Somalia: Federalism is in progress! | Somalicurrent.com

Somalia: Federalism is in progress! | Somalicurrent.com

This is an ongoing process (post- 1991) and it is irreversible. It is up to the Somalis on what type of federal government Somalia requires. We can have a strong Federal Government with strong Federal Member States where power and resources are shared. There are areas where the FG has the sole powers and the relevant legislation is done by the Federal Parliament; whereas there are areas where the component Federal Member States can enact their legislation using the Federal Member State assembly; and again there are few areas where both entities (the Federal Government and/or the Federal Member States) can legislate.
However, there are many Somalis who think the Somalia is better off with a unitary system, where a President sitting in Mogadishu can dictate to the rest. That is history, and what happened after 1991 necessitates self-determination and self-governments for the entities that came into being: Somaliland, Puntland, Juba and the current effort and convention going in Baydhaba. The outcome from the Convention of Baydhaba is, in advance, very clear to all of us: The people in Bakool, Bay and Lower Shabelle desire to self-govern themselves, despite being part of the Federal Somalia.
Unfortunately, the debate of Federalism is bizarre for most of the elite from Central Somalia. May be the wake-up call will come to them last when Somalia finally constitutes its Federal Members. But one thing is for sure: – Galmudug, Himan & Heb, Ahlu-sunna wal Jamaca and Hiiraan State – those entities in operation now in Central Somalia are not viable, in accordance to the Provisional Constitution since each entity is less than two regions combined. It is hoped that Central Somalia should come up with “its Federal Member State model ” now before it is too late.
Puntland is way off, running near the finish line whereas Central Somalia Federal Member State does not exist; it only exists in the minds of few. Somaliland needs an intense negotiation (based on give-and-take), continuous dialogue and offering to it a special status Federal Member State for the time being. To break the dealock between Somalia and Somaliland requires political accommodation, courage and a strong will that goes through the barriers inhibiting the re-union.
In the next writing, ways of breaking the deadlock between Somalia and Somaliland will be discussed and the way forward in convincing Somaliland to rejoin its brotherly Federal Member States.