WDM EDITORIAL

FIND CONSENSUS ON PUNTLAND DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS

There are reports, press statements and counter-press statements by Puntland political associations and NGOs on the timely holding of pilot (test) elections in some Puntland towns. The question is: Can Puntland hold both the Federal and provincial elections back-to-back (at same time)? If that can be done demonstratively, then why don’t we go ahead with these pilot elections in Eyl, Uffayn and Qardho?

Based on historical experience, this planned local election experiment will surely remain only on paper without Puntland Government pushing it. If current Puntland leader, Deni, were to get elected as President of Somalia in this forthcoming presidential election, there would be no guarantees that the next Puntland President would be in favor of multiparty democracy. This is a one-man show exercise, not a popular movement or political trend in the State as Puntland/Somalia population hadn’t been prepared for the process for many decades.

It is also important to note here that the recipients of donors’ funds like PRDC, PUNSAA, TPEC, among other non-state actors involved in the stalled democratization programs in Puntland State, are partial entities and have vested financial interests in the process and debate on the matter. The new political associations of Puntland are taking their lack of election experiences and low capacities to multi-task into account. It is a legitimate concerns.

We recommend to all parties to come together to reach at consensus on the way forward and inform Puntland Government and donor community accordingly.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WHY BOTH SIDES OF MUDUGH REGION IS IN SIMMERING POLITICAL CRISIS

North Mudugh Region and Galmudugh State are both in crisis of identity, political and traditional leadership vacuum, with elders in North Mudugh heavily politicized and predominantly absent in the Region most of the time, and political leadership in Galmudugh having no vision and in disarray because of President Qoor Qoor’s unstable temperament and shifting positions.

Geopolitics is a factor with regards to regional stability or instability, depending on a given situation. Peace-making and political harmony in the regions of Mudugh (North and South) are interlinked. The security turmoil in Galmudugh with violence from Al-shabab, its volatile leadership character and fluid relationships with Farmajo have exposed Galmudugh weaknesses, a situation that prevented them from pursuing coherent policy objectives that was being encouraged recently by Galmudugh elders and intellectuals to live in peace within and with others in the neighborhood. Galmudugh political and security disarray have geopolitical impact also on residents of North Mudugh. Destabilising factors from Farmajo Team of Puntland origin have indirect role to play in the manufactured political noises in Galkayo of late regarding the planned Federal elections. There are some residents of North Galkayo and persons of Mudugh origin now playing with fire, while jeopardizing the recent gains of the Region such as the construction of one of the biggest seaports in the African sub-region, successful security operations against Al-Shabab and planned repairs of Garowe-Galkayo Road, among other projects. This is typical Somali nomadic character that prosperity brings violence and instability to the people of Somalia.

People should wise up and learn from their past mistakes.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame