Jubbaland politics taking new shape under UNPOS initiatives

By Drs Fatuma Lamungu Nur - Since the independence of Somalia in 1960, Jubbaland regions became the target of all Somali invaders from other regions, and the neighbouring countries, creating chaos and one of the most complex crises in Somalia.

Editorial Keydmedia Online
15 March 2013

Early 1960ties government leaders from Majerten clan campaigned for the construction of Mogadishu-Kismaayo road to facilitate the migration of Majerten clan members from North-eastern Somalia to Jubbaland regions.

Despite the successful construction of the road, most of the expected migrants ended up in Mogadishu to enjoy life under the leadership of their kinsmen…

However, the rich and the fertile Jubba regions, were not lucky to enough to prevent more illegal immigrants from other regions, or neighbouring countries, because 1974 The former military ruler Gen Siyad Barre evacuated Ogaden clan members from Ethiopia and settled them in these regions.

Solution through violence

In 1991, the invaders of Jubbaland realized that they could not agree on who is going to rule these regions, because everyone was aware that he was an invader from other regions or abroad. The Darod clans (Majerten, Ogaden, Marehan, Dhulbahante and others) agreed to form an alliance that will ensure that they completely take over the land and form a Darod state, and come up with plans to cleanse the real owners of the land, who are the majority Wagosha, Bajun, , Werday, Awrmale sheikhal  and other small clans that are found in these regions.

A genocide campaign started in January 1991, in which Darod militants massacred, tortured, raped and starved to death thousands of Wagosha people. Some of the Wagosha clan members were forced to walks almost 300 to 400 km to cross the border to Kenya.

These campaigns were led by people including General Morgan, General Gabyow, Gen Mohamed Abshir Muse and many others.

Invaders hold reconciliation conference

In 1994, members of the invader clans led by clan-monger General Mohamed Abshir Muse convened a hoax meeting with the support of the international community in Kismaayo to find a solution for Jubbaland regions. Among the co-chair of this shame meeting were Gen Morgan, Gabyow and others.

It was obvious that the only solution was to ask the invaders to pack and return to their home areas, but the invaders shamelessly reached another conspiracy agreement against the owners of the land.

We all know that Jubbaland is part of Somalia, but Somalis are divided into clans, and everyone should be respected in his region or land. For example if A member of Majerten is claiming to be indigenous inhabitant in Kismaayo just because he was there for 10 or 15 years of invasion, why the Wagosha displaced people in Puntland for the last twenty years are not being allowed to claim ownership or even allowed to vie for local authorities seats in Boosaaso.

Almost 500 Wagosha displaced people in Puntland have been killed by Puntland security forces just because of their physical appearance. Apart from the killing Wagosha do face different sorts of abuses, like rape discrimination and torture in the hands of Majerten people in Puntland.

An Ethiopian refugee claims leadership

The drama and the shoddy attempts to claim ownership of Jubbaland by force did not end with the so called meetings of Gen Abshir and later warlord Col Bare Hirale from Galguduud, central Somalia.

An Ethiopian refugee Mohamed Abdi Mohamed who gave himself the nick name of the respected Indian freedom fighter Gandi, held a meeting in Kenyan capital, Nairobi. He brought together members of Ogadeni clans from Ethiopia and Kenya to form regional administration for Jubbaland.

His so-called state was the fruits of Kenyan of Ogadeni origins clan campaign, as well as money from foreign countries like China, France and Kenya.

What these countries and the Ogadeni refugee from Ethiopia did not put in mind was that the local residents have suffered for a long and because of the severe persecution they faced, they will never such kind of joke being played in their land.

This means that the local and the genuine residents of Jubbaland will fight for their rights and choose death instead of humiliation and discrimination.

UN initiatives applauded

As the fever among Somalis of forming chains of clan regional states gets higher, the UN held unexpected meeting for the residents of the regions affected by the syndrome.

We can describe this meeting as unexpected, because it’s the first time such an approach is pursued by UNPOS.

Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, the UN envoy on Somalia crisis seems to be taking different approach, because he realized his predecessors failed to come up with al inclusive system in dealing with these problems.

In the case of Jubba regions, these meetings are significant, because the issues of Jubba regions like the 1990ties genocide, the illegal settlement of refugees and other people from other regions will be deeply addressed and suitable measures taken in order to achieve lasting peace.

Col, Saleh Mkomwa of Wagosha Movement, described the meeting as a milestone and right direction towards justice.

“We as Wagosha people know each and everyone in Jubba regions. We do not aim to discriminate people, but we want to put things in order. All clans living in Jubba regions have same rights, but those who came from other regions or Ethiopia and Kenya have to know that time has come for them to go back home and leave us sort our issues”, said Col Mkomwa.

However the UN Jubbaland initiative is being opposed by the so called Azania campaigner Mohamed Abdi and former Kenyan MP Abdirahman Olow who is also belonged to Kenyan Ogaden clan.

But the question is how foreigners like Gandi and Olow can oppose efforts of people who suffered a lot and decided to put their house in order. Jubbaland is for the Jubbaland residents, not for Kenya, Ethiopia and anyone else.
Let’s focus our future in proper way and we call the international community to deal with the real owners of Jubbaland when it comes for investments, security and other issue, and we promise that we will welcome them as the world goes for globalization and cooperation in different sectors.

Drs Fatuma Lamungu Nur
PHD holder in international politics.