ALI HIRSI AHMED FINAL PROJECT

171 Pages·2014·0.71 MB·English

CONSTITUTION-MAKING IN SOMALIA: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS, 1960 –
2013

BY
ALI HIRSI AHMED
R52/83773/2012

A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE
IN INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TO THE INSTITUTE OF
DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (IDIS), UNIVERSITY OF
NAIROBI.

SEPTEMBER 2014
DECLARATION
This research project is my original work and has not been presented for the award of a
degree in any other University.

……………………………………. ………………………………….
Ali Hirsi Ahmed Date

This research project has been submitted for examination with my approval as the
University Supervisor.

………………………………. …………………………………..
Dr. Ibrahim Farah Date
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DEDICATION
To my parents Hirsi Ahmed and Hooyo Fatuma and my wife Habiba Kutubey and
children Khalid, Imran, Maida, Farhan, Salwa and Rage for their support, patience,
understanding and encouragement. To my friend Abdinasir Mohamud Sheikh for all the
unwavering support he extended to me throughout the course.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The completion of this thesis would not be possible without the material and moral
support from various people. First of all I thank the Almighty God for giving me good
health, and guiding me through the entire course. Secondly I am greatly indebted to Dr.
Ibrahim Farah who was my supervisor, for his effective supervision, dedication,
availability and professional advice. I extend my gratitude to my lecturers who taught me,
therefore enriching my research with the learnt knowledge. My final appreciation goes to
my classmates, from whom I was richly developed and appreciate their encouragement
and positive criticism.
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AMISOM - African Union Mission in Somalia
ANC - African National Congress
ARS - Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia
AU – African Union
CDC - Consultation Draft Constitution
COE – Committee of Experts
DDR - Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
FCC - Federal Constitution Commission
ICCPR - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICESCR - International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ICU - Islamic Courts Union
IFCC - Independent Federal Constitution Commission
IGAD - Intergovernmental Authority on Development
KDF – Kenya Defense Forces
NCA – National Constituent Assembly
NDIIA - National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
RECs – Regional Economic Cooperation’s
SRC - Supreme Revolutionary Council
SRSG - Special Representative of the Secretary-General
TFC - Transitional Federal Charter
TFG - Transitional Federal Government
TFP - Transitional Federal Parliament
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UDHR - Universal Declaration of Human Rights
UN – United Nations
UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION............................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION.................................................................................................................. iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ iv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...........................................................................................v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... vii
CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY ...............................................................................1
1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................3
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem ...............................................................................5
1.3 Objective of the Study ...................................................................................................7
1.4 Literature Review...........................................................................................................7
1.4.1 Ethos of Constitution-Making.....................................................................................9
1.4.3 ‘Democracy,’ Constitution and Constitution-Making ..............................................12
1.4.4 Legitimate Constitutions: What Counts for a legitimate Process .............................18
1.4.5 Interim Arrangements ...............................................................................................20
1.4.6 Public Participation ...................................................................................................23
1.5 Literature Gap ..............................................................................................................27
1.6 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................27
1.7 Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................30
1.8 Research Methodology ................................................................................................31
1.9 Chapter Outline ............................................................................................................31
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CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................32
THE MAKING OF THE SOMALIA CONSTITUTION: AN OVERVIEW .............32
2.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................32
2.2 Contemporary Constitution-Making: An Overview ....................................................33
2.3 The Importance of the Process .....................................................................................38
2.4 Participative Constitution-Making: International Legal Basis ....................................41
2.5 Historic Specificity of Actual Constitution-Making Processes ...................................44
2.6 The Making of the Somalia Constitution .....................................................................44
2.6.1 The Arta Peace Process .............................................................................................44
2.6.2 The Transitional Federal Charter and Institutions (TFC/Is) .....................................45
2.6.3 The Independent Federal Constitution Commission (IFCC) ....................................45
2.6.4 The 2009 Djibouti Peace Process .............................................................................47
2.6.5 The Work of Expanded IFCC ...................................................................................47
2.6.6 Public Consultations and Civic Education ................................................................48
2.6.7 The Kampala Accord ................................................................................................49
2.6.8 Challenges .................................................................................................................50
CHAPTER THREE .........................................................................................................51
CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESSES IN SOMALIA: AN ASESSMENT, 1960
- 2013 .................................................................................................................................51
3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................51
3.2 Constitution-Making in Somalia: An Assessment .......................................................51
3.2.4 Post-Barre Somalia ...................................................................................................57
3.2.1 The Arta Peace Process: 2000 ...................................................................................62
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3.2.2 The Eldoret/Mbagathi Peace Process: 2002 – 2004 .................................................70
3.2.3 Post-Mbagathi Somalia .............................................................................................80
3.2.4 The Kampala Accord and the End of the Transition ................................................82
3.2.5 The 2006 Constitution-Making Process....................................................................85
3.2.6 The Role of the Actors in the Processes ...................................................................86
3.3 Current Debates ...........................................................................................................99
3.3.1 National Peacebuilding Frameworks ........................................................................99
3.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................118
CHAPTER FOUR ..........................................................................................................119
CONSTITUTION-MAKING IN SOMALIA: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ...............119
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................119
4.2 Emerging Issues .........................................................................................................119
4.2.2 The Federalist Debate in Somalia ...........................................................................119
4.2.3 The Role of Sharia Courts ......................................................................................122
4.2.4 The Process of Constitution-Making ......................................................................125
4.2.5 The issue of local ownership...................................................................................131
4.2.6 The role of international community ......................................................................133
4.3 Other issues ................................................................................................................135
4.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................141
CHAPTER FIVE ...........................................................................................................143
CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................................143
5.1 Summary of the Findings ...........................................................................................143
5.2 Conclusion .................................................................................................................145
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5.3 Recommendation .......................................................................................................149
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..........................................................................................................153

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