By Somalilandtimes network

Baidoa, Somalia, March 25, 2006 – As expected, not much is happening in Baidoa. Although the meeting was supposed to resume after being adjourned two times, and the two deputy heads of “parliament” were supposed to chair the sessions while the “speaker” was attending the IGAD conference in Kenya, no meetings took place. There are several reasons for this. One of them is that the “first deputy speaker” and the “speaker” are not even talking to each other, as the first deputy speaker (Boqorre) had recently complained, let alone coordinate their activities (it is relevant to remember that Boqorre’s son, Khadar, was murdered in Mogadishu after Boqorre fell out with Mogadishu’s warlords).

It is becoming increasingly clear that the main objective of the Baidoa jamboree is to satisfy one of the conditions of the international community that such a meeting takes place before they could release further funds. There are three funds that the organizers of this meeting, warlord “president” Abdillahi Yusuf, Sharif Hassan “speaker” and Ali Geedi “prime minister” are keen to lay their hands on: 26 million dollars earmarked by the Arab League to help Somalia, European Union aid money for Somalia that is in Brussels, and JNA funds. Abdillahi Yusuf, Sharif Hasan and Ali Geedi are telling donors we have met your condition of having the parliament in session, now release the funds. So this meeting is really a ploy to milk the international community and not a serious attempt to solve Somalia ’s problem. It’s not clear whether the international community will succumb to the trio’s con game.

The security situation has deteriorated further since the last time we reported. There was an exchange of fire between warlord Abdillahi Yusuf’s militia and another militia near al-Quds Hotel in Baidoa’s city center, one of Abdillahi Yusuf’s militia was wounded. Two parliamentarians, Ali Osman Jidow & Sheekh Jama Haji Huseen, were physically assaulted and robbed of their cell phones. The increasing violence and lawlessness has prompted one of the warlords who control Baidoa, Adan Saransoor, to declare a curfew in Baidoa which is still in effect.

Mohammed Omar Habeeb (Mohammed Dheere) who controls Jawhar and the Middle Shabelle regions has reiterated that he does not recognize Abdillahi Yusuf’s “government” and that they cannot set foot in his region. Mohammed Dheere said Abdillahi Yusuf should resign since it is clear he does not have what it takes to be a president. Asha Abdalla, and other members of “parliament” have also called for Abdillahi Yusuf to resign since he is a divisive figure who cannot bring Somalis together.

Source: Somaliland Times