The peace of Somalia is back
By Abdikarim Garruun
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| Liido beach |
Peace means freedom from war and violence. Everybody knows that to be without peace is to be without life.The prosperity and progress of developed countries is founded on the existence of peace.
When a nation enjoys conditions of peace, investment and development steadily improve, but if a nation is in conflict, there is no way for the country to develop.
Somalia is a nation that was in conflict for more than 25 years. Today, the efforts of Somali intellectuals, scholars, elders, neighboring countries and the international community have come to fruition and the war between Somali society is finally over.
The goverment was reformed to rule the whole country. The national army forces were established and now they control the majority of the country. Many of the Somali diaspora have returned to home to invest in new businesses or to rebuild their houses destroyed during the war. It is as if political peace has brought a new dawn, and social development is now steadily spreading throughout the whole the country.
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, is the mirror image of the other parts of the country. When Mogadishu returns to peace, surely the other parts of the nation will reflect that stability and become more peaceful in turn.
In the past seven years, Thousands of Somali children went to school, hundreds of universities were opened by intellectuals. Small companies were formed, and hotels and gardens were opened by Somali investors.
A new competition of life has begun, everybody wants to get a good life, health and education, and people understand that to achieve this we all have to do our part.. The ears of the Somali people are hearing a good news day after day, and though there is war between the militant Islamic groups and the government, it is not enough to shadow the sun of social peace which is rising.
Mogadishu is the seat of the central government and is home to more than two million. It is amazing to see how booming the economy is, there are investors competing with other investment sectors, and emerging small companies, banks, and so on.
If you walk around Mogadishu you will see streets are full of people and everywhere you look there are crowds of people talking, sitting, passing and crossing each other peacefully. The hotels are full of visitors, especially educated people, politicians who will form the face of the new government, some who are willing to become members of the parliament,, others eager to work in government institutions.
The roads are different now, too. Rebuilt by the Turkish government, this new infrastructure has made the people more mobile and adventurous. Thousands of young and old people now travel, work, visit friends, and tour their cars confidently and without fear. This is in contrast to the history of Mogadishu , where no one would dare take even the most dilapidated car to work or for shopping, even if he has a lot of money , because it is was clear that the car would be taken by gangsters and armed clan forces.
Today, the will of young people is strong. There is no one who desires to migrate and leave their home., Everybody wants to live in this country in peace, studying and working in our homeland.
Let’s visit the beach of Mogadishu, a place called Leado, which is famous in Mogadishu. You can see any where thousands of young people, adults and children who are swimming in the fresh water of the Indian sea. Some are taking boats and driving a little into the sea, some are lying on the sandy beach, some are playing games on the shore, and others come to watch and take in the fresh air of the sea by sitting in the beautiful seaside hotel chairs . This is a picture of peace.
"Nothing is better than your home", an old woman said to me last year. I had asked her a question about how she felt returning her home land after living abroad more than 30 years.
Another exciting place is peace garden, near the presidential palace. Peace garden is the one and only place in Mogadishu where thousand of people visit every day to rest their souls, and seek relief from their problems . The peace garden is a place suited to welcome any one living in Mogadishu. It has a beautiful lawn designed and decorated with beautiful shiny flowers and lights everywhere. Also equipped with all the different toys and hammocks children were playing during the festivals and Fridays. This place was created by a members of the Somali diaspora who returned home. The voices and wishes of the Somali people is saying that peace is back, let’s keep it.
Abdikarim Garruun
Mogadishu, Somalia
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