Somalia's 4.5 Governance System is Failing..

The 4.5 governance system in Somalia is not succeeding in establishing a representative and inclusive democracy there as envisioned. The system, which was put in place in 2000 as a short-term measure to put an end to the civil war and distribute parliamentary seats among the four main clans and a coalition of minority groups, has come under fire for enforcing clan politics, marginalizing minorities and women, and undermining the legitimacy of the federal government. Nasteha Ahmed, a researcher at the American University in Cairo, claims that because the 4.5 system does not adequately represent the richness and complexity of Somali society, it has also failed to merge traditional and contemporary governing systems. Clan rivalry, corruption, nepotism, and violence, among other social characteristics that have historically sparked conflict, she contends, have persisted as a result of the system.

The 4.5 system was not included in the 2012 temporary constitution, which was meant to pave the way for the switch to a one-person, one-vote system by 2020. However, the constitutional review process has stopped and the electoral system has not been changed because of security issues, political disagreements, and a lack of agreement between federal and state authorities. As a result, the 4.5 system continued to be used for the 2017 presidential elections, with clan elders choosing the delegates who cast their votes for the members of parliament who subsequently chose the president. Allegations of vote buying, intimidation, and manipulation by outside parties tainted this process.

The 4.5 electoral system should be abolished in favor of a more democratic and inclusive election system that upholds human rights, gender equality, and citizenship, according to a number of academics, legislators, and members of Somali civil society. They have also argued in favor of a judicial service commission that may choose judges based on qualifications and integrity, as well as a constitutional court that can rule on constitutional and federalism-related disputes. For Somalia to overcome its political crises and attain stability, peace, and development, these measures are imperative.

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