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SOMALIA: BACK TO BUSINESS FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT July 27, 2005
<|yusuf_geddi.jpg|Left:PM Gedi and President Ahmed|left|>After eight months of international traveling, Somali president and prime minister finally rolled up their sleeves and started working in Somalia. Today marks the first day they are both in office in their temporary headquarters in Jowhar.
Government insiders told SomaliNet that the reason behind their prolonged absence from office was that the two men were campaigning to get the new government recognized and accepted by the international community. According to insiders, the new government has good international support.
Mr. Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed was elected president in October last year after two-year long national reconciliation in Nairobi, Kenya. He nominated his longtime friend Ali Mohamed Gedi as prime minister. Before coming to Jowhar yesterday, he spent two weeks in Puntland (northeastern Somalia) where he ruled before becoming national president. Puntland government supports his leadership unequivocally.
Now, starts the real test for these two men and the interim government. They have to overcome obstacles and hardships that failed their predecessors. President Abdulahi and Prime Minister Ali now are trying something new to Somali politics. Their argument is that the capital is like the Bermuda Triangle and the only way to tackle it is to come up with an alternative solution like unifying different local administrations in other parts of the country until Mogadishu gets some sort of authority.
All previous failed governments had one thing in common: they all tried to establish in lawless Mogadishu where powerful warlords control almost all aspects of life. That problem was addressed in 2000 Djibouti Conference and then stable Baydhabo city was named in the constitution as the interim capital. However, newly elected Abdiqasim thought his government would have a better chance in Mogadishu.
President Abdiqasim Hassan who was elected in Djibouti conference had overwhelming public support and Arab League backing initially. However, his train ran out of steam within a year or so. He blames Mogadishu warlords for his government’s downfall.
The new interim capital, Jowhar is about 90 KM northeast of Mogadishu.