Somalia: Positions awarded based on President’s immediate family
Djibouti (HAN) August 10th, 2008 - The African Union peacekeeper force in Somalia as well as Ethiopian regime are calling for help, from anyone. That means at least Ninety Nine percent of the clan warriors in southern Somalia are still officially at war with the TNG structure and its policies, and many of the other militias in Banadir region are not willing to break the truce with the Ethiopian forces, Why?
Col.Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the President of the flimsy fragile Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has recently appointed arbitrarily a number of presidential and military portfolios. It is certainly bewilderment that the chosen, without proper qualifications, are from the President’s immediate and distant family. By and large, they, though lived outside of Somalia for the past two decades, are veterans of his former armed rebel front, SSDF.
Col.Yusuf, known by majority of Somalis as a pawn and puppet of Ethiopia, is a totalitarian and traitor by nature. He bragged, in the presence of fanatic fans gathered in Royal Garden hotel in London week ago, that he had signed Ethiopian occupation in Somalia prior to Meles Zenawi’s decision to launch military offensive against Somalia.
Parachuted by Ethiopian forces, Yusuf got his life-long wish of sleeping as ‘the man of the house’ in Villa Somalia, the last Somali dictator’s presidential palace.
When Somalia turned out to be the Iraq of Africa, as mortal shells constantly firing out from Suuqa Xoolaha, Mogadishu’s Sadr City, the President preferred to return back to his bunker hideout in Baidoa.
Subsequently, Col Yusuf has surrounded himself a group of in-laws and sub-sub-clan personalities who their requirement is simply to be loyal to him. He appears to listen to no one, but his family folks. In a nutshell, Col Abdullahi Yusuf is Col Abdullahi Yusuf. But an indispensable question that emerges at this instant is: Does Yusuf want to benefit his sub-sub-clansmen from acquiring Presidential Palace? Is there no other dream behind that dream?
A Somali aphorism says, “Hal Xaaraan ah, Nirig Xalaal ah ma dhasho” which roughly translates “A forbidden camel never gives birth to a legitimate or Halal baby.” One object should, for sure, be irrefutable, which is inline with the conventional wisdom that the clannish posture of Col Yusuf and his likes will never triumph over fairness and justice.
Yusuf’s handling has debarred other Somali clans from attaining important positions within the armed forces. It is evident that he rebuffs the basis of power-sharing that was formed his Transitional Federal government in Kenya. Consequently, the TFG President violated the Transitional Federal Charter again and again, and ironically persists to breach.
Below are positions awarded based on family membership and not out of merit:
1. Kooshin Mohamed, the Somali Ambassador to the United States - Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan of Daarood clan. This man is nephew of Col Yusuf. He is a 28-year-old Seattle Grocer. According to US State Department, he has no bona fides and he is presenting himself with all sorts of different titles he doesn’t have. For further reference please see
http://www.aayaha.com/viewpage.php?articleid=4292
2. Gen Mohamed Sa’id Hersi (Morgan), National Security Advisor to the President –Abdirihin sub-sub-clan of Majerteen. He was previously a rival to Col. Yusuf, but now is a follower of him.
3. Bashiir Iise, the newly-appointed Governor of Somali Central Bank – Iise Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. One must keep in mind that there is no central bank in Somalia for the last 16 years.
4. Isma’iil Haji Warsame, Director of Department of Foreign Aid – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He continually prints fake Somali money from South East Asian countries.
5. Son of Abdullahi Aynab, Cashier of the Presidential Palace – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He is the son-in-law of the interim President.
6. Omar Jamaal, 1st Secretary of Somali Delegates at the United Nations Headquarters in New York – his identity is questionable. In Toronto, he is a Canadian citizen and claims to be another clan. In Germany, he was a refugee and reer Hamar clan. In the US, where he currently lives, he is a refugee of Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan and is on trial for lying US federal authorities on his identity.
7. Mohamed-Deek Abdilkadir, Director General of the Ministry of Information – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
8. Abdirahman Ali, Director General of the Ministry of Post and Communication – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
9. Abdishakuur Mohamud Gurey, Director General of the Ministry of Tourists – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. His father was sub-sub-clan chief in north Galka’o, Somalia.
10. Hussein Mohamed Mohamud, the newly-nominated spokesman of the President – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He has no formal education. Not surprisingly, he is the webmaster of Idamaale.com, a website which disseminates Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf’s propaganda and odium.
11. Abdi Barre, Deputy Head of the Immigration Services – Bi’iidyahan sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. Mr Barre was Carwasher in Minneapolis, USA. He has no formal education; no previous experience in immigration matters, but the prerequisite of the job is an admirer of Col. Yusuf.
12. Gen Abdullahi Ali Omar (Ina-Libah-san-ka-tabte), Chief of Armed Forces –Arab-Salah, a minority sub-clan ethnically dominated by Majerteen sub-clan of Daarood clan. He is related to Col Yusuf by marriage.
13. Colonel Mohamed Darwish, Head of the National Security Services – Bi’idyahan sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He was promoted a Brigadier General by Col.Yusuf.
14. Col Abdirizak Afguduud, Commander of 1st Army Brigade – Abdirihin sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He was promoted a Brigadier General by Col. Yusuf.
15. Col Hiif Ali Taar, Commander of 3rd Army Brigade – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. Mr Taar was promoted as a Colonel by Colonel Yusuf. He was a Toronto Cab Driver before he allied himself with Col. Yusuf who then was President of Puntland.
16. Gen Abdullahi Ali Mire (Areys) – Commander of 4th Army Brigade – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. Areys was promoted as a General by Colonel Yusuf.
17. Lieutenant Joo’aar, Chief of Mogadishu Airport and Seaport – Osman Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. This man was a former leader of a group of pirate men who used to hijack ships in Indian Ocean before the defeated Islamic Courts forced them to flee to Northeastern regions.
18. Colonel Sa’iid Dheere, Chief of Ballidoogle Military Base and also Chief of 1st Military Division – Iise Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
19. Hassan Ali Gidhiish, Chief of Police Forces of Middle and Lower Jubba regions –Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
20. Aaden Ali Abdi, Head of Security, Presidential Palace and Benadir Region – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
21. Yusuf Omar Ahmed Al-Azhari, Political Adviser to the President – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He once told me in Nairobi that Hawiye clan militias murdered lots of his relatives and attempted to kill him in 1991 in Mogadishu. From his words, he was left as deceased. He usually claims that he still carries a bullet in his right leg from that attack. He is driven by revenge.
22. Jamal Omar, Legal Adviser to the President – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
23. Yusuf Mohamed Ismaa’iil (Baribari), former spokesman of the President and
currently an envoy to Brussels, Belgium – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. According to reliable sources in the TFG, the Kingdom of Belgium declined to host him as Ambassador.
24. Abdirashid Seed known as Qoor, Ambassador-at-large and Presidential Special Envoy – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He has no formal education; let alone previous diplomatic experience.
25. Dahir Mire Jibril, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Palace – Gumasoor
sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He is a veteran of Colonel Yusuf’s former front, SSDF.
26. Abdirisak Ahmed Ali, Deputy Chief of Staff of Presidential Palace – Omar Mohamud
sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
27. Ahmed Ali Yusuf Ahmed, the President’s Secretary – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He is a nephew of the President. His late father was killed in Mogadishu in 1991.
28. Ahmed Abdullahi Yusuf – Director General of the Finance of Presidential Palace – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He is the second son of the interim President. A Canadian citizen and his education: high school drop-out.
29. Yusuf Weyrah – Economics Adviser to the President – Osman Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
30. Hassan Ali Yusuf, Chief of Protocol at Presidential Palace – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
31. Hibo Mohammed Elmi – Public Affairs Advisor to the President – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. She has never been to Somalia for almost two decades.
32. Hassan Ali Suleymaan, Head of Baidoa Presidential Palace – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
33. Abdirizak Durkun, President’s special aide – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan.
34. Abdullahi Dhere, Head of the President’s Personal Bodyguards – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He is a nephew of the President.
35. Ali Ahmed Jiis – the President’s Personal Bodyguard – Omar Mohamud sub-sub-clan of Majerteen sub-clan. He is a nephew of the President.
However, the International Crisis Group’s latest observation and assessment about Somalia is compatible with this above list. In its report entitled Somalia: The Tough Part Is Ahead, the ICG cites this passage, “Whereas the Islamic Courts drew their support predominantly from the Hawiye clan, the TFG is widely perceived as dominated by Darod clan interests. TFG leaders reinforced this perception by pursuing policies that further alienated the Hawiye, notably an appeal for foreign troops. Hawiye alienation and TFG inadequacies left a vacuum into which the Courts expanded between June and December 2006, bringing a degree of peace and security unknown to the south for more than fifteen years.”
