Somalia: the Bakaara stories

Dereje Hailu Kassa | 13 October 2007

Selam!

Mogadisho: Unknown gunmen entered Bakaara market in Mogadisho,
and opened fire killing a colonel and his driver, when the government
forces arrived to confront the attackers, more shots were fired at times
heavy ones, you could have heard the horrifying sound and the shaky
ground it caused from a distance. Like from where I was, the other side
of the city, around Safaarada Kuwait ( Kuwaiti Embassy ) not far from
the place popularly called kilometer shan ( Kilometer five ).











On another report by a group that claimed responsibility, in clash that
lasted for 2 hours in Bakaara market 4 soldiers were killed. Source
Beside the common place where both reports indicated the action took
place, there are some factual differences as well. According to the
second report, the alleged action took place last Friday, while the first
one is my recollection of the incident that took place 17 years ago, on 31
December 1990, the day the world was busy preparing to welcome
1991. How can I forget it, day one for the civil war  in Mogadisho (
who would have thought to last this long? ) between the rapidly
advancing General Farah Aidid's USC (United Somali Congress ) forces
and the quickly crumbling Siad Bare's loyal soldiers.

By the time the moon replaced the sun, exchange of fire cooled down  
until the next day, and it was reported that nine people lost their lives,
two of them Ethiopians an Ogadeni and an Oromo innocent civilian
refugees caught up in crossfire.

We knew the situation was deteriorating, according to some sources our
number constituted about a tenth of Somalia's population at that time.
Following the 1977/8 Ethio - Somalia war and other repeated human and
natural disasters, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians ( majority of them
Ogadenis and Oromos ) were forced to leave their home behind and seek
refuge in Somalia. Could you imagine the economic, environmental and
sociological impact of being a host to that many people? Somalia faced
them all.

In the region where mastery of using cycle of violence (in a way that
fits the strategic interest of the time's dominant global powers or power)
bound to assure a grip on power or promise to it, Mogadisho was a hub
where political trades have taken place.


Almost all political forces, that claim to have stake on decision making,
over the lives of millions of people throughout the region, including those
in power today be it in Eritrea or Ethiopia conducted their activities from
there. In some cases those activities include, using such facilities like
training camps and military bases around Mogadisho, and other parts of
the country. As they are doing it now.


Though, none of them have been seen that day or after, gone, some
straight to the helm, some still contending, few don't change, many still
vulnerable and many more joining them, no end to it.

Moscow: In mid 1985, when the Central Committee of the Communist
party of the Soviet Union in the presence of the old guard elected
Michael Gorbachev as its new leader, I don't think they expected their
new charismatic leader would take his Glasnost ( openness ) that quick
to the streets in the western style and meet ordinary Russians to tell
them that his " Perestroika " ( Re-Construction ) was the way to go.
Soon enough, in 1991 they plotted a coup against him which resulted in
dismantlement of the USSR.

Addis Ababa: Like the old guards, too slow to catch up with changes
was Mengistu, on 12 September 1990 morning I tuned into barely hear
able Ethiopian Radio live broadcast from Addis, there he was giving his
last " revolution day " sermon to the nation. The tone of his voice makes
you think that  the Addis Ababa crowed must be cold, and he sounded
he knew exactly why?

I hoped and prayed that the wisdom bestowed upon ordinary Ethiopians
would prevail. I didn't care who takes power in Ethiopia anymore, I just
didn't want to see a power vacuum that could endanger the country's
sovereignty, until the day comes for the people to choose their leaders
freely.

Back to Mogadisho: the second report contains additional
information which says the group claimed detonating a road side bomb
on a convoy of Ethiopian forces allegedly killing " around 30 Ethiopian
soldiers after their transport vehicle was completely destroyed."

In both cases the reported casualty includes innocent civilian refugees
and soldiers. Either way Ethiopians.

Washington: Perhaps, a quote from Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant
Secretary for African Affairs October 2, 2007 House testimony sums it
up: "U.S. interests in the Horn of Africa are to promote and support
regional stability and effective governance, eliminate any platform for
al-Qaida or other terrorist operations, respond to humanitarian needs,
strengthen democratic institutions, promote respect for human rights,
and collaborate with governments to transform their countries by
investing in people and creating the conditions for sustained economic
growth. In Ethiopia, U.S. engagement seeks to: support the transition to
multi-party democracy; sustain economic growth and reduce poverty;
build domestic capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies;
improve access to basic education and health services; and bolster
regional stability. With the added complications of continued instability in
Somalia to the south and the unresolved border dispute between Ethiopia
and Eritrea to the north, meeting these objectives represents a
considerable challenge." Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary for
African Affairs October 2, 2007 Source

Addis Ababa  -  Catching up? Our country's involvement in the
current situation by itself is a controversial one, and needs careful
analysis. There is a growing concern about young kids getting involved
in the conflict from places as far as Australia . In short what I'm trying
to say thus far is, understanding the aspects of the cycle of violence in
the region is a precursor in finding better remedy, indigenous one.

Peace Be Unto You All!

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