I think it's about time we hold a referendum to see what our locals really want. I think this federalism is being brought to us from top-down approach and we haven't really gouged our locals from a bottom up approach if they really want secession from Somalia. I say we propose the following political solutions, which may satisfy our ardent unionist while keeping the secessionist types also engaged. They think Federalism was the answer between our unionist vs secessionist population, but as we can see a good idea can be hijacked by rogue individuals in Mogadishu, who loot and pillage anything that beneficial.
I propose either one of the following models should be adopted by Puntland, because our federalism idea is very 'vague' and the SFG constitution isn't clear nor official and this allows spoilers to twist or misinterpret or play around at the national level, which has kept our nation constantly at political deadlocks, especially when there is a new govt, we don't know if it's going to be another 4 years wasted with a centralist leaning candidate like Farmajo or if it will be a joyous Federalist leaning candidate. We rely to much on the politician we elect(madax ka nool) and not rely on frameworks or models that we can pass thru successive leaders to ensure political stability between the regions and center.
I think the following model will work for Puntites.
1. Dual Track Policy. This was a farole era Somali policy term from 2009-2014. It allowed Puntland to be considered separate from the south in terms of political, economical, military, and all aspects of governance. It allowed Puntland to sign it's own deals bilaterally with countries and organizations without needing federal govt approval. It was a really good policy but short lived because when Hassan Sheikh came, he began the 'centralist' movement and started to tear apart the dual track.
2. Secession with a 'conditional' clause. When we say Secession from Somalia, ppl assume SL policy. No. There is different types of secession, SL secession waa mid iskisa iska goostay, they live in a grey area now as @Lordilord knows. I don't suggest we follow this path, it will hurt us more then benefit us.
The other thing about SL secession problem, it may cause Puntland to fracture within itself like the al-itihaad days or like the 1995 wars of SL between Abdirahman Tuur(hy) vs Cigaal and Jeegaan, who literally fought over the idea of secession. I don't' want to see this outcome in PL.
Maybe we can tie a condition that Puntland will only re-join Somali Federation when the south has completely secured the south, has working institutions that are reliable and approved by the international community(This is important) if it's not approved by the international community as reliable institutions, why would we sacrifice what we have now and join a shit-fest? The other conditions can include the south must reach a bare minimum of development mile-stones that PL requires to see in the south before any talks of a federation. When the southie has something to protect, it's far easier to negiotate on federation because he has a 'stake' is the idea, but currently, we are talking to paper based regional govts who are not functioning on the ground, so there is nothing for them to protect, they are more susceptible to being spoilers or joining spoilers from Mogadishu.
By ensuring we have secessionist clauses, this allows Puntland to operate independently without disturbing our locals and creating a unionist vs secessionist environment. We can re-assure the unionist, we will re-join Somalia at a later date when the south has gotten it's act together, while we can appease our local secessionists types that PL is completely independent of the south and can function as a nation state.
We should also get the Federal govt and other regional govts to sign this new status for PL for the sake of Somalinimo, it is unfair to hold hostage other regions who are ahead of you, let them go and say we will catch up at a later date when we get our act together is far more somali-nimo to me then, sitting there and waiting for the south which can mean literally waiting decade after decade.
If either of the following policies be it dual-track or secession(conditional) are implemented, it will guarantee long-term political stability between the south and PL. They can carry on in the south without interference or political obstacles from PL, and PL can carry out it's own function without any interference from the SFG. A Somali govt that is reflective of the ground reality is needed, right now they throw us all into this 'coalition of regional states' vs the 'SFG' Which is incorrect in my book, the regional states are paper based, the federal govt itself is paper based and the only functioning entity is PL.
I propose either one of the following models should be adopted by Puntland, because our federalism idea is very 'vague' and the SFG constitution isn't clear nor official and this allows spoilers to twist or misinterpret or play around at the national level, which has kept our nation constantly at political deadlocks, especially when there is a new govt, we don't know if it's going to be another 4 years wasted with a centralist leaning candidate like Farmajo or if it will be a joyous Federalist leaning candidate. We rely to much on the politician we elect(madax ka nool) and not rely on frameworks or models that we can pass thru successive leaders to ensure political stability between the regions and center.
I think the following model will work for Puntites.
1. Dual Track Policy. This was a farole era Somali policy term from 2009-2014. It allowed Puntland to be considered separate from the south in terms of political, economical, military, and all aspects of governance. It allowed Puntland to sign it's own deals bilaterally with countries and organizations without needing federal govt approval. It was a really good policy but short lived because when Hassan Sheikh came, he began the 'centralist' movement and started to tear apart the dual track.
2. Secession with a 'conditional' clause. When we say Secession from Somalia, ppl assume SL policy. No. There is different types of secession, SL secession waa mid iskisa iska goostay, they live in a grey area now as @Lordilord knows. I don't suggest we follow this path, it will hurt us more then benefit us.
The other thing about SL secession problem, it may cause Puntland to fracture within itself like the al-itihaad days or like the 1995 wars of SL between Abdirahman Tuur(hy) vs Cigaal and Jeegaan, who literally fought over the idea of secession. I don't' want to see this outcome in PL.
Maybe we can tie a condition that Puntland will only re-join Somali Federation when the south has completely secured the south, has working institutions that are reliable and approved by the international community(This is important) if it's not approved by the international community as reliable institutions, why would we sacrifice what we have now and join a shit-fest? The other conditions can include the south must reach a bare minimum of development mile-stones that PL requires to see in the south before any talks of a federation. When the southie has something to protect, it's far easier to negiotate on federation because he has a 'stake' is the idea, but currently, we are talking to paper based regional govts who are not functioning on the ground, so there is nothing for them to protect, they are more susceptible to being spoilers or joining spoilers from Mogadishu.
By ensuring we have secessionist clauses, this allows Puntland to operate independently without disturbing our locals and creating a unionist vs secessionist environment. We can re-assure the unionist, we will re-join Somalia at a later date when the south has gotten it's act together, while we can appease our local secessionists types that PL is completely independent of the south and can function as a nation state.
We should also get the Federal govt and other regional govts to sign this new status for PL for the sake of Somalinimo, it is unfair to hold hostage other regions who are ahead of you, let them go and say we will catch up at a later date when we get our act together is far more somali-nimo to me then, sitting there and waiting for the south which can mean literally waiting decade after decade.
If either of the following policies be it dual-track or secession(conditional) are implemented, it will guarantee long-term political stability between the south and PL. They can carry on in the south without interference or political obstacles from PL, and PL can carry out it's own function without any interference from the SFG. A Somali govt that is reflective of the ground reality is needed, right now they throw us all into this 'coalition of regional states' vs the 'SFG' Which is incorrect in my book, the regional states are paper based, the federal govt itself is paper based and the only functioning entity is PL.
