Real Talk: Sheikh Sharif's government.
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:40 am
Let us move away from what we actually want to see happening and let us focus on the reality for a second. I know hope is a powerful thing and we all hope this government to be different then all the others but this is the situation it is facing.
We all agree that Somalia will be Somalia when the south fixes itself up and this is the south.
The places that are full 100% no go for Shiekh Sharif or his government.
-Bay is no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Gedo is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Bakool is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Lower Jubba is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Middle Jubba is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Lower Shabelle is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Somaliland is a no go zone. Held by a group which declared itself separate from Somalia.
>Major cities of the south include everything from Kismaayo to Baydhabo to Baardheere to Marka and Barawe.
The places where Shiekh Sharif has some support and can possibly get of an airplane and actually visit.
-Parts of Galgaduud but very unimportant to the solution (partly because many of the actors in south Somalia are from here).
-Puntland State but even more unimportant and irrelavent.
-Hiiraan which is also not very important to solving the problem. Also, the group opposed to Shiekh Sharif still has a powerfall base here.
-Middle Shabelle, the only real southern state Shiekh Sharif can get off an airport from because his clan is one of the principal inhabitants. But there has been a fight in the middle of the airport before during the first time Shiekh Sharif came back to Somalia from exile so I don't even though it is probably leaning heavily towards Sheikh Sharif. Still it has also been one of the quieter regions when it comes to the politics problem in the south.
Now Mogadishu is left.
-Obviously Shiekh Sharif can get off an airplane and stay in Villa Somalia under heaving guard just like Abdullahi Yusuf also used to do but his opposition in the city has increased tenfold in the last week.
1. The new Xisbul Islaam group was announced and we saw Indhacade, Cumar Iiimaan, and many guys in the hardcore opposition as well as old ICU hold a public press conference in the middle of Mogadishu labeling Shiekh Sharif's governent same as Abdullahi Yusuf.
2. The godfather of the Islamic movement, Hassan Dahir Aweys, has resaid again and again Shiekh Sharif's governent should be opposed and we know his power in Xamar.
3. The port was attacked today in broad daylight as the Ugandans were unloading with the opposition claiming the attack and the Ugandans powerless to day anything.
When you look at the real situation it is sad out there and the most saddest of all is Shiekh Sharif is not facing an opposition that wants power or seats and be cajoled into negotiating, he is facing Al Shabaab and Al Qaeda types who believe his government is divinely wrong. This means absolutely no negotiation from their side. We saw the reaction from Abu Mansur when he was asked about the rumors if he met with Shiekh Sharif and literally scoffed at what he said was ridiculous and unlikeliest thing to happen.
Is the honeymoon going to be over real soon for Sheikh Sharif and his government?
We all agree that Somalia will be Somalia when the south fixes itself up and this is the south.
The places that are full 100% no go for Shiekh Sharif or his government.
-Bay is no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Gedo is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Bakool is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Lower Jubba is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Middle Jubba is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Lower Shabelle is a no go zone. Held by group very much against Shiekh Sharif.
-Somaliland is a no go zone. Held by a group which declared itself separate from Somalia.
>Major cities of the south include everything from Kismaayo to Baydhabo to Baardheere to Marka and Barawe.
The places where Shiekh Sharif has some support and can possibly get of an airplane and actually visit.
-Parts of Galgaduud but very unimportant to the solution (partly because many of the actors in south Somalia are from here).
-Puntland State but even more unimportant and irrelavent.
-Hiiraan which is also not very important to solving the problem. Also, the group opposed to Shiekh Sharif still has a powerfall base here.
-Middle Shabelle, the only real southern state Shiekh Sharif can get off an airport from because his clan is one of the principal inhabitants. But there has been a fight in the middle of the airport before during the first time Shiekh Sharif came back to Somalia from exile so I don't even though it is probably leaning heavily towards Sheikh Sharif. Still it has also been one of the quieter regions when it comes to the politics problem in the south.
Now Mogadishu is left.
-Obviously Shiekh Sharif can get off an airplane and stay in Villa Somalia under heaving guard just like Abdullahi Yusuf also used to do but his opposition in the city has increased tenfold in the last week.
1. The new Xisbul Islaam group was announced and we saw Indhacade, Cumar Iiimaan, and many guys in the hardcore opposition as well as old ICU hold a public press conference in the middle of Mogadishu labeling Shiekh Sharif's governent same as Abdullahi Yusuf.
2. The godfather of the Islamic movement, Hassan Dahir Aweys, has resaid again and again Shiekh Sharif's governent should be opposed and we know his power in Xamar.
3. The port was attacked today in broad daylight as the Ugandans were unloading with the opposition claiming the attack and the Ugandans powerless to day anything.
When you look at the real situation it is sad out there and the most saddest of all is Shiekh Sharif is not facing an opposition that wants power or seats and be cajoled into negotiating, he is facing Al Shabaab and Al Qaeda types who believe his government is divinely wrong. This means absolutely no negotiation from their side. We saw the reaction from Abu Mansur when he was asked about the rumors if he met with Shiekh Sharif and literally scoffed at what he said was ridiculous and unlikeliest thing to happen.
Is the honeymoon going to be over real soon for Sheikh Sharif and his government?