Different perspectives on Somalia. Part V.

Sitting with the President!

Once we used to have diplomatic warriors….  This is part V of the reflections of a former diplomat and a friend of mine who after many years decided to share with me some of the interesting experiences he encountered while working for the Somali Foreign Affairs Ministry (FAM) and during his diplomatic career.

My Friend Hussein* told me the following… in his own words.

This episode took place when one of the sons of President Mohamed Siad Barre died and the heads of foreign Missions accredited to the country came to express their condolences to the President in person. A  note verbale from the Ministry was sent to all missions explaining fully how the procedure for the Heads of missions will be when they assemble at the Presidency. 

Since it was a straightforward job of announcing the title of each Ambassador’s turn to greet the President expressing condolence, I was assigned to be at the Presidency. First to receive the Ambassadors one by one as they arrive, gathering them in a large reception room until all of them arrived and were ready to meet the President. When I was sure that all the envoys came, and realized it was the time to start, I arranged the head of missions to stand in a line, first Ambassadors then followed by Charge d’Affairs.

The Head of Foreign Relation Office of the Presidency was accompanying the President when he entered another adjoining hall, positioning to stand in the corner, President’s Aid-de-camp Officer standing behind. And I began to introduce and announce each Ambassador. Then each Ambassador shook the hand of the President, expressing condolence, and then left. 

The last head of mission in the queue was the Charge d’Affairs A.I,  of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and when his turn to shake hand with the President came, he expressed his condolence, informing he has with him a copy of the written condolence message from President Zia Ul-Haq of Pakistan, producing a sealed white envelope.  

I thought the President will take the envelope thanking him, but he invited the Charge d’Affairs, A.I.,  to sit down briefly, and motioned me as well. The President read the telex and asked the envoy in return to convey his appreciation and thanks to the Pakistani leader.  A Somali Films Agency photographer, who was snapping pictures of the event, took a shot while we were seated. The unintended event that happened could have been viewed differently. When next day the picture appeared in the newspaper - The October Star - with me sitting with the President & the Pakistani Charge D’Affairs  A.I,  I was asked about how the meeting occurred and I had to explain it.  

Imagine how a Protocol officer just ends up sitting with the head of State. It is indeed true that a protocol job is a thankless job with endless work, but it has sometimes its advantages, like appearing in the local newspaper sitting with the President. It has been 30 years ago since president Siad Barre left Mogadishu, more on this soon.

Hussein M Mohamed and I went to Casa Popolare Primary School, Hodan, Mogadishu in the 1970s. And later on, we were the first and second students who were admitted to the faculty of Journalism where he graduated and joined the Somali FAM. He continued to serve the country as a diplomat, but I left and continued my studies at Monash University in Australia and may rapidly add not on a Somali government scholarship! We are now working on a book about Somali Foreign Affairs, stay tuned.

Hussein M Mohamed can be contacted via hmm@somaliaaway.com