Opinion
Somalia: The ARS trying to shift gears!
By
Jul 20, 2008 - 2:35:26 AM

by Ahmed Raghe

The Alliance of the re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), largely well respected clerics from the Union of Islamic courts, is in a political quagmire! Intoxicated by the smell of power, intransigence and lack of conflict resolution skills, the alliance leadership has shown the same warlord mentality which wrecked Somalia for two decades.

Long before the recent Djibouti agreement brokered by the UN, the alliance upper echelon was malfunctioning! The Djibouti accord has only served as the last straw. It was naive and reckless to let the simmering fire unattended.

In my opinion, the following critical measures should have been taken before entertaining to attend the Djibouti peace conference:

1.    To take care of the internal friction within the ARS leadership. This group includes the Asmara and Djibouti wings. Since they were Asmara based before the rift, they had ample time to iron things out. What were they doing, one wonders!

2.    The ARS should have made the necessary consultations (negotiations if required) with the militarily stronger Al-shabab wing. Here, a compromise could have been forged between the ARS and Al-shabab, without sacrificing fundamental principles. By taking this route, the liberation forces struggle would have been much more effective and the chances for peace nearer.

3.    To send to Djibouti delegates representing all the stakeholders within the Islamist establishment plus other secularist notables in the insurgency. Duplication and further fragmentation avoided.

Now, the ARS leadership is back to square one and frantically try to shift gears. Despite assurances and recent endeavours in Yemen, many analysts predict more pitfalls ahead which may hamper peace in Somalia.

The clerics of Somalia therefore grapple with a seemingly intractable problem- one they may not have the imagination or the good will to attend! They should know that the Somali people are tied of the prolonged conflict and do not care in what name you kill them!! That they could be the future notorious warlords of Somalia.

My earnest appeal to the Asmara and Djibouti factions is to reconcile from within, before they venture to do business with others!