Former Federal MP Proposes a Confederal System for Somalia

[Deeq A.]

Abdifatah Dahir: “To be frank, Somaliland declared secession long ago and is not a part of the Federal Government. Puntland has lost confidence in the government. Two major clans, Darod and Isaq, are disaffected with the state of governance.”

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Abdifatah Dahir, a former MP of the Somali bicameral legislature, has proposed a confederal system as the only way for the “Somaliland administration to renounce secession and embrace the Union”. Dahir contends that the political deadlock in Somalia implies the failure of federal governance. “The amendments to the Provisional Constitution were expedited illegally,” said Dahir.

In response to a question posed by Somali Cable TV about whether the MPs and Senators “voted on the amendments since they were elected by their constituencies”, Dahir replied: “If we don’t engage in fruitless debate, we can say they were not elected. The test of amendments to the constitution is if MPs and Senators can sell the amended constitution to their constituencies. To give you an example, our MPs and Senators from Somaliland cannot go to territories controlled by the Somaliland Administration and convince people to accept the amended constitution.” Dahir added that the purpose of MPs and Senators is to maintain political unity until a comprehensive political settlement is reached. “As such, they cannot endorse constitutional amendments,” he concluded.

Dahir, who was selected as an MP representing Somaliland before the 2022 presidential election in Mogadishu,  raised alarms about the viability of the Somali political system. “To be frank, Somaliland declared secession long ago and is not a part of the Federal Government. Puntland has lost confidence in the government. Two major clans, Darod and Isaq, are disaffected with the state of governance. Rahanweyn of the Southwest may follow suit,” said Dahir, who views a confederal system as the only means to bring Somaliland back into the Union fold.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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