Inheritors and Strivers in Somalia Politics

[Deeq A.]

Strivers and inheritors: From top left: President Hassan Sheikh, President Sharif Ahmed, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, President Abdullahi Yusuf, President Abdiqasim Salad, Adan Madobe, Ahmed Mohamed (Madobe) and Said Abdullahi Deni.

Mogadishu (PP Editorial) — Politics in Somalia divides its players into inheritors and strivers. Inheritors are politicians who stumbled into politics but attained prominence. Damuljadiid, Nabad & Nolol and Aaran Jaan belong to this category. Aala Sheekh, Raaskambooni and RRA vanguards (Rahanweyn Resistance Army) belong to the category of strivers, who took up arms to introduce a political order or forced a change in the political system as in the case of Puntland 22 years ago.

Since the end of the transition in 2012 inheritors have dominated the federal politics. The leadership trends at the sub-national entity (Federal Member States) are mixed — Puntland, a pre-federal state has a unique political system and history. The last three Presidents of Puntland inherited the system founded by founders. In South West State of Somalia strivers have been at the helm. President Sharif Hassan and his successor, Abdiaziz Laftagareen, are strivers who joined Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia and Rahanweyn Resistance Army respectively. Raaskambooni brigade vanguard, the incumbent President Ahmed Madoobe, who owes his political fortunes the Union of Islamic Courts and Raaskambooni brigade, is still in power in Jubaland.

Since 2014, the presidency in Galmudug and Hirshabelle has alternated between Damuljadiid and Nabad & Nolol. The last federal government administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo managed to co-opt several Federal Member States to consolidate power at the centre.

This path to power consolidation leads to a total control of the bicameral legislature by Villa Somalia. If, at least, three federal member states pledge institutional loyalty to Villa Somalia, the Upper House and Lower House could be compelled to toe the line, says the conventional political wisdom. President Farmaajo had overreached himself when he persuaded the bicameral legislature to have his mandate extended by two years in 2021, two months after his four-year mandate ended in February 2021.

The closer political ties between Villa Somalia and Federal Member States have weakened President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who, to push his controversial constitutional amendments through the bicameral legislature, allowed Presidents of Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South West and Jubaland to overstay their mandate unlike Puntland State of Somalia where sticking to the electoral schedule and consensus on political reforms are the cornerstones of political stability.

Villa Somalia is now contemplating a climb-down on the amendments to the provisional constitution opposed by major political stakeholders in Somalia including Hirshabelle, Galmudug, South West and Jubaland whose leaders aim to conduct presidential elections without the imprimatur — or intervention — of the Federal Interior Ministry. As Somalia’s federal system approaches its 20th anniversary in October 2024, the struggle to prevent centralisation of power continues.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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