Somalia: Decision to Split Mudug Lays Bare Complexities of Somali Federalism
By Abdi Moalim
21 October 2014
Mogadishu - The continuing controversies and questions surrounding the
formation of Somalia's Central State highlight the pitfalls of
state-building and the need to fast track the creation of a Boundaries and
Federation Commission, political analysts and stakeholders say.
The approval in July of the formation of the Central State, a successor to
the Galmudug regional administration comprising Galgadud and Mudug regions,
and the subsequent political stalemate between the federal government and
the Puntland administration threatened to derail the federalism process.
Last week, that stalemate came to an end with the reconciliation talks
between the two sides and a 12-point agreement paving the way for reviewing
and implementing the provisional federal constitution, forming an inclusive
military force and holding elections in 2016, among other provisions.
However, the main point of the reconciliation talks -- to facilitate an
agreement on the formation of the Central State -- has only generated more
strife as the two sides backtracked on their original positions by breaking
Mudug region into two.
According to the agreement, the two parties decided that the Central State
will comprise southern Mudug and Galgudud regions, while northern Mudug will
remain an integral part of Puntland state.
Immediately after the agreement was announced, representatives from Galmudug
and Himan and Heeb regional administrations and Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ)
took issue with it, arguing that the federal constitution has the authority
to establish and define state borders, not politicians.
Abdikarim Daud, a political science professor at Mogadishu University, said
the government should have corrected the previous mistake before forging
ahead and signing another agreement that contradicts the first one.
"From the beginning it was hasty to announce the unification of the two
regions without appropriate consultations with the residents of the regions
because the people from Puntland who live in Mudug had the right to decide
whom they would join," he told Sabahi.
"Since another region was being added to an area that Puntland controls, it
had the right to be consulted and to be convinced," he said.
The October 14th agreement was also dismissed by the Central State
stakeholders, who in retaliation suspended their co-operation with the
federal government.
"The agreement will create conflict and disagreement, and will create doubts
among the people [of the central regions]," President of Galmudug Abdi
Hassan Awale Qeybdiid told Sabahi. "The points the two sides agreed upon do
not work in favour of the country, co-existence and reconciliation."
"The constitution is above everyone, both leaders and the public, but that
agreement has violated the federal constitution," he said.
Boundaries and Federation Commission not yet formed
Qeybdiid said they are particularly opposed to the article that divides
Mudug into north and south territories.
"That article directly contradicts the federal constitution, which states
two or more regions can create an administration," he said, adding that the
prime minister used powers he does not have under the constitution to divide
Mudug. "Article 111 states the Boundaries and Federation Commission has the
power to define the borders of regions and districts, and that commission
has not been named yet."
Daud, the political science professor at Mogadishu University, said the
federal government should have first created the Boundaries and Federation
Commission, and it should be the one to define or divide regional
boundaries.
In addition, he said, the 12-point agreement raises new issues with Puntland
that the federal government cannot resolve.
"Each federal state will have the right to request an agreement that is
similar to the one the government reached with Puntland and that could lead
to constant conflict," he said. "Considering this agreement, it divides the
people of Mudug along clan lines with clans from Puntland joining Puntland
and southern clans joining the central region administration because they
are from the same clan as the people there."
"That provision of the agreement will encourage other administrations to
request that the government carve out [and annex to their state] territories
inhabited by people from their clan that are part of other regions," he
said. "This will result in setbacks and [tribal] conflict for the government
because all the administrations have the same rights."
Government 'dragging its feet' on creation of Central State
ASWJ chairman Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan Gureye, one of the signatories of the
agreement reached at Villa Somalia on July 30th, said they are waiting for
answers from the federal government on why it changed the previous agreement
to create a unified administration for the Mudug and Galgadud regions.
"We will engage in talks and negotiations with the prime minister and the
president so that they can clarify their stance on the ongoing effort to
create an administration for the central regions," Gureye told Sabahi. "It
will be a positive thing if the government corrects its mistake, but if it
does not correct it, we will build our own administration and break ties
with the government."
Gureye said that stakeholders already started to engage in consultations and
intend to move forward according to the original agreement.
For his part, Galmudug President Qeybdiid said, "We will not go back on our
decision. It is the government's responsibility to make amends because we
are on the correct path. The decision lies with the traditional elders and
residents of the regions."
The Puntland administration declined Sabahi's request to respond to the
grievances of the stakeholders from the central regions.
Nonetheless, the federal government said the aim of its agreement with
Puntland was to re-initiate its relationship with Puntland.
"We welcome the agreement, and we are grateful to anyone who took part in
the rebuilding efforts," said Mohamed Keynan, communications director for
the Office of the President, adding that despite the progress to rebuild
Somalia in the past few years a lot of work remains to be done.
"There are efforts under way to create the boundaries, federalism and
electoral commissions," he told Sabahi. "These will enable the federal
government to create federal administrations through a consultative
process."
Keynan, however, also declined to comment further on the grievances of the
central region stakeholders and the conflict caused by the agreement between
Puntland and the federal government.