Jubaland State of Somalia: A Model State to Somalia

19 May 2013

By Abdighani Hirad
Summary
Jubaland State of Somalia came to being on May 15, 2013 after it elected President Ahmed Mahammed Islam (Ahmed Madobe).  This bottom up approach, where clans, who have endlessly and senselessly feuded since the fall of late Siyad Barre, coalesced and came together, is a welcome sign to all Somalis and a sight to rejoice.  These three regions (Lower Juba, Middle Juba, and Gedo) have achieved and should be commended for what could be considered a model to the rest of the regions in Somalia, and for that matter, a blue print for how to create grassroots-driven administration.  The Somali Federal Government (SFG) should welcome it as a partner. The people of the region should start the rebuilding process and commit themselves to equitable power sharing and embrace the new president-elect.
Background and Introduction
Somali adage goes “ haantu guntay ka soo tolantaa,” which means the milk container gets built from the bottom up. The bottom-up approach1 driven by the local people in Jubaland puts an end to the days of powerful and unscrupulous clan warlords dominating the political scene; thanks in large part to the Jubaland masses who, at last, realized that the only way to solve clan fiefdoms is outgrow it and rid themselves from the paralyzing grip of warlords and religious extremists .

The drivers of the creation of Jubaland State should be commended and emulated. While many wanted the process accelerated or derailed, they took the time to lay a solid foundation for inclusive administration of which all the stakeholders subscribed into it. They did not rush it, in order to counter those who wanted to derail on the basis of myopic clannish views. Although prior Somali Administration welcomed the creation of Jubaland State, the current Somali Government has made its top priority to derail the process, but more of this later.
Jubaland’s creation is enshrined in the Provisional Federal Constitution to establish regional administration as clearly delineated in Article 49.6 of the Constitution. The new state will, as expected, contribute to the establishment of a progressive and accountable local government system capable of supporting the overall economic development and stability of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
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