Fresh hope for Somalia
Somalia, the quintessential failed state, a nation that springs to mind whenever dysfunctional governments are mentioned, concluded a presidential election last week. And using the criteria by which earthly elections are measured, it would appear it was a successful one. As a result, its nationals and the world are ecstatic about the outcome and are expectant about what the future holds for the new Somalia. The reports say that the elections were characterized by corruption. The outgoing president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for example, was accused of vote buying, even though he has conceded defeated to the eventual winner, the dual Somali-US citizen Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Mohamud, the 62-year old former civil society activist, won the most votes in the first round, according to the U.N. Mission in Somalia. But a vote for the new president is considered a vote against corruption. The newly elected president, Farmajo, used to be the prime minister to former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Before the elections, Mohamud had been criticized for being unable to stop the militants’ attacks, but he maintained that the al-Shabab mainly attacked soft targets. “In 2012, al-Shabab was attacking the presidential palace; in 2014, they attacked the parliament, the law courts, and the U.N. HQs. That cannot happen today and it does not happen,” he said.
He also campaigned to finish the job he started and wanted to improve the “national political system.” “First and foremost of this is completing constitutional review, establishing electoral and political parties’ laws,” he said.
It is not that there is no democracy in Somalia or there hasn’t been an elected government. What makes this election remarkable is that it provided the final piece to establish an effective central government. There hasn’t been one since warlords overthrew the country’s dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre’s regime 26 years ago. It was also reported that many Somalis - including women - were involved more than ever before in this election.
The Mogadishu-based government is supported by Amisom, an African Union force of more than 22,000 troops, police and civilian staff. The process took several months. Reuters reported that it “began with 14,000 elders and regional figures choosing 275 members of parliament and 54 senators.” These elected representatives then chose the president. Over 20 candidates contested to become Somali president. The first three proceeded to the second round while the top two from that round faced the third and final round. Most of the candidates have dual citizenships with European countries, Canada and the United States.
Despite the positive outcome, the elections had some critics. First, it was cancelled four times due to corruption, insecurity (particularly al-Shabab militants’ series of attacks) and political infighting. Also, the parliamentarians were accused of selling their votes to the incumbent who used the people’s money to buy the votes. The consolation is that the incumbent didn’t win. It would have meant that corruption still rules in Somalia.
Yet, security is still an issue. The presidential election itself which was supposed to have taken place at a police academy was later moved to Mogadishu airport because it was considered the most secure place in the capital. Yet the capital was in a complete lockdown as traffic was banned ahead of the presidential vote. Although much of al-Shabab’s presence is in the south, it has carried out many attacks in the capital, Mogadishu.
We find it noteworthy and instructive that in this election, the incumbent was defeated and he conceded defeat. Which brings to four, the number of African countries that have experienced this phenomenon in the past couple of years. First we had Nigeria, then Ghana, Gambia and now Somalia. In terms of losing an election and accepting results, it would appear that Africa has come of age. We wish Somalis the best of what the future holds.