Neutral elder in Kismaayo: We elected Barre Hiiraale

[Voltage]

Leadership Dispute Threatens Stability, Peace in Jubaland

May 16, 2013

The Somali port city of Kismayo is in political crisis as two former warlords are both claiming to be president of the newly created Jubaland region of southern Somalia. Fears are growing that the rivalry could lead to an outbreak of violence. The Somali government still maintains it doesn’t recognize the two leaders.

The political division in southern Somalia still continues after more than six months of negotiations to elect local authorities to govern the regions of Gedo, Middle and Lower Juba.

On Wednesday, 495 delegates meeting in Kismayo elected Ras Kamboni militia leader Ahmed Madobe as the president of Jubaland, over four other candidates.

But another former warlord, Barre Hirale, who controlled Kismayo for close to nine years, has said he was elected at a separate conference of elders.

“In a conference, which was going on for some time, I was elected as the president of Jubaland,” said Hirale. "In that conference 600 delegates attended and 500 voted for me. Because of that I have become the president of Jubaland.”

Returning warlord

Hirale was chased out of Kismayo by al-Shabab militants - when Ahmed Madobe was a top commander in the group. He returned to Kismayo last month by sea with dozens of loyal soldiers.

Abdi Mohamed Yarow is an elder with the Hawiye clan, which is in the minority in Kismayo. He was present at the swearing-in ceremony and told VOA the elders had appointed Hirale as their president. “Today we were at the swearing-in ceremony of the president of Jubaland state Barre Hirale,' Yarow said. "We have decided to make him [Hirale] our president and we have just done that, he is the president of Jubaland.”

Some sections of the Somali population have expressed concerns over the recent threats of violence in the city and its environs concerning this dispute over who should be president.

Seeking solutions

Ahmed Soliman, Horn of Africa researcher at Chatham House, a foreign policy institute in London, said to avoid a return of violence in the region, both militias from the two rival camps need to be integrated into the Somali national army.

“What we are talking about is eventually, militia being reintegrated into Somali national force. That’s a way of stemming potential conflict in the future, but it very much has to come off the back of political process and I do see political process is in complete and it would continue,” said Soliman.

He also said that after months of negotiations, people can’t be too impatient. Soliman noted the process will take time, and he said that expressing fears is not the right way forward.

“I think there is need to take time, and to asses and to negotiate properly with all the stakeholders. It does seem to me there are a lot of stakeholders involved, and that’s a good thing, and that means it takes longer to achieve consensus,” he said.

The government in Mogadishu has expressed concerns about the roles played in Jubaland by some stakeholders, particularly by the Kenyan government. Kenya has been accused of backing the Ras Kamboni leader, Ahmed Madobe, who helped Kenyan forces to liberate Kismayo last year.

The Somali federal government has refused to recognize any leadership appointments in Jubaland, deeming the process unconstitutional.


A sixteen-member committee appointed by the prime minister to look into the Jubaland issue arrived Thursday in Kismayo.

http://m.voanews.com/a/1662269.html

[metamorphosis]

Hiiraale is being used by culusow. This culusow has monopoly on marehan. He used the pm and when the pm could not succeed he brought in hirrale. Who will be next? How sad to go from msb to being used by hutus of all people.

[Kafkaesque]

Just when you thought they couldn't get any lower. Amazing wallahi! A neutral mooryaan yaa arkay?

[Voltage]

Hiiraale is being used by culusow. This culusow has monopoly on marehan. He used the pm and when the pm could not succeed he brought in hirrale. Who will be next? How sad to go from msb to being used by hutus of all people.

Get over yourself. We are more anti-Kenya's lapdog than "Culusoow" could ever be.

[Talo alle udaa]

Read the topics below this thread since 2005

[Voltage]

Read the topics below this thread since 2005

You see how many people, groups, and events President Barre outlasted. That's whaat you see and should tell you the future.

[Talo alle udaa]

Read the topics below this thread since 2005

You see how many people, groups, and events President Barre outlasted. That's whaat you see and should tell you the future.

Hiiraale's entire purpose in this charade was to create a smokescreen for the visiting IGAD. In the unlikely chance Culusow's government end's up dictating orders, the likelihood that Barre will be holding any meaningful position is extremely low.

You see the point of contention with the Federal government is between starting the process anew, or accepting the current kismaayo leaders. To believe Barre's 5 minutes of shabelle spotligh turning into anything meaningful is absolute maddness. I thought you guys were being sarcastic and mocking Blackies claim of President.

In case you haven't been following the news, Culusow want's name governors not recognize regions. wax fahan sxb. If Hiiraale wanted to be named the governor of J/hoose he should have stayed in Mog. town.


btw, i counted 4 different usernames all attributed to you at one point or another in the topics below, what gives?

[Voltage]

Somehow I think Barre will be just fine as long as he destroys whatever legitimacy the Kenya conference he has and the government is finally left to decide the politics of the place.

[Talo alle udaa]

Somehow I think Barre will be just fine as long as he destroys whatever legitimacy the Kenya conference he has and the government is finally left to decide the politics of the place.

It comes down to this, either the current nascent Jubalaand government stands as it is, or everything is scrapped and folks are named from Xamar. In the event that happens, Hiiraale will not be named the governor of J/hoose.

[SultanOrder]

Somehow I think Barre will be just fine as long as he destroys whatever legitimacy the Kenya conference he has and the government is finally left to decide the politics of the place.

It comes down to this, either the current nascent Jubalaand government stands as it is, or everything is scrapped and folks are named from Xamar. In the event that happens, Hiiraale will not be named the governor of J/hoose.

Barre has ruled Kismaayo and the region for almost a decade, and if he doesn't get a position it is not a big loss for him. Barre is after the interests of a wider party, unlike Ahmed Madoobe who is after his own ambitions. We refuse to give credence to this foreign backed group that does not speak for us. The whole process was fraud and the culmination was a clear coup. If the end result is that this whole thing will be scrapped and the governments appoints whomever they wish, we are happy. But the reality on the ground will dictate what the government chooses, so we are very comfortable.

[Talo alle udaa]

Somehow I think Barre will be just fine as long as he destroys whatever legitimacy the Kenya conference he has and the government is finally left to decide the politics of the place.

It comes down to this, either the current nascent Jubalaand government stands as it is, or everything is scrapped and folks are named from Xamar. In the event that happens, Hiiraale will not be named the governor of J/hoose.

Barre has ruled Kismaayo and the region for almost a decade, and if he doesn't get a position it is not a big loss for him. Barre is after the interests of a wider party, unlike Ahmed Madoobe who is after his own ambitions. We refuse to give credence to this foreign backed group that does not speak for us. The whole process was fraud and the culmination was a clear coup. If the end result is that this whole thing will be scrapped and the governments appoints whomever they wish, we are happy. But the reality on the ground will dictate what the government chooses, so we are very comfortable.

Sxb, i commend you for not beating around the bush. you believe the mareexan tribe have more to gain by allowing Culusow's government to name interim head's of state in the Jubba region than Jubalaand?

when you say "facts on the ground" can you elaborate to tell us what these "facts" are

[SultanOrder]

Talo, I believe the whole region has more to gain if it is free from this foreign imposition. Thanks to it, clan hostilities have rise in the region, the focus is away from fighting and defeating Alshabab. I see absolutely nothing gained from Ahmed Madoobe's KMG administration and no difference now. If Kenya wasn't backing one group so much, all this hoopla would of never existed, and the region would have been better for it.
I can not put side by side the federal government of Somalia for better or worse and a Kenya with imperialistic aspirations in Somalia. Xassan Sheikh is my President for better or worse, and he represents the FG of Somalia, and whatever he gains this government and all subsequent governments gain.
The facts on the ground is that RasKambooni controls nowhere, and has no ties to Gedo administration nor Jubba Dhexe. They may have men in Afmadow and one other city. The facts on the ground is that it is a Kenyan propped administration. The facts on the ground is that Kismaayo is divided and war can break out any day now.

[BlackRain]

Its becoming obvious this Jubbaland project is Kablalax and Kenya vs Sade + Hawiye + international community

[TheAspiringMufti]

Barre does not care about position, he simply stood for peace and cadaalad and if the government prevails over the kenyan backed fiasco, it will be a success.

[original dervish]

The Govt have no power or authority in Kismayo.....after the 4th round of deportations that much is clear.
Now J/Land has a legitimately elected president we must push forward and name an all inclusive administration.

There is so much work to do.
The first priority is to renovate the port as this is the golden goose of J/Land. We will raise most of our revenue and arms by controlling it.