Tag: Conflict resolution

MEDIATION ALLA SOMALIA

Somali traditional clan system was reportedly famous for tribal conflict resolution. However, upon close examination of the issue, one would find out that this mechanism for settlement of disputes was never fond of setting up neutral or independent bodies. The negotiating sides were selected from the opposing parties, each side advocating for the interests of their respective party. The protagonists must trust the judgment of their envoys to be reliable defenders and effective advocates. The main takeaway of this tool of conflict resolution is their intention to lower the temperature of the conflicting parties by keeping them talking and to address their grievances to each other. In the end that approach may produce:

  1. Restraint
  2. Appreciation of each other’s points of view.
  3. Mutual understanding and reconciliation
  4. Compromise with possible outcome of settlement of dispute(s).

That is why one notices that this approach also applies to politics in Somalia, and in a situation where Federal public institutions have lost legitimacy, the only way to avoid conflagration of violence and civil conflict is to appoint persons representing the main antagonists in the conflict. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo selected his political allies in the name of Speaker of now defunct Federal Parliament, Mohamed Mursal, who attempted to extend President’s mandate to two more years just recently, and Galmudugh President, known as Qoor Qoor, Ahmed Abdi Kariye, who owes his position in Galmudugh presidency to only Farmajo’s help. This approach is also true to Caretaker prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, with the selection of loyal junior ministers in the Caretaker Federal Cabinet.

They say that a civil war breaks out when parties to a conflict stop talking to each other. As long as there are talks going on between the parties in Mogadishu political stalemate, including the opposition elements, there will be still a chance to settle down the political and security tensions there.

But, regardless of the outcome of Mogadishu power struggle within the leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) must proceed to hold the elections to expeditiously resolve the logjam in Mogadishu by electing a new federal parliament, which will elect a new Federal President. Act now before the conflict in Mogadishu gets out of hand.

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(This article has been updated since posting.)

Is Puntland is on the Brink of an Avoidable Political Conflict?

The current differences on the democratization process between Puntland authorities and opposition parties could escalate into destabilization of Puntland and gave opportunities to militants and extremists including Al-shabab now in hiding. Puntland Traditional Leadership and donor community should immediately intervene before it becomes too late to bridge the gap and mistrust between Puntland leadership and opposition political associations.

Democratization was never meant to jeopardize peace and stability in the State, but enhance people’s confidence in the process and add harmony and understanding among inhabitants. Ignored and unaddressed, this simmering political confrontation now could serve as time bomb that can explode anytime as popular protest against real or perceived Government manipulations of electoral process grow louder in the coming weeks and months. It is now about the time to intervene and mediate sides.

Already, some members of the opposition like UDAD (PPP), Midnimo, PDP and others have declared that they will be boycotting the upcoming local elections. This is a bad omen for Puntland stability and must be avoided at any cost.

These new political parties sent out letters to all local and international bodies, party to the electoral process recently and issued press releases, complaining about Government sponsorship and support for amendments, omissions by local Parliament of critical articles in the multiparty electoral laws .

A compromise arrangement has to be made to bring parties together for an agreement acceptable to all. It is in the best interests of all parties concerned to prevent hostilities and political violence.

A New Year message from one of the key founders of Puntland State of Somalia

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The idea behind the creation of Puntland State of Somalia was of two-fold:

 To bring stability, peace, harmony, organisation and good governance to the inhabitants of Northeastern Somalia, restoring, creating and delivering vital public services to the entire communities in multiple regions of the new state.

 To act and lead the way to the reinstatement and re-construction of Somalia as one of its top priorities.

 It was a creation fully supported by grass-root movement that evolved many years during the Civil War and finally boiled down to the establishment of the state as a series of Somalia’s peace and reconciliation conferences abysmally failed to restore Somalia’s central government, and emphatically couldn’t be realised it from top down,thus Puntland’s coining of the “building block” concept.

 It was based on unique approach to governance: the foundation of state based on traditional values, its historical zonal self-government experience, married with modern system of administration, and most importantly, discontinuation of  colonial legacy with regards to governance as the support of the traditional leadership took centre stage as a critical mechanism for conflict resolution and sound consultation.

 As a starting framework for its leadership legitimacy, an indirect democratic selection of legislative members was mandated by its constituency membership through deliberate and exhaustive criteria enshrined in a well prepared charter by any reputable international standards.

 here were a number of political and constitutional crisis in the short history of Puntland existence as a state. Each time Puntland State survived mainly because of its strong founding principles and historically binding evolution of people’s aspirations and wishes against the whims of its leadership of the day.

However, Puntland State has been always lacking behind in its further democratisation process, unable after more than a decade, to move forward in implementing the general election of “one man, one vote”. That is why one sees leadership crisis towards the end of each leader’s term in office.

 In exactly the same fashion, one witnesses now self-made political tension that may lead to instability and threaten to law and order. It is the same story playing out again. It is therefore self-evident that there is something seriously wrong in Puntland State governance. That has to be fixed quickly and wisely in the best interest of the people and for public good. Put aside leadership ambitions and personal interests because such inclination will serve no one in the end and endanger Puntland State peace, stability and unity. Don’t play with fire to score political points. Always keep in mind that Puntland state is the outcome of many sacrifices and irreplaceable human and economic resources.

 For the opposition, the disputed one year extension of the President’s term in office should not be the focus because the stakes are much higher here. Instead, they should be concentrating the democratisation process, while the current leadership provides an atmosphere conducive to dialogue between all stake-holders and parties, and embark upon consensus building. I may remind all of the fact that civil strife takes place when parties fail to talk to each other- in other words, in the absence of dialogue. As long as there is a debate on all issues of mutual concern,there is unlikely that conflagration could occur.

 Finally, Puntland State history showed that when there is a political crisis, there are always external actors ready to step in to further destabilise the state. We should be very careful here not to give devils and dark forces in-waiting any chance.

 In conclusion, I wish you all a Happy 2013.

 Ismail H. Warsame

Formerly Chief of Staff, Puntland State Presidency.