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Editorials

The Nation (Nairobi)
EDITORIAL
December 10, 2004
Posted to the web December 10, 2004
Nairobi
This week, five ministers resigned from Somalia's two-month old interim
government, complaining that their clan had been short-changed in the
distribution of Cabinet posts.
When the new Somalia government was set up in Nairobi two months ago after more
than two years of political haggling, there were doubts as to whether it would
be able to move and set up shop back home as an effective government.
These resignations remind the international community and friends of Somalia
that the political deal reached to end over a decade of civil war in the Horn
of Africa nation is still fragile and can easily unravel.
This makes the case for quickly finding a way to help President Abdullahi Yusuf
install his government in a credible fashion on Somali soil.
The challenge of having ministers dealing with the enormous task of rebuilding
the country, will keep even the most disruptive elements fairly occupied.
In addition, perhaps faced with the more serious tasks of putting together what
has been destroyed in Somalia in the last 15 years, some of the bickering
politicians will realise that clan job quotas aren't an issue they should
resign over.
Otherwise, left in Nairobi, whiling away their time in coffee shops and holding
court at clan gatherings in Eastleigh, the leaders have little else to do but
plot.
Besides, Somalia is a very tough place. When the government ships out to
Mogadishu or wherever they will decide to locate, it's doubtful that all
members of the present Cabinet will have the courage to go along.
In this way, moving to Somalia will help sort out the non-committed and
cowardly, and leave mostly those willing to sacrifice to make something out of
the best opportunity the country has had in a very long time to get back on its
feet.
This not only serves the broad pan-African good, but it is also enlightened
self-interest for Somalia's neighbours and the world to help make this happen.

   

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