Author: Shuun Isaaq
Nairobi, December 19, 2008 – The tribal enclave of 'Puntland State of Somalia', home to the current ailing imposed president of Somalia's warlords government is expected to declare a ban on imports of Khat from Kenya and Ethiopia.
In a reaction to the travel ban on A Yusuf, 'Puntland State of Somalia' hopes to put pressure on Ethiopia and Kenya to respect its tribal elder than the current isolation which he suffers. The ban of Khat by Somalis in 'Puntland State of Somalia' is worth $15 million a month excluding the costs of transportations. The majority of Khat arrives from Yemen due to its close proximity to Bandar Qasim, while the rest choose to eat the Abyssinian Salad or Kenyan Mira transported by planes.
Unlike many parts of Somalia where the ban on Khat has often been entertained, this will be the first time it has ever been applied selectively. The huge measures needed to police such a ban however will be far too great for a small enclave as her, and many doubt their commitment. This especially since the majority of logistics by air, sea and land are the only source of income for the A Yusuf family who control 'Puntland Chamber of Commerce'.
IGAD countries including Kenya and Ethiopia imposed travel ban on 'corrupt and reckless' officials from Somalia's warlord government. At the top of the list was the current president A Yusuf condemned by the sponsors of his government such as the EU and USA for failing to adhere to the constitution handed to him at a Kenyan zoo in 2004. Although Somalia is assumed to have a 'government' whether they have ownership or not, in truth it is nothing more than an NGO with Somali employees and Ethiopian/Ugandan security contractors.
It seems A Yusuf has been taking himself seriously constantly exercising his powers by either demoting ministers or sacking his prime ministers to the detriment of the international sponsors eager for progress than stalemate. The final straw came to ahead after refusing to listen to his handlers in order to sack current Prime Minister N Adde for a London based man called Gamadere. So far, only A Yusuf's ethnic group considers Gamadhere as a prime minister with the rest of the parliament calling for the impeachment of A Yusuf himself.
A Yusuf' from the pirate region of 'Puntland State of Somalia' has been shuttling between his former base in Garowe and Bandar Qasim to inaugurate more tribal chiefs such as the new King of Darod ethnic group only to gain support from within his kingdom. As a result, Somalis saw more and more anti USA and IGAD demonstrations encouraged by the regional authorities. Somalis inaugurate chiefs for sub-tribal groups in order to reduce the collective will of the larger tribe as to simplify 'divide and conquer' methods.
With ammunitions and uniforms for his tribal militias who abandoned the TFG to bolster their enclave's security and integrity, A Yusuf can buy the loyalty of many of his people. The majority of his Majertein clansmen are reported to be arguing whether they should sever ties from Somalia similar to Somaliland whose separation from Somalia is sacrosanct. Although Somaliland case is based upon the failure of the ill-conceived premature union, the Majertein Bantustan mentally will be difficult to foresee its fruits.
For a region used to having their cake and eat it, such a strong stance against the opinions of governmental handlers is rare and may signal their reversion back to pre-tfg era. A Yusuf refused to recognise past Somalia governments on the bases of his ethnic group failing to grab the presidential seat only to re-appear in 2002 upon hearing an opportunity for his SRRC (Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council) which he was a chairman. SRRC and the mediocre former US Marine Corps volunteer junior Aideed succeeded to convince the USA about the presence of Bin Laden in Somalia, beginning a new wave of wars in Somalia over the illusive Somalia Al-Qaeda cell.
Travel bans are often not made aware to individuals unless they apply first, hence A Yusuf and his companions have been waiting for the release of names to their frustrations. So far, they choose to buy time in Somalia than their usual habit of traveling at the expense of UNDP funds for Somalia.
Source: PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria




 

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