It’s strategically imperative for the survival of Sharif’s tfg to find synergy with Puntland or any other region that is willing to cooperate with the transitional government in a federal framework. Equally important is for Sharif to avoid by all cost to revert or sacked in back to the politics of 1991, where warlords with deep clannish animosity attempted to decide the political framework of Somalia. The abrupt break down of Nairobi negotiation suggest that Sharif, the man whose only appeal to the Somali masses was his ability to compromise, is sadly failing to see the value proposition of the aforementioned strategy, and, even worse, is at risk at heeding the counsel of men who either do not appreciate or resolved to resist the changes that Somalia went through in the last twenty years.
The Galkacyo agreement was come about because of the efforts of men of great caliber in an effort to erect the first pillar of a just, practical federal framework where wounds of civil war can be healed, and clannish animosity and mistrust can be mitigated. If one reads the accord itself one sees how these men attempted to be reasonable, how they massaged the tribal sensitivities of Somalis by affirming the authority of the tfg and the autonomy of federal states, Puntland in this case. When many actively campaigned to deepen the mistrust, reasonable people saw the Galkacyo accord as a good, positive step taken to begin the revival of a Somali state. Why would a president whose sole responsibility is to transition the country from the status quo become hesitant in signing such a good deal? Perhaps his constituency and political allies have yet to buy into viability of federalism as a future framework for Somalia. But have they tabled an alternative or explained how to deal with those who spent time and energy in building autonomous admins like Puntland or even Somaliland. Or perhaps Qanyare political philosophy still has a receptive ear in the highest echelons of the tfg arrangement.
In the final analysis, and the ambiguity of Sharif’s rationale in delaying the signature notwithstanding, Faroole’s insistence on the implementation of this agreement could not be more right. He might have shown more temper than reason in his press conference in Nairobi, but his objections to Sharif’s delay tactic is hard to explain away.
Sharif must honor the hard work of his PM. He must sign the Galkacyo accord. Surely the fickle ones will cry appeasement. But god knows by signing it, Sharif will have laid the foundation of a strong Somali state.
