At last, Somalia has come under the crossroads, the dreaded point of dilemma where the future and the way to that future are unknown.
After Monday, February 8, 2021, the term of President Mohamed Farmaajo as an elected Federal President of Somalia will have ended. What will remain is the transitional string on which he can use to cling on power. But still, even with that transitional arrangement, Somalis can’t really agree if he will be lame-duck President, whether it will be sufficient legal provision for him to run the country and for how long he can stay around.
Opposition leaders led by the Council of Presidential Candidates, the grouping of leaders seeking to be President have argued that there is a need for a ‘transitional’ arrangement.
Borrowing from what the Swiss routinely do to run their country, the Council says the prevailing period between now and the next elections should be left in the hands of the two Speakers of the bicameral Federal Parliament; Abdi Hashi and Mursal Mohamed should be co-chairs of the transition committee which should also include federal member states, political parties, religious groups and civil society organisations.
While most opposition say the term of the President has ended, it is unclear if that also includes the Senate and the House of the People. If it has, as some lawyers argued on Sunday, then the key question should be on whether the two Speakers will lead by virtue of their office or simply as a caretaker team.
Nonetheless, in this period of uncertainty, ideas like that of the Council must be listened to and counter views exchanged. Somalia, we have argued before, will only prosper in an environment where dialogue, rather than conflict is promoted. So far, we are pleased to learn that despite the end of the electoral mandate of the President and the intervening transition, there has been no violence or spats related to the situation. This reflects maturity on the part of Somalis and we are confident all they want is continuity and stability.
How will the country sustain that? It is a responsibility of our leaders. Those who see personal interest in this chaos rather than posterity for the nation should be isolated. Somalia’s situation puts the country at crossroads. But doing nothing or sitting on our hands will be more dangerous. Reaching out and putting forward ideas could bring a solution. We understand there are pessimists who say previous discussions brought nothing or agreements ended up looking like some parties were shortchanged. But that is how negotiations are: You don’t get satisfied until you keep talking, exchanging and reviewing.
And what is more? No agreement, law or election is ever going to satisfy everybody and no election, not just in Somalia, is going to be perfect. But Somalia needs an election, that form of acceptable choice of leaders that will give them legitimacy. Running the country in transition will be like running while hands tied on one’s back. This is why the country needs to move fast and create an environment to have elections.
Somalia’s real heroes will be known in this time of the crisis. And it will be those who vouch for the interest of the people.
