The Somali Diaspora Have Contributed Significantly to Somalia’S O Economy
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sTU I a T ION R e P O R T • 5 N O v e M b e R 2 0 1 2 i nstitute for security studies s ituatioN report ver the past two decades, the Somali diaspora have contributed significantly to Somalia’s O economy. Remittance flows were estimated at up to US$1 billion in 2004, but could be as high as US$1,6 billion to Somalia and US$700 million to Somaliland, The Somali thus making financial remittances a mainstay of the country’s economy.2 It is revealing that for a country that diaSpora has had no nationally acceptable central government for over two decades, in 2010 Somalia was ranked 160 out Options for post-conflict of 227 countries by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reconstruction in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), with a GDP of US$5,896 billion.3 While the Somali diaspora are broadly classified With the transition process having come to an end according to age, time of migration, level of education, skills and a semblance of normality returning to Somalia, and reason for leaving, they are generally resourceful and have in the past played an important role in peacebuilding the priority remains how to stabilise the country and processes, although there have also been claims that they promote national reconstruction. For a country that were supporting and joining armed rebel groups, thereby suffers from multifaceted security challenges and contributing to the protracted civil war and instability. The case of Somalis in diaspora in Kenya4 is particularly lacking basic functioning institutions, the effort to instructive. Kenya is host to about 1,5 million legal and rebuild livelihoods is not going to be easy and will illegal Somali migrants in addition to over 500 000 Somali refugees at the Dadaab refugee camps.5 The Somalis require support. Importantly, this support will have to in Kenya are involved in trade networks worth millions of come from Somalis themselves. US dollars and are expected to play an important socio- economic and political role in their country’s reconstruction A group that is expected to play a crucial role should stability be consolidated. in Somalia’s reconstruction process is the This situation report, based on a combination of desktop research and fieldwork, examines the current 14 per cent of the country’s population who live and potential role of the Somali diaspora in general, and in outside their homeland.1 Broadly, the diaspora is Kenya in particular, in rebuilding their country. It will do so defined as a group or groups of people who are by assessing the challenges and opportunities for Somalis in the diaspora in Kenya in participating in their country’s dispersed from their homeland, for example refugees, reconstruction. The report’s emphasis on Kenya is based or who leave their homeland in search of work, in not only on the size of the Somali diaspora in Kenya but also on the proximity of the two countries. The report pursuit of trade or to further colonial ambitions. argues that the competencies of Somalis in diaspora in Kenya could, if well harnessed, play a meaningful role in Somalia’s reconstruction. Mashaka LeweLa • 5 NoveMber 2012 • [email protected] LeweLa 1 INITUTs T e F O R s e C U R I T Y s T UDI e s The role of Somalia’S brought together women, youth, the business community, diaSpora in conTexT elders and religious leaders. During the recent selection of MPs in August 2012, Since its inception in February 2004, the Transitional and the election of the President on 10 September 2012, Federal Government (TFG),6 which led Somalia through a number of candidates from the diaspora contested the the transition process that ended on 20 August 2012, presidential seat while some were selected as MPs. This has been accused of a top-down approach that lacked demonstrates not only the extent to which the new Somali consultation with ordinary Somalis and Somali civil society. government will need to devise ways to involve its sizeable In the recent past, however, the former President and diaspora but also the potential for this group to play a much Prime Minister attempted to address this by often meeting more constructive role in rebuilding their country. with the Somali diaspora community on their official visits to other countries. This was under the aegis of collecting ideas on how the government could help the diaspora to The recent past contribute technically and politically towards the rebuilding of Somalia.7 has witnessed an Overall, a number of cases demonstrate the attempts by the Somali diaspora to engage with their homeland. increased attempt The Arta Process of 2000 opened the door to the diaspora from Puntland and the southern regions together with civic by the Somali diaspora actors to assert themselves in Somalia’s national politics.8 The diaspora became highly visible in the top leadership of to influence the political the country with the first Prime Minister of the Transitional National Government (TNG), which was established in direction of their country 2000, being a diaspora politician, as were several Members of Parliament (MPs) and Cabinet. The diaspora became Although the rebuilding process has been slow, a driving force among the civic actors in Somalia’s politics especially in establishing a political solution to the once and this steered the politics away from the domination of lawless Somalia, there has been progress, backed by the armed groups.9 Most of these leaders from the diaspora United Nations (UN) and other partners. After many failed often enjoyed the support of the international community, peace attempts, on 5 October 2012 the newly elected leading to questions about their legitimacy as they were President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, appointed Abdi Farah seen as being proxies of certain international actors.10 Shirdon as the new Prime Minister of Somalia, an indication The recent past has witnessed an increased attempt that political reconstruction is well on its way. Militarily, on by the Somali diaspora to influence the political direction 28 September 2012, the African Union Mission to Somalia of their country. In June 2011, for instance, the Somali (AMISOM) together with Somali government forces took diaspora in the United States, Europe, Kenya and Uganda control of Kismayo town, which was al-Shabaab’s last staged demonstrations supporting then Prime Minister stronghold in Somalia – an indication that rebuilding peace Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s position on the Kampala and security in Somalia is work in progress. Accord.11 Abdullahi initially refused to step down as per the recommendations of the accord. Ugandan President cnxo Te TualiSing Somali Yoweri Museveni mediated the accord, which established emigraTionS and homeland the end of the transition process and ensured that the engagemenT political stalemate between the then President and Speaker of Parliament was resolved.12 Abdullahi, who had been Migration across borders has been at the heart of the brought in by President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, enjoyed the nomadic lifestyle of Somalis for centuries. Somalis have support of Parliament while Speaker Sharif Hassan felt long been crossing borders to graze their livestock, to that the Cabinet was largely drawn up without his input.13 trade, or to work. By the 1960s many Somali men were Eventually the Prime Minister resigned, with Somalis in the employed in the transport sector in East Africa and diaspora complaining about the role of Uganda in their today they remain an integral part of the East African country’s politics. transport sector.14 The Somali diaspora again played a prominent role Beyond the East African region, Somalis were, even at the Istanbul II Conference held from 31 May to 1 June before the instability caused by the fall of the Siad Barre 2012 to discuss the ending of the political transition. This regime, labour migrants in the US, Europe and Gulf states. conference pursued a multi-dimensional and multi-layered The eruption of the civil war in 1988, however, resulted approach that, besides involving the Somali diaspora, also in the major movement of Somalis from their country to 2 The somali diaspora: options for post-conflict reconstruction sTU I a T ION R e P O R T • 5 N O v e M b e R 2 0 1 2 neighbouring states such as Kenya. The fall of Siad Barre in fee for their entry and exit visas as non-Somalis. 1991 was followed by the largest mass flight of Somalis to Even those who had no reason to participate in the date, with Kenya receiving a large number of the refugees. political process found themselves struggling against This resulted in the establishment of the Dadaab refugee government practices and policies, which restricted camps. After 1991, the main causes of displacement in their participation.19 This has changed in the recent 15 Somalia were civil war, drought and political repression. past with various political authorities, including the TFG, One positive consequence of this trend of migration has Somaliland, Puntland and local traditional authorities, been the increase in financial remittances, which, as in benefiting from diaspora support.20 many African countries, have been the mainstay of the country’s economy. Somali refugees face different challenges when it comes to political participation, however. Historically, the UN Not all of the diaspora had High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has had an uncomfortable relationship with refugees who engage relinquished their tribal in political activities, viewing refugees who demand a participatory role in politics as troublesome.21 or clan-based interests Another major difficulty the Somali diaspora have in engaging politically with their home country is their heterogeneous nature, which is often stratified along class, But the Somali diaspora, while inextricably linked to their homeland, have played a mixed role politically.