Garowe (PP Editorial) — Abdirashid Khalif Hashi, the Director of Heritage Institute, acknowledged that Somalia was no longer in a transitional period but sophistically defended the choice of “prolonged transitional period” as a theme for the Ideas Forum to open in Garowe tomorrow.
Moving intellectual goalposts while discussing political issues is an exercise in futility. Garowe I and II Summits of 2012 paved the way for the end of the transitional period in Somalia. Several Federal Member States have come into existence since 2012; Somalia signed major agreements with foreign companies, and is on the verge of winning a debt relief, to mention but a few of remarkable milestones.
Heritage Institute has opted for the subjective but misleading description of Somalia as a country in a transitional period despite the objective description that places Somalia in a post-transition period. Heritage Institute mistakes unattained goals — holding one person, one vote elections, for example— for a past political period. As a political term of reference “the transitional period” ended eight years ago. Notables who have had their photo taken by the banner proclaiming the theme of the event feel shortchanged.
It is against the spirit of frank discussions and independent thought to treat historical facts as opinions. Let’s hope that the Heritage Institute team in Garowe will honestly and courageously set the record straight on the exact meaning of the Transitional Period in contemporary Somali politics.
© Puntland Post, 2020
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