Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Somali Sub-national Entities

In July 2011, Chatham House in London hosted a meeting for persons interested in the emergence of Somali sub-national entities such as Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug. It published in December 2011 a summary of the results of that meeting titled Somalia's Transition: What Role for Sub-National Entities?

Persons attending the meeting concluded that the establishment of sub-national entities is not necessarily contrary to the prospects of establishing national government, but fitting the two processes together requires a nuanced reading of the transitional Charter. Emerging entities that can operate within a broad constitutional framework may well help towards building a viable federal government where authority is confirmed from established federal states and authorities.