The World Cup (& Mogadishu)

Cup Controversies

I have been in Mogadishu this week. There as been considerable conversation here about the US not allowing entry to one of the world’s top referees, Omar Artan, who is a Somali national. In spite of traveling on a diplomatic passport, he wasn’t allowed in. It’s certainly unfortunate for him but also for the country he hails from. Football is not only the most important sport in Somalia, it was also going to be a means for the country to be represented at the World Cup (it may be a while before it is represented on the merits of their football team).

Mogadishu traffic

The visa debacle, affecting thousands of would-be fans, is only one of many. Ridiculous ticket prices is another. Some of this is the result of US policy as co-host of the tournament. Some of this is FIFA. And there is overlap given FIFAs president Gianni Infantino incessant pandering to the US president. Last December he presented Trump an invented FIFA peace prize citing “Trump's extraordinary global diplomatic efforts and commitments to peace”. After a couple of years of US foreign interventions, even if you’re a Trump fan, you’re likely aware that it has been less about diplomacy/peace and more about power/influence. Anyway, FIFA needs to stay in its lane and refrain inventing fake awards.

There have been other concerns as well. There is considerable cynicism around the mandatory water breaks, including in stadiums that are climate controlled. The breaks, seen as yet another commercial money grab, break the flow of a game in a way that many view as disruptive. Some feel that it has influenced teams’ momentum and thus the outcome of matches. Americans are accustomed to such breaks in major sports and most don’t think twice about using it as a bathroom break or to reload their nachos.  

There has also been a debate about half-time shows. Again, Americans are accustomed to entertainment connected to sporting events. Football purists feel that it takes away from the game. There is no question that such things can contribute to broadening interest in attending matches beyond just the hardcore football fans. From what I understand, the compromise is that the entertainment can happen, but the mandated duration of the halftime break will not be extended. I tend to record these matches so I speed past water breaks and halftime anyway. 

But for the matches thus far, I have found the ones I have seen to be fun to watch. The big stars have generally made their presence felt. It’s like almost any sport, it’s more enjoyable the more you understand it. I’ve been watching football for nearly 40 years with a level of interest that, if I’m honest, has ebbed and flowed depending on how busy I am and, to some degree, what was happening within the sport itself. I would still consider myself a fair-weather fan, amping up my attention during the World Cup, European Championship and, the past couple of decades, the Africa Cup of Nations. But I likely watch it as much as any other professional sport, with the exception of maybe American football. 

rainbow

 

And then there's diversity

One interesting statistic I saw the other day was that almost a quarter of all of the World Cup players were born in a country other than the one they are representing. In my world, a statistic like that makes perfect sense. In my daughters' classes at the French school, most of the children are mixed race (including my own) and have dual nationalities. In one of the classes, there are 24 students and 18 different nationalities. I realize that there is a lot of xenophobia in the world right now and people are feeling rather threatened by immigration - the feeling that "your people" are becoming marginalized. "Your people" are the good ones and the others are more prone to bad behavior, stealing jobs, etc. Though the sentiment is as old has humanity, the mixing of populations is continuing to accelerate as people have the ability to move around more than ever before. 

Sadly, I think it's politicians that are fueling these irrational fears and that's not likely to change. It's too bad really. I look at the melting pot that is the World Cup, and the world I live in, and see so much beauty in it. We have dozens of great ethnic restaurants within walking distance from our building. The local mall, though obviously very Kenyan, is one of the most diverse malls I've ever been to. Great for people watching. My life has been like this for the past two decades and I sort of fear homogeneity. Same faces. Same foods. Same language. Same customs.  

Diversity is happening whether people like it or not, obviously faster in some places than others. The previous World Cup had about 16% foreign born players. It's necessary to monitor immigration, screen applicants and regulate flows. But people need to get over their irrational fears of "the other". It appears that the trend is here to stay. 

seeing this troop of monkeys a lot lately; guard checking them out

 

* * *

...back to Somalia

Overall, this trip has been pleasantly uneventful. The security situation in Mogadishu was less tense this week than it was the past two weeks where there was political drama and the government was conducting some rather aggressive property searches, particularly in the neighborhood where our office is. It’s not clear how this is going to pan out over the coming weeks and months, but likely the country will stumble forward into next year where they will possibly attempt to hold elections again – with the localized violence erupting from time to time between now and then. With no real guardrails on the political process, it’s a cycle that will likely, and sadly, continue to repeat itself for decades to come. 

There is the question as to why there have been fewer Islamist militant activity in recent months. One analyst I read recently, in light of the above political mayhem, made reference to something that Napoleon once said that when your enemy is making mistakes, don't interrupt them. Very well could be. 

Senioritis

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and he mentioned to me that his position in his organization was being terminated. He is to become one of the many casualties of the dramatic cuts to the humanitarian and development world over the last year and a half or so. I also am leaving the aid world but for other reasons. Either way, we are headed in the same direction, he earlier than I. Thankfully, his wife has a good job and provides them an income and benefits and neither of us are in dire straits as a result of these changes.

When asking about my situation, he asked if I was experiencing “senioritis”. Full disclosure, it took me a second for the word to register in my brain. He didn’t grow up in the US, but I know that he has a lot of American connections. As for me, I knew of the word, and I remember it being used many years ago in reference to those who are finishing secondary school – the phenomenon of having difficulty being motivated and focusing knowing that it’s all coming to an end before long. But I don’t remember it being used more generally. I do like the term, and I was a bit surprised when Word didn’t flag it as a misspelling. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, it has become embedded in US vernacular.

As for my response to his question, I would say that it has not been a significant issue as of yet. Strangely, my work life has been more or less business as usual. There are some modifications to my decision making as I think about what I would like to accomplish between now and September. I’m also aware that I need to be offloading some things sooner rather than later to ensure continuity after I am gone. In the evenings, I have been closing my laptop earlier than I would normally. It’s happening and I’m looking to make it as graceful as possible, not only for me but the team I am leaving behind. 

following a sofa on my way to the office in Nairobi

 

* * *

The idea of leaving the workforce, at least for now, is certainly putting my brain on overdrive. I keep telling people that it’s a mix of excitement and apprehension. My former supervisor and good friend wrote me last week. We’re similar in age and he was ejected from his job a while back. After spending a considerable amount of time looking for opportunities, he recently took on a temporary, considerably lower role in Syria. One thing that he mentioned was how nice it was that he had regained a purpose. The word “purpose” he put in all caps. He’s not one to use upper case letters recklessly, so I found it noteworthy. And then I saw another article recently providing advice on helping people find purpose in retirement. Apparently, it’s a thing.

To be honest, it hadn’t occurred to me that purpose might ever be an issue for me. I won’t be so presumptuous and say that it won’t be, but it’s possible that my situation may shield me in a way that is unlike others that may be in my position. One key difference is that I have school-age children. The friend that I just mentioned is an empty-nester and that does make a difference. Parenting inherently provides purpose if you’re doing it right. And we’ll have a kid under our roof for at least the next five years. 

I also have an endless list of ambitious plans, many of which are already underway. I have a solid faith and a wonderful family. This will provide some continuity between my life now and my life post-September. I’m sure I’ll experience some identity issues. It’s apparently normal, particularly in the early months (years?) of leaving your career. So we’ll see how it goes.

I’ve been reading some Henry David Thoreau which has been proving some inspiration related to my need to step off the treadmill of life and to learn to chill a bit more. His famous quote puts it well:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach.” – Thoreau

I realize that it’s difficult to anticipate the impact a transition like this will have, but, hopefully, no storm clouds on the horizon.

cool cloud formation as rainy season draws to a close

Mogadishu

I’m in Mogadishu and, at the moment, I’m in the “green zone” in the outdoor cafeteria at the UN compound. The incongruous sound of country music is playing with the sound broken up occasionally by roar of military helicopters flying overhead and planes taking off at the nearby airstrip. It’s hot (my phone is saying that it’s a 99° F/37° C), sunny and dusty but not uncomfortable when you’re in the shade. The breeze is nearly constant as the compound sits at the edge of the Indian Ocean. It’s a strange place and there are things about it that I will miss when my time here comes to an end.

My trip was delayed by a few days due to demonstrations in Mogadishu and the potential for them to escalate. But by Sunday, we agreed that it was safe enough for me to travel. And indeed, so far things have been relatively calm. There have been violent demonstrations in Nairobi as well, even causing the city to more or less shut down for a day or so. I have been able to dodge both, at least for now.

vervet monkeys playing near the office

* * * 

Security has been a significant concern since I’ve been working in Somalia. It takes up a considerable amount of my mental energy. Part of it is the very real concern about keeping staff, partners, assets and beneficiaries (and me) safe. Part of it is the management of security: looking at cost/benefit, tracking data, analyzing the drivers of security, staying on top of technological advancements, etc. It’s something that takes time away from focusing on our humanitarian and development efforts in the country. But it's inherent in the work here. 

Security and Perception

The benefit of being here a long time is that you have a longitudinal perspective that a lot of non-Somalis don’t have. And one thing that has been a nagging issue is the balancing of perceptions vs. reality. With regards to security, there are a lot of people that have an interest in leveraging the perception that Somalia is more insecure than it really is.

It’s an issue I raised a few years ago when I met with the former US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She asked if there was something that should be highlighted as an issue that impedes our work in supporting the people of Somalia. I told her that there are countless issues, some that we can control and some we can’t. The concern I raised falls largely in the former category. There is an ongoing monetization of the security situation in Somalia whereby some stakeholders have much to gain by the perception of insecurity. Around the world, there are contractors that provide security support at a high cost and have no interest in portraying environments as safe. Even among the UN structures, many people’s jobs depend on the perception of insecurity. And, frankly, it gives some in the international community (ex. UN) the ability to remain in their offices rather than heading out into the field and connecting with the population they are supposedly serving. It's an issue that I raised in multiple forums. And, as I told the Ambassador, this issue is not likely to change, at least not in the short term, since people don’t have an incentive to change it.

Mogadishu sunset

Security and Status

This is related to another issue regarding social status. In this context, security and status are intertwined. If you dismantle security structures, you potentially impact someone’s status as well. Status is defined by different things depending on the culture, but in Somalia, the security you have is frequently connected to your level in society and/or wealth.

A friend of mine, who is a former government minister, and I were having tea a while back and he was describing how this plays out in practical terms. While he served as minister a couple of presidents ago, he had a vehicle and armed escorts as needed. After the elections, and new ministers were appointed, he necessarily had to step down. All of the sudden, he had no vehicle and no security detail. This put him in a vulnerable position given that, once you’ve been in government, whether you’re currently in your role or not, you are automatically a terrorist target. In addition to his transportation challenges, he needed to move out of his house given that it was no longer secure enough without armed guards. Now, under the current president, he’s back in government and has a security detail once again. It's a practical need, but it also impacts his profile.

Whenever I attend high-level meetings with government officials, the security protocols become more elaborate the higher the rank of the government representative. If the president is coming, streets are blocked for his convoy. You expect massive delays for the start of the meeting, but don’t show up too late or you won’t be able to enter the venue. Once the president enters, no one comes in or out until he has departed. There are loads of other protocols as well. It’s similar for the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, but slightly less rigorous as you move down the line. Your importance is often linked to the amount of security you have.

Security and Separation

There’s a feeling of power when you have a lot of people looking after you and when armed guys blocking traffic as you drive through town. I know because it is the case with me as well. But after more than two decades of people looking after me and having significantly more robust security detail these last ten years, I have increasingly found it annoying. Don’t get me wrong, there is a positive side to it. I love weaving through the city at a high rate of speed and spending less time stuck in traffic (with less exposure to risk), but I have grown more and more frustrated by the barriers that result from the layers of security. I cannot visit a clinic without loads of preparation, advanced reconnaissance and a dramatic entrance accompanied by a swarm of armed men in sunglasses. In my early days in Somalia, the security situation was more precarious, and protection was even more rigorous than it is now. On one occasion back in 2017, our private security suggested that I wear a steel tactical helmet (feels like putting a large bell on your head) and a Kevlar vest when carrying out a visit to one of our projects. An HQ colleague I was with at the time was rather rotund and had difficulty wrapping the vest around his torso. In the end, we tossed the gear into the back of the armored vehicle and that was the last time I ever wore it. In addition to being terribly uncomfortable, it creates a barrier between you and the people you are meeting with.

It’s always tough to find the balance. It’s all well and good to peel off security layers until something goes wrong. Determining where that line is, not only for me but for the people I work with – putting staff in harm’s way – is one of the most stressful things I’ve ever had to do professionally. That’s why it’s always easier to add security rather than dismantle it. You have far more liability when security is lacking rather than when it is redundant. But at some point, you need to have courage to say that it's excessive, costly and creating unnecessary barriers.

* * *

Team Building

Yesterday, after attending a meeting with a private contractor, I came back to the office to participate in a World HR Day event. Full disclosure, I didn’t know that WHRD was a thing, and, in retrospect, I’m not sure it should be. Though I agree that effective HR is critical, I’m not sure having a dedicated day provides any value. In any case, I joined in and mustered up some enthusiasm. I provided some introductory remarks and then the small group of staff who attended proceeded to engage in a team-building activity. It was in Somali, so I didn’t get the full gist, but it was something similar to charades. Though I'm not a big fan of team-building games, it was nice getting together with the team.