A comparision of goverments (reply to X.Playa's post)

[Warsame101]

AbdiWahhab, adeer, you are ignored. You are trying to divert the main topic with insults so that it turns in to a flame-war. How stupid do you think I am.

This post was made in reply to X.Playa, not you. If you crave for attention, there are millions ways to get them. Flaming a topic that does not concern you, is not one of them.

My last post to you.

[Hiiraan boy]

we was most powerful qaran in africa with him

now were raped in konfurta africa yemen libya masar kenya

we die in sea

we gettin arrested by xabashis and killed

aint no one there for us

waxaan xasuusta in 1980 libya was harasing somalis. abe siad said warning to libya to treat somalis nice or wait for consequences.

[Somaliweyn]

The pseudo-professor again,

‘Learn the meaning of the term academic research.’

Well, would you be so kind to tell him where u acquired your pseudo-academic skills?

Also, would you be so kind to enrol yourself again into University because it seems that you haven’t learned anything. Or has your university taught you that the term ‘referencing’ is the same as posting an image file with only text and no author name, year of publication and journal of publication?

As for your topic, it is nothing more than the same as that you accuse Abdiwahab of: ‘Anything that does not pertain Caydiid and his "glorious" history, you neglect it.’

You are a clear member of the Siad Barre-worshippin cult.

I will show you that your great Hero Siad Barre and his legacy are dark, just as Caydiid.




Thank god History is recorded and saved, otherwise the likes of Warsame would have changed it so we could sing Kumbayaa Aabe Siyaad in 2030

[Luq_Ganane]

[
Now again, directly talk about the topic at hand and HOW President Siad freed Habar Gidir from mental and physical bonadage.

Before 1969, the dream job of Habar Gidir was to be the chief hair cutter of Majeerteen.

Post-1969, Habar Gidir were allowed to eat near Majeerteen.

Deny it or shall we bring Cilmiile to come in and start cursing Mareexaan again for freeing the enslaved? [/quote]




100% Correct. HG were under Majertens feet since ancient time until 1969. It was then, when MSB (aun) leveled the playing field. Majerten didn't have that much of an upper hand over HG anymore, and it drove them insane. They're suppremecy over HG was over.

[Somaliweyn]

First of all, if you really want a genuine unbiased (as far is possible) comparison between the different periods and their results in Somali history, you need to show according to what aspects you will compare the different periods. As for your topic, all I see is: Siad Barre opened a university, built a hospital, established national navy etc. And when it comes to the other periods you post nothing but negative achievements. This is clearly a poorly-disguised attempt to rewrite history and give your hero a positive legacy. So let us first agree on what aspects we have to compare the different periods and their achievements.

Lets compare them by looking at the political, economic and military aspects. This is the most appropriate way instead of he built hospital, he built a well, he established a navy

As far as the different periods are concerned, one needs to know in advance that I have low esteem of them. All periods, whether the 1960-1969, 1969-1991, and post 1991, are characterized by failures and disappointment. Failing to achieve the wishes and aspirations of the Somali people and the realization of the latent greatness of the Somali nation Yet, some periods have achieved more then others, and some periods will have more lasting impact on Somalis and Somalia. I will argue that the post-1991 is by far the most important, and has by far the greatest impact on Somalis and their future. If any event in Somali history can be termed a Revolution, then it is post-1991. Before continueing to this controversial claim, let me first show how a decent comparison is conducted.

For all convenience, lets consider Somali history as two periods: pre-1991 and post-1991. This is a legitimate division since the pre-1991 is characterized by relative stability, peace, law and a functioning government, while the post-1991 is characterized by instability, conflict, no functioning government, and to some extent blossoming economic activities.

Pre-1991 is then subdivided into two periods: The first pseudo-democratic government, The second-pseudo socialist government.

I will first start with the civilian government and its pseudo-democracy, and the achievements and failures of this period. In the other post I will discuss the military government and its pseudo-scientific socialism which turned into oppressive military dictatorship.

As for your fellow red berets are concerned: either contribute by posting senseful arguments or keep up the chearleading behaviour for your pseudo-Professor

[Somaliweyn]

>>The first government (1960-69): It's achievements & failures on three aspects:<<


((#1)) On the political front, every Somali government is supposed to take care of stability, strengthening of the state-apparatus, and not to forget the achievment of National goals as articulated by the government: which was during pre-1991, the re-unification of all Somali lands in Horn of Africa.

Political aspect: achievements

- It was democratic in nature, there were elections, peaceful transfer of power, free press etc.

Like David D. Laitin says in Political economy of Military Rule in Somalia (1976):

''Civilian government survived for nine years in the Somali Republic. It has been noted by many observers that here was one of the few African states which had peaceful elections: indeed, there were non-violent transfers of power based on the results.''

He then continues: ‘It was the comparative success of institutional parliamentary transfer that led some western scholars to consider Somalia an emerging democratic and stable state’

Political aspect: failures

The down side of this pseudo-democracy: Clannism infiltrates the government and Somali politics with as result: dozens of clan-based parties, hundreds of candidates etc. State apparatus becomes a vehicle for corruption, nepotism and employment agent for a large section of the population. Also, during this time, the first signs of comprised state ability to rise above the society and its clanstructure and be independent of this clanstructure become clear. Government and state apparatus is abused by certain sections of Somali groups in the their own benefit.

Like David D. Laitin points out:

''Political appointments were made constantly to enhance
'clan' power, and different ministries became satraps for different
clans. What had started out as a putative nation was being torn apart
at the seams through clan 'tribalism'.''

Robbing the state:

''Finally, although the Republic had received more foreign aid per capita than
any other African state, nine years of development projects led to little
or no visible improvement in the standard of living - apart perhaps
from the creation of the first generation of millionaires! And so, where
some western observers saw democracy, many Somalis saw corruption,
tribalism, indecision, and stagnation.''



Also, in 1964 there was a short border conflict with Ethiopia. Undecided, but Somali government did not achieve it political goal of re-uniting Somali lands. This became clear when in 1964 Kenya became independent with NFD as part of it. So Somali government failed in this respect: National Goal was not achieved.

((#2)) On the economic front, every Somali government is supposed to be working towards economic development, becoming economic independent and increasing living standards.

Economic aspect: achievements

It unleashed its first 5 year development plan in 1963. See Z.A Konczacki (Nov., 1976) and Ozay Mehmet (May, 1971)

In this plan:

- 7% of total planned expenditure to development of the livestock sector (very low figure considering the fact that above 80% of Somali people are dependent on the livestock sector for their livelihoods)
- New research projects, well defined program aiming at improvement of animal husbandry and sedentarisation of nomads.
- In the pastoral sector, the Livestock Development Agency was formed in 1965-66
- Provision of water and veterinary services, and adequate marketing facilities and transportation services to increase tradable fraction of herds.
- Development of large areas of land for agricultural production (large state farms at Tugwajaleh and Jilib)
- Increase of sugar output through expansion of productive capacity of Jowhar sugar factory.
- Development of meat packing, fish processing, milk and dairy products, textiles and a few other industries.
- Construction or improvement of a number of roads
- Building three seaports at Kismanyo, Berbera, and Mogadishu. (You thought Abe Siyad built them?)

This Plan looks ambitious, so it is interesting to know how the government envisaged to finance it.

As Ozay Mehmet says in Effectiveness of Foreign Aid- The Case of Somalia (1971):

‘‘ The method of financing the projects envisaged under the First Five Year Plan was very simple, relying almost entirely on loans and grants from abroad.’’



Another question: Has the plan materialized?

Again Ozay Mehmet:

‘’ Unfortunately, 1964-7 was a period of crises and hardships in the life of the young Somali Republic. Poor rains for two successive years reduced grain production and grazing over a wide area, causing famine among 700.000 nomads and heavy losses of livestock.’’

*Ambitious plan, minor results, what happened with the money supposed to finance the plan?

- For 48.4% it was dependent on ‘friendly countries’(Western countries), for the other half: Soviet countries, Arab countries and other Muslim countries.
- Italy pays not on time, Britain stops Aid when Somali government breaks diplomatic ties with Britain as for not allowing NFD to join Somalia.

So at mid 1966, a report found that the rate of implementation of the plan was only 25%!

To make up for delays in implementation, Government launches in 1968 a two-year Short-Term Development Programme.

Which is: ''the consolidation of the work of the First Five-Year Plan and the creation of basic conditions necessary for the formulation and implementation of future development programmes of a more ambitious nature''


These short-term development programme combined with the 5 year Plan, are the main reason why the period of 1969-1974 showed good economic figures. Siad Barre’s regime had the honour to present the results of hard work of the previous government to the Somali people and claim it as their own work.

It is the same as the period of 1954-1963 with the booming livestock sector. In that period, number of cattle exported rose five-fold!, that of sheep, goats and camels three-fold, two-fold and twenty-seven fold respectively! During this same period the quanityt of meat sold for internal consumption in the Southern Region increased by 65%.

Now is this achievement that of the Somali government of 1960? Or of someone else?

As Z.A Konczacki says in ‘Nomadism and Economic Development of Somalia: The Position of the Nomads in the Economy of Somalia’ (1967):

‘‘ A new approach to economic planning was adopted during the post-war period by the Italian Trusteeship Authority in the form of the Seven Year Development Plan, 1954-60. The plan was preceded by a number of studies of various agencies of the United Nations, United States Mission in Italy and the A.F.I.S’’

So the incredible boom in the livestock sector in 1963 is the result of the previous development plan which was implemented under the Italian Trusteeship Authority. It is impossible that a young Republic and a government which only exist 3 years could achieve such a fast incredible export boom of livestock.

Also, this is the reason why Siad Barre’s military junta could impossibly claim the incredible performance of the Somali economy between the end of 1969 to 1974. This was the work of the previous civilian government and its various Development Plans and Programs.



Economic aspect: Failures

Somalia was severely dependent on Foreign Aid. So Although we were independent de jure we were still dependent on mainly our ex-colonies: Italy and Britain.

Did the government do something about this neo-colonialist form of dependency?

No, as Ozay Mehmet says:

‘‘However, the energetic efforts of the Somali authorities themselves, with the active
involvement of the diplomatic service abroad, must be given high marks
in their drive to raise outside aid’’

‘’The efforts of the Somali Government to secure additional foreign aid are repeatedly
described in a large number of official documents’’

We were a nation of diplomatic beggars, as Siad Barre would use as rhetoric in his Self-Reliance goal. A shamefull history of been the per capita highest beggars in Africa:lol:

And this Aid money did not went to development projects as was planned but instead into the pockets of people who abused the state apparatus: The first generation of millionaires



((#3)) Militarily, the Somali government is supposed to strengthen first of all the security apparatus of the nation for the benefit of the nation, second it must be effective in times of war.

Military aspect: achievements

On this front, the Somali government was doing good job, as the military apparatus of the state was established and further developed till the army itself grabbed power from the civilian government. Without the pre-independence and post-independence development of the military capabilities of the Somali nation, it would be impossible for the army to stage a coups d'état

Also, on this front, the first civilian government achieved to get a grant from the Soviet Union of $32 million, to modernize the Somali army and expand it to 14.000 personnal. This grant was later increased to $55 million. Besides this the Soviet Union also provided Somalia during the 60s with a substantial number of T-34 tanks, armored personnel carriers, MiG-15 and MiG-17 aircraft, small arms, and ammunition. Approximately 300 Soviet military advisers deployed to Somalia to train the army, and about 500 Somali pilots, officers, and technicians received training in the Soviet Union. (see Library of Congress, country study: Somalia)

This was incredible achievement considering the fact that the first goverment wasn't even socialist in character.
Also it succesfully repelled an Ethiopian aggression in the war of 1964.

Military aspect: failures.

The army the government created toppled the government itself, thus a failure in defining the institutional framework of the military with clear checks and balances.


Conclusion:

Nicely put by our Turkish friend Ozay Mehmet:

''Thus the first decade in the life of independent Somalia, starting as
it did with great hopes and an ambitious attempt at social and economic
development, closed with little demonstrable progress towards these
objectives. Indeed, evidence suggests that living standards, on average,
were lower at the close of the decade than at its beginning.''

This era of Indepence which was accompanied with optimism eventually dissapointed the vast masses of Somalis and paved the way for the military coup of 1969. Perhaps this new military regime would correct past mistakes and fullfill the wishes and aspirations of the Somali people? And finally realize the latent greatness of the Somali nation by achieving internal unity as well as external unity (with NFD, Djiboutie& Western Somalia)?

Well we already know the answer to these questions, but still I will show how this second period went in the next post.