Jubaland Talks in Somalia Make Little Progress

[Mario B]

NAIROBI — Talks on the creation of the federal state of Jubaland in southern Somalia have made little progress despite months of negotiations.

 

In the meantime, relations between the central government and local actors have become increasingly strained, evidenced by a power struggle over the port city of Kismayo. The tensions have thrown the country's new federal system into doubt.

 

Since the capture of Kismayo by Kenya Defense Forces in October of last year, politicians, elders and local militias have been engaged in talks organized by the eastern African organization IGAD.

 

Over the past month, a meeting of 800 delegates representing local communities from the regions of Gedo, Lower and Middle Juba approved a constitution for the new state. However, some participants have complained that the balance was stacked in favor of more powerful players in the discussions.

 

One of the delegates, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the conference was heavily influenced by Ras Kamboni militia leader Ahmed Madobe, who helped Kenyan forces liberate Kismayo from al-Shabab.

 

“The conference was supposed to be neutral and every region is to express its views independently,” he said. “There were 870 delegates who approved the constitution, when there were supposed to be 500. Some of these delegates were Ras Kamboni militiamen who were in civilian clothes.”

 

Neither Madobe nor any representative of Ras Kamboni returned calls for comment.

 

 

Hassan Samantar, a politician and key player in establishing Galmudug state in central Somalia, said clan representation at the conference was also unbalanced.

 

“The problem now is the representation of the elders who will select the delegates based on the regions, so this is really a big headache," he said. "Some groups, they were protesting yesterday that they were not having a fair representation [and] that some clans, they were given for example 10 elders to represent them, others one or two , so there was no balance.”

 

The process of creating Jubaland has attracted the interests of Kenya, Ethiopia, IGAD and the Somali federal government, which is trying to define its relationship with the region of 1.3 million inhabitants.

 

The new Somali constitution ratified last year sets up a system of states around a central government, but some observers say there has been little progress in establishing the mechanisms to make federalism work.

 

Ahmed Soliman, Horn of Africa researcher at Chatham House, a foreign policy institute in London, said there are no clear rules for the founding of Jubaland, and that the uncertainty over the process could be dangerous.

 

“It does seem to me pressure to rush ahead with this, whether or not this means we will see potential conflict over Kismayo or Jubaland remains to be seen, but there is certainly a chance that could happen given the nature of how things are moving ahead,” Soliman said.

 

There are already indications of rising tension, as several sources in Kismayo confirmed that former warlord Barre Hirale, who once controlled the port city for close to nine years, arrived Thursday by sea along with dozens of loyal militia soldiers.

 

Soliman said Hirale’s presence could be a concern to the region and everyone involved in the process.

 

“That would be a concern for the region and it would be in concern whoever in Kismayo is able to uphold the peace because the peace has been relatively sure in making AMISOM coming into Kismayo so you wouldn't want a conflict to start right now, it won’t be good for the process,” said Soliman.

 

The central government has dismissed the Jubaland process as unconstitutional, saying it lacks legitimacy.

 

Mohammed Yusuf

 

25/04/2013

 

http://www.voanews.com/content/talks-to-create-jubaland-in-somalia-make-little-progress/1648884.html

[xiinfaniin]

^^Yabarow failed , his heart broken :D

[nuune]

Why don't you mention the author of the artice in the voa: Mohammed Yusuf, April 25, 2013, at least we know who has written this, it is the complete source and you are not supposed to pick and choose and paste!

[xiinfaniin]

^^It's editors wishes to see Jubbaland fail , nuune :D

[nuune]

As if VOA is more reliable than Dayniile or our own comical Dahir Alasow ashuun.

[xiinfaniin]

Actually VOA is in a sorry state ...it failed. One wonders why the US is footing the bill for a such clannish outlet

[nuune]

I don't know about their clannish background, but one can see lately it doesn't publish reliable stuff.

[xiinfaniin]

^^They are very clannish in their editorial---I know couple of reporters (very qualified) who left because of it.

 

Read the article and tell me what editorial review would approve that , better yet who would publish a commentary from Galmudug on Kismayo :D

[nuune]

Mario thanks for putting the name of the Author, at least everyone is able to see and give their verdict about this sad article.

 

 

Xiin, lool am not well versed in that area niyahow, geeljiraan iska ahey waad ogtahey.

[xiinfaniin]

Nuune, pay attention awoowe , here it is:

 

Hassan Samantar, a politician and key player in establishing Galmudug state in central Somalia, said clan representation at the conference was also unbalanced.

 

“The problem now is the representation of the elders who will select the delegates based on the regions, so this is really a big headache," he said. "Some groups, they were protesting yesterday that they were not having a fair representation [and] that some clans, they were given for example 10 elders to represent them, others one or two , so there was no balance.”

 

 

Ahmed Soliman, Horn of Africa researcher at Chatham House, a foreign policy institute in London, said there are no clear rules for the founding of Jubaland, and that the uncertainty over the process could be dangerous.

 

“It does seem to me pressure to rush ahead with this, whether or not this means we will see potential conflict over Kismayo or Jubaland remains to be seen, but there is certainly a chance that could happen given the nature of how things are moving ahead,” Soliman said.

[Mario B]

My bad I hope all you accept my apology, from now on I'll avoid the VOA like the plague, next time if I want to copy and paste an article i'll insure it's written by the 'unbiased John Smith' from associated Press, Reuters, BBC [ the white version].....:rolleyes:

[xiinfaniin]

^^Or read it and make sure Hassan Samantar of Galmudug is not disguised as a reporter :D

[Mario B]

xiinfaniin;943640 wrote:

^^Or read it and make sure Hassan Samantar of Galmudug is not disguised as a reporter

:D

And how do I go about doing that? Making sure that Hassan Samatar is not the head of Laanta Af-Soomaaliga ee VOA.

[xiinfaniin]

^^ :D

 

your work is cut out for ye, i tell you waraa

[Mintid Farayar]

MarioB,

 

What you fail to understand is where the anger here is coming from. With your posted story, you proved 'unreliable' the narrative given by some on these Boards of how the Jubba experiment is progressing.

 

Not only that, but you posted an article from the official broadcasting agency of the U.S. gov't. Now, some have pointed to the fact that a Somali reporter is cited for the story. However, this is the English Service of the VOA, with an American(non-Somali) editorial board(which had to approve the story before release). So the story can be taken one of two ways. It's either a true reflection of the situation as the VOA sees it or this is the preferred spin of the U.S. gov't on the Jubba issue. Either way, it doesn't look good for one of the competing sides.

 

This Jubba issue is a touchy one in certain corners - who mistakenly believe the outcome will be decided in the back-and-forth on these discussion forums rather than on the ground.

 

The game on the ground is much different... and different actors have their rooks, knights, and bishops lined up.........