From Substate Governance to Constitution-building at the Centre: A View from Somalia

Since the effective collapse of central authority in Somalia in 1991, local systems have provided crucial platforms for governance. Local systems of governance continue to be relevant alongside efforts to rebuild the Somali state, such as attempts to revive formal pre-1991 local government institutions. 

This case study uses interviews and desk research to explore the ideas and practices underlying local governance frameworks, and the challenges facing official local government formation processes in Galmudug and Hirshabelle, two federal member states in Somalia. The overall objective is to understand whether—and if so how—local values and institutions can offer insights into ongoing efforts to develop practical and acceptable constitutional frameworks at the federal member state and federal levels.