Policy makers, be aware

 Policy makers, be aware; By: Prof. Abdi Ali Jama.

The sphere of inordinately voracious traditional leaders is continuously increasing.  Their role was traditionally confined to traditional insurances for murder and non murder incidents between clans and families. They also worked as catalyst in mobilizing resources for SNM armed struggle against Siad Barre regime. Again, we used them in demobilizing tribal militia when we were forming the nascent government of Somali-land. However, as visionary leaders, we should have planned earlier in abating their influence in Society. Unfortunately, it happened that the government is increasingly losing leverage to them.  In terms of influence, the government is getting smaller and smaller whereas they are getting bigger and bigger.

Nowadays, Somali-landers, organized in tribes, are taking initiatives to build roads or motor ways, mobilizing resources and implementing them. From one perspective, it is positive, constructive not destructive; However, my contention is not about that point. The message I am trying to convey is: the realm of traditional players is—knowingly or unknowingly-- alarmingly widening, which will definitely make the state much weaker and far less progressive. Road constructions are typical governmental projects whose initiatives, though private company can implement, must stem from the authority.

Moreover, we have been hearing these days that two groups are having dispute over Berbera cement factory. I have written an article about the subject some days ago. But my concern in this piece is the weird fact that issues such as to whom and how natural resource (cement) is utilized are unfairly being discussed in traditional circles, as if though were no parliament and government. Such issues, in fact, lie outside the mandate of traditional chiefs and should not be invited to do the business. Even if we do so, they don’t have the scope and skills necessary to deal with the task. This is one of the fields they have never been involved.  Utilization of natural resources is primarily legal and economical in nature and concerns state institutions; of course, with the help of expertise and specialists as usual.

Staffing, especially government positions, is also one of the domains, which tribe bosses are very effective and influential. I am not talking about higher political positions where they are presumably more influential, but normal professional jobs that they have nothing to do with. I would suggest to abruptly stopping hiring staff government through tribe solicitors for many reasons. Having said that, I am not oblivious of the fact—to be fair-- that the government made some progress and already started to recruit youth through a relatively fair process by civil service commission. However, you and I know that many higher professional positions are still filled through traditional channels.  Apart from fairness and efficiency concerns, I would like to see their influence shrinking, and this is one of the areas that government is unreasonably losing to tribe chiefs for no obvious reason, if not for political bribery; and if so, the future would not be unfortunately bright. The consideration of regional balance --not necessarily tribe—when forming cabinet is understandable and sometimes necessary, but never ever in recruiting the professional staff. It is really red line for modern progressive government!!!!

Traditional leaders also work as last resort for the judiciary system. Didn’t you know that nearly 99% of cases in courts end up to clan heads where they finally help parties to reach dodgy agreements between them even for the cases that state constitutes as one of the parties,  and therefore should not relinquish responsibility to any one.  Therefore, we can unequivocally say without hyperbole that they superseded courts in this regard. The situation will remain unchanged unless fully fledged justice system with effective law enforcement is put in place.

 All in all, an English maxim says: The best defense is offense; Instead of allowing them to takeover new more fields, I would suggest to policy makers to set a plan with long term strategy that would lead to have their domain influence contracted, so that government and private institutions would gradually replace them. For example, we can establish modern insurance companies that would make their conventional insurance institutions obsolete; and by the way, for your information, most of the accidents they deal with, nowadays, are caused by car accidents.  Similarly, we can also weaken their political influence by introducing regionalism in the position of tribalism, which is more useful and progressive.  I admit, though, this is not an easy assignment as the matter involves values, attitudes and perceptions of the society.  But, Dear reader, believe me, it is not impossible.  We can do it!!! with the help of only and only  visionary leadership, of course.

Prof. Abdi Ali Jama.