By Dr. Suleiman Walhad
April 21st, 2024
If one were to embark on a global journey today, it would become evident that the world is currently plagued by various issues, and in every direction, countries are grappling with crises. The Europeans are currently engaged in a proxy war with the Russians in Ukraine, with the United States and Canada also involved, collectively known as the West. The economic landscape of the West is no longer as stable or robust as it once was. These major economies were primarily built upon the exploitation of resources from other regions, which were acquired at prices dictated by the buyers. Manufacturing has shifted from the Northern and Western regions to Asia, particularly China, along with several other Asian countries including India. Consequently, the West has transformed into more of a consumer-driven society, resembling many of the so-called third or fourth world nations.
Africa continues to grapple with persistent challenges such as political instability, terrorism, and conflicts driven by the continent’s rich resources. Various global powers, including China, Russia, wealthy Arabs from West Asia, and Western nations, are all entangled in Africa’s wars and conflicts. These encompass the ongoing Sahelian disputes, including recent military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as the transformative shift in governance in Senegal, all aimed at diminishing French influence in the region. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been embroiled in a crisis since gaining independence in 1960, involving multiple parties with diverse interests. Undoubtedly, this conflict is rooted in the competition for resources.
The Horn of Africa States region appears to be moving in the direction of the DR Congo with its conflicts possibly related to the region’s geostrategic location, its potential sub-soil wealth and other resources. The same resource-based conflicts have almost destroyed Sudan and South Sudan which appear not to be functional anymore.
In the Asian region, the issue of Taiwan, the ongoing conflict in the Korean Peninsula, the longstanding Kashmir dispute, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, and the West Asian crises stemming from the aftermath of World War II in 1945, persist without resolution, posing significant challenges. Additionally, numerous other conflicts are simmering in Asia, involving not only major powers but also various countries across the continent. The crisis in Myanmar, which encompasses governance problems as well as conflicts with the Rohingya and Karen minorities, the border disputes in the Himalayas between China and India, and issues like the unsettled peace in Afghanistan, all present persistent challenges that remain unresolved.
The Latin American drug industry continues to trouble not only North America but also Europe. But it continues to cause mass migration from many of these countries to North America. Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Mexico, Peru and many other countries suffer from the illicit drug business.
The international community is fully aware of all these crises and keeps discussing them in various forums and conferences regularly. The latest such conference was the G7 foreign Ministers’ meeting on April 19th, 2024, in Italy, wherein they reaffirmed their awareness of all these crises and renewed their commitment to upholding the rule of law.
The Horn of Africa Crisis was one of the issues discussed in the meeting and more specifically the now famous internationally illegal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) instigated by Ethiopia with respect to Somalia, the transitioning of the country’s security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali National Army, and the Tigray and other regional conflicts of Ethiopia were discussed. However, the international community presents itself as if they are not involved in all these conflicts when various actors from within the international community could be the source of most troubles. Each member of the international community could easily control the conflict instigators from within their countries and/or their proxies in other parts of the world causing most of the problems not only in the Horn of Africa States region but also in other parts of the world.
The international community will continue its traditional processes, which would most likely not solve any of the problems of the region. These problems can only be solved by the leaders of the region both ruling and opposition parties, wherein they should not be intimidated by a few dollars for personal enrichment. Such enrichment is meaningless as one cannot use them in comfort all the way to retirement, in a peaceful environment which requires stability and rule of law, issues which could not be possible if the crises which they are part of continue unabated.
It should be the will of the people and their leaders to move in the direction of democratic principles, rule of law, transparency and popular participation in governance. A dialogue of the leaders with their own populations should be locus of all their activities instead of acting on behalf of others from beyond the region, as wiggly dictators with no power to wield on populations which reject them. The leaders should be ashamed of serving the interests of other countries for a few dollars in their own territories and countries instead of their own, which appears to be the case at present in the Horn of Africa States region.
Albert Einstein once said that “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” The famous scientist truly encapsulated the essence of peace and one cannot put it better. Perhaps, the other famous Somali, Wil Wal could be compared when he said, “I have tried hurting men in the worst possible ways but could not find a better way than to call him “brother” to subdue him.” Why do Horn African leaders still believe that they can subdue the warrior Horn African through force, when they know it is almost impossible?
The conflicts of the region and hence its instability is not unique to itself. It must be connected to the other conflicts and crises of the sick world of today not only through the supply chains but also through the world’s arms industries which needs continuous conflicts if they have to survive. It is this industry, which is the elephant in the room in the Horn of Africa States region, which most leaders do not mention, let alone discuss. The Horn of Africa States region remains a sufficiently large market for small arms and light weapons which continue to threaten its stability and peace.
Perhaps, the leaders of the region fail to understand that injustice is human-made and can be reversed. The buck starts with them as they are the responsible leaders in governance and their actions cause injustice and unfair treatment of others with different ideas and opinions of running their countries. Dialogue and discussion should have been the basis of dealing with the opposition parties to avoid the conflicts that have eaten away the dry and green in the lands of the Horn of Africa States region. The use of force only exasperates situations in the region and helps the arms industries and hence foreign parties, which supply most of the killing machines. It is incredible how the latest killing machines appear in remote parts of the region which have not seen any other modern amenities. It is where the role of leaders becomes necessary that they stop warring and instead work on dialogue and talk. It would not be easy in the beginning but people are not generally stupid. Serious attempts at peace will always be noticed and people will listen.
Well articulated paper. Let the leaders has brain to think the suffering of the mass, have ears to listen the problems of their people and eye to see the endangered life of many who killed, kidnap, displaced and looted.
This is my/our brother at one of his best. Even if I have more opinions on rarest occasions and usually on very minor issues, I find all of his articles pleasure to read and starters for constructive conversations.
In regards to the nations of the HOA, there is one missing piece in the puzzle that has been bedeviling them for centuries. For some silly and mythological folktales the rest of HOA and nearby nations except Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan don’t have a sense of belonging to the region. They either think they are Arabs thru and thru or they are just much smarter than others, therefore they tend to look down on the rest. They blindingly and fanatically believe they are more Arabs or recent descendants of such origins. They seriously doubt their Horn of African-ness. Such wrong sense of belonging will continue to be a stumbling block for any sensible cooperation between neighbors. It makes to be wrongly wary of each other. Until this misleading and harmful myth is relegated to the archives of history, I don’t know how unity will be achieved and beneficial negations conducted. Until such myth is pushed aside, agenda laden Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt will have lucrative landings in any one of these countries and they do already. It is easier to make a deal with an Arab fellow man than some black Horn of African, you know. Nuff said for me now!
Keep writing brother! Blessings to you and your family.
Make that: ….beneficial negotiations conducted.