Ethiopian Somali: a history in the making ========

===========

Life is a function of a brainpower. Progress is merely an outcome of intellectual advance and vise versa. Somnolent minds tend to turn even a resources rich environment into a hell. Intellect is doubtlessly a superb power for progress and positive change whose miss is still stain on the faces of many societies in Africa including Somalia: where conflicts continue for the third decade, Kenya; where schools are still being burnt, South Sudan bed leveled by clan conflicts that has little chance to end in the near future, isolated and ailing Eritrea etc to cite some.

Ethiopia was not an exception and its rich cultural antiquity was ever associated with hunger and famine. Exploitation and severe suppression made the entire nation to live in misery under old regimes. Few lived at the expense of the many in imperial era and innumerable innocent citizens perished under the Derg regime. But fortunately enough, that wretchedness has faded away and ethnic federalism that resulted from decades of fierce fighting turned it into history. In contrast to what many were mistakenly expecting, the new system strengthened equality and economic growth across the country.

But this long waited political budge initially turned out into a problem in Somali region where denominational prejudices, pervasive pursue of personal benefits, clan based partisan and indisposition to solve their spoils paralyzed the political process to a stable state. Misuse of power and other public resources also amplified and augmented grievances among clans and reinforced insecurity through exclusion and creation of outside groups. The malice and malevolence that eventually paraded the region lastly invited emergence and influences of alien and evil forces.

Anti-peace and development elements have succeeded not only in establishing armed gangs in rural areas but also set active sympathizers in towns and government institutions to act impatiently in the internal affairs of the region.

This is not to disregard the works of past politicians who served the region with all odds; nevertheless, the deadlock was widely known and intolerably immense that possibility to fix them easily in the near future was beyond the perception of many. Owing to immensity of the region’s crisis, there were occasions when the late Prime Minister threatened to impose emergency rule on the region. The region was certainly long way from being a stable state until end of last decade when things started to improve through use of mind and mental power.

Combination of cunning and commitment has confirmed relevance of sagacity in transforming the entire region within short period of time. The region’s deep rooted and inherent insecurity problem was sustainably solved through a ground breaking initiations. The region that once was on its last legs is now not only safe but also advanced in provision of basic services, investments and in improving livelihoods of pastoral communities in the region. The massive and marvelous infrastructural and institutional developments have also broken the barriers to progress and prosperity putting the region among the most stable, secure and developed regions of Ethiopia.

It is actually these impressive achievements that prompted me to express my deep appreciation with couple of interesting cases. The main aim of this paper is therefore, two: 1- to honestly acknowledge the services and sacrifices made for attaining the monumental paradigm shifts that we apparently see today in the region and 2 briefly display the major innovative and transformative approaches pursued with particular emphasis on their far reaching practical and prospective as well as overt and covert implications in both home and beyond. Following are however the major steps:-

1- Reviving from the ruin

Insecurity has been the major challenge of the region since long. Historic geopolitical contests and domestic crisis led the region to a widespread instabilities and thus insecurity. Internal rifts and clan conflicts also facilitated emergence of insurgents that devastated the region. Sustaining their existence through exhaustive exploitation of Somali’s loose clan relations, Woredas were entirely disconnected. A vehicle without escort could hardly move between towns and very few areas were safe for travel.. Blasts at daylights were common and claimed lives of many innocent citizens in the region. People killed including engineers, teachers and development agents, houses burned and vehicles set ablaze during these days were undeniably countless. But this trend and tendency was fundamentally changed during last couple of years. Security was fully restored making roads busy with both public and private transports that link major towns of the region in mass on daily basis. I counted 8 buses full of passengers between Dhegaxbur to Jig-jiga within two hours time. I also slept in peace and without escorts in Karen Kebele of Kalafo where I was ambushed with senior federal officers eight years earlier. We tragically lost one friend whose face is still deep in my heart as he was sitting next to me when a shoot from a distant accidently rested in his heart. This was one of many accidents in the region.

Mohamed Abdiaziz, a friend of mine whose long experience on Fik zone was that of continuous clashes conspicuously confirmed how security improved recently. He said he had personally encountered an armored military vehicle (Ural) roving between remote Kebeles of Shaygosh wonderfully with driver alone. This is, by itself, a crystal clear substantiation of how security situation has now improved across the region. Nogob and Jerer- no more harbor enemies. Qari-juqood-the once fortress for evil and insane forces is now a vibrant trade centre. I have personally been there for one good Ramadan month.

A million Dollar question is thus why insecurity remained so embedded in the region for so long: and how it was solved within this short period of time. The answer is seemingly simple. Instability is primarily a product of a spoiled system which ultimately emanate from impiety of basically political elites. Ineptness rather than obliviousness of past regimes to comprehend how these factors were interlinked in creating vicious cycle was of course what constrained them. It is thus the reverse of the former that resulted in the success on the region’s security condition; employing the noble principle of “the right person for the right position at the right time” compounded by combination of fundamental shift in thinking and tactics employed to solve region’s basic problems.

The incumbent political leader earnestly applied differential diagnosis and passionate problem analysis to identify the core cause of and key cure to our crisis. Security stood as both the base and panacea to all problems. Fool proof security plan was then developed for a final fix. It was actually there from where all followed interesting events emerged. The agents of the changes we today see

in the region- special police force- was eventually established and trained on how to deal with non-conventional wars that immediately waged all out war on insurgencies until they eliminated from all hideouts. Along the battle in the bush, the role of diplomatic missions in Diaspora communities was remarkable. Equally important was the internal refining reforms that thwarted the masked inner enemy circles. The restored security was also sustained through persistent public orientation on development and security, dissemination of developments, rehabilitating families of martyrs and creation of important institutions all of which are outstanding and exemplary acts. We will deal with all of them later one by one.

 

Liyu Police forces on development tasks

Securing stability was not an end by itself but as a means towards enhancing infrastructural and institutional capacity to foster economic growth and developments in the region. That success has created conducive conditions for the apparent accelerated multi-faceted developments that we observe today across the region. The same forces that defeated armed enemies in the battlefields are also development agents that help people at their homes. This is a result of an unadulterated effort of the current Somali Regional State under the dedicated and devoted political leadership of the incumbent president His Excellence Mr. Abdi Mohamud Omer on all aspect of the region.

The interesting outcomes of these commitments and convictions indicate and attest couple of cases;- the strength of mind and willpower in attaining ambitions that one firmly believes in: looseness and laxity of the regional institutions were the life veins for existence of insurgencies. It also proofed the cruelty of insurgencies’ irrational and immoral objectives as well as the level-headedness and resoluteness of our cause for public betterments.

The implications are broad and include- strengthened security and stability of the Somali region, entire Ethiopia and the greater region compounded by infrastructural, institutional development and economic growth. This is a tiny but the starting point for more stunning and spectacular achievements by the Ethiopian Somali Regional State within last years alone. The fact that we are not only safer from any risks but also making marvelous move towards progress, the region has certainly revived from a ruin and is on the demarcation of departure from despair to development.

2- Establishment of Regional MMA

The globe is now known to be a small village. We are in a world where information is the best power. This is so because of technological advancement. But Somalis were in general far advanced with this regard by virtue of being oral society. Information was and until now is easily exchanged among Somalis. To sleep without latest updates was always unwise and was seen as a sacrifice made for the uncertainty/unknown evils.

Lack of regional news outlets really caused double tragedies in the region: it hindered display of progress and paved the way for increased enemy influences. Failure to do your task inevitably invites others to do it for you as they wish. This was exactly what happened in our region. We unwittingly or either intentionally exposed our citizens to depend on evil information outlets as their only sources of information. Creation of Region’s Mass Media Agency is hence unparalleled in region’s pacification through exposing progresses made and expelling influences of alien forces. Region’s 24 hour television services, FM radio and Cakaaranews blog are all historic achievements of the current regional government. The periodic magazines produced by government sector bureaus including: – MIDNIMO, HODAN, DHAMBAAL along others are also important sources of information. The institutions in sum educated, entertained and kept entire audiences updated and informed of the progresses made in the region. It has really changed the perception of the entire population in and outside the region.

Officials on Drought Response efforts in Shinile Woreda, Siti

3- First complex presidential palace built–

Only Ethiopia had the oldest palace in the known history of Africa. So does the current Ethiopian Somali region in the Horn of Africa. Unlike neighboring countries including Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya and Eritrea governments, Ethiopian

Somalis regional State reside in the first complete and complex presidential palace built by its own Engineers.

Partial view of the new PP in Jijiga

The Egg shaped structure of kali hall is an indicative of architectural and decorative skills of builders. Despite complexity of its design, this palace has couple of unique features: comprehensive structure containing presidential office, resident, high profile guest houses, complex meeting hall, plenty green areas and play grounds with modern recreational facilities, restaurant and other beautiful offices for presidential staffs. The recreation facilities and vast green areas are other aspect of the palace’s beauty. There are various play fields including foot, basket, tennis and volley ball grounds that one might not need to leave unless told to do so.

Image of the region’s multi-purpose hall(Kali) The multi-purpose hall, for instance, is among the structures that amaze viewers most. It is a combination of many buildings that together makes one big and pretty premises. It has multi mini meeting halls and administrative offices of various sizes. Palace’s positional location is what gives it additional scenery beauty. It stands in a strategic and panoramic place that over sees the city of Ji-jiga from the east. It is painstakingly beautiful that only observer can judge its fantastic fine looking.

4- First locally built International airport –

Construction of big bridges, air strips and terminals were only task of giant construction companies with long experience and probably expatriates. But thanks to God and the incumbent government, that perception was firstly broken and changed here in the region. The modern Qabridahar airport was the mere initiation and making of Ethiopian Somali Region. Regrettably enough, underestimating the capacity of our engineers it was certainly beyond anyone’s expectation including me myself that the actual work of the airport will start anytime soon. Approval and acceptance of the federal AAA was not at least expected until the official opening ceremony caught us surprise and proofed us wrong but with pleasure of the success. For your surprise, all including run way, terminal and counters were built by Ethiopian Somali engineers.

Appreciation of the Airport’s quality and standard by the concerned federal Authority sincerely and seriously taught us new aspect of our region that we have been oblivious of before. The national flag carrier has immediately announced in the ceremony its plan of two days flight per week, which it has already started.

For your surprise counters, runway and terminals were all built by the region making it fairly the first of its kind in the entire history of the Horn and indicative of how far the region has gone by now on this aspect. Following images are also other exemplary mega constructions built by the Ethiopian Somali Region experts during the last five years alone -a proof that desire and devotion matters a lot.

5- Establishment of ESDA

Somali region is relatively unique in number of ways compared to hinterland: it is almost entirely in arid and semi arid agro-ecology, with predominance of pastoralism and pervasive poverty. Economic growth and development was always prime priority of the region. Unfortunately, lack of commitment and capacity has basically hindered efforts to find external sources. Neither was there also the inner readiness of the leaders nor the favoring environment at that time. However, importance of this notion, prompted sitting and serving government to strive mobilization of local resources, which undeniably was a paramount if meaningful development, is aimed at all in the region. Establishment of ESDA may mean easy for many, but is an interestingly indescribable event. It was truly an expectation of none to see it functioning as the way it does now across the region.

Besides of raising funds for developments, it absorbed many jobless skilled citizens and invested many areas of the region along the government. It is certainly the first of its kind ever done in the horn that will enable us to exploit contentious clan bonds deftly for nurturing competition on construction of common goods for their own benefits. It will also encourage societies’ self dependency by teaching their buried potentials and create public sense of ownership.

In sum this initiative will also contribute to expansion of basic infrastructures across the Kebeles thus enhancing region’s stability through strengthened social interconnectedness and triggering healthy competition between localities on not only development of social infrastructures but also on economic cooperation as well.

6- Establishment of Regional MFI –

Capacity constraint: lack of initial capital and skills were practical challenges to developments in rural areas. Availability of credit and saving services is thus indisputably catalyst to development in any developing nation as it tends to improve rural life where poverty is so pervasive. Presence of CBE was ever limited in Somali region and women dominated traditional financial groups were the only alternative to Banks. With aim to ease burdens in events of unexpected incidents, customary financial institutions worked well particularly for the disadvantaged groups lest low capacity to transfer and share the costs of risk. It was actually aspiration of all regional leaders, but no other time than now was ever eagerly attempted and eventually established such inspiring institution across the region.

It is the first commercial and communal business corporate created in the region. It is privately owned and aided by the government. It serves as credit and saving institution and supports the poorest portion of the population with free credit and saving services. It also facilitates transfer of money for private and public organizations. It is actually a surrogate of conventional Bank in remote areas where there are no ordinary banks. This new financial organization has facilitated the money movement through fast transfer services.

Credits being given to Clients

The region’s Micro-finance Institution has now over 30 branch offices across the region and provided credit worth about 438,517,214 ETB to over 16,572 MSEs in the region, of which 13,736 are women. It is implicitly a surrogate of conventional bank that operate in both major towns as well as outreach Kebeles. What is extremely amazing is the efficiency of its services and quality of its staffs.

7- The cataract campaign –

No other compassion can really match a kindness offered to help poor persons regain their long lost sense of sight. Even though only victim can test the real difference, hopefully many of us can also share the sentiment behind this noble task. This was of course a unilateral initiation of the regional president himself with the help of eye specialists. The regional government paid all costs while professionals showed unique commitment to work in inconvenient conditions.

Whatever the cost was, imagine the emotional utterance of a mother who saw her 7 children for the first time in her whole life. I still feel the exciting post-surgery sound of that woman in deep of my heart. “it is true, it is true” was all that she involuntarily uttered to express her joy with the return of her sight.

It seemed that she had never been expecting to face such a fantastic moment in the rest of her life. She could not believe that what she initially saw was true. As many of us might have watched, there are hundreds of elderly and aged people that were freely treated in their own homes. This is an unbelievable benevolence by the current regional government to the neediest portion of the population. It was a first of its kind and no question; it is yet honestly, to happen at least in many African countries let alone in east Africa and Other regions of Ethiopia.

This matchless event will have an unforgettable legacy in the minds and hearts of not only the treated patients and their relatives but also the generations to come. The paper entitled “the re-born mother” by Guled Ali and the ecstasy and emotional elation resulted from this noble effort is sufficed to reflect response and results surrounding that campaign.

8- Gender empowerment –Women are

half of the global population though unfortunately boys are often preferred in traditional societies. By virtue of being productive forces, their role was kept confined to child bearing and their contribution to economic development remained either underestimated or unknown. Therefore, tainted gender equality has been our defining feature. What is clear, however, is that women are known to be good at: teaching,

Economic/financial managements and safeguards. Empowering them is thus implicitly empowering the whole rather than part of the population Cognizant of this notion, the current regional government has bravely broken that barrier. Women in the region today enjoy unprecedented rights. In many schools they constitute half. They also are about 60%, 20% and 30% in federal parliament, ESDP executive and regional cabinet, respectively. For your surprise over 80% of Woreda BoFED Heads are women. The number of women headed cooperatives and MSEs operating in the region are countless.

On top of that women enjoy several prominant positions in the current state. Today they are one of the three vice-presidents of the region and head of several importnat bureaus including: capacity building, construction designs, women affairs and water resources developem bureaus to cite some The photoes you see here are the pioneer of the women politicians in the system.

 

9- Creation of Fair Employment Platform–

Favoritism was and still is common and core causes of conflicts in all developing nations. This is particularly a stain in clan based societies where employment without complaints was always uncommon. Misuse of power for personal benefits was what kept the region in a vicious cycle of political instability for so long. Despite blind acknowledgement of its multifaceted consequence, no meaningful attempt was ever made to eliminate this humiliating custom before the sincere initiation that was started here in this region. It was really an unparalleled practice.

Over one thousand employees were recruited in one single night on the basis of a game of chance under the direct auspices of the president and presence of prominent bureau heads. Not only did this approach blocked space for preference and partiality but also built bases for improved public trusts in the system. More interesting is that all those who compassionately accepted the result and went to their duty station were also rewarded for their deeds and dedication. Some of them are now in leadership positions across the region. Some are Woreda chairmen while others lead core processes in public offices. The ecstasy and elation you could read from the faces of treated patients in that particular time was admirably exciting.

The president himself coordinating the process

This historic step will have several important implications: it will compel political leaders of other regions and neighboring nations to replicate and apply it in a hasty; it will increase culture of transparency and build public trusts and above all will improve fraternity and stability of the region as a whole. It is undeniably a case that will remain in the hearts and minds of countless of people for the decades to come.

10 – Promotion of Public Participation

Citizens’ consent is a measure of legitimacy in democratic states. Promoting public participation secures systems and sustains its efforts. State vs. society relation is amazingly exceptional in our region than any time before now. All sects of societies are occasionally called for updates and consulted on essential issues.

The president’s successive visits to outreach Kebeles are a sort of applying “one stone for two birds” philosophy as it encouraged friends and disheartened ambitions and possible acts of enemies. By keeping contacts with the grass root communities intact, Haraad reeb, Ubo quusis, Sama-wade and others have improved security.

President in visit to outreach Kebeles of the region

Diaspora program is another important issue that gained us triumph over enemy and investment gaps. Various visits to Diaspora communities also increased connection and cooperation with host countries on many issues including eliminating enemy sources of incomes from abroad and consequently activities in home. It also improved relation with host countries as well.

The implications of such diplomatic missions and community meetings have far-reaching effects and include: increased intimacy, getting inside and unmediated community questions and concerns, preventing possibility of misunderstanding as a result of misinformation, and above all building public trusts in the system and so forth and so on.

President with Diaspora communities Only that cares his subjects can respond to their needs best and gains their hearts and minds.

11. Invigorating Culture & Common Customs

We are fundamentally historical and cultural beings and our views of, and knowledge about, the world are the ‘products of historically situated interchanges among people. ’Culture is thus a defining element of one’s identity. It crosses across generation and between persons and people through oral orientation and practical interactions.

It is what makes communities unique and differentiate from others in terms of dresses, food preparation, house making and etc. “People without culture are only people that do not exist” implies imperativeness and importance of culture.

But unfortunately, our conventional customs remained rural phenomenon in our era and is leveled with primitivity. Reer Baadiye- which other languages know as “countrymen” is still used to define and degrade our brothers with certain elements of antiquity. Despite in selective occasions and by elderly people, cultural attire was deplored not attractive to mainstream societies until recent. But, seeing an equally grown girls and boys in their distinctive dresses being transmitted by various TV stations is an interesting attestation of the successful revival of our commonly shared customs.

Revitalization of Somalis’ lyrical poem compounded by recurring and rhythmic beats of various musical instruments is what really attracted all viewers including other nations. More interesting is how this astonishing instigation has taken countless singers to the kingdom of our rich cultural reservoir.

Establishment of AGA (Akadamiyad-Goboleedka Af-soomaliga) in Jig-Jiga and commencement of Somali Language department in Ji-jiga University is another interesting start that has gained our region the uncontested respect of culture vigilance. Initiating learning and encouraging application of cultural calendar is an interesting approach that is entirely new to the region.

12. Drought Responses &Resilience Building

Moisture stress constitutes key challenge in the region hindering any improvement in agricultural productions. Drought is thus common and constant hazard that disturbs livelihoods giving no respite for recovery. The 2005 drought in Siti zone was among the most disastrous, nevertheless, no single human life was lost. This was so because of two important factors; Keenness and kindness of the higher leaders compounded by perfect coordination and effective management style. Contribution of 12,000,000 ETB by Siti zone business people has made the intervention unique and unforeseen. Unlike before, a strong multi-sectoral coordination unit established at Siti zone has impressively and amazingly synchronized the whole responses in such a way that no resource was wasted. Apart from saving lives, this operation was not an end by itself.

To solve this crisis sustainably, land and livestock is needed to be productive which also calls for water. Therefore, resilience building was emphasized; water harvesting and fodder production. As a result Over 95 dams were thus constructed in the region during last five years alone for both drinking and irrigation purposes. More than 600,000 bales of animal feed produced from Gode and Gebi were distributed to needy households in Siti zone, areas along the border with Somaliland to prevent incursion of unhealthy animals into the region. Most important event was the feed aid sent to Afar region where drought hit harshly. This was totally an unexpected and unprecedented act that has not only halted more

bloodshed between the two sisterly people but also changed the long tainted relation of the two brotherly people forever and to the best. It was a historic and a wonderful work!!!.

13- Promotion of Regional Cooperation

Horn has ever been a home for continuous contests wrecked and ruined by inter and intra state conflicts. Building peace and fostering cooperation between the people was neither the intention of global powers nor the regional leaders. It was as though crisis was the only consensus. This was how things worked for so long but is being changed with new spirit and strength for building peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Somali region is taking a leading role in this regard in both home and outside home. Among the significant strategies towards regional pacification include the case of KALI which is a condition that convinced all concerned actors. Though controversial to some, the case is literally ideal agenda for staving off possibilities of more conflicts and crisis in the region. The area is no more a problem point to either side but rather serves as a centre for forging peace and prosperity in the wider horn region.

Education is catalyst to transformation and training students from Somalia and its states in the region’s higher learning institutions is an exemplary paradigm shift. This scholarship is merely aimed to normalize nation’s relations by building the capacity of future leaders.

Heads of states of Somalia Federal Government and its regions including Puntland state, Jubaland state, Cenetral state, Galmudug state and Somaliland have spontaneously visited Jigjiga for three basic issues: fostering cooperation on security, economic, good governance issues and most importantly experience sharing on the above points and others is reflection of the new phase.

In sum, these historical and unequaled steps taken towards nurturing cooperation between the wider horn nations has far reaching regional ramifications: enhancing region’s security, encouraging peaceful co-existence and mutual economic cooperation which buttresses IGAD policy of regional integration.

Conclusion

Owing to the extent of the crisis in the region, pacified and progressive Somali region was beyond perception of many than few for the decades to come. But things started to change following the genius and genuine engagements of the current leadership on restoration of security which unquestionably revived the region not only from a ruin but also headed off to a point of no return in terms of development, provision of basic services, good governance, revenue generation, and economic growth.

This is a hardly deniable fact with some basic proofs for it: the region’s apparent multi-faceted improvements, visits to the region by various leaders of Ethiopian autonomous states as well as horn countries and Ethiopian Prime Minister’s testimony in his speech at the Federal Parliament. The entirety of these events is totally a different display on what has been known of our region. Expressing his acclamation on the region’s marvelous achievements within such a short period of time, the PM unreservedly urged major Ethiopian States to follow the footsteps of Ethiopian Somalis Region, if they, at all need meaningful developments in their regions.

This explicit and exact attestation of how Ethiopian Somalis has gone on all sides is a prestige and privilege for both the current political leaders and the public at large and a proof that Ethiopian Somalis are uncontested architect of the multi-faceted developments that have changed it and changing the region as well. It is a fait accompli.

PM Hailemariam in Somali Cultural Dress

History is thus being made in the Somali Region in terms of changing the old age image of not only the region but also the entirety of Ethiopia forever. By- Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamud ESRS/LPDB, e-mail – miabtidoon@gmail.com

Do not miss the next part.