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| Last Updated: Apr 3, 2012 - 2:47:55 AM |
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America’s Dual-Track Approach towards Somalia: One Year Anniversary
8 Dec 8, 2011 - 11:12:36 AM
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By: Aman Obsiye
It has been a year since the US’s Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, announced the State Department’s new policy towards Somalia: the Dual-Track Approach. The United States have been actively engaging the Somali Republic since its inception in 1960. Many remember the Black Hawk Down incident which triggered the US’s disengagement strategy towards Somalia. Many years later, the US State Department has developed a new policy to engage the Somali stakeholders. As with many policy proposals, the Dual-Track Approach has pros and cons. In essence the new policy seeks not only to engage with the central government, but also regional administrations. The wisdom behind the policy is that the regional administrations have stronger governance capabilities to govern their constituents compared to the current central government, the Transitional Federal Government (henceforth TFG).
The Pros
The Somali Republic fell because the government of Siad Barre had centralized all power in Mogadishu, including economic power. The Somali people are a tribal people, who naturally function and govern themselves in a decentralized fashion. Even though Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, it has been able to keep a similar standard of living compared to her African counter parts. This is due to the tribal nature of the Somali people; it is their form of social security. The Dual-Track Approach recognizes this reality of the Somali people, because it seeks to engage both the central government, while concurrently engaging the local regional administrations. For too long, the TFG has monopolized the attention and resources of the international community. The Dual-Track Approach seeks to assist and aid the regional stakeholders.
The Puntland State of Somalia is the most prominent regional administration that the Dual-Track Approach effects (as well as the Galmudug State of Somalia, in addition to the secessionist regional entity known as Somaliland). Previously, all development aid given by the US was monopolized by the TFG, but now after the change of policy, aid is distributed more effectively. This is the greatest asset the Dual-Track Approach has, distributing aid more fairly and efficiently to actually make a difference on the ground. This will also decrease the anti-American sentiment that has become pervasive in the Somali peninsula.
The Cons
The major problem with the Dual-Track Approach is that it has influenced many regional administrations to sporadically emerge. Before the US’s policy change, there were only few regional administrations, but after the policy change, approximately a dozen regional administrations emerged. Many Somalis see this as an attempt to divide and balkanize the Somali Republic. Some of these newly formed regional administrations are claiming identical jurisdiction, and now there are over ten so so-called regional Presidents (what we call Governors). Many believe that this new policy might also reignite old clan feuds and reintroduce the tribal civil war that ensued in 1991. In addition to these concerns, many Somalis believe that this new policy will diminish the legitimacy of the central government.
Recommendations
Overall, the Dual-Track Approach is a good policy for Somalia but certain things need to be tweaked. The US State Department must outline specific criteria to qualify as a recipient of aid under this new policy. As long as there is no specificity, more and more so-called regional administrations will emerge, thus defeating the purpose of the Dual-Track Approach, which is to bring peace and stability to the Somali peninsula. One approach could be to only recognize regional administrations that the central government, the TFG, recognizes as federal states. Another idea is to base the criterion for regional administrations on the 1991 provincial borders of Somalia. In essence, if you are to be considered a regional administration under the Dual-Track Approach, you must govern at least one or more provinces based on the 1991 borders.
By: Aman Obsiye
aman.obsiye@gmail.com
The opinion above is solely the author's and does not necessarily reflect the views of Garowe Online and its affiliates.
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