By Mohamed A. Hussein 

Following the Somali Government’s rejection of the results of the political process in which the people of Jubaland established a regional administration on May 15, 2013, Somalis who wish to see the return of peace and harmony in their country were eagerly waiting for the recommendation of the IGAD Technical Committee, which met both the government representatives in Mogadishu, and Jubaland administration officials and those who are opposed to it inside Kismaayo.

Immediately after IGAD committees presented their findings and recommendations in the Addis Ababa meeting, the Somali Federal Government spokesman, Eng. Abdirahman Omar Osman, held a press conference and gave his own interpretation of the recommendation of IGAD committees.

Instead of presenting the facts on the recommendation, he restated the Somali Government’s position that the election of the president of Jubaland was not constitutional, inclusive and that the Federal Government did not participate and take its leadership role of forming the regional administration as stipulated in the provisional constitution. He added that IGAD Foreign Ministers agreed that IGAD would support the Somali government to facilitate another reconciliation meeting in Mogadishu in which all Jubaland stakeholders would be urged to participate, implying that the reconciliation process in which the people of Jubaland approved their constitution, elected their president and now in the process of electing members of the parliament, is null and void.

Subsequent Press Conferences were held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fowsiya Yusuf Haji in Addis Ababa, and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in Mogadishu, which repeated the same position stated by Engineer Abdirahman.  The Prime Minister added that the process which will be used to bring all Jubaland stakeholders to the planned Mogadishu Conference will be constitutional, inclusive and government-led.

However, Statements issued by Government officials were full of spin and did not give the full background to the contents of the IGAD report.

The IGAD fact finding committees met government officials in Mogadishu before presenting its final recommendation and before meeting both Jubaland officials and opposition groups in Kismaayo. IGAD committees found out that the government and opposition groups in Kismaayo reportedly sponsored by the government took the same position in opposing the outcome of the reconciliation meeting in Kismaayo. Among other things, they claimed that the process was neither constitutional nor inclusive, while Jubaland officials insisted that it was constitutional, inclusive and that the government did not partake even though they were invited and instead chose to finance self-sponsored individuals to declare themselves as president elect.

After the committees listened to both sides and considered positions taken by both Mogadishu officials and the opposition in Kismaayo on one side and the Jubaland administration on the other side, they concluded the following recommendation in each of the three underlining principles – constitutionality, inclusiveness and government-led process

First, in terms of the constitutionality of the process in which 500 Jubaland elders elected the president, committees found both groups’ claims were based on different interpretations of the constitution since the provisional constitution did not define properly how to go by forming regional states.

The committees did not find and gave give opinions on either the claim by government officials reasoning on why the process was not constitutional nor did they find inappropriate in the reasoning by the Jubaland official of the constitutionality of their process since there were loopholes in the provisional federal constitution of Somalia. As a result, committees urged both the government officials and parliament to clarify those articles relating to formation of the regional administration and the government’s role.

Second in terms of inclusiveness in the process, the committee found that the major clans in Jubaland state participated in the process but some minority groups were missing from the scene and urged the government to take a leadership role in the reconciliation process to insure the process is inclusive.

However, Jubaland officials insisted the process was inclusive and is open to include anyone willing to participate peacefully and that they will ensure minority groups are included when the members of parliament and ministerial positions are assigned in the coming weeks.

As result, IGAD committees recommended that since Jubaland officials acknowledged the need of the government’s leadership role in the process, IGAD is calling on all Jubaland stakeholders to participate in the reconciliation meetings being planned to be held in Mogadishu by the Somali federal government to find final solution through dialogue.

It was reported that Jubaland officials accepted all the recommendations by the IGAD committees including participating in a conference in which Somali Federal Government is planning to convene in Mogadishu where the Government is expected to take its leading role.

IGAD government members and the International Community are aware that after over 20 years in conflict in Somalia, the only solution forward to attaining lasting peace is through dialogue among Somali stakeholders led by the Somali government based on the provisional constitution.

It is hard to understand why now President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud  and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, after obtaining recognition and financial aid from the international community, seem to want to solve any issue though their own interpretation of the provisional Constitution of Somalia. Few days ago, the President called on Somaliland to come to Mogadishu and unite with the rest of Somalia; seemingly forgetting the ongoing negotiation between Somalia and Somaliland for the sake of reaching a final solution.

It is well known that large sections of the Somali people will no longer accept any Governor sent from Mogadishu to run their affairs. What the Somali people expect is for the government to implement the provisional constitution and encourage any two or more regions trying to form regional administration. IGAD and AMISOM troops must be committed to support the Somali government to implement national stabilization plan through serious dialogue between all stakeholders.

Since Jubaland officials accepted all the recommendations of the IGAD committees, Somali government officials should likewise accept and implement in good faith all the recommendations as indicated in the statement presented in the Addis Ababa meeting, instead of using the IGAD communique as a tool to further a sectarian agenda.

By Mohamed A. Hussein
E-Mail:Mohabdhus@aol.com