Saturday, June 09, 2007
Slow Transitioning
The following is from World Magazine April 28, 2007, Vol. 22, the article name is Slow Transition
Last December when Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia they kicked out the Taliban-style Islamists. This seemed to look as if for the first time in 16 years Somalia’s central government would finally take its root on the countries system. Now the leaders of the weak but well known internationally of the Transitional Federal Government are attempted to take control of Mogadishu, but it is now four months later and they are still trying. The disputes are finally settled Somalia’s clan problems. The unfrequent fighting in Mogadishu has increased greatly in early April because the government and the Ethiopian troops fought a confrontation of Hawiye sub-clans who established in the capital for a long time. The questionable lines between them and the ousted Islamic Courts Union also complicate the matters for Somalia to be able to govern itself. The clan leaders set up some of Mogadishu’s courts and are now giving advantages to the members who have sneaked back.
I think that the Ethiopan forces did the correct thing by invading Somalia to get rid of the Taliban and to allow Somalia to finally be free again. The government really needed to be free after not having a central government for 16 years. I commend them on that and Somalia is heading in the right direction since then. Despite the recent gains in Somalia, they have learned that change takes lots of time. Sometimes like in this case change is good and needs to take time to learn more and to really appreciate what you have gained.