What is the 4.5 system in Somalia?
Understanding the 4.5 formula gives equal quota to the four “major” clans, and a half-point to a cluster of “minority” clans.
I’m fully aware that the term clan originally was constructed for societies to get to know one another. Clan groups are supposed to give a sense of shared identity and ancestry to members, without discriminating others. But we, Somalis, gave it to a whole new meaning, a meaning that ushers a destructive, divisive, exclusionary, and power-maniac mindset.
To maintain the status quo, we came up with a new trick known as a 4.5 clan-sharing political mechanism at the Arta Peace Conference in Djibouti in 2000. The aim was to suppress and put down those communities perceived as a minority. For those who are not Somali, let me explain this 4.5 power-sharing formula a little bit. The 4.5 formula supposedly gives an equal quota to the four “major” clans, and a half-point to a cluster of “minority “clans. So, this type of. 4.5power-sharing system means that unscrupulous and corrupted politicians from those major clans will only dominate the politics under the pretext of their lopsided system.
Politically, when big clans continue to grab power, it means they persecute, torture, victimize, abuse, rape, and displace those marginalized and less powerful clans. Also, all those federal states have a lopsided power-sharing process where the voices of those less dominant may not wield. much of the political. clout and decision-making capacity. Our bizarre clan-based political model further complicates public trust and unity, discourages cooperation across party lines, and disincentivizes Somali citizens to hold public office positions or run for office in other federal states. Apart from politics, zealotry and. adherence to clan leads to a lot of stress and trauma. So many minority clans have been forced out of their home, their properties vandalized, their young girls gang-raped, and their youth tortured.
I don’t think there is a wealth of research that examines the correlation between clan and mental health in Somalia. But what we hear is enough. We know that unfair practices in our clan structure are deeply embedded in our culture, politics, the workplace, and social spheres. Millions of innocent people feel marginalized, very vulnerable just because of who they are. Some may be. overwhelmed by immense stress because they get devalued as a human being each day. When someone feels the sense of powerlessness and lack of belonging in all spheres of their lives, education, and work, all they do is internalize the suppression, trauma, and prejudice around them. Indeed, all these are emotionally scarring and agonizing.
When you hear that you are not equal to me, your sense of self-worth erodes, anxiety, hopelessness, depression, chronic stress, and symptoms of PTSD occur. Let’s detach ourselves. clinging to clan-based discriminatory practices, bias, and intolerance.
Let’s build love, quit worshiping parochial politics. Let’s not disparage souls that the Almighty God made them human. Let’s not use our clan. as a weapon to devalue people, lower their self-esteem. We all are human beings, equal before Allah.
Thank you,
