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Somalia: a Brief Country Report

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Somalia: a Brief Country Report Somalia: A Brief Country Report www.awepa.org Somalia Publication new.indd 1 9/22/2015 10:42:10 AM Author: A. Abukar, LLM Somalia Publication new.indd 2 9/22/2015 10:42:10 AM Somalia: A Brief Country Report Author: A. Abukar, LLM Somalia Publication new.indd 3 9/22/2015 10:42:12 AM Production Notes Author A. Abukar Editing Chris Kaija-Kwamya, Shukri Abdulkadir and Emanuela Falzon Campbell Photos UN Photo Archive Design Anastasia-Areti Gavrili AWEPA International Prins Hendrikkade 48-G 1012 AC Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel +31 20 5245678 Fax +31 20 6220130 [email protected] www.awepa.org ISBN: 9789078147213 © AWEPA 2015 This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of AWEPA and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. Cover Photo Signs of Return to Life in Somali Capital. A view of the fishing harbour in Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo/ Ayaan Abukar Somalia Publication new.indd 4 9/22/2015 10:42:13 AM Contents List of Abbreviations...............................................................................................................6 Foreword................................................................................................................................7 About AWEPA.......................................................................................................................10 Track Record.........................................................................................................................11 Introduction.........................................................................................................................13 Clan Structure.........................................................................................................................14 Historical Background.........................................................................................................16 Pre-history and Ancient History (4th millennium BCE).............................................................17 The Middle Ages (13th–18th centuries).....................................................................................17 Pre-colonial and colonial Somalia (1885–1960).....................................................................18 Post-Colonial Period (1960–1969)..........................................................................................20 Military Regime (1969–1991)..................................................................................................22 Civil War and UN Interventions (1991–1995).........................................................................25 Transitional Period..............................................................................................................29 Post-Transitional period: State-building and Democratisation......................................32 Developing the Framework towards Vision 2016....................................................................33 Moving forward......................................................................................................................34 Challenges..............................................................................................................................37 Conclusions..........................................................................................................................40 References ...........................................................................................................................42 Somalia Publication new.indd 5 9/22/2015 10:42:13 AM LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AMISOM African Union Mission in Somalia ASWJ Ahlu Sunna wal Jama AWEPA Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa CSO Civil Society Organisations HDI Human Development Index ICG International Crisis Group ICRIC Independent Constitutional Review ICU Islamic Courts Union IDP Internally Displaced Person IGAD Intergovernmental Authority for Development IJA Interim Jubba Administration IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union NCA National Constituent Assembly NCSC National Civil Service Commission NFP National Federal Parliament SNM Somali National Movement SYL Somali Youth League TFC Technical Facilitation Committee TFG Transnational Federal Government TNG Transitional National Government TSC Technical Selection Committee TRC Technical Review Committee UNDP United Nations Development Program UNSOM United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia UNOSOM United Nations Operations in Somalia UNITAF Unified Task Force USC United Somali Congress Page 6 Somalia: A Brief Counrty Report www.awepa.org Somalia Publication new.indd 6 9/22/2015 10:42:13 AM FOREWORD Herewith, I have the pleasure to introduce “Somalia: a brief country report”, written by Ms. Ayaan Abukar on AWEPA’s request. With the growing possibilities of a new future for Somalia, and bearing in mind the enormous challenges ahead, there is an increasing interest in the history and recent developments of Somalia. This country report provides basic information for a broader public and I am very grateful to Ms. Ayaan Abukar for her contribution to increasing knowledge about Somalia. Well-functioning modern state-building is the big challenge for Somalia, including the Somali Parliament, the House of the People. AWEPA’s involvement in Somalia dates back to the year 2002, when a relationship was established with the legislative institution. Since then, AWEPA has been supporting Somalia’s legislative institutions with funding from the European Union and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. AWEPA mounted a series of interventions to build the capacities of the Transitional Federal Parliament with a view to empowering it to more effectively play the leading role in tackling the myriad of challenges Somalia faces. These challenges emanated from the breakdown of law and order following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991. As a result of the absence of an effective central government, Somalia fell under the control of clan warlords. This led to widespread conflict over scarce natural resources, a situation that resulted in civil war throughout Somalia. Prolonged armed conflict brought about severe natural and man-made disasters such as famine and displacement of entire communities both within and outside Somalia. The intractable socio-political tensions did not permit the Transitional Federal Parliament (2004-2012) to forge reconciliation, peace and unity in Somalia. Expectations of new era of hope for a better Somalia rose in 2012, following the promulgation of a new Provisional Constitution that was crafted in a comparatively more inclusive political process. A Provisional Parliament was established, which in turn elected a new President. Following these positive steps, AWEPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Speaker of the National Federal Parliament (NFP) in August 2012, which formed the basis upon which a re-energised programme of support was formulated. The new programme was intended to empower the NFP to start functioning as a legislature that would effectively call upon the government to adequately respond to the needs and aspirations of the Somali People, whilst opening avenues for their participation in making decisions that affect their day to day life. The AWEPA interventions in the Federal Parliament were planned taking into account three strategic objectives, namely: • Provision of continuous capacity-building for MPs and parliamentary staff; • Establishment of an effective Parliamentary Administration capable of effectively supporting the Parliament in carrying out its constitutional mandate; • Promotion of parliamentary business by providing direct technical support to the Chair of the House and by building the capacities of the committees and the staff to carry out their respective roles and responsibilities more effectively, including the enactment of priority legislation necessary to move the country forward to a new democratic order through a free and fair election in 2016. Somalia: A Brief Counrty Report Page 7 www.awepa.org Somalia Publication new.indd 7 9/22/2015 10:42:13 AM As a result of its long history and experience of working with parliaments, AWEPA has developed a deep understanding of how parliaments work in different situations and a network of experienced parliamentary experts to support the realisation of its interventions. In Somalia, AWEPA’s interventions have been well-received by the leadership of the House of the People, as illustrated by the Speaker’s letter of commendation. AWEPA defines its interventions in full consultation with the parliamentary leadership and members and staff of the respective legislative institutions. This has promoted local ownership of the interventions, hence promoting their sustainability. AWEPA’s interventions include the following: • Providing technical support to design optimal, efficient and effective organisational structures for the NFP; • Providing technical support to the National Civil Service Commission (NCSC) to revert to merit- based, competitive recruitment procedures for the senior staff of the National Federation Parliament (NFP) Secretariat; • Training of staff in a range of topics, including parliamentary practice and procedure, the role of parliament in the framework of the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the functions and operations of Parliamentary Committees, documentation and archiving of parliamentary documents such as minutes of the plenary and committees,
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