Postby Grant » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:51 am
There is this notion in Somali politics that whoever controls the capital controls foreign aid and hence the economy and the country. Given the diaspora and Dahabshiiil remittances, this is no longer exactly true, but it is still a powerful concept that is going to have to be overcome.
So long as Hamar remains a Hawiye degan ANY national government or non-Hawiye group that tries to control it is going to be in trouble. They will only provoke opposition and be seen as responsible for more death and destruction.
I think the govenment needs to remove from Mog and establish the capital elsewhere, say somewhere between Merka and Eyl, where they can be seen as building institutions and infrastructure rather than as being solely destructive.
I would favor a new location with only enough water for the government and a small support population. Bakhti Hamar! You can't let any one clan control the national capital.
I blame circumstances far more than individuals.