Rethinking Citizenship in Somalia

[Duchess]

Even though the constitution is clear on civil, political, social and economic rights of the citizen, Somalia’s current government (2012–2016) has enacted legislation that attempts to limit the political rights of its citizens. The Somali Parliament passed the Districts and Regions Administration Act in July 2013, which adopted a clause that prevents Somali citizens from seeking public office in all regions of the country (Districts and Regions Administration Act 2013). The act contradicts the article in the constitution that guarantees the political rights of Somali citizens. To date, it has not been challenged by the Supreme Court and, in theory, has become the law of the land. Taken to its logical conclusion, each Somali can only seek public office in the areas where his or her clan traditionally lived.

http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1181&context=bildhaan



@Jubba_Man @Abdalla @Thegoodshepherd @Bahal Thoughts?

 

[Duchess]

Each state has its own constitution that defines citizenship of the region as a real-estate for one-clan family. The rights to land and political participation are strictly limited to specific groups. This autochthony is based on traditional claims of what the literature calls the “sons of the soil” (Boas and Dunn 2013). In the case of Somalia, there are hundreds of thousands of Somalis that have been displaced because of conflict or draught. These internally displaced persons (IDPs) moved from one part of their country to another part that was safer. Yet, the administrations of the states where they live do not consider them citizens. In the past, Somaliland and Puntland forcefully ordered these IDPs to leave. Recently, Somaliland’s Interior Minister ordered what he called “foreigners” including Somalis from the south to leave Somaliland.

In Somalia, the regions are way too powerful and therefore the majority clan that is identified with a given state owns the entire region. The rest of Somalis are, at best, guests

Somalia ha noolaato

 

[Abdalla]

I welcome this except for Puntland and Jubbaland. I always said Jubbaland and Puntland should be like Israel and the US, geographically seperated but close in mind.

 

[Abdalla]

Come to think of it. Galjujuwiye tried to include some gaajo ridden bribed PL elders in their parliament, but this clausule prohobited.

We are two steps ahead, it's not even fair

 

[Bahal]

As if we won't scrap the Constitution soon enough.

 

[waraabe]

We must fight I an all out war and who ever is left will be

 

[Duchess]

As if we won't scrap the Constitution soon enough.

Who is "we"? What grass-roots movement are you referring to that will change this?

 

[Duchess]

We must fight I an all out war and who ever is left will be

No war is necessary. We will reach our objectives using the very systems they think empower them.

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

I totally support this. We should transfer some of our population out of places like Bari and resettle them in our lands in Lower Juba. Population transfers on a large scale to Jubaland should be encouraged by Puntland.

Clan federalism

 

[Duchess]

I totally support this. We should transfer some of our population out of places like Bari and resettle them in our lands in Lower Juba. Population transfers on a large scale to Jubaland should be encouraged by Puntland.

Clan federalism

What about Southwest State? Don't we have an MP or Minister there?

 

[Inactive]

I dont get the clan power struggle in politics.

Are you looking for someone to make sure your roads are paved in your local community or are you looking for someone who will represent your clan, a clan that lives in more than one region and who all have different local interests than your own?

I am sure let's say the Galgaduud Marehan have interests in line with the Fiqi Umar and HG in Galgaduud than they do to compared to let's say the Marehan in Gedo or even the ones in Mudug.

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

What about Southwest State? Don't we have an MP or Minister there?

We have 1 seat out of 145

What I am concerned about is Hawiye trying in the next few years to eliminate the automatic citizenship clause for all Somali speaking people. Hawiye realize that if elections are ever held in Somalia, Darood would always win. Almost all the borders from Buhoodle to Ras Kamboni are inhabited by Darood, imagine polling places in Buhoodle, Galdogob, Cabudwaaq, Ceel Barde, Dolo, Dhobley. We would probably have more votes in a place like Bakool than D&M and more votes than Hawiye in Galgaduud!


So it is in their interest to cancel that provision of the 1961 constitution and say that only people from Somalia can vote. They may even stipulate that the borders close during election day to prevent this scenario, but they first will have to repeal that provision of the 1961 constitution.

 

[Duchess]

But that 1 seat establishes traditional clan status in the region and it can never be taken from us.

The current UN-sponsored draft constitution of 2012 contains an expanded set of civil, political and social rights, although the article that called for “greater Somalia”1 has been arbitrarily removed (Draft Constitution for the Federal Government of Somalia 2012).

Perhaps what you stated is next?

 

[Duchess]

I dont get the clan power struggle in politics.

Are you looking for someone to make sure your roads are paved in your local community or are you looking for someone who will represent your clan, a clan that lives in more than one region and who all have different local interests than your own?

I am sure let's say the Galgaduud Marehan have interests in line with the Fiqi Umar and HG in Galgaduud than they do to compared to let's say the Marehan in Gedo or even the ones in Mudug.

There simply aren't enough funds to pave all the roads, but backing someone from your clan increases the likelihood that the roads in your region will be paved.

 

[Inactive]

There simply aren't enough funds to pave all the roads, but backing someone from your clan increases the likelihood that the roads in your region will be paved.

Some guy from a region on the other side of the country doesn't care about his kinsmen hundreds of miles away. Its his belly first, then his sub sub sub sub sub clan.

MPs should be representing his local community (i.e. MP for Baydhabo South-West)

 

[Duchess]

Some guy from a region on the other side of the country doesn't care about his kinsmen hundreds of miles away. Its his belly first, then his sub sub sub sub sub clan.

MPs should be representing his local community (i.e. MP for Baydhabo South-West)

I'm just giving you insight into their mentality. Most politicians are self-serving leeches, but better the devil you know.

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

But that 1 seat establishes traditional clan status in the region and it can never be taken from us.



Perhaps what you stated is next?

Who knows but I suspect it is likely to happen. This is why I was so angry when no Daroods protested Culusow's visit to Jigjiga. He has basically tacitly acknowledged the current border, which puts us at a disadvantage. I support Cabdi Iley but the issue of the border with Ethiopia from Feerfeer to Burtinle should be on the negotiating table with Ethiopia in exchange for recognition of the existence of a border. We stand to gain a lot of land even if the border was shifted only a couple of miles west of where it is today. Culusow is giving away future bargaining chips.

 

[Bahal]

Who is "we"? What grass-roots movement are you referring to that will change this?

I dunno.

What do you think?

 

[Duchess]

I dunno.

What do you think?

Trap house delusions.

 

[Bahal]

Trap house delusions.

What I meant was, what is your vision for the 20 million Somali race?