AFRICA/SOMALIA - Bishop Bertin: towards the elections, the population aspires to security and stability

Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - "Following the political agreement reached in Somalia at the end of May, there is an air of cautious optimism in preparing for the upcoming elections. I would like to insist more on the adjective 'cautious' than on the noun 'optimism', because since I have been in Somalia, or in any case in the Horn of Africa, I have seen many attempts like these, which ended badly". Mgr. Giorgio Bertin, Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu and Bishop of Djibouti, resident in Djibouti since May 2001, but with a long presence in Somalia - from the 1970s until the fall of Siad Barre - thus comments to Agenzia Fides on the current moment of the turbulent African country, which has reached a point that hopefully has a turning point thanks to the tenacious negotiations led by Prime Minister Roble, which seems to have put an end, at least for now, to a period of high tension.
The Bishop explains: "I live in Djibouti, but I have the responsibility of Somalia where I go regularly. The last few months, since the beginning of 2021, have been particularly difficult, marked by political turmoil as well as by the usual classic attacks carried out especially by Al-Shabbaab. Strong tensions were recorded first of all in relations between the various States that make up the Somali federation, but also in relations with Ethiopia and Kenya due to the disputed offshore oil fields between the two states as well as for possible interference by Kenya in Jubaland. The main issue was the elections, we started with the idea of universal suffrage but, as I argued from the beginning, the goal was practically impossible. The registry, for example, does not even exist in the cities, it was all destroyed between '90 and '91, but then there is a big security problem with some areas controlled entirely by Al-Shabbaab or other forces such as Isis".
The Apostolic Administrator explains that the model chosen was that on a clan basis: "After various discussions and pressures, a period of two months was called, starting in June, to present candidates chosen on a clan basis who, once elected, they will in turn elect the President". In a country almost entirely of Islamic faith, the stable Christian presence is very small. The work of Christian witness required of those who, as Catholics, live in Somalia is precious: "I have only one priest who is in Somaliland, in the north - notes Mgr. Bertin - who celebrates mass in homes. For the rest, the Christian presence is represented by the troops of the Italian, Burundian and Ugandan armies that are part of Amisom (the interposition force of the African Union), the UN or other bodies with their two military chaplains (one Italian and one Burundian). Then there are members of international NGOs such as specifically Christian ones such as Caritas Somalia, Catholic Relief Service, and others. Even in the past, the presence of Christians was mainly of foreign origin, up to 1990 it was said that we were over 2000, 90% of them from foreign countries, especially Italians, including teachers from the national university. But, beyond the physical presence, there is a moral presence that has its own great importance in the country and passes through the words of the Pope: the Pope often remembers the difficult situation and attracts international attention, while I myself regularly visit the country and I encourage the lay faithful present to give a Christian witness through their commitment, work, humanitarian action. I ask them to be 'our missionaries' and help everyone understand the importance of respecting differences and behaving all as brothers and sisters. Finally, I would like to point out the existence of a short radio broadcast that airs every Sunday through Vatican Radio: 12 minutes to bring the voice of the Church to that territory". (LA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2021)

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politics

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elections

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civil society

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