Globalaffairs

Issue 17/October-November 2009
By Erica L. Green

Newly elected Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has a tall order on his hands as he tries to stabilize a country that has seen economic and social unrest for the last 20 years. On his first United States visit to Chicago last month, he faced a receptive but anxious crowd eager to hear answers to Somalia’s increasing indiscretion towards the industrialized world - piracy.

Ahmed staged a grand balcony entrance with an entourage of multinational dignitaries, and then proceeded to address questions about stabilization in northeast Africa. The audience, arranged by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, was predominantly students, Somalia nationals, and local dignitaries. Ahmed’s speech began with a brief overview of Somalia’s turbulent past.

The geographic state of Somalia as we know it today is quite different from what it was not too long ago. Over the past 50 years several colonies have gained independence from Britain and Italy to unite as one socialist state [6]. General Siyad Barreh assumed and held power for the majority of that time until he was overthrown in 1991 [6], and the country has not known stability since [2]. Instead, it has been run by warlords who have failed to find a replacement leader [2].

For the past year there have been numerous pirate attacks along Africa’s eastern coast. Many attribute the rise in crime to the decrease in government stability and quality of life in the pirates’ homeland of Somalia. Back in April, it was reported that Somali pirates had hijacked over 25 vessels with crews totaling 260 [1]. This instability has become a threat to international security.

During his address, Ahmed readily admitted his political naïveté. The Chicago Council of Global Affairs president, Marshall Bouton, noted that this naïveté is a definite strength for Somalia and its international interests. Ahmed lacks the ties to the warlords and is open to working with others to achieve peace and stability. His early career as a teacher and community organizer was compared to the United States President Barack Obama and a hope for change.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Somali Republic. 28 September 2009 United Nations, New York

In the conference, I sat next to Somali national Said Aybakri, who has followed the work of Ahmed for some time.

“He is a good explainer,” said Aybakri. “Ahmed is the type of individual who is quite smart and is able to explain plans very well, which puts the people at ease. This is how he was able to get a good following. He is well liked by the people and brings great hope for the future.”

Aybakri chuckles and adds there is a saying in Somalia, that short people are the smart ones and Ahmed is shorter than the average Somali.

Ahmed’s address ended with a call for solidarity coupled with a plea for help. He noted that his background as an educator has helped him to identify a need for improving schools and infrastructure, such as roads. He cannot do these things without collaborative support. When asked pointed questions about a possible resolution on the issue of piracy he responded with additional pleas for support and cooperation. He called on university students within the room as well as government support to help Somalia come up with a plan for peace and development. Aybakri whispered next to me that stabilization also means cooperation and unity within the five corners and former colonies of Somalia.

Some improvements, although small, are evident during Ahmed’s eleven-month tenure. Several weeks ago, Spain’s court released two pirates to Kenya for sentencing due to undefined borders in coastal waters [4]. Because of such undefined jurisdictions, Spain now backs the UN’s anti-piracy efforts. [5]. The UN has joined the efforts of France, Russia, and the United States in patrolling the known pirate-infested waters. Higher penalties such as life imprisonment have been given to those convicted of piracy and their co-conspirators [3] but unfortunately it has not been enough to deter the crimes completely. These penalties make acts of piracy a riskier venture, but if the offenders do not have much to lose back home, any goods or ransom obtained becomes quite the windfall.

It is evident that Ahmed has a difficult road ahead. He aims to create jobs and infrastructure in a land once ruled by powerful warlords for over a decade, made even more difficult now in the midst of global recession fallout. He is hoping for the industrialized countries he is appealing to will overlook the recent indiscretions and answer his call for help. Only time will tell if the world will listen.

Erica L. Green
MA, MPH, CADC
Graduate Student in Clinical Psychology
Argosy University

Bibliography

1. Russia captures Somalia pirates. BBC News - Africa. Last updated: 28 Apr 2009
2. Somalia’s leader.BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm
3. Somalia pirates jailed for life. BBC News - Europe - Last updated: 28 Apr 2008
4. Spain charges Somalia ‘pirates. BBC News - Africa - Last updated: 13 Oct 2009 news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8303957.stm
5. Spain backs UN anti-piracy force. BBC News - Europe - Last updated: 23 Apr 2008
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7363645.stm
6. UNDP Somalia, Chronology Of Events Leading To Reconciliation Talks. http://www.unsomalia.net/media/2002/stories/20021014_2.asp
7. Harrison , Edward Spain: Bleak forecast puts unemployment at 22% in 2010 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/07/spain-bleak-forecast-puts-unemployment.html. July2009

Special Thanks to
Susan I. Greenberg, Ph.D.

The views and opinions of contributors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Global Affairs

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