• Home
  • Perspectives
  • Articles
  • Columns
  • Platform
  • Poetry
    • Literature
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • My account
  • Support
    • Donation Confirmation
  • Write for us
Search
61.5 F
Los Angeles
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
  • Contact MMN
  • en English
    af Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchen Englisheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sudanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Media Monitors Network (MMN)
  • Home
  • Perspectives
    • Jerusalem Israel Palestine Dome of The Rock Golden Dome

      The Abraham Accords undermined much-needed peace with Palestinians

      World Map

      Global disturbing disparities

      Globe Algeria Niger Mali Africa

      There is always a price to pay for befriending the Zionists

      Illegal Israeli Settlements

      Antisemitism claims mask a reign of political and cultural terror across…

      The Flower - Pakistan Monument at Night

      Israel in the vanguard of India’s mounting conflict with Pakistan

  • Articles
    • Man studying religious book

      Ishmael and Isaac: An Essay on the Divergent Moral Economies of…

      Mahmoud Abbas

      May Your Home Be Destroyed

      Netanyahu Lighting Hanukah Candles with His Wife and Sons

      Bibi’s Son or: Three Men in a Car

      The Map of Greater Israel

      The Man Who Jumped

      West Bank - Palestine

      Cry, Beloved Country

  • Columns
    • Corporate Media Are Focusing on Race -- and Dodging Class

      The Liberal Contempt for Martin Luther King’s Final Year

      Corporate Media Are Focusing on Race -- and Dodging Class

      The Urgent Need for a Biden-Putin Summit

      Rahm Emanuel Is in the Running for a Top Ambassador Post. The Prospect Is Appalling. 

      Rahm Emanuel Is in the Running for a Top Ambassador Post….

      Republican Hypocrisy Is No Reason to Support Neera Tanden

      Republican Hypocrisy Is No Reason to Support Neera Tanden

      Tax Revelations and Corporate Media Won’t Defeat Trump

      Cuomo and Newsom Symbolize the Rot of Corporate Democrats — and…

  • Platform
    • Hanukkah Lights

      Hanukkah is not hypocrisy

      The Washington Post

      “Preemptive war could risk millions of casualties. But….”

      When they shout: "We strongly condemn…"

      68

      Why Iran won’t attack Israel

      Is One Iraqi’s Self-Hatred Newsworthy?

  • Poetry
    • Literature
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • My account
  • Support
    • Donation Confirmation
  • Write for us
Home Perspectives Somalia steadily Arising from its Ashes
  • Perspectives

Somalia steadily Arising from its Ashes

By
Mustafa Bothwell Mheta
-
September 14, 2019
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Linkedin
ReddIt
Email
Print
Tumblr
Telegram
Mix
VK
Digg
LINE
Viber
Naver
    Globe Algeria Niger Mali Africa

    Somalia conducted parliamentary elections on December 2016, which in turn elected on February 8, 2017, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo as the new President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The record of the previous government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which ruled from 2012 till 2016, was rather disappointing. I was recently invited by the Somali National University (SNU) the newly revived and only state University in Somalia, to attend the 3rd Annual Conference on Higher Education in Post-Conflict Societies with a very relevant theme: “Somalia’s pathway to sustainable development goals: Education, Health and Poverty Reduction by 2030”. The conference was held at the upmarket Jazeera Palace Hotel, Mogadishu.

    When one prepares to journey to Somalia, the image that often comes to mind is that of a war zone, devoid of any semblance of civility and where you expect to see dead bodies scattered all over. To my surprise when I landed, I was shocked to see a very modern airport that Somalia is building (Aden Abdulle) which compares well with any airport elsewhere in Africa or even much better. The new Somali government is investing heavily in infrastructural development which was destroyed during the civil war of the 90s.

    A stroll in the city provides the visitor with a chance to see an emerging, bustling city, full of life. Business is booming in Mogadishu and the country’s economy is indeed on the mend. Thanks to the defeat of Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen by a joint force of AU troops and the Somali National Army (SNA). The Somali National Army’s on-going training and reintegration seem to be strengthening it. Thanks to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who recently appointed youthful General Odowa Yusuf Rage as overall commander of the Army. He is perhaps the youngest Army commander on the African continent. Al-Shabaab is facing its imminent total defeat.

    The current government appointed by President Farmajo, is a government of technocrats, keen on delivering unity, peace, and economic prosperity for all Somalis. They have declared zero tolerance on corruption which had plagued the previous administrations. I saw a youthful western-educated team who are keen on delivering a good life for all. And not only that, this team is devoid of clan politics which led to the collapse of the state and subsequently descended into a failed state that Somalia was prior to the formation of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).

    There is now a fully-fledged state in Somalia which is collecting revenue and asserting its control across all its territory. As al-Shabaab loses ground across the country, the government, with its triumphant and gallant Somali National Army, moves in and establishes itself for the purposes of delivering the much-needed services to its people. The good news is that the people of Somalia are very happy with their leader. President Farmajo remains a very popular leader.

    This governments commitment to reviving Somalia’s higher education is a testimony to the fact that it is committed to national development both in the long and short terms and is highly commended. The reopening of the Jaamacadda Ummadda Soomaaliyeed (Somali National University) further testifies in practical terms, that the government of President Farmajo is single-mindedly determined to improving the lives of Somalians. The Somali National University used to be the pride of the entire Horn of Africa region in years gone by. It boasts among its alumni people like the late former President Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea. The new Federal government has increased its funding to education. After state security, education receives the second-highest budget followed by health in that order. This is indeed a sign of a nation that is on a trajectory to success and development.

    The independence of the judiciary is continuously challenged. During the writing of this article, conflicts between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court on the appointment of judges hampered the establishment of a coherent legal system. It highlighted the clan-based and economic interests that are deeply interwoven into the judicial system and influence the daily performance of the courts. Judges regularly seem to base their decisions on clan or political considerations and are regularly accused of corruption and misconduct. No proper oversight mechanisms exist. However, this government seems to be on its way in trying to resolve this matter which is a foundation stone in a democracy.

    International trade is the backbone of the Somali economy. The country is largely dependent on imports of basic food items (rice, pasta, sugar, flour, cooking oil), building materials, fuel, and electronics. Sugar is the main import product followed by Khat, which is a mild stimulant mainly imported from Kenya and Ethiopia. With respect to export, the Somali economy relies on a few products, including livestock, charcoal, hides and skins. Livestock exports to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Oman account for approximately 80% of export earnings. Although exports increased over the last decade, the country still faces a large trade deficit, which is compensated for by diaspora remittances and, albeit to a much smaller part, by donor support.

    To our South African businesspeople, the time to go into Somalia is now. The current government has declared Somalia open to investment and that they will protect your investment in accordance with international law. I also make a clarion call to the Somali diaspora that Somalia needs you, please take your investments back home and share your experiences. Even though al-Shabaab still stages sporadic suicide bombings in Mogadishu, it has largely been defeated and continues to lose ground across the country.

    • TAGS
    • account
    • accused
    • across
    • administrations
    • Africa
    • african
    • after
    • airport
    • among
    • annual
    • appointment
    • Arab
    • arabia
    • article
    • ashes
    • attend
    • backbone
    • based
    • basic
    • better
    • between
    • bombings
    • budget
    • building
    • business
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    WhatsApp
    Linkedin
    ReddIt
    Email
    Print
    Tumblr
    Telegram
    Mix
    VK
    Digg
    LINE
    Viber
    Naver
      Previous articleNetanyahu risks triggering an unwinnable war to avoid losing election
      Next articleMiddle East Christians bear the brunt of televangelical politics
      Mustafa Bothwell Mheta
      Mustafa Bothwell Mheta, Ph.D. in Semitic Languages and Cultures, contributed this article to Media Monitors Network (MMN) from South Africa.

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Corporate Media Are Focusing on Race -- and Dodging Class

      The Liberal Contempt for Martin Luther King’s Final Year

      Corporate Media Are Focusing on Race -- and Dodging Class

      The Urgent Need for a Biden-Putin Summit

      Rahm Emanuel Is in the Running for a Top Ambassador Post. The Prospect Is Appalling. 

      Rahm Emanuel Is in the Running for a Top Ambassador Post. The Prospect Is Appalling. 

      Google Search

      - Advertisement -
      MMN @ Google Play Store MMN @ Amazon Appstore

      MMN @ TwitterMMN @ FacebookMMN Feed

      Newsletter

      EDITOR PICKS

      Corporate Media Are Focusing on Race -- and Dodging Class

      The Liberal Contempt for Martin Luther King’s Final Year

      April 1, 2021
      Corporate Media Are Focusing on Race -- and Dodging Class

      The Urgent Need for a Biden-Putin Summit

      March 23, 2021
      Rahm Emanuel Is in the Running for a Top Ambassador Post. The Prospect Is Appalling. 

      Rahm Emanuel Is in the Running for a Top Ambassador Post....

      March 10, 2021

      POPULAR POSTS

      167

      The Origin of Freemasonry: The Crusaders & Templars

      April 23, 2003

      Sharon to Peres: We Control America

      November 20, 2001
      Qibla - Kaaba

      Direction of Al-Qiblah

      February 23, 2003

      POPULAR CATEGORY

      • Perspectives13741
      • News3565
      • World3210
      • Asia2764
      • Columns1332
      • Articles859
      • Africa327
      • Health281
      • Australasia207
      ABOUT US
      Media Monitors Network (MMN) is a non-profit, non-partial and non-political platform for those serious Media Contributors and Observers who crave to know and like to help to prevail the whole truth about current affairs, any disputed issue or any controversial issue by their voluntary contributions with logic, reason and rationality.
      Contact us: [email protected]
      FOLLOW US
      • About MMN
      • Disclaimer
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Contact
      Copyright © 2000 - MMN International Inc. All rights reserved.
      Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
      All other brands, logos, and product names are registered
      trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
      ResponsiveVoice-NonCommercial licensed under 95x15
      MORE STORIES
      Museums must not be overlooked in pandemic recovery, UNESCO chief warns

      Museums must not be overlooked in pandemic recovery, UNESCO chief warns

      April 13, 2021
      UN and partners announce Afghan peace summit will convene in Turkey this month

      UN and partners announce Afghan peace summit will convene in Turkey...

      April 13, 2021