Turkey Mediates between Somalia and Somaliland

The Somaliland Sun published on 24 January 2014 an interview with me on Turkey's efforts to mediate between Somalia and Somaliland. 

What Kind of Government for Somalia?

Somalia specialist Ken Menkhaus, professor at Davidson College and currently a visiting scholar at the U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute, wrote an article titled "Somalia's 20-Year Experiment in Hybrid Governance" for the 8 August 2012 issue of World Politics Review. He made an argument for a Somali government that negotiates relations with nonstate and substate entities in areas beyond its control. He calls this the "mediated state model" in which a central government that has the competence to know the limits of its competence allows local authorities to mediate relations between the state and its citizens. It outsources to the private sector, nonprofits and local polities many functions normally associated with a central government. Click here to read his analysis.

In a 10 September 2012 rejoinder, Mohamud M. Uluso took exception to the Menkhaus approach. Uluso argued that Somalia needs a democratic functional national authority accountable first and foremost to its people, one that is not only willing but demonstrably capable of representing national interests and empowered to deliver the critical functions of government. The only way this kind of government can be established in Somalia is to fulfill the five point plan proposed by the Turkish government during the Istanbul II conference and to adhere to the principles laid out by Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart in their book Fixing the Failed States: A Framework for Rebuilding a Fractured World.

While I agree with Uluso's noble goal, it is hard to see how one gets there quickly. In the meantime, the Menkhaus approach may be the only practical short-term answer.

Two Views of Somali Political Process

E-International Relations, a website for students of international politics, recently posted two analyses of the Somali political process. The first was cautiously optimistic while the second described Somalia's constitution-making process as "deeply flawed."

The first analysis is dated 28 July 2012 and titled "Where to for Somali State-building since London and Istanbul Conferences?" by Michael Walls, director of research for the Development Planning Unit at University College London. Click here to read his analysis.

The second analysis is dated 2 September 2012 and titled "Revisiting the UN-Controlled Constitution-Making Process for Somalia" by Afyare Abdi Elmi, assistant professor of international politics at Qatar University. Click here to read his analysis.

Somalia and Somaliland: Chevening House Declaration

Delegations representing the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the government of Somaliland met at Chevening House in London on 20-21 June as part of a dialogue that began at the London Conference and continued at Istanbul II.

The Chevening House Declaration is unexceptional. It primarily commits both sides to continue the dialogue and cooperate in the fight against terrorism, extremism, crime, piracy, illegal fishing and toxic waste dumping. Importantly, however, it suggests that both sides are willing to continue the talks.

Click here to read the brief declaration and click here to read a congratulatory statement by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

For a commentary on the declaration by Yusuf M. Hasan in the Somaliland Sun, click here.