Opinion: Somalia’s Constitution—Strong on Paper, Fragile on the Ground
Somalia’s latest constitutional amendments are being hailed by some lawmakers as proof that the country has become a “fully fledged state.” The symbolism is powerful. Yet the celebration risks outrunning the substance. The reforms mark real progress, but they do not, on their own, settle the foundational questions of federalism, inclusion and authority that have defined Somalia’s decade-long constitutional journey.
Since 2012, Somalia has operated under a provisional constitution designed to accommodate fragile…