As denoted in the provisional constitution, Somalia is a federal, sovereign and democratic republic founded on inclusive representation of the people, a multiparty system and social justice. Ostensibly, it is crystal clear that Somalia’s political system is federal. In this regard, there is no room for doubt. Regrettably, we have seen and witnessed tremendous times that there is always blatant meltdown and deadlock among the federal government and the regional states.
Each and every one of the federal and the regional leaders rebukes and push back one another when it comes to the interpretation of the provisional constitution. This ample and conspicuous resilient tiff between them demoralized and freaked out the citizens who desperately need services rather than vulgar remark and hollow rhetoric. Because, Somali people are recuperating closely three decades of civil strife, Humpty Dumpty government, foreign meddling, natural and man-made disasters, disheveled state and other alas. So, the Somali people can’t tolerate any more lack of government’s basic services.
Since 2012, Somalia had a permanent government, and the first president was his Excellency, Hassan Sheikh. During his era, he creates four out of five states including Jubbaland, Southwest, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle. Puntland was established prior to Somalia’s federal government, specifically in 1998. Enormous political pundits believe that Hassan Sheikh was offering further concessions to the regional leaders, and the current federal government leaders shambled and repudiated to showcase tradeoff to the regional leaders, and that is perzactly the underlying causes of the rupture among the federal and regional leaders.
Since the incumbent president Farmajo takes the office in February 2017, there is a widespread aura of hope among the ordinary citizens. Some people believe that Farmajo can be a panacea for the mistrust and the feud among the citizens. There were much kudos and applause among the citizens about Farmajo’s election. Some talking heads opined that maverick Farmajo and flamboyant, pompous Kheire with their staunch gurus don’t recognize the federal system which Somalia takes since 2004.
During farmajo’s scorched-earth campaign, he pledged that, if he becomes the president of the nation, he will give a reward to anyone who tells the security agencies anything which can harm the people. Additionally, he says repeatedly that, his government will provide aid to the victimized families. Plenty of people said these outlandish promise could end in vain and bog down. Because it’s irrational and self-defeating as far as the country is yet struggling so many security challenges. In his era, so many explosions, organized crimes, and other extrajudicial killing happened including one of the deadliest explosion globally the so-called 14 October
Somalia needs neither docile nor deviant!
It’s well-believed that, Somalia doesn’t want any more conflict among the leaders. But, in our gut feelings, if we mull over what is going on Somalia’s political environment, we can see how the leaders are so divided within. There are so many reasons behind this deep-rooted conflict among them which is worsening throughout the political voyage including:-
- Politicians want always obsequious followers rather than challengers and political nemesis. This stupid stuff and baloney led the country to havoc and bog down. Because every politician in the highest position promotes docile and sacks critical people who challenge rationally the incumbent. This doesn’t mean to prefer stubborn people, no absolutely, but we mean those present constructive and independent stances.
- Politicians desire to remain the power by any means. This is also another disaster. Because, by the time the leaders took the office, they instantly kick start to think and strategize how they can come back. The big question is, who guaranteed them that they will be elected again? Simply nobody. Because we have seen so many times the incumbents became predecessors.
- Eschewing criticism. This is also another alas in Somalia politics. The top leaders always like and feed who bless them other than who challenge them, and that is why they don’t aware whether the fellow citizens beam or against them during their term in the office. But, they wake up the day of the election after they become vanquished and dissipated. And we have overwhelming and wealthy of experience toward this practical issue.
- Elephant in the room under the tutelage of the incumbents! Because of the leaders’ preference toward the sycophants, we have seen a number of times that, those near the leaders do so many malfeasances under the fortress of the incumbents.
Articles 44, 53 and 54 are despised and chased away!
As enshrined in the provisional constitution Article 44 stipulates “The allocation of the natural resources of the federal republic of Somalia shall be negotiated by, and agreed upon, by the federal government and the federal member states in accordance with this constitution”. Furthermore, during the Somali national security meeting which was held in Mogadishu in 6-10th February last year, the federal government and the regional states have agreed upon some key points toward national resource sharing.
The other side of the table, Article 53 says “in the spirit of inter-governmental cooperation the federal government shall consult the federal member states on negotiations relating to foreign aid, trade, treaties, or other major issues related to international agreements. Also, article 54 clarifies the federal government’s singular powers including Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Citizenship and Immigration and Monetary Policy. With all these roles and responsibilities mentioned in the provisional constitution, there are conspicuous and blatant cacophony, dichotomy and loggerheads among the federal government and its federal units. Moreover, the disaster is, the political leaders both federal and regional level are persisting each one of them their knee-jerk actions, looking for just their ego trip, tended self-serving, while the civilians are suffering and languishing which is alas, hocus-pocus and dumber than a rock.
The federal leaders have central mentality!
Plenty of naysayers pontificated that, the incumbent Farmajo and his pompous Prime Minister Khayre don’t want to obey and follow the federal system which Somalia has been taken officially since 2004. The most dumfounded and slap in the face was, during the first graduation ceremony of the Somali National University since the collapse of the former central government in 1991, the president his Excellency Farmajo said famously, courageously and explicitly that, Somalia needs strong central government. After these unprecedented and sickening words came out the president himself, enormous political commentators and oppositions said that is why the federal government is always pushing back and downgrading the federal member states’ actions.
And this hard-hitting expression emanated from the top leader ignited the feelings of the oppositions and those support the federal system in Somalia en masse.
A gilded cage is still a cage: Case of GALMUDUG
The prime minister his Excellency Khayre was traveling for the last three days Galmudug’s districts from Dhusamareb, Adado, and Abudwaq. His trip aims at mostly creating political consensus and tradeoff among the federal government and Galmudug administration. Around July, there will be an election in Galmudug. Bear in mind, the prime minister’s charm offensive is all about convincing president XAAF to accept the upcoming election in Galmudug. Nowadays, we have seen some group photos which are indicating a consensus between the Prime Minister Khayre and president XAAF. Some political pundits said that XAAF accepted to leave the office and as quid pro quo maybe he received some money. In the political science, there are three vital elements including (a) Persuasion (b) Manipulation and (Power), so XAAF as a veteran politician he understands that he can’t vanquish currently the federal leaders as far as (AHLU-SUNNA) is not anymore backing XAAF’s administration. Suffice it to say that, XAAF accepted the manipulation. By the way, the big question is, does GALMUDUG becomes stable? Knowing that there is yet unsolved conflict with Puntland.
The upcoming election in JUBBALAND
Jubaland’s election is expecting to be taken place somewhere in August this year by the will of Allah. Jubbaland is the second oldest regional state in Somalia after Puntland, and Kismayo (The interim capital city) is one of the safest cities in Somalia. Same as Galmudug, Jubaland’s president Ahmed Mohamed Islam, aka Ahmed Madobe has a conflict with the federal leaders.
Madobe so many times condemned the federal leaders that, they abnegate and stay away from the federal system which Somalia takes since 2004. And also, the federal government is backing and funding behind the curtain some contesters who want to run against him. In their side, the federal government also denounced plenty of times that Ahmed doesn’t want to hold free and square election. Additionally, they said Madowe wants to remain the power devoid of an election. Plenty of candidates have shown their interests toward the leadership of the Jubbaland state including current and former federal ministries and veteran MPs. By any means, the country needs self-abnegated leaders who serve for posterity’s sake. And if the federal government desires to supersede the current leader in Jubbaland, there is an immense need for qualitative change, not cosmetic change and docile leader.
Anwar Abdifatah Bashir (Freelance Journalist/Horn of Africa Geopolitics Analyst and Independent Researcher)
Email: anwarcade100@gmail.com
