Tag: democratization

ON PUNTLAND DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS

MINISTER JUXA ON THE PRESSING ISSUE OF DEMOCRATIZATION IN PUNTLAND

UNELECTED COUNCILS IN PUNTLAND DISTRICTS RISK DISMANTLE

Any unelected City Council is subject to a summary dismissal for whatever reasons or excuses. Only elected officials would make sense in Puntland State from now on. Puntland political stagnation also lies in unelected district councils, unresponsive to the needs of residents, running the show for far too long. They usually serve the interests of those who appointed them. As long as they are doing their boss’s bidding, they are safe in their unearned public positions. If you notice someone being removed, it isn’t about job performance, but about disalignment with the politics of those who hired them. It isn’t often job related.

But, now there is an awareness by many progressives of the State that Puntland has come to a dead end to continue business as usual. Politicians now see the writing on the wall. It becomes obvious to them that, even if they barely succeed in taking over Puntland presidency to exercise one man show prerogatives like in the past, year after year it is increasingly becoming difficult to govern the State. Puntland political stagnation turned everyone to a cynic and suspicious towards politicians, especially those in positions of power. Nepotism, cronyism and despotism have become the style of Puntland governance, and as a result, the culture and political traditions of the State.

The only way out of the political quagmire is radical reform of the system through free and fair elections. Initially, it will be hard to implement elections because of the inertia of the decaying system and reluctance of the residents to embrace change. Democracy needs to take roots in the society, eventually becoming a way of life and ordinary. But, you will never succeed if you don’t try the experiement hard enough and get committed to realizing the democratic principle of one person one vote. So, let us move on to democratization. It provides more job security and public confidence for all, including Puntland District Councils.

ON THE STALLED PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIZATION IN PUNTLAND

WDM EDITORIAL

Listening to the on-going debates on DEMOCRATIZATION process in Puntland, one finds misunderstanding and confusion among debaters. There is a mixed-up between holding municipal elections to establish local district councils, and general election for representatives of the House of Parliament and subsequent election of Puntland President. Whose responsibility is it to clear the confusion?

It is the responsibility of the government to campaign for and send out clear message that the job descriptions of TPEC (Temporary Puntland Election Commission) are limited to holding elections of District Councils only. The electoral data or registrations so produced in local elections could be used for the next parliament and presidential elections, given available time and necessary constitutional reforms done. Local elections are also designed to make room and democratic space for viable political parties based on their popular support to compete in subsequent elections.

Direct Parliament and Presidential elections may require certain revisions of Puntland Constitution. But holding local elections are overdue. It is Puntland Government which is sitting on the issue and creating obstacles and confusion in the way of moving the process forward. The administration is projecting fake public image that they are committed to holding the elections. Some observers believe that the authorities have hidden agenda in prolonging the debate with the intention of attempting to seek extension of its five-year mandate, a dangerous proposition based on the history of the State.

President Said Abdullahi Deni and his administration must come out clean on Puntland DEMOCRATIZATION process. They should send unequivocal message that they are serious on the issue and take all the necessary measures, actions and commit all resources by mobilising local and international assistance to complete the remaining elections of the local councils.

TRIALS AND ERRORS IN PUNTLAND GOVERNANCE

A review of last night’s political debate called for by President Said Abdullahi for a chit-chat at Presidency ensued today between participants over a teatable conversation at a hotel lobby. Since some of us weren’t privy to the substance of the overnight’s debate, we were good listeners to those who wanted to compare notes among themselves and didn’t mind our presence at table. The issue was Puntland democratization and how to better manage traditional tribal mechanism. That event at Presidency is one of President Deni’s rarest occasions he was improvising lately, after many trials and errors in governing Puntland from the perspective of one man show, as other state institutions are weakened almost beyond repair.

Some of us, who casually had happened to be around at that hotel table, tried to contribute to the interesting discussion. We were looked at as outsiders since we weren’t privy to the last night’s prestigious auspice granted by the President to a selected group of Puntland VIPs not considered out of favor from the Presidency. Some of the participants in last night’s get-together with the President came from Somali Diaspora communities. Although they were in deep learning curve on Puntland governance and history of the young Federal Member State, they were eager to offer new ideas to the debate on Puntland socio-economic developments, we learned.

As our round hotel table discussion developed further, we came to debate on the notion of democratization of Puntland system of governance and how to manage the disadvantages of tribal system in the State and Somalia, in general. The issue is management of clans in a democratic society or a tribal society desirous of establishing a modern democratic society as in the case of Puntland. One of us asked the question: “In a country of laws, who is sovereign or supreme, traditional leadership or the rule of law by the state’s institutions?” This fundamental inquiry sparked off fierce debate at table. Although there was no common understanding reached here, the consensus was that successive Puntland administrations were to blame on the state of affairs of Puntland governance. Political leaders had failed Puntland, a situation that led to stagnation of the state in all sctors.

DEMOCRATIZATION STALLED AGAIN IN PUNTLAND

Like typical Puntland administration behavior at end of its term in office, the current government has run out of steam in pushing the agenda forward. Some politically naive persons or interest groups are propagating the notion that there is no enough time left to elect remaining local councils and have them in place before next parliament and presidential elections, not understanding a job half done is better than not doing anything at all. Members of Puntland House of Representatives fare no better than the so-called “AARAN JAAN” spin doctors in that regard, on the top of being a rubber-stamp institution for decades.

Since there is no long term vision by each of successive Puntland administrations, important public tasks are left for next administrations or generations to attend, thus becoming a vicious cycle not to initiate and administer any meaningful programs towards Puntland future governance. The State never laid down and worked out any significant public policy. It operates on ad hoc fashion as its modus operandi. Residents get accustomed to political thinking in the space of one term or one administration- for them, tomorrow doesn’t exist. Starting programs to be completed by the next administration isn’t in their books. But, the worse of all is the fact that authorities of the day see only the problems, not the opportunities. Most are likely to reason with you why this job can’t be done because of these impediments. It is people who love to raise their hands up in the air in surrender when they are challenged. They don’t get the world moves on with or without them.

People of the State of Puntland had observed how it was easy to hold municipal elections in Uffayn, Qardho and Eyl districts just recently. There aren’t any excuses not to hold similar elections in other districts of the State. Negative thinking on the part of interest groups and the government of President Said Abdullahi Deni are now the real obstacles to democratization in Puntland State of Somalia.

HAPPY PUNTLAND 24TH ANNIVERSARY, AUGUST 1ST! CONGRATULATIONS!

Donor Community Re-ngages Puntland Parties to Commit themselves to Holding Elections

Garowe, Puntland-Following the disagreements between the Puntland Government and the Transitional Electoral Commissions on one side and political associations on the other, on holding planned local elections in Puntland in a fair and transparent manner, or if you would, setting up a consensus platform for the rules of the road, resulting in the announcement of election boycott by UDAD, Midnimo and PDP parties, the Donor Community providing funds and technical expertise on Puntland elections, gets worried and started re-engaging parties to move the democratization process forward, according to reliable local and international sources. This is good news for Puntland and its voters to participate actively in a rare democratic process that will see inhabitants deciding the destiny of their country and an opportunity to install the government of their own making and accountable only to them. It is extremely the most important political development in the short history of Puntland and must be hailed as such.

If elections are held as planned in June of this year, based on the provisions of the Puntland Democratization Roadmap, Puntland State is set to come out of the woods and political stagnation it has been stuck throughout its existence. The Donor Community is doing a remarkable job to prevent political chaos and misuse of Donor funds, state power and resources to influence the elections’ outcome.

It is extremely important for all parties, including Puntland authorities and political associations to work with the Donor Community in this regard, for if this process fails, it will have a dramatic impact on the viability of Puntland as a Federated State in a now Federal Somalia. Fair and transparent elections are critically required to preserve the unity, peace and continuation of Puntland as the first pillar and champion of federalism in Somalia. Failure to set the example right will definitely have crucial negative influence at national level, raising renewed questions on suitability of Somalia for Federal system of governance. All Puntland stakeholders of the planned elections must be warned, advised and be very careful in moving the Democratization fairly and honestly forward.