Clanism is threat to federalism in Somalia, says former president

GAROWE, Puntland - The formation of the Jubaland and the deep clan divisions are threat to the realization of federalism in the Horn of Africa nation, former Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said, in what could yet again give insight on the persistent political squabbles in the country.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is one of the leading presidential candidates, was one of those tasked to fully implement federalism after taking over in 2012-2016. However, there were no clear legal provisions and framework to make it a reality, thus frequent power struggles in Somalia.

Speaking on Sunday at Garowe in a conference organized by Puntland Development and Research Center [PDRC], dubbed "Proper Implementation of Federalism in Somalia", Mohamud insisted that the clanism in Somalia made it difficult for the new governance structure to work.

According to the former president, his team and other stakeholders decided on a bottom-up approach by working on the local government's institutions. "We didn't succeed because of the representation issues with the tribes living within the regions," he noted.

The clan system capitalizes on the lack of order to advance its agenda. Politicians at the federal level are unable to oppose their clan interests, said the former president in reference to hundreds of clans in the country who all yearn to be at the helm of leadership in Somalia.

But it's the formation of Jubaland which the former leader now says was ill-advised by the stakeholders. The state, he argues, was quite difficult to form due to several underlying factors thus making it almost impossible to realize several dreams of federalism in the country.

"Jubbaland formation has taken a heavy toll on us. We moved the subject from IGAD in Nairobi to Mogadishu which made matters worse. Jubbaland became a reality with a leader, we finally met in Addis and agreed on an interim administration," said the former president.

The state is now under Ahmed Madobe, whose relationship with the central government has often degenerated into deep political squabbles. Madobe, who has a strong backing of Kenya Defense Forces [KDF], is now serving his second and final term.

Besides Jubaland, Somalia also has Southwest, HirShabelle, Galmadug, and Puntland states which form part of the federal system. Puntland is one of the most stable while Banadir, a region that hosts the capital, has also been facing challenges for several years now over its status.

"Southwest state formation has not been less difficult. The biggest issue was a demonstration and Southwest is six or three regions," he said in reference to the state whose regional administrative capital is Baidoa.

Competition over political space persistently roams among Somali communities and partially reflects past grievance and lack of full trust in the system added the former president, who also warned against discarding the federal system despite difficulties in implementation.

"Centralism is not an option, Somalia needs to succeed in the implementation of Federalism. While it would hard and long, we do not have another option," he noted in the conference, which came few hours after the completion of the Heritage Institute of Policy Studies gathering in Garowe.

Mohamud also highlighted the current problems in the Sool and Sanaag regions which are disputed between Puntland and Somaliland, a region that declared self-independence from Somalia three decades ago after years and still didn't gain recognition.

"Sool and Sanaag live a Somali people who have suffered and lost everything in Somali unity. Their solution is not in Hargeisa, Garowe, and Villa Somalia, they need a Somali solution," he said.

The remarks by the former Somali president come as the country is now in a pre-election crisis which resulted from a dispute over the formation of the election body, which the government included spy agents and civil servants, a move that violates the election deal signed on Sep 17, 2020. 

GAROWE ONLINE