This is good news.
Patriot this is the second topic to due with Dr. Duale you have come in.
The conference was supposed to happen at 15th April, but got postponned due to military delayment (clashes between shabaab and TFG).
Since Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces flushed al-Shabaab militants from most of Gedo region, residents have alleged that the forces have been harassing local elders. This comes after the TFG detained 15 elders on April 15th for allegedly conspiring to form an independent Islamic state in the region.
Although the elders were released five days later, local residents condemned the arrests.
“We are strongly criticizing the arrest of the elders. The arrests were unconstitutional," Hajji Ali Mohamud, a local elder and businessman in Garbaharey, told Somalia Report. The TFG chairman in Gedo region, Mohamed Abdi Kalil, confirmed the arrests to Somalia Report and said the elders were detained over a political issue.
The elders were accused of holding secret meetings in major restaurants in Garbaharey to discuss the political framework of the region and whether Gedo can establish its own regional administration just like other regions in Somalia that have successfully established their own respective semi-autonomous administrations.
Residents in Garbaharey confirmed that the meetings were held, but could not verify what was discussed. TFG officials, however, claimed that the main objective of the meetings held in the city were to create an independent state in the region, which would create further chaos and instability. Specifically, TFG officials claimed the elders work closely with al-Shabaab and are trying to promote the hardline Islamic group's ideologies of establishing an Islam-based administration, sparking their arrest.
“We know that the elders are causing unnecessary problems in the region and undermining the TFG's mission here. We are aware that al-Shabaab are behind this rising political issue so we urge elders and even the people in the region to avoid anything that may interfere with stability so that we can concentrate on other development projects," the chairman told Somalia Report.
In February of this year, the TFG chairman promised that he would call for organized meetings with elders, businessmen, and youths to discuss how the region can achieve its political and economical goals, but the meetings have not yet taken place.
“Yes, we are still planning to conduct the conference and the main agenda will be the formation of an independent state and how as province we can improve our social, economic and political status to create a stable region. We shall fight with tooth and nail anyone or group who tries to hinder the development of this project," said Mr Kalil.
An elder in Garbaharey town who asked to remain anonymous said the elders who were arrested on April 15th were interrogated and tortured on April 18th while in custody of the TFG, but could not provide proof of his allegations.
“As elders of Garbaharey we are greatly disappointed by the way TFG forces treated the elders and it goes without saying their rights to express their views towards the development of the region were violated. We shall not leave our role as elders irrespective of the threats we are subjected to," complained the elder.
Despite the fact that the residents condemned the arrests, some elders believe that the arrest was an important milestone that may serve as an impetus to holding the planned conference.
Nairobi-based political analyst Jayte Ali who hails from Gedo region and youth leader Ibrahim Hilowle as well as other Gedo influentials criticized the detention, calling it undemocratic and urged government officials to speed up the planned meeting to stabilize the region.
Abdi Ibrahim, a politician from the region, urged the TFG to solve the disputes diplomatically rather than applying force.
“The government should approach the challenges diplomatically and consider the views of the people. They should also try to maintain the good image they have in they region and call for an immediate conference to end their differences," Mr. Abdi told Somalia Rep
