The region hopes Mr. Da'ud will usher in a new era of leadership.
Kilil5 Editorial.
The citizens of the Somali regional State of Ethiopia whether living in the Diaspora or in the country are putting high hopes on the appointment of President Da’ud. The new president is faced with a daunting task; the task of confronting the region’s defining political forces today: a deep rooted primitive political culture defined by tribalism and clanism, a worsening insecurity defined by a resurgent ONLF guerilla movement and other small factions, and a population submerged by 90% poverty rate. We have little doubt that,Mr. Da’ud’s presidency will be defined, his success measured, and the region’s future shaped by how he deals with the fraught alliance between the Ogaden clan’s Ogadenia movement and ONLF insurgence on one hand, and the region’s desire to move forward politically and economically in a unity on the other hand. The tangled nexus between the Ogadenia movement and ONLF insurgency, and the anxious but impatient needs of the majority of the region’s citizens to move forward, has been complicating the region’s politics ever since the region was given its current autonomy in the country’s federal system.
President Da’ud has a mountain of challenges to deal with; ONLF insurgency, a web of clan conflicts and competition, crippling corruption, a culture of political indifference, ineffective and inefficient civil service, and contradictory and often intruding federal government policies in the region and illiterate citizens who might not fully co-operate with his policies. He is now the executive head of a region whose adult literacy rate is a mere 15% and is plagued by centuries of tribal animosity and clan conflict over meager resources. But, we have this hope that President Da’ud will be different from his predecessors; presidents who were either spineless or unscrupulous, and sometimes both. Presidents who led the region without eyes and without brains, presidents who were motivated by greed and zeal for the people’s money, presidents who were conveniently used like a broomstick by federal officials to the detriment of the region’s needs and interest. We are not fully convinced but hopeful that Mr. Da’ud will be the first of a new breed of educated leaders which the region’s citizens have been yearning for. Because of lack of leadership, a conspicuous alliance between a tribalist Ogadenia movement and an ONLF insurgence led by power hungry, greedy politicians, and a contradictory federal policies, our region is still in the ditch, stuck but hopeful. President Da’ud is Smart and educated. His leadership style is no panacea. In its long and painful history,this region has seen nothing but ignorant, spineless, old guard tribal leaders, who used fear instead of competency, to convince us their leadership. Mr. Da’ud may be the first intellectual leader, someone who is interested in ideas, and comfortable with his own complexity, while his predecessors were too rigid. It’s not a small measure that many of us are wondering whether Mr. Da’ud may be too, intoxicated with tribalism, or may fall victim to his Ogaden clan’s never ending, and messy power struggles, Or get distracted by the region self destructing clan politics.
President Da’ud has to develop quickly a big-bang strategy of pressing aggressively on multiple fronts the Somali region’s multiple pressing problems in a pragmatic, but wholesome change approach. The region can’t afford to wait on moving forward on the key priorities of ending corruption, improving security without government engaging witch-hunting of innocent civilians, improving governance and the rule of law, streamlining and improving all regional government departments and bureaus, accountability of every department and civil service employees, extending government services to rural and small towns, bold expansion and investment in infrastructure, education and health services, expansion of rural electrification and moving toward achieving the national millennium goals. We are making an argument for an aggressive approach in the mold of PM Zenawi’s initiatives and rule of this country. Nothing short of bold and transforming initiatives that will change the current political, security, economic, and cultural structure of the Somali region as we know it today. The list of demands on the table is going to be staggering, absolutely staggering. But we are convinced contrary to many nay Sayers from the region that, if there is one person who can husband the Somali region to a transformative, historic, once in a generation time, its president Da’ud. We believe that if president Da’ud can husband his time, energy and political capital on the most pressing three dominant priorities; that the region’s current structural deficiencies and underlying, undermining, dooming, political, economic, and cultural cultures can be transformed once and for all.
To be a transformative president, President Da’ud must explicitly move beyond the psychodrama of the current clanism and tribalism based politics — a tale rooted in old grudges and revenge plots hatched on old tribal enmity, and conflict long ago. The region’s citizens want to see Government under President Da’ud to value personal disclosure and transparency, accountability in every office, fairness and justice in all its officials, and embracing competency by hiring the best and brightest citizens. We are calling the president to shelf once and for all the culture of rewarding incompetence by hiring people for their clan identity instead of their education, competence, professionalism, and dedication to serve. We want to see the president surround himself and utilize the region’s growing young professionals who have the education, the knowledge of their communities and their region, the motivation to serve their country and communities, and who are the least infected with the cancer of tribalism. The president must also transform communication between the president and the people. The president must also change the culture of the office of the region’s presidency by reaching out and recruiting the region’s highly educated professionals in the Diaspora irrespective of their clan for policy advice. These professionals must meet the criteria of being highly skilled, highly trained with little or no political interest or believe, and their advice must be sought purely on harnessing their skill, and technical know-how.
It’s the aspiration, and hope of the region’s citizens that Mr. Da’ud will not be pigeonholed, and that he will be free to make healthy decision for the region’s future.
Mr. Da’ud has a fertile mind, is a no nonsense leader, has vision compared to his predecessors, and is not driven by greed or money. We are hopeful that his fertile mind will set a new tone for our region. We are hopeful that he will fight tribalism and reduce its influence in the region’s politics. We are hopeful that he will discharge his responsibility and duty without nepotism and with a fair mind and an eye for justice. We are hopeful that he will find equilibrium between individual liberty, freedom and rule of law. Maybe, he will usher in a new era of accountability in the region and a sense of common purpose and an elusive unity between our people. Maybe, someday soon our leaders no longer will have to shuffle in shame and our citizens won’t be ashamed of their shuffling. Maybe soon, we might begin to be proud of our leaders, and maybe, and just maybe, they might soon become household names and part of a proud history in the near future.
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N.B: Kilil5 is looking for new contributers, new additions to our editorial staff, and objective people to contribute through Op-Eds.We are also encouraging well educated citizens of the region and political leaders to become weekly columnists in this website and take part in the social,political and economic advancement of our region by educating our citizens about their region and the global world.
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Good piece but Da'ud is not the man
You have stated deligently what needs to be done,an excellent policy outline but unfortunately you are talking to the wrong crowd. Daud is not the man to carry out such complex, tough reforms nor does he have the freedom to do so.Let me give him the benefit of the doubt but the real question is; does he have the freedom and the independence to demonstrate his ability to govern or make his own policy imprints in the region. If these guys were really intelligent, they would have said no to a name plate position that will eventually cost them big time.
Every man appointed to lead the region is put in a leach and are allowed to carry what they are told by zenawi and his generals.These so-called presidents are just name plates without the goodies of the presidency.The only thing they are allowed is to loot the few budget money given to the region..and that is to keep them loyal to their bosses in addis.
Kilil5 should hold their horses until we reach a period of time when we are free, when we have leaders who will listen to their citizens ideas, when we are free to solve our problems. Mr. Da'ud maxamed will be just like Abdullahi Lugbur, if he is lucky,after 2 years he will be dumped unceromoniously...or he will end up in jail accused of treason,public money mismanagement or supporting the ONLF.
Whatever the challenges, you can't solve them when you are not allowed to solve.The chaos and mess in the region is just what Zenawi wants.It works for him and he doesn't give a crap what you and I think or want.
Shukri Dhaylane,afkaaga
Shukri Dhaylane,afkaaga caano laguqabey.You hit the nail on the head.Da`ud is going to fail because the Tigrays wants him to fail.Our people know the cruel game of the Meles regime.K5 should know better and respect our intelligence.The only hope from Da`ud and his Woyaanne handlers is a false hope.We are not that gullible.
Faafan boy and Shukri..you are just cynical
Faafan boy and Shukri..You are just a cynical bunch.you are doing what every somali does these days! blame somebody for all our society's failures..Blame the Tigres,the White man,the Kikuyus in Kenya,the Arabs for abandoning us...why can't we take responsibility for our poor choices...by choosing clan loyalty about our interest.
Every problem facing us today and all our challenges are directly as a result of poor choices as a society and until we take responsibility for these poor choices and correct these poor choices, our problems will continue..
The two of you are just repeating what every somali does: blame someone else for our problmes.intelligent people take responsibility for their actions and poor choices, but,it seems we are not intelligent people because we can't seem to hold our selves accountable,we can't rectify our poor choice and we keep recycling the blame game from our race to another race or from one country to another country.
The fundamental basis of our problem are as follows:
1-Clan loyalty. you can't have the right capable leaders and the right capable leaders can't lead when all somalis care is who is he/she? what clan is he? Yuu yahay ninku? ma nin reer hebel baa anaga naxukumi kara?
2-Majority of our productive men and women have dedicated their time and energy chewing khat while their peers are in the halls of learning bettering themselves and learning to how to improve their lives and that of their society. our so called leaders who have been choosen not because of their capability or education, are chewing khat, on the meagre resources of their society.who is to blame...we as people for our poor choices not others....
If we choosing people because of their clans and not for their leadership,experience,education,hardwork,dedication..you should expect them to be used,manipulated by everybody who has an interest in our lives or in our country, or in our region...but its good capable leaders who have the experience and education who find away to coopt our interest and the interest of others since we live in a global world where our interest are all interconnected and intermingled...we no longer don't live in a separate enclave..what happens in the somali region of ethiopia affects those who live in london or washington or nairobi and johansburg.
Its time we grow up as people and look at things intelligently and make sense because we are not making sense at this time in our history.Faafan boy, i have read many of your comments in this site, can you take responsibility for your clanish mentality and grow up a little bit brother. Look at the world in a broader perspective and take responsibility and hold others responsible for our problems...that will be a starting point in my view. Then we can start holding the Woyanes and the Tigres accountable....
Abdidhuub,tell me one single
Abdidhuub,tell me one single comment where I blamed or praised any clan.Blaming the TPLF and their stooges is a fair game.Are you a hired gun for them?
wow!!
I'm impressed with your editorial. I have to say that kilil5.com is above all other websites covering the region, not even closed to be honest. If only kilil5 could expand on their news coverage and have a weekly editorial on the regions weekly events!! its time other websites follow your lead in terms of political savviness,openess,journalism and having the right people with the right education running these webistes. You have my confidence and trust kilil5 people.please strive to improve on your journalism and independence.
you will not have everybody agreeing with you because people come from different interest groups and of becuase of somali clan politics, but, I have a regar reader of this website for 8 months and you have not disappointed me like so many websites that cover the region.
Your editorial is in par with the editorials of western well known newspapers which says a lot about the education level of your editorial team.very impressive indeed.
I agree with you kilil5 editorial
I couldn't agree more with your insightful assessment of the challenges facing the new president and the region's hope that things will change for the better with the new president.
You have absolutely pinpointed with a great measure of accuracy and frankness the core problem of the region: the ill conceived Ogadenia movement which has divided our people and reinforced (inflamed) tribalism and which has created a great deal of fear by other Somali clans who fear Ogaden clan domination in the region.
As an ogadeni myself and someone who is educated, I have been concerned from the begining how terrible idea this was and the consequence it will have in our region. I have advocated against it every opportunity and I continue to advocate against it and its my hope that ONLF leaders who are the brain child of this movement ( and you can understand why-it works for the ONLF, its a tool they used at a great success to divide, and confuse an unsuspecting supporters) will roll back and burry this terrible short sighted idea sooner than latter.
I know that the ONLF will abolish this movement as soon as it comes to power in the region. I have been told by every ONLF official, when I raised its consequences that they will get rid of this movement as soon as they are in control and will unite all the region's inhabitants.
clearly, they using this movement to enhance their objective without really believing in it. but it shows the true character of the ONLF leadership. divide and conquer if it fits your need without minding its damage.
I don't think Da'ud will be successful dealing with this movement and ONLF by just fighting militarily.In my assessment, the best way of fighting the ONLF and the Ogadenia movement should be two fronts:
1-bring an absolute credibility to the region's autonomy and self governance. people from the region just don't believe in the current self autonomy, they believe that its just a "salad dressing" for the real decision makers in Addis Ababa.
2-Bring a real accountability and competency in the region's administration and instil confidence to the region's citizens.
3-Bring a real rule of law and give citizens a breathing room to politically mature by allowing initially the space to dissent,agree to disagree with regional leaders without tagging these citizens the ONLF tag or the anti-peace elements. Allow people who might support or are sympathetic to the ONLF the liberty to express their feelings without accusing them of their sympathy. Instead, make the regional government accountable and competent to convince people that may be they are wrong about their believe. This should be done as long as people are not breaking the law.
I hope President Da'ud will control Abdi Omar Iley because he is being a train wreck for the past two years and his actions has undermined the legitimacy of the regional government. You can't expect people to observe the rule of law when leaders don't believe in the rule of law and are engaged in the "rule of the jangle".
I'm not confident as your editorial
I know Da'ud and unfortunately, I'm not as confident and hopeful as your editorial. He is a strong guy and very smart but he is plagued with the same disease as the previous so-called presidents. He keeps grudges, takes revenge on those who disagree, doesn't welcome other people's opinion and ideas- the guy is a dictator.
But, he has a chance to succeed where previous so-called president failed. He is very capable,smart,has vision compared to previous old guys,has a great motor and works hard, and what really makes him different completely from previous presidents is that, he is not corrupt and genuinely dislikes corruption and corrupt people. His motivation in the position is not to loot public money. In this regard alone, he will have a chance to succeed. But, my biggest fear and his main weakness is his indulgance into clanism and his inability to forget and forgive his political enemies and opponents.
His tribalist nature and his inability to forgive his opponents and political destractors will lead to his downfall in my opinion and prediction. if he can prove me wrong on this two points,he will do much better than previous presidents.Politics whether primitive or advanced democracy is all about pragmatism,respecting differing ideas, respecting your political opponents and respecting the rule of law-because Mr. Da'ud has just like Abdi Omar, likes to take the law into his own hands (oversteps his boundaries thus breaks the law).
We will have to see but I'm not hopeful or optimistic as you are.
But, you are right on the mark the challenges he faces, you have listed all of them. Excellent editorial. Keep up the independent view, kilil5 rocks, you guys keep impressing me.
Right on the point
Excellent editorial, right on the mark, agree with everything you said here interms of the challenges and what he needs to do to accomplish.
He needs to structure everything, dismantle everything and begin a new because the region needs a wholesome change from politics to economics. The region needs to move from nomadic based eonomic and political ways into a modern way of governing and thinking.
get rid of all the nomadic administrators and put in charge the newly educated young people who have modern way of thinking and reasoning and who are least influenced by tribal affiliation or who don't remember "old clan grudges" as you said.
I think the president needs to be supported by all of us irrespective of clan and give him the benefit of the doubt until he screws.don't pre-charge or condemn the guy but allow him to make a record to be charged himself and his administration.
change should be the president philosophy, changing the current culture of the region and develop a vision to modernize the region, every phase of the region.
Good Luck Mr. president
I wish him good luck because he will need it.I will hold my reservation and judgement for the first 6 months. I want to see a pragmatic leader who can actually govern the region just like the Oromo region,Amhara state and Tigray state. These three are the model regional states in Ethiopia and I don't understand why we are not equally capable of seeing our region prosper and build a promising future for the next generation and for our kids just like these 3 regions
I want to see also a leader who will not meddle into the dirty clan politics but will unite people under a common purpose just like we have Presiden elect Obama do in the United States against so many odds.It is not hard but it takes believe,vision, pragmatism,and sincerity.
I want to see Mr.Da'ud make Raaso region a district within the next 6 months.Its overdue and Lugbur was a coward who didn't have the balls to stand up to the Ogaden fundamentalists and extremists.I want to see Mr. Da'ud being the president for all citizens rather than his Ogaden clansmen and live up to his position. I want him to also go visit Raaso city and make it clear that he is different than Lugbur, summon the Sheekhaash elders, Ogaden elders and both sides political leaders to Jijiga or Addis Ababa and have both sides burry their differences and make peace now not latter.
I think it`s better for
I think it`s better for people like brother Abdikani to beg Abey Sahey instead of Da`ud Amxar.He cann`t do anything unless he`s told by his Tigray masters.