FCO - Stabilisation Advisor - James Donally - Goodbye to all that

Well, my year in Musa Qala is nearly up and it’s time to say my goodbyes to my Afghan and British friends here. I must say the time really has flown by and much has happened in this small corner of Helmand, not least improved security, leading to increased freedom of movement and an uplift in business in Musa Qala.

And some basics are in place: school, clinic, some roads, improved electricity supply. But to fill the security "envelope" provided by the Afghan security forces and their British counterparts, the Afghan government needs to step in and be seen to be working full time in the district; Afghans deserve a government that listens to its people and is trusted.

Until now in Musa Qala, we foreigners - civilian and military - have sometimes seemed to be the only people the local population could approach to discuss their problems and get things done. But the Afghan government understands that it has to assume its proper place in the lives of the locals, and in other parts of Helmand this process is already under way, led by an energetic and progressive Provincial Governor.

I really believe the people of Musa Qala are ready for that next step: they are interested in the future of their country and are now gearing up for August's presidential and provincial elections. Successful voter registration earlier this year means that people are at least in a position to vote - providing they feel safe and know enough about the choices on offer.

Even if we sometimes lacked Afghan attention, we certainly weren’t short of British visitors to Musa Qala, from Ross Kemp through assorted generals to the PM, all have shown huge interest in the people of Musa Qala and the UK military who have come here to help them.

I will leave here with an enormous admiration for the British military who have hosted this strange civilian with great patience and I wish them all a safe return home. At the same time I commend our exceptionally brave and talented local staff and other local partners who I hope will remain in their country to continue to improve the lot of its people.

FCO - Stabilisation Advisor - James Donally - Gunfire at dawn

Thus did our incoming Battle Group announce itself in Musa Qala. But don’t be alarmed, it was just the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers’ way of marking St George’s Day, and the "gunfire" was actually supplied by a drummer.

Quite nice, though, to be woken up with cup of tea laced with rum (I’m all for tradition). Interestingly, this is the first lot of soldiers I’ve worked with here that are predominantly English, the previous two groups being Scottish and Nepalese. Then, in the evening we marked that other fine English tradition of having a curry, cooked for us by our Punjabi MoD police mentor.

Up the hill, the District Governor is back from his epic tour of Afghanistan and India and is keeping us busy with his demands. Having been mixing with the high-fliers in Kabul and Mumbai I think he might be finding the business of local government in Musa Qala a bit dull.

But we’re receiving more and more Afghan governmental visitors here who are coming to deliver their services (and spend their money) under improved security conditions, so that should help focus the Governor’s mind. In particular, a visit by a commission spent a week here assessing whether we are in a fit state to receive the Afghan Social Outreach Programme.

This programme will establish a community council that will bring different community representatives together to discuss and agree actions on security, justice and development. It means we’ll have a genuinely local and representative council in Musa Qala with some real powers and some real money to spend.

And I have just waved off the Deputy Provincial Governor plus some senior Afghan security officials, accompanied by the Deputy Head of the Civil-Military Mission to Helmand. The Deputy Governor expressed his satisfaction and appreciation of a far better security situation in Musa Qala than he’d expected.

This was a much needed visit that reinforced the Afghan government’s commitment to this district. It also provided a reason for the Governor to serve up some top-notch Afghan food, including fresh rations, and giving us 24 hours off the dreaded spam.

FCO - Stabilisation Advisor - James Donally - Shura on the Wadi

Today a large gathering (or “shura”) was held to the North of Musa Qala. This was the first opportunity for locals whose area had come back into government control last November to engage with their local government leadership from Musa Qala.

The shura was held as a result of demands by the local population that they felt unrepresented in Musa Qala and that their problems were not being addressed. To answer this we arranged for the Acting District Governor, one Musa Qala District Shura (council) member and two Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development engineers to go to the Shawruz region and meet with village elders.

The shura was advertised from early morning by sending round the Afghan National Police (ANP) to spread the word. We weren’t sure how many would attend or whether people would be intimidated, but it was clear that the locals felt safe enough to come as I watched them wading across the wadi long before the appointed time.

The event itself, held outdoors on the banks of the wadi, attracted about 90 locals plus a similar number of very noisy children (first government action needed – send a school teacher to this area).

Much effort went into the planning of the shura and all the logistics were worked out by my military colleagues on the ground, together with the ANP and their UK and US mentors.

All of them were very keen to be supporting this civilian side of the mission, following on from their military successes last autumn. And for me to be present, my Close Protection pals and the FCO had to be satisfied that any possible threat was minimised.

That the event happened at all sends important messages: Afghan government representatives will go and meet their people at a time and place of their choosing; and the Afghan security forces with their international partners will ensure that such events will take place in safety. Long may it continue.

Back on the catering front, the top chef has retreated and we’re back to cold, congealed spam for breakfast. But I’m off on R & R next week, my first visit to the UK in 2009 and it’s clear I’ll have to do my bit to assist the 4 hostelries of Cartmel through the economic downturn.