As Kenya proceeds to “liberate” Jubaland, also known as Azania, from the clutches of Al-Shabaab, it may wish to consider the long-term implications of this move and what it will mean to the nation called Somalia.
The creation of Azania will no doubt lead to further balkanisation of the Somali state, which is already fragmented along regional and clan lines.
Azania is being framed along the lines of Somaliland and Puntland, regional entities that are not recognised internationally and which are significantly weakened by a politically unviable and economically unsustainable base.
Somaliland may be the most peaceful region in Somalia but it is hardly an economic powerhouse.
As for Puntland, it is known more for its pirates than for its ability to govern itself. Similarly, Azania is in a part of the country that has few assets – apart from the port city of Kismayu.
Let’s say Azania does achieve some kind of governance structure acceptable to the majority of Somalis, the question still arises: what legitimacy will this structure have in the eyes of the international community?
Will Azania be accepted as a member of the United Nations or the East African Community?
Will it be a regional entity beholden to neighbouring Kenya, and by extension, to external powers, such as the US, that have geo-political interests in the Horn of Africa?
Will the scramble for Azania result in its destruction by outside forces, whose economic and political interests may supersede those of the Somali people?
Many observers are of the opinion that a Somalia with independent regional entities is preferable to a rogue state without a strong central government.
There is some merit to this argument, which is fuelled by the fact that for 20 years, Somalia has been unable to form a government that has the clout and resources to bring about stability.
Mogadishu remains a capital city without basic infrastructure – civil war destroyed almost everything in what was once one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Africa.
Meanwhile, the rest of Somalia is torn apart by clan interests, and now more recently, Al-Shabaab.
Why is it that Somalis – who share a common language and religion – are unable to unite under one flag?
I have been asking myself this question in recent months, particularly since I began examining the detrimental effects of food aid and other forms of assistance to the country.
I have since learnt that Somalia was once a formidable nation with ancient cities and a thriving economy.
It was once a hub for trade and commerce between East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Asia.
As a Kenyan who has experienced the pitfalls of tribalism and racism, Somalia may appear like one of those rare countries in Africa that do not carry the baggage of multiple ethnicities vying for supremacy.
However, those seeking to understand Somalia and the Somali people must come to terms with the fact that it is the clan that dominates the fabric of Somali society.
Hence, even the regional administrations that currently exist are divided along clan lines, with the Harti clan, for example, dominating Puntland.
Similarly, all present and future regional administrations will most likely be clan-based.
Why is clan so important in the Somali context? Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the renegade Somali woman who is the author of the bestselling memoir, Infidel, provides some answers.
In her recent book, Nomad, she explains that clan is particularly important in nomadic cultures, where uncertainty and impermanence are the norm rather than the exception.
Pastoral/nomadic cultures living in harsh environments need groups (i.e. clans) that they can rely on.
The clan provides security, solidarity and permanence. As Ali’s grandmother told her: “The world outside the clan is rough, and you are alone in it.”
Clans form an integral part of nomadic cultures because they are an essential survival strategy.
Hence, every member of one’s clan becomes a member of one’s family, and can be called upon in times of need.
This, I believe, is one of the reasons for the Somali diaspora’s phenomenal economic success in Kenya.
Will clan interests replace Al-Shabaab interests in the new Azania? I certainly hope not. But Somalia’s recent history has proved otherwise.
rasna.warah@gmail.com
Source: The Nation - Kenya
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