The debate over the ownership and administration of Mogadishu as the capital city is essentially a distraction—a rhetorical tool often deployed when electoral tensions are high.
Mogadishu is the property of the entire Somali nation. It is the essential symbol of Somali identity, regardless of political sentiments.
However, we must recall the last time this specific debate was brought into the public sphere, former President Farmaajo's response to it, and its ultimate resolution. What became of the proposed 13 senators?
The people of Banadir and all other Somalis should not be fooled into mistaking these political fantasies for reality.
Mogadishu’s current status is paralyzed because the entire project of Somali state-building is essentially being held hostage by the current Federal system framework and the never-ending Provisional Constitution.
Therefore, the Somali public, whose ambition is to establish a functioning Federal Republic, must first come to a clear agreement on the specific structure and form of Federalism the country will adopt. This is the core problem that demands a solution. There are models that can be adopted without wasting time and resources for how to solve the Mogadishu issue.
There are between 25 and 27 Federal nations globally.
The role of their capital cities—whether the capital is treated as a component of the Federal government or a District managed by the central authority—was resolved through prior public consensus on the chosen model of Federalism.
For instance, the USA's capital is the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), which is managed directly by the Central Government.
Conversely, Germany's capital, Berlin, holds the status of a full Federal State (a Länder), equal to the other 15 states in the country.
To summarize the key models:
* Central Government Control: Countries like the USA, India, Nigeria, Mexico, and Australia see their capitals managed directly by the national government.
* Regional State Status: Countries like Germany, Belgium, and Austria treat their capital as an equal, independent Regional State.
* District within a State: Countries like Switzerland and Canada place the capital as a district located within a larger Federal State.
What is crucial to resolve is the democratic right and local reality of the people living in Mogadishu. This means that our political leaders (ceelleeydu) must agree on both the type of Federalism the nation will adopt and the political status Mogadishu will ultimately hold.
But one principle must be clearly understood:
The local residents of Mogadishu must not be exhausted by futile political arguments. They must be given the right to directly elect their own local council and the Mayor of Mogadishu, just like the residents in all other regions of the country.
The final answer to the question, 'Who owns Xamar (Mogadishu)?' is simple: 'All Somalis own it.
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