By Mohamed Ahmed
It
is reported that Richard Burton once said Arabs called Somalia Bilad Wa
issi, the land of give me something! This reminded me of a more apt
tweet from a prominent Somali figure. As you may recall donors pledged
2.4 billion dollars at a conference in Brussels last year.
This is the
fund (or lack of) that got this famous Somali tweeter personality nose
out of joint. He was complaining about how the donors never kept their
promise! You might think with all the current corruption scandals in
Somalia no one will be masochistically devoted to the begging bowl.
Foreign aid is one of the most popular ways the western world recommends
as a way of combating poverty in Africa.
Most of the literature on
foreign aid is saying that International aid is ineffective in fostering
economic growth. The fundamental assumption that aid money is effective
in contributing to the economy is somehow flawed. Foreign aid is
effective if the economic policies of a country are good. A country with
no strong financial system like Somalia will most likely divert funds
to the great gaping maws of greedy politicians.
The aid money is mostly
wasted on overhead and corruption. While considerable good comes out of
supporting Somalia pay for its government, misappropriation of aid money
will keep crippling the progress of state building in Somalia! I’m not
suggesting any bad faith or malice on the path of those sedulous leaders
trying to resuscitate Somalia. Indeed, it is the feckless leaders that
have love affair with foreign aid that I am upbraiding here! If
Al-shabab can be more sensitive to the plight of the most vulnerable
citizens, I’m sure those in power can also be as creative and
imaginative.
Al-Shabab thinking beyond terrorism:
In
their most ebullient moment, Al-Shabab was reported to have envisioned a
self-sufficient Somalia. It is reported that as a consequence of
Al-shabab’s canal building projects in Lower Shabelle, farmer’s
productivity increased dramatically. Al-shabab realized that it is
propitious time to initiate self-help projects. It may be instructive to
recall that this is the same pesky Al-shabab that have terrorized the
country! Al-shabab alleges that most of these aid groups relentlessly
squeeze the local economy.
According to Al-shabab, dependence on NGO’s
spells disaster. A fast growing debate is generated over the
effectiveness of international aid in combating poverty in the
developing world. The recent public spat between Dambisa Moyo, the
author of Dead Aid, and Bill Gates of Microsoft, proves that the debate
is gaining more attention.
Foreign aid money can be a deadly virus that
attacks the bodies of countries that are beset by political and economic
disappointments. Sources like private funds and diaspora remittance
have proved to be quite effective in fostering growth and investments.
These funds are less likely to be misspent as compared to
misappropriation of most of the foreign aid money.
Vultures Perch in Villa Somalia
Today
Somalia is poor because of the long protracted civil war, and the
stifling dominance of politics and economics by corrupt elites. If your
eyes are as sharp and your ears as acute as ever, you will note that
Somalia is a country where institutions don’t work, criminality and
corruptions at the top office goes unchecked. Aid flow destined to help
rebuild Somali government mostly end up in the pockets of the
well-connected politicians. Corruption should undoubtedly be a critical
concern for donors.
A Kenyan newspaper columnist, Rasnah Warah,
reported in her recent column that millions of dollars, mostly from Arab
countries, were never deposited in the central bank (http://www.nation.co.ke/news/-/1056/2228088/-/14buggq/-/index.html).
One wonders where all the money went. Some shocking reports are showing
that Somalia was given close to seven hundred million dollar from
2004-2013.The same leaders responsible for mismanaging these foreign
aids are sitting in their vultures perch at Villa Somalia waiting for
more opportunities to steal! The late American historian Howard Zinn
once commented, “There is a basic weakness in governments, however
massive their armies, however wealthy their treasuries, however they
control the information given to the public: Their power depends on the
obedience of citizens, of soldiers, of civil servants, of journalists
and writers and teachers and artists. When these people begin to suspect
they have been deceived and withdraw their support, the government
loses its legitimacy and its power”.
Unfortunately it may come as an
unpleasant surprise to some that the current Somali government is slowly
losing legitimacy (if they haven’t already). And frankly speaking it is
the citizens’ responsibility to demand a government that can foster
their development more fully than what the current government is
offering!
This is an era of showy, but insubstantial affection for
Somalia-of clan arguments that burns like a jet fuel! You don’t have
to go far back to find Somalia leaders ever present hypocrisy. The
reaction of those implicated in the recent central bank scandal proves
the contentious relationship of truth with Somali leaders.
Even more
disturbing is that brave people like Yusur Abrar who couldn’t stomach
the corruption are intimidated. The former minister of foreign affairs,
Fowzia Adan, released a statement responding to Reuters damaging
allegations about her hands in the scandal .I guess the allegation
lacerated Fowzia like a flying glass! In her unmistakable stink of
desperation, Fowzia decided to pass the blame like a hot potatoes!
Fowzia claims she was only a messenger that passed information from
assistant minister of finance to the director of central bank.
Unfortunately for Fowzia, she couldn’t squeeze the paste back into the
tube. Some people even rushed to Fawzia’s defense by saying women can
never be corrupt! Unbeknownst to them that a new study by political
science researchers at Rice University titled “Fairer Sex” or purity
myth? Corruption, Gender, and institutional Contexts” writes that,
“Where corruption is stigmatized, women will be less tolerant of
corruption and less likely to engage in it compared to men. But if
“corrupt” behaviours are ordinary part of government supported political
institutions, then there will be no corruption gender gap” (http://jee3.web.rice.edu/corruption.pdf). The more society disapproves corruption, the more women also disapproves corruption.
The case for Self-help Initiatives
The most damning
delusion that western foreign aid left us with is the feeling of
helplessness. Al-shabab’s argument for self-sufficiency at least has
some credibility! Many Somaliland locals lulled by the peace they enjoy,
and paralyzed by their country lack of international recognition are
tempted to think that they are missing all the foreign aid. The deeper
truth is that, for quite Some time, the move in favour of Secession have
insulated Somaliland to define their own needs and come up with
solutions and strategies to survive without recognition.
We are all
embedded in a complex network of affiliations; we are members of some
clan and extended families. Few months ago I got a phone call from a
diaspora group building roads in Somaliland. Now, I knew much of Somalia
roads remained in tatters after the civil war. Because of the appeal of
the projects, I wholeheartedly supported it. The road being built was
in an area right outside Hargeisa. Today more than 13km of road is built
on that part of Somaliland, and many roads are on the path of being
completed in Somaliland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_u4JBmfmaA).
Foreign aid will have diminished the need of the public to take control
of their roads. Moreover, foreign aid would have also provided the
government with monopoly over the control of the funds for these
projects. Ultimately, the effectiveness of self-help initiatives hinged
on the framework of communal vision and shared responsibilities of the
citizens.
The celerity of Somaliland citizens in building their own roads
should gratify any proud Somali. The building initiatives of roads is
quite a feather in Somaliland’s cap! Most of the current successful
projects are financially supported by the public and diaspora
remittance. This is not to say Somaliland doesn’t receive foreign aid
money, or that Somaliland is free from corruption. Far from it, if
anything this proves that both Somalia and Somaliland self-help
initiatives is a far better gamble than any foreign aid handouts. A good
governance and low poverty rate are derived from the actions and the
thoughts of good citizenship.
In sum, the golden nugget mined from
self-help projects is that if done correctly they could free all
Somalis from handouts. And if the underlying conditions are highly
favorable, Somalia self-help initiatives is possible dream. Whether and
how much Somalia actually form these communal initiatives depends on
many circumstances, among which is the nature of the community leaders.
The ideal for self-help remains grand, as they must have, but demanding
and exacting the realization of independent Somali people requires the
painstaking work of ordinary citizens and good leadership. I suppose
what I’m calling for here is a national imperative to do and be better
citizenship.
By Mohamed Ahmed
E-Mail: moh3118@gmail.com
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