By Abdirahman Gutale
I dream of a day that I will be able to watch a public hearing on Somali Parliament floor. I dream of the Central Bank Governor raising her hand to swear on the Quran, giving her report with pride and briefing the press with confidence. I dream of Parliament Members, taking pride in their oversight and grilling the governor on the country’s balance sheet asking her to explain all Xs and Ys. I dream of a system clear as a crystal ball, working without a glitch, and lifting Somalia on top of least corrupt list.
Who, me?
Sense of Urgency
There are few opportunities in one’s life time to act for the greater good and to step forward with courage and conviction. Yusur Abrar, Former Somali Central Bank Governor (CBG) stepped forward. This is a bold step for Somalia. It empowers change agents transforming Somalia’s corrupt political cultured inter-woven into the fabric of society.It is not a news that the system is corrupt. It is not a news that system needs to be reformed. The news is that someone finally mastered the courage to say “enough is enough” and step forward. The solution has a name and face now.
Stepping forward is not easy. Woodrow Wilson said, “if you want to make enemies try to change something.” The fact that resignation was announced on foreign soil illustrates the magnitude of decision.
Somalia is at cross-roads. The silver lining on this dark spot on Somalia’s reputation is that Reformers finally have a Leader! The government is thrown a lifeline, a critical ingredient of successful change – a sense of urgency.
The credibility of Somalia is at stake. The country’s reputation is at risk. This is bigger than one individual, leader, or institutions. Crises management necessitates three things: 1) understanding the crises thoroughly; 2) conducting in-depth investigation by holding public hearings; and 3) fixing the system by clarifying roles and responsibilities the Central Bank Governor, relation with Ministry of Finance, and Parliament oversight.
Situation Report
First, we need a thorough understanding the situation. What do we know? The situation report: Central Bank Governor suddenly resigned on foreign soil, government has yet to give satisfactory response, and news is going viral on social media inciting strong passions and sending chills on the spine of donors.
The fiasco started when the recently appointed Central Bank Governor of Somalia, Yussur Abrar, suddenly resigned from her post on October 30, 2013 on a foreign soil.
This news is very tragic for a country trying to rebuild it is global image as a sovereign nation. It came on the heels of United Nation Monitoring Group damming report of corruption at the Central Bank. The government’s vehement objection is now debunked by the resignation. The house is imploding.
The words in Yusur’s resignation letter are more piercing and painful than any bullet and having far out reaching repercussions than any bomb explosion on street of Somalia:
“From the moment I was appointed, I have continuously been asked to sanction deals and violate my fiduciary responsibility to the Somali people as head of the nation’s monetary authority. Unfortunately, the central bank has not been allowed to function free of interference, and as such cannot operate as a credible institutions.”[ii]
According to Financial Times, “A government spokesman insisted on Friday that President Hassan remained committed to reforming institutions in his country. ‘All he wants is to ensure [that] public finance is managed properly and that there’s no corruption,’”[iii] The government statement is simple rhetoric. It does not show sense of urgency or any action. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Wwat you DO speak so loud that I cannot hear what you SAY” (emphasis added).
The news went viral on Social Media. Sheiknor A Qasim wrote Somali Federal Government must respond the resignation of Central Bank Governor (, “DOWLADDA FEDERAALKA EE SOOMAALIYEED WAA INAY KA JAWAABTAA IS CASILAADA GUDOOMIYAHA BANKIGA SOOMALIYA”)[iv]. He continues to explain the consequences of the situation, the situation will create doubt in donor minds; therefore, the government must respond with sense of urgency (“Arintaan waxay shaki gelin doontaa dowladaha deeqaha siiya Soomaaliya, taas awgeed waa inay dowladda Federaalka Soomaliya si dag dag ah uga jawaabtaa arintaan sida uu qabo nidaamka dowliga ah ee addunka.”).
The strongly worded opinion garnered equally strong comments from readers capturing a sense of frustration, dismay, and disappointment. Some of the comments called for caution and not rush to judgments.
The Way Forward
Second, there is a need to identify clear objectives for resolution with what, who, when, and how. Change will require honest collaboration among Reformers led by Mrs., Yusur, Government, and Public.
In their eloquent book, Leadership Sustainability, Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood write:
“To ensure accountability in themselves and in others with whom they work, leaders must be responsible adults. … The four principles we suggest move accountability from child’s play to helping leaders to be personally accountable and instill accountability in others. Leaders who take personal responsibility own the changes they advocate. Leaders who go public make a visible commitment to change. Leaders who build a personal brand consistent with their values commit to a new level of performance. Leaders who hold others accountable ensure continuity in their actions and the actions of others. Politicians, educators, parents, and leaders who master these principles build sustainability” (McGraw-Hill 2013; emphasis added).[v]
The quote illustrates accountability is action that has a specific process with set of steps. It starts with the leader taking ownership and holding others accountable. Ultimately, it is the customers, the public, that decide if accountability is “sustainable”.
Actors & Actions
Maddam Yusur, please hold a public conference to give details of the situation – public outcry is on your side but support requires information. The public hungers for more information about the situation. You stepped forward. You have a great opportunity to channel public support for reforming corrupt system. As Ghandhi said, “be the change you seek to see”.
This is a great opportunity for the President, Prime Minister, and the Parliament to “walk the talk”. Publically acknowledge the problem and pledge the full force of national and international laws to hold everyone involved accountable and pursue national and internationally. The top three leaders must accept their role in the fiasco. The Executive team needs to lead public hearings. The parliament must do it is oversight duty.
The Public lead by it is intellectuals must put pressure on public officials to contain the damage and fix the system. Short attention span is a public determinant; therefore, there is a dire need that public must not let up until he work is done. The public, both supporters and opponents, must equally demand the hearing to be held ASAP. For those who have tendency to vilify whistleblower, I would say heed to Napoleon Bonaparte advice, “the people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know.”
Fixing the System
The aim of public hearing will be to examine the situation in depth and introduce Accountability Protection Act to protect any official who comes forward and lay out specific processes and laws that will be used to prosecute any and all wrong doing with no immunity at all level. The hearing should introduce public reward system for reporting corruption. The examination questions will include testimony from all parties involved including government officials and contractor and all documents must be made available. The hearing must address questions: Why did she have to leave? What are the specific events? Who are the specific actors involved? What did the President and Prime Minister and Minister of Finance know about the situation? What actions did Central Bank Governor take to raise the issue on the reporting chain? What do the donors know about it?
Opportunity in Disguise
The worst tragedy of this incident will be if it passes like many other opportunities before it. The public attention span is very short and jumps from once crises to the next.
Mrs., Yusur needs to keep light on the situation by leading change and channeling public outcry. The government needs to act. Public hearings followed by taking ownership. The public must admit it is part of the problem. They are victims and victimizers. They sustain the corruption political culture, because they continue to support Political Entrepreneurs.
After all we found our enemy. It is us.[vi] We must hold ourselves – at all levels – accountable, because “accountability is not consequences; it is ownership”[i]
We are in the last place!
[i] The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others do In 12 Months. Brain P. Morgan and Micheal Lennington. John Wiley & Sons. 2013.
[ii] http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5bf9ac6c-4319-11e3-8350-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2jgsQY1Rb
[iii] http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5bf9ac6c-4319-11e3-8350-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2jgsQY1Rb
[iv] Facebook post on Somali Institute of Peace and Research (SIPR)
[v] Leadership Sustainability: Seven Disciplines to Achieve Changes Greart Leaders Know They Must Make. Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood, McGraw-Hill, 2013.
[vi] http://hiiraan.com/op4/2013/oct/41815/somalis_have_met_the_enemy_and_is_the_somalis_themselves.aspx
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