Continuity of political turmoil in Somaliland

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 15^th 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.