Democracy: Somali Style

by Ali H. Abdulla
Tuesday, January 06, 2009

 

As we know Democracy is a form government in which power is held by people under a free electoral system. Essential ingredients of democracy are free and fair elections, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Not all democracies are perfect and most are lacking in one or more of these basic tenets of democracy.

 

In my opinion the success of a democratic system also depends on the level of education of the people. The existence of a vibrant middle class is essential for the success of the system if it is to transcend the problems most African countries attempting to practice democracy have faced. Kenya, a supposedly democratic system, almost descended into chaos when the opposition cried foul.

 

After the dictatorial regime collapsed, Somalia lost its educated middle class after most of them elected to seek refugee status in the West and neighboring countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Despite the lack of an effective Middle class the two areas in Somalia that escaped chaos and mayhem, Puntland and Somaliland, has each experimented with some forms of Democracy with moderate successes.

 

In the first Presidential election that followed the death of Egal, Dahir Rayale was elected in an election that many criticized as being rigged.  Silanyo lost with a very narrow margin and had to accept the results under pressure from the elders in order to preserve the fragile existence of Somaliland which is largely based on a clan structure that is at best tenuous. The second presidential election will be held in the spring of the current year with one basic improvement, the introduction of voter registration which is supposed to fix the problems that surfaced in the first election. The system has been funded by European Donors.

 

Two problems have already emerged: Many areas claimed by Somaliland in Sool and Sanaag have out rightly rejected the project and a number of lives were lost in the process when Somaliland attempted to use force to register voters in these areas. Another problem is the objection of some regions, such as Awda,l  to the mechanism involved and the fishy results that started to emerge. For example Burao, a sparsely populated town registered 400,000 while Borame, a city with a vibrant settled farming community and exemplary institutions including universities and health facilities, registered 100,000. Complaints have already started to surface which can create problems down the road as an elder from Borame recently declared.

 

In Puntland, a traditional approach has been adopted in which members of the parliament are appointed by their traditional leaders. The appointed parliamentarians then convene to elect a President and a Vice President.  The system has many shortcomings. The parliamentarians can be bought easily by the highest bidder and the best candidate may never have a chance to win. However, it seems to me that, with the absence of an educated middle class, this approach can minimize post election disturbances such as the one that almost destroyed Kenya. It is a system that is based on local tradition and can work with some improvements. It can also progress eventually to a modern Democratic system. Somaliland by the way started with such a system that eventually evolved to the current system of one man one vote.

 

The current administration in Puntland is characterized by corruption and incompetence. However, it stands a very good chance of being reelected to another disastrous term in office by buying votes since the current electoral system lacks the proper checks and balances.. If that happens, it would be the kiss of death for Puntland as we know it today.

 

Obviously there is a need for change in Puntland. Some of the fresh faces running for the office of President include General Ilkajiir, a decorated war hero. His election will help solve many of the problems afflicting the region as a result of the mismanagement of the current team. These problems include piracy and insecurity. It will also bolster the stature of the so-called disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag and resoundingly end the dream of Somaliland to include these regions in its secessionist agenda. This will send a clear message to the International Community that Sool and Sanaag are part and parcel of Puntland and not the secessionist enclave.

 

There is also a need to expand Puntland to include other regions such s Gal-Mudug and Galguduud. The election of a person from from Galgudud as the speaker of the Puntland Parliament is an encouraging development that can herald a new approach to rebuilding Somalia block by block. With the absence of an effective government in Somalia, Puntland can become the base for a more stable and democratic Somalia if the right leadership takes the helm.

 

Hopefully the new Puntland Parliament will realize the importance of a change of guard in their region, a change that will herald an era of security, prosperity and progress.

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Ali H. Abdulla

IT Consultant

[email protected]