Reshaping House of Elders

Reshaping House of Elders

By Abdirahman Ibrahim Abdilahi

This country hitherto adorns with the late President Egal as a statesman who built this nation by overcoming many barriers in which without him would not have been possible. Among the works carried out by him was elimination of powers from military clique at a time, pulling the people from different regions and tribes together, sharing the power among the tribes, nationalizing all militia regardless of their tribes or whatever.

The expectations of the people from president Rayale were included persuading many leaders in the world to recognize Somaliland, recommend the reforms within the constitution and making it serve fully to the nation and putting down a new power sharing formula acceptable to all people in the country in which this country desperately needs as well as redefining Gurti to deliver far more professionally than it is today. None of these were realized under the present government.

The system that Egal left behind was uneasy because the constitution of the state was tailored to fit the president in office else it would have been to serve the nation. However the most unfortunate thing is that current political parties in Somaliland do not see an eye to eye on the constitution as a potential problem even if constitutional crisis repeats itself again somewhere down the road.

I urge on our political parties to present for possible solution for Gurti and parliament and the constitution by taking examples from similar countries. As to how the constitution and parliament and Gurti will work together under one constitution is yet creating confusion among many people in the country and that needs to be corrected and re- defined.  I think the best system for Gurti is that it should work as an upper house of parliament like in many states of the world and be accorded with privileges and terms of reference enshrined within the constitution to get rid of suspicions within our both houses of parliament. 

The current composition of the Elders house is acceptable since each and every tribe in Somaliland is represented in the house unlike before the members focused mainly on peace making but from now on we need men who specialize in each and every aspect of life for instance; the members should have people from every region with strong background in the following discipline:

• ·         Religion
• ·         Science 
• ·         Social science
• ·         Law
• ·         Doctor
• ·         Military
• ·         Social
• ·         Culture
• ·         Economic
• ·         Foreign relations

The members of Gurti in accordance with the current upper house  members will not be elected but selected on the basis of their knowledge and experience in the above mentioned subjects or areas and the selection will be made by the election commission following an advertisement of relevant posts to each and every governor's office with all the conditions required to be fulfilled for example relevant educational and experience and age limit mmeaning in short  members will be selected in a manner other than by popular election.    On the day of selection and appointment; the political parties together with regional government representatives will be present on the occasion as an observer to ensure that all conditions of relevant posts were carried out in a satisfactory manner.

Abdirahman Ibrahim Abdilahi

Contact: Abdirahman119@hotmail.com