The one good thing abouot Shabaab's Somalia today.

[Cumar-Labasuul]

I also believe that qabiil is overrated in somalia and is most of the time blamed for somalia's situation.

[king of kismayo]

I have a question for you voltage how long do you think alshabaab can or try to hide tribalism From the Somali society, humans always do what is forbidden. They will hold clan meetings in Somalia to undermine the so called Pakistani alshabaab regime. There 4.5 clan formula is not wrong the big clans share the pie and rule the country under justice , but you just cant separate clan from the government Somali people are just never going to accept that. But you can minimize it to some extend.qabil is every where in the Arab world in Europe in latin America they just use it in a civilized manner. While Somalis just need to learn and practice.

the problem of somalis is they are harmless when they don`t have fire arms and it would be fine if qabiil was just politics we would have artfull and intresting political enviorment qabiil poltics is facinating just like fadhi ku dirir but the problem is when they get weapons, they turn from a political party into a paramilitary force like hizbolah with their own foreign policy and strategic intrest and its here where the foreigners play their critical role, becaus they empower clans and turn them from harmless political clans into warlike clan and its all done by the supply weapons.
just remember why do people impose sanction upon eritrea and not ethiopia, who is a multiple offender when it comes to breaking the arm embargo that is on somalia, its because ethiopia plays the game the way it should should be play in th eyes of the international community(countries that have intrest in somalia from arab to vientnamese), they keep the stalemate, eritrea breaks the rules by empowering a possible decisive winner hence sanction

[Narcissistic]

I had failed to understand why so many our people continue to be indoctrinated into arguably the most primitive of social customs that has become the bane and the destruction of our nation.

Wallah that so true, beautifully put .


Kudos to your emancipation

[BaasAbuur]

I agree with Voltage, however the price is definitely not worth it. To be honest Somalia's qabil problem is overrated. Somalia's problem stems from the fact that the International Community not only does not give a crap about Somalia but happily fund and arm different factions. The goal is to get Somalia desimated and destitiute enough to the point Where Somalia is on its knees and will happily embrace pseudo colonization in exchange for some sort of stability. These Shabab idiots are nothing more than an agent and a tool amongst many.

There is a global war over the remaining natural resources left in the world. Somalia is a victim of this war.

[nomadicwarlord]

Social radicalization of Somalia is in full effect. The brightest Somalis have left the country and the ones left who still give the country some hope are being systematically eliminated by these zealots. What Al Shabaab is doing is exploiting Somalis' nationalistic sentiments. Our country has been sold to the highest bidder currently residing between the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our religion is under attack from within not the West. UBL has mastered the art of persuation and his disciples (Al-Shaabab and company) are currently implementing his teachings in Somalia. Somalis are eager to seek the enemies abroad but look no further, the enemy at home is far deadlier.

Clanists are the foot soldiers of Al Shabaab.

[bareento]

Hi,
if I may...
Clanism in Somalia (as in almost everywhere) has economic base;
it needs economic tranformation of Somalia to get rid of it, if ever thats possible.
Always keep in mind that CULTURE/IDEOLOGY has its roots in the economic relation.

B.

[Twisted_Logic]

It is simplistic to say that Al Shabab and its ideology has destroyed or is destroying the clan factor in Somali politics. Al Shabab is in fact, contrary to conventional wisdom, able to pit one clan's interest against another, giving its support to one, disturbing the power balance, and in the process furthering its ideology. The recent Kismayo conflict when Al Shabab used one clan against another, kicked it out only to use its former clan enemy to kick its former ally a year later, shows Al Shabab's mastery over clan politics in Somalia. In Jowhar, it had allied itself with the least influential but numerically superior subclan of Mudulood and used it to crush its enemies, and in Hiiraan it has been able to ally itself with the least politically active subclan of the region in order to take on Xawadle. It has repeated similar patterns of divide and conquer in other parts of Somalia.

Its tactics have relevancy and value to the easily impressionable youth and even political observers. A closer look, however, reveals Al Shabab's brilliant use of the clan card to its advantage. To argue otherwise, is immature and simplistic conclusion drawn from a very naive base.

[Somalian_Boqor]

The real test for Al Shabaab is Puntland iyo Somalidiid. Perahps some of the most united Clans Politically in all of Somalia.

South Somalia to begin with was really never in one hand. So credit must be give there.

Everything in Somalia comes down to Qabil at the end of the day.

[Somaliweyn]

Few important questions:

- Did group-feeling (the belonging to a particular Somali clan) dissapear or have the negative aspects (the use of group-feeling by political opportunists) dissapeared from the political scene?

-Are the extremists immume for the existence of groupfeeling or are they tactfully manipulating it into their advantage without bringing this to the surface (incorporating in their ideology and political rethorics)?

-Has the group-feeling dissapeared because of social programs iniated by the Islamist factions or did it dissapear because the political opportunists that were manipulating it have exhausted their 'cards' (lost credibility to effectively mobilize large group of people on the basis of groupfeeling/clan)?

------------------
My observation:

Groupfeeling did not dissapear, a simple glance on this net and in the conversations of ordinary Somali households would attest to this fact. Somali people are still aware of their groupbelonging, are shaped by this groupbelonging and as such groupfeeling/clan will exist as an aspect of Somali society.

The only thing that has partially dissapeared, or better said has gone underground is the political manipulation of groupfeeling. Political opportunists have ever since mid 80s used groupfeeling as a means to mobilize large group of people behind their political agenda's. During the Civil War, the manipulation of groupfeeling was an effective tool to achieve political power or some sort of control over important economic resources.

The Islamic factions of today did not appear overnight but were the result of a long struggle in which Islamist factions struggled to acquire sphere of influence in Somalia's clan-structured and clan-dominated political landscape. Since 1991 the Islamist factions had to wait for their moment which basically ment wait till the political opportunists at that time exhaust their bagg of tricks to mobilize people on the basis of groupfeeling.

It would be extremely naive or dishonest to assert that the current extremist Islamist faction of Al Shabab are not aware of the existance of groupfeeling and the political advantages it overs.

In Galgaduud, Alshabab have succesfully alligned itself with Duduble/Murursade.It operates from those area's and has goodwill from most of those clans. The recent interview by Godane in which he praised the support those clans gave to Al shabab attests to this fact. Also, the appointment of Ali Dheere (Murusade) as the spokesmen of Alshabab is in line with the covert manipulation of groupfeeling by Alshabab. Lastly, the fact that Alshabab has had its first foothold in Mogadishu in Suuqa Xoolaha, Dayniile and Hodan/Wardhigleey shows the clans on which Alshabab first depended: Ceyr (till Cayrow passed away and Aweys created his own faction), Duduble (dominant in Suuqa Xoolaha) and Murusade (dominant in Dayniile). From those area's it expanded to more districts in the capital.

In Hiiraan, AlShabab have succesfully alligned itself with Gaaljecel, Gugundhabe and relatively small clans who have been politically marginalised. AS had difficulty to acquire the support of the largest clan in the region: Xawaadle and ended a long period of struggle by decapitating the leadership of the group and then offering the remaining elders and leaders a peace-agreement.

In M.Shabelle and Banadir, Alshabab have won over the support of Reer Mataan (Mudulood) which settles from Jowhar to Mogadishu. This group was politically marginalised by the other segments of Mudulood. Their support for Ashabab have propelled this group to political dominance as the leader of Banadir admin of Ashabab is from the Reer-Mataan.

In Jubba regions, Alshabab have first acquired the support of most groups as they were members of the coalition of Islamists that chased away Hiiraale and his clique. When the struggle for power broke out between Ashabab and Xisbi Islam, it became apparent that Ashabab were manipulating the groupfeeling in that city and region by alligning itself with Marehan against the Kablalax supported Ras Kamboni and Ras Canoole. The fact that the spokesperson of Ashabab in that region was creating a link between ONLF and Xisbi Islam on more than one occasion was a covert tactic to manipulate groupfeeling and court the support of Marehan and others who were wary of Kablalax dominance in Jubba regions.

Even if we look at Ahlu Sunnah group we can see that it is a covert manipulation of groupfeeling. It is mainly built on the long-existing political alliance between Ceyr and Marexanka Galgaduud.


It would be naive or dishonest to disregard the covert manipulation of groupfeeling by Ashabab and other Islamist groups.

So the dissapearance of ''Yaa Reer-Hebel ahoo'' as a mobilization tactic does not mean that groupfeeling has dissapeared from Somalia all together. The use of manipulation has gone underground and has been overshadowed by political rethorics of '' Shareecada Islaamka''.

[Leila25]

As long as there is absence of a government that will provide justice, security, protection and equality to all, then qabil politics will remain because it has a function. I believe it is a matter of time that we will be going back to qabil and Al shabab's "unite under islam" crap will come to an end.

[ERROR]

voltage, nice analysis clan politics is what made us what we are today. I like free thinkers who are not bound by old traditions.

[*Nobleman*]

Quite interesting. Certainly agree though, despite the negative aspects they bring to the table, I admire them for moving away from qabil.

[SahanGalbeed]

Perspective !!!! For a mareexan who can go back to Al Shabaab controlled area of Mog without being called names , yeah it might be working , but for me who has
1/ No desire to move there
2/No particular beef with the local hawiye
Different story !

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

Since they took over Kismayo it's more peaceful then Mogadishu, Puntland and Somaliland, there are assasinations/killing in Mogadishu, Puntland and even Somaliland but we don't hear anything in Kismayo.

We know shabaab can bring peace.Kismayo and baidoa are examples.But at what cost?
By submitting to shabaab we give up many things: watching football,boys & girls interracting,doing whatever you want such as playing sport or playing games. These guys are controlefreak,they want you to fear them and abide by their rules,no entertainment. The worst of all is: obeying arabs and other foreigners in alshabab !
People under their rule fears shabaab more than they fear Allah.


So i really say fuk peace if they are the rulers

by the way,today a shabaableader was assasinated in kismaayo. Its not that peaceful as you may think.

[The_Patriot]

It is simplistic to say that Al Shabab and its ideology has destroyed or is destroying the clan factor in Somali politics. Al Shabab is in fact, contrary to conventional wisdom, able to pit one clan's interest against another, giving its support to one, disturbing the power balance, and in the process furthering its ideology. The recent Kismayo conflict when Al Shabab used one clan against another, kicked it out only to use its former clan enemy to kick its former ally a year later, shows Al Shabab's mastery over clan politics in Somalia. In Jowhar, it had allied itself with the least influential but numerically superior subclan of Mudulood and used it to crush its enemies, and in Hiiraan it has been able to ally itself with the least politically active subclan of the region in order to take on Xawadle. It has repeated similar patterns of divide and conquer in other parts of Somalia.

Its tactics have relevancy and value to the easily impressionable youth and even political observers. A closer look, however, reveals Al Shabab's brilliant use of the clan card to its advantage. To argue otherwise, is immature and simplistic conclusion drawn from a very naive base.

Co-sign
Shabaab are very tribalistic if they were a fair representation of somali clans they would have the entire south region including Puntland.
What we have are people from other regions like Somaliland having the 3 top positions and how fair is this.
This same people do not care about if the south burns cos at the end of the day they have amassed wealth and incase things go wrong they will just disappear.

Also the way they have administered regions is very tribalsitic, how possible is it that the head of Kismaayu is marexan while the head of the jubaas is a non absame. I mean is this the kind of tolerance they are propagating?

Shabaab is no more than an occupational force and their days are numbered. This time however if things go wrong for them the Juba region will be hell for them I hope they will find solace in Gedo ,Baidoa or Shabella hoose but never in Juboyinka.