Common Sense 101: Political Parties Could be the Answer to Somalia’s Messy Politic

[Gabbal]

Common Sense 101: Political Parties Could be the Answer to Somalia’s Messy Politics

 

By Abdirashid Khalif Hashi

 

Somalia’s political problems are becoming unfathomable to almost everyone who understands the basic definition of politics. The Somali practitioners in the art (or science) of Somali politics have reached a point where they even surprised themselves with their shifting positions, strange and unstable behaviors and amorphous political culture.

 

It is becoming obvious that Somalia’s dominant elite are not willing to see politics as managing conflicting needs of the Somali society. Instead, they reduced politics to a zero-sum game where conflict is the norm and cooperation is the exception. As a consequence, if one of the leaders / faction leaders / MPs/ warlords makes any gains, real or imagined, political or otherwise, this is automatically seen by the rest of his peers as a cardinal threat to their very survival, hence the endless political intrigues - legendry back stabbings, shifting alliances, superficial pledges, lip service pronouncements and the embarrassingly perpetual statelessness in Somalia.

 

It is also obvious that tribal liberation fronts, cascading factions, shifting alliances, the infamous 4.5 clan formula and every opportunistic exercise they have so far indulged in failed to help us establish a stable, peaceful and governable Somalia.

 

I think what Somalia needs now is viable, visionary and genuine political parties that could set new standards and chart new benchmarks for our erstwhile sad politics. After all, political parties have worked for all democracies everywhere and there is no reason why they would not work for us in Somalia.

 

I would even go further and suggest that the ruling camp represented by the President and the Prime Minister may form a party of their own. The other opposing faction within the Transitional Federal Institutions led by the Speaker, the Deputy PM (Sifir) and Mogadishu faction leaders may also form their own party, if they so chose.

 

These two camps may agree to a power-sharing partnership or a government of “national unity†or national reconciliation. Also these two groups may agree to allow one side to rule and the other to be the loyal opposition (a government in waiting of a sort). In such agreement, the opposition waits its turn and takes over power if and when the ruling party fails to lead.

 

Somalis who are not Members of Parliament but have particular political agendas or ideologies might also organize themselves and form their own parties as well.

 

Also MPs who choose not to join the ruling alliance or the main opposition camp might establish their own party. This kind of party must have a long-term national vision, well-defined political platform and fundamental guiding principles or ideology.

 

For instance, if only fifty Members of Parliament out of the 275 MPs form a national political party, which could rise above the petty political bickering, clannish thinking and the prevailing political opportunism perhaps such a party could be the deciding factor in all important national policy issues – that is, if the two other sides (the ruling and opposition camps) continue with their unnecessary, unwarranted and counterproductive ongoing political squabbles.

 

Perhaps the intellectuals and Somalis in the Diaspora and the ordinary citizen, who are in search for genuine political association, might empower such a Somalia-focused national political party. If prudent MPs appreciate their strength and join forces, obviously their political clout would clearly manifest itself and such a party and its potentially positive impact could be a reality in Somalia’s political landscape sooner rather than latter.

 

In short, political parties could tone down the prevailing tribal tendencies in Somalia’s political discourse. Political parties could transform the current antagonistic political attitudes into a positive and healthy competition. Political parties could help Somalis reflect on their common needs and help the forging of common national solutions.

 

Political parties could make Somalis more civil and tolerant towards each other. Political parties could help us steer away from abstract and imaginary problems and force us focus on the real scourges crippling our people.

 

In short, since politics is the art of possibilities, I think it is high time for Somalis turn their energies in forming viable, modern and broad-based political parties with a long- time vision, practical action-plans and genuine guiding principles.

 

The party I think will carry the day and could quickly win the hearts and minds of the Somali people is a national party, which is realistic in its vision, tolerant in its attitude and modern in its outlook.

 

Abdirashid is a Somali Canadian Writer based in Nairobi, Kenya and can be contacted at

E-mail: rashid2025@yahoo.com

[LANDER]

It could be common sense 101, but in this case perhaps "follow Somaliland 101" would be more of an empirical an acurate way of describing this proposal.

[Gabbal]

^^So "Somaliland" evented the idea of political parties :confused:

 

Or it has followed, like the Somali Republic before it, the footsteps of Western political thought :confused:

 

The things aan faan ka doono waa cajiib...