Federalism In Somalia: Birth of Puntland State and The Lessons Learned
By Mohamed Abshir Waldo
WHY FEDERALISM?
The idea of Federalism in Somalia was first put forward by the Pro-Italian Hisbiya Digil & Mirifle political party in the 1950s but practically introduced by Puntland State of Somalia, which was established in 1998 as a federal entity of a future united Somalia. The decision to adopt a decentralized system of government – federalism – was not taken lightly or hastily. It was not borne out of emotion, clan sentimentalism or as resentment resulting from the clan-cleansing massacre of thousands of people originating from the current Puntland regions that took place in what is now known as South-Central Somalia (SCS), mainly in Mogadishu.
The people of Puntland reached the decision to establish a pioneering Federal State after months of soul searching deliberations under compelling circumstances, including the collapse of the national government of Dictator Gen. Mohamed Siyad Barre in 1991 and the consequent disintegration of all public institutions. It was also the result of over 7 years of internecine civil war; the displacement of millions of people forced to flee from their ancestral homes in the south; their properties and other possessions seized; the failure of 9 externally sponsored reconciliation meetings plus a dozen local peace initiatives; and the declared secession of a big a chunk of the Somali Republic by Northwestern Regions of Somalia (Somaliland).Continued
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