Analysis of the Federal Government’s push to end the UN’s Special Political Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)
This governance brief analyses the FGS’s demand to liquidate the special political mission, UNSOM. In so doing, it lays out brief context to the introduction of UNSOM in Somalia and proceeds to sketch out its role in Somalia’s political settlement landscape. Further, the governance brief discusses the FGS’ explanation of its demand; and provides a snapshot of the reactions of opposition politicians and the wider implications of closing the UNSOM office.
Jahwareerka doorashooyinka Soomaaliya: waa wakhtigii la sameyn lahaa qiimeyn dhab ah
Maadaama aan ka shaqeynayay cilmibaarisyo la xiriira doorashooyinka Soomaaliya tan iyo sanadkii 2015, waxaan fahamsanahay culeyska ay leedahay in la qabto doorashooyin iyadoo ay jiraan kalsooni darro baahsan, heshiiska siyaasadeed uu qabyo yahay, iyo hay’adaha dowladda oo weli curdan ah. Sanad kahor, waxaan arkayay fursad lagu dejin karo khariidad doorasho oo dhab ah, taasoo fulinteeda labo ilaa saddex sano oo shaqo adag ah ku qaadan kartay hay’adaha maareynta doorashooyinka si ay doorasho uga dhacdo Soomaaliya.
Somalia’s (eternal) election conundrum: time for a realistic assessment
Having worked on and studied election processes in Somalia since 2015, I understand the difficulties of conducting successful polls in a context of widespread mistrust, a weak political settlement, and nascent public institutions. A year ago, I saw an opportunity for the adoption of a realistic roadmap to elections, which would have taken two to three years of hard work by the election management body(ies) to conduct elections in Somalia.
Review of the Federal Government of Somalia’s First Billion-dollar Budget for 2024
This brief analyzes the 2024 federal budget and its main allocations for the administration, security, social services, and economic development sectors. Finally, the brief outlines key recommendations including continuing accountability strengthening measures to reduce corruption and the perception of corruption.
Opportunities And Challenges For Somalia’s Membership To The East African Community
The paper indicates that there are, inevitably, opportunities linked to Somalia’s new membership of the EAC. These include allying with the region against insecurity, the standardization of laws and procedures, and enabling the country to adhere to international systems of finance, economy and technology. Integration will allow Somalis from the blue economy (Somalia lies on the Indian Ocean and Red Sea) to invest competitively in the EAC, bringing with it the possibility of opportunities for job creation. The study recommends that the Somali government carefully consider addressing the challenges presented both here and elsewhere.
Addressing contentious issues on elections in the constitutional review process
This policy paper aims to contribute to a better informed, inclusive and realistic discussion of Somalia’s future elections. In providing an analysis of the provisional federal constitution’s revised Chapter 4, it offers insights that parliamentarians and other stakeholders can make use of in debates concerning the constitutional review process and the core components of the NCC election agreement.
Prospects For Somalia’s Transition From Clan-Based Politics To Multipartyism In The 2026 Election
This paper explores the possibilities of Somalia’s transition from a clan-based system of the allocation of political authority to multipartyism. In so doing, the paper adopted qualitiative methods of data collection and analysis. The paper shows that a transition to multiparty- based elections in 2026 still remains a distant dream, owing to a critical lack of the legislation and institutions needed for this to happen.
The Constitutional Amendment Procedure: Analysis of the Process and the Role and Participation of the Civil Society
This brief analyses the Adoption Procedure for the Constitutional Amendment and the actors who opposed it. It explores ways that civil society can contribute to and influence the constitutional review process and concludes with several policy considerations. These include the suggestions that the Parliamentary Oversight Committee (OC) and ICRIC engage multiple stakeholders; that the federal government engages and involves other political stakeholders; and that civil society engages policymakers and citizens in the constitutional review process.
Mass Attitudes toward ‘One Person, One Vote’ in the Wake of Puntland’s 2024 Electoral Crisis
In this brief, we report the results of a survey conducted jointly by the Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC), the Sababi Institute, and Somali Public Agenda (SPA) during December and early January. The goal of the study was to understand citizen preferences regarding OPOV elections in Puntland.
Understanding the formation and operation of local councils in Southwest, Hirshabelle, and Galmudug states
This study examines district council formation (DCF) in three FMSs; Southwest, Hirshabelle, and Galmudug. In particular, it zooms in on the current status of the District Council Formation (DCF) at the FMSs, hindrances that the DCF process has faced in the districts where the process was implemented; obstacles underlying the functionality of the formed DCs; the ex/inclusivity of the process; and the challenges that hampered the launching and/ or implementation of the DCF process in the main accessible districts in the three FMSs.
