NPGM '06: Decentralization Entry Point Discussion
Abdiqadir Jirde (MP, UDUB)
The Code of Conduct for the election of the District Councillors
had many loopholes because there were a lot of pressures when it
was being prepared. In addition to the election of the District
Councillors, this election was used as an entry point for the selection
of three political parties. All the people had the right to initiate
political organisations while the Constitution is limiting the number
to only three political parties.
Decentralization of authority was adopted at three levels. At the
district level there is an elected council. Decentralization was
not intended at the regional level but the intention at this level
was devolution of authority where a ministry and a national agency
have their representatives in the regions. Because confusion exists
at this level, many questions remain to be asked. Shall there be
elected regional councillors? Do the regional authorities exist
on the bases of decentralization or devolution? This is open for
discussion. Lest that their authority is weakened, both national
and local level authorities are not satisfied with decentralization
at the regional level.
Mohammed Muse Awale (Director, NERAD)
A short time was given for the preparation of the Code of Conduct
for the election of the city councillors. It was suggested that
authority be transferred from the central level to the local people
down to the village level. But nobody had deemed unqualified people
who are prone to conflicts would take the seats and create more
problems than solve them. It is very important to be pointed out:
When the power is transferred from the center, the local people
need to be told how to do things. They should be trained and their
capacity should be strengthened. Local people have known only central
governments who were not accountable to the people.
Things are not very clear in the constitution. These aspects should
be clarified; every article in the constitution should be clearly
interpreted. Development of criteria and conditions is required
to be attached to every important position - from the president,
parliamentarian, to the councillor. If an official commits a crime,
there must be clear written actions to be taken against that person.
Unknown Male Participant
It is very clear that the crux of the problem is that the constitution
or the bylaws or any other legal framework were all hastily prepared
and were left full of loopholes. Any task that is left incomplete
will rest there incomplete with its bad consequences. So it is important
that all these tasks should be completed. There is a lot of misunderstanding
between the regional and district authorities as the regions are
governed by appointed officers and its districts are under elected
councillors. The executive function of the district is also implemented
by an appointed officer from the central government and a mayor
elected by the local community.
After the local councillors were elected, they focused on how to
make themselves affluent and totally deviated from serving the community
Abdirahman Yussuf Artan (MP, Kulmiye)
The Academy is being congratulated for the good work that they
have implemented and presented here in terms of films or in terms
of power point presentations. We all agree that the entry points
of the elections, the resource-based conflicts, and the decentralization
that the Academy presented are relevant and very important points.
Only written books and research carried out by NGOs without the
full participation of the agency that has the power to implement
these finding cannot change anything. What is very important is
that such meetings focusing on decentralization should have been
organized (or taken a major part) by the government - the ministry
of Interior - and then it should use its mandatory authority to
make the required changes. But a seminar organized by agencies without
the executive power is only a presentation of speeches.
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