Somalia: Leaked Gov't Document Pushes for Regional Administrations
2 March 2013
Mogadishu - A classified document from the Somali Federal Government (SFG)
under the National Stabilization Plan called "Laying Foundations for
Functional and Effective Local Governance Structure", was obtained by Garowe
Online.
The stabilization plan aims at empowering the SFG to appoint all regional
administrations in Somalia. Sources that leaked the document to GO said that
the letter was given to Foreign Minister Fowzia Yusuf Haji Adan to present
to IGAD officials who met in Nairobi on Friday, Garowe Online reports.
Local Administration
The document given to IGAD officials on Friday, argues that regions like
Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba, Bay and Bakool are not ready to form states
either due to Al Shabaab's control in geographical areas within these
regions or due to the lack of local administrations in the regions.
It suggests that the SFG should appoint local governments states that, "In
solving the Somali problem, the local government will provide the citizens
with a say in the government." The document then refers to SFG implemented
administrations in regions like Hiraan and Bay.
Baidoa - the capital of Bay region - recently had been home to a tense
dispute after the SFG sacked popular Governor Abdifatah Mohamed Geesey and
appointed a new governor Abdi Adan Hasow.
According to a source, Governor Geesey had the support of the local council
in Baidoa including Somali government troops after publicly announcing that
he was still governor. Following the announcement by the governor, Ethiopian
forces were called into the city to ease tensions. Newly appointed governor
Hasow's administration was unable to work in Baidoa due to the resultant
high tensions.
Governor Geesey on February 21 was escorted by SFG security forces to
Mogadishu where some sources say he had been put under arrest after refusing
to leave his post as Bay region governor even after the SFG offered
appeasement in the form of another government position.
Some Somali analysts translated Governor Geesey saga as a bid by the SFG to
have control over the Bay and Bakool regions.
Sources tell GO that the state process had been sidelined after many top
politicians hailing from those areas such as former Speaker of Parliament
Sharif Hassan Sharif Adan were given incentives to keep quiet and play blind
to the issue.
Timing of SFG regional administrations
The document states that after the interim administrations are in place,
partners such as IGAD and AMISOM could support, "by backing up the Federal
government's technical team in sending observers, mediation and negotiating
experts or providing funds for the implementation of conferences and similar
processes which the Somali Federal government intends to facilitate."
The Jubaland state formulation process has been ongoing for quite some time.
During the Jubaland state formulation process technical committees were
formed; with Jubba region leaders holding meetings in Nairobi and Somalia.
The tedious participatory process had full representation from major
districts in the three regions (Gedo, Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba) through
their appropriate community leaders.
Moreover, the Jubaland process had been in progress prior to Somalia's
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Roadmap process that was successful in
establishing the Somali Provisional Federal Constitution which ironically
promotes state building processes.
The leaked report states that regional administrative formation process
needs to be enacted as soon as possible.
"The situation rightly seems it is the right time now than any time before;
we must not miss the opportunity and build our local and regional
administration," reads the document.
The SFG leaked document plans to build all regional and local
administrations in 30 weeks.
According to GO's Somali political analyst Ahmed Abdi, "the document has a
project proposal structure, with a monitoring and evaluation period. It's
difficult trying to assimilate a development style needed to be more
involved with the process.
SFG position on Jubaland
The SFG has accused the community led Jubaland state process - backed by
IGAD - of not being inclusive and sidelining certain clans in the regions.
However officials organizing the Jubaland convention have countered the
accusations by accusing the SFG of trying to create clan tensions so as to
derail the Jubaland state formation process.
"If certain clans feel sidelined they would be stating their grievances to
the media, to community leaders and traditional elders as is the norm.
However the only entity speaking about clans that are marginalized is the
SFG. Minority clans are well represented in the Jubaland state process,"
said Abdi Mohamed a Jubaland state organizer.
Ahmed Madoobe stated on Thursday that the Jubaland state conference had been
an all inclusive and transparent process where "all regions and clans were
represented although some district leaders missed the opening day."
Gedo region leaders and traditional elders from the three regions spoke to
Somali media on Saturday clarifying that they will be attending the Jubaland
state conference which is slated to reconvene on Sunday.
SFG President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has gone on the record that his
government should be building a state for Jubaland, on the contrary however
PM Shirdon was perceived after various positive comments on Jubaland to
fully support the state process.
Sources in the SFG tell GO that the sudden shift in the PM's perspective is
a result of presidential pressure from President Hassan urging the premier -
who hails from Gedo region - to "fix" the process.
Prime Minister Shirdon sent a ministerial delegation on Wednesday led by
Interior Minister Abdikarim Hassan Guled to persuade the Jubaland organizers
to hold the conference in Mogadishu, a request fully rejected by the
officials and organizers.
The SFG has opposed the Jubaland state conference calling it
unconstitutional.The conference is set to continue on Sunday, although the
SFG hasn't stated what the repercussions would be if the conference
continues.
