Its not surprising that a handful of Somali-American boys went missing, and have since turned up fighting in Somalia. Unfortunately these boys, in their search for identity and a cause, were pulled into a distant conflict. An event as huge as the Ethiopian occupation was necessary to mobilize a handful of them to leave the relative comfort of the US to defend, as they saw it, their country and culture.
Many non-Somalis do not realize the anger and sense of tragedy that haunted Somalis, in the country and in the diaspora, when Ethiopian troops entered the country in late 2006, and didn't leave until early 2009. The subsequent widespread destruction and chaos politicized many Somalis, but only these few boys felt compelled enough to go to the war torn country and fight. Shabaab, as radical and undesirable as they were and are, was the only force fighting the Ethiopian troops, and so the young boys saw it as a natural militia to join.
The boys were not fighting for Shabbab, they were fighting against Ethiopian occupation. Hence no boys have gone missing since the Ethiopian troop withdrawal from Somalia. It shouldn't surprise anyone that occupation can created the anger and emotions necessary for an insurgency. And because of the interconnectedness of the Somali diaspora to the mainland, it doesn't surprise me that this emotion and movement reached people in distant places. These Somali's were not the first or last Americans to go fight in their country of origin. At this point I'm just praying these boys get a fair trail.
Ken Menkhaus of Davidson College described the situation well:
"First, recruitment of Somali-Americans into the Shabaab is very recent, correlated with politics in Somalia since 2006, not with Al Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks and the subsequent war on terror. The agenda which appears to have initially inspired Somali recruits into joining Shabaab was primarily about Somalia, not global jihadism.
For many Somalis, Al Shabaab was an entirely justifiable liberation movement against Ethiopian occupation, not a terrorist group.
Second, it is important to recall that the Shabaab was not designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. government until March 2008, by which time many of the Somali-Americans in question had already been recruited into the movement. For many Somalis, Shabaab was an entirely justifiable liberation movement against Ethiopian occupation, not a terrorist group.
In addition, the recruitment of Somali-Americans into Shabaab is a reflection of the “diasporization” of Somalia. Roughly one million Somalis, about 15 percent of the total population, now live abroad. The diaspora plays a leading role in every aspect of Somali life. Most leaders of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia hold citizenship abroad, as do many of the top Islamist opposition figures, business people and civic leaders."
Menkhaus is a legitimate scholar of Somali issues, almost as insightful as ethnic Somali scholars like Abdi Ismail Samatar of the University of Minnesota. Others who have chimed in on the issue, such as Thomas Sanderson of CSIS and Bruce Hoffman of Georgetown University, have proven completely ignorant of the reasons for the boys' disappearances.
See NYT article: http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/ways-to-detect-jihadist-threats/
Pundits like them simply don't get Somali people or politics. Their narrow-minded jihad-talk is dangerous and anti-intellectual, reminiscent of Bush-era rhetoric. After years of failed Somalia policies- no one suffering more than the Somali people themselves- its time to move towards a more nuanced and complex understandings of the issues.
Somalia faces a highly complex conflict which requires mastery of the culture, traditions, history and contemporary condition of the country to even begin to grasp whats happening. Its depressing to see how few real scholars of Somali affairs are out there, especially when they are so desperately needed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Best policy option for Somali peace
As much as I want to start writing about ideas and potential for economic development in Somalia, I can't. Not when the country is engulfed in war and a humanitarian crisis. All I can think about is the need for basic necessities- like food, water and shelter- regardless of how the provision of these goods harms long term development goals.
The political situation is simply frustrating, and as an American i'm further frustrated by our governments inability to comprehend that funding one side of the conflict simply fuels the conflict. Guns cannot end this battle. Rather what is needed is mediation and compromise on all sides.
The best policy option for the US and other nations to do at this time, if they truly seek a stable and safe Somalia, is to help improve the livelihood of the population. By improving the standard of living, young boys wont turn to piracy and insurgency. By showing people tangible ways in which the internationally backed government improved their lives, the government will gradually gain legitimacy and support.
But beyond the government, the international community can work with any local legitimate entities to help them provide for the population. The world should not approach Somalia as a project in state-building or they will fail. They must focus on peace-building. An important way to foster peace is to create opportunities and livelihoods for the population so that people are not driven to criminal or insurgent activity. Whether or not a central government exists, there can be investment in education, economic development and improving livelihoods.
The country may not be a democracy, but the Somali people have a strong voice in determining who they allow to govern them. (Hence the fourteen failed warlord-led attempts at establishing a government) Somalis are tired of conflict and are desperate for peace. The next leadership to provide them with peace and positively impact their lives will be rewarded with supporters. The US and international community must play a role to help foster that peace so as to salvage their image, an image greatly harmed by support for the brutal Ethiopian occupation.
Now is the time to foster peace not fuel war.
The political situation is simply frustrating, and as an American i'm further frustrated by our governments inability to comprehend that funding one side of the conflict simply fuels the conflict. Guns cannot end this battle. Rather what is needed is mediation and compromise on all sides.
The best policy option for the US and other nations to do at this time, if they truly seek a stable and safe Somalia, is to help improve the livelihood of the population. By improving the standard of living, young boys wont turn to piracy and insurgency. By showing people tangible ways in which the internationally backed government improved their lives, the government will gradually gain legitimacy and support.
But beyond the government, the international community can work with any local legitimate entities to help them provide for the population. The world should not approach Somalia as a project in state-building or they will fail. They must focus on peace-building. An important way to foster peace is to create opportunities and livelihoods for the population so that people are not driven to criminal or insurgent activity. Whether or not a central government exists, there can be investment in education, economic development and improving livelihoods.
The country may not be a democracy, but the Somali people have a strong voice in determining who they allow to govern them. (Hence the fourteen failed warlord-led attempts at establishing a government) Somalis are tired of conflict and are desperate for peace. The next leadership to provide them with peace and positively impact their lives will be rewarded with supporters. The US and international community must play a role to help foster that peace so as to salvage their image, an image greatly harmed by support for the brutal Ethiopian occupation.
Now is the time to foster peace not fuel war.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Eastleigh- a window into Somalia's potential economic power
Eastleigh is a bustling commercial center in Nairobi, but walking through it you'd think it was a city in Somalia.
The residents, shop owners and visitors to Eastleigh are predominantly ethnic Somalis- some from Kenya and others refugees from Somalia. No where in Nairobi can you find such a concentration of commercial enterprises. Kenyan's travel there from the countryside because its "the best shopping in town," with amazing prices on all sorts of goods- from flat screen tv's to a diverse array of clothing. Money is constantly changing hands, men are pushing past with boxes full of products, cars along the road move at a snails pace, women call you into their stores, and you dont know which way to turn next or what shop to look into. You could spend an afternoon just exploring one mall- Garissa lodge, Amal, Bangkok, Hongkong, Baraka- or you could avoid the indoor malls altogether and shop along the roads. I've been to Eastleigh four times since arriving in Nairobi and everytime I leave with many more bags of goods than I intended to purchase.
For me, walking through the streets of Eastleigh has a personal significance. I'm Somali-American but have never seen the country so visiting this somali enclave is a sort of homecoming, a place where I am surrounded by the somali culture and language, and a people who looked like me! But it can also be alienating. Never have I felt so un-Somali as when I am surrounded by Somalis in Eastleigh. They know almost immediately that I came from abroad- perhaps by the way I dressed- although I thought I would fit in. If not by my appearance, my poor Somali language skills made my foreign-ness certain.
Once, while getting lunch with two friends in the heart of Eastleigh, I suddenly felt a burst of confidence in my language skills and decided to test it. "Walaal" I called the waiter, "I'd like the rice and fish." He began writing, then turned to me and asked "which type of fish?" At this point I began mumbling in broken somali, not sure what the different types were called. He soon realized that I was struggling with the language. "Oh no", he began to lecture, "you forgot your mother tongue? Where are you from". I said Virginia, feeling a new sense of comfort in my Virginian identity, as if it gave me an excuse, or perhaps it simply was a more accurate description of who I am. He went on with several reasons why its important to keep your mother tongue, with the oddest reason being that I can "make a lot more money knowing Somali." That's questionable, but he was right about one thing. Its pretty embarrassing not knowing the language well.
Aside from my personal discoveries in Eastleigh, it provides great insight into the potential Somalis have as businesspeople. Right now the economic power of Somalis is enjoyed by Dubai, Nairobi and other cities around the world, but these same businesses are on stand by, waiting for the chance to invest back in their homeland.
As soon as peace returns to Somalia, commerce will naturally follow, and I predict many will be in awe of how rapidly the economy grows into a powerhouse in East Africa.
The residents, shop owners and visitors to Eastleigh are predominantly ethnic Somalis- some from Kenya and others refugees from Somalia. No where in Nairobi can you find such a concentration of commercial enterprises. Kenyan's travel there from the countryside because its "the best shopping in town," with amazing prices on all sorts of goods- from flat screen tv's to a diverse array of clothing. Money is constantly changing hands, men are pushing past with boxes full of products, cars along the road move at a snails pace, women call you into their stores, and you dont know which way to turn next or what shop to look into. You could spend an afternoon just exploring one mall- Garissa lodge, Amal, Bangkok, Hongkong, Baraka- or you could avoid the indoor malls altogether and shop along the roads. I've been to Eastleigh four times since arriving in Nairobi and everytime I leave with many more bags of goods than I intended to purchase.
For me, walking through the streets of Eastleigh has a personal significance. I'm Somali-American but have never seen the country so visiting this somali enclave is a sort of homecoming, a place where I am surrounded by the somali culture and language, and a people who looked like me! But it can also be alienating. Never have I felt so un-Somali as when I am surrounded by Somalis in Eastleigh. They know almost immediately that I came from abroad- perhaps by the way I dressed- although I thought I would fit in. If not by my appearance, my poor Somali language skills made my foreign-ness certain.
Once, while getting lunch with two friends in the heart of Eastleigh, I suddenly felt a burst of confidence in my language skills and decided to test it. "Walaal" I called the waiter, "I'd like the rice and fish." He began writing, then turned to me and asked "which type of fish?" At this point I began mumbling in broken somali, not sure what the different types were called. He soon realized that I was struggling with the language. "Oh no", he began to lecture, "you forgot your mother tongue? Where are you from". I said Virginia, feeling a new sense of comfort in my Virginian identity, as if it gave me an excuse, or perhaps it simply was a more accurate description of who I am. He went on with several reasons why its important to keep your mother tongue, with the oddest reason being that I can "make a lot more money knowing Somali." That's questionable, but he was right about one thing. Its pretty embarrassing not knowing the language well.
Aside from my personal discoveries in Eastleigh, it provides great insight into the potential Somalis have as businesspeople. Right now the economic power of Somalis is enjoyed by Dubai, Nairobi and other cities around the world, but these same businesses are on stand by, waiting for the chance to invest back in their homeland.
As soon as peace returns to Somalia, commerce will naturally follow, and I predict many will be in awe of how rapidly the economy grows into a powerhouse in East Africa.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Pirates as a symptom of a larger disease
Piracy has brought international attention to Somalia, more than the humanitarian crisis that has existed for years. I dont want to diminish the serious threat it poses to intenrational economic stability, but the piracy issue is being approached backwards.
Pundits and "professionals" of all stripes are claiming piracy must be stopped, but few people care to look on land- where the "pirates" live- to figure out why they do what they do. Rampant piracy is a new development off the coast of Somalia, growing as an industry alongside the degrading political and socio-economic conditions on the mainland. Piracy is a symptom of the greater problems facing Somalia- instability, impunity, poverty, and the greater humanitarian catastrophe that has existed for years now. Trying to fight poverty is important, but if you are trying to end piracy, that requires a lot more time and committment to foster good governance, stability and economic growth in Somalia.
The young boys who become pirates do so out of desperation. They risk their lives to make money, the only way they know how. The desperate economic condition in somalia has made piracy the only viable option for many families. Meanwhile, the extremely weak government can do little to curtail this growing crime because it has little to no control over the population. My recommendation to anyone interested in stoping piracy is to focus on creating conditions on the mainland that will not necessitate or create pirates. Invest in social and economic development intiatives and support good governance.
The world- and international media- seems to ignore the tragic conditions faced by Somalis today. It seems time and again that no one wants to look at the root causes of a problem but rather put a cheap bandaid on it. Unfortunately for Somalis, that cheap bandaid means they will continue to suffer in the dark unless the world's policymakers realize that the fight against piracy is a fight for a better Somalia.
Pundits and "professionals" of all stripes are claiming piracy must be stopped, but few people care to look on land- where the "pirates" live- to figure out why they do what they do. Rampant piracy is a new development off the coast of Somalia, growing as an industry alongside the degrading political and socio-economic conditions on the mainland. Piracy is a symptom of the greater problems facing Somalia- instability, impunity, poverty, and the greater humanitarian catastrophe that has existed for years now. Trying to fight poverty is important, but if you are trying to end piracy, that requires a lot more time and committment to foster good governance, stability and economic growth in Somalia.
The young boys who become pirates do so out of desperation. They risk their lives to make money, the only way they know how. The desperate economic condition in somalia has made piracy the only viable option for many families. Meanwhile, the extremely weak government can do little to curtail this growing crime because it has little to no control over the population. My recommendation to anyone interested in stoping piracy is to focus on creating conditions on the mainland that will not necessitate or create pirates. Invest in social and economic development intiatives and support good governance.
The world- and international media- seems to ignore the tragic conditions faced by Somalis today. It seems time and again that no one wants to look at the root causes of a problem but rather put a cheap bandaid on it. Unfortunately for Somalis, that cheap bandaid means they will continue to suffer in the dark unless the world's policymakers realize that the fight against piracy is a fight for a better Somalia.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Genetically Modified Food or food shortages?
There is a huge debate surrounding genetically modified foods. The question I'm trying to figure out is whether Somalia- and other developing countries- should begin exploring GMO technology as a possible solution to food insecurity?
Its pretty clear that biotechnology can boost agricultural productivity, which is a great plus. Based on the reasearch I've done, the safety concerns some environmentalists and anti-GMO proponents have is largely based on fear and misperceptions. People in developing countries have caught on to this fear- largely eminating from Europe- and now are afraid of becoming testing grounds for what they perceived to be untested dangerous technology. The reality is this technology is tested, and is already widely in use in the US and Latin America for example, so health risks is not my main concern.
My primary hesitation is that the use of GMO seeds can cause dependency, which means farmers will be relying on the price fluctuations and other whims of foreign multinational companies. That can prove dangerous, and what developing countries need is not only food security, but national security. The ability to have some level of control over the food supply in their nation.
If GM products can be developed locally, I believe there is little reason to resist them. But as long as the seeds are engineered to create dependency, then perhaps its not the best route for emerging economies.
Its pretty clear that biotechnology can boost agricultural productivity, which is a great plus. Based on the reasearch I've done, the safety concerns some environmentalists and anti-GMO proponents have is largely based on fear and misperceptions. People in developing countries have caught on to this fear- largely eminating from Europe- and now are afraid of becoming testing grounds for what they perceived to be untested dangerous technology. The reality is this technology is tested, and is already widely in use in the US and Latin America for example, so health risks is not my main concern.
My primary hesitation is that the use of GMO seeds can cause dependency, which means farmers will be relying on the price fluctuations and other whims of foreign multinational companies. That can prove dangerous, and what developing countries need is not only food security, but national security. The ability to have some level of control over the food supply in their nation.
If GM products can be developed locally, I believe there is little reason to resist them. But as long as the seeds are engineered to create dependency, then perhaps its not the best route for emerging economies.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Food Security
Food Security in Somalia is a difficult subject. The main obstacle to tackling hunger is clearly the lack of peace and stability in much of the country, and the failure to establish a government that can carry out polices to provide immediate food security and build long-term safety-nets. Nevertheless, I'll touch on some policies that can and should be considered for immediate use or expansion.
1- Food Aid is needed to address the current hunger and malnutrition in the country. The World Food Programme has been providing emergency food aid around the world for decades, including in Somalia. They have faced some challenges with the uptick in piracy off the coast, and increased danger to the well being of WFP employees inside the country. Although it is a helpful emergency tool, food aid is fundamentally a short term policy and far from a solution to Somalia's hunger issues.
2- Local procurement of food aid appears to resolve the major flaw in imported food aid. By buying food aid locally, the WFP and other organizations can support the local agricultural market, rather than harming it. The problem with this (aside from creating a monopoly buyer) is that it is politically infeasible in Washington- the USDA provides most of the WFP's food aid from subsidized American farmers, and ships it over on American shipping vessels. The Farm lobby is powerful and wont allow food aid to be purchased from anywhere but the USA, which is why the WFP still has very limited local procurement. It is expanding, however, with the creation of Purchase for Progress. This is possible partly because European countries are providing cash rather than food to the WFP.
4- School feeding is a great strategy used by the WFP that provides schools with food aid so that they can give students a meal. This provides an incentive for kids to come to school, and has an especially high success rate in increasing the number of girls who come to schools. This strategy is a great tool to use in Somalia, and hopefully the WFP can expand into the country soon. The only weakness in this program is that developmental disabilities occur in hungry children primarily in their pre-school years, and by the time they are old enough for school the damage is done. Nevertheless this is a valuable tool.
3- Cash transfer and voucher programs are provided by the World Bank and other organizations to provide people in food insecure countries with access to food. In Latin America, these programs have high success rates and are being expanded. This could be a great resource for Somalia by providing poor people with the purchasing power they need to access food and other essentials. The problem is that it is hard to implement the program in Somalia today because of the lack of a functioning government and instability.
4- Agricultural development and investment is critical to resolving food insecurity in Somalia. Food aid, and to a lesser extent local procurement, cash transfers and school feeding, all have the potential to disrupt local markets and weaken local agricultural producers. Agriculture is a critical component of development and food security globally because it is important for food availability, but also because the poorest (and most food-insecure) people often work in agriculture.
My advice to those interested in improving food security in Somalia- support and invest in agricultural production.
1- Food Aid is needed to address the current hunger and malnutrition in the country. The World Food Programme has been providing emergency food aid around the world for decades, including in Somalia. They have faced some challenges with the uptick in piracy off the coast, and increased danger to the well being of WFP employees inside the country. Although it is a helpful emergency tool, food aid is fundamentally a short term policy and far from a solution to Somalia's hunger issues.
2- Local procurement of food aid appears to resolve the major flaw in imported food aid. By buying food aid locally, the WFP and other organizations can support the local agricultural market, rather than harming it. The problem with this (aside from creating a monopoly buyer) is that it is politically infeasible in Washington- the USDA provides most of the WFP's food aid from subsidized American farmers, and ships it over on American shipping vessels. The Farm lobby is powerful and wont allow food aid to be purchased from anywhere but the USA, which is why the WFP still has very limited local procurement. It is expanding, however, with the creation of Purchase for Progress. This is possible partly because European countries are providing cash rather than food to the WFP.
4- School feeding is a great strategy used by the WFP that provides schools with food aid so that they can give students a meal. This provides an incentive for kids to come to school, and has an especially high success rate in increasing the number of girls who come to schools. This strategy is a great tool to use in Somalia, and hopefully the WFP can expand into the country soon. The only weakness in this program is that developmental disabilities occur in hungry children primarily in their pre-school years, and by the time they are old enough for school the damage is done. Nevertheless this is a valuable tool.
3- Cash transfer and voucher programs are provided by the World Bank and other organizations to provide people in food insecure countries with access to food. In Latin America, these programs have high success rates and are being expanded. This could be a great resource for Somalia by providing poor people with the purchasing power they need to access food and other essentials. The problem is that it is hard to implement the program in Somalia today because of the lack of a functioning government and instability.
4- Agricultural development and investment is critical to resolving food insecurity in Somalia. Food aid, and to a lesser extent local procurement, cash transfers and school feeding, all have the potential to disrupt local markets and weaken local agricultural producers. Agriculture is a critical component of development and food security globally because it is important for food availability, but also because the poorest (and most food-insecure) people often work in agriculture.
My advice to those interested in improving food security in Somalia- support and invest in agricultural production.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Purpose of this Blog
I've been following the situation in Somalia for years and am consistently depressed by developments in the country. I decided to create this blog so that I can express my opinions and ideas on how to create positive change.
Somalia has tremendous potential, it only needs to establish the conditions under which this potential can be realized. In order for the troubles to be overcome, there needs to be more discussion and deliberation on the challenges facing the country, and the development of effective policy solutions.
Hopefully this blog can support this essential dialogue!
Somalia has tremendous potential, it only needs to establish the conditions under which this potential can be realized. In order for the troubles to be overcome, there needs to be more discussion and deliberation on the challenges facing the country, and the development of effective policy solutions.
Hopefully this blog can support this essential dialogue!
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