This archive report was first published on 29 September 2019.
On September 29, 2019, Somalia President Mohamed Farmajo returned to Mogadishu, the capital city, to address the growing calls for autonomy in the region.
Days after delivering his inaugural speech at the United Nations, where he called for international support to help Somalia rebuild, Mr. Farmajo may now have to manage the rising agitation on how the capital should be administered in the future.
The debate centers around the idea of granting autonomy to the Benadir region, which includes Mogadishu, to ensure local resources are used properly and away from the functions of the federal government.
Mr. Abdulkadir Osoble Ali, the chairman of the Ileys Party in Somalia, argues that the federal government is diverting local resources to play national politics, leaving locals unattended.
“Somalia has 18 regions. Seventeen of those regions and their communities have elected their own leaders. The Benadir community has a right to elect theirs,” he told the Nation last week.
Mr. Osoble also emphasized the need for the people to decide on the future of Mogadishu, whether to turn it into a city-state or otherwise.
Currently, Somalia has six federal states, although Somaliland is demanding complete secession. Jubbaland, Hirshabelle, South West Puntland, and Galmudug have all been created since federalism was proposed more than 10 years ago to calm perennial clan factions.
Under President Farmajo's reign, each of these states has had a squabble with the federal government of Somalia, although nearly all political leaders agree that Mogadishu should remain the national capital.
Abdimalik Abdullahi, a Somali researcher and analyst, notes that the ultimate administration and how locals can benefit from it remains a political hot potato.
“The Benadir issue is complicated. It basically forms the core of the contentious issues that the Somali nation is struggling with. It will take political settlement to address such issues,” he said.
