Fractious Somali Stakeholders Can Benefit from Mediation

[Deeq A.]

Mogadishu (PP Editorial) — Dhusamareeb III Summit is unlikely to end with a deal on the electoral model for 2021 elections in Somalia. Two Federal Member States — Puntland and Jubaland — have boycotted the summit. Puntland demands a guarantor role for the International Community whereas Jubaland would like the International Community to organise, and possibly chair, the Summit.

The International Community cannot override the Somali political processes nor can it advocate directly or indirectly the emasculation of the Somali Parliament whose MPs insist on the electoral law as a foundation for national elections.

A kaleidoscope of Somali leaders: It is time to utilise mediaton instead of statements from the International Community to break the political deadlock.

Successive statements from Somalia’s International Partners create confusion in the minds of Somali political stakeholders. What fractious Somali political stakeholders need is mediation by a third, impartial party. Somali political leaders have the agency, nay political finesse, to break the political deadlock in the cause of the national interest.

What is worrisome about the approach of the International Community to Somali politics is the tendency to issue statements sometimes in the name of Embassy, the US Embassy in Mogadishu being the best example of diplomatic interventionism. The collective statements always have an intimidating tone that runs counter the democratic values some countries claim to uphold and spread.

Somalis did not choose a permanent government when a few more years of transition could prepare the political class for the vagaries of a fully recognised government that does not control many parts of Somalia.

The political legitimacy of the Federal Government is undercut by its limited sphere of influence in coercion terms in a country that abhors a centralised government. The bottom up approach that the federal system was supposed to promote had been turned into a top down statemaking approach as far back as 2013.

The Somali political class’s apathy exacts on Somalia a huge opportunity cost in terms of human capital. Funds that could have been used for reconstruction now get channelled into Amisom peacemaking mission.

The role of the International Community exacerbates political uncertainties in Somalia. Somali politics can benefit from mediation and conflict resolution initiatives.

© Puntland Post, 2020

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