Is Federalism Threat To Our Unity?

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Is Federalism Threat To Our Unity?

 

 

The focus of the discussions among Somalis, whether they are in the teashops known as "fadhi ku dirir" or universities, is advantages and disadvantages of federal system. It is a threat to our unity! Claim the opponents of the federalism. Federalists argue it is justice and fair power sharing system. Let us examine little bit the history of the federalism or lack of it with in the Somali context.

 

This debate is older than the independence of the nation, leaders of the Hisbiya (HDM) party put forward the federal system be implemented after the independence with a vision of fair power sharing, they were labeled as colonial cronies by the SYL the dominant political party at that time. Somalia chose central "UNITARY" government when the south and north joined and set up the first republic of the country on July 1st, 1960.

 

Mogadishu became the center of the power, with few families from the south holding the lion share of the government portfolios. Honeymoon did not last long because of dissatisfaction at the distribution of power among the clan families and between the two regions. Separatist movements started to surface one year after the independence. Unitary government failed to unite the country right after its birth.

 

Advocates of unitary system claimed then (before the independence) and now federalism would create clannishness. I can guarantee that clannishness would not disappear no matter what form of system we chose. Unitary system neither under the democratic rule nor dictatorship was free of clannishness, as matter of fact it reached a point where no one anticipated it will get. Federalism would at least slice the pie and make sure each group get a portion of the pie.

 

Now, after fifty some thing years, majority of Somalis decided to try federal system. Federalism worked in many countries successfully; people can be united under federal states. However, one has to remember federalism just by mentioning it in the constitution does not guarantee that our problems would disappear. For a federal system to work, process has to start from the bottom (grass roots), to make sure that we do not end up state level dictators or should we call them tribal dictators.

 

One thing we know is that unitary system has been tried long enough, and it failed us badly. Unless we want to go the same road to hell again and again, the only choice left for us is federal system based on justice and traditional territorial arrangements.

 

A. Abow

Toronto, Canada

E-mail: abow@idirect.com