19 May 2007 04:31

SOMALIA WATCH

 
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  • [SW Column]( Omar M. Jama -Xiirey) Clan based solution – a dead end road?  :Posted on 1 Jan 2003

Opinions expressed in this column are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of SW.


 

Clan based solution – a dead end road?

By Omar M. Jama (Xiirey)  <jama@online.no>        

 

It’s high time for Somalis now to ask the inevitable question: how can we get a viable and sustainable solution to this prolonged debacle inflicted to us by non other than ourselves. This is not out of whether we favor a particular solution or not, or whether we think who did what to whom, or whose fault it was in the first place that we ended up in this, because all these questions are just an emotional outlet for many, including the warlords whose only avowed goal is an opportunity to pursue their egoistic goals of a future position at any cost; but rather out of pure necessity and a realization of the status quo. 

What we need most is to look at what is perpetuating this, where we were for example a little over a decade ago and where we are now regarding the core problem, to have any idea as to where we’re headed next. Or as it seems, what we lack most is a consensus definition of the core problem itself. We have written much, discussed through various avenues, put forward to adopt different systems. All of these are to be expected as healthy approach towards a viable solution. 

It’s, however, worthwhile to note how things evolved since the popular overthrow of the Siyad Barre regime, and with it the spectacular collapse of the whole state structure. In the beginning the common enemy was easy to find and thus rally around in opposing it. It was a well defined goal against a very manipulative regime which had the division of the Somali society as its paramount agenda at every price, even if it would bring about the collapse of the state structure. The rest is, as they say, history. That was then.  

Where are we now? I think we are nowhere near a well defined solution of a notion of a Somali state. We seem to drift from one futile effort to another in pursuit of goalless solution. But hold on, there are many of you who are reading this and would disagree and may already have nodded their heads. My discussion will be one with nuance. 

If we assume that the solution towards a Somali state would have to be clan based, it would miss the whole equation. Yes clan, and thus “clanism”, is central to the Somali reality, but that doesn’t necessarily entail clan based solution to a national tragedy. The events of the whole southern part of the country are a living proof. As clan is central to some aspects of the society, it can not be central to the political aspect. These are not just my postulates. We witnessed it in Mogadishu, Baidao and we currently witness in the self declared region of Puntalnd. Why do groups belonging to the same clan, even to the same sub-clan, continue to fail to cross that psychologically significant but otherwise insignificant clan line and create some sort of political stability in their respective areas? 

I think we need some sort of a notion beyond clan centricity to rally around in order to solve a national problem. Many so called Somalia experts have written at length about the Somali tradition, the centrality of the clan, conflict resolution through clan and so on. But I challenge this by asking, aren’t the following issues two incompatible issues at different levels: to solve primitive conflicts in a remote traditional village and to build a modern state with what we associate with modernity. Can these two challenges have the same way in approaching them? Some have suggested that clan is to Somalis, what ethnic/religious groupings are to, for example, Kenyans. Such divisions would in some way have clearer boundaries along which it would be easy to rally people around politically than the Somali clan system, but would not itself guarantee a political solution either.

 If we have to have a real solution then, I think we ought to try to foster some other notion to rally around politically. “Try” is perhaps not a right word, but what I have in mind is regionalism [gobolaysi] devoid of clan centric attitude towards political association. If every would-be region at a very early stage had concentrated on the issues that are of concern locally and are close to home in that particular region, it could save a lot both locally and nationally. To do the other way around is like chasing a mirage. Cases in point: Puntland, Baidoa, Mogadishu and the like.

 To foster regionalism first would make sense, especially at a very early stage where national level politics would briefly take a back seat. This means regions comprising multiple clans, would sort out every possible issue regarding how to share everything ranging from politics to resources to land, which in turn could promote a sense of common feeling of belonging for every clan in that region. Such issues as a major clan bullying or ignoring other minor ones can best be addressed at this early stage before a national solution is on that region’s agenda. A major or manor clan in this context is just of clan size significance. Well before a national level focus, however, each region could then start evolving into political entity accommodating the issues of the resident “indigenous” clans. This could too pave the way to a new reality where, for example, two very same clans resident in two different regions could still each feel their interests being best served in their respective regions. 

At this point it is difficult to find a region which has proven to be a candidate for the kind of regionalism I’ve discussed. But in my opinion it would be an understatement not to mention the region which called itself as Somaliland, although its motives in the eyes of many Somalis are questionable. But for the purposes under discussion her, namely regionalism based on a non-clan idea, this region is nearest to this idea because they rallied around a secessionist idea. Otherwise it would not be possible for this region to have a relatively sustainable peace and stability based purely on clan solution for so long.    

The idea behind regionalism in my opinion is a question of a pure practicality and pragmatism. For a modern nation to exist, it needs constituent entities on which to base whatever political system it may deem suitable for that nation state to adopt. Nations did not come into being by a mere chance. Clan or clan based solution cannot become such a constituent entity which can be sustainable. This would create an endless chaotic situation that a national solution wouldn’t be on the horizon. On the other hand, a well defined and well functioning region can be both a logical and more feasible basis for whatever system the whole nation may opt to adopt.

 On the issue of which political system would best suit after regions are in place, would again be one of practicality and pragmatism as in the case of regionalism discussed above. But as I read and gathered from other articles, merely copying a system that worked for other society will prove as futile as a clan based one. For example many have suggested a federal system is the only hope that could save a viable Somali state; it was even the early issues so easily agreed upon by every one of the so called delegates at the ongoing Eldorado Conference. Can such a society of ours with such a meager resource in every sense cope with such a divisive, multi-level processed and resource demanding system? My answer to this is that I really don’t know. But the challenges are very obvious.       

Coming to a stage where the emerging regions first have sorted out their various issues close to them, it could be easy to perhaps come to a reconciliation conference better prepared to deal now with national issues. Contrary to this hopeful idea would be to fight it out until a winner, however illegitimate, emerges. But what about if a winner never emerges, would that amount to a national tragedy in eternity, ever drifting to go after that mirage that would not materialize, namely a clan based solution. 


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