Since
2003 presidential election in which the then incumbent won on small margin,
about two hundred votes, political crisis are part and parcel of every day
political life of this unrecognized poor country. Majority of the citizens are
unaware of or uninterested the contents of the quarrel between the political
elites. Election postponement and extension of terms are mostly what causes the
crisis.
Somaliland
is praised for solving its conflicts peacefully trough what is called
“compromise”. Somaliland politicians proudly argue that compromise is what
makes Somaliland different from Somalia. But, what do they mean compromise? Compromise is meant in here resolving dispute
peacefully even if the agreement violates the constitution. There have been incidents
where the parties agreed terms that are contrary to the constitution.
Furthermore, compromise handicaps the constitution and the institutions founded
to solve constitutional or legal stand of. Compromise undermines the rule of
law. It enabled the politicians to sideline the law and agree outside of the
law.
The
solutions reached in compromise are short lived. You see in Somaliland the
persistence and repetition of same conflicts over time. The same fact that has
been resolved creates new and fresh conflict because it has never been faced
properly. Students of conflict and peace studies also will agree with the fact that
wrong conflict resolution mechanism does not solve the conflict but it appeases
and then it resurfaces thereafter. Therefore, compromise has never solved
conflict in Somaliland.
Compromise
also paralyses the institutions that are established to become forum for
discussion. The Parliament which comprises of members from different and
opposing political parties is institution whose procedure embraces debate. But
in Somaliland, every parliamentary debate evolves into political and sometimes
clan conflict. Why? The parliament has never been allowed to debate and reach decision
on vote where the majority wins. Whenever sensitive issue is brought to the
House of Representatives the minority side choices to escalate the issue into
violence and organizes the public. Violence occurs in the House and the
Parliamentarians use force instead of vote. Boxing replaces the show of hands.
Compromise is then how the matter is later resolved.
It
was February this year when severe political crises emanated from normal
parliamentary debate that has evolved into serious clan and political tension
was solved when the parties agreed on very vague terms. The whole issue started
from bill on voter registration and national identity cards distribution. Few weeks
later, the same issue is on the table again. The members of the House of
Representative disagreed and mobilized supporters to take on the streets. On 15th
November one person was killed and six others were injured in Buroa after
police fired to protesters. Life was lost because of political failure and poor
conflict resolution mechanism.
The
so called “compromise” labeled as the secret that saved Somaliland is the very
threat to its existence. If Somaliland politicians do not apply the law and
permit the institutions to perform their tasks, compromise will back fire.
