by Cedric Muhammad
In their vicious campaign to legitimize Western military intervention in East Africa, US and European government and corporate media present us with stories of Somali “piracy.” Cedric Muhammed sketches the outline of a broad plan to counter the media and political offensive that can be undertaken by Africans in the U.S. to defend their own interests and those of the people of East Africa, particularly Somalia.
9 Things The Diaspora Can Do About Somalia
by Cedric Muhammad
“...when a Black or African nation garners headlines in the mainstream media... its history, and culture are exposed by our knee-jerk reaction to slanted and biased coverage.”
In the privacy of my own mind (and out loud, on my talk show, “The Cedric Muhammad and Black Coffee Program” broadcast at BlackElectorate.com – http://www.blackelectorate.com/)
I often envision and wonder what a generation of conscious music by Public Enemy, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, and Dead Prez; the tapes of the spiritually powerful talks of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as well as the politically potent sound bites of Minister Malcolm X-El Hajj Malik al-Shabazz; and stimulating books authored by Cheikh Anta Diop, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Amos Wilson, and Dr.Yosef A.A. Ben Jochannan will eventually produce in the way of uniting Africa and her Diaspora in a meaningful and permanent way.
I am convinced that eventually these cultural, political and spiritual references, when combined with the unresolved community-oriented debate from the 1960s and 1970s that took place in the Diaspora, over the best relationship between Africa and her Diaspora held by four primary parties - The Black Panther Party, Maulana Karenga/Amiri Baraka, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) and the Nation Of Islam – will ultimately yield an arrangement somewhat similar (but not identical) to that which the international Jewish community enjoys with the state of Israel.
I fast and pray to see that day.
However positive I am, optimistic and confident as ever, I find myself lamenting, almost grieving in moments like these – when a Black or African nation garners headlines in the mainstream media and the gross ignorance of Black Americans and others regarding that nation, its history, and culture are exposed by our knee-jerk reaction to slanted and biased coverage.
Our ‘informed reactions’ are sometimes worse than the basic ignorance that once preceded, in that they show how powerless we are.
Yes, the most unsettling aspect of this yearly phenomenon [remember Kenya (2008), Sudan (2004), Zimbabwe (2002) Rwanda (1997) Haiti (1994) Ethiopia (1985)…and oh yeah, I forgot, Somalia 18 years ago] is not those who are most ignorant of what is going on (these are always great opportunities to teach) but rather those who are most informed and aware of what is going on in Africa and their (our) inability to do anything to impact the events of which they have knowledge.
It is as if, what matters most to too many intellectuals on African affairs today, is being what I call ‘the smartest person in the room,’ where data and information rather than progressing along their scientific continuum into knowledge, understanding and finally wisdom (the application of your understanding) are valued more for their power to explain, than their power to activate and organize resources to change reality.
Could this be the real crisis of the Black intellectual today: his or her desired to understand and explain reality means more to him/her than changing reality?
“What we are explaining and unearthing implies that something needs to be done, and not just read.”
One (understanding and explaining) should lead to the other (changing). Our ability to understand and explain should lead to improvement and progress. That is true science and the true responsibility of an intellectual.
To a degree, I see this phenomenon rearing its head again on the issue of the debate of Somalia, and ‘piracy,’ where it seems that circulating articles about what the mainstream media is missing or not reporting matters more than organizing ourselves to do something about that fact (which is always obvious to the most informed pan-Africanists, grassroots activists, progressives, Black nationalists, Muslims, and researchers).
What is so striking is that the very information that these individuals and this community – of which I am a Member - are circulating, is the basis of action. What we are explaining and unearthing implies that something needs to be done, and not just read.
If we were to work as a small critical mass, an initial impact could be made, and the returns on our investment in some form of operational unity, would yield compound returns toward a changed reality.
The more involved as a collective, the less risk to each individual.
Of this dynamic I am reminded of the words of the Teacher of both the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Minister Malcolm X – the Honorable Elijah Muhammad - who stated in his famous Uline Arena speech of May 29, 1959, in Washington, D.C.: “For what if ten million of us die in the process, the remaining seven million or more of us will enjoy freedom, justice and equality!”
How many of us today, that consider ourselves committed to or involved in a struggle against imperialism, colonialism, and racism, have that same spirit?
If we don’t have that spirit how progressive, or conscious are we – especially if we have children?
To that end, I offer a series of action steps that can easily be taken by the more informed (while we continue to educate those less aware).
-
Develop “starter kits” to disseminate essential information on Somalia
-
Publicize and focus upon the “Nairobi 7” trial of Somali fishermen in Kenya
-
Confront the UN on Resolutions 1816, 1838, and on its selective application of its own 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
-
Support Nigeria's call for African seats on the UN Security Council
-
Increase support of the African Union
-
Support, engage and confront the Congressional Black Caucus on Africa
-
Send a Diaspora Muslim Delegation to Somalia to investigate Claims of dissident Muslim groups
-
Send a trade delegation to Somalia
-
The Diaspora should helpo Somalis in the Diaspora
Information is only potential power. At some point, if it is to become power, it has to be applied. If we apply insight (which is the basis of foresight) on this controversy in Somalia, in the right spirit, we should be compelled to organize ourselves in cultural, spiritual, political and economic ways that will change the reality we are currently and primarily only analyzing.
-
Use a ‘Starter Kit’ To Continue To Inform.
As long as the most progressive and informed of us in the Diaspora acknowledge that we are only reacting to media coverage of what is going on in Somalia, and not generating the original reporting that is necessary or creating the media outlets connected to the ground in Africa, then we can accept that the information that we circulate can open minds and open doors but is only a starting point for real investigation and activism. To that end a starter kit of articles and news clips that undeniably make the case that the problem in Somalia is not ‘piracy’ but rather injustice, inequality and a selective application by the international community of definitions of property rights, and the rule of law. To that end, here are some essential articles and audio/video interviews that no reasonable person who currently is influenced by Western propaganda can overcome:
-
The ‘Nairobi 7?’ Focus On The Trial In Nairobi, Kenya of The Seven Alleged Pirates.
The legal case to follow if one really wants to see some valuable truths and information unearthed regarding ‘piracy,’ illegal fishing, and ocean dumping, is not in Somalia but in Nairobi, Kenya. It is slated for a hearing on April 20th. According to The Wall Street Journal, the case pits on one side a military-industrial-legal complex making a case on behalf of the international shipping community, and on the other hand, a single attorney – Francis Kadima – defending seven suspected pirates whom he maintains are only fisherman. According to the Wall Street Journal: “Navy, Coast Guard, civilian officers, part of a multinational, antipiracy task force set up in January by the U.S., worked hard to put together a watertight case. They photographed, bagged and tagged evidence collected on board the suspects’ skiff, including a handgun. Although the case will be tried by Kenyan prosecutors, a U.S. federal investigator has been flying in to Mombasa to offer additional assistance. Mr. Kadima, the pirates’ attorney, said the U.S. Navy had no right to pick up the men in international waters. ‘Nobody’s given the U.S. the role to supervise people at sea,’ he said.”
It would seem that if the conscious and progressive community were serious about its view that those being called ‘pirates’ are actually freedom fighters, or victims, it would set up a legal defense fund for these ‘fisherman’ in Nairobi (maybe they could be called the ‘Nairobi 7,’ in progressive style).
-
Confront The United Nations (UN) On Resolutions 1816, 1838, and its selective application of its own ‘Convention On The Law of The Sea of 10 December 1982’.
If you read my April 16th blog “Somalian ‘Pirates:’ Criminals, Terrorists, or Freedom Fighters?” ” you will see my argument that it was the United Nations that was largely responsible for the evolution of the problem in the Gulf Of Aden and Indian Ocean off of Somalia’s Coastland. Despite years of evidence, complaints, and requests to act, the United Nations ignored Somali efforts, and those of some in the international community (the UN even ignored the urging of its own Special Envoy to Somalia) to stop toxic waste dumping and illegal fishing of international commercial shipping vessels off the coastland of Somalia – the two acts that ‘pirates’ cite as their motivation for hijacking vessels and kidnapping personnel. To add physical insult to injury, at the very same time the UN envoy was making his arguments public, the U.N. in 2008, passed Resolution 1816 and 1838 which openly called for military vessels from any State operating in the region to come to the Somali coastland to confront the acts of piracy. The UN action is peculiar in that in justifying its call, it cites its Convention On The Law of The Sea From 1982 which has clear provisions against ocean dumping and illegal fishing. That the UN would elevate piracy over ocean dumping and illegal fishing is evidence of an obvious double standard. That the UN does this while acknowledging the weakness of the Somalian Transition Federal Government (TFG) and its inability to protect its own coastland (which it uses to justify its call to the Navies of the world to confront piracy) is a wicked act of cruelty.
-
Support Nigeria’s Call For African Seats On the UN Security Council.
A provocative way to confront the United Nation’s double-standard is to support Nigeria’s advocacy of the African Union’s resolution for two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa in a reformed UN Security Council. As all of the Five Permanent Security Council Members (United States, United Kingdom, China, France, and the Russian Federation) - have violated Somalian waters, in some form or fashion, there can be no real justice or equal treatment on this issue (and arguably others affecting Africa). While there is no guarantee African nations on a reformed Security Council would produce a consistently better result - they depend so much on foreign aid, including UN social service assistance – raising the issue reveals contradictions and sheds light on the UN Resolutions on Somalia in an effective way that could embarrass the United Nations, which styles itself as a ‘friend’ of Africa.
-
Increase Support of the African Union.
The AU has a lot of work of its own to do, if it is serious in raising its profile in the Diaspora, but there is no denying that the organization has the mandate and unique ability to solve African problems on the basis of unity and has some moral authority in a proper application of the principle that Africa should solve its own problems. On that basis alone the Diaspora should support the African Union, and in particular its Mission in Somalia – the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). AMISOM is not perfect and in a sense it has enabled the UN’s harmful Resolutions toward Somalia, which have militarized the situation but AMISOM is one of the best sources for information regarding the issues Somalia faces and the processes underway to bring stability back to the country. When it comes to Somalia, relatively speaking, the African Union has invested the most, with the least.
The AU is a promising body that needs increased financial support (especially its Commission which has a hard working staff and an awesome work to do, but with an under funded budget - see its 2004-2007 Strategic Plan:) as well as encouragement to do better. It is really Africa’s only hope for an authentic and representative voice in the international community, especially with a United Nations doing as much harm as good these days.
In addition, the African Union’s formula for continental integration is key to a peaceful solution for the internal unity of Somalia. According to the Abuja Treaty of 1991, the African Union is creating a united African Economic Community (AEC) with regional communities as the basic building blocs of the effort. This means that Africa is being reunited on a regional basis – East, West, Central, South, North - before becoming one continental wide federation. The relevance of this approach to Somalia is that there are dissatisfied parties to the Djubouti agreement and peace process currently in place who make the case that colonial borders are a major problem and that there is a “Greater Somalia,” which encompasses parts (and communities in) of Kenya and Ethiopia. The AU’s regional integration if properly inclusive of views identifying ‘Eastern Africa’ can address some of this.
The work of the African Union’s First Congress Of African Economists should include the responsibility of studying Somalia’s economy in this context and making recommendations to the African Union Commission and its Department of Economic Affairs.
-
Support, Engage, and Confront The Congressional Black Caucus On Africa.
Unless the conscious and progressive community figures out a way to engage, support and confront the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on the issue of Africa, U.S. foreign policy toward Africa will not change. It is that simple. The CBC is not moved simply by circulating informed articles on Africa via the Internet. Unless the Diaspora is willing to put votes, campaign contributions, and their bodies (even in the form of protests) on the line to support good CBC members, or replace bad ones with better, nothing is going to change regarding how the United States government and its corporations do business by Africa. In addition, there is a very small circle of influential advisers that the CBC relies upon for its ‘thinking’ on Africa. Some of their ideas are good (and should be supported by the Diaspora), others are very harmful and against the best interests of the continent. But until this influence is exposed, engaged, and countered, the CBC will not change its ways on Africa. In any event, the relationship must change between Members of Congress and these individuals who operate in a public and very peculiar private space, as well, with Black lawmakers. Three of these very influential persons are: Howard Wolpe, John Prendergast (who has shown respect and appreciation for my work although we disagree on issues like Sudan), and Ted Gagne. It is not the fault at all of these persons that CBC Members rely on them, disproportionately. Their passion, experience on the continent of Africa, and skillful political maneuvering is not matched by anyone operating in the Black-African conscious or progressive community, who seem to value rhetoric and information more than organizational unity and political chess-playing.
Without offering a formidable, professional, and organized alternative, the CBC has no incentive to change its ways on Africa.
Only putting wise strategy and tactics, votes, money and our own bodies on the line, behind the insightful words and informative articles, will change things.
-
Send A Diaspora Muslim Delegation To Somalia To Investigate Claims Of Muslim Dissident Groups.
An eclectic group of Muslims from the Diaspora - Somalian immigrant, Black American, And Foreign Immigrant – should investigate the claims of some Muslim groups in Somalia that the peace process in Somalia is biased and not inclusive. Tensions have been rising between AMISOM and Al Shabab, and other disgruntled Muslims, and a fresh set of eyes from the broader Muslim community may be helpful on the ground, and in better informing the Disapora of what is taking place. The Muslim Group Al Shabab – which some say is a terrorist organization - has been blamed for recent attacks on African Union peacekeepers. A March 19, 2009 press release laid out an important claim from the Special Representative of the Chairperson of The African Union Commission for Somalia, Nicolas Bwakira. The press release asserts that
“…yesterday’s attack on peacekeepers is one of the desperate attempts by Al-shabab to claim their relevance within Somalia. Ethiopia’s troop withdrawal and the agreement by the new Somali Government to implement Sharia Law has undermined Al-shabab’s image as a group fighting for Somali nationalism under the banner of Islam. The AU Special Representative observes that despite the Al-shabab’s resistance, Somalia has made significant progress towards peace and reconciliation. The election of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his Prime Minister, the expansion of the transitional parliament, improvement in security etc are just some of the examples.”
These statements, and others made by different Muslim groups, could be investigated for their truthfulness by a delegation from the Diaspora. In addition, the Muslim community from America could be instrumental in organizing aid throughout the Muslim world and contributing valuable economic resources for the Faithful in Somalia.
-
Send A Trade Delegation To Somalia.
One of the most glaring opportunities for the general public – if not self evident to any business person or entrepreneur - in all of this controversy appears to be the possibility of the products of Somali fishermen to be purchased by the Diaspora’s consumer market. Why can’t the fish from the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean within the Somali coastland be purchased by fish eaters in United States, the Caribbean, and Canada? Why can’t Cuba purchase (if it already does, it should increase) more fish directly from the fishing industry of Somalia? Can’t Hugo Chavez – the emerging progressive and socialist icon – put up millions of dollars for fish purchases from Somalia? With economic factors worsening, fish is a relatively affordable and nutritious food source. Black America’s fish lovers would not mind or even notice the difference if more of the fish they currently purchase, came from Somalia. A marketing campaign could easily be developed that could make this popular inside of America. A trade delegation from the Diaspora could lay the groundwork for this and open up more opportunities to do business in Somalia on a more equitable basis than is currently the case.
-
The Disapora Should Help Somalis In The Diaspora.
Finally, it is disrespectful for some to show sudden concern for Somalis, in Somalia abroad, when there are suffering and discriminated people from Somalia present right inside of the borders of the Diaspora. From Toronto to Minnesota, disproportionate illness, arrests, and offensive treatment are the everyday reality of the people of Somalia. From fighting a ‘mysterious’ crisis of autism among Somali children, to raids on economically critical financial centers in Somali communities, the deck is stacked against this community quite frequently. These problems can be looked into, and help can be provided quite easily. If anyone in America or Canada is looking to help the people of Somalia they can begin by starting with their own neighbors. It may not be as glamorous, but it is just as important.
The time has come for the best and brightest in the Diaspora to get better connected with those persons already doing work in Africa, and to organize itself, and its brainpower, skills, talents, wealth, and labor on behalf of an obviously worthwhile Cause. The time of reacting to media propaganda and the African cause celebre’ (whatever Bono, George Clooney or Madonna say is important about Africa) is over and a tired and weak way for us to get involved with life and death issues. Operating in an intellectual space may be safe and of some personal benefit, but it ultimately fails to change the subject matter under study. Sooner or later, we all have to come out of our safety zone, if we are going to help produce change in Africa.
We can do more than read and write.
Let’s ‘start’ with Somalia.
Cedric Muhammad is Publisher of BlackElectorate.com (http://www.blackelectorate.com) and a Delegate-Member of the African Union’s First Congress of African Economists. His blog can be read regularly at: http://www.cedricmuhammad.com