Somalilandsun:No one can deny that Somaliland is a democracy. A democracy that is
operational in highly sensitive and war thorn region generally
characterized as unstable.
Despite being unrecognized, Somalilanders installed in hardship a
democratic form of government.
Now that is at risk, not because a coup happened, but democracy has been
hijacked.
The president of Somaliland, a former military commander under Siad Barre
regime and a rebel fighter, came into power in 2017 disputed presidential
election.
His party controls both houses of the Parliament, the judiciary and the
military.
Apart from the state apparatus, the main civil society organizations,
networks and umbrellas are under his command as well. In a political
arrangement built on a clan system, the civil society organizations are led
by individuals who belong to the clan of the president and are politically
his supporters.
When the judiciary and the civil society organizations whom their main
responsibilities are to protect the citizens are aligned with the
government in a clan-based scheme, obviously democracy and peace are in
danger.
Belonging to a clan does not mean automatic loyalty. My argument is not to
claim that every person who belongs to the clan of the president is his
devotee. That is not the case, and any argument solely based on that is
very wrong. What I mean is that these people are given positions in a
prearranged system intended to give the president a domination by
marginalizing other communities.
This is a sensitive matter in a clan-based society.
Below table shows the clan affiliation of leading government authorities
and civil society leaders of the country:
*Name *
*Position *
*Clan *
1
Muse Behi Abdi
President of Somaliland
Habar Awal
2
Adam Haji Ali Ahmed
Chief Justice
Habar Awal
3
Nouh Ismail Tani
The head of the military
Habar Awal
4
Anwar Warsame
The chairman of Somaliland Non-state Actors Forum (SONSAF)
Habar Awal
5
Nafisa Yousuf
Executive director of Nagaad Women Umbrella
Habar Awal
6
Mohamoud Abdi Jama
Chairman of Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA)
Habar Awal
7
Mohamed Mohamoud Hashi
Chairman of Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA)
Habar Awal
These are a few examples showing a control of one clan in the judiciary,
the military and the civil society organizations.
