Political Culture of Somalia

Ahmed Farah

Introduction • The culture of Somalis is mixed culture of Arab and African

culture together, popularly after the independent of Somalia political Culture and awareness of mass was transformed in three level since today,

• first phase was people’s hate of colonialism which extremely effected the first phase administration and policy makers of the state,

• second phase awareness of the people was very high comparing to the first phase but political contribution of the people was very limited due to dictatorship government ruling the state

Introduction • The last phase was extremely complicated one

many factors ware effecting the ruling elites of the state and decision markers

• This research paper will specifically focus and exam how Somali culture effects and shapes politics of the State?

• What is the major factors contributes shaping the political system of the state?

Geographically

• geographically Somalia is a country located in east Africa the most of Somaliland is semi-desert, lack of water

• people of Somalia nearly 60% are nomadic their life depends on life stock which have effects their culture deeply

Colonial Division

• under the colonial rule Somalia was divided in to Five different regions, British Somaliland, France Somaliland (Djibouti) Reserve area (Ethiopian) and NFD (Kenya)

• under three major European powers, UK, France and Italia this is also another factor which contributes political structure of Somalia.

Democratic period of Somalia

• After the independent of two regions of Somalis British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland, 1 July 1960 marked as historical day for all the Somalis

• They made their first government recognized around the globe and made their official name as Somali republic after when they left bend the colonial names of British and Italian Somaliland, to become one nation called Somali republic,

Democratic period of Somalia

• Somali nationalist movement didn’t stop that it increases and demands three other regions to become free and join the Somali republic, which causes many bloody wars between Somalia and neighboring country Ethiopia

• In different ways direct and indirect wars, since the creation of Somalia, the mistrust b/w the two countries was increasing day by day, and they fight direct fights for two times 1964 and 1977, this two wars had left very bad effect for both Somalis and Ethiopians and create instability of the east African region,

Military coup of 1969

• Somalia since 1960 till 1969 was ruled civilian government leaded by elected national assembly and goes towards the democratic direction,

• although Somali people was deeply divided political combiners in to different clans still the nation didn’t face civil wars like many other African nations has, such as South Sudan and Liberia,

• elected leaders had face the divided nation and extremely increasing power of the Somali national Army, with it is motivations the dream of united all Somalis, which lead to military coup of 1969

• the elected government didn’t meet the requirement of Somali dreams to become one united nation rather they couldn’t even keep the unity of Somalis in good faith,

• This gives chance the military intervention of the civilian administration to answer the demand of the public and to keep the nation united once again,

• the leaders of the 1969 coup was well organized to occupy the power and get popular support from the public,

• this kind of government always makes great achievements in it is first 5 to 10 years as usual but creates also problems which most of the nations cannot handle at all

• Siyad Bare the leader of the coup and the president of Somalia was not exception his government was made great achievements in it is first decade,

• but also done a treble mistakes which lead the country destroys itself, the consequences of the military rule Somalia creates civil war after two decade of Siyad Bare regime

Summary

• International community tried many times to get solution for the instability of Somalia

• but every effort which international community tries to seek solution for Somalia creates new phase of conflicts in the country

• The major events which captured the international attention through the international media was the following events.

Summary

• the United nations peace keeping mission for Somalia in 1993, Operation Restore Hope 18 American soldiers and 24 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in Somalia.

• Famine of Somalia in early 1993 and 2011 also

was one of the most alert events to the international community for Somali crises.

Summary

• piracy in the seas of Somalia which have no costal guard creates international crises, in this kind of acts now is not only effecting Somalis but also other nations in the world become victims of Somali pirates

• terrorism become one of the international hot topic unfortunately Somalia become one of the major centers of terrorism activity

• which is not only effecting the Somalis in Somalia but also effects the Somalis in other countries and other nations like Kenya Ethiopia Uganda, Djibouti and Tanzania