There has been a beehive of military activity in Somalia for the past few weeks. According to media reports, the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) headed by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has been mobilizing thousands of militias loyal to his government and contingents of well-trained troops who recently completed military training in friendly African countries for a final onslaught against forces opposed to his administration. Forces rivaling Somalia’s infant government include the theologically-driven Al-shabab supported by hundreds of foreign fighters. Al-shabab recently joined forces with the militia of Ras Kiamboni headed by hard-line Sheikh Hassan Turki. Hizb-ul-Islam, a faction headed by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and funded, supported, and advised by the Government of Eritrea is suspected to fight the Somali government should the war turn out to be full scale war. Eritrea has been a target of African Union condemnations because of its flagrant violation of Somalia peace and security and has been absent from the Union’s summits in Addis Ababa for the last ten years.
Somalia media is now abuzz with the drumbeats of war with some reporting that residents have seen foreign fighters fleeing the areas they previously frequented. These fighters have been mostly impacted and frightened by the continuous flights of foreign reconnaissance planes that have been flying over Somali airspace for the past few weeks. Somalia’s foreign fighters who have been drawn from all over the world have been providing rebellious factions with military expertise, bomb making skills, intelligence gathering, and have been vanguards of targeted assassinations against high profiles and most importantly oversaw almost all suicide bombing operations. By fighting alongside the rebels, in return, these foreign fighters get the free will to marry Somali women of their choosing while enjoying unconditional protection from international manhunt and prosecution.
Somalia’s president has run out of patience with those wrecking devastation in his besieged nation. Sheikh Sharif Started clasping his fists as a form of practicing pugilism and tightening his belt after his administration celebrated its first year in office. For the past year he has been globetrotting seeking assurances and gathering support from friends and allies of Somalia. Residents of Mogadishu reported seeing the young president in military garrisons fuming and clad in military fatigue-a sign the next few weeks will turn the tables upside down. The alternating interviews he gave to foreign and local media houses, the various communiqués he is said to have issued, and the movement of troops and hardware he is said to be overseeing should be enough to signal the end of a bleak era for Somalia and the start of peaceful reconstruction.
Ahl-sunna-wal-jama’a (ASWJ), the Sufi-led faction that controls the central regions and allied to the TFG, has its forces in high alert. ASWJ with support from Ethiopia could inflict devastating blows to Al-shabab and Hizb-ul-Islam forces fleeing to Ethiopia’s Somali region. The Government of Kenya, having amassed thousands of troops along its border with Somalia and having officially closed all border crossings could act as a detriment against fleeing terrorists. To the north, the tiny nation of Djibouti with support from French and American forces could deter fleeing rebel forces. Massive aerial bombing by western powers will undoubtedly bring about shock and awe to the rebels military installations. Those running away in decrepit dhows and headed for the Gulf of Aden could be blockaded by the combined international navies currently battling piracy along the coasts of Somalia. Such concerted efforts could usher in the defeat of international terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Analysis: Taking Africa Seriously
This is an analysis on the article Taking Africa Seriously. It was was written by Lieutenant Commander Patrick J. Paterson and is a copyright from the U.S. Naval Institute proceedings of 2007. Lt. Commander Patrick J. Paterson is a Navy Foreign Area Officer who recently completed an assignment with Special Operations Command Europe. “He was a strategic planner for Operation Enduring Freedom-Trans Sahara (OEF-TS) and coordinated U.S. Special Operations Forces employment in 43 countries.” He is a prolific writer who has written many articles pertaining to security especially in Europe and Africa. He obtained his B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and his Mater of Arts in National Security Affairs in June 1997.
Setting the Stage: Paterson focuses his attention on the creation of African Command (AFRICOM) which was established in 2002, the changing foreign policy of the United States toward the massive African continent in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the growing threat of terrorists in Africa. He explores the myriads of problems sprouting in Africa and the role the United States could play to bring about sustainable peace and stability before the continent becomes a breeding ground for terrorists. The writer elucidates how, “according to the Pentagon’s Unified Command Plan, the world’s regions are divided into zones”. He further explains how, for strategic military purposes, 43 of the 53 African nations was overseen by the European Command (EUCOM) based in Stuttgart while the Central Command (CENTCOM) located in Tampa oversaw the operations of eight African nations in the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen while the islands of the Pacific Coast which include Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius fell to the Pacific Command in what Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense berated as “an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War.”
Thesis: Because of the enormous size of the African continent where “the region encompasses 25 percent of the world’s landmass and 20 percent of its coastline”, Africa’s diverse culture, its hundreds of ethnic tribes, and its
existing dissimilar religious composition will remain a daunting task for AFRICOM. The writer argues that “transferring all the various African programs from three COCOMs to a new headquarter was deemed problematic and unnecessary.”
Since the closure of the Wheelus Airbase near Tripoli, Libya, in 1970, the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) currently headquartered in Djibouti and established after 9/11will serve as the first permanent U.S. military base for the entire continent with the exception of Egypt.
Searching for a Home: Up to now no one precisely knows where the future AFRICOM command headquarters will be in Africa. Former President Bush has been quoted to have said “we will work closely with our African partners to determine an appropriate location for the new command in Africa.” The writer is of the view that many African nations are reluctant to host the new command headquarters. Much of African nations’ hesitancy to host the command headquarters emanates from the U.S. invasion of Iraq and other suspicions related to U.S. objectives in Africa. Whatever suspicions African states may have about U.S. presence in the continent, Theresa Whelan, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense has a different opinion. She has been quoted as saying: “Some people believe that we are establishing AFRICOM solely to fight terrorism or to secure oil resources or to discourage China. That is not true. AFRICOM is about helping Africans build greater capacity to assure their own security.”
A New Model for Regional Military Commands: AFRICOM will be totally different in perspective from EUCOM and CENTCOM in the manner it operates. It will serve as a base for humanitarian operations. Despite the size of the continent sounding massive and challenging to other forces, the U.S. military has the means and logistics to penetrate every corner of the continent without any huddles as it did in previous adventures in other parts of the world. “AFRICOM will attempt to coordinate and focus the efforts of myriad government, international, and nongovernmental relief agencies dedicated to improving Africa’s deplorable public-health problems.”
Current Military Missions: The presence of the U.S. military in Africa has already been felt in Djibouti where CJTF-HOA, under the command of CENTCOM’s Navy Rear Admiral James Hart, oversees 1,800personnel that include engineers, veterinarians, an doctors who meticulously provide benevolent services to nomadic and urban communities so as to deter radicalism and extremism caused by destitution. Since 81% of the 54,000 peacekeeping troops serving Africa come from the continent itself, AFRICOM’s primary mission will be training the peacekeepers.
U.S. Strategic Objectives: The African continent is experiencing population explosion which could lead to “youth bulge”. It is estimated that the current 800 million population of the continent will grow to 2 billion by 2050. So, in order to deter the youth from exploitation, “military civil affairs units and AFRICOM-supported charity organizations will have the dual assignments of winning the hearts and minds of Africans while improving their desperate conditions.” Thus, our military’s role of curtailing poverty, providing health care services, and sustaining animal husbandry through veterinary services will in the long run usher in the long-awaited democracy which will drastically reduce if not eliminate the menace of radicalism and extremism much feared in Africa. In my own opinion, this is what many Africans would want the U.S. to undertake for the betterment of their continent.
Can We Do It? “But regardless of perceptions, the best hopes of preventing an African apocalypse ride on the shoulders of the new African command”, concludes the writer. Given the right resources, Africa’s suspicions will finally dissolve despite the United States’ invasion of two Muslim countries.
Lieutenant Commander Patrick J. Patterson’s arguments on Taking Africa Seriously describe Liberalism.
Setting the Stage: Paterson focuses his attention on the creation of African Command (AFRICOM) which was established in 2002, the changing foreign policy of the United States toward the massive African continent in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the growing threat of terrorists in Africa. He explores the myriads of problems sprouting in Africa and the role the United States could play to bring about sustainable peace and stability before the continent becomes a breeding ground for terrorists. The writer elucidates how, “according to the Pentagon’s Unified Command Plan, the world’s regions are divided into zones”. He further explains how, for strategic military purposes, 43 of the 53 African nations was overseen by the European Command (EUCOM) based in Stuttgart while the Central Command (CENTCOM) located in Tampa oversaw the operations of eight African nations in the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen while the islands of the Pacific Coast which include Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius fell to the Pacific Command in what Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense berated as “an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War.”
Thesis: Because of the enormous size of the African continent where “the region encompasses 25 percent of the world’s landmass and 20 percent of its coastline”, Africa’s diverse culture, its hundreds of ethnic tribes, and its
existing dissimilar religious composition will remain a daunting task for AFRICOM. The writer argues that “transferring all the various African programs from three COCOMs to a new headquarter was deemed problematic and unnecessary.”
Since the closure of the Wheelus Airbase near Tripoli, Libya, in 1970, the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) currently headquartered in Djibouti and established after 9/11will serve as the first permanent U.S. military base for the entire continent with the exception of Egypt.
Searching for a Home: Up to now no one precisely knows where the future AFRICOM command headquarters will be in Africa. Former President Bush has been quoted to have said “we will work closely with our African partners to determine an appropriate location for the new command in Africa.” The writer is of the view that many African nations are reluctant to host the new command headquarters. Much of African nations’ hesitancy to host the command headquarters emanates from the U.S. invasion of Iraq and other suspicions related to U.S. objectives in Africa. Whatever suspicions African states may have about U.S. presence in the continent, Theresa Whelan, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense has a different opinion. She has been quoted as saying: “Some people believe that we are establishing AFRICOM solely to fight terrorism or to secure oil resources or to discourage China. That is not true. AFRICOM is about helping Africans build greater capacity to assure their own security.”
A New Model for Regional Military Commands: AFRICOM will be totally different in perspective from EUCOM and CENTCOM in the manner it operates. It will serve as a base for humanitarian operations. Despite the size of the continent sounding massive and challenging to other forces, the U.S. military has the means and logistics to penetrate every corner of the continent without any huddles as it did in previous adventures in other parts of the world. “AFRICOM will attempt to coordinate and focus the efforts of myriad government, international, and nongovernmental relief agencies dedicated to improving Africa’s deplorable public-health problems.”
Current Military Missions: The presence of the U.S. military in Africa has already been felt in Djibouti where CJTF-HOA, under the command of CENTCOM’s Navy Rear Admiral James Hart, oversees 1,800personnel that include engineers, veterinarians, an doctors who meticulously provide benevolent services to nomadic and urban communities so as to deter radicalism and extremism caused by destitution. Since 81% of the 54,000 peacekeeping troops serving Africa come from the continent itself, AFRICOM’s primary mission will be training the peacekeepers.
U.S. Strategic Objectives: The African continent is experiencing population explosion which could lead to “youth bulge”. It is estimated that the current 800 million population of the continent will grow to 2 billion by 2050. So, in order to deter the youth from exploitation, “military civil affairs units and AFRICOM-supported charity organizations will have the dual assignments of winning the hearts and minds of Africans while improving their desperate conditions.” Thus, our military’s role of curtailing poverty, providing health care services, and sustaining animal husbandry through veterinary services will in the long run usher in the long-awaited democracy which will drastically reduce if not eliminate the menace of radicalism and extremism much feared in Africa. In my own opinion, this is what many Africans would want the U.S. to undertake for the betterment of their continent.
Can We Do It? “But regardless of perceptions, the best hopes of preventing an African apocalypse ride on the shoulders of the new African command”, concludes the writer. Given the right resources, Africa’s suspicions will finally dissolve despite the United States’ invasion of two Muslim countries.
Lieutenant Commander Patrick J. Patterson’s arguments on Taking Africa Seriously describe Liberalism.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Goormu Istaagi Doona Dagaalka Soomaaliya?
Tan iyo intii xukunka laga tuuray Madaxweyne Maxamed Siyaad Barre sannadkii 1991, ummadda Soomaaliyeed weli waxaa ka dhex aloosan colaad aan dhammaad lahayn. Waa kastoo barya, qorrax kastoo dhacda, gudcur iyo ileys, gu' iyo jiilaal, waxaa dhegaha caalamka ka dhammaan la' ibtilo aan dabargo' lahayn iyo hadalhayn aan dhadhan wanaagsan lahayn. Waxaaso balaayo ah waxaa usabab ah rag aan damiir lahayn oo aan garaneyn muhiimadda ay leedahay dawladnimada. Si kastoo dib-uheeshiisiin loogu qabtana, ugu dambeyn natiijadu waa kalaguur. Mid kasta wuxuu hamiyaya inuu noqdo madax sifa uu danihiisa iyo tan qabiilkiisa uhormariyo.
Dabcan, dawlado badan ayaa soo maray isjiidjiid siiyadeed iyo dagaalo lagu hoobtay. Hase yeeshee waa ay ka gudbeen. Soomaaliyaana ma aha qarankii ugu horeeyay ee jaba oo waa looga horeeyay. Hadiii aynu eegno qaaradda Afrika, dawlado ay kamid yihiin Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Zaire, Kenya, iyo kuwo kale ayaa dhammaan xilliyo kalageddisan la kulmay colaad hadba noocuu rabo ha ahaadee. Inkasto loolan siyaasadeed uu kadhexdilaacay raggii horboodaayey hurinta colaadeed waddamadani aan hore kuso sheegay, waxay ugu dambeyn la yimaadeen heshiis iyo afgarasho sidii lagu badbaadin lahaa umadda dhibaateysan ee dhexdooda ku baaba'ayay.
Laga soo bilaabo 1991, Soomaaliya waxaa loo dhisay dhawr dawladood oo ay caalamka kubixisay malaayiin lacag ah. Dawladahaasina waxay noqdeen hal bacaad lagu lisay. Weriye reer galbeed ah ayaa wuxuu yidhi "Jeneraal Caydiid wuxuu cunaayey cunto nadiif ah oo kulul ayaadoo teendhada uu kujidhay debedeeda dadku ay gaajo ugu dhammaanayeen." Haddii Caydiid uu lahaan lahaa qof iimmaan iyo damiir dhab ah leh, kama suurtowdeen in uu dhergo ayadoo dadkiisa gaajo udhammaanayaan. Sideedaba, waa xaaraan in qof Muslim ah caloosha buuxsado ama dhergo asagoo og in uu jidho ruux kale oo gaajeysan.
Maanta, ummadda Soomaaliyeed dunida dacalladeeda oo dhammi ayey ku tabaaleysantahay. Waxaan ka ahayn kuwa qurbaha kunool, Soomaali inteeda badani gaajo iyo macluul ayey ladhammaaneysa. Haddii ay umaaddu shaqeysan lahayd, waxaa udiiday rag calooshood ushaqeysteyaal ah oo aan marnaba arki karin cid kale oo xamaalaata ama macaashta. Soomaali waxay noqotay wax ladilo, wax qaxa, iyo wax buka oo aan waxba istari karin. Haddii adduunka usoo gurman lahaana, kuwo dulli ah ayaa hortaagan oo udiidan daryeel ama gargaar caalami.
Soomaali deriskeeda ayey dagaal kutahay. Waxaa waddankeedu kadillaacay xisbiyo badan oo aan lahayn mabda'a ama tabo siyaasadeed. Kuwa horboodayana ama waa haraadigii dawladdii duntay ama waa odayaal kudagaalama maskax shisheeye. Qaar baa waxay layimaadeen dhaqan aan hore looga aqoon geyiga Soomaaliyeed. Dumarka ayey waddooyinka kukarbaashaan; dil joogta ah ayey umadda kuhayaan; canshuur ayan awoodiin ummadda masaakiinta ah ayey uruurshaan; dhac, boob, kufsi ayaa dadkii lala dabataaganyahay.
Dhirtii waa laxaalufiyay oo waxaa laga dhigay dhuxul loo dhoofiyo waddammada carabta; badeheeni waxaa harqiyay maraakiib shisheeye iyo qowleysato lamagacbaxay "budhcad badeed"; sun iyo qashin warshadeed ayaa laga buuxshay xeebihii; abaar, biyo la'aan, cunto la'aan, cudur, dil iyo dhac ayaa ciiddeeni rogay. Haddaba, waxaan odhan lahaa Soomaali ha iska sabarto, Eebbe ayaa keenayaa nasteexe.
Dabcan, dawlado badan ayaa soo maray isjiidjiid siiyadeed iyo dagaalo lagu hoobtay. Hase yeeshee waa ay ka gudbeen. Soomaaliyaana ma aha qarankii ugu horeeyay ee jaba oo waa looga horeeyay. Hadiii aynu eegno qaaradda Afrika, dawlado ay kamid yihiin Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Zaire, Kenya, iyo kuwo kale ayaa dhammaan xilliyo kalageddisan la kulmay colaad hadba noocuu rabo ha ahaadee. Inkasto loolan siyaasadeed uu kadhexdilaacay raggii horboodaayey hurinta colaadeed waddamadani aan hore kuso sheegay, waxay ugu dambeyn la yimaadeen heshiis iyo afgarasho sidii lagu badbaadin lahaa umadda dhibaateysan ee dhexdooda ku baaba'ayay.
Laga soo bilaabo 1991, Soomaaliya waxaa loo dhisay dhawr dawladood oo ay caalamka kubixisay malaayiin lacag ah. Dawladahaasina waxay noqdeen hal bacaad lagu lisay. Weriye reer galbeed ah ayaa wuxuu yidhi "Jeneraal Caydiid wuxuu cunaayey cunto nadiif ah oo kulul ayaadoo teendhada uu kujidhay debedeeda dadku ay gaajo ugu dhammaanayeen." Haddii Caydiid uu lahaan lahaa qof iimmaan iyo damiir dhab ah leh, kama suurtowdeen in uu dhergo ayadoo dadkiisa gaajo udhammaanayaan. Sideedaba, waa xaaraan in qof Muslim ah caloosha buuxsado ama dhergo asagoo og in uu jidho ruux kale oo gaajeysan.
Maanta, ummadda Soomaaliyeed dunida dacalladeeda oo dhammi ayey ku tabaaleysantahay. Waxaan ka ahayn kuwa qurbaha kunool, Soomaali inteeda badani gaajo iyo macluul ayey ladhammaaneysa. Haddii ay umaaddu shaqeysan lahayd, waxaa udiiday rag calooshood ushaqeysteyaal ah oo aan marnaba arki karin cid kale oo xamaalaata ama macaashta. Soomaali waxay noqotay wax ladilo, wax qaxa, iyo wax buka oo aan waxba istari karin. Haddii adduunka usoo gurman lahaana, kuwo dulli ah ayaa hortaagan oo udiidan daryeel ama gargaar caalami.
Soomaali deriskeeda ayey dagaal kutahay. Waxaa waddankeedu kadillaacay xisbiyo badan oo aan lahayn mabda'a ama tabo siyaasadeed. Kuwa horboodayana ama waa haraadigii dawladdii duntay ama waa odayaal kudagaalama maskax shisheeye. Qaar baa waxay layimaadeen dhaqan aan hore looga aqoon geyiga Soomaaliyeed. Dumarka ayey waddooyinka kukarbaashaan; dil joogta ah ayey umadda kuhayaan; canshuur ayan awoodiin ummadda masaakiinta ah ayey uruurshaan; dhac, boob, kufsi ayaa dadkii lala dabataaganyahay.
Dhirtii waa laxaalufiyay oo waxaa laga dhigay dhuxul loo dhoofiyo waddammada carabta; badeheeni waxaa harqiyay maraakiib shisheeye iyo qowleysato lamagacbaxay "budhcad badeed"; sun iyo qashin warshadeed ayaa laga buuxshay xeebihii; abaar, biyo la'aan, cunto la'aan, cudur, dil iyo dhac ayaa ciiddeeni rogay. Haddaba, waxaan odhan lahaa Soomaali ha iska sabarto, Eebbe ayaa keenayaa nasteexe.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Kenya Points Fingers at Al-Shabaab
There have been a lot of unease and violent demonstrations on Friday in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, after Muslim demonstrators took to the streets demanding the release of Jamaican Muslim cleric, Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal who is being held for preaching religious hatred and awaiting deportation to his native Jamaica. Earlier, the Kenya Police denied Muslim Human Rights Forum a permit to hold peaceful demonstrations. However, on Friday Muslim demonstrators gathered outside Nairobi’s Jamia Mosque to protest against the detention and forceful deportation of Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal. The demonstrations turned violent after the police used live bullets and lobbed teargas at the demonstrators.
According to George Saitoti who is the minister responsible for internal security, two civilians were killed in the fracas, three others wounded and six police officers injured. However, Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua contradicted the minister, saying only one person died and 11 injured five of them civilians. According to the Standard Newspaper, Saitoti was flanked at the news conference by Ministers Yusuf Hajji (Defence), Mohamed Kuti (Livestock) and Mohamed Elmi (Development of Northern Kenya and Arid Lands) who condemned the protest in the strongest terms and also called for a thorough investigation into the causes of the violence.
Perhaps, the presence of hooligans who were not party to the demonstrations but who were there for the sake of looting the surrounding businesses resulted in the use of force by the police. Since attaining independence from Britain in 1963, the use of brutal force to quell disturbances by the Kenya police and security forces is well documented. A case in point is the Wagalla airstrip massacre of 1984 where hundreds of innocent civilians were gunned down by the security forces that was supposed to protect them. The enormity of this incident is documented in a book titled Blood on the Runway.
Kenya Muslim leaders have called on the government to take action against the police officers who were responsible for the deaths of the innocent unarmed demonstrators. They also called for the sacking of the commissioner of police and the resignation of Alfred Mutua, the government spokesman or else they will take undisclosed action. In a land where human and civil rights activists have been targeted in the past by the state apparatus, the possibility of having thorough investigations and fair jurisdictions must not be taken for granted.
According to the Kenya Government, Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal entered the country on a tourist visa but attracted the government’s attention after he started preaching religious intolerance. The Jamaican preacher was previously expelled out of the country only to be returned to Kenya because there was no country that would take him. Most airlines have refused to ferry him because he is on the no-fly list.
Now Kenya is pointing fingers at Al-Shabaab, the religious faction fighting for control of Somalia. Currently, Al-Shabaab is in total control of Somalia’s southern provinces and has been expanding territorially for the past few years.
Western intelligence sources have indicated that Al-Shabaab is fighting a proxy war and that its main leaders had previous training in Afghanistan and that it has hundreds of foreign fighters inside Somalia carrying out assassinations and suicide bombings.
Sources report that some of the demonstrators were waving the black flag of Al-Shabaab while shouting slogans in support of the group. If this be the case, then Al-Shabaab has infiltrated Kenya’s social fabric and that its rhetoric of spreading religious upheaval may be coming to fruition.
Unlike Mungiki, Kenya’s underground gang that has been the cause of past civil disobediences, what is worth comprehending is that Al-Shabaab is a well-organized armed group with inflexible intelligence structures and positive logistics and that it is capable of surviving for a long time just like the Taliban of Afghanistan.
In other developing news, the man who is the spokesman for Al-Shabaab in Somalia’s Juba regions, Sheikh Hassan Yakub Ali, has been quoted as saying that the current wars raging in the Hiiraan and Galgaduud regions are being waged by Ahlu-Sunna-Waljamaaca that is in alliance with the Somali Transitional Government against the forces of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul-Islam. The spokesman further heaped blame on the Ethiopian government and AMISOM troops in Somalia for arming the Somali government and Ahlu-Sunna-Waljamaaca.
On the other hand, frustrated by the continuous infiltrations of Al-Shabaab militia into Kenya’s North Eastern Province (NEP) and the subsequent abductions of foreigners, after prolonged deliberations, elders of the Kenya-Somali community issued a strongly-worded statement admonishing the leaders of Al-Shabaab to refrain from destabilizing a peaceful Kenya that is already host to thousands of refugees from Somalia and from around the region.
Obviously, the exhortations directed at the leaders of Al-Shabaab will fall on deaf ears since Al-Shabaab’s intentions are farfetched. Al-Shabaab is first determined to secure Somalia and then establish an Islamic government and from there on it will, presumably, carry the war to the Ogaden region in Ethiopia and the former Northern Frontier District (NFD) of Kenya. The two regions were annexed to Ethiopia and Kenya respectively during the colonial era. Neither Ethiopia nor Kenya is willing to give away an inch of their territory come what may.
In every healthy democracy citizens have a right to demonstrate as demonstration is a sign of alleviating misconceptions and voicing concerns and grievances. A government that respects the rights of its citizens must hold the voices of its citizens in high esteem. In the case of the demonstrations in Kenya, that did not happen because in the first instance Muslims were denied a permit to converge and rally behind what they deemed a just cause.
Kenya has seen enough of civil disturbances and any repeat must be avoided at all cost. The 2008 election irregularities in which the supporters of Raila Odinga, the current Prime Minister and those of the President in the helm, Mwai Kibaki, that left over 1,000 dead and many others injured and displaced, should be enough to forewarn Kenyans of the consequences of political stupidity and absurd human miscalculations.
To this day, the 2008 incidents remain issues of political contention as Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Argentinian man appointed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is about to indict the instigators and have those found guilty kept behind bars. Luis Moreno-Ocampo is credited with indicting the generals who committed gross human injustices during the reign of Augusto Pinochet of Argentina.
With rising crime and biting unemployment and tense social and political instability adding up to the nation's woes, Kenya leaders should discard any future idea of firing another live bullet at its citizens. Leadership is about having absolute vision, perseverance, patience, observing sanctity of life, and respecting human dignity. The recent squabbling between Uganda and Kenya over the tiny Migingo Island on Lake Victoria seems to have been forgotten.
To avoid unforeseen disturbances, the Kenya government, instead of holding Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal in detention for such a long time, must do all it can to fly him out of the country to Jamaica-his country of origin-even it means hiring a special jet for this one-time adventure. Then, it will have to embark on the long and arduous journey of having close working relationships with Muslim leaders and also demonstrate to its Muslim citizens its good intentions. Then after the dust settles, the Kenya government must prove beyond reasonable doubt how Al-Shabaab is meddling in its internal affairs so it can have the unanimous support of Kenya Muslims.
According to George Saitoti who is the minister responsible for internal security, two civilians were killed in the fracas, three others wounded and six police officers injured. However, Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua contradicted the minister, saying only one person died and 11 injured five of them civilians. According to the Standard Newspaper, Saitoti was flanked at the news conference by Ministers Yusuf Hajji (Defence), Mohamed Kuti (Livestock) and Mohamed Elmi (Development of Northern Kenya and Arid Lands) who condemned the protest in the strongest terms and also called for a thorough investigation into the causes of the violence.
Perhaps, the presence of hooligans who were not party to the demonstrations but who were there for the sake of looting the surrounding businesses resulted in the use of force by the police. Since attaining independence from Britain in 1963, the use of brutal force to quell disturbances by the Kenya police and security forces is well documented. A case in point is the Wagalla airstrip massacre of 1984 where hundreds of innocent civilians were gunned down by the security forces that was supposed to protect them. The enormity of this incident is documented in a book titled Blood on the Runway.
Kenya Muslim leaders have called on the government to take action against the police officers who were responsible for the deaths of the innocent unarmed demonstrators. They also called for the sacking of the commissioner of police and the resignation of Alfred Mutua, the government spokesman or else they will take undisclosed action. In a land where human and civil rights activists have been targeted in the past by the state apparatus, the possibility of having thorough investigations and fair jurisdictions must not be taken for granted.
According to the Kenya Government, Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal entered the country on a tourist visa but attracted the government’s attention after he started preaching religious intolerance. The Jamaican preacher was previously expelled out of the country only to be returned to Kenya because there was no country that would take him. Most airlines have refused to ferry him because he is on the no-fly list.
Now Kenya is pointing fingers at Al-Shabaab, the religious faction fighting for control of Somalia. Currently, Al-Shabaab is in total control of Somalia’s southern provinces and has been expanding territorially for the past few years.
Western intelligence sources have indicated that Al-Shabaab is fighting a proxy war and that its main leaders had previous training in Afghanistan and that it has hundreds of foreign fighters inside Somalia carrying out assassinations and suicide bombings.
Sources report that some of the demonstrators were waving the black flag of Al-Shabaab while shouting slogans in support of the group. If this be the case, then Al-Shabaab has infiltrated Kenya’s social fabric and that its rhetoric of spreading religious upheaval may be coming to fruition.
Unlike Mungiki, Kenya’s underground gang that has been the cause of past civil disobediences, what is worth comprehending is that Al-Shabaab is a well-organized armed group with inflexible intelligence structures and positive logistics and that it is capable of surviving for a long time just like the Taliban of Afghanistan.
In other developing news, the man who is the spokesman for Al-Shabaab in Somalia’s Juba regions, Sheikh Hassan Yakub Ali, has been quoted as saying that the current wars raging in the Hiiraan and Galgaduud regions are being waged by Ahlu-Sunna-Waljamaaca that is in alliance with the Somali Transitional Government against the forces of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul-Islam. The spokesman further heaped blame on the Ethiopian government and AMISOM troops in Somalia for arming the Somali government and Ahlu-Sunna-Waljamaaca.
On the other hand, frustrated by the continuous infiltrations of Al-Shabaab militia into Kenya’s North Eastern Province (NEP) and the subsequent abductions of foreigners, after prolonged deliberations, elders of the Kenya-Somali community issued a strongly-worded statement admonishing the leaders of Al-Shabaab to refrain from destabilizing a peaceful Kenya that is already host to thousands of refugees from Somalia and from around the region.
Obviously, the exhortations directed at the leaders of Al-Shabaab will fall on deaf ears since Al-Shabaab’s intentions are farfetched. Al-Shabaab is first determined to secure Somalia and then establish an Islamic government and from there on it will, presumably, carry the war to the Ogaden region in Ethiopia and the former Northern Frontier District (NFD) of Kenya. The two regions were annexed to Ethiopia and Kenya respectively during the colonial era. Neither Ethiopia nor Kenya is willing to give away an inch of their territory come what may.
In every healthy democracy citizens have a right to demonstrate as demonstration is a sign of alleviating misconceptions and voicing concerns and grievances. A government that respects the rights of its citizens must hold the voices of its citizens in high esteem. In the case of the demonstrations in Kenya, that did not happen because in the first instance Muslims were denied a permit to converge and rally behind what they deemed a just cause.
Kenya has seen enough of civil disturbances and any repeat must be avoided at all cost. The 2008 election irregularities in which the supporters of Raila Odinga, the current Prime Minister and those of the President in the helm, Mwai Kibaki, that left over 1,000 dead and many others injured and displaced, should be enough to forewarn Kenyans of the consequences of political stupidity and absurd human miscalculations.
To this day, the 2008 incidents remain issues of political contention as Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Argentinian man appointed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is about to indict the instigators and have those found guilty kept behind bars. Luis Moreno-Ocampo is credited with indicting the generals who committed gross human injustices during the reign of Augusto Pinochet of Argentina.
With rising crime and biting unemployment and tense social and political instability adding up to the nation's woes, Kenya leaders should discard any future idea of firing another live bullet at its citizens. Leadership is about having absolute vision, perseverance, patience, observing sanctity of life, and respecting human dignity. The recent squabbling between Uganda and Kenya over the tiny Migingo Island on Lake Victoria seems to have been forgotten.
To avoid unforeseen disturbances, the Kenya government, instead of holding Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal in detention for such a long time, must do all it can to fly him out of the country to Jamaica-his country of origin-even it means hiring a special jet for this one-time adventure. Then, it will have to embark on the long and arduous journey of having close working relationships with Muslim leaders and also demonstrate to its Muslim citizens its good intentions. Then after the dust settles, the Kenya government must prove beyond reasonable doubt how Al-Shabaab is meddling in its internal affairs so it can have the unanimous support of Kenya Muslims.
Friday, January 1, 2010
A New Year, an Eclipse of the Moon, and Escalation of War
Millions of people across the world have been reveling in commemoration of the beginning of the year Two Thousand and Ten (2010) corresponding to the Gregorian calendar. It also denotes the birth of Jesus Christ 2010 years ago. In some regions of the world especially in Africa, a unique eclipse of the moon was sighted while in some other regions a blue moon shone in the heavens-phenomena experienced twenty years ago. The bluish moon, according to cosmologists, is attributed to the dust and other chemicals emitted by the lower heavens. Volcanic ash and other chemical reactions on earth coupled with the rays of the moon and the stars cause the outer atmosphere to turn bluish. The eclipse of the moon must have been a source of solace for many who turn to the heavens for divine guidance.
While millions celebrate the fruits of peace and liberty, there are millions who continue to experience insecurity, hunger, illiteracy, thirst, political instability, poor governance, and a host of other ills caused by Mother Nature and by callous fellow humans. A prime example is the tiny nation of Somalia in the Horn of Africa. Somalia remained a democracy from its inception in 1960 until 1969 when a group of military officers took over the helm after the sudden assassination of the then democratically elected civilian president, Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. Since that goes around comes around, the tiny Horn of Africa nation descended into chaos when the military government headed by Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre was overthrown in 1991 by a ragtag militia led by General Aidid . Aidid died a few years later after being hit by a stray bullet from a warring faction that was pursuing him. To this day, Aidid’s followers commemorate the day he died for they consider him to have been a hero and a saint.
The ruling junta applied brutal force to advance its agenda. The government trade and marketing strategy was one based on monopoly where select agencies delivered goods and services to the public. There was hardly any sort of privatization.
The president and his henchmen enjoyed the fruits of independence while the rest suffered. The military government, which espoused opportunistic, cunning, and arrogant illegitimate political behavior, opposed any from of protests or demonstrations, peaceful or aggressive by university students or the general population.
Thus, most Somalis have been raised in a land of aggression, poor governance, and intolerance. Undoubtedly, some of those bad leadership traits deliberately filtered into their thoughts and processes. Immense pressure from the government-operated security apparatus known as the National Security Service (NSS) eroded their ability to think effectively in terms of leadership.
Task conflict, dysfunctional conflict, and potential opposition to governmental operations retarded any prospects for compromise. The absence of reallocation of resources, unclear performance evaluation systems, low trust, zero-sum reward practices, and lack of promotion opportunities hampered people’s prospects for leadership success. In a nutshell, the confused and convoluted form of leadership style espoused by the military regime ultimately led to the disintegration of Somalia.
As I write, the religiously-inclined Al-shabab faction that is in control of the central and southern regions of Somalia has issued a stern warning to all forces-domestic and foreign-engaged in the pacification of Somalia. During religious sermons delivered across mosques in Mogadishu, Al-shabab leaders pointed fingers mainly at the United Nations and the United States. These same leaders have been reported to have sent messages of relief to their brothers and sisters across the Gulf of Aden. Al-shabab leaders have been quoted as saying that they will take the war to Yemen. In a show of force, Al-shabab paraded hundreds of newly-graduated fighters in the streets of Mogadishu.
On the other hand, Somalia’s transitional government is devising a war plan that is meant to clean the country from Al-shabab menace. With the help of fierce firepower from the African Union troops in the country, the federal government aims to secure the areas under Al-shabab control within a short time. Hundreds if not thousands of government troops trained in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, and Rwanda are expected in the country soon to take part in the all-out-war against the insurgents wrecking havoc in Somalia.
The anticipated massive mobilization of troops and hardware by the Somali government could lead to the unexpected unification of the forces of Al-shabab and the hard-line Hizbul Islam group led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys who is wanted in the west for terrorism related activities. The two factions are on the process of establishing an emirate for the Horn of African nation. They intend to have a Somalia governed by an Emir-an Emir who will have absolute power over the affairs and foundations of the entire nation while eying further expansion to neighboring countries.
The imaginary caliphate will eventually extend invitations to foreign fighters driven by religious zeal so that the theocratic beliefs of the Emir may be transported across Somalia’s borders. The aftermath of the resounding blitzkrieg will obviously lead to a humanitarian disaster. Wherefore, Somalia will be transformed into a new killing field where corpses will litter everywhere like in the era of black plague. Millions of unfortunate citizens will be affected with refugees spilling over to neighboring countries and across the shark-infested waters of the Indian Ocean and even beyond. There will be an increase in banditry, escalation of piracy, environmental pollution, sealing of borders, and increased naval and aerial reconnaissance. Businesses will come to a standstill, hospitals will run out of medicine, there will be shortage of food, taps will run dry, and in the initial end none will emerge winner.
While millions celebrate the fruits of peace and liberty, there are millions who continue to experience insecurity, hunger, illiteracy, thirst, political instability, poor governance, and a host of other ills caused by Mother Nature and by callous fellow humans. A prime example is the tiny nation of Somalia in the Horn of Africa. Somalia remained a democracy from its inception in 1960 until 1969 when a group of military officers took over the helm after the sudden assassination of the then democratically elected civilian president, Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. Since that goes around comes around, the tiny Horn of Africa nation descended into chaos when the military government headed by Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre was overthrown in 1991 by a ragtag militia led by General Aidid . Aidid died a few years later after being hit by a stray bullet from a warring faction that was pursuing him. To this day, Aidid’s followers commemorate the day he died for they consider him to have been a hero and a saint.
The ruling junta applied brutal force to advance its agenda. The government trade and marketing strategy was one based on monopoly where select agencies delivered goods and services to the public. There was hardly any sort of privatization.
The president and his henchmen enjoyed the fruits of independence while the rest suffered. The military government, which espoused opportunistic, cunning, and arrogant illegitimate political behavior, opposed any from of protests or demonstrations, peaceful or aggressive by university students or the general population.
Thus, most Somalis have been raised in a land of aggression, poor governance, and intolerance. Undoubtedly, some of those bad leadership traits deliberately filtered into their thoughts and processes. Immense pressure from the government-operated security apparatus known as the National Security Service (NSS) eroded their ability to think effectively in terms of leadership.
Task conflict, dysfunctional conflict, and potential opposition to governmental operations retarded any prospects for compromise. The absence of reallocation of resources, unclear performance evaluation systems, low trust, zero-sum reward practices, and lack of promotion opportunities hampered people’s prospects for leadership success. In a nutshell, the confused and convoluted form of leadership style espoused by the military regime ultimately led to the disintegration of Somalia.
As I write, the religiously-inclined Al-shabab faction that is in control of the central and southern regions of Somalia has issued a stern warning to all forces-domestic and foreign-engaged in the pacification of Somalia. During religious sermons delivered across mosques in Mogadishu, Al-shabab leaders pointed fingers mainly at the United Nations and the United States. These same leaders have been reported to have sent messages of relief to their brothers and sisters across the Gulf of Aden. Al-shabab leaders have been quoted as saying that they will take the war to Yemen. In a show of force, Al-shabab paraded hundreds of newly-graduated fighters in the streets of Mogadishu.
On the other hand, Somalia’s transitional government is devising a war plan that is meant to clean the country from Al-shabab menace. With the help of fierce firepower from the African Union troops in the country, the federal government aims to secure the areas under Al-shabab control within a short time. Hundreds if not thousands of government troops trained in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, and Rwanda are expected in the country soon to take part in the all-out-war against the insurgents wrecking havoc in Somalia.
The anticipated massive mobilization of troops and hardware by the Somali government could lead to the unexpected unification of the forces of Al-shabab and the hard-line Hizbul Islam group led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys who is wanted in the west for terrorism related activities. The two factions are on the process of establishing an emirate for the Horn of African nation. They intend to have a Somalia governed by an Emir-an Emir who will have absolute power over the affairs and foundations of the entire nation while eying further expansion to neighboring countries.
The imaginary caliphate will eventually extend invitations to foreign fighters driven by religious zeal so that the theocratic beliefs of the Emir may be transported across Somalia’s borders. The aftermath of the resounding blitzkrieg will obviously lead to a humanitarian disaster. Wherefore, Somalia will be transformed into a new killing field where corpses will litter everywhere like in the era of black plague. Millions of unfortunate citizens will be affected with refugees spilling over to neighboring countries and across the shark-infested waters of the Indian Ocean and even beyond. There will be an increase in banditry, escalation of piracy, environmental pollution, sealing of borders, and increased naval and aerial reconnaissance. Businesses will come to a standstill, hospitals will run out of medicine, there will be shortage of food, taps will run dry, and in the initial end none will emerge winner.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Modern Leadership Practices
Leaders are not born, they are made. There are many types of leadership styles. The best leadership style I prefer is the transformational leadership style. Transformational leaders are significantly more innovative than transactional leaders. Transactional leaders are those leaders who clarify tasks while at the same guiding and motivating those under their authority. Most politicians play this kind of leadership style. In contrast, Contingency leadership is not efficient in atmospheres of accelerated change because leaders place themselves into positions matching their leadership style.
Furthermore, leaders need to recognize how knowledge is valued so they will be acquainted with how the learners will react to a variety of learning opportunities. Being intentional and goal-oriented leads to planned change and this is what many organizations perceive as an accidental occurrence. Given the right tools and techniques, anyone with the right intentions can be a change agent. A change agent can be a manager or non-manager. On the contrary, an organization may be resistant to change due to chaotic randomness.
By building support and commitment, fear and anxiety will diminish. It will be a solid requirement to initiate emotional commitment to change so that inconsistencies may pave way for positive efforts. One thing that is of paramount importance is to undertake full-scale negotiation to lessen the level of resistance by addressing core individual and collective needs.
To avoid potentially high costs, negotiating with all concerned parties could herald an ever-lasting negotiated settlement. Another easy method of overcoming resistance will be the use of cooptation which usually leads to endorsement from those resisting change. Giving key roles to those resisting changes may be defined as a ‘buy off”. Unfortunately, coercion may be on the last of the list of overcoming resistance to change.
To better understand the true meaning of motivation, Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs best hypothesizes its definition when he categorized the well-known theory of motivation into five components:
1. Psychological: It includes hunger, thirst, shelter, sex, and other bodily needs.
2. Safety: Includes security and protection from physical and emotional harm.
3. Social: Includes affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship.
4. Esteem: Includes internal esteem factors such as self-respect, autonomy, and achievement; and external esteem factors such as status, recognition, and attention.
5. Self-actualization: The drive to become what one is capable of becoming; includes growth, achieving one’s potential, and self-fulfillment.
Experts in the field of Organizational Behavior often use different power tactics to achieve their objectives. The use of upward influence, downward influence, and lateral influence is used in different parts of the world depending on the culture of the organization. The collection of power tactics that work best for many include rational persuasion, inspirational appeals, and consultation as they tend to be more effective to influence people in the top management level and their subordinates. However, if the use of “softer” tactics fails, one will have no other option but to apply the “harder” stand which involves the use of formal power regardless of the costs and risks incurred. The use of ingratiation helps to better define a problem. We can draw from these statements and conditions, some drawbacks of the rational decision-making model:
1. It entails a great deal of time.
2. It requires a great deal of information.
3. It presupposes that considerable conditions exist to be agreed upon.
4. It assumes precise, unwavering, and absolute knowledge of alternatives, preferences, objectives, and outcomes.
5. It assumes a rational, reasonable, non-political world.
Furthermore, leaders need to recognize how knowledge is valued so they will be acquainted with how the learners will react to a variety of learning opportunities. Being intentional and goal-oriented leads to planned change and this is what many organizations perceive as an accidental occurrence. Given the right tools and techniques, anyone with the right intentions can be a change agent. A change agent can be a manager or non-manager. On the contrary, an organization may be resistant to change due to chaotic randomness.
By building support and commitment, fear and anxiety will diminish. It will be a solid requirement to initiate emotional commitment to change so that inconsistencies may pave way for positive efforts. One thing that is of paramount importance is to undertake full-scale negotiation to lessen the level of resistance by addressing core individual and collective needs.
To avoid potentially high costs, negotiating with all concerned parties could herald an ever-lasting negotiated settlement. Another easy method of overcoming resistance will be the use of cooptation which usually leads to endorsement from those resisting change. Giving key roles to those resisting changes may be defined as a ‘buy off”. Unfortunately, coercion may be on the last of the list of overcoming resistance to change.
To better understand the true meaning of motivation, Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs best hypothesizes its definition when he categorized the well-known theory of motivation into five components:
1. Psychological: It includes hunger, thirst, shelter, sex, and other bodily needs.
2. Safety: Includes security and protection from physical and emotional harm.
3. Social: Includes affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship.
4. Esteem: Includes internal esteem factors such as self-respect, autonomy, and achievement; and external esteem factors such as status, recognition, and attention.
5. Self-actualization: The drive to become what one is capable of becoming; includes growth, achieving one’s potential, and self-fulfillment.
Experts in the field of Organizational Behavior often use different power tactics to achieve their objectives. The use of upward influence, downward influence, and lateral influence is used in different parts of the world depending on the culture of the organization. The collection of power tactics that work best for many include rational persuasion, inspirational appeals, and consultation as they tend to be more effective to influence people in the top management level and their subordinates. However, if the use of “softer” tactics fails, one will have no other option but to apply the “harder” stand which involves the use of formal power regardless of the costs and risks incurred. The use of ingratiation helps to better define a problem. We can draw from these statements and conditions, some drawbacks of the rational decision-making model:
1. It entails a great deal of time.
2. It requires a great deal of information.
3. It presupposes that considerable conditions exist to be agreed upon.
4. It assumes precise, unwavering, and absolute knowledge of alternatives, preferences, objectives, and outcomes.
5. It assumes a rational, reasonable, non-political world.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Cure for Racism and Discrimination is Education
Race and race relations have been debated in the west for a long time. In the United States, Hispanics and Blacks have higher crime rates than whites; Hispanics and Blacks have higher high school and college dropouts than Whites and Asians; Hispanics and Blacks bear the most illegitimate children than Asians and Whites. Research has shown that good education and nutrition tend to raise the level of human productivity. In countries where food is scarce, the level of malnutrition and death among children is greater than in countries that have strong economies. Also, research has found good nutrition increases human height and growth while at the same nourishing the human faculty of thinking. Asian-Americans have the highest level of professionals despite their smaller population. Asian-Americans tend to stay in school longer than any other race in America.
When a nation’s human capital is strong, there will be increased productivity. Western nations tower above other nations in aging because they have the technological expertise to fight diseases of all kinds. Through medical and scientific research, western countries tend to come up with new remedies for newly-discovered diseases like the deadly HIV/AIDS and the killer malaria that is wrecking havoc in Africa. The discovery of retro-viral medications has enabled to boost the immune systems of AIDS sufferers in the west. These medications, even if available in Africa, tend to be out of reach of the AIDS sufferer or are too costly for the under-served.
Nutrition, hygiene, and good education fulfill human desire for a better life. A nation that has no tangible educated workforce will lag behind other nations in all aspects. Maladministration, autocracy, and lack of respect for human rights have retarded Latin American, African, and a handful of Asian countries.
Failures to solidify the agricultural and educational sectors of these nations have been cause for their people’s plunge in their level education, health, and hygiene. Massive brain-drain has been another factor that has tremendously altered these nations capacity to maintain a strong workforce. Doctors, engineers, and professionals, lured by the lucrative wages offered by western countries, have opened vacuums in these nations’ healthy work sectors. These massive brain-drains increase the level of political instability.
Often, migrant parents come to the west with little or no education. The children of these migrant parents find themselves without role models. Instead, they resort to violence and other unholy activities. Exposure to violent media, pornography, drug peddling, and gangs eventually open the doors for convictions. The rate of school drops-outs skyrocket; drug addiction proliferates; and in the end crime rates catapult.
Wherefore, as discovered by researchers and as recorded by the media, racism can only be overcome when those who are discriminated against find solace in education. Hispanics and Blacks have no other alternative but to seek better educational opportunities in order to get out of the current social quagmire.
When a nation’s human capital is strong, there will be increased productivity. Western nations tower above other nations in aging because they have the technological expertise to fight diseases of all kinds. Through medical and scientific research, western countries tend to come up with new remedies for newly-discovered diseases like the deadly HIV/AIDS and the killer malaria that is wrecking havoc in Africa. The discovery of retro-viral medications has enabled to boost the immune systems of AIDS sufferers in the west. These medications, even if available in Africa, tend to be out of reach of the AIDS sufferer or are too costly for the under-served.
Nutrition, hygiene, and good education fulfill human desire for a better life. A nation that has no tangible educated workforce will lag behind other nations in all aspects. Maladministration, autocracy, and lack of respect for human rights have retarded Latin American, African, and a handful of Asian countries.
Failures to solidify the agricultural and educational sectors of these nations have been cause for their people’s plunge in their level education, health, and hygiene. Massive brain-drain has been another factor that has tremendously altered these nations capacity to maintain a strong workforce. Doctors, engineers, and professionals, lured by the lucrative wages offered by western countries, have opened vacuums in these nations’ healthy work sectors. These massive brain-drains increase the level of political instability.
Often, migrant parents come to the west with little or no education. The children of these migrant parents find themselves without role models. Instead, they resort to violence and other unholy activities. Exposure to violent media, pornography, drug peddling, and gangs eventually open the doors for convictions. The rate of school drops-outs skyrocket; drug addiction proliferates; and in the end crime rates catapult.
Wherefore, as discovered by researchers and as recorded by the media, racism can only be overcome when those who are discriminated against find solace in education. Hispanics and Blacks have no other alternative but to seek better educational opportunities in order to get out of the current social quagmire.
Somalia: No Man's Land
“In a learning organization, leaders are designers, stewards, and teachers. They are responsible for building organizations where people continually expand their capabilities to understand complexity, clarify vision, and improve shared mental models-that is, they are responsible for learning”-Peter Senge, Fifth Discipline, 340.
Basic economics teaches us that when people associate no cost to something, they will abuse it. Whereas, rational people think at the margin, irrational people tend to think otherwise. Somalia has been a stable nation since 1960 until it descended into chaos when the military junta that came to power in 1969 was toppled in 1991 by a ragtag militia headed by General Aidid. Somalia lacks effective leaders who would put national interests above anything else. A leader is the one who understands all the underlying forces at play; he or she has the courage to initiate action to make things better; a leader sees what needs to be done; leaders have strategic thinking and have a sense of belonging.
Effective leaders resort to reconciliations and negotiations when there is a conflict in their midst. Leaders have the power to get others to do what they want them to do. In formulaic fashion, leadership entails planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling (POMC). Leadership is about influencing people through legitimate authority, coercion, reward, expertise, and personal reference. Naturally, in effective leadership, leader-follower relationships are reciprocal and voluntary. All humans have a set of values, assumptions, beliefs, and expectations (VABEs) about the way the world is or should be. These VABEs are either semiconscious or partially conscious collections of what we have come to think of as the way the world is or ought to be.
Now, let’s turn back to the issue of Somalia being no man’s land. After the fall of the military government in 1991, the men who engineered the coup d’état resorted to the elimination of some select tribes and their sympathizers. Perhaps, they intended to weaken their enemies or totally erase their footprints from Somalia. This did not materialize. Because what goes around comes around, the hunter became the hunted. The humanitarian disaster that afflicted the entire nation forced the United Nations and western powers to act with speed. The best the coup plotters would have done was to pacify the country and convene an all-inclusive reconciliation conference that would save the nation from further destruction. Because Aidid led an undisciplined militia that killed by impulse anyone perceived to be an enemy, trust and confidentiality got out of hand. Somali in-fighting opened a can of worms by allowing wild and undocumented fanatics pour into Somali borders like hungry vultures fighting over carrion. This led to the creation of factions driven by greed, theocratic ideals, and vengeance.
When the entire structures of a nation collapses, when the hale and healthy leave the country creating massive brain-drain, when the civilian population vacates residential buildings for fear of reprisals, there ought to be a psychological warfare in the making. Men who were wanted in the west found the chance to manipulate and make drastic gains from Somalia’s civil disorder. In order to expand their militaristic activities, foreign fanatics established bases in Somalia with help from local lunatics who were devoid of any form of leadership traits except war.
Stabilizing Somalia requires international involvement to root out those who are behind the chaos. In leadership theories, “buy-off” can be used as a deterrent to antagonism. Buying off all tribal leaders and creating a tough spy force from all Somali tribes and clans that will serve as the “eyes and ears” of the newly-created government could be used as detriment to overcome dissent until such a time when the nation can stand on its feet unaided. The use of spies who serve as “eyes and ears” of a nation’s sovereignty has been in existence since classical times.
Anyone who is found guilty of violating the constitution will have to be dealt with severely. All those scalawags who wrecked havoc, those who took part in any form of genocide or human rights abuses will have to be dealt with severely without remorse. The most important job of any president is the security of the state. Somalia will need to establish a strong and well-equipped force that will serve as deterrence to any form of opposition. "The proper use of the imagination is to give beauty to the world…to cast over the commonplace workaday world a veil of beauty and make it throb with our aesthetic enjoyment”.-Lin Yutang
Yaa, salaad badanaa, ma dad bey soo dishay!
Duq Barreey yaraanteedii waxay soo martay qiso aan weligeed maskaxdeeda katirtirmeyn. Ayadoo shan iyo toban jir ah ayaa aabbaheed kudaray nin ka da’weynaa. Habeenkii ugu horeysay ee ay aqal galeen ayaa waxaa lasoo darsay arrin kayaabshey: ninkii qabay ee ka da’weynaa ayaa bikrajebin waayey. Wuxuu ahaa habeen ay lakulantay xanuun badan. Waxaa dhibkaasi oo dhan ukeenay gudniinkii fircooniga ahaa ee ay ayeydeeda kusameysay mar da’deedu ahaa toban sano. Hase yeeshee, ninkeedii ayaa wuxuu kuyidhi, “waxaa iga ballan ah in habeen dambe dhawaaqaaga laga maqlo xaafadaha oo dhami”. Barreey oo ogeyd xanuunkii iyo dhiigii kabaxay habeenkii hore, ayaa isu diyaarisay sidii ay uga samatabixi lahayd habeenka kusoo aaddan ee ninkeeda uu uqabtay inuu kalatuuri doono.
Gabadhani da’da yar ee daafaha Soomaaliya oo dhan looga yeedhi doono ‘duq Barreey’ waxay dhaafi doontaa wacdaro aan hore loo arag. Maalintii oo dhan ayay murug iyo maaweelo kujoogtey. Mar ay qorraxdu hoobatay oo habeen lagalay ayaa waxaa soo hoyday duqeedii oo aan lahayn dheg laqabto. Sideedaba Soomaalidu ‘nin baa naagtiisa bikra jebin waayey’ waxay ahayd arrin aan sideedaba laqaadin karin oo waxaaba loo arki jidhay ninka noocaasi oo kale mid dhintay ama halaagmay.
Mar allaale markey casheeyeen oo ay isku xaabiyeen wixii cunto ee guriga yiil, ayaa la abbaaray sariirta. Qaddar yar waxay sariirta kujidhaanba, Barreey waxay barkinta hoosteeda kala soo baxday middi afeysan. Odeygeedii bey caloosha dhoowr jeer kaladhacday middidii. Halkii ayuuna ku nafwaayay. Mar uu waaga baryay ayaa deriskoodii soo booqday. Mase, Barreey wey maqantahay odeygeedii oo meyd ahna wuxuu yaallaa sariirta asagoo si xun udhiigbaxay.
Halkii ayaa lagu soo baraarugay loona diyaargaroobay sidii loo aasi lahaa meydka. Muddo yar kadibna meydkii ayaa lagu hubsaday qabdriga. Cidina ma baadigoobin Barreey; sidii ayaana lagu iloobay.
Isla habeenkiiba Barreey waxay ufakay hawdka. Habeenkii ayay dhexseexatay god waraabe. Saqdadhexe ayaa libaax jiidanaya wax uu soo dilay dibdib usoo galay godkii ay Barrey kujidhay. Barreey waxay dareentay cabbur iyo argagax. Inyar bey yara gamacday. Goor dambe mar ay soo baraarugtay, ayay iska soo gooysay tooreey ay sidatay. Ayadoo gacanteeda gariireysa umbay hal mar libaaxii futada kagelisay tooreeydii. Libaaxi intuu argagaxay ayuu intuu kor ubooday ayuu kusoo dul dhacay geed kurtun ah oo meesha kuyiil. Kurtunkii baa libaaxa dilay oo dillaacshay caloosha. Barreey halkii bey kasii wadday safarkeedi ilaa ay kagaadhay tuulo aad uga fog meeshii ay ninkeedii kudishay. Dhowr maalmood kadibna waxay aadday magaalo kale oo ay kutaqiin dad kale oo eheladeeda ah.
Dhowr bilood kadib, Barreey waxaa guursaday nin ay halkaasi isku shukaansadeen. Ninku wuxuu ahaa ragga naagaha aan u ogoleen debedwareeg ama waxa loo yaqaan ‘wareeg iyo waab tiris’. Barreey waxay ninkii udhashay toban carruur ah oo ubadan wiilal. Barreey waxaa ugu horreyay gurigeeda oo ay kasoo baxdo markii dawladdii meleteri la afgembiyay. Waxaa lakulmay jabkii Soomaali oo dhammi aafeeyay. Waxay gashay xero qaxooti oo kuyaal waddan Soomaaliya laderis ah. Caruurteedii oo idil waxay usoo baxeen debedaha ayadiina wey diiday in ay debeda aaddo.
Maadaama Barreey ay xilligani cimri tahay, waxay goosatay in ay iska toobadkeento oo nolosheeda cibaado kudhameysato. Aay Barreey waxay guri ladegtay dhowr gabdhood oo aan laqabin. Habeen walba Duq Barreey waxay soo kici jidhay saqda dhexe sifa ay utukato salaatul leyl. Hablihii ayaa karaahiyeystay qubqacdeeda iyo feynuuska ay kor udheereyneyso. Habeen habeenada kamid ah, mar ay Duq Barreey aadday musqusha ayaa labo sheekeystay. Mid baa midda kale weydiisay, “dee, ina adeer, habartani maxaa haaysta. Ma dhiig Muslim bey soo gashay. Waa maxay habartu, kaseexan waaynaye”? Inantii kale ayaa ugu jawaabtay, “naa sooma ogid nin hore uqabay ayay madaxa masaar kaladhacday oy dishay.”
Ayadoo hablihii wadahaasawaya ayey Duq Barreey dalaq gurigii soo tiri. Markaasey kutidhi gabdhihii, “naa maxaad kuqosleysaan.” Mid baa gabadh kale oo jiifta intay farta kufiiqday ugu jawaabtay Duq Bareey, “taasi jiifta ayaa nagu dhuustay” markaasey Duq Bareeyna intey qosol jabsatay tidhi, “walee maantaan ogaa sidey digir isugu daldaleysay”.
Gebogebo iyo gunaanadkii, Aay Barreey iyo kuwa kale ee gacmaha dhiiga kuleh xalaaeystayna dhiiga aadanaha ha ogaadaan inay jidho maalin loo yaqaan “Yowmul xisaab”.
Gabadhani da’da yar ee daafaha Soomaaliya oo dhan looga yeedhi doono ‘duq Barreey’ waxay dhaafi doontaa wacdaro aan hore loo arag. Maalintii oo dhan ayay murug iyo maaweelo kujoogtey. Mar ay qorraxdu hoobatay oo habeen lagalay ayaa waxaa soo hoyday duqeedii oo aan lahayn dheg laqabto. Sideedaba Soomaalidu ‘nin baa naagtiisa bikra jebin waayey’ waxay ahayd arrin aan sideedaba laqaadin karin oo waxaaba loo arki jidhay ninka noocaasi oo kale mid dhintay ama halaagmay.
Mar allaale markey casheeyeen oo ay isku xaabiyeen wixii cunto ee guriga yiil, ayaa la abbaaray sariirta. Qaddar yar waxay sariirta kujidhaanba, Barreey waxay barkinta hoosteeda kala soo baxday middi afeysan. Odeygeedii bey caloosha dhoowr jeer kaladhacday middidii. Halkii ayuuna ku nafwaayay. Mar uu waaga baryay ayaa deriskoodii soo booqday. Mase, Barreey wey maqantahay odeygeedii oo meyd ahna wuxuu yaallaa sariirta asagoo si xun udhiigbaxay.
Halkii ayaa lagu soo baraarugay loona diyaargaroobay sidii loo aasi lahaa meydka. Muddo yar kadibna meydkii ayaa lagu hubsaday qabdriga. Cidina ma baadigoobin Barreey; sidii ayaana lagu iloobay.
Isla habeenkiiba Barreey waxay ufakay hawdka. Habeenkii ayay dhexseexatay god waraabe. Saqdadhexe ayaa libaax jiidanaya wax uu soo dilay dibdib usoo galay godkii ay Barrey kujidhay. Barreey waxay dareentay cabbur iyo argagax. Inyar bey yara gamacday. Goor dambe mar ay soo baraarugtay, ayay iska soo gooysay tooreey ay sidatay. Ayadoo gacanteeda gariireysa umbay hal mar libaaxii futada kagelisay tooreeydii. Libaaxi intuu argagaxay ayuu intuu kor ubooday ayuu kusoo dul dhacay geed kurtun ah oo meesha kuyiil. Kurtunkii baa libaaxa dilay oo dillaacshay caloosha. Barreey halkii bey kasii wadday safarkeedi ilaa ay kagaadhay tuulo aad uga fog meeshii ay ninkeedii kudishay. Dhowr maalmood kadibna waxay aadday magaalo kale oo ay kutaqiin dad kale oo eheladeeda ah.
Dhowr bilood kadib, Barreey waxaa guursaday nin ay halkaasi isku shukaansadeen. Ninku wuxuu ahaa ragga naagaha aan u ogoleen debedwareeg ama waxa loo yaqaan ‘wareeg iyo waab tiris’. Barreey waxay ninkii udhashay toban carruur ah oo ubadan wiilal. Barreey waxaa ugu horreyay gurigeeda oo ay kasoo baxdo markii dawladdii meleteri la afgembiyay. Waxaa lakulmay jabkii Soomaali oo dhammi aafeeyay. Waxay gashay xero qaxooti oo kuyaal waddan Soomaaliya laderis ah. Caruurteedii oo idil waxay usoo baxeen debedaha ayadiina wey diiday in ay debeda aaddo.
Maadaama Barreey ay xilligani cimri tahay, waxay goosatay in ay iska toobadkeento oo nolosheeda cibaado kudhameysato. Aay Barreey waxay guri ladegtay dhowr gabdhood oo aan laqabin. Habeen walba Duq Barreey waxay soo kici jidhay saqda dhexe sifa ay utukato salaatul leyl. Hablihii ayaa karaahiyeystay qubqacdeeda iyo feynuuska ay kor udheereyneyso. Habeen habeenada kamid ah, mar ay Duq Barreey aadday musqusha ayaa labo sheekeystay. Mid baa midda kale weydiisay, “dee, ina adeer, habartani maxaa haaysta. Ma dhiig Muslim bey soo gashay. Waa maxay habartu, kaseexan waaynaye”? Inantii kale ayaa ugu jawaabtay, “naa sooma ogid nin hore uqabay ayay madaxa masaar kaladhacday oy dishay.”
Ayadoo hablihii wadahaasawaya ayey Duq Barreey dalaq gurigii soo tiri. Markaasey kutidhi gabdhihii, “naa maxaad kuqosleysaan.” Mid baa gabadh kale oo jiifta intay farta kufiiqday ugu jawaabtay Duq Bareey, “taasi jiifta ayaa nagu dhuustay” markaasey Duq Bareeyna intey qosol jabsatay tidhi, “walee maantaan ogaa sidey digir isugu daldaleysay”.
Gebogebo iyo gunaanadkii, Aay Barreey iyo kuwa kale ee gacmaha dhiiga kuleh xalaaeystayna dhiiga aadanaha ha ogaadaan inay jidho maalin loo yaqaan “Yowmul xisaab”.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Somalia's Mass Murderers Must be Stopped
The recent suicide bombing of Mogadishu's Shamo Hotel (picture inset) where hundred's had gathered to celebrate the graduation of students from Banadir University has left multiple scars in the hearts of millions. This despicable act perpetrated by men who have no iota of mercy in their hearts must be stopped at all cost. In the aftermath of this suicide bombing, almost over twenty innocent souls perished including government ministers, doctors, university students, and friends and relatives. Up to sixty peaceful residents of Mogadishu have been reported to have been injured in the melee. A dozen injured have been flown to Kenya for treatment because local hospitals lack the facilities to carry out major operations. To date no one has claimed responsibility. Amazingly, a Danish newspaper has claimed that the suicide bomber was raised in Denmark and that his parents are Dutch citizens. The bomber is said to have moved to Somalia about eighteen months ago accompanied by wife and children. If this claim is to be verified, then there is cause to be cautious and suspicious of homegrown extremists.
Somalia's terrorist group, Al-shabab has refuted allegations that it was behind the deadly attack on Shamo Hotel on the fateful day of Tuesday, the 3rd day of December, 2009. However, sources report that Ayman Al-zawahri, the second-in-command of Al-qaida has been reported to have claimed that his partners who waging proxy war in Somalia were behind the bombing and that it is part of the Jihadi struggle being waged all over the world. Al-shabab has flexed its muscle in the south of the country meaning it has no other entity to challenge it.
Somalia remains ungovernable because those vested with authority have not understood or lack a grasp of the true meaning of responsibility, leadership, and nationalism. The fragile government of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has been overwhelmed by the enormity of problems in the country. Piracy, insecurity, suicide bombings, political murders, assassinations, drought, disease, and other natural calamities have combined to make the nation beyond anyone's capability.
Somalia has become a safe haven for foreign fighters drawn from all parts of the world. They include men who have been described as international criminals who will do everything possible to evade arrest by internationally-sanctioned manhunts. The number of religious criminal gangs or factions operating in the country give these criminals complete protection from prosecution.
There are many illegal lucrative businesses operating in the country. These businesses are the fibers that feed the gangs and their foreign guests. Arms smuggling, drug dealing, money laundering, piracy, and other hideous or underground activities are the factors behind the survival of Somalia's international criminals. Religious extremism is growing roots everywhere. It's time the world join hands to eliminate this menace from Somalia before it spills over and engulfs the entire region and beyond.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Africa is Penniless and Broke
The same old guards of the sixties continue to rule Africa unabated. The modes of leadership they impose on their people are multi-faceted. Some practice kleptocracy. These group devour their nation's resources without measure while millions of their loyal citizens perish for lack of food and water. Some are dictators who either kill, maim, or jail the opposition without legal justifications. Others have enthroned themselves kings. These bunch have created gloomy pictures of destitution which are visible in the eyes of their subjects while they live lavish lives in palaces surrounded by loyal, well-fed mistresses and bodyguards.
Africa has every kind of natural resource enough for the entire continental population. Africa prides to have great rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, minerals, culture of tolerance, and a wonderful sunny tropical weather all-year-round. Yet, Africa is poor and penniless because her leaders have decided to keep to themselves every shining dime and nickel. African leaders wear the best woolen, cotton, and silken three-piece-suits bought in Paris, London, Rome, and New York. These leaders drive the most expensive imported cars in the world. They cherish custom-made Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volvo, and Audi limousines that are bullet-proof and well-furnished. They ride the most expensive rodeos, barbecue in expansive ranches surrounded by vineyards, exotic plants and wildlife. They swim in crystal clear waters surrounded by mademoiselles clad in bikinis. Yet, a few miles from their palaces their subjects remain destitute, naked, and sickly.
The children of African leaders abhor local education systems. Instead they prefer to enroll in the best educational institutions located overseas. Upon graduation, they return to their countries of origin where they are ushered in to a world of splendor and merrymaking. Millions of dollars, gold and jewelery looted by their parents-in-power await them upon their return. Had African leaders embarked on philanthropic purposes by dispersing the monies they spend on expensive regalia and lavish lifestyles, millions of their countrymen could be saved from abject poverty.
Africa is penniless and broke as depicted in the world Economic Freedom Index (EFI). The continent lags behind in labor freedom, freedom from corruption, investment freedom, financial freedom, monetary freedom, government size, fiscal freedom, trade freedom, business freedom, and property rights. Africa is being devastated by HIV/AIDS, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases or STD, diabetes, hypertension, and hazardous wastes that contribute to the spread of deadly diseases.
The continent suffers from poor infrastructure; vital medical and educational facilities are scarce if not nonexistent in many rural and remote areas; many regions remain impassable due to lack of reliable roads and bridges; scarcity of food and water shortages afflict millions in the countrysides and even in many major cities; insecurity and corruption remain the biggest obstacle to good governance. Africa has no one else to blame. It is the leaders' old habits that is dragging the continent to unpredictable disaster.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Meles Ought to Resign with Dignity
Since coming to power in Ethiopia in the early nineties, Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's Prime Minister, has done more harm than good to the people of the Horn of Africa. Meles Zenawi went to war with Eritrea over Badme and Zalambesa-two dusty towns located between the two nation's borders. Hundreds of thousands died on both sides by the time the war ended. Under Meles Zenawi political parties remain suppressed and supporters either exiled, killed, or given long-term torturous sentences in dirty dungeons manned by Tigreyans-his clansmen.
Meles Zenawi had armed conflict with the nation of Sudan during his tenure of power. Under Meles Zenawi Ethiopian army invaded neighboring Somalia with the pretext of fighting Islamists who took over power. After a humiliating defeat by the Islamists who fought guerilla-style street fights, the Ethiopian army suddenly left Somali soil altogether. Thousands of Ethiopian Army soldiers remain unaccounted for in Somalia's conflict as the dead remain concealed from the public for political reasons.
There are a score of liberation movements fighting for separation from Ethiopia. The Ogaden and the Oromo Liberation fronts are fighting devastating wars to overcome Ethiopian government's colonialist designs. In the altercation between the guerrilla armies and the Ethiopian armed force, innocent civilians are caught in the quagmires. The scarcity of food, medicine, shelter, and water adds to the miseries of the poor of Oromia and Ogadenia.
Grinding poverty coupled with a devastating drought that is sweeping all corners of Ethiopia is taking a heavy toll. There is much suffering in the entire country and the much-awaited election in 2010 will not alleviate the problems the country now faces. There is a feeling in the public the coming election will be rigged giving the ruling party the upper hand. Just as in the rest of Africa, Ethiopia's case is no exception. The best Meles Zenawi can do for his people is to resign with dignity to save his people and his country from further disintegration,
Kenya Must Eradicate Corruption to Flourish
The major factor hindering development in Kenya is the widespread corruption visible in every sector of the economy. Corruption is so prevalent in this East African nation such that it has become an eyesore that refuses to heal because government officials remain behind its proliferation. Transparency International regards Kenya to be in the top list of the most corrupt countries in the world. Kenya's Economic Freedom Index (EFI) is also at its lowest ebb. The Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption arm have voiced concern at how corruption is eating away the vital fibers of the economy. Kenya's poorly paid police are at the forefront of spreading corruption.
The most eye-catching incident involved the arrest of traffic police officers caught in the act of receiving bribes from motorists. The men and women who took the oath of allegiance to the constitution to maintain law and order fell to the dragnet after being caught red handed soliciting bribes on major highways. Some of these officers were caught on tape and are now awaiting sentencing before a court of law.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Al-shabaab Bans Wearing of Bra
Recent developments in Somalia have been part amusing and part dehumanizing. Al-shabaab, Somalia's extremist group that evolved after the departure of the Ethiopian army has come up with a decree that is causing much harm to the women of Mogadishu. Any woman found to show a bust of flesh on her chest risks harassment, humiliation, and even whipping in public. While women accused of witchcraft in India risk being forcefully fed with human excrement or animal culae, those of Somalia suffer novel fatwas issued by zealots whose agendas remain a mystery.
The fatwas of Al-shabaab have become so agonizing that it is the residents of Mogadishu who mostly bear the brunt of every new decree. Recently, the extremist group ordered all women to wear a specially designed hijab available from select stores or else suffer the consequences. The stores where these types of veils are available are owned by Al-shabaab businessmen and obviously there is a brisk hijab business.
Often women find themselves stopped along alleyways, in the markets, in public transportation, even within the vicinity of their own premises by masked men serving as Al-shabaab's law enforcers. They find themselves humiliated in front of their brothers, children, fathers, and even husbands without just cause. The crimes Somali women commit today has nothing to do with felony or misdemeanor. It always has to do with mode of dress and nothing else.
The fatwas of Al-shabaab have become so agonizing that it is the residents of Mogadishu who mostly bear the brunt of every new decree. Recently, the extremist group ordered all women to wear a specially designed hijab available from select stores or else suffer the consequences. The stores where these types of veils are available are owned by Al-shabaab businessmen and obviously there is a brisk hijab business.
Often women find themselves stopped along alleyways, in the markets, in public transportation, even within the vicinity of their own premises by masked men serving as Al-shabaab's law enforcers. They find themselves humiliated in front of their brothers, children, fathers, and even husbands without just cause. The crimes Somali women commit today has nothing to do with felony or misdemeanor. It always has to do with mode of dress and nothing else.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Kenya: Time is Ripe to Bring Election Culprits to Book
The election fiasco that brought President Mwai Kibaki to power in 2007 remains one of the worst unsolved political injustices in Kenya's recent history. Despite the intervention of the international community, the final judgment is yet to come. The disgraceful election fraud that brought Mwai Kibaki to power saw the slaughter of 1000 innocent civilians-a vicious war instigated by big fishes currently in the Kenya cabinet. Surprisingly, these killers are unknowingly awaiting indictment by the International Court of Justice.
Revealing the names of those involved in the massacre of innocent civilians is like opening a can of worms. The man who will preside over the indictment of these criminals is Luis Moreno-Ocampo of the International Court of Justice. He is a man who played a great role in putting behind bars the generals who wrecked havoc in his native country of Argentina when that nation was held hostage by a pathetic military regime.
Obviously, it will be great news for Kenya and the rest of the world when the names of Kenya's killers are revealed and a sigh of relief for the relatives of those who suffered the unjustified and unsolved brutality and massacre. Just as the Killers of Sarajevo and Kigali have been apprehended with some behind bars and others awaiting trial, it is time the Kenya government brought to book the much anticipated killers on the loose. Since Luis Moreno-Ocampo is expected to be in Kenya next week, all eyes and ears will turn to how events unfold thereafter.
Revealing the names of those involved in the massacre of innocent civilians is like opening a can of worms. The man who will preside over the indictment of these criminals is Luis Moreno-Ocampo of the International Court of Justice. He is a man who played a great role in putting behind bars the generals who wrecked havoc in his native country of Argentina when that nation was held hostage by a pathetic military regime.
Obviously, it will be great news for Kenya and the rest of the world when the names of Kenya's killers are revealed and a sigh of relief for the relatives of those who suffered the unjustified and unsolved brutality and massacre. Just as the Killers of Sarajevo and Kigali have been apprehended with some behind bars and others awaiting trial, it is time the Kenya government brought to book the much anticipated killers on the loose. Since Luis Moreno-Ocampo is expected to be in Kenya next week, all eyes and ears will turn to how events unfold thereafter.
Criticism Advances a Nations Interests
Criticism is a healthy way of correcting things. In healthy democracies, there are people called critics. These people keep an eye on every single negative action of the government and its sectors. There are government critics, book critics, movie critics, corporate critics and so on. The reason these people are there is to put a cap on the wrongs being committed. Wrongs can mean election irregularities, embezzlement or emptying of state coffers, corruption of all kinds, bribery and other unethical and immoral acts that are a handicap to a nation's interests. The work of a critic is to uncover a wrong so it may be corrected before things get out of hand. But please remember, men like ex-president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, General Mohamed Farah Aideed, and Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess were rebels instead.
One of Somalia's most critical opponent of the regime headed by Siyad Barre was the novelist Nurudin Farah who is regarded as one of the best novelist of our time. The junta gave him a hard time because of the wrongs he wanted corrected. The end result was his voluntary exile. Besides Nurudin many other critics of Somali origin became victims of the ruling junta. Some ended up getting extended jail terms. Somali academics who left three decades and over ago still remain in exile. It is nonsensical that someones life is put in danger because of having different views? Thus, it is important for our readers to differentiate who is a rebel and who is a critic.
The irony is that many African governments don't entertain criticisms and healthy debates. Adopting a watch and see policy while inhuman acts like massacres or genocide, corruption and theft, arbitrary arrests without valid reasons are committed in front of your eyes without saying a word is against human conscience. If you see a woman being raped without commenting then wait until your sister, your mother, your aunt or a female relative of yours becomes the next victim. Those who stand by the sidelines without raising a word while having a clear picture of the ills and gravity of crimes committed against innocent civilians has no iota of mercy and thus belongs to the dogs.
One of Somalia's most critical opponent of the regime headed by Siyad Barre was the novelist Nurudin Farah who is regarded as one of the best novelist of our time. The junta gave him a hard time because of the wrongs he wanted corrected. The end result was his voluntary exile. Besides Nurudin many other critics of Somali origin became victims of the ruling junta. Some ended up getting extended jail terms. Somali academics who left three decades and over ago still remain in exile. It is nonsensical that someones life is put in danger because of having different views? Thus, it is important for our readers to differentiate who is a rebel and who is a critic.
The irony is that many African governments don't entertain criticisms and healthy debates. Adopting a watch and see policy while inhuman acts like massacres or genocide, corruption and theft, arbitrary arrests without valid reasons are committed in front of your eyes without saying a word is against human conscience. If you see a woman being raped without commenting then wait until your sister, your mother, your aunt or a female relative of yours becomes the next victim. Those who stand by the sidelines without raising a word while having a clear picture of the ills and gravity of crimes committed against innocent civilians has no iota of mercy and thus belongs to the dogs.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Managing Effectively while Inculcating Equality
All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness-Tennessee Williams
We now learn from the scientific and biological fraternity that all humans are a product of X and Y chromosomes. Geneticists can now reveal to us that there are 35,000 genes in the human DNA and 3 billion chemical base pairs in the human DNA. This is a testament to human equality. Overemphasizing differences hides prejudices that are disgracefully inappropriate in context. Overemphasizing similarities is the best tool to attaining accomplishments in the workplace. The belief that “all men are created equal” should be the best applicable emphasis.
The first thing to have in a modern workplace is a balanced culture, if not code of regulations to be equally observed by all regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, political affiliation or sex. Rules that call for tolerance and harmony in the workplace must be applied to ensure tranquility and serendipity. A good leader is the one who discourages negative behaviors like incivility and other detrimental actions that are appalling in perspective.
Self-reliance Criterion
Having close affinity to employees of like racial group sets a bad precedent as it is a harbinger for discrimination and favoritisms. Here is a parable of two managers: One would always speak in his native tongue to some select employees he/she shared cultural background with while the other discouraged speaking in his native mother tongue. The later is the kind of leader ripe for multicultural leadership. Organizations can discourage leaders not to rely solely on self-reliance criterion when making strategic decisions by acknowledging the cultural backgrounds of individuals and groups by first using the golden rule that states: “do unto others as they would have them do unto them.” It is equally important to empower the leader to learn contrasting cultures even though the implied cultures may disagree with one’s values. Leaders must instill social justice, harmony, and moral development and also have contact with different cultural groups so as to create a healthy atmosphere through a succession of cultural exchanges.
The Monitor Role
The monitor role has long appeared less interesting to many people because of their futile beliefs that it entailed keeping a watchful over other people’s daily activities or mode of operations. But to a leader or manager with modern thoughts and processes, it carries much weight in “maintaining high performance in both individuals and groups (Quinn, Faerman, Thompson, and McGrath, and St. Clair, 2006, p.113).”
The Mentor Role
The mentor and facilitator roles are the two most important key managerial leadership roles as they are tasked with establishing effective relationships. The mentor role, also called the concerned human role, is reflected in the science of caring and empathy where the manager is supposed to be thoughtful, selfless, and responsive and open to discussions and not shunning ideas, be friendly, openhearted, and reasonable. A mentor is a good listener who attracts new ideas, is appreciative, rewarding, and influences employee actions by motivating. Failure to observe the mentoring role leads to derailment, pseudo-transformational leadership, dictatorship, arrogance, and intolerance. Understanding self-worth opens the door for understanding others. Delegating effectively and developing employees is part of mentoring. In the real sense of the word, the remark “mentor” has its meaning rooted in Greek, which may mean trusted counselor, coach or guide and therefore derives its true meaning from The Odyssey, a poem written by Homer and addressed to Odysseus asking him to tutor his son Telemachus. Understanding the keys to effective delegation involves conscientiousness, influence, and answerability. Thus, the mentor role is about understanding self and others, communicating effectively, and developing employees.
The Facilitator Role
The Facilitator role rests on three important pillars namely: building teams, using participative decision making, and managing conflict-all part of the organizational improvement process. Furthermore, group work means having a commitment to a common goal or purpose, having a concrete sense of mutual responsibility, sharing information and having common communication structure, and setting clear roles and responsibilities that are equally interdependent in outlook. Roles are sets of expectations relevant to the individual and others in a given situation. With role clarity implying the absence of two demanding conditions notably role ambiguity and role conflict-role ambiguity entails interacting with others while role clarity leads to inconsistency or contradiction of information. Sending conflicting information is cause for role conflict. The facilitator role requires knowledge of the levels, sources, and stages of conflict. Differences in values, attitudes, beliefs, needs, or perceptions have been shown to cause conflicts.
Handling Communication Overloads
Ironically, the flow of information has transformed tremendously over the years and taken major leaps and bounds since the discovery of microchips and other technological advancements such as nanotechnology. Our capability to store and retrieve information through optical scanning and “data compression” and our ability to do research without resorting to the olden ways of searching through library shelves, is a clear testimony of how we have advanced “two steps forward” and “one step back” though we have heavy responsibilities of “taming the electronic tiger” as we advance towards new innovations and immeasurable outputs. Thus, it is imperative for today’s managers to grasp the importance of modern office keeping by observing the TRAF system-which connotes to mean Toss, Refer, Act, and File-a novel way of overseeing the predicted modern paperless office.
On the other hand, recurrent work interruptions and overloads caused by excessive messages such as telephone calls, voice mails, cell phones, Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs, faxes, the intranet and internet, and e-mails should not instill fear or cause alarm but rather create challenges and enhanced momentum if effective management is to be observed in the workplace. Today’s managers are emboldened by their fervent desire to exploit the universally accepted sets of procedures known by the acronym OABC which stands for Opening, Agenda, Body, and Closing-four valuable tools for deciphering written messages regardless of whether they are in the form of a memo, circular or other regular correspondences. Likewise, face-to-face meetings are as essential as other forms of communication and should not be taken off the table. Teleconferencing, a contemporary hi-tech inclusion invented as result of human necessity, has been found to be in conformity with the international superhighway. Monitoring demands analyzing core processes, monitoring the value chain and output like judgments and opinions given, resources allocated, decisions made, mistakes detected, products planned, commitments negotiated, and courses taught.
The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory
The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory which is based on Carl Jung’s works highlights the five-factor model or basic tendencies with each factor named for one of two ends of a continuum namely neuroticism, extraversion, open to new experiences, agreeableness and conscientiousness. Agreeableness and extraversion are interrelated in that with no explicit leadership, the one who emerges with extraversion, agreeableness, and emotionality emerges the informal leader.
Johari Window
Named after Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, the Johari window is another exemplary framework that helps increase one’s self-awareness. The Johari window is divided into four compartments namely: open, blind, hidden, and unknown. Hidden inconsistencies and hypocrisies including hiding, rebuffing, and evading learning about themselves, has been found to be a common attribute of many people. Sadly though, popular television shows, movies, and books are acted in such a way that the end results, because of concealment of true feelings or lack of self-awareness, characters may end up skeptical or tolerant.
Effective Interpersonal Communication
With acute logjam to effective interpersonal communication evolving as a result of inarticulateness, hidden agendas, status meant to impress and not offend, hostility due to lack of trust, and differences in communication styles, Chris Argyris of the Harvard Business School implemented what became known as “the left-hand column issues” which implies “what is thought” and “the right-hand column” in reference to “what is said” so that “discussables” can be differentiated from “undiscussables”.
The golden saying, “nature has given men one tongue but two ears that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak”, as noted by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, is a superior contemplation in the real sense which requires that we understand what is being said by others. The use of reflective listening helps us understand what others are saying and instills empathy in our inner souls.
Understanding Conflict Resolution
Understanding conflict resolution in the intrapersonal and interorganizational levels could be an added advantage. Avoiding approaches, accommodating approaches, competing approaches, compromising approaches, and collaborating approaches are some of the dimensions used in conflict management strategies. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of conflict management approaches. Also, as research has shown, allowing some degree of conflict could propel new ideas, innovation, and change. Conflicts can be stimulated and agreements managed by introducing guidelines for advocacy groups.
Team Building Strategies
There are informal approaches to team building and barriers to team building. Team building is an ongoing process and not an event. One approach to team building is for the team members to understand each other and have the willingness to observe each other consistently so as to generate substantial results. Social interaction among members like sharing a meal after work, holding annual holiday celebrations, and other important events opens a plethora of opportunities and other out of the ordinary accomplishments. Ironically, barriers to team building resurface due to not having the knowledge or experience of team building. One major factor that hinders team building is the lack of planning and coordination. Creating incentives to reward employees with exceptional performance emboldens employee resolve and attitude, increases social and economic standings, and lowers tardiness and the impervious “free will” attitude. Autocratic, consultative, and group decision making are some of the strategies used to define who should participate and when.
Effective Meeting Management
Meetings may be horrifying and end in disasters because of poor facilitation or they may be well managed, heartening, and all-inclusive. Understanding the rules of effective meeting management, coming up with the required tools, and setting the stage with certain objectives in mind is a prerequisite for modern management. Understanding the meeting objective, creating appropriate participation, selecting the time and place of the session, and preparing and distributing the agenda in advance is a requirement if pitfalls are to be avoided. However, running the meeting with sets of priorities in mind is a good way of giving the attendants a new lease of life. For a meeting to be professional it is essential to have someone take the minutes; the leader should review the agenda; make certain participants know each other; do not diverge from the agenda; ease interruptions; promote overall membership; and bring to a close the meeting by reviewing decisions reached.
Understanding Four Dimensions of Leadership
Influencing others depends on having a concrete understanding of the values, assumptions, beliefs, and expectations (VABEs) of the people involved. Having the feeling that it is a God-given responsibility to change how others feel and believe leads to underestimation of those under your command. Those endowed with authority should grasp the benefits of morality, ethics, legality, and cultural context. Individually determining what’s right and wrong is known as morality; ethics is a body of knowledge and established and conventional guiding principles of conduct created for groups of people or organizations; legality implies acting upon the established laws of humanity; while cultural context refers to observing the cultural values of others in the workplace. In public and professional conduct it is best to apply ethics and in private and for personal values wrap yourself around the garb of morality. When dealing with those under your authority, always keep in mind that what goes around comes around. It was Charles Grodin who once said, “It always surprises me that otherwise intelligent people don’t realize that if you treat people badly, it will eventually come back to you”. To give you an example of what goes around comes around, it is worth looking back what history has to tell us. “In the year 260 C.E., the Roman Emperor Valerian fell captive to Sasanid forces. He spent his last years at the Sassanid court in Ctesiphon, where his captors forced him to stoop and serve as a mounting stool when the Sasanid king wanted to ride his horse. (After his death, the Sasanids preserved Valerian’s skin as a memento of their victory over the Romans), (Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler ). One’s leadership qualities should not be repugnant to justice and to the subjects providing essential services or else there could be serious ramifications resulting in the dissolution of the entire enterprise. For example, a medial law stated that “if two persons fell under suspicion of crime, the uglier or more deformed was to be regarded as more probably guilty” (Wilson and Hernstein, 1985).
We now learn from the scientific and biological fraternity that all humans are a product of X and Y chromosomes. Geneticists can now reveal to us that there are 35,000 genes in the human DNA and 3 billion chemical base pairs in the human DNA. This is a testament to human equality. Overemphasizing differences hides prejudices that are disgracefully inappropriate in context. Overemphasizing similarities is the best tool to attaining accomplishments in the workplace. The belief that “all men are created equal” should be the best applicable emphasis.
The first thing to have in a modern workplace is a balanced culture, if not code of regulations to be equally observed by all regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, political affiliation or sex. Rules that call for tolerance and harmony in the workplace must be applied to ensure tranquility and serendipity. A good leader is the one who discourages negative behaviors like incivility and other detrimental actions that are appalling in perspective.
Self-reliance Criterion
Having close affinity to employees of like racial group sets a bad precedent as it is a harbinger for discrimination and favoritisms. Here is a parable of two managers: One would always speak in his native tongue to some select employees he/she shared cultural background with while the other discouraged speaking in his native mother tongue. The later is the kind of leader ripe for multicultural leadership. Organizations can discourage leaders not to rely solely on self-reliance criterion when making strategic decisions by acknowledging the cultural backgrounds of individuals and groups by first using the golden rule that states: “do unto others as they would have them do unto them.” It is equally important to empower the leader to learn contrasting cultures even though the implied cultures may disagree with one’s values. Leaders must instill social justice, harmony, and moral development and also have contact with different cultural groups so as to create a healthy atmosphere through a succession of cultural exchanges.
The Monitor Role
The monitor role has long appeared less interesting to many people because of their futile beliefs that it entailed keeping a watchful over other people’s daily activities or mode of operations. But to a leader or manager with modern thoughts and processes, it carries much weight in “maintaining high performance in both individuals and groups (Quinn, Faerman, Thompson, and McGrath, and St. Clair, 2006, p.113).”
The Mentor Role
The mentor and facilitator roles are the two most important key managerial leadership roles as they are tasked with establishing effective relationships. The mentor role, also called the concerned human role, is reflected in the science of caring and empathy where the manager is supposed to be thoughtful, selfless, and responsive and open to discussions and not shunning ideas, be friendly, openhearted, and reasonable. A mentor is a good listener who attracts new ideas, is appreciative, rewarding, and influences employee actions by motivating. Failure to observe the mentoring role leads to derailment, pseudo-transformational leadership, dictatorship, arrogance, and intolerance. Understanding self-worth opens the door for understanding others. Delegating effectively and developing employees is part of mentoring. In the real sense of the word, the remark “mentor” has its meaning rooted in Greek, which may mean trusted counselor, coach or guide and therefore derives its true meaning from The Odyssey, a poem written by Homer and addressed to Odysseus asking him to tutor his son Telemachus. Understanding the keys to effective delegation involves conscientiousness, influence, and answerability. Thus, the mentor role is about understanding self and others, communicating effectively, and developing employees.
The Facilitator Role
The Facilitator role rests on three important pillars namely: building teams, using participative decision making, and managing conflict-all part of the organizational improvement process. Furthermore, group work means having a commitment to a common goal or purpose, having a concrete sense of mutual responsibility, sharing information and having common communication structure, and setting clear roles and responsibilities that are equally interdependent in outlook. Roles are sets of expectations relevant to the individual and others in a given situation. With role clarity implying the absence of two demanding conditions notably role ambiguity and role conflict-role ambiguity entails interacting with others while role clarity leads to inconsistency or contradiction of information. Sending conflicting information is cause for role conflict. The facilitator role requires knowledge of the levels, sources, and stages of conflict. Differences in values, attitudes, beliefs, needs, or perceptions have been shown to cause conflicts.
Handling Communication Overloads
Ironically, the flow of information has transformed tremendously over the years and taken major leaps and bounds since the discovery of microchips and other technological advancements such as nanotechnology. Our capability to store and retrieve information through optical scanning and “data compression” and our ability to do research without resorting to the olden ways of searching through library shelves, is a clear testimony of how we have advanced “two steps forward” and “one step back” though we have heavy responsibilities of “taming the electronic tiger” as we advance towards new innovations and immeasurable outputs. Thus, it is imperative for today’s managers to grasp the importance of modern office keeping by observing the TRAF system-which connotes to mean Toss, Refer, Act, and File-a novel way of overseeing the predicted modern paperless office.
On the other hand, recurrent work interruptions and overloads caused by excessive messages such as telephone calls, voice mails, cell phones, Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs, faxes, the intranet and internet, and e-mails should not instill fear or cause alarm but rather create challenges and enhanced momentum if effective management is to be observed in the workplace. Today’s managers are emboldened by their fervent desire to exploit the universally accepted sets of procedures known by the acronym OABC which stands for Opening, Agenda, Body, and Closing-four valuable tools for deciphering written messages regardless of whether they are in the form of a memo, circular or other regular correspondences. Likewise, face-to-face meetings are as essential as other forms of communication and should not be taken off the table. Teleconferencing, a contemporary hi-tech inclusion invented as result of human necessity, has been found to be in conformity with the international superhighway. Monitoring demands analyzing core processes, monitoring the value chain and output like judgments and opinions given, resources allocated, decisions made, mistakes detected, products planned, commitments negotiated, and courses taught.
The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory
The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory which is based on Carl Jung’s works highlights the five-factor model or basic tendencies with each factor named for one of two ends of a continuum namely neuroticism, extraversion, open to new experiences, agreeableness and conscientiousness. Agreeableness and extraversion are interrelated in that with no explicit leadership, the one who emerges with extraversion, agreeableness, and emotionality emerges the informal leader.
Johari Window
Named after Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, the Johari window is another exemplary framework that helps increase one’s self-awareness. The Johari window is divided into four compartments namely: open, blind, hidden, and unknown. Hidden inconsistencies and hypocrisies including hiding, rebuffing, and evading learning about themselves, has been found to be a common attribute of many people. Sadly though, popular television shows, movies, and books are acted in such a way that the end results, because of concealment of true feelings or lack of self-awareness, characters may end up skeptical or tolerant.
Effective Interpersonal Communication
With acute logjam to effective interpersonal communication evolving as a result of inarticulateness, hidden agendas, status meant to impress and not offend, hostility due to lack of trust, and differences in communication styles, Chris Argyris of the Harvard Business School implemented what became known as “the left-hand column issues” which implies “what is thought” and “the right-hand column” in reference to “what is said” so that “discussables” can be differentiated from “undiscussables”.
The golden saying, “nature has given men one tongue but two ears that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak”, as noted by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, is a superior contemplation in the real sense which requires that we understand what is being said by others. The use of reflective listening helps us understand what others are saying and instills empathy in our inner souls.
Understanding Conflict Resolution
Understanding conflict resolution in the intrapersonal and interorganizational levels could be an added advantage. Avoiding approaches, accommodating approaches, competing approaches, compromising approaches, and collaborating approaches are some of the dimensions used in conflict management strategies. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of conflict management approaches. Also, as research has shown, allowing some degree of conflict could propel new ideas, innovation, and change. Conflicts can be stimulated and agreements managed by introducing guidelines for advocacy groups.
Team Building Strategies
There are informal approaches to team building and barriers to team building. Team building is an ongoing process and not an event. One approach to team building is for the team members to understand each other and have the willingness to observe each other consistently so as to generate substantial results. Social interaction among members like sharing a meal after work, holding annual holiday celebrations, and other important events opens a plethora of opportunities and other out of the ordinary accomplishments. Ironically, barriers to team building resurface due to not having the knowledge or experience of team building. One major factor that hinders team building is the lack of planning and coordination. Creating incentives to reward employees with exceptional performance emboldens employee resolve and attitude, increases social and economic standings, and lowers tardiness and the impervious “free will” attitude. Autocratic, consultative, and group decision making are some of the strategies used to define who should participate and when.
Effective Meeting Management
Meetings may be horrifying and end in disasters because of poor facilitation or they may be well managed, heartening, and all-inclusive. Understanding the rules of effective meeting management, coming up with the required tools, and setting the stage with certain objectives in mind is a prerequisite for modern management. Understanding the meeting objective, creating appropriate participation, selecting the time and place of the session, and preparing and distributing the agenda in advance is a requirement if pitfalls are to be avoided. However, running the meeting with sets of priorities in mind is a good way of giving the attendants a new lease of life. For a meeting to be professional it is essential to have someone take the minutes; the leader should review the agenda; make certain participants know each other; do not diverge from the agenda; ease interruptions; promote overall membership; and bring to a close the meeting by reviewing decisions reached.
Understanding Four Dimensions of Leadership
Influencing others depends on having a concrete understanding of the values, assumptions, beliefs, and expectations (VABEs) of the people involved. Having the feeling that it is a God-given responsibility to change how others feel and believe leads to underestimation of those under your command. Those endowed with authority should grasp the benefits of morality, ethics, legality, and cultural context. Individually determining what’s right and wrong is known as morality; ethics is a body of knowledge and established and conventional guiding principles of conduct created for groups of people or organizations; legality implies acting upon the established laws of humanity; while cultural context refers to observing the cultural values of others in the workplace. In public and professional conduct it is best to apply ethics and in private and for personal values wrap yourself around the garb of morality. When dealing with those under your authority, always keep in mind that what goes around comes around. It was Charles Grodin who once said, “It always surprises me that otherwise intelligent people don’t realize that if you treat people badly, it will eventually come back to you”. To give you an example of what goes around comes around, it is worth looking back what history has to tell us. “In the year 260 C.E., the Roman Emperor Valerian fell captive to Sasanid forces. He spent his last years at the Sassanid court in Ctesiphon, where his captors forced him to stoop and serve as a mounting stool when the Sasanid king wanted to ride his horse. (After his death, the Sasanids preserved Valerian’s skin as a memento of their victory over the Romans), (Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler ). One’s leadership qualities should not be repugnant to justice and to the subjects providing essential services or else there could be serious ramifications resulting in the dissolution of the entire enterprise. For example, a medial law stated that “if two persons fell under suspicion of crime, the uglier or more deformed was to be regarded as more probably guilty” (Wilson and Hernstein, 1985).
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fifty-two Years Later
After bitter struggles with the manipulative and intoxicating political, social, and economic concoctions spread and sprinkled over Africa by the callous forces of imperialism and colonialism, Ghana and Libya proclaimed independence in 1957 from Britain and Italy respectively. Thereafter, a succession of African colonies felt a sigh of relief after being released from the shackles of bondage and indignity. The major European powers responsible for Africa's demise included Britain, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal who collectively depopulated Africa's human population and also emptied its natural resources. Upon vacating the disastrously misused continent, the European powers embarked on a new form of mental subjugation that continue to bite the poor continent to the core to this very day. The harrowing legacies of imperialism and colonialism and the misguided principles espoused by Africa's apprentice leaders culminated in the creation of utterly misguided leadership qualities that ultimately displaced the authority and institutions known inherent in Africa since time immemorial. The aftermath saw the mighty continent plunge into protracted corruption spearheaded by kleptomaniacs, dictators, and outrageous kings.
Historically, emerging empires or classical societies copied nations that preceded them in mode of governance, in specialization of labor, in agriculture, and in techniques related to better trade and commerce. They did so so they could apply and inculcate new governing styles that would be acceptable to those under their domains. "The greatest asset of any nation is the spirit of its people, and the greatest danger that can menace any nation is the breakdown of that spirit" (George B. Courtelyou). Alas, not a single African leader went a step ahead of his comrades to try to emulate European governing styles. On the contrary, the continent underwent drastic changes with the creation of 'presidents-for-life' who ruled until the pangs of death caught up with them as was the case of Omar Bongo of Gabon, Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi, and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire to mention but a few. The absence of constitutional compromises, the denial of the minority to have a voice in the government, unbalanced land distribution, and failure to create political and economic development impede Africa's solidarity with the rest of the international community.
While African leaders fight each other to death over flimsy election irregularities in this 21st century, in 509 B.C.E., the Roman Republic witnessed similar political altercations between the ruling Patricians and the common people who were known as Plebeians. Amazingly, the Patricians granted Plebeians the right to elect officials who were known as tribunes. Why can't African leaders learn to compromise by borrowing a leaf from history? The principle that defendants remain innocent until proven guilty has been copied from the Twelve Tables promulgated by the Romans in the era known as Pax Romana ("Roman peace") corresponding to the time of Augustus.
Africa is lacking philosophers to guide it to its right course. What's good for Africa is good for its people, and what's good for the people is good for Africa. "It may be argued that peoples for whom philosophers legislate are always prosperous"-Aristotle. Perhaps, the greatest danger to Africa today is the combination of poor leadership and massive brain drain.
Somalia: Nothing to Celebrate on the 21st of October
Somalia gained independence in 1960 after the former colonies known respectively as British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland united on the 1st of July of that same year to form a single homogeneous nation. The northern part of Somalia was formerly known as British Somaliland and the southern part of the country was referred to as Italian Somaliland. But please remember, no borders existed in the African continent before the European powers divided Africa among themselves. After the assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke at Las Anod airstrip, Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre engineered a coup that brought him to power on the 21st of October, 1969 until the breakout of hostilities in 1991 when he was deposed by the United Somali Congress (USC) headed by General Mohamed Farah Aideed. Under Siyad Barre Somalia progressed militarily and many sectors of the economy saw tremendous growth despite bad politics tarnishing the regime's image.
Thus, the 21st of October was a major holiday during the tenure of Siyad as president of the Somali republic. Besides the two Islamic festivities of Eid-ul-fitr and Eid-ul-adha, Somalis have forgotten national celebrations altogether.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Somali Government: Don't Give Asyllum to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys
Somalia's mass murderer, warlord, and extremist Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is almost to surrender to the Somali government after a contingent of his militia surrendered to officers stationed at Villa Somalia, Somalia's Presidential Palace. It all started after the forces of the Sheikh exchanged bitter gunfire with the forces of Al-shabab in the port city of Kismayu located in southern Somalia. Reports from Mogadishu indicate that the Sheikh is in constant contact with some of his clan members currently in the Somali cabinet of ministers so as to be given asyllum.
It is my strongest desire to see the sheikh extradited to the Hague, in the Netherlands, in order to face charges of genocide, rape, and mass murder of innocent Somalis before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
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