A New Capital for a New Somalia: Relocating the Seat of Government to Forge a Unified Future
By Ismail H. Warsame Copyright © 2025 WDM
Executive Summary
For over three decades, Mogadishu has functioned less as a national capital and more as a contested prize. The city’s entrenched clan-based power structures, severe security challenges, and symbolic association with conflict undermine its ability to serve as a neutral and unifying seat of federal power. This brief argues that relocating Somalia’s capital is not merely an infrastructural project, but a fundamental prerequisite for lasting state-building and federal cohesion.
Drawing on successful precedents from Nigeria (Abuja), Tanzania (Dodoma), and Kazakhstan (Astana), this paper outlines a feasible strategy for establishing a purpose-built Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A new, centrally located capital would be politically neutral, secure, and symbolically owned by all Somali people. It would catalyze economic development, strengthen federal institutions, and demonstrate a decisive break from the divisive politics of the past.
1.0 Problem Statement: The Case Against Mogadishu
Mogadishu’s role as the capital is a legacy of a pre-civil war state and is fundamentally incompatible with the goals of a modern, federal Somalia.
· 1.1 Political Capture & Exclusion: The perception of clan hegemony over key institutions and territories in Mogadishu fosters deep-seated alienation among other Somali communities. This reality undermines the legitimacy of the federal government and perpetuates a cycle of political exclusion and instability.
· 1.2 Security as a Barrier to Governance: The fact that the government operates from fortified compounds, reliant on international security forces, is not a sustainable model. This environment stifles free political engagement, public access to institutions, and the normalization of civic life.
· 1.3 Symbolic Failure: A national capital should be a symbol of unity and pride. Instead, Mogadishu evokes fear, resentment, and trauma for many Somalis, acting as a constant reminder of division rather than a beacon of collective national identity.
2.0 International Precedents: Strategic Capital Relocation
History offers clear blueprints for successfully relocating a capital to overcome internal divisions and strategic vulnerabilities.
· Nigeria (Abuja): Relocated from Lagos to a geographically and ethnically neutral central zone to promote national unity and decentralize economic power.
· Tanzania (Dodoma): Moved the political capital from Dar es Salaam to integrate the interior and solidify national cohesion.
· Kazakhstan (Astana): moved the capital northward to secure its territory, rebalance demographic pressures, and stimulate economic development in a remote region.
These examples demonstrate that with political will and careful planning, building a new capital is a viable nation-building strategy.
3.0 Policy Proposal: A Framework for a New Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
This proposal outlines a phased, pragmatic approach to establishing a new capital.
· 3.1 Location Criteria:
· Political Neutrality: A central location, e.g., with access to multiple tribes (clans) like Mudugh- land without exclusive historical clan ownership claims.
· Security & Strategic Value: Inland to mitigate external threats, yet proximate to major transportation and economic corridors.
· Land Availability: Ample, sparsely populated territory that can be acquired transparently by a national land commission for public use.
· 3.2 Constitutional and Legal Framework:
· Enact a constitutional amendment designating the new city as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a special administrative status.
· Establish an independent Federal Capital Authority (FCA) tasked with planning, governance, and management of the FCT.
· 3.3 Urban Planning and Infrastructure:
· Develop a master plan for core government functions (Parliament, Presidency, Supreme Court, foreign embassies).
· Prioritize modern, sustainable infrastructure: renewable energy, digital connectivity, and integrated public transit.
· Plan for residential zones, public services, and commercial districts to create a livable city from the outset.
· 3.4 Phased Implementation Roadmap:
· Phase 1 (Years 0-2): Political consensus building, constitutional amendment, site selection, and establishment of the FCA.
· Phase 2 (Years 2-5): Initial infrastructure development (roads, power, water) and construction of essential government buildings.
· Phase 3 (Years 5-10+): Gradual relocation of federal ministries, agencies, and the diplomatic community.
4.0 Expected Benefits
· Political: Establishes a neutral ground for federal politics, free from the influence of localized militias. Strengthens the legitimacy of the federal project for all member states.
· Economic: Creates massive employment in construction and services. Attracts diaspora investment into new real estate and technology sectors. Redistributes national wealth and ends Mogadishu-centric development.
· Security & Diplomacy: Provides a secure environment for government operations and encourages the international community to engage directly with Somali institutions in a stable setting.
5.0 Conclusion and Recommendation
Maintaining Mogadishu as the capital is an act of convenience that perpetuates Somalia’s deepest dysfunctions. The bold but necessary step of relocating the seat of government is an investment in Somalia’s future—a definitive statement that the nation is moving beyond the conflicts of the past.
Mogadishu will rightly remain Somalia’s primary commercial and cultural hub. However, its tenure as the political center must end. We recommend that the Federal Government of Somalia immediately initiate a national dialogue and commit to a feasibility study for this critical nation-building endeavor.
WDM 