Garowe (PP News Desk) — A new book of opinion pieces by the blogger Ismail Haji Warsame is causing a stir in Somalia particularly in Puntland. Ismail wrote most of the columns in Talking Truth to Power in Undemocratic and Tribal Contextwhile living in Garowe.
The book contains columns that Ismail has published in his blog, which has the distinction of being the only blog on Somali politics that one can access for a fee-based annual subscription.
Ismail is not only a political writer. He enjoyed what one can describe as a ringside seat to witness events that led to the formation of Puntland State in 1998 and the adoption of federalism in 2004.
As befits the title of the book,, Ismail does not pull punches when he associates Abdirahman Sh. M. Farole and Dr Abdiweli M. Ali, two former Puntland Presidents, with a declinist school of thought. The other school of thought — foundational — is associated with the founding President of Puntland, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
In one column published in October last year Ismail lauds former Somali Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed for political maturity. He commends former Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi for playing a constructive role in politics compared to former Prime Ministers who feign non-involvement in politics. By virtue of his consistency and productivity Ismail could be crowned as the Doyen of Somali commentators.
© Puntland Post, 2020
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