Somalia has continually
been referred by many as a failed state!
However though it still holds the title ‘a state’ and this means it is
an actor in the international system, and a key one to be precise! Somalia is one of the few countries that
boast of a long coast line, a privilege that a few countries in the African
continent have access to. Its proximity to the Suez Canal on the north also
gives it an advantage of exploiting the
international trading conduit that if utilized can turn around this country’s
economy and tremendously improve the living standards of its populace. Even
better still Somalia can become a key geopolitical partner to its neighboring
countries especially Ethiopia and Sudan, and even The Central African Republic!
The alleged presence of chunks of natural resources namely oil and gas has
since never been exploited fully given the political instability that has since
rocked this country!
These vast resources
that Somalia is endowed with will never see the light of the day if peace and
tranquility will not be achieved! The European Union has stepped up the
process, that have since been done by various parties; The United Sates, The
United Nations, Ethiopia, Kenya and the African Union western funded peace
keeping forces under the abbreviation name AMISOM (African Union Mission in
Somalia).
The recent Brussels
conference affirmed yet again the will of the European Union, through the ‘New
Deal’ to restore peace and enable implementation of prioritized state building
goals. The Union pledged a whopping 2.4 billion dollars to Somalia. This is
amount is almost eight times higher than the previous amount that had been
pledged in London later on this year as the union had pledged, 300 million
dollars.
These turn of events points
out a positive trajectory on stability of Somalia. It is also a sigh of relief
to her neighbors; that have since been forced to put up with the scourge of an
anarchic neighbor! Countries bordering Somalia have had problems resulting from
militias and terrorists affiliated groups, proliferations of small arms and an influx
of refugees to mention the least.
The rag tagged militia Al -Shabaab, however
rubbished the grant in what I perceive as a shudder from the fear of the growing
stability of the main government in which they are planning to ouster. Their
claim on twitter that the grant “...is a bit like Belgian Waffles: sweet on the
outside but really has not much substance to it” should be ashamed and the militia
made toothless through the success of the ‘marshal plan’.
The success of The New
Deal signed in 2011 by over 40 countries, will greatly be measured on the
reconstruction outcome from Somalia. A positive outcome from the 2.4 billion
dollar grant which will be channeled to the process of reconstructing the
economy and its social aspects will be tantamount to success of the Union. The
political aspect which is fragile should be handled systemically through
incorporating thee society in defining what kind of system they want for their nation.
Key sectors that the funds
need to deliver tangible results should be on infrastructural development key
among them being; healthcare, education and on food security mechanisms! The
progress on security should also be enabled even more! With this in place
citizens will have access basic needs. Developing the transport sector will also
increase mobility of the populace thus opening avenues that will heighten their
opportunities in life and also opening up the country for increased
development.
Amidst all these
development programs the citizens should be incorporated in building their country
in any way possible! This will make them own the projects and the infrastructure
being established and importantly it will make them earn a living. Administration
fee should be minimized at all costs and bureaucracy be avoided completely.
With a stable, food
secure, good healthcare and a well-established education system the Somalis can
be on their feet once again! Europe too will have returned the invaluable favor
to humanity, the way they US had did during the aftermath of WWII. The
international system will be glad to welcome yet again a self-reliant and a
peaceful Somalia! >Read my last blog on Somalia here >> http://is.gd/VBr50Z
No comments:
Post a Comment