WDM BREAKING NEWS

The undersigned traditional elders have issued a statement forfeiting their role in peace-making and conflict resolution. Instead, they put more fuel to the fire. Their partial recommendations to the Puntland Government is flatly unacceptable. It is an offer designed for Puntland Government to reject outright.

These titled #elders in #Bari Regions of #Puntland State have proved to be a party to Bosaso standoff. They have finally lost any credibility for the good of Puntland.

It is historically important to note that these titled elders, who have issued this document represent exactly the same sub-clans in Bari Region that rose against Puntland President then, Abdullahi Yusuf, exactly for the same reasons for power struggle in 2000-2001.

WDM EDITORIAL

TRADITIONAL ELDERS ARE NOW IMPEDIMENTS TO GOOD GOVERNANCE

First and foremost, statehood and governance wasn’t part of their responsibilities. It was necessary option to involve them in the immediate post Civil War Somalia with regards to peacemaking, reconciliation among warring clans, and to help in convening founding congresses for the establishment of Federal Member States. As Somalia moves away from warlordism and factional fightings, their role in politics becomes an obstacle to effective administration and good governance. Now they should be reduced to traditional roles only, urgently removed from their involvement in politics, if Somalia wants to move forward with modern statecraft.

The role of clan elders in this election cycle must be curtailed in order to elect qualified and competent members of parliament.

We could imagine and expect corrupt politicians, but we can’t tolerate corrupt traditional elders because there is no recourse to replace them by impeaching.

https://amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame

WISE ELDERS MISSING IN PUNTLAND TRADITIONAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

By Ismail Warsame
Opinion Columnist

Puntland State has no longer the unique historical advantages of traditional SELF-GOVERNMENT. The region has come to the end of the road with the ascent of new generations of junior elders replacing the old guard. The future of the state looks bleak as a result of political stagnation that kept these inexperienced tribal elders to remain relevant to the political system of the state, a situation far removed from the traditional roles of peace-keeping and peace-making among the clans. During the foundation of Puntland State, seeking grassroot support amid the civil war was essential and couldn’t had been done otherwise. But we fully knew that the job of a tribal elder wasn’t to select members of parliament and build institutions of a state. At the time, it meant to be a short-term arrangement, given the difficult circumstance we were in. Moreover, a government lacking checks and balance of power, on the top of the above systemic vicious cycle, will not survive much longer.

Until Puntland moves to holding general elections as soon as it is practical, we are progressing backwards with unpredictable and dangerous consequences of state failure again, this time with existential threat of not to be.

What had made Puntland historically unique in Somalia’s politics was the progressive nature of its residents to reform, renovate and re-think options for self-government. That is now finally being threatened.

Have your say.

https:/amazon.com/author/ismailwarsame