What City Will Be Somalia’s New Capital?

In case you missed the news of this past few months, Somalia’s new constitution does not make any mention to the status of Mogadishu, and it does not state in any way which city will be the seat of government. When the draft constitution was put before the committee this week, it also did not state the seat of government.

This may be for several reasons. One reason could be that the native clans of Mogadishu and its environs want the city to be part of a regional federal state, which would automatically disqualify it as the seat of national government.

Whatever cause may be behind the exclusion of a concrete article pertaining to the seat of the new Somali Federal Republic, there has been a storm brewing in cafes and lecture halls as to which city will be the new Somali capital. We’ve narrowed down a list of potential qualifiers and reviewed the possibility of a number of other cities becoming the new seat of government.

Some of the listed cities are part of other states, even secessionist regions, but once made national capital the respective cities would have to rescind their current status and transformed into special federally-administered regions. In assessing these contending cities we list the good and the bad, and only leave space for the most eligible candidates.

Hargeisa, Waqoyi Galbeed – A city of over half a million located in the of the breakaway Somaliland region.

• Pros: Second-largest city in Somalia, mild climate, socially developed, good infrastructure.
• Cons: Proximity to Ethiopia, inland location, strongly separatist population, very crowded.

Baidoa, Baay – The former seat of government for the early TFG, recently liberated from Al-Shabaab.

• Pros: Large city, politically neutral population, passable infrastructure, mild climate.
• Cons: Inland location, poor social development, poor urban planning.

Garowe, Nugaal – The current capital of Puntland.

• Pros: Strong support for TFG, good urban planning, socially developed, mild climate, passable infrastructure.
• Cons: Proximity to Ethiopia, inland location, strongly tied to Puntland institutions, relatively small population (possible pro).

Beletweyn, Hiiraan – Capital of the proposed Hiiraan State.

• Pros: Large city, sits on Somalia’s biggest river, passable infrastructure, tropical climate.
• Cons: Proximity to Ethiopia, inland location, politically unstable, poor urban planning.

Galkayo, Mudug – Capital of Galmudug State and second-largest city of Puntland.

• Pros: Already split between 2 states, passable infrastructure, mild climate.
• Cons: Inland location, politically unstable, poor urban planning.

Bosaso, Bari – Third-largest city in Somalia, home to a quarter-million people.

• Pros: Distance from Ethiopia, seaport access, socially developed, good infrastructure.
• Cons: Chaotic planning, blistering weather, high density, limited growth potential.

{DN Staff Writers}

DissidentNation.com