CAN SOUTHWEST STATE MAKE ANY TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE?

The initial Southwest State also known as (Koofur-Galbeed Soomaaliya) was first established by the late “Hassan Mohamed Nur – Shaatigaduud” by then he was the paramount leader of RRA which on lasted for three years. The rebirth of the SWS later begun in Oct, 2013 where community elders and intellectuals across six regions started to work on the formation of the regional state but on the contrary another movement started in Baidoa main town to form three regions state. As the simultaneous opposing parties continued their campaigns; on 3^rd March,20134 Madobe Nunow was elected as the president of the six state regions while Sharif Hassan side insisted on the 3 regions state formation through his closely allied political flag bearer Mr. Abdinur.

Failure of the six regions state:

Despite the fact that Madobe Nunow was elected by key community elders and supporters from the six regions of (Bay,Bakool,Gedo,Lower Shabelle and the two JUBA). Nunow’s state government lacked the support and back of both the SFG and that of the International Community too. The Somali Federal Government had official stated that it doesn’t recognize Nunow’s government which technically lacked the right frame work in establishing a realistic and balanced government. The SFG had to stand down in light of avoiding further political mayhem because JUBBALAND was already in place and operational with interim administration headed by Ahmed Madoobe.

The international community had also declined the three-state government in the interest of not jeopardizing the SFG relation with JUBBALAND due to the strategic port city of Kismayu. Mr

Nicholas Kay similarly indicated that he would continue to work closely with the AU, EU and IGAD to support a Somali federal government-led three-region state formation process for the southwestern provinces.

The emerging of the 3 state governments.

After months of political turmoil and numerous demonstrations in Baidoa main town had triggered the official involvement of the SFG and on 23 June 2014, the office of Federal Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari hosted an event announcing the merger of the two competing administrations into a single three-region state, which is to be composed of the Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle province. The 3 state governments received full attention and support of the SFG and that of the International Community. In mid October; President Mohamud had officially opened a state formation conference in Baidoa for the three-region Southwestern State of Somalia.

Significant number of the Six-state regions politicians had finally joined into the three-state one in light of power sharing deal which specified that the South West Somalia six-region's leadership will be granted the new federal state's vice president and parliament speaker positions.

 Formation of three-state government cabinet.

On Sunday, 4th Jan, 2015 president Sharif Hassan had officially announced the appointment of his first 20 member cabinet with no single women among the new cabinet appointed in Baidoa yet there is not parliament to either approve or disapprove it. The question yet remains on what basis had this cabinet being appoint, is it a one man decision with political consultants or is it from the 373 delegates that elected the government in the first place on 17^th Nov, 2014.

Functionality of the three-state government in question.

If you look the appointed cabinet member in detail in terms of personal capacity against the designated line of ministry, do some of them really have the capacity / experience to handle it. There are so many in compatibility and loopholes in the first established body of the three-state government in consideration of the following key aspects:-

1.      Unbalance approach – the applied method in appointing the cabinet raises some eyebrows in terms of the required standard qualifications of the established ministries again the line ministers.

2.      Considering the 4.5 power sharing system in Somalia, this three-state regional government is quite unique and has introduced new whole approach where some of the already formed cabinet members are not even from the three regions of (Bay,Bakool and Lower Sheble).

3.      The appointed cabinet is gender biased, despite the immense political influence of the women these region; does it mean that women couldn't actually qualify in becoming a member of the formed cabinet and where does the International community stand on this regard or the bigger picture is focused than advocating for mere gender balancing.

4.      The three-state government seems a visionary one because it isn’t realistic on the available resource in these regions in terms of the huge budget that the regional government might need with so many issues on its plate at the moment.

5.      Mistaken identity or what?? If you look close into the flag of the current three-state regional government, you will see it has 6 stars that symbolizes the old six regions state.    

There are so many questions that needs answers and we keep on watching the clock as the countdown to 2016 vision has started in southwest state.