darfahu garowshiiyo u helaan tabashadooda. Haddaba, isweyndiintu waxaa ay tahay, sannad iyo badh ka dib, Madaxweyne Biixi waxa uu ka qabtay midaynta bulshada iyo tabashada ragaaday ee ka aloosan darfaha. Jawaabta waxaa aan u dhaafaya dadweynaha!

Mr. Conrad Heine oo ka mid ahaa goob-joogayaashii xukuumadda Hingiriisku u soo dirtay Doorashadii Madaxtooyada ee dabayaaqadii 2017, isagoo difaacaya Somaaliland, waxaa uu ka marag kacay in ay dalka ka qabsoontay doorasho xor iyo xalaal ah, marka la barbar dhigo kuwii looga bartay Afrika. Sidaa awgeed, waxaa uu weydiiyay Prof Menkhause, bal in uu is kor taago baqdinta uu ka muujiyay in ay dib u sinbiriirixato (slip) Somaaliland.

Prof Menkhause, durba, waxaa uu ku warceliyay, “waxaa aan la qabaa, ragga igu weheliya doodda (Michael iyo Rashid), in uu dib u noqonayo dal kastoo aanay ka jirin summadda wax wada lahaansho. Dalalka horusocodka ah waxaa sal u ah in la helo xukuumad, nabad-ilaalin iyo wax qaybsi loo siman”. Intaa waxaa uu ku ladhay, “haddii beelaha qaarkood ay dareemaan in la fogeeyay, Somaalidu waxaa ay jidaystaan, in kuwa la duudsiyo ay gacan-saar la yeeshaan kooxaha xagjirka ah sida Al-shabaab ama ay ku tallaabsadaan mucaaridnimo wax burburisa”.

Menkhause, waxaa uu ku kaftamay, digtoonida uu ka qabo in uu ku talax tago Somaaliland. Waayo? Waxaa uu sheegay, in cir iyo dhulba laga soo weeraro qofkii ajnebi ah oo si dhab ah uga faallooda Somaaliland. Waxaana uu ku daray, “hase yeeshee, qof jecl iyo qof necebba, gooni-isu taagga Somaaliland, waxaa uu mudan yahay in la garwsado guulaha badan, nabadgelyada iyo koboca dhaqaale oo dalku ku tallaabsaday tan iyo markii uu la soo noqday xornimadiisa.

Intaa waxaa uu ku ladhay, “shacabka iyo dadka daneeya arrimaha Somaaliland, waxaa ay ka dheregsan yahiin tabashada, sannadahan danbe, ka jirta dalka gudahiisa”. Waxaana uu farta ku fiiqay dheelliga maamulka iyo in ay xukuumaddii ku soo ururtay goobaabin yar iyo gacanta qoysaskii ku hareeraysnaa Madaxweyne Siilaanyo.

Professorku, waxaa uu tibaaxay, ganacsigii dalku in uu u xidhan yahay dhowr shirkadood oo waaweyn, taasoo meesha ka saaraysa ganacsi xor ah iyo tartan loo siman yahay. Isla markaana, musuqmaasuqa cirka isku shareeray, in uu isku lammaaniyay keli-talisnimo keentay dib-u-gurasho ku timid xuquuqdii madaniga, madax-bannaanidii saxaafadda iyo xorriyaddii in uu qofku ku biiri karo xisbiga ama kooxda uu rabo (Freedom of Assembly), isagoo aan ka baqayn in uu ku seego xaquuqdiisa qofeed.

Ugu danbeyntii, Prof Menkhause waxaa uu saafay, sida qabyaaladdu u gilgilayso dalka. “Xilligan, qabyaaladdu waxaa ay saamaysay gun iyo baar, heer xaafadaha loo kala sunto beelaha. Waxaana adaag in aad guri ka dhisato xaafad ama magaalo aanu tolkaa deggenayn,” ayuu sheegay, waxaana uu aad u yesay, in ay beel kasta dhisatay jaamicad ay leedahay, iyo in uu jilib kasti samaystay warshad biyo.

Menkhause, waxaa uu hadalkiisa ku soo afmeeray, “marka aan barbar dhigo waxii aan hore uga arkay Somaaliland, hadda, waxaa aan u jeedaa dareenkii Somaalilandnimo oo si wiiqmaya, iyo dalkii oo ku sii hoobanaya godkii (madoobaa) ee qabiilka”. Waxaana uu u rajeeyay in aanu sii socon dib-u-dhacaasi, iyo in Madaxweyne Muuse Biixi dalka ku soo dabbaalo qarannimo, cadaalad iyo wax wada lahaansho.

Aragtida Prof Menkhause waxaa laga dhadhansan karaa lexejeclada uu ka leeyahy Somaaliland. Runtiina, waxaa la qaba waxgarad badan oo reer Somaaliland ah kuwaasoo aragtiyo la mid ku soo jeediyay af iyo qoraalba.

Haddaba, haddii aqoonyahankii shisheeye uu sidaa ugu danqanayo dalka, aniga iyo inta kale ee u dhalatay waxaa xil ka saaran yahay in aan la nimaadno lexejeclo soke, tudhaal iyo is-xilqaam si wadajir ah loogu dhisayo, ama loogu horemarinayo dhulka hooyo. Hase yeeshee, “Haantu Waxaa Ay Ka Tolontaa Gunta”, dadkuna waxba ma tari karo, haddii hoggaanku aanu u dhego nuglayn tabashada, talada iyo toosinta waxgaradka.

Isku soo xoori, marka aan dib u milicsado erayadii Madaxweyne Muuse Biixi uu ka yidhi Ceerigaabo, Hadaaftimo, Laascaanood iyo Boorame ololahii doorashada; sidoo kale, erayadii uu kaga tiraabay xafladdii uu ku ambabixinayay hawlwadeenadii olalahiisa doorashada (fartaada waad eedi doontaa); erayadii uu kaga dhawaaqay caleemasaarkiisii (Sayid Maxamed ayaa ah mujaahidka innoogu weyn); iyo erayadii uu ka soo jeediyay Shirkii Xisbiga Kulmiye, Boorame; waxaa aan aaminsan ahay Madaxweyne Muuse Biixi in uu leeyahy ku-dhaca, go’aan-qaadashada, iyo u xaqsooridda dadka taasoo ay ku jirto mideynta dalka iyo horumarintiisa.

Hase ahaatee, haddii uu ka baaqsado waajibkiisa iyo fulinta waxii dan u ah qaranka, waxaa aan cabsi weyn ka muujinayaa in uu gabaabsi yahay samirkii iyo dulqaadkii bulshadu. Waxaana hubaal ah in ay tashan doonto ciddii dulman. “Rag tashaday, cir waa toli karaan, taako labadeede”.

Somaaliland, “Raqay Ninkii Lahaa Dabada Haysto Ma Kacdo Ayaa La Yidhaahdaa!” La soco Qaybta 3aad, “Qiimo Dhaca Dalka iyo Dadka Marka Qaranka Loo Maamulo Sidii Qoys” …………
Xassan Cumar Hoorri, Qoraa ka faallooda waayaha Geeska Afrika iyo Bariga Dhexe, waxaa aad kala xidhiidhi kartaa hassanhorri@gmail.com, iyo hassan.horri@horn;id.org ama ku raadraac Twitter @Horrimania

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

When Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, came to power a year ago this month, he promised reforms that would touch on the military and security, the economy, and electoral politics. He enjoyed widespread support.

One year on, some promised reforms are in the pipeline, but many were left unaddressed, and people are growing more impatient.

Regassa Bayssa, a lecturer in federalism and conflict management at Addis Ababa University in the nation’s capital, blames the deflated hopes on baggage from the past.

“Ethiopian ethnic federalism was designed to bring about justice and equity among the nation’s ethnic groups by devolving power. However, the federal system was undemocratic, centrist, and corrupt from the very beginning,” Regassa told Anadolu Agency.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s (TPLF) “total domination of the system coupled with a parasitic oligarchy related to the dominant group has created public discontent that has triggered reform from within the ruling party.”

The TPLF, one of four parties in the ruling coalition, had been a mover and shaker until a year ago, when it lost clout to the Oromo and Amhara, two groups pressing for reform as three years of anti-government protests shook the nation.

“The reforms spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had put in place several measures aimed at democratizing the federal system which could work for all sectors of society,” explained Regassa.

“Despite challenges, the reform is succeeding and will succeed because it has won the hearts and minds of Ethiopians across the nation.”

“Simmering ethnic nationalism, ethnic attacks and displacements are the work of those who lost their dominant political and economic status,” he added.

3M displaced

More than 3 million people have been displaced due to ethnic attacks that flared up in various parts of Ethiopia over the past year.

Abiy, however, contests this figure, saying there had been a backlog of more than one million people displaced before he even took office.

There were large-scale displacements in rural Ethiopia during the three years of anti-government protests, and the reform period is by no means the only time people got displaced.

Displacements continued over the course of the year as ethnic tensions got strained, with in-fighting flaring up more often than usual, stoking fear in peoples’ hearts and minds of a time worse even than that. People in Ethiopia are mindful of what happened decades ago in neighboring Somalia – a much more homogenous society – as a result of clan-based politics.

Ethiopia has long been plagued by ethnic tensions, sometimes sparking into clashes as with the Oromo and Somali communities, and most recently between Amhara and Oromo speakers in the Amhara regional state.

As the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide (against Tutsis by the majority Hutus) is fresh in people’s memories, one might wonder why people still propagate ethnic politics – politics of exclusion and division in a country that for ages has maintained its independence and unity.

Yet despite that, social media is replete with hate speech, forcing the Ethiopian parliament to draft a bill sanctioning hate speech (up to five years in prison and fines of 5,000 Ethiopian birr, or $173). And there have been many activists riding on ethnic federalism – a system that has been becoming entrenched in Ethiopia since 1995.

Unity threatened

Tigistu Awelu is a prominent politician who leads a national party called the Unity (Andinet) Party.

“So far the forces of unity in Ethiopia are getting weaker while the forces of division are rearing their heads stronger,” he told Anadolu Agency.

According to Tigistu, the multifaceted, far-reaching reform drive cannot be successful if the government fails to unify the nation.

“But conditions seem to favor proponents of ethnic politics rather than citizen-focused politics,” he said.

But Abiy, the reform’s architect, contends that clashes will begin to die down at some point as the pushing and shoving witnessed across the country was the result of longtime repression, during which the people were gagged and dragged along a prescribed political line.

“People tend to let off their emotions in various ways when they suddenly find themselves at liberty to express themselves freely,” he told a press conference last week, playing down a spate of comments – some criticizing the government – that could damage social cohesion.

Since taking office on April 2, 2018, the reformist leader has achieved many things, and perhaps too quickly. He opened up a political space that had been non-existent in the country, and he helped armed groups hitherto dubbed terrorists to the political fold – all of them, such as the OLF, ONLF and PG7, are now back home from the desert in neighboring Eritrea from where they waged war against the now-defunct repressive system.

The reform also saw the release of political prisoners, as the prime minister promised to hold free, fair, and democratic elections in May 2020.

A fine balance

Africa’s youngest leader has had stellar achievements in foreign relations as well. He made peace with Eritrea and also brought the leaders of Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia, and Kenya – countries long accustomed to eyeing each other with suspicion – together for a regional integration drive.

He struck a fine balance between Ethiopia looking East or West by following a policy that tilts to neither the U.S. and Europe nor to China, and most important of all he met with the leaders of Middle East superpowers the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt.

Many daunting challenges remain in the domestic field, though. And these challenges may threaten to unseat him if the charismatic, humble scholar-leader keeps ignoring them, as he has so far.

At a recent press conference, Temesgen Tiruneh, Abiy’s security adviser, said over the past year 10,000 political prisoners have been released and 7,000 exiled politicians came back home or were absolved from abroad from trumped-up charges.

The army leadership has been fundamentally changed to reflect the country’s ethnic diversity, he said. “The army is no longer dominated by a single ethnic group.”

He said: “The most real threat to the security of Ethiopia to date is ethnic politics.”

Source AA