By Faysal Diriye
Who is this guy? Unknown and unheard of before in the Somali political scene , the new Somali Prime Minster, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, suddenly popped up out of nowhere and was appointed the Somali PM in February 2009. More important, many Somalis are now asking questions about his credential and background. But what do you really know about him? Let me share with you few things about Mr. Sharmarke that only few people know.
As a friend and former colleague of Mr. Sharmarke, I can say few words about him. In Ottawa, Canada, I have attended Carleton University with Mr. Sharmarke and some of the current Somali politicians, namely: Iid Bedel Mohammed who also used to be my roommate. When I met Mr. Sharmarke in early 2000 at Carleton University he was studying his graduate degree in Social Science, and I enrolled in my undergraduate degree in Engineering. As I recall, I met Mr. Sharmarke in one of the Somali University Student Association (SUSA) meetings at the university. He was active participant in SUSA. It was in those meetings and between lectures that you normally got to know fellow Somali students at Carleton University.
I recall Mr. Sharmarke as gentle, diplomatic and polite graduate student who got his point across without losing too much time, energy, or resorting to nonsensical arguments. Although naturally he was articulate student, he always carefully gathered his thoughts before he spoke. He was—and he still is—an admirable person: a role model for Somali students studying abroad.
Over the years, as we have continued our education, often during breaks and after exams students used to look for stress relieves. So often we used to get into debates about Somali politics—especially Friday evenings after classes end. Our favorite spot was the University Centre or simply Uni-Centre. And when discussions got heated, name-calling, belittling, and marginalizing some Somali regions was unfortunately part of the norm—the usual Somali politics! However, not even once have I ever seen or heard Mr. Sharmarke step out of his good character and lower his standards. He always remained a genuine Somali: clean from tribalism, favoritism and regionalism.
Mr. Sharmarke is indeed a happy camper too. He always smiled and waved at his fellow Somali students. He views Southern Somalis and Northerners (Somalilanders) as equal. He is a good friend to everybody, a likeable person. And we all respected him because he earned it.
Even die-hard Somalilanders used to give him standing obviations when he showed up at the meeting places because unlike some Somalis at the university, Mr. Sharmarke never put down Somaliland, nor denied its existence. He may not have agreed with its quest for independence, but he never approved suppressing the wishes of Somaliland people, nor belittled their achievements. And that was the reason many Somalilanders respected him.
Also, many students valued Mr. Sharmarke because his father, Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (My God bless his soul) was a genuine Somali leader. Often, we used joke with Mr. Sharmarke about the prospect of him leading Somalia as his father did in the 60s. Respectfully, he always laughed at our suggestions. Little we knew though that he would lead Somalia one day as a prime minister.
Throughout the years I have known Mr. Sharmarke, he always promoted reaching out people and coexisting peacefully with Somalia’s neighbors. He seemed to have a good grip on the geopolitics of East Africa. Additionally, he preached about resolving Somali conflicts through dialogues, rebuilding its shattered economy and gaining competitive edge in the global economy. We thought he was either insane or an idealist because back then to many Somalis—nothing made sense unless sporadic shootings were involved.
Today, Mr. Sharmarke may strike you as a rookie politician in a tough country. But to those of us who know him, we view him as a good-hearted citizen who is not only educated but also competent in leading Somalia. No worries, leadership skills will come along. No one was born with them.
However, at Carleton University he demonstrated his leadership skills. During presidential elections of SUSA when things didn’t go well as planned, he stepped in as a mediator—where everybody listened to him. That was the Sharmarke we knew. In reality, you don’t know Mr. Sharmarke very well unless you have spent four years with him at university and debated with him repeatedly about Somali politics; you don’t know him that well unless you have seen his happy as well as tense days at the university; and certainly you don’t know him unless you have seen his tough days at Carleton University, specially, during the exams when were not only stressed out but also broke.
Although I am what some Somalis call a “separatist” and pro-Somaliland independence, I can truly say because of the combined leadership of Mr. Sharmarke as the PM, and Mr. Sheekh Shariif as the president of Somalia, Somalia finally found indisputable leaders. And as a friend and former colleague of Mr. Sharmarke, I congratulate and wish him success in leading Somalia. Equally, I congratulate and salute the triumphant President Sheikh Shariif.
As for my beloved nation of Somaliland, it has finally found negotiating partners. For instance, Mr. Sharmarke as a former postgraduate student of Social Science studies who understands democracy in the West, and as a friend of Somaliland students at Carleton University—and indeed as a friend of Somaliland—is perhaps the man that Somaliland has been searching as to expedite the divorce process between Somalia and Somaliland.
At last, Somalia found an authentic prime minister who could pull it out from the dark abyss. It is this kind of charismatic leader: educated, good-hearted and exposed to the real world that Somalia has been yearning for almost the past two decades.
He is not the typical Somali warmonger whose hands are soaked in blood. Nor is Mr. Sharmarke a member of despot former Somali regime led by Gen. Mohammed Siad Barre. Furthermore, Mr. Sharmarke is neither a religious fanatic nor a brainwashed Western puppet. He is just an ordinary Somali citizen who is loyal to his Islamic faith and Somali culture.
He always abstained from drugs and alcohol, as expected from a Muslim person. At Carleton University, when he was not in class, you would find him in the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) prayer room—he maintained his culture and identity. He was a role model for many young students. Through the eyes of many students, he was like a big brother. Today he is a big leader.
There is no doubt that Mr. Sharmarke has effective communication skills and ability to motivate those around him. He is ethical, decisive, likeable, persuasive, strategic, tactical, inspirational and open to feedback. That was the Sharmarke I knew at Carleton University. Now, let me toss this question at you: what do you know about him?
Faysal Diriye
faysal_diriye@hotmail.com
 

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives | Search