Tribal practitioners or State practitioners: Who is the Custodians of Somaliland State?

Every nation there is certain institutions social forces or individuals with the strong level of Patriotic convictions, which act as the final safeguarding and grantor for this nation. In Britain, for instance they have trained civil servants, reputable people from the law, media and House of Lords who are the grantor of British State. In Pakistan, the military establishment is the final custodian of the Pakistani State. In Iran, the religious scholars in the system of Ayatollahs are the guardians of the Iranian State.

In Somaliland the Gurti were designed to be the guardian of Somaliland State, unfortunately the current Gurti in the opinion of many Somalilanders lost all its credibility with the exception of the Chairman and few others. This mainly happened during the dispute between the Opposition and the Government regarding the Presidential Election in November 2009 when the Gurti supported the government which was the on the wrong side on this dispute.

The overriding Political thinking of Somaliland politicians and political activists is in terms of clanism, and this creates a huge problem for the Somaliland State as well. Political Ideas that emerge from clanism often creates conflicts but does not enhance the institutions, ethics and values of the state.

Clan consciousness in most of the cases is a false consciousness, those whose ideology is embedded in the clan context, often exaggerate the size, history and the ability of their clans visa-avis other clans. Another way of looking this phenomenon is that clanism; in any form you put it undermines the state ethos and state functions. Those who believe clanism instead of a state cannot be grantor for a Modern State. The state requires people who understand its functions, committed to its philosophy and above all sincerely working to the citizens of the nation in equal basis.

The forthcoming presidential election in Somaliland is expected to bring about the following:

1. Not only change of government but radical and fundamental change of the entire institutions upon which the current state is built on.

2. A government that provides the Somaliland people confidence in their future.

3. A government that establishes state functionaries and practitioners not tribal functionaries and practitioners as the case is now and who act in future as true custodians and grantor of the Somaliland modern State.

4. A government that is free from corruption, transparent and has a national vision and hence has the respect and support of its citizens.

Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial

Published by: Somalilandpress