In his long statement to MPs during the opening of the Parliament today, president Hassan Sheikh spoke like a man with a real plan. The only problem is everything he said is his dream scenario not the reality. Many MPs who wanted to challenge him in the session were refused the chance by Speaker Adan Madobe. This did not stop MPs making a big scene after the president left outside parliament.
President Hassan spoke for over 30 minutes and repeated himself many times over. This is another sign he abandoned his speech midway and was desperately trying to come across as sincerely believing in what he was saying which “fooled no one” according to a MP who is a member of UPD.
President Hassans claims were astonishing. He said al-shabaab was defeated, planning for one man one vote elections are starting this year, and Somalia was going to be the first country in Africa to send a satellite to space. Only yesterday al-shabaab launched a surprise attack on 3 towns captured from them and killed many Somali soldiers. In some of these towns, sources in the Army confirmed the fighting continues and both sides are in defensive positions. Soldiers also said they ran out of bullets and food. Election planning have not begun and the president did not say how he was going to register people and pay for it. And the satellite station will be built by Turkey and serve Turkish interests not Somalia.
In a humbling turn of events, president Hassan congratulated the Puntland security forces for their effective fight against DAESH after long period of silence. He congratulated Puntland on their local elections. He was desperately trying to appease Deni and his MPs to divide the angry Darood voice in parliament. It did not work. Neither Puntland or Jubbaland commented on the presidents statement.
A speech of his dream only makes president Hassan Sheikh look discredited. The immediate challenges facing him are the daily land grabbing and keeping Somalia’s Federal member states in the union. Employing his family in Villa Somalia and government offices is old news now because he refuses to fix this.
President Hassan said Somalia’s newly recruited teachers are teaching in schools in the country side. He said Somalia took no debts since debt relief. He asked MPs to believe in their country and him. He said oil exploration is a promising prospect. The reality is different. Most of the recruited teachers are idol and still getting paid. Somalia can’t take debt because no one will lend it. The shady oil exploration deal with Turkey which parliament has not seen has the whole international community worried. Only Hassan Sheikh knows what is going on with this like he told parliamment today. The people and MPs have lost hope in this government. A Motion of No Confidence is still “around the corner” according to Villa Somalia sources. Today’s speech was a cry for help from a confused tired president. No one can help him until he stops dreaming.
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BY: Hanuniye Adde
Researcher and Somalia Analyst.
