April 20, 2025
1. Executive Summary
Brief overview of the current governance model, challenges it faces, and the proposal to reconsider a governorate-based system as a path toward unity, stability, and effective governance.
2. Background
Overview of Somalia’s governance history: from centralized rule, to collapse, to current federal experiment.
Description of the 18 governorates pre-civil war. The shift to federalism post-2004 (Transitional Federal Government) and its limitations.
3. Rationale for Returning to Governorates
Issues with the current federal model: fragmentation, duplication, clan-based conflict.
Benefits of the old governorate system: clarity, administrative efficiency, unity.
Lessons from other countries with successful decentralized but unified governance.
4. Proposed Governance Model
Options:
a) A unitary decentralized system with empowered governorates
b) A federal system based on governorates rather than clan/state divisions
Division of power between central and local levels
Role of governorates in service delivery, security, and development
5. Constitutional and Legal Pathways
Amending the Provisional Constitution
National dialogue process
Possible referendum
Role of Parliament, elders, regional leaders, and civil society
6. Stakeholder Engagement and Consensus-Building
Involving federal member states
Addressing clan concerns
Role of traditional leaders, youth, women, diaspora, and scholars
7. Challenges and Risks
Political resistance from existing state structures
Clan-based pushback
Managing international partners’ expectations
8. Recommendations and Action Plan
Establish a national commission to study and propose reforms
Initiate civic education and public consultation
Engage constitutional review bodies
Build alliances with reform-minded leaders and civil society
9. Conclusion
Emphasize unity, sovereignty, and the future of Somalia
Call to action for inclusive reform
Source: Warsidaha Warsan- Somali
