RovingMadness wrote:Sadeboy,
Farmaajo is very much in bed with the Ala Shiekh group & individuals like Abdi Aynte & Abdikarim Jama who are not just vehemently Ala Shiekh but in fact are part of Sharif's inner circle also happen to be very close to Farmaajo. In fact after the collapse of the Farmaajo government a deep rift was created within Ala Shiekh & they came close to breaking up. This combined with the immense pressure by the international community around 2010 on Sharif to be more responsive to the interests & concerns of the people of Banadir fundamentally weakened the Ala Shiekh Group & sent close aides like Abdikarim Jama packing out of Mogadishu.
Unfortunately, couple months ago a reconciliation meeting between the Ala Shiekh group was held in Dubai. Abdikarim Jama, Saneey & the rest of the Ala Shiekh group are now back in Mogadishu & are back to spoiling the political equation. It's unfortunate & it's not clear whether Sharif is genuine in his reconciliation with his former buddies or if it's a political gimmick since we are now actively in the campaign season.
With regards to why folks are very suspicious of Ala Shiekh; well the concerns are many but it's chiefly that no one knows what these guys stand for or who they represent. They have developed this attitude of speaking for everyone & against everyone which drives people suspicious. I would very much like to know who exactly they represent. Somalia is a clan state & having this secret groups that spoil the clan balance is a dangerous development & threatens to restart the old clan hostilities & conflicts
Which qabils consist of the Ala Sheikh group, as you have mentioned earlier, you said that they were part of the ICU in Xamar, and the Sharif himself is part of this group. Also, it is not surprising that the Ala sheikh holds considerable influence in politics, if they are a united group, then they hold considerable weight and are treated like any large faction within any government.
Roving, doesn't their power depends on how they will continue to be part of the government after the transition, and a new parliament is formed. If they are not representing any major qabil, and they are not an opposition group to be brought into the government, like ICU, what is their chances of survival?
As for Farmaajo, and having ties with them, I don't doubt you. As they serve a purpose for eachother, but only as they are politically useful to each other. But there is no politically ideology that unites them, so I don't believe that it is a relationship that will last.