Afweyne assassinated Madaxweyne Sharmarke, on the commands of the Soviets, to gain the position of power given Sharmarke was playing both sides in the Cold War. So his position at the top was never going to be one that had hope (add to that, the slaying of Ulema for going against 1975 Family Law which he *tried* to introduce so much policies that goes against Islam, the Somali way of life (e.g. polygyny, inheritance).
However, I will admit the first decade up to 1977, he was somewhat competent, whether that be Somalis seeing him as the next Sayiid, growing tired of the corrupt civil (democractic) govt, and just hoping for change. He brought in undeniably good policies (1975 Drought Campaign to move those affected to the South, 1974/75 Literacy Campaign which was UN award winning, 1977 WSLF and Somali army had most Western Somalia and had it not been for Cuban & Soviet support, Western Somalia would have been fully incorporated into Somalia).
Post-1977, his reign was a complete and utter disaster. From IMF & World Bank's introduction to Structural Adjustment Programs, him going senile, paranoid and demented post-car crash, divide & conquering guerilla forces, doing a deal with US & Reagan while somehow purporting to Socialist values. Had he stepped aside when the Manifesto Group came along, he would have somewhat been respected, let alone stepping aside post Ogaden defeat. 1988 onwards was the start of total anarchy, 1991 was just its peak. When assessing history, the civil war, by its true definition, began 1978 when SSDF emerged. It was a 15 year civil war (no different than Lebanon's 15 year civil war). The significance of mentioning it was a prolonged 15 year civil war is that it stops the reductionist 'clan fighting' barbaric rhetoric. It was a war fought on power, resources, direction of the nation, vision, etc. Which nearly all wars, yes Western nations included, have fought over. When we reduce it to 'Qabil wars' it firstly removes the blame from Afweyne even though he did instigate it and was the catalyst, but secondly, it makes it seem like Somali political turmoil is something unique and unprecedented. Political turmoil, especially with foreign powers interventing is something extremely common in 20th/21st century.
I didn't even touch on proper the impact that US funding Afweyne drying up when Soviet no longer became a threat and also when they stopped needing to utilise Berbera port for strategic reasons, after gaining the Fatwa by Sheikh Ibn Baz to use Saudi and Gulf base to attack Iraq. Of course Afweyne will go all out on dividing and conquering when his funds dried up and Soviet Union.
Afweyne is no different from any other dictator. Whoever tries to festoon his or any dictator's time with "but he did this while in charge" - the perfect response to them is: Yes, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. When you are in charge of all the resources and power within a nation, there is no doubt at the very least some of your policies, whether directly or indirectly will be successful and useful to the masses, however, that a) doesn't account for all the wickedness and treachery the dictator has done to the people b) how much more could a benevolent leader and a functioning govt do for the people, its innumberable.
My father was in Xalane in the mid 70's. Afweyne came to visit the camp where they housed 17-18 year olds for conscription, which was mandatory then. Afweyne came and they all had to go into salute command and my father always tells us it was racing through his brain should I be a martyr and assassinate him, my father has never called Afweyne by his real name. He found him objetionable, that bitterness partly came from him unrightfully dethroning Sharmarke but also destroying the civic unity that was established by SYL.
As for me, Afweyne and Caydiid were the two who destroyed our nation. The former tore apart the social fabric and the latter ignited it in fire. Yes there were other responsible actors (I actually happened to see Gen Morgan yesterday in Garowe), but those two will be questioned on the day of Judgement for what they did to Somalis and the lasting (negative) impact they have had, which will undoubtedly go on for our lifetime. Xamar would have been a more developed Mombasa, with all groups living together and a rational discussion of where to go next happening. Instead, we are left with a Bantustan-isation, foreign poweres meddling, AS controlling 1/4 of the land, and our name being synonymous with starvation, qaxooti, destitution and being indigents. Subhanallah, where has our Shaaraf gone.
