The transitional government of Somalia, whose forces, bolstered (as is not widely known) by U.S. arms and (which is well known) Ethiopian air and ground troops, seems to have regained control over the country from the radical Islamic Court that took over most of the land six months ago. The Islamic Court forces were beaten in several skirmishes and have retreated to
a port city on the seacoast to regroup. Civilians there are being held as human shields, so air attacks presumably will not be undertaken by the Somalian transitional government and its forces. Ground troops will have to do it all.
I say "transitional government" because the United States has yet to recognize the Administration of President Abdullahi Yusuf, even though the Yusuf regime has enjoyed recognition from the U.N., the African Union and even the Arab League. The difference between the United States and the others, matters, since only the U.S. seems ready to do much actively in situations like this.
For some reason, perhaps because the Bush Administration feared a fiasco that would damage our reputation in Iraq and elsewhere, our government has held back diplomatic recognition for President Abdullahi Yusuf and his government until success is assured. That didn't stop us from providing practical support, however, as well as sanction for the Ethiopian involvement.
The Somalians did not want our troops, only our supplies, as their Ambassador designate, Koshin Mohamed, made clear in a lecture at Discovery Institute in Seattle this past fall. Mr. Mohamed, who obviously is well-connected in Somalia, even though he is only 28, and operates an accountancy office in Seattle, has some other opinions worth noting. For example, he believes that aid for Somalia that has been administered by the United Nations has been showing up in the hands of war lords, not the Yusuf Administration. He suggests that bi-lateral aid is the way to go henceforward and he indicates that the recent U.S. military aid, indeed, has
been handled effectively.
Many people in the media and elsewhere disputed the popularity of the Yusuf Administration a few weeks ago and doubted its military prowess. But Koshin Mohamed notes that once they were armed the government troops fought well and that they were welcomed by crowds described as "jubilant" by the Associated Press.
We were pleased to help Mr. Mohamed as he set up his operation in Washington, D.C. last summer and are happy that he will be able to give another talk at our Washington, D.C. office (1015 15th St., NW) on January 11. It was planned originally to warn Americans that al-Qaeda was beginning to make a new base in Somalia, but now it will have a more upbeat theme,
clearly.
Somalia is a Muslim country, but it does not have much taste for Taliban style cultural constraints. Somalians don't want support from radicals in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, Mohamed says. They want American help and investment. There are large oil and gas reserves in the country--un-utilized--that could well finance a sizable development program. Perhaps the happiest way the Yusuf government could assure long-term popular support would be to allow U.S. companies to drill, but to be sure that local profits go in large part directly to individual Somalian families--perhaps 50 percent--as well as to run government operations.
Meanwhile, nothing should be taken for granted here in the U.S. We are hoping that the Bush Administration will recognize the authority of the Yusuf government as soon as possible and give it full support. Part of that support will mean un-freezing the accounts of the old Somalian government that are still under State Department control. It is only about $1.5 million, but it should be enough to allow the new ambassador--Koshin Mohamed--to take up his job properly. it will be a pleasure to see the young University of Washington graduate, who holds U.S. as well as Somalian citizenship, in the ambassador's office at last.