by Abdulkadir Ossoble Ali
Thursday, July 3, 2014
The recently televised signing of the agreement on the formation of federal state for Bay, bakool and Lower shabelle has created unnecessary tensions among the Somali people who had already suffered from protracted conflict.
Since President Hassan Sheikh's elections, the anticipation for building democratic institutions that can carry the aspirations of the people for peace and sustainable reconciliation was high in Somalia and that the new government will finally do away with that all too familiar top down policies that are based on group or foreign interests. Unfortunately, there is a growing sense among the Somalia people that the newly signed agreement would disenfranchise communities and create unnecessary conflicts. Ignoring the concerns and grievance of the people proved to be a tool for extremism and is not only dangerous to the stability of Somalia but to the region and the whole world.
The 'federalism' issue is a very controversial to say the least and there are supporters as well as oppositions of the whole concept. Both sides are Somalis and deserve to be given space to deliberate. The role of the government is that of creating a processes and debates among the people so that they are comfortable with the concept and the formation of the institutions that represent them. There is serious opposition to the formation of the southwestern state.
Article 49, paragraph (1-6) clearly explains on the regions and states are formed. Paragraph (6) states: "based on a voluntary decision, two or more regions may merge to form a federal member state." It is voluntary and not an imposition by the government or any other foreign countries. Article 7, Paragraphs (1-11) further explains that the process of first establishing districts and regions before a merger between two regions occurs. Ignoring such an important process is a grave violation of the Somali constitution. The participation of IGAD and other international representative including UN representatives would not bring legitimacy without the consensus of the Somali people. The TFG leaders need not be co-opted by group or foreign interests and instead craft a policy and process that is based on fair participation of all which can pave the way for sustainable reconciliation.
The current conflict between supporters of the six regions and the three regions (Bay, Bakool and lower Shabelle) as well as the two shabelle has to be addressed peaceful. Creating federal states that do not enjoy the support of the majority of the population undermines the legitimacy of these institutions and is a further setback for Somalia's peace building process. The top-down process has utterly failed in Somalia and I urge all the international community to refrain from supporting an illegitimate process that can further destabilize the country.
Abdulkadir Ossoble Ali is Somali member parliament
Chairperson committee for foreign affairs
& international cooperation