Somaliland House of Elders, commonly known as the Guurti, was originally conceived as a body that would embody the wisdom and traditions of Somaliland’s elders, ensuring that the nation’s governance was grounded in cultural and religious values while providing a stabilizing force in the young republic’s political landscape. However, in recent years, there has been growing public discontent with the Guurti, with many calling for its disbandment due to allegations of gross dereliction of duty, corruption, and a failure to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
More importantly, the House of Elders was created to play a crucial role in the nation’s governance by upholding religious and cultural values, ensuring security, and advising on government shortcomings. However, the Guurti’s deviation from its constitutional mandate, allegations of corruption, lack of accountability, and failure to represent the people, has led to widespread calls for its disbandment. As Somaliland continues to evolve, whether the Guurti can be reformed to meet the needs of a modern democratic society remains a pressing issue. For many, the answer lies in disbanding the Guurti and creating new structures that better reflect the values and aspirations of the people.
The Guurti was established with clear powers and duties under the Somaliland constitution, including the passing of legislation related to religion, traditions, and security; the review of legislation passed by the House of Representatives (excluding financial legislation); and advising on the shortcomings of government administration. However, critics argue that the Guurti has strayed far from these responsibilities, becoming more of a political entity than a traditional council of elders.
Instead of focusing on legislation related to religion, culture, and security, the Guurti is accused of engaging in political manoeuvring and supporting specific political agendas. This shift has led to a perception that the Guurti is no longer fulfilling its constitutional role as a neutral body that should advise on and support the government in matters of religion, security, and culture.
One of the most serious accusations against the Guurti is the widespread corruption and misuse of public funds. The Guurti is meant to assist the government in matters relating to the economy and society while consulting with traditional community leaders. However, instead of serving the public interest, there are claims that Guurti members have been misusing the budget for personal gain, disregarding the intended outputs of allocated funds. This misuse not only violates principles of transparency and accountability but also erodes public trust in the institution.
The Guurti’s constitutional duty includes advising on the shortcomings of the government and presenting such advice to the House of Representatives. Yet, there is a growing concern that the Guurti has failed to hold the government accountable. Rather than providing checks and balances on executive power, the Guurti is seen by many as complicit in governmental excesses, thus neglecting its responsibility to protect the interests of the people.
Another criticism levelled against the Guurti is its failure to adequately represent the diverse and evolving needs of Somaliland society. The House of Elders is supposed to reflect the wisdom and traditions of the nation’s elders, but in practice, it is often seen as an outdated institution that is out of touch with the broader population. This lack of effective representation has led to calls for reform or disbandment, as the Guurti is perceived to no longer align with the needs and aspirations of Somaliland’s younger generation.
A significant concern is the advanced age of many of the Guurti’s leaders, which has reportedly impaired their ability to effectively monitor the actions of their departments, particularly in finance. The trust placed in these departments by the elderly leaders is often exploited, leading to unchecked misuse of funds and other malpractices. This inability to provide rigorous oversight, especially in critical areas like finance, further compounds the issues of corruption and mismanagement that plague the Guurti, raising questions about its capacity to fulfil its duties.
The Guurti’s tenure has been extended multiple times without direct input from the public, raising serious concerns about its democratic legitimacy. According to the constitution, the Guurti has the power to review legislation approved by the House of Representatives, refer it back with written reasons, and summon members of the government to question them about their duties. However, its prolonged tenure without a clear mandate from the people undermines its role as a democratic institution. This has fueled arguments that the Guurti should be disbanded to ensure that governance structures in Somaliland remain accountable and representative of the will of the people
Finally, there is a strong argument that the Guurti, in its current form, impedes democratic progress in Somaliland. By engaging in political manoeuvring and resisting necessary reforms, the Guurti is seen as obstructing the development of a more democratic and accountable governance system. Its involvement in prolonging the terms of other governmental bodies without elections is viewed as particularly detrimental to the democratic process.
By V A Massroui
