U.S. policy on Somalia gets mixed reviews

By Deanna Pan
The Columbus Dispatch

Conference draws differing opinions

For decades, Somalia has been plagued by myriad problems — famine, violence, piracy and thousands of refugees — and not everyone agrees on how to solve them.

During a panel discussion yesterday at Ohio State University, centered on U.S. engagement in Somalia, speakers were critical of the current administration’s policy aims.

“The most-important part is the security of the Somali people themselves,” said panelist Jibril Mohamed, CEO and president of the Somali Community Access Network in Columbus.

“There’s no policy of securing the people; it’s the Somali people who suffer the most. It’s the Somali people who are the victims. Somali people are dying in droves from famine and violence. There needs to be a comprehensive policy that takes into account the Somali people’s needs.”

Mohamed helped organize the conference, “Somalia at Crossroads: Foreign Intervention, Humanitarian Crisis and Aspirations for Statehood.”

The Obama administration has pursued a dual-track policy toward Somalia since 2010. Under this approach, the U.S. supports the weak transitional government while simultaneously engaging local and regional leaders to cultivate peace and stability.

Deborah Malac, director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of East African Affairs, defended U.S. policy at a press roundtable after the panel discussion.

“We would argue that there is demonstrated progress and success for the dual-track policy,” Malac said. “But as we do with any policy … we look at the situation on the ground and make determinations on when and whether we need to make adjustments to that policy. It is going to be a painstaking process to move things forward in a positive direction.”

Malac was invited to give the keynote address last night at the conference, which will conclude today. She added that U.S. Somalis — many thousands of whom live in Columbus — “have an important role to play” in determining policy.

“We understand that having a connection to them is something we need to do to ensure that we have that flow of ideas or an understanding what the impact of what our policies might be,” she said, adding that violence is a major concern among Somalis. “They take every opportunity to try to get that message to us to put pressure on us to keep doing something.”

Mohamed said he was one of two Somalis invited to attend a 2010 forum at the White House, where the president unveiled his administration’s strategy in Somalia. Mohamed said he hopes Somalis will have the opportunity to actively shape alternative plans.

“Receiving the input of the Somali diaspora and Somali intellectuals, Somali activists and Somali technocrats would be essential to obtaining a policy that is feasible and sustainable,” he said.

Deanna Pan is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Statehouse News Bureau.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch