Mogadishu (PP Editorial)— Last year, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Dr Hassan Sheikh Mohamud wrote a doctoral dissertation on Somali clans. One is tempted to flout the age-old aphorism— never judge a book by its cover— to surmise the thesis in Examining the Challenges of Clan Politics in Statebuilding: A Case Study of Somalia, the title of the dissertation by President Mohamud.
Upon concluding the consultative summit for several member states held in Baydhaba, President Mohamud called for the resolution of Laascaanood conflict through negotiations. He said that governance through consent was the only viable solution to political problems in Somalia. “Our agenda is to maintain the union peacefully. For the last 32 years no group has been able to impose its political goals on another group in Somalia. Parties to the Laascaanood conflict will come to the negotiation table” President Mohamud said.
President Mohamud understands that a civil war is raging in Northern Somalia, where Somaliland administration’s forces shelling Laascaanood consider the administrative capital of Sool not to be a part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It is deplorable that President Mohamud sees the political conflict in Laascaanood as a pre-state, traditional conflict. Viewed this way — along clan lens — killing and maiming of civilians, destruction of public and private properties will be seen as a collateral damage to be written off in appreciation of political impunity. Why is President Mohamud reluctant to remind President of Somaliland administration Muse Bihi Abdi to respect the sovereignty of Somalia and its associated rights — the right to be protected against foreign invasion and deprivation of political rights — ?
It does not serve the national interest of Somalia if an incumbent President instructs an awarding university not to make a doctoral dissertation available to the public. The phrase clan politics in the President’s dissertation title presupposes commitment to disclosing clan names and discussing clan perceptions and grievances. It does not help that Mogadishu is the new stronghold of President’s clan after the widespread dispossession of citizens who fled Mogadishu in 1991 or afterwards.
During 1990s President Mohamud lived in Mogadishu where forces loyal to Ali Mahdi and General Aideed divided the capital city into northern and southern parts. Mogadishu is 2,500 years old and yet the historic founders of the city —Banaadiri people — remain politically and economically marginalised for not belonging to an armed clan militias. This is the biggest political taboo in Somalia: Somali clans who founded ancient districts such as Hamarweyne, Shangaani, Marka and Baraawe have no discernible political representation in instituons formed after the adoption of a federal system.
Proponents of the clan politics theory are predisposed to holding an outlook based on legitimisation of dispossession and institutionalisation of the claim that clans own public properties and national infrastructures. How long can President Dr Hassan Sheikh Mohamud keep his doctoral dissertation under wraps? Answers by email, please.
© Puntland Post, 2023.
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