Somalia: Mogadishu Mayor rejects established and emerging states
May 9, 2013 - 4:04:17 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia May 8 2013 (Garowe Online) - Governor of Banadir region -
also Mayor of Mogadishu - Mohamud Ahmed Tarzan rejected federalism at an
event in London on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.
Governor Tarzan at an event for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his
delegation, which were in London attending the London Conference on Tuesday,
stated that he was against "clan states" with their own flags.
"These states with their own flags are built on a clan system; they are
against the unity of Somalia," said Governor Tarzan at the event on
Wednesday.
He made a similar comment in Switzerland earlier this week, stating that he
was against current states in Somalia and the establishment of more states,
a statement defying the Provisional Federal Constitution agreed by Roadmap
Signatories last year during Governor Tarzan's tenure.
Tarzan recommended that all Somalis return to Mogadishu where he stated was
representative of all Somalis and the "center, heart and mind" of Somalia.
Abdi Hersi Qarjab, Puntland Governor of Nugal region, responded to Tarzan's
comment as insinuating further divisions between the Somali people on
Thursday.
"The governor [Tarzan] speaks of bringing the people together yet refuses
governments that are older than the many previous governments to pass
through Mogadishu. Refusing to accept Puntland and Somaliland and emerging
states that have governed their people only causes more divisions among
Somalis," said Governor Qarjab.
Governor Qarjab responded to Tarzan's recommendations of returning to
Mogadishu and how it was representative of all Somalis.
"After he [Tarzan] vigorously protested former President Abdullahi Yusuf and
foreign troops in Somalia he came to Garowe as Governor where the Banadir
region team peacefully took the National football trophy. I can't say the
same for people who had lost property in Mogadishu during the civil war who
still haven't been returned what is rightfully theirs.
As for Mogadishu out of 16 districts 15 are controlled by one clan so how is
Mogadishu representative of all of Somalia. You cannot say I represent
Somalia when the capital of the country is controlled by a clan," said
Govenor Qarjab.
Last month, traditional elders from Mogadishu gave a press conference
rejecting a statement by Governor Tarzan that Mogadishu was a city that
belonged to all Somalis.
In a televised press conference broadcasted on Somali Channel traditional
elders requested that Governor Tarzan give an apology for that statement and
refrain from suggesting that Mogadishu belonged to all Somalis.
The comments made by Governor Tarzan and the response made by Governor
Qarjab come at a time when Somalia has been pledged millions of dollars to
rebuild.
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Received on Thu May 09 2013 - 16:13:03 EDT
